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Disney’s plan ‘no cause for alarm’ Boss insists Lighthouse Point project protects and brings 150 jobs By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net DISNEY Cruise Line’s proposal for Lighthouse Point intends to develop approximately 20 percent of the 700-acre privatelyowned property, according to its president Jeff Vahle, who said the mega-operator would create up to 150 permanent jobs for Bahamians. Mr Vahle underscored plans to give more than 170 acres back to the government for conservation, and preserve more than 100 acres of salt ponds on the property as he defended
the cruise line’s interests in what has been largely a public relations fight with environmentalists. He insisted Disney’s proposal would employ sustainable design and building practices, adding Bahamians would have full access to the property. “…Our plan will create 120 to 150 permanent, quality employment opportunities, encompassing a breadth of disciplines, as well as management positions and opportunities for career advancement,” Mr Vahle wrote in an op-ed piece. INSIGHT: PAGE NINE
JASMINE SETS HER SIGHTS ON THE WORLD
ENVIRONMENTAL activists are seeking a Supreme Court order to have Nygard Cay sold to satisfy the $2.2m debt Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard owes in legal costs from illegal dredging activities. Court documents obtained by The Tribune show how Save The Bays, formerly the Coalition to
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net TRAFFIC police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a hit-and-run traffic fatality that occurred on the Tonique Williams-Darling highway. The death of Friday’s victim, a man, pushed 2018’s traffic death toll to 56. According to reports, a man was attempting to cross the highway near a business establishment shortly after 11pm, when he was struck by a red Suzuki car travelling in the east bound lane. The driver of the vehicle did not remain at the scene. SEE PAGE 13
By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
THE Public Hospitals Authority has disclosed that the raising of salaries and benefits of medical personnel is “simply not sustainable at this time”, in the wake of last week’s demonstrations by healthcare unions over such outstanding issues. In a press conference held Friday, PHA Managing Director Catherine Weech provided a breakdown of the organisation’s finances, noting 80 percent of PHA’s income is currently related to the salaries and benefits of physicians, SEE PAGE TWO
LEGAL DEBTS COULD FORCE NYGARD SALE Protect Clifton Bay, is going after the $2,245,928.22 owed to them, as well as any accrued interest. According to the documents, Nygard owes the Coalition $1,628,481.87 in costs on a full indemnity, solicitor and own client basis after Justice Rhonda Bain found him guilty of breaching a 2013 injunction preventing him from engaging in dredging activities at his Simms Point property. SEE PAGE THREE
HIT AND RUN DRIVER LEFT VICTIM TO DIE IN ROAD
DOCTORS WARNED: THERE’S NO NEW MONEY
INSIGHT
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
HOME
JASMINE RUSSELL, right, won gold at the Ocean State Judo Championships - putting her in perfect position for the World Juniors championships to be held in Nassau on October 17-21. Also excelling for The Bahamas team was Mya Beneby, earning silver, pictured left. See Sports for the full story.
SUSPECT SHOT DEAD ‘POINTED GUN AT POLICE’ By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A 22-YEAR-OLD shot and killed by police in the Nassau Village community two years ago was not the person they were seeking to apprehend, according to police testimony on Friday. Detective Sergeant Dwayne Delancy said officers were actually seeking to arrest wanted suspect Nathaniel Miller at the time they fatally shot Osworth Rolle
A MILLENIUM G2 9mm pistol similar to one said to be recovered by Det Sgt Mario Darrell. Jr on November 30, 2016. Det Sgt Delancy said both Rolle and Miller pointed guns at three
officers as they confronted the two men and several others in a yard on Lee Street, which prompted officers to open fire. However, a test of the firearm alleged to be the one Rolle pointed at officers yielded negative fingerprint results, while Miller’s alleged firearm was never recovered. Taking the witness stand before Her Majesty’s Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez,
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE FIVE
LONGLINE FISHING ‘MUST NOT BE ALLOWED’
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas National Trust is strongly opposed to the introduction of longline fishing within the country’s economic exclusive zone - a destructive practice it warned that could change the Bahamian way of life forever. BNT Director of Science and Policy Shelley Cant Woodside explained that while the Trust was open to exploring the possibility SEE PAGE 12
PAGE 2, Monday, September 24, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
DOCTORS WARNED: THERE’S NO NEW MONEY from page one
nurses, and support staff; leaving “very little funding” for the maintenance and renovation of the country’s healthcare facilities. In the Princess Margaret Hospital, such works include repairing the roof and the air conditioning system in the Critical Care Bock, the renovation of the Corey Newbold Ward, and the installation of new equipment in the Radiology Department. Last week, the Bahamas Doctors Union (BDU), Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA), and Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) all held demonstrations over issues ranging from maternity benefits to overtime pay. “Finances (seem) to be the crux of the matter in this week’s demonstrations,” Mrs Weech said. “In order to shed more light, it is important to restate that the PHA continues to be fiscally challenged.” According to Mrs Weech, the organisation’s approved government funding is $216m and its projected collections from patient revenue is $13m — leaving the Authority $25m short of its projected operating costs for the current fiscal year. The PHA spends $169m on personal emoluments, which include salaries and related benefits. “Put more simply, 80 cents of every dollar allocated to the PHA is consigned to the payment of salaries and benefits for physicians, nurses and support staff,” Mrs Weech explained.
PHA EMPLOYEE SALARY VS OPERATIONAL BUDGET
Princess Margaret Hosp Personal Emoluments Left-Over Ops Budget TOTAL
Dollar Value
$ $ $
Sandilands Rehabilitation
% Revenue
79%
87,096,110 22,992,710 110,088,820 Dollar Value
21%
100% % Revenue
Personal Emoluments Left-Over Ops Budget TOTAL
$ $ $
“This is compounded by the significant increases in costs related to the procurement of drugs, vaccines and medical and surgical supplies, which accounts for another $32m in costs, representing 14 percent of our available funding. “This leaves very little funding available for the upkeep and indeed the expansion of our public health facilities. “While we concur with the positions proffered by both the physicians and nurses that the present state of our physical plant is wanting, it is simply not sustainable to continue to expand salaries and benefits whilst neglecting our responsibilities to modernise and repair our health care facilities.” Mrs Weech noted that while the PHA’s budget has remained “relatively unchanged” over the past several years, annually the organization is required to absorb the additional costs for engaging new physician interns and Senior House Officers. She added the “general
expectation” that all Bahamian graduates from the University of the West Indies be employed by the public health system is one that is “not grounded in reality”. “We recognise that we are at a crossroad and that the current business model must be changed to ensure a sustainable healthcare system. On Wednesday, the BDU staged a walk-out at Princess Margaret Hospital. The sources of contention included the PHA’s refusal to honour maternity benefits overtime pay, holiday pay, work duration agreements, licensing and registration protocols and address several longstanding adverse working conditions. The BDU was supported by BNU president Amancha Williams. The PHA is also facing strike threats from its nurses. On Thursday, the CPSA members temporarily vacated their posts to stand in solidarity with the BDU and BNU. Earlier this month, CPSA president Dr Locksley Munroe revealed his union was seeking a strike certificate after failing to finalise an industrial agreement with the PHA despite more than two years of negotiations. Mrs Weech addressed the status of negotiations with each of these organisations on Friday. Regarding the BDU, she said the PHA is “of the opinion that there are no outstanding matters related to maternity benefits”. She added the PHA met with the incoming Board on August 24th, and discussed maternity benefits, holiday pay, and length of time given on new contracts with junior doctors. Mrs Weech also said the PHA extended an invitation to the BDU for a follow-up meeting to discuss any further matters of concern, noting the offer still stands. She noted the PHA has been negotiating with the CPSA over the past nine months and has “agreed to all of the non-financial articles with that association”.
AN ISOLATION room in the Corey Newbold Ward, which has been renovated.
30,294,782 5,000,000 35,294,782
86%
14%
100%
Grand Bahama Health Services
Personal Emoluments Left-Over Ops Budget TOTAL Corporate Offices Personal Emoluments Left-Over Ops Budget TOTAL
The PHA managing director added financial terms are currently being negotiated, with the last meeting held on July 6th. According to Mrs Weech, “conflicting schedules” have caused the deferment of the last agreed meeting date. Regarding the BNU, Mrs Weech confirmed that outstanding matters brought to the PHA by the BNU have been resolved, “save for sick benefits and the implementation of a standardized shift system”. “Both the PHA and the BNU have agreed to the overall framework of the standardised shift system, including standard hours of work, minimum rest periods, and compensation by way of shift premiums for unpopular hours of work, dating back to 2014. “The PHA has sought the feedback from the BNU regarding the implementation process for the past four months to no avail,” she said. Renovations “On a more positive note, across the PHA I am happy to report that in recent weeks works have been undertaken in the Labour Ward, and in the Radiology Department which will include the installation of two state-of-the-art digital X-ray machines, and a 64 slice CT Scanner, marking a significant upgrade in diagnostic imaging,” Mrs Weech said. “Concurrently, at (PMH) we are completing significant repairs to the hospital’s roof, we have almost completed the renovation of the Corey Newbold Ward, and we are continuing to address the issue of the air conditioning system in the Critical Care Block. “Significant improvements will be undertaken in the Accident & Emergency Department which will result in an expanded footprint and more efficient workflow. “The authority is working according to a comprehensive Master plan that will result in the phased upgrading and renovation of all key clinical areas of the hospital over the next few years.”
Dollar Value
$ 27,995,631 $ 3,966,100 $ 31,961,731 Dollar Value $ 17,711,086 $ 37,709,207 $ 55,420,293
% Revenue
88%
12%
100% % Revenue
32%
100%
DAMAGE to the PMH roof in July last year and, below, as it is after repairs.
THE OLD delivery rooms at PMH with beds side by side and, below, one of the new family delivery rooms.
®
EVERYDAY VALUE
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, September 24, 2018, PAGE 3
Legal debts could force Nygard sale from page one At the time he was convicted, Nygard was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine by March 21, 2017 or face 14 days in prison. He was further ordered to remove the excavated sand and return it to Jaws Beach by April 7, 2017 or face an additional $50,000 fine and a $1,000 fine for each day that order is not adhered to. Nygard paid the fine before the specified deadline, but has since appealed that ruling. Although he has appealed the ruling, a stay has not been granted and the $1.6m debt remains outstanding, the Coalition says. Nygard also owes the Coalition $411,170.35 after the latter was awarded costs on a party and party basis for several interlocutory applications, namely substituted service on Nygard, due to the “difficulty” serving papers on him during the first committal proceedings; Nygard’s dismissed leave to appeal Justice Bain’s Ruling. No. 5; Nygard’s dismissed recusal application; and the Coalition’s preliminary objection to Nygard’s application to discharge the interlocutory injunction. The Canadian billionaire also owes the Coalition $129,000 after the Coalition was awarded costs in a matter stemming from the October 2017 withdrawal of Nygard’s attorneys Lockhart & Co. The Coalition was consequently awarded costs thrown away to be paid by Nygard on a full indemnity, solicitor and own client basis as a result of the adjournment caused by the withdrawal application. Nygard also owes the Coalition $33,780 in costs on a party-and-party basis concerning a dispute between the parties concerning a visit to Nygard Cay to inspect the site of the alleged dredging as part of the first committal proceedings against him. An affidavit by Akeria D Martin, a member of the Coalition’s legal team, said Mr Nygard’s attorneys were emailed on August 15, 2018 requesting payment of the judgment debts within seven days and advised that failure to do so would result in the Coalition seeking the court’s assistance in recovering the debts.
POLICE PROBE DROWNING IN BIMINI By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net POLICE in Bimini are investigating an apparent drowning of a Bahamian man who was diving in waters off Great Isaac Cay on Thursday. According to reports, shortly after noon police were alerted that a crew member on board the 45ft fishing vessel Dawn Celeste drowned. Assistant Superintendent of Police Terecita Pinder reported further investigations revealed the man was diving and found at the bottom of the ocean unresponsive. He was taken to the Bimini Clinic, but later pronounced dead. Police said an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
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PETER NYGARD However, Ms Martin said the Coalition has yet to receive an acknowledgement or a part payment of the judgment debts outstanding from Mr Nygard or his attorneys. This, notwithstanding four writs of execution seeking to enforce the four cost awards. Consequently, the Coalition is asserting that it is now both “necessary and expedient” for the Court to grant an Order for the sale of Nygard Cay “in order for it to realise the payment of the judgment debts from the proceeds of the sale of the same”. The Coalition said to its knowledge, Nygard Cay is the “only real estate” owned by Nygard in the Bahamas, and that while it is unable to provide a specific monetary value of the property, based
on “public knowledge of real estate” in Lyford Cay and specifically Nygard Cay, it is of the view that the property’s monetary value “exceeds the judgment debts”. “Therefore, the net proceeds of the sale of Nygard Cay would be adequate to satisfy the judgment debts”.
The Coalition’s bid to have Nygard Cay sold stems from Nygard’s ongoing battle with STB over allegations the construction/ development activities at his Lyford Cay home have led to a substantial growth of the property. The group claims Nygard
has almost doubled the size of his property, from 3.25 acres to 6.1 acres since he
acquired it in 1984, by allegedly reclaiming Crown land from the sea.
PAGE 4, Monday, September 24, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
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A pawn in Washington’s game EACH day brings a new fusillade of advocacy and commentary about Brett Kavanaugh, US President Donald Trump’s historically controversial nominee to fill the vacancy on the American Supreme Court created by the resignation this summer of Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy was often described as the “swing vote” on the high court after the resignation of Sandra Day O’Connor in 2006, but he was a conservative vote on most issues other than gay rights. Kavanaugh, boyish in appearance and efficiently disciplined in his public appearances so far, is evidence of the elitist pinnacle in the American legal establishment. All current Supreme Court justices are graduates of either America’s second largest (Harvard) or one of its smaller (Yale) law schools, and O’Connor herself was one of the few recent exceptions to this duopoly. She was a graduate of Stanford law school. Kavanaugh, whose mother served as a Maryland circuit court judge and whose father was a trade association executive, grew up in exclusive Bethesda, Maryland and attended tony Georgetown Prep school and Yale as an undergraduate. In high school he was two years ahead of Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, who attended Harvard law school. The nominee’s path upward in the legal profession was notably political from the beginning, as was Gorsuch’s. Kavanaugh wound up working for Ken Starr, a Republican who led him into partisan work on the effort to impeach Bill Clinton over his affair with a White House intern. Kavanaugh was principal author of the Starr report urging the impeachment of Clinton, establishing his Republican loyalty. Kavanaugh’s confirmation by the Senate to his current post on the US Circuit Court in Washington DC was highly contentious due to this partisanship. Now, of course, Kavanaugh, if confirmed, will be expected by his sponsors to fight against the impeachment of the current US president. This irony has been lost on no one. Further ironies and non-coincidental coincidences abound in this case. Another associate of this band of ambitious young lawyers working to help Starr dismantle the Clinton presidency was current Deputy Attorney General and Trump nemesis Rod Rosenstein. Gorsuch, now establishing himself as
one of the Supreme Court’s most conservative votes, also worked for Starr during this period 20 years ago. As the saga of Kavanaugh’s confirmation continues this week, all of this political history has largely been forgotten in the furor over the sensational allegation that he assaulted a 15-yearold girl while both were in high school. The accuser is Dr Christine Blasey Ford, a student at the time at another private Washington high school and now a respected PhD statistician and psychologist in northern California. Dr Ford must know her life has been changed irretrievably. By coming forward as she has, she has subjected herself and her family to the kind of public vilification endured by Anita Hill, a young lawyer who became a footnote in American history 27 years ago. Like Dr Ford, she is now a college professor. But after graduating from Yale Law School in the 1980s, she testified at the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Clarence Thomas, her onetime boss. Both are African Americans. Hill alleged sexual harassment. Thomas was confirmed 52-48. The treatment Hill received as she then testified before the US Senate is generally regarded as despicable, inexcusable and unforgivable. She was pilloried and humiliated by a Senate Judiciary Committee consisting entirely of white men. The spectacle reminded observers of the Salem witch trials in colonial Massachusetts in the 17th Century. Future Vice President Joe Biden chaired that 1991 committee, and is now recalled as having shamefully compromised with Republicans to Hill’s detriment. If Biden runs for president in 2020, this won’t be forgotten. Dr Ford now moves into the profoundly uncomfortable seat once occupied by Hill. She is a pawn in a larger game that is little concerned with sexual assault. The issue is political control of the Supreme Court. The Republicans are panicked because they know they could lose both houses of congress in November, and want to deliver another conservative justice while they still can. But this election is in important ways about women. Trump’s misogyny has ensured that. If some Republicans recognise this, Kavanaugh’s nomination may be doomed.
Govt in the North-East EDITOR, The Tribune. HUBERT Minnis’s Government is to be congratulated for considering bringing local government to New Providence. Though, of course, there are more pressing problems, including crime and the debt, which should take precedence, bringing local government to New Providence will deepen our democracy. I wish Senator Ranard Henfield and his National Advisory Committee well. In seeking to set up local government the Government should give due consideration to making sure the districts represent real communities. There are a number of traditional communities on the island with history and an identity of their own, be they Fox Hill, Grants Town or the newer and fast growing community along Carmichael Road. One
such district that should be considered is the North East, centred on the areas in the present constituencies of St Anne’s and Freetown, as well as the old seats of Montagu, Shirlea and the old Yamacraw. The North-East is a distinct community of mostly residential properties, facing Montagu bay, with distinctive architecture and town planning interests, a deep sense of community, history, with common problems and goals, which would benefit from a Local Government of its own. The area is demographically cosmopolitan, which aside from the west, is unique in New Providence, with a large mix of Bahamians and permanent residents, black and white, Greek and Chinese Bahamians, with many families, including one foreign parent and one Bahamian, or one person of one ethnicity and another of another and many
people who claim a diverse background. The area is also, though certainly not exclusively, the principle population centre for the nation’s Anglo-Bahamian community. We love our diversity and would like a local government that was representative of that. The people in the area also felt disenfranchised and angry when their historical and beloved Montagu was cut in the boundary review before the last election. Many current Government ministers rightly objected to this cut and their arguments for proper representation of people in Parliament are just as valid now when applied to local government as they were then. When local government comes to New Providence let’s put a North-East District Council on the map. GARTH BUCKNER Nassau, September 19, 2018.
Game of Thrones EDITOR, The Tribune. MANY idle Bahamians who may have little to do or may have too much down time have opined in recent times that former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Perry Gladstone Christie, may, along with others, be “plotting” to launch a coup against the current leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the Hon Philip “Brave” Davis, QC, MP (PLP-Cat Island; Rum Cay & San Salvador). This, of course, in my opinion, is pure and unadulterated cow manure. Brother Christie’s era, like that of Brother Hubert Ingraham, is over and done with. He’s had multiple opportunities, spanning more than forty years to govern and to prove his political mettle. Why would he want to come back, voluntarily or otherwise, into the leadership of the New Deal Progressive Liberal Party? What is he able to bring to the table, so to speak, that he did not do before? In our party we do not subscribe to patently bogus hysterical cries for our former leaders to come back. Yes, there is room for Brother Christie, but his days as leader are done with, permanently. Brave is the best bet for the party to vanquish the crumbling and bumbling maladministration of the hapless and grossly politically inept FNM and Dr Minnis. This is no time for conspiracy theories and back door fake coups. The bulk of the people of our wonderful nation supported and voted for the FNM in May, 2017. This was not, solely, because they loved the FNM, etc, but because they were disgusted and completely fed up with the antics and blunders of the PLP then led by PGC and his inner cabal. The former Minister of Tourism was “named” in a serious case involving an attorney and a foreign USAbased actor. He could not, seemingly, get The Festival Place open despite tens of millions of dollars being
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net poured into that white elephant. Airlift and tourism arrivals were on the decline during his watch. He, in my opinion, was the worst MOT in living memory. In addition, he was incapable of retaining his West End & Bimini constituency, just like Brother Christie over in Centreville. They are two seatless wonders and political spectacles. It is being talked about that the Member of Parliament for Englerston may be contemplating joining forces, such as they are or might be, with Obediah and PGC to mount a challenge to Brave’s leadership. I would strongly counsel against this potentially, for them, devastating fratricidal fiasco. There are, of course, no constants in life except for those created or made by Yahweh Himself. Having said that, it is beyond the pale to even attempt to rationalise such an outlandish challenge. It would be, ab initio, doomed to fizzle out if it ever were to start. Any attempt by known and unknown individuals or co-conspirators to distract the New Deal PLP from our march back to governance will fail or be beaten back. We are engaged in rebuilding and rebranding our party. It is a big tent and there is room for all who are sincere; progressive and patriotic. If you are unable or unwilling to engage in nation building under a motivated and visionary leader like Brave, there are mechanisms in place to challenge the party leader but this should not be played out as an episode of ‘The Game of Thrones’. The MP for Englerston is, I am sure, a good person in her own right but, even when she served the party as chairperson she displayed no outstanding attributes. Her political pedigree is exceptional but that alone, I submit, is not enough to qualify for leadership of the New Deal PLP. In less than two
years in office, the FNM has dashed the economic dreams of tens of thousands of unwashed and washed Bahamians. It appears to be a rudderless administration and one which has been carved out into mini and personal fiefdoms by the more assertive ministers. The results? The headless chicken is running around in circles and going nowhere sensible. This, dear reader, is the mantra of the bumbling FNM and the out of touch Prime Minister. There are only two major political entities in the nation. The Democratic National Arena (DNA) was well on the way to developing a real broad based support but, alas, mega egos and even bigger self delusional antics wasted and destroyed any real prospects for it becoming and remaining relevant, politically speaking. The abrupt departure of McCartney as leader dealt a death blow to the DNA. Mortimer, the current leader is publicly perceived as “too soft”. Mrs Komolaffe, God bless her too, does not appear to have the gravitas. She has great potential and I would encourage her to come back home to the PLP. I do not, of course, speak for the leadership but I do carry a little bit of influence. She’d be offered a secure nomination. Once she is elected and we are returned to power, no doubt she’d be appointed Minister of State for Finance. McCartney and Chris could come too, but those gentlemen have their own challenges. This, however, is no Game of Thrones. Brave is our leader and he is the man who will lead the New Deal PLP, God willing, into office by 2021......no this is not a typo mistake......I predict that by 2021 a majority of Bahamians and expats will be so incensed with the FNM that it will be obliged to come back to the electorate. To God then, in all things, be the glory. ORTLAND H BODIE Jr Nassau, September 11, 2018.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, September 24, 2018, PAGE 5
Suspect shot dead ‘pointed gun at police’ from page one Det Sgt Delancy said while on duty at the Central Detective Unit (CDU) on December 2, 2016, he was given instructions to continue an investigation into a police-involved shooting that occurred just days before in Nassau Village. Det Sgt Delancy said he met with officers Sergeant Ferguson and detective constables Brown and Storr, who were involved in the shooting. During those conversations, he said, the three officers gave similar accounts about what had happened. Det Sgt Delancy said the officers told him that shortly after 12pm on November 30, they went to house No 8, on Lee Street, Nassau Village after receiving information that Miller was at that location. At the time, Miller was wanted for
the attempted murders of three people. Upon arriving at the residence and heading to the rear, it was further claimed the three officers announced themselves to a group of men gathered in that area. After doing so, the group of men ran in a northern direction towards some bushes. Det Sgt Delancy said he was told that two of the men, one being Miller and the other being Rolle, produced “chrome coloured” handguns and pointed them in the direction of the police. Det Sgt Delancy said Sgt Ferguson claimed that upon seeing the weapons brandished by Rolle and Miller, he stopped his pursuit of the men. However, both Brown and Storr drew their service pistols and fired in the direction of the two gunmen. Rolle was consequently shot multiple times about
the body and fell to the ground. An autopsy report prepared by Forensic Pathologist Dr Caryn Sands said Rolle died from three bullet wounds — two to either side of his face and the other to the chest. Dr Sands said each of the injuries were potentially fatal. Meanwhile, Det Sgt Delancy said he was told Miller and the other men ran into the northern bushes. However, he said he was informed that Miller and the other men, namely a juvenile and two men named, Quinton Rolle and Raymond Albury, were pursued to the bushes by a team of other officers and later arrested. Det Sgt Delancy said when he interviewed Miller, the “prolific offender” said he was at his home raking up leaves when the police arrived. After he heard gunshots, he said he ran into some bushes. He claimed he never saw the deceased
with a gun, nor did he see when he was shot. Conversely, Det Sgt Delancy said the juvenile, when interviewed with his mother present, said he ran after the police fired the shots. And while running, he said he saw Rolle, who was known to him, reach into his waist and pull out a chrome-coloured handgun. However, the juvenile said he continued running and did not see when Rolle got shot because he was ahead of him. Meanwhile, Quinton Rolle claimed that when the police arrived, one of them ordered him to get on the ground, to which he complied. He said the other men who were with him, including the deceased, ran. Quinton Rolle said one of the officers stayed with him while he was on the ground. He said he later heard what sounded like two gunshots, before he heard one of the officers shout “he point a
gun at me!” However, Quinton Rolle said he did not witness the shooting because he was face down on the ground. Det Sgt Delancy said Albury, when interviewed, claimed he ran when the police arrived because he was in possession of marijuana. Albury also said he did not see when Rolle got shot. Detective Sergeant Mario Darrell, a crime scene investigator, said when he arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, he was led to the rear portion of the residence near a bushy area where he observed Rolle’s lifeless body lying on the western side of an unfinished building with gunshot wounds to the head and upper body, a black tam hanging on a tree, and a white cellphone. On the left side of the deceased was a black and silver pistol. Det Sgt Darell said after making his observations,
and after another officer took photos of the entire area, he collected and secured the firearm. After doing so, he said he discovered that the gun was a Millenium G2 9mm pistol, with 12 unfired 9mm bullets in the magazine, and one unfired 9mm bullet in the chamber. Det Sgt Darell said he took the firearm back to the Criminal Records Office and processed it for latent prints, a process that yielded negative results. However, he explained that it would be almost impossible to have left fingerprints from the lower portion of the gun, which, he said, was made of a coarse, hard, plastic material, and not smooth. The case continues. Romona FarquharsonSeymour represents the family of the deceased, while Bjorn Ferguson represents the three officers involved.
UWI SUBVENTIONS CAPPED AT 25 By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands has confirmed that the government will be capping the number of subventions allocated to medical students at the University of the West Indies to 25, noting this number is the “historic norm” that has increased “outside of policy” over recent years. Dr Sands added that UWI was notified of this decision “well in advance” of this current school year yet continued to accept students “with the expectation” that the Bahamian government would pay their tuition. Noting the challenge this creates for pupils, Dr Sands said the government has requested UWI provide it with the data of all students who have been accepted.
“At that point on a case by case basis, we can make decisions as a government as to whether or not there are students who have been inappropriately inconvenienced and whether some flexibility is applied this year,” Dr Sands said. “But moving forward certainly the number will be 25.” Dr Sands said UWI was notified in writing of the policy in early August. “And despite that, would have continued to accept students with the expectation that the government of The Bahamas would have paid their tuition, et cetera,” he said. “(This situation) has created a serious challenge for a number of (medical) students. We (are) deeply concerned about the aggravation that they and their families have had to go through, in large part because of the
university’s…less than efficient management of this admission process.” The Health Minister noted all scholarships fall under the remit of the Ministry of Education. However, he said, moving forward there will be more collaboration between the two ministries. When asked if the number of students who will receive the subvention this year has been confirmed, Dr Sands underscored nothing can be finalised without data. “We have requested the data. We have heard anecdotally about all these students that had been accepted. But we have not received any reports from UWI. And this is despite requesting these reports, repeatedly. It is impossible for the people of The Bahamas to write a blank cheque. And so, what if it’s 40? What if it’s
50? What if it’s 60? We don’t know. And so, the official position of the government of The Bahamas as of today is, and this is based on direct conversation between the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health, let us find out exactly what has transpired. “Let’s find out who the applicants are, when did they apply, what qualifications they have, what they have been promised by the university. And then it would allow us to make a determination as to not only what is the requirement of the government of the Bahamas this year, but when you’re talking about the careers of young physicians — it is almost unconscionable to give somebody an undertaking that you’re going to support them for medical school knowing that you cannot possibly see them through to their internship
MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands. government is trying to assist. and qualification years. “What we’re trying do “Bear in mind that the Princess Margaret Hospi- is get them to the point to tal internship programme be eligible for independent is accredited for a limited practice and/or be trained number of interns. And we in a specialty,” he said. “And so what we’re trying have been exceeding that to do, when you’re talking number each year.” On September 19, the about realistic expectations, Ministry of Health con- is to ensure that if we make firmed the number of a commitment to a young internship posts have been Bahamian, then that comreduced to 35 for the aca- mitment is real and at the other end that they don’t demic year 2019-2020. Dr Sands noted there is find themselves basically in currently a “glut” of 361 a no-man’s land, basically young doctors who the because of bad planning.”
SUSPECTS DETAINED AFTER POLICE SEIZE DRUG HAULS By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
TWO men are in police custody following the seizure of suspected marijuana valued at $15,000 in southwestern New Providence on Saturday. Police also recovered nearly $5,000 worth of suspected marijuana after conducting a search of a
residence in the Oakes Field area just hours before the first incident. According to reports, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers conducted a search of a residence on Hawthorn Road, Oakes Field, and recovered four plastic wraps containing suspected marijuana shortly after 4pm. The drugs weighed four pounds, 12 ounces and are
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PAGE 6, Monday, September 24, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
‘1,200 in work thanks to Labour on the Blocks’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net SOME 1,200 people have been permanently employed as a result of the government’s Labour on the Blocks initiative, according to Department of Labour officials giving the results of its eighth job fair. Despite notable success since its roll out, there are still many Bahamians who remain jobless. Four hundred and fifty job seekers turned up in search of work at the CV Bethel Senior High School on Saturday, with many them hoping to make a better life for themselves. Among them was 46-year-old Solana Rahming McGregor. Struggling for four years with no income, Ms McGregor told The Tribune, it has been “real rough” and now its seems nothing can go right in her life. For her, participating in the Labour on the Blocks initiative is more about regaining independence and putting an end to the financial crisis that has placed her on the edge of losing the home for which she worked hard. “If I find a job it will be better than what it is right now,” Ms McGregor said moments after she spoke to prospective employers, adding she hoped to be hired on the spot. “It’s really hard. Some
days you don’t have anything and you know how persons go. With me having a job I can do on my own, so the things I used to do and maybe catch up on some of the things that I missed out on where the bank would stop calling me and trying to take my house. No food, it’s really hard. “Then you going to social service they don’t want to help you. They running on with this and that it’s so unfair because if you don’t want to give me a job well feed me. You don’t give me food or you don’t help me what else is left for me to do? Either go out there and sell ma body or go and steal and no one want to do that.” She continued: “So I came here in hopes of getting hired. I have been unemployed for about four years. It’s hard and stressful. Nothing is going right, nothing at all.” McDonald Clarke, 25, is a slightly different in that finding work will help him to pay tuition at Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute where he wants to complete certification in general maintenance. “Basically I been to the job fair only trying to just get something to do for now to pay off my school fee. It’s really hard. You don’t have no one to support you. It’s just stress and pain and misery.” While he praised the success of the initiative, Labour Minister Dion
SOME of the attendees at the Labour on the Blocks event on Saturday. Foulkes reminded job seekers that there are jobs available. Mr Foulkes said: “We’d like to encourage Bahamians to seek jobs and to be prepared. Training is a vital thing that we have been doing. We just completed a skills symposium, which the prime minister graciously opened for us on (last) Monday and we are focusing on closing the skills gap between what’s demanded in the private sector and what’s available in terms of skills among our
workers and there is a big gap between the two. “We are trying to close that and we are trying to fix our curriculum within the educational institutions so that the curricula is relevant to the demands of the current and future job markets.” “We have so far processed 450 job seekers,” Mr Foulkes continued. “It went very smoothly and we did it all in about three to four hours. I’d like to thank all of the employers that are here today. We have some 20-business
Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff
establishments here today. For the first time we have the marine industry represented, we have both Aquamarine and Campbell’s Shipping here today and I am very pleased that they have come out. “As you know the prime minister has directed that the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education focus on the marine sciences and marine opportunities,” he said. “All of the businesses here have vacancies and we have spoken to each of them
and they all say that we are going to employ persons that they’ve interviewed today. “Some said as much as up to 40, one of them (and) a beauty establishment on Bay Street said they were looking for three persons and they have already identified two persons that they are going to employ. So from as much as 40 to as little as two, this has been a major success and so I would like to thank the business community for participating,” Mr Foulkes said.
UNION: GOVT WILL GET LUCAYAN MONEY BACK AND MORE By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
THE union representing Grand Lucayan workers believes the government
will recoup all financial expenses used to purchase the resort and more. Michelle Dorsette, President of the Commonwealth Workers Union of Hotel and Allied Workers, was
Death Notice George Loran Pyfrom, IV, 67
passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, 19th September, 2018, surrounded by loved ones at Doctor’s Hospital, Collins Avenue, Nassau. He is survived by wife, Susan Marie Pyfrom; daughter, Jennifer Marie and husband Jerry O’Sullivan; son, George Loran Pyfrom, V; granddaughters, Alana Lauren Pyfrom, Kelsey Marie Pyfrom and Caroline Harp O’Sullivan; sister, Ethelyn Rowena and husband Ronnie Lowe. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
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optimistic yesterday in response to reports the government’s total spend on the resort may far exceed the initial $65m paid to acquire it. This as insiders say back pay owed to workers since 2008 totals more than $2m, double the $1m previously reported. Ms Dorsette would not say whether this figure summed up arrears due to employees, but she confirmed figures were submitted the government relating to severance, money owed to the union and back pay. As he concluded debate on the resolution to secure the remaining $35m to shore up the Grand Lucayan sale, Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest last week said the hotel’s total financing needs, inclusive of the $65m purchase price, could almost double to $124m. “We didn’t want the burden to be on the government,” Ms Dorsette told The Tribune yesterday in
an interview. “We wanted Hutchinson not to get away with what is owed to the workers. “We were battling that but I just want people to understand we are not rejoicing because the government taking over. “These investors have to be held accountable and stop walking out leaving these things like this. Legislation has to be passed to stop these people from doing things like this. “But I have trust in the government that they will do the right thing. She continued: “I don’t think they are going to lose out, they are going to get back what they actually paying out and more. Governments are smart they are going to get their money back.” On Thursday night, Mr Turnquest further explained the government would come back to Parliament with a new resolution once the cost estimates were better defined. If the $124m figure proves
accurate, it means a further $59m will have to be found. He said: “It is important to point out that the cost related to the acquisition of the property does not represent the sum total of the Government’s commitment to see this project through. We are in the process of finalising what we believe will be the necessary resources in order to ensure the property remains viable; to ensure we undertake the immediate renovations and repairs that may be required; that we provide sufficient marketing and other operational support necessary to secure the onward sale of the property. Current estimates put the total capital financing needs around $124m, including the purchase price.” Mr Turnquest said future resolutions, if needed, “will capture any further guarantee needed of the Government to secure the full resources for supporting the operation of the
property while a new buyer is identified”. He added that the Board of Lucayan Renewal Holdings, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) that was “shepherding” what is intended to be temporary government ownership and the search for a viable buyer, had been given clear instructions to incur costs that are only absolutely necessary to minimise the taxpayer’s exposure. Mr Turnquest’s comments tie into the point Exuma’s and Ragged Island Chester Copper and other opposition member made during his contribution to debate. At the time, the Opposition said the $65m far from captures all the costs associated with acquiring and operating the resort, with Mr Cooper “conservatively” putting the overall cost at $100m. The government has maintained there would be catastrophic consequences for Grand Bahama should the hotel not be purchased.
DNA HITS OUT AT ‘LAZY’ RESORT PURCHASE By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE Minnis administration’s “lazy” purchase of the Grand Lucayan Resort has exposed a lack of “business and negotiating skills” on the government’s part, according to Democratic National Alliance Deputy Leader Arinthia Komolafe. Mrs Komolafe, in a statement, accused the government of taking the “easy way out” in purchasing the resort, and consequently expending “taxpayer funds” on a resort that “has been described as not making economic sense”. Mrs Komolafe further criticised Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ communication on the controversial purchase, saying it was “disappointing” and “fell short” on substance on the strategic, business and operational plans, interim measures and a detailed exit plan for the resort. Instead, she said Dr Minnis’ communications “raised more doubts about the government’s actions”. Last week, Dr Minnis revealed that the reason his administration stepped
away from the Wynn Group’s proposal for the Grand Lucayan in Grand Bahama was because its CEO wanted extraordinary concessions. According to Dr Minnis, Wynn Group CEO Paul Wynn asked to be given a 20 percent electricity discount rate, permission to employ 420 non-Bahamians for work on the project and an ability to have 15 percent preapproval on non-Bahamian employment without the need to apply for work permits. He also explained Mr Wynn wanted to be exempt from paying any increase in taxes along with an annual marketing subsidy of $750,000, no casino taxes and a commitment from the government to either buying or building a new airport within two years. Further, Dr Minnis said the government would have also had to agree to pay Mr Wynn for any losses he may have incurred with a guaranteed profit of seven percent. And that deal, Dr Minnis said, would have ultimately cost the government $159.65, substantially more than the $65m his administration will now pay to
temporarily own the hotel. However, Mrs Komolafe said Dr Minnis’ communication revealed that the “fundamental issues” confronting Grand Bahama’s economy—the cost and ease of doing business, serve as a “disincentive” to investment and investors. “Wynn’s requests reveal that investors are concerned about the cost of energy, anxiety over increasing taxes, inefficiencies within the public sector and The Bahamas’ overall competitiveness when compared with our regional counterparts,” Mrs Komolafe said. The DNA Deputy Leader further noted that comparisons between the total cost of the concessions requested by the Wynn Group and the price the government will pay seem “disingenuous and misleading”. “The $159.65m in concessions sought by Wynn appears to have at its core a fully functional Grand Lucayan with all three hotels operating as going concerns as opposed to the purchase of an asset with only one hotel in operation and without considering
costs related to repairs and operations on an ongoing basis,” she said. “A fair analogy can only occur when these additional costs and accompanying concessions are determined and communicated. Mrs Komolafe added: “By all accounts, massive subsidies, concessions and incentives will be required to address the issues with airlift, room inventory and the high cost of doing business in Grand Bahama (which is reflected in the concessions demanded by Wynn). A frank discussion on these and the corresponding plans remain outstanding. “…The government acting as a buyer of last resort cannot become our modus operandi as a nation. Not only is this approach unsustainable, it deprives essential services such as education, healthcare, national security and disaster recovery of much needed funding and investment. We implore the Minnis administration to abandon its lazy approach to governance and chart an economic course that can inspire Bahamians and incentivize investors.”
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
Would you invest here with declarations like this? By FRED SMITH QC
something sensible and make a fundamental change to entrench democThe PM’s edict that work racy in the Bahamas for the permits are to be reduced future, as a one-term PM, simply because too many I urge him to reform the have been issued is non- political process so that the sense and pure economic rule of law can take root suicide. and the Bahamas can grow The government cannot economically, by using his on the one hand encour- supermajority to change age Bahamian and foreign the constitutional strucdirect investment - which by ture so that Cabinet can necessity requires many for- be chosen from a broader eign work permits, while at cross-section of smart and the same time issuing racist, capable members of society xenophobic, insecure, as opposed to only from the myopic and counterproduc- limited number of Memtive pronouncements like bers of Parliament. this! Indeed, the constitutional I don’t understand why construct whereby Cabithe PM still thinks he’s in net is composed only of election mode. members chosen from both It is unnecessary for houses of parliament, runs him to make these grand counter to a democracy standing public pronounce- in which there are checks ments as if he’s trying to get and balances elected. between the ‘The PM has If I was executive and already a escaped the the legislative foreign or branches of reservation AGAIN domestic government. investor, I and has completely Despite our would make lost the foreign current conplans to close stitutional shop pretty and domestic Westminquickly, pack investment plot! ster model, my bags and In addition, it is because we go and find a are such a quite illegal and more invescountry unconstitutional to small tor-friendly, with a limited politically have such a policy number of stable, sensiMembers of ble, rational because every Parliament, business application for a the execuenvironment work permit must tive branch of elsewhere government, (but of course be considered on through the Bahamians its own particular Office of the can’t really do merits with Prime Ministhat because ter, holds the we still suffer respect to the majority of the under the yoke circumstances Members of of exchange surrounding Parliament in control). the governing Doing busi- that particular party hostage. ness in The application. They can Bahamas never utter It cannot be has become a sensible almost impos- arbitrary.’ criticism or sible with all operate as a of the arbitrary check and balance against policies that change from excess and or plain stupidday to day and between ity by the executive because administrations. The over- the majority are beholden control and suffocating red to the good graces of a tape keeps growing despite dictatorial Prime Ministhe government saying ter for their pay and perks it’s going to do something in Cabinet or salaries as about it. chairpersons of government Dr Minnis’s latest diktat boards all of whom are is uninformed, arbitrary, changeable at will by the gratuitous and unnecessary. There is no analysis as to why he has said this, it doesn’t reflect any consideration of whether or not there are or are not large projects that require work permits, to what extent permits have been issued under the Commercial Enterprises Act, and to what extent foreign or Bahamian investors have required workers and or other skilled labour to come in. The PM has escaped the reservation AGAIN and has completely lost the foreign and domestic investment plot! In addition, it is quite illegal and unconstitutional to have such a policy because every application for a work permit must be considered on its own particular merits with respect to the circumstances surrounding that particular application. It cannot be arbitrary. Government cannot have a general policy of simply not issuing any further work permits or simply reducing the number of work permits to be issued because it has reached some number that seems subjectively, to offend the PM and which he has pinned to the front page of newspapers as a demagogic badge of honour for voter effect three and a half years before the next election! Yes! The sand is running out! It is time for The Bahamas to be run by politicians and high level bureaucrats who have experience in business. If he wants to do
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. Prime Minister. The Westminster system works in the United Kingdom (or other large British Commonwealth nations) because in the UK they have over 650 members of parliament that can hold a small Cabinet accountable. Even the Speaker of the House, Mr Moultrie, appreciates this and recently called for a reduced number of cabinet members. The PM is inflicting economic recession on The Bahamas by scaring away current and potential domestic foreign investment. No wonder Freeport is on life support with this kind of attitude. Investors require a stable and predictable business and political environment; not successive governments and indeed current government’s blowing hot and cold on investment policies and laws. The PM keeps forgetting that the only thing that will help to grow the economy through domestic and or foreign direct investment is a prolonged manifestation by The Bahamas of respect for the rule of law. Arbitrary and wildly fluctuating political pronouncements terrify legitimate long-term
business planning investors. The PM also fails to recognise the countries that have been growing the fastest have all been countries which encourage foreign immigration so as to expand the economy with the human and capital resources they bring and by increasing critical population mass so that an economy grows. The Bahamas is underpopulated and Freeport, Grand Bahama, is an example where we actually need 100,000 to 200,000 foreign residents to bring prosperity to the island because we Bahamians do not have the financial economic capacity to do so. If the PLP had not been so rabidly racist, insecure and xenophobic, and if successive PLP and FNM administrations (except for a brief moment of partial sanity by the first Ingraham administration between 1992 to 1997) had not continued to over-control Freeport and break the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, the Magic City would be a humming economic engine in The Bahamas where hundreds of thousands of Bahamians and foreigners would working. That is what Freeport was originally created for. In addition the
Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staf government’s policy of continuing to approve investments everywhere other than Freeport, is also counterproductive. The government’s policy should be to prefer or direct investors such as the $100m Paul Wynn development on Cable Beach to Freeport, Grand Bahama. There is no reason why that development could not be insisted upon in Freeport, where the land is less expensive, the infrastructure is better and there is a desperate need for jobs and economic growth. Yet in Nassau, it has been approved on a tiny little strip of land, where there is horrible road congestion, the infrastructure cannot provide for continuing expansion, and the economy is already growing steadily. Yet the government continues to allow foreigners who wish to invest to dictate where they wish to do so instead of having a national development plan which The Planning and Subdivision Act requires. As Judge Bain pronounced in her recent judgment regarding the PSA in one of the Nygard Judicial Reviews, the PSA requires a National Land Use Plan to be developed for New Providence and
each of the Family Islands. Instead of making grandstanding and grandiose public pronouncements that erode confidence in the rule of law and detract from stability and thereby help to destroy opportunities for Bahamians, I urge the PM to be more circumspect and careful in his public pronouncements as domestic and foreign investors gauge the temperature for investing by what the leader of the country says. I urge him instead to say less, adopt a policy for the immigration department to liberalise immigration, cut out all the red tape for domestic and foreign investment, and follow through on the requirements of various pieces of well drafted legislation that will actually help to grow the economy in a sensible and rational fashion. In addition, the Government can’t be driving The Bahamas to sign on to the WTO and become part of the Global Economy while at the same time arbitrarily closing our doors to Immigration. It is simply contradictory and makes absolutely no sense. Say less and do more please, Prime Minister Minnis.
PAGE 8 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
Hutchison must be laughing all the way to the bank By MALCOLM STRACHAN THERE are bad deals and then there are ones that are historically egregious – those that leave us perplexed how one could possibly agree the terms involved. The raw deal made for the Grand Lucayan definitely fits the bill as one of the worst set of negotiations ever performed by a Bahamian government. The Bahamian people, even more confounded after listening to the prime minister’s address on Thursday, are no doubt fearful of what may come. These fears are justified, as the prime minister and company are proving to be serially poor negotiators. The controversial Oban deal, which the prime minister was nearly run out of town for, raised many red flags. Yet that in some ways was not even as alarming as the government’s decision to purchase the Grand Lucayan under the shocking terms it has agreed to. While the prime minister continues to tout the $65m purchase price as some major victory, he could not be more disingenuous. During his address, the prime minister outlined the costs the government would have had to bear if Paul Wynn purchased the resort – over $159m in subsidies and concessions. His attempt to portray Paul Wynn as the “antagonist businessman trying to swindle the Bahamian people” and the
government as the “protagonists purposed to save the country” fell flat. What Prime Minister Minnis - no doubt with complete intention - omitted is that the $65m price tag to purchase the resort is just the tip of the iceberg. Digging into the specifics, we must be mindful that the initial $30m is being taken from the contingency fund. The government, in a bewildering move, is borrowing $35m from Hutchison Whampoa at a 4 percent interest rate to buy the resort.
along – whenever that will be. Seriously, of all the supposedly smart people in the room, was this really the best that they can come up with? The prime minister’s attempt to liken the Grand Lucayan purchase to former US President Barack Obama’s auto industry bailout nearly a decade ago is also a mischaracterisation. The former president did not assume ownership of the industry. He merely provided an injection of money. Minnis’ apples-toonions comparison could
‘While the government is obviously willing to give away the farm to inject Grand Bahama with a stimulus, the track record it is creating will not bode well for future negotiations with other foreign investors. The stench of desperation permeates off this government and it seems it was obvious to the previous owners.’ If we can pause for a second to let that sink in – what government buys a resort located in its jurisdiction, but borrows more than half of the cost from the seller? Reprehensibly, the prime minister pontificated about how this was in the best interest for all Bahamians. No vision of how jobs are going to be created. Really, no vision of anything, as the government’s plan to protect the jobs of the employees do not go beyond keeping the hotel’s doors open until a more appropriate owner comes
have only made sense had the government been using its resources to fund marketing and airlift initiatives to increase heads in beds – all of which the Ministry of Tourism already does. Seemingly, the government’s sole goal here is to pat itself on the back for delivering on something it promised on the campaign trail. It is embarrassing, to say the least. Mounting costs inclusive of stamp tax, interest on the loan, employee backpay, union obligations and
severance packages, costs for operational losses, legal fees and inventory costs undoubtedly have Hutchison laughing all the way to the bank. We would not be surprised if the government ends up purchasing the inventory that Hutchison Whampoa has so boldly demanded to keep. Conservatively, we ought not be surprised if these ballooning costs end up doubling what the government has so disingenuously indicated on the face of the sale. Particularly, once renovations begin, it may not be long before there are new revelations surrounding this gigantic sinkhole of an expense. Surely, the government has done a number on the Bahamian people with this latest gaffe. While Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, during his contribution to Parliament, indicated the costs to renovate the resort would total nearly $39m, we must ask why such a huge disparity between the government’s and the Wynn Group’s assessments? Paul Wynn said in August the resort would cost in the neighbourhood of $110-120m to open the properties. That is around a 65 percent increase from what the government has forecasted. Unfortunately, based on the government’s amateurish handling of this sale and lack of transparency, chances are the Wynn Group’s cost analysis is
probably the most accurate. After all, as a business with expertise in the real estate arena, whereas the government does not, the likelihood is much higher they know what they are talking about. While the government is obviously willing to give away the farm to inject Grand Bahama with a stimulus, the track record it is creating will not bode well for future negotiations with other foreign investors. The stench of desperation permeates off this government and it seems it was obvious to the previous owners. Although the prime minister has said no investor will “put a gun to his head” on the resale of the resort, he certainly has done a poor job of explaining how he allowed the government to be strongarmed into the purchase of the Grand Lucayan. Too often, the prime minister speaks to the electorate as if we are of low intelligence. Equating lack of support for this appalling deal to lack of support for Grand Bahama has to be one of the most moronic statements ever uttered by a prime minister. Surely, he has to know that. That is why it is so unfortunate to see the prime minister continuously reach into his playbook to either preach “gloom and doom” in hopes to scare us into rallying behind him or bemoan what the previous administration did as a precursor to his actions. Let’s face it. This government obviously lacks vision, creativity and is out of its wits. In trying to understand the government’s reasoning to follow through with its negotiations with Hutchison Whampoa, perhaps the central focus was to prevent what the prime
minister calls an “economic collapse” of Grand Bahama. However, if we are to be honest, the collapse did not begin yesterday. The government had ample time to come into office with a progressive plan for Grand Bahama. Instead, we are watching them fumble through amateur hour – unable to make the Bahamian people believe we are being led by a visionary government. To be fair, if the government truly believes what they are doing is the right course of action, then they should have published the economic analysis that showed purchasing the Grand Lucayan to be the best path forward. That is what should have been done, rather than patronising the electorate like we are a group of children. Because as it stands, everything the government has said has pointed to absolute ineptitude as it pertains to this purchase. Hutchison Whampoa’s clinic on how to successfully outsmart a Bahamian government was definitely a grand slam for the Chinese in our country. Successive administrations continue to exhibit a complete lack of fortitude when it comes to being tough on China. While the prime minister may bluster about telling foreign investors where their requests can go and “how deep”, he certainly sung a much higher pitched tone as the government was being shafted on this deal. With yet another burden on the taxpayers as a result of this purchase and costs all but certain to increase, the Minnis administration may have placed another nail in their political coffins.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 PAGE 9
Lighthouse Point - here’s what Disney has to say By JEFF VAHLE President, Disney Cruise Line THE people of Eleuthera are truly one of a kind. During my recent trip to the island, we stopped in Bannerman Town on the way to Lighthouse Point. Under a Poinciana tree, a few people were gathered and we walked over to introduce ourselves. We were invited to sit and talk and against the backdrop that will also increase visits of the most beautiful island to New Providence. day, we talked of Eleuthera In Eleuthera, we plan to and its unique history. give our guests the opporThe crowd grew and tunity to relax, spend time there were lots of questions with family and to explore about the project Disney the stories of this special would like to bring to the place. While the previously island. I am sure there were approved development for a few sceptics about our this property included plans true intentions, especially for hundreds of homes, congiven what some people and dominiums, villas, a hotel groups are saying. Sceptics and 140-slip marina conor not, people talked and structed in the salt ponds, they stopped to listen. what Disney wants to do We are humbled by is different. Very different. the warm welcome that In fact, our development Eleutherans is designed have shown ‘Simply put, we to have as us and for the little impact strong sup- want to work as possible on port we have with The Bahamas the natural received for to create an environment. our proposed Simply put, project from international we want to so many on destination that work with the island. The Bahamas protects and The histo create an tory between sustains the international Disney and natural beauty destination The Baha- of this historic that protects mas is a long and sustains one, 20 years location; that the natural in fact. And creates quality jobs beauty of it is a relathis historic and opportunity tionship that location; that benefits us for Bahamians; creates qualboth in some that celebrates ity jobs and important opportunity the culture, and ways – from for Bahathe $40m we that strengthens mians; that contribute celebrates the the community directly to the culture, and economy each in Eleuthera.’ that strengthyear to the ens the 150 quality employment community in Eleuthera. opportunities we provide From an environmenfor Bahamians to the nearly tal perspective, we are $3m we have invested in absolutely committed to environmental conserva- doing the right thing – and tion programmes. would never risk the natuIn turn, the beauty and ral beauty of Eleuthera or hospitality of The Bahamas our long-standing commithas contributed to our suc- ment in this space by doing cess. Seventy-five percent otherwise. of our cruises visit here each What has often been foryear to the enjoyment of gotten in discussions about countless families. It is only our plans is that the propnatural we would first invite erty is privately owned and The Bahamas to be part of has been on the market for our expansion plans – plans quite some time. We are
THE DISNEY proposal for the land. committed to giving more than 170 acres of what is currently privately-owned land to the Government for conservation. We also plan to preserve the more than 100 acres of salt ponds on the property. This focus on conservation means only approximately 20 percent of the property will be developed, much of it for low-density use like the placement of beach chairs and umbrellas and the creation of small support
structures for things like restrooms, shops and dining. We have no plans to develop the southern-most point of the property or to allow our Disney guests to visit it. Furthermore, we will use sustainable design and building practices for the areas we do intend to develop. For example, current plans include the construction of an opentrestle pier that would have a much smaller footprint and impact on natural
ocean currents than a traditional pier design and that requires minimal, if any, dredging. We also intend to use solar power for much of our operation. In addition to providing full access to the property for Bahamians, our plan will create 120 to 150 permanent, quality employment opportunities, encompassing a breadth of disciplines, as well as management positions and opportunities for career
advancement. At our other Disney destination, Castaway Cay, the current average wage is more than 50 percent higher than the Bahamian minimum wage and employees receive health benefits and work full-time schedules with the opportunity for overtime. With guests expected to be in port three to five days per week year-round and the need to complete a variety of projects on non-port days, these roles will provide much needed employment stability. Beyond these employment opportunities, hundreds of indirect jobs will be created, along with positive economic impact through construction, port adventures hosted by Bahamians showcasing Eleuthera’s unique sites, opportunities for the sale of Bahamian goods, and relationships with Bahamian vendors and other partners. Finally, I want to stress our commitment goes beyond our plans for this property. As in all the communities in which we do business, we will work to strengthen the settlements in Eleuthera, with a special focus on children and families. We also will work with Government and community partners to maintain and restore significant historical and cultural sites and integrate Bahamian voices and artistic expression into the design. Together, we will make sure it is rooted in the same kind of Bahamian stories and traditions I learned about during my recent visit. It is because of this broader commitment to Eleuthera and to The Bahamas that I believe we will find common ground with those who question our plans. But, we can only find that common ground when we use facts as the basis for dialogue. We have never been more committed to The Bahamas and its people, and we hope our proposal for Eleuthera will become a model for sustainable development. In the meantime, we remain open and willing to talk, especially if we can meet under a Poinciana tree in Bannerman Town.
PAGE 10 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018
INSIGHT
A Service of Thanksgiving & Reflection for INSPECTOR CARLIS BLATCH will be held 7:00 p.m. on Monday, 24th September, 2018, at New Birth Deliverance Kingdom, Churchill Drive, corner opposite Sugar Kid Bowe, Soldier Road. The Public is invited.
Full Military Funeral Service for Police Inspector Carlis Ricardo McPhee Blatch Sr., 45 a resident of #98 Bacardi Road, Nassau and formerly of Mangrove Cay, South Andros, will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, 26th September, 2018 at the Church of God Auditorium, Joe Farrington Road. Officiating will be Pastor Practon Patton, assisted by Ministers Fredrick Delancey and Bridgette Smith. Interment will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens, John F. Kennedy Drive. Cherish and found memories will always linger in the hearts of his family and friends: Mother: Mary Alice (Lilly) Blatch; Father: Sidney McPhee Sr.; Grandmother: Louise (Blossom) Wilson; Step Mother: Francis McPhee; Children: Carleisa, Casandra, Carlis Jr. And Carlissa Blatch, Ethan Farrington (Step-son); Brothers: Marcus Blatch, Fredrick King, Lennox, Jeremy, Eugene, Sidney McPhee Jr, Dr. Vernard McPhee; Sisters: Darcel Blatch, Larita Candy Blatch-Jones, Nicola McPhee, Tamara Dorsett; Brothers-inlaw: Michael Jones and Nolan Dorsett; Sister-in-law: Keva King, Quatrenda Sears-Blatch, Dr. Nevillene McPhee; Aunties: Leanna Clarke, Yvonne Bethel, Williamae Lotmore, Advilda Dames, Julianne Black; Uncles: Donald Lotmore, George, Edward, Anthony Clarke, James, Dave Black; Nieces: Michaela, Kyra, Zaria, Kiara, Mikaylah, Garlean & Chynesta; Nephews: Malik, Tyshawn, David Jr, Michael Jr, Shorne Jr, Lawrence, Fredrick Jr., Angelo, Ahmari, Payton, Nolan Jr., Marvaret & Marraret; God Children: Prexavieo Bowleg & Lethavian Adderley; Cousins: Nurse Andrea & PC 1844 Deveaux, Eldridge & Nikki Rolle, Robyn & Tony Lindsay, Juan, Khristina & Orthal Green, Prenecia Rolle, Mark, Daniel, Christopher, Kevin, Alexis, Angelo, Kadesha, Dante Carlos, PC 2938 Andrew Clarke, Martha, Deborah Thompson, Leona Dean, James Jr., Jaradth, Jarrit, Jachris, Davia, Davion Black, Jarade Bain, Christine, Claudia, Conner, Caleb, Eva Lee, Seth, Jabrie, Jaliyah, Loreano, Laylaiah Joseph, Naomi Deveaux, Martha Jones, Queenie & Charles Barry, Esther Green, Alexis, Akeem Green, Ashely Brown, Tony Symonette, Shane, Shannon, Ashton Dean, Elizabeth & Rodrick McDonald, Princess Campbell, Diana, Yvonne, Virginia, Firstina Green, Irene & Nikita Munnings, Annamae & Shervin Archer, Eriamae & Carla Saunders, Cassandra & Nathaniel Perry, Rosalind & Bruce Coleman, Grenik & Eulamae Rolle, Tyrone & Vernita Dean, Oscar & Natasha Dean, Cecil & Rosemary Major, William Green, Bennett Green, Charles, Phillip Major, Latario, Utha Butler, Anthon Dixon-Jones, Andy Murray, Christine Neely, Franklin Gibson, Terrance Gilbert, Delano, Samantha Mackey, Charlene, Trevor Barry, Anthony, Nelson Rolle, Fred Green, Retired Superintendent Alexander & Mildred Blatch, Eddison and Livingston Butler, Wellington Blatch Shanika Davis, Tiffany Williams, Sharvon, Nyoka Major, Paulette Taylor & Family, Sandra, Agatha, Rica Dames & Family, Tiffany Davis, Sharon Major, Herman & Gretchen Bowe, Hilton Rolle, Janice, Dion & Bertran Bethel Jr., Ricardo & Jermaine Lotmore, Petra Cooper, Jovell Moss, Maxine Knowles, Mildred Henfield, Trudymae Smith, Eldora Rolle, Ethal, Orale, Kendal, Raynard McPhee, Margret Taylor, Valentina Dean, Christopher & Cynthia Bullard, Ravanna Masson; Other Relatives & Friends: Her Excellency The Most Honorable Dame Marguerite Pindling ON, GCMG & Family, Secretary of the Governor General & Staff of Government House, Sir Arthur GCMG & Lady Joan Foulkes & Family, Former Governor General Hon. Arthur D. Hanna & Family, Former Governor General Her Excellency Dame Ivy Dumont DCMG & Family, Minister of National Security Hon. Marvin Dames & Family, Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Police Force Staff Association, C. Yvette McCartney-Meredith, Rev. Charles Culmer (The Walking Bible), Shannon Albury, Judith Williams, Leona McCartney, Elda Blatch, Joan Greene-Bowe, Zelma Rolle, Bishop La Rodney Rolle, Kathleen Fritz, Geletha Rolle, Krystal Farrington-Blatch, Rev. Charles Culmer (The Walking Bible), John & Charlene Neely, Sandra Gordon, Mark, Cleveland, Elliot Green, Slim Green, Lenora Braynen, Curlene Thompson-Forbes, Elmara Percentie, Princess Bain, Elda Blatch, Karen Kemp, Dawnique Maycock, Mary, Hilton, Clotilda Rolle, Darese Stuart, Oscar & Magelena Bullard-Penn, Maxine, Dorothy, Cathleen, Bernadette, Pearline, Shirley, Agatha Javarah, Charles, Joycelyne, Inez, Bulah, Robertha, Cordell Thompson, Natasha, Monique Sears, Martin Ferguson, Sandra Curry, Neville & Karen Gray, Krystal Farrington-Blatch, Michelle Bartlette, Michelle Ferguson, Tiffany Frazer, Cop Nairn & Family, Rev. Moses, Clothie, Thelma and the Pennerman Family, Rev. Evadney Fox, Gloria Bain, Beautimae Saunders & Family, Patterson Bowleg & Family, Melva Bastian & Family, Ethlyn Smith & Family, Rita King & Family, Brendamae McPhee & Family, Rev. Dr. Wilfred Stubbs & Family, Rev. Christopher Smith & Family, Rev. David Wallace & Family, Rev. Keith Robinson & Family, Rev. Hubert King & Family, Prenell Clarke & Family, Mrs. Annamae Clarke-Rolle & Family, Mr. Ornald Greene & Family, Mrs. Dorothy Green and Family, Pastor Mike Thompson & Family Mr. Andy Bowleg & Family, Arnold & Mavis Jackson & family, Martha Ferguson & Family, Irish Paul & Family, Rupert Ferguson & Family, Bernice Bullard & Family, Burnal Bullard & Family, Albertha Bullard & Family, The Bullard clan of Harry Cay, Exuma, Henfield Bullard & Family, Florida Rolle & Family, Rudymae McPhee-Turnquest, Louse McPhee & Family, Etta Johnson, Miriam Bain, Dolly Ferguson, Andrea Saunders, Shirley McPhee, Leroy McPhee, Doree Strachan, Paulette Taylor & Family, Nathalie Taylor & Family, Sandra, Agatha and Rica Dames, Mr. Jeffery Jolly & Family, Pastor Curlene Saunders and Family, Mrs. Virginia Jones and family, Mr. Ralph Moxey & Family, Mrs. Sylvia Green & Family, Mrs. Brenda Belle & Family, Mrs. Veronica Outten & Family, Salem Union Baptist Church Family, St. Luke Baptist Church Family, Member of Parliament Mr. Picewell Forbes, Mangrove Cay High School Class of 1992, Pastor Practon Patton & Co Pastor Valarie Patton of Newbirth Deliverance Kingdom Ministries & Family, Mangrove Cay, Andros District and many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. Relatives and friends may pay their respects from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 25th September, 2018, at the Paul Farquharson Conference Centre, Royal Bahamas Police Force Headquarters, East Street and at the Church of God Auditorium on Wednesday, 26th September, 2018 from 9:30 a.m. until service time.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
ALMAGRO - MORE A GENERAL THAN SECRETARY A FURORE surrounded Luis Almagro, the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), after the Associated Press (AP) reported him as encouraging military intervention in Venezuela to topple the government of President Nicolas Maduro. The AP, on September 14, reported Almagro as saying: “With respect to a military intervention to overthrow Nicolas Maduro’s regime, I don’t think any option should be ruled out. What Nicolas Maduro’s regime is perpetrating are crimes against humanity, the violation of the human rights and the suffering of people that is inducing an exodus. Diplomatic actions should be the first priority, but we shouldn’t rule out any action.” The reported remarks led to a flurry of outraged responses from left-wing groups in Latin America and the Caribbean and to the Venezuelan Vice President, the indomitable Delcey Rodriguez, tweeting that “Venezuela will refer Almagro to the United Nation and other international bodies since he has been using the OAS General Secretariat in a vulgar and grotesque manner in order to promote a military intervention in our homeland and an attack on the peace in Latin America and the Caribbean”. Even 11 Latin American and Caribbean countries (members of the so-called “Lima Group”), normally supportive of a tough stance against the Maduro government, raised eyebrows. They issued a statement expressing their “rejection of any course of action or declaration that implies a military intervention or the exercise of violence, threat or the use of force against Venezuela”. Whether it was the evident distance that several OAS member states were placing between themselves and Almagro, or his own sincere belief that AP had misquoted him, the Secretary-General used the public relations machinery of the OAS to deny the report of his remarks, and to interpret it in his own way. On September 16, he denied that he “favoured armed aggression”, insisting the report “is not true”. Almagro stated that in saying that, in relation to Venezuela, “all courses of action must be left available” and “no option should be disregarded”, he meant actions should be taken within the Inter-American system as well as within the confines of public international law. “No one should dare to reframe or reposition my words in any other way,” he trumpeted. What all this has laid bare is the increasing dysfunctionality of the OAS and its increasing drift away from serving the collective interest of its 34 member states. Shortly after Almagro’s assumption of the Secretary-General’s role in 2015,
World View
By SIR RONALD SANDERS
it became obvious he was more “General” than “Secretary”. He is undoubtedly a “political” mind and a man of strong conviction who became contemptuous of the OAS Permanent Council, the organ responsible for the reflection and articulation of governments’ views on events and developments in the Americas. Swiftly, he separated the Secretary-General’s office from the Permanent Council, striking his own pose on issues and making his own statements.
ORGANIZATION of American States Secretary-General Luis Almagro. The Permanent Council bears much of the blame for the rise of Almagro’s unauthorised outspokenness and its total lack of management of his role. For example, up to the time of writing this commentary, the Permanent Council has not convened a meeting to discuss the widespread report that Almagro encouraged a military intervention in a member state, or his own subsequent denial. Further, the council preoccupies itself with matters such as celebrating birth and death anniversaries of poets and issues that would be better left to technical committees. These matters all have their place and merit attention, but not by the Permanent Council which ought to deal with the pressing issues and with the hard task of negotiating collective and sustainable positions that would benefit the Americas as a whole. In his September 16 remarks, published on the OAS website, Almagro made it clear he is not so “attached to the position of Secretary-General”; nonetheless he “will not leave”. His passionate declaration about “fighting against the Venezuelan dictatorship until it falls” was palpable. This latter statement reveals a deeply personal position that is not consistent with the duties and obligations of the Secretary-General of an organisation which should continuously work diplomatically and politically
“to prevent possible causes of difficulties and to ensure the pacific settlement of disputes that may arise among the Member States” and “to seek the solution of political, juridical, and economic problems that may arise among them”. Interestingly, Almagro frames the current situation in Venezuela in the context of the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia, where thousands were massacred between 1975 and 1979, and in the appalling 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Few would agree with Almagro that events in Venezuela deserve comparison with Cambodia and Rwanda. His exaggeration in this comparison departs from reality and weakens the constructive role of the OAS of which he is supposed to be the public face. Almagro also invoked the unsettled concept, debated in the United Nations, of what he called “the Right to Protect” which he says is the last hope “for the victims and the oppressed”. But there is no such thing as a “right to protect” in the Inter-American system or in settled international law. In 2005, at a high-level UN World Summit meeting, countries committed to the principle of the “responsibility” to protect, but they limited their responsibility to protecting their own populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Further, they accepted a collective responsibility to encourage and help each other uphold this commitment in accordance with the United Nations Charter. Article 2.7 of the UN Charter is clear: “Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorise the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state”. The OAS’ own charter mimics the restriction on interference in domestic affairs. So, unless the memberstates of the OAS wish to tear-up their own charter and disregard the UN Charter, the options available to them and to the SecretaryGeneral are contained in the hard-work of diplomacy, which should include public condemnation of all parties that contribute to human suffering, to migration and to perils for neighbouring states. That is the work that still lies before the OAS. • Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com. The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States. The views expressed are his own.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 PAGE 11
IT’S NOT A FANTASY - LIVE YOUNGER, LONGER, BETTER By DR DESIREE COX, MD, PhD
LONGEVITY. Not your concern if you’re in your 20s right? Wrong. Living to 120 or 150 years old. Sounds absurd at best, or an obsession for the top one percent of the population, right? Wrong again. What if we thought of longevity (and preventing ageing) as living younger, longer and better? The United Nations warns that population ageing will likely be the most significant social transformation of our time; and that it will impact all aspects of society from labour, financial, housing, and transportation markets to health and social protection. People aged 60 and over make up 13 percent of the global population; this sector of the population is growing at three percent a year, faster than all younger age groups. In 2017, there are an estimated 962 million people aged 60 or over in the world. The number of older people in the world is projected to be 1.4 billion in 2030 and 2.1 billion in 2050, and could rise to 3.1 billion in 2100. The 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population will rise to nearly 24 percent from 15 percent representing nearly a quarter of the population by 2050 in all regions of the world except Africa. Dr Aubrey de Grey is
DR DESIREE COX chief science officer of the SENS Research Foundation, vice president of New Technology Discovery at AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. Dr de Grey - one of the world’s leading experts and advocates of longevity, rejuvenation and ageing prevention - will be one of the plenary speakers at the 2018 Inaugural HEALinc Future Health Innovation Summit, October 7-9 at the Melia Hotel, in Nassau. I recently interviewed Dr de Grey on this subject. “Prevention,” Dr de Grey explained “is a slightly dangerous word in the context of ageing because its accuracy depends on your perspective. Really, rejuvenation biotechnology (which is essentially regenerative medicine for ageing) is the sweet spot between prevention and treatment.” As for whether rejuvenation is possible, Dr de Grey’s position mirrors mine. “The best proof’,
TIPS FOR ROAD SAFETY
Police advice
By SERGEANT NATHALIE RANGER
BE responsible while driving and walking. For your safety and the safety of others, you must follow these rules. Never drink and drive Alcohol causes a number of impairments that lead to car accidents. The consumption of alcohol while driving causes blurred vision and loss of consciousness. Drinking and driving is an offence and is punishable by law. Always wear a seat belt Wearing a seatbelt can save your life and it reduces the risk of serious injury during an accident. There is a greater chance of surviving when wearing a seatbelt. Avoid distractions while driving Distracted driving is any activity that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off your primary task of driving safely. Pedestrian safety We all are pedestrians from time to time, so it is important to pay attention to what is going on around us. To stay safe walking, follow these rules. Walk facing traffic when walking on the side of the road If there is no sidewalk and you must walk on the side of the road, choose the side where you are facing oncoming traffic. This gives you the best chance to see traffic approaching closest to you. Cross safely Look both ways before crossing any street. Make eye contact with any drivers who may be turning. Give them a wave. Make sure they see you. Walk single file when not separated from the road Unless you are on a sidewalk separated from the road or you are in a wide pedestrian lane, you should walk in single file. This is especially important on a road with curves and where traffic has only a split second chance of seeing you before hitting you. Stay aware of bikes and runners Share the road and path with bikes and runners. Bike riders should alert you when approaching from behind with a bike bell. Listen for them, and move to walk single file, allowing them to pass safely. Runners should also call out for passing.
Be visible Wear bright colours when walking in daytime. When walking at night, wear light-coloured clothing and reflective clothing or a reflective vest to be visible. Drivers are often not expecting walkers to be out after dark, and you need to give them every chance to see you. Be just as cautious at dawn or twilight, as drivers still have limited visibility or may even have the setting or rising sun directly in their eyes. Be predictable Make a practice of staying on one side of the path while walking rather than weaving randomly from side to side. Watch your arm motions, or you may end up giving a black eye to a silently passing walker, runner, or biker. Keep the volume down Don’t drown out your environment when listening to your headphones. Keep the volume at a level where you can still hear warnings from other walkers, bikers and runners. Hang up and eyes up Chatting, texting, or playing games on a mobile device while you walk is as dangerous as doing those things while driving. You are distracted and not as aware of your environment. You are less likely to recognise traffic danger, passing joggers and bikers or tripping hazards. Potential criminals see you as a distracted easy target. Adopt habits that can keep your phone in your pocket, or at least stop in a safe place to complete your phone tasks before moving on. Know when to stop walking Heat sickness, dehydration, heart attack or stroke can strike walkers of any age. Learn the symptoms of medical emergencies and carry a cell phone to dial 919 or 911. Be aware of stranger danger Choose your walking route for paths frequented by other walkers, joggers, and bikers. If you see someone suspicious, be prepared to alter your course or go into a store or public building to avoid them. Acting alert and aware can convince bad guys to choose an easier target. For more information, contact the National Crime Prevention Office on 3028430, 3028431, 3028154 or visit www.royalbahamaspolice.org.
he says “is the fact that we already do it, very successfully indeed, on simple man-made machines like vintage cars. The human body is far more complex, but it’s still a machine, so its function is determined by its structure, and preventative maintenance just restores that structure.” Fair enough. What does this have to do with people their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s? Everything. Turns out, age is more than just a number. Your age is written in your immune system. You could be 21 years old but have the immune profile of a 60-year-old because of your diet and nutrition, your activity level, the level of toxicity you are exposed to due to your job, your genetics, your sleep patterns and more. Meaning, you might not have overt signs of sickness or disease at the moment, but you could headed in that direction faster than you might think. Dr de Gray predicts we have a good chance of
developing rejuvenation technologies that are good enough to repair people so that, for all intents and purposes, it will seem to their minds and bodies they have been taken back in time ageing-wise - by a couple of decades. “In other words,” says Dr de Grey, “say you’re 60 at that time, you won’t be biologically 60 again until you’re say 90. And by then the therapies will be working a lot better, so we’ll be able to ‘re-rejuvenate’ you so that you won’t be biologically 60 for the third time until you’re maybe 150. And so on.” We will be discussing optimal health as well as some of the research that is already talking place in The Bahamas to help people combat ageing frailty and live younger, longer and better at the 2018 HEALinc Future Health Innovation Summit. Presenters on this subject include: • Dr Aubrey de Grey, PhD, Rejuvenation
Biotechnology: Why Age May Soon Cease to Mean Ageing; • Professor Joshua Hare, MD, FACC, FAHA, University of Miami and Longveron); • Prospect for Regenerative Medicine to Treat Ageing and Ageing-Related Medical Conditions, Dr David Haase, MD (CMO, MaxWell Biosciences), Tending the Soil to Sprout the Seed: Heterochronic Optimised Plasma Exchange (HOPE) Induces a Regenerative Phenotype in Native Aged Stem Cells; • Dr Jeff Gladden, MD FACC (Apex HHPO) Key Mindsets and Insights for Optimising Health, High Level Human Performance and Longevity; • Dr Ritamarie Loscalzo, PhD (Dr.Ritamarie.com), Nutrigenomics in Action: Using the Power of Food to Optimise Gene Expression. Don’t miss out. Registration for special one-day passes for the summit and special
senior citizen discounts are available online using the promocode hfhs18seniors. Register on www.healincfuturehealthsummit.com. For more information, contact the summit organising team: USA/Canada (877) 426-5361; Bahamas (855) 826-1165; Worldwide (716) 442-3798. Dr Desirée Cox (www. desireecox.com) is the founder and CEO of the 2018 Inaugural HEALinc Future Health Innovation Summit (www. healincfuturehealthsummit. com). She is the first Bahamian Rhodes Scholar and first female British Caribbean Rhodes Scholar, a medical doctor, creative artist and published author. She has earned degrees from McGill, Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Her career achievements include honours from Oxford University and the British Medical Journal. In 2013, a 70-cent stamp bearing her photograph was issued by The Bahamas Government.
PAGE 12, Monday, September 24, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
A YELLOWFIN TUNA
Longline fishing ‘must not be allowed’ from page one
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of developing sustainable pelagic fisheries for commercial fishermen, it would not support any legislation that allowed such a devastating practice. In her statement, she noted comments made by Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard, stating the intent of his Ministry and the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to explore expanding commercial fishing to species such as tuna. “The BNT is aware that many pelagic species are already being fished daily in Bahamian waters and has not taken a position opposing Bahamian fishermen targeting these fish,” the statement read. “What the BNT has raised with the Minister and DMR officials are concerns regarding the use of unsustainable and destructive methods. The BNT is aware
that there are persons advocating for the amendment of Bahamas fishery legislation to allow for longline fishing. This practice is known around the world to have devastating effects on marine resources. The statement continued: “The BNT would not necessarily stand in opposition to commercial fishermen exploring the feasibility of developing sustainable pelagic fisheries, but we are emphatically opposed to the establishment of a long-line fishery within the Bahamian Economic Exclusive Zone.” Longline fishing is the use of hook and line gear that can have thousands of baited hooks on lines which extend many kilometres (km) from the vessel. Long lines can be used to fish Pelagics near the surface using floats, or near the bottom using weights; depending upon the targeted species, Ms Cant Woodside explained.
“Longlining has been responsible for the decimation of fisheries around the globe, resulting in huge amounts of waste, as sharks, marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, other non-targeted fish and juveniles end up on the line,” the statement continued. “This fishing method may not destroy entire habitats when compared to destructive methods like bottom trawling (also known as dredging), but is deemed extremely wasteful and a significant contributor to the decline of marine resources generally. Ms Cant Woodside noted pelagic fish often have very slow growth and low reproductive rates, and therefore caution needs to be exercised when targeting these species. Among species exploited locally include red snappers, of which there are at least five different species; tunas, four species; mahimahi; sailfish; blue and white marlin; and wahoo.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, September 24, 2018, PAGE 13
HIT AND RUN DRIVER LEFT VICTIM TO DIE IN ROAD fro m page o ne
Paramedics attempted to revive the victim but were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident follows the deaths of two pedestrians, a man and a woman, who were killed following a collision with a car driven by an off-duty marine. According to police, the driver was heading north on Marathon Road in the area of Samana Drive shortly before 1am when she lost control of her car and struck the pair, both of whom died at the scene. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) identified the driver as an off-duty marine who was driving a private vehicle. The statement noted that the marine, a woman, waited for paramedics and police to arrive at the scene before being taken by ambulance to the Princess Margaret Hospital for medical treatment.
Those fatalities followed a serious of traffic accidents that took place in Grand Bahama on September 15 involving four vehicles, including a church bus transporting parishioners. According to reports, the incident occurred shortly before 8pm on the Warren J Levarity Highway. The driver of the bus and passengers suffered both slight and serious injuries. Last week, a Bill was tabled in Parliament with proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Act, one of which will make it illegal to drive or operate a vehicle while using a cellphone. The Bill, tabled on Wednesday, makes it illegal to drive or operate a vehicle while using an electronic communications device, “whether by holding in one hand or both hands or with any other part of the body or otherwise,� unless the device is attached to the motor vehicle or is a part of a fixture in the vehicle.
The legislation further requires “the device remain affixed while being used or operated, or is specially adapted or designed to be affixed to the person of the driver or operator as a hands-free device and is used to enable the driver or operator to use or operate the electronic communication device without holding it�. Driving instructors also will be prohibited from holding electronic devices under the Bill but the stipulation will not apply to those driving emergency vehicles or a vehicle that is lawfully parked and not impeding traffic. The penalty for contravening these provisions will be a fine not exceeding $1,000. If the bill becomes law, it will also become illegal to have an open alcoholic beverage while driving. The amendment also prohibits people from obtaining a license if they have outstanding fines or have not paid the requisite fees.
FUNERAL ANNOUNCED FOR GEORGE PYFROM
GEORGE LORAN PYFROM For the past 25 years, he successfully ran Marlin Marine and Bayshore Marina with his son, Loran. Together they grew these businesses into the successful and well respected companies that they are today. “George had many loyal and loving employees,� said a family member. “But no matter how tough he was on them, and we all know how tough he could be, they held him in extremely high regard. He served as a father figure with many
of them calling him ‘Dad.’� Mr Pyfrom was described as a passionate man with a big personality, and his undeniable charm had a way of drawing people in. He was full of generosity, love, and laughter and was beloved by many, both near and far. He is survived by his wife, Sue, to whom he was married for 44 years, and his two children - daughter, Jennifer O’Sullivan (husband Jerry) of Santa Monica, CA, and his son, Loran, V; his granddaughters, Alana and Kelsey Pyfrom and Caroline O’Sullivan and his sister, Ethelyn Lowe (husband, Ronnie). Instead of flowers, donations may be made to St Matthew’s Day Care Centre for the Aged, P.O.Box 963, Nassau in memory of George Loran Pyfrom, IV.
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medical treatment. EMAILS leaked from a ther’s The emails were obtained data breach of China ConThe Tribune following a struction America’s (CCA) by in December highservers show that from story the breach of CCA as early as 2013, Jerome lighting by a San Francisco Fitzgerald was seeking to servers China Construction secure millions of dollars hacker. paid 24 bitcoins in brokerage, trucking, and eventually equivalent of $24,000) limousine contracts at Baha (the have access to their servMar while he sat in Cabinet to restored; however, it apas the Minister of Educa- ers that emails forwarded tion, Science and Tech- pears relating to personnel or nology, The Tribune has to, at CCA were compromised, learned. top officials at Baha despite the The emails contradict saying they were not Minister, who this week de- Mar by the hack at nied ever using his office to concerned time. direct contracts to himself the Mr Fitzgerald writes, “I email dated May 18, an In mulor his family from the am aware that interior ma2013, sent to Mr Izmirlian have began to arrive ti-billion dollar resort. Mr Fitzgerald, with terials hotel. I would really Mr Fitzgerald - the Pro- by Porter, Shelly Cur- for the gressive Liberal Party MP QuentinAlarice Fill copied, appreciate it if we could be and tis also your official brofor Marathon - appears Fitzgerald indicates his appointed 1st 2013.� to be requesting $20,000 Mr to start brokerage ker for June a month from Baha Mar’s He then makes a request McRib readiness is trucking services for original developer Sarkis and of Mr Izmirlian for limouex- the Baha Mar project and sine services at Baha Mar, Izmirlian, citing the Back! the brokers of repenses that were necessary remain as he touted the level of i’mthelovin’ property. for it! to cover the cost of his fa- cord
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Marsh Harbour Healthcare Centre has a tortured history, one of missed deadlines and claims of shoddy of- workmanship, all without GOVERNMENT clear accountability. ficials commissioned the any The facility’s original Marsh Harbour Healthwent bankrupt. care Centre in Abaco yes- contractor the of Construction THURSDAY, terday, touting it as a longDECEMBER began centre 29, 2016 awaited boost to the island healthcare the former Ingraham TheTribune PRICE – $1 (Family and the Christie adminis- under Islands $1.50) tration’s National Health administration. When the Christie adInsurance plans. came to power, Like the Child and Ado- ministration renovating the $" ) (0-% Ś $1m the new health centre in lescent and Robert Smith it spent PRIME Minister Perry Christie tours SEE PAGE SIX Abaco yesterday. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff (CARS) Complex that was commissioned last year, the
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R AS PARTY LEADE
CRUNCH DAY OVER
ROLLINS: NO LEGAL BASIS DISCIPLINING THE REBEL FOR SEVEN
Covering The Bahamas for it must be abandoned. as Hurri40 years. Island is so devastated on the island has
Ragged remained “Every home The Nobody Minnis warns with those whohomes last week. Does it Better! their NEW PROVIDENCE Minister Dr Hubert en Rag- discussion battered has been destroyed. GRAND BAHAMA facilityABACO has been health on storm-strick Min- cane Irma 242.394.5555 residence Prime ELEUTHERA destroyed. The 242.350.3500teachers’ There is no water. and safety conditions EXUMA to deteriorate, urged the 18 been has been destroyed. The is 242.367.4204 no light. 242.332.3211 HEALTH the he smell242.336.2304 school will only continue destroyed. There about, you can yesterday as The in the afterged Island Minnis said to evacuate “As we walkcarcasses, dead animals. deister Dr Hubert on the island reduced will of dead stench(BAHAMAS) of the individuals remaining residentsIrma, which has REPORT LIMITED. INSURANCE we get them that of rubble and SPECIAL health conditions Russell, BROKERS & math of Hurricane it’s essential said. AGENTS there to piles Words: Khrisna W Carey www.Insuran ceManageme teriorate and most structures Dr Minnis the only ntBahamas.c Pictures: Terrel island unlivable. Dr Minnis to leaveom off this island,� for rendered the bly reluctant stay here,� saw for the understanda home, expressing concern “They cannot A1MAIN Many were and a delegation and days known as said after he damage left by Irma ripped through place they’ve ever residences, belongings. about the safety of theirWe will have monster hurricane first time the Five personal behind. by the smell after the Category island. “They are concerned may have left and the Defence exacerbated of all es- whatever materials they the small southern a vessel here the same physical condition, the destruction still Force dispatch the cleanup and at The island’s carcasses and strongly urge those the Defence said. Dr Minnis of rotting animalled Dr Minnis to small community can Force will try to commence security,� Established PAGE is SEE 1903THREE that there sential services, to leave until the time ensure Island has been on Ragged Ragged Island and be restored. to the residents; a walk through “I’ve spoken Minnis said following i’m lovin’ it! Dr devastated,� WIPEOUT: Prime
FOREIGN BAHA MAR STAFF
SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunem edia.net
RENWARD WELLS $12,980
DION SMITH $9,275
SOUTH ISLANDS ON MARIA ALER PUT T
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By AVA TURNQUES T Tribune Chief aturnquest@tr Reporter ibunemedia.ne t WATER and Sewerage Corporation Adrian Gibson Chairman yesterday confirmed the existence of a “do not list populateddisconnect� by scores of elites at the government owned utility provider as he pledged initiate a crackdown to on delinquent accounts. Mr Gibson told The Tribune the list� held “confidential 221accounts with a combined , total of $175,000 for ending June the period 2017. He said that he plans to direct the corporation to notify all persons owing excessive arrears to resolve debts or face disconnectio n. “There is dential list,� a list confiIsland MP said.the Long “In fact, I that all the would think over the last corporations year or two, and more particularly May of this in year, there has been tion paid toclose attenthat list by the managemen t with a view to changing the way those lists usually operate. “As it stands, this confidential list of persons has a number on it, and really and truly used to notify it’s being courtesy call persons by I can say too or letters. chairman of that as the the corporation I am going that all personsto direct excessive arrears owing who are SEE PAGE EIGHT
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Top cop and PM eing the fir divided on crimeFle FIGHTING DEPRESSION : AUTHOR
FORMER PM TELLS OF LAST TALK WITH NOTTAGE
UNVEILS SELF-HELP BOOK -
Greenslade: Bahamas is not in crisis
SEE WOMAN
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PAGE SEVEN
Christie: It’s like the Wild West
certain neighbourhoods� and the suggestion to do By NICO SCAVELLA is “emotional and makes so no do much more to “fully Tribune Staff Reporter DESPITE the country sense�. derstand this senseless unnscavella@tribunemedia. His comments came recording 13 homicides net of killings,� and have set law 13 days, Commissioner in hours after the country reof corded its 27th homicide PRIME Minister Perry enforcement respond “as Police Ellison Greenslade Christie yesterday likened quickly as possible� and in the year. Seven people for said the Bahamas is not have a “very meaningful way� the Bahamas’ crime in ROLLE a state of “crisis� and in been killed since Friday. situation to the “Wild West,� their crime fighting efforts. By RASHAD Reporter On Monday afternoon, average Bahamian can the These efforts, Mr Chrisconas he said the recent Tribune Staff wave emedia.nettinue to “go about their day police also reported that a of murders in the capital tie suggested, would likely rrolle@tribun man was stabbed outside as normal day� without include dedicating the an establishment must solicit a “major� Nottage’s fear be on Nassau and stantial� number a “subof being attacked. DR Bernard forever “continuous� effort by Manwill At a press conference Street while two men were his ers to patrol the of officEmergency acti“footprints the Bahamian administration to “flood streets of shot while in the area The National at police headquarters New of Providence and sit etched on tal landscape� after they agement Agency (NEMA) on the streets� with officers in Ross Corner. These victims the police managemen multaneously giving developmen work asMonday a for- after a weekend of were said to cations with from entering the vated its emergency evacuation a bid to do “all that is necesthem be in stable “carnage�, and an Commissioner condition A DORSETT through his of the Bahawere blocked sary to bring this madness “the capacity to interdict at the Kenplan yesterday in hospital. the movements of peopleBy SANCHESK mer president of Greenslade Reporter area. were also shelter was established to a halt�. Athletic said the only soat the Commissioner lution et Tribune Staff to the country’s crime on the streets,� mas Association Several persons with respira- dal G L Isaacs Gymnasium incorporatMr Bahamas bunemedia.n Greenslade said Christie, speaking Centre s, the problem to the hospital Association , theis to “keep prolific ply not enough it is simElizabeth Sports with reporters yesterday, ing more reserve police of- sdorsett@tri during Gar- rushed offenders for people on Queen as a shelter Medical Association S in Jubilee tory complaints. said the “madness� occur- ficers, and “if necessary� and as a behind bars�. He to “point the finger Tribune arrivedwere which was used said - for displaced RESIDENT to evacuate their the at the af- Royal Bahamas MinDoctors’ Union When The ring is due to gang activity incorporating Royal Baharesidents last hurricane for consumer FORMER Prime Police and redens were forced after a massive the scene, several Force (RBPF) is not police in times of crisis� mas as the the the Defence minister Force and Christie accept retaliation. health marines to yet refuse to “manage believed on their roofs,homes. residents. landfill ister Perry homes yesterday their a defeat, was as I did when I the dump is smaller fairs, education, considering Providence pouring water Opposi- implementing their He said the past bloody in policing efforts. a The fire at for it arrears, into pictured yesterday. W. a curfew fire at the Newcommunity in thick, blaze grew closer to or “locking down started by SEE PAGE THREE COMMISSIONER Mr Christie also said for Tall national security, who was in sponsibility response to weekend is the Photo: Terrel of Police Ellison Greenslade he Philip “Brave� to have been Parliament airport tenant described recent resigned,� he said in Trail Road. levelled speaking at a press development� a “shocking would be speaking with blanketed e Staff smoke. tion Leader conference yesterday. Member of was also assist- bush fire off Fire as Carey/Tribun the criticism recent that will rePhoto: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune black hazardous on from accusations Mr Christie their THREE Royal Bahamas Pines Leslie Miller died Davis said Wednesday. in AND questions on the down quire on of 71, Staff TWO administrati e spending, misfea- moves made by the government the government to in hosing SEE PAGE THREE entrance pandering at his administrati Members SEE PAGES Dr Nottage, the Cleveby a party blocked the visibility ing residentsproviding transportaof irresponsibl WELLS at a “misstep� Police Force as thought By RICARDO Reporter Wednesday He will receive homes and who needed help. sance and cronyism. that weeks. never any By RICARDO WELLS he was “disap- to its base. residents to the subdivision acceptmaintained Tribune Staff “There was land Clinic. tion for those the three most recent He also said allegations being zero. Angry in arrangenemedia.net that I was degree Tribune relating Mr Christie inci- a double shooting Staff Reporter dropped to by the in verbal alterrwells@tribu gova state funeral announced, documents s would on my part dents, which have left on Ross By LAMECH y for any Per- pointed�around by the new berwells@tribunemedia.net a review of one became involved irrements to ing responsibilit of human trafficking. man dead and three others Corner yesterday, lamented Tribune Staff JOHNSON Prime Minister tossed matters that to these two controversie the press secon of any whatsoever of criminality, FORMER fire off Fire Reporter Suppression Act, Chapter the “too bold� as according to Office of the the notion James Coakley, 53, administrati yesterday condemned ernment concerning a smaller bush to the city his last term the country and po- in hospital in serious condi- crimes occurring nature of ljohnson@tribunemedia.net of 106. absolve his and prove that much sponsible spending andbare’ is just ry Christie spread retary for the AS Anthony have ed by Cargill Creek, Andros Minnis administra- transpired during tion. in the caplice Movement fre- Trail Road that blanketed Jubilee is as noth- that ‘the cupboard is wrongdoing efforts by the his government in The former ital recently, as he insisted Prime Minister, continue to grapple was brought before fire the smoke i Officer-in-charge prime minister.at accusations from of the FNM’s rhetoric slogans.� the Free National A MAN appeared with the latest spate of areas in Chief also charged boxer was to prevent dump. The tion to portray as he challenged flees from the in Magistrate Newbold. vio- Central Detective of the that a “handful of prolific Magistrate’s “political political slogans.� with Hitting back Minnis adminisA DORSETT light, YOUNGSTER done enough the New Providence Gardens and surrounding landfill that PAGE SIX lent SEEcrimes, ing more than challenges I have Unit, offenders� remain the Court yester- son-Pratt Joyann Fergu- counts of rape filed three SEE PAGE THREE a negative leader to carry out a law enforceat and threatened A at the New Providence to evacua By SANCHESK under hell-bent day accused of members of Reporter to answer to two Section quent fires have caused some of thick, black smoke the controvergovernment officials are seeking Chief Superintendent Clay- on terrorising officials fire “One of the the nation’s te examination of the sexually as- counts were asked et Tribune Staff 6(a) of the Sexual prompting who led the $8m to issues. the public. ton Fernander, speaking of trafficking in pertration concerning Landfill that Many residents saulting a woman during bunemedia.n the public’s assistance respiratory mas- several homes, of more thanclean up as the person led the government to “dispassiona Offences Act, Chapter sdorsett@tri in the media on the sial pay out 99. It them to develop and who SEE PAGE THREE SEE PAGE THREE the Christmas holidays. sons contrary to Section is alleged came as a scene of record�. interview at one vendor for hurricane that he engaged in to an ment owners in JubiTheir comments at the landfill, She is alleged to be a victim 3(1)(a) of the Trafficking off of $1.2m During a lengthy raging ANGRY home home on Thursin Persons Prevention was startand the write yesterday expressed sive fire was SEE PAGE SIX and his Cable Beach defended his lee Gardens concern that neither which officials believe nor day, Mr Christie disgust and Liberal Party the Progressive energy. solar, to produce of agreeWELL of Works The heads the governBy RICARDO MINISTER said cases of im- Tribune Staff Repor challenges, Desmond Bannister ment requires to “address alleged certain enced solicitnemedia.n concerns� pressed and BPL delayed officials ROLLE migration from migrants rwells@tribu today marks which he suggestedof docu- he has “serious Power and ment and consistent By RASHAD Reporter By AVA TURNQUEST WHILE By SANCHESKA DORSETT de with Bahamas to “keep the reliable of electricity on the for both siting bribes The bill will allow submission Tribune Staff beatings of Tribune Chief Reporter THE originalMar the deadlineformer parlia- the emedia.net tell- supply Providence, Light’s ability and alleged prisoners in commissioner of police, the an law as it placed author- Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribun aturnquest@tribunemedia are chal- lights on this summer,� of island of New or a ity solely in the ting and to file financial ments. of the Baha the the abili.net person acting on migrants and hands of sdorsett@tribunemedia.net Among these the lack will include finanhis behalf, the independent s States has mentarians Public Discloyesterday said ing The Tribuneprevent the whichmeet the requirement with obtaining judiciary, THE United Bahamas custody. the Ministry continued complet ATTORNEY General to obtain a warrant from a adding that may ty to disclosures, Chair- lenges from spouses, POLICE are investigatthe Yesterday, the openin cial records in situations reliability highlighted Allyson Maynard-Gibson Supreme Court judge to in- international the ICB met ing the from fulfilling of the project.� “intimida- of Foreign Affairs said sure Commission lays, missed ’s circumstances surthe instalLaroda told tercept and examine standards requireoper- government government ental “inaccurate� and “now suppos yesterday defended the This involves supporting man Myles yesterday that particularly In- son’s communicationsa per- and also addressed recent rounding the death of a of Mar all the necessary they may have report had all (INCL. VAT) “incomtion of non-governm terception of Communicato from criticisms lation “of The Tribunestill some that wherebank accounts prior ments in the Baha gered opening� three-year-old boy who s� and efforts and in some cases . into re necessary was ated organisation tions Bill as an important telecommunications opera- Devices of the Listening found unresponsive and authere were tire property He said there heads of agreement.he is al- infrastructu g�. plete� information in a car an incident year shows tha by the government that SEE PAGE FIVE anti-crime tool that would tors, internet providers and Council. Act by the Privy in front are “outstandin yesterday, to marriage. inhibit “free some unwilling-n He added of his daycare yesReferring to Minpostal services. offer “ at new, althorities to enhance the privacy of criminal In an interview in his dis- was also Izmirlian’s She said any suggestion terday afternoon. which Education lawthrough ready “looking including and apprehensio in said In a statement current Fitzgerald for ness speech abiding citizens rather yesterday, that the ways,� Mr Laroda some persons or� to the The body of the toddler as problems than ister Jerome SEE PAGE THREE ternative libel laws� encroach upon it, as detrac- Mrs Maynard-Gibson ex- “spying legislation was a was discovered However, despit SEE PAGE 12 cussions with in its latest to make bill� was false. plained that this move shortly the Bahamas report. tors claim. was who are required they exter 2pm on Monday afunprecedented in Bahamiby a human rights also referSEE PAGE FIVE the disclosures, The report SEE PAGE SIX
IS • FORMER PM BY DAVIS TRIBUTE TO LEGACY OF ‘DISAPPOINTED’ FNM ALLEGATIONS COLLEAGUE • SAYS GOVT DID NOTHING WRONGT OVER $8M PAYOU REVIEW FOR • CALLS OF DOCUMENTS
ced to leave Residents for ic fumes to escape tox
ONE DEAD, THREE HURT IN LATEST
- BUT SOME DEADLINE TODAY NDING DISCLOSURES OUTSTA
20
ES OVER BPL BANNISTER WORRITHE LIGHTS ON ABILITY TO KEEP
ATTACKS EX-BOXER ON RAPE, TRAFFICKIN G CHARGES
ATTORNEY GENERAL: INTERCEPTI ON BILL BOY, 3, FOUND WILL ENHANCE PRIVACY, NOT HARM IT DEAD IN CAR
RE TO ANGER AT FAILU
BLAZES PREVENT LANDFILL
AS D ‘INTIMIDATE’ ‘BAHAM GOVT EFFORTS TO ED IN REPORT BAHA MAR O ACTIVISTS SLAMM
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G concern ADMITTIN Bernard Notin over what Dr have battled last tage may his isolation during Prime Minisdays, former yesterday for ter Perry Christie admiration the expressed forth by the effort put security to former national the build-up minister in election. the May general from his Breaking away since being public silence office in hisof a voted out last month, toric fashion Mr Chrishis visibly troubled of portions tie detailed with his last conversation and longfriend childhood colleague on time political Thursday. Centreville The former Nottage as Dr MP saw “fought tehis someone who throughout naciously� he loved and life for thosetrait he said he a supported, up to their saw on display . last conversation PAGE SIX By SANCHESKA DORSETT SEE Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.n et
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SEE PAGE SIX
HUSBAND KILLED AFTER GUNMEN FORCED COUPLE TO STOP CAR By
IGHT
DR PERRY GOMEZ $24,498
By RASHAD Tribune Staff ROLLE prepared. rrolle@tribun Reporter By SANCHESK During a emedia.net A DORSETT address fromlive national Tribune Staff Reporter homicides WITH as his office sdorsett@tri the guarding the well as safefore- last night, Dr cast for Hurricane bunemedia.n residents of et Minnis Fox Hill. Maria said: “Hurricane projecting the ACTING Maria is Commission storm to pass another During a near the Southeast of Police Anthony potentially er walkabout dev- son Fergu- Fox Hill on Tuesday, Baha- astating hurricane in mas Friday morning, Prime must carefully that we the announced yesterday Commission Acting Minister Dr establishme Hubert Minnis Ferguson nt of two said the er He added: monitor.� is urging residents Though most separate Royal Anti-Gang Bahamas Firearms of those of the Bahamas and islands to was spared Police Force anti-crime tigation Tracing and Invesbe vigilant units aimed and Unit will operate SEE PAGE TWO gang activity at eliminating out of the Central Detectry, reducing in the coun- tive Unit (CDU) the number while the of SEE PAGE 11
INSURANCE MANAGE MENT
TUESDAY
Christie denies ai cl ms on spending
RS IN THE SPOTL
the holiday would on the actual date be observed of the historic event, Tuesday, January The change in the 10. public holiday calendar has been perceived by many as an attempt by the government to strike success of a seconda blow to the event by We March Bahamas.
CHIEF Superintendent Clayton Fernander, in-charge of the officerDetective Unit, Central drivers yesterday warned to tra cautious� after be “exmen forced a couple armed to stop their vehicle in the of the road before middle shooting and killing the driver. Chief Supt Fernander said police believe armed robbery may be the for the killing. He motive incident could havesaid the “happened to anyone�. The murder took place shorty after 9pm on Tuesday in the area of nium Gardens, off MillenWilliams Darling Tonique and brought the Highway, country’s murder count to 109 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. Chief Supt Fernander tee next month, said the victim, committee mians, identiChairman James Smith said former most of the foreign fied by police as Kendrick yesterday. employees Simms, was driving ceive all that is duewon’t reSince the money his wife, when anotherwith to Mr Smith said theythem. pulled en on an ex-gratia was givcar will, basis by however, ahead the China Export-Import receive a “high ing them to of them forcstop. figure�. Bank (EXIM) and “The man was tended primarily was indrivfor BahaSEE PAGE FIVE ing through Millennium SEE PAGE FIVE
PARTIAL PAYMENT FOR
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemed ia.net
FOREIGN former employees of Baha Mar will be paid by the government appointed Claims Commit-
WEEK END: SENIO
ES
OH, AND THERE’S AN ELITE WATER LIST TOO
LESLIE MILLER $42,219
WHO RUNS BPL
?
Picture perfect
N ARRIV AS PROM SEASO
The privileged
Revealed: on the eliteNames list and what they owe d
By AVA TURNQUES T Tribune Chief officials could Reporter aturnquest@ not be reached up tribunemedia to .net According press time. FOUR former to sources Progres- close to the sive Liberal Party Cabinet Monday Mr matter, as of ministers owed Wells has since more than paid $9,000 on $20,000 each his accounts at Bahamas with an outstanding Power and Light, balformer minister with one ance of some $8,600. The source for some $60,000 in arrears also said as ARNOLD as of July, of Monday according to FORBES a list obtained in talks withMr Forbes was by The Tribune. $62,023 to settle the the company The Credit and Collec- a three-monthbalance over tions Department period. Mr listing of Forbes, former MPs, senators PLP Mount and board Moriah MP, members for the period to Cabinet was appointed ending July in January that former 31, revealed and previously served 2015, State Minister chairman as the in the Ministry of the Bahamas Arnold Forbes of Works Agricultural and Industrial owed BPL Corporation. $62,023.14. Others on The list obtained the “do not Tribune contains by The disconnect� list are: former delin- Minister of Health quent accounts of six Perry Gomez, former Dr former PLP Cabinet minisPines MP Tall ters, two former Leslie Miller, PLP MPs, former Minister two private of one sitting entities, and Dr Danny Johnson, Youth former Cabinet min- Nassau Village ister: Bamboo MP Dion Renward Wells. Town MP Smith, former Tourism Minister Obie Mr Wells, Wilchcombe DR DANIEL , $9,277.07 and who owed former South Beach MP JOHNSON two separate $3,703.96 at Cleola Hamilton $24,413 $12,981.03 in locations - former Minister of and total – did not for Legal State want to comment Affairs Damian yester- Gomez. day, and the other former SEE PAGE EIGHT
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business utility operator Editor nhartnell@tr ing to “walk is quite willibunemedia.n away� from et maximum $25m, five-yearit BAHAMAS BPL Light’s (BPL) Power & if themanagement contract board and hold a “crunchboard will administrati Minnis on with PowerSecur meeting� The meeting,wish it to go. with the outcome e today, be attended which will ical in deciding likely crit- executives by PowerSecure and their attorneys latter remains whether the from the US, is viewed as manager. Multiple Tribune CLEOLA as key to determining Business sources whether HAMILTON OBIE yesterday two sides will “kiss and the confirmed $6,118 make up� or WILCHCOMBE that the DAMIAN US FULL separate. $4,911 STORY - SEE GOMEZ BUSINESS NINE individuals $3,413 July. The sums named on the BPL “do HURRICANE not disconnect� do not include any payments list INSURANCE: made or furtherand the amount they owed at the end of debt incurred since that date. Are you Covered
Seniors go big for
‘We will still march without permission’
‘STAY VIGILANT’ AS ZIKA CASE TOTAL RISES TO 25
CHRISTIE TO RESIGN
W
30th, 2017
Newspaper
seats: Encaptured four Island and Cat were spent under to South Aners’ dollars administration. glerston; 1,900 votes and San Salvador; Christie the win with is evidence 2017 the as well as Exuma DORSETT Mr Christie’s 1,875. By SANCHESKA He said if there�, the new dros VIRGIL ELECTION Islands. DORSETT By SANCHESKAReporter to the unofTribune Staff Reporter By KHRISNA Reporter the same route as seat, Fox According the the Ragged of “criminality et planned� even Tribune Staff from the Parwill allow SPEAK An additional being resdorsett@tribunem Deputy Chief without the government’s bunemedia.n ganiser Ranard Henfield ficial results Registration government course. THE PEOPLE edia.net nemedia.net sdorsett@tri PAGE 4 was still permis- that “after revealed nounced its kvirgil@tribu sion. his Hill, law to take several weeks of last month that the to press time. and liamentary , Mr Chipman after ON’ back planned a decounted up DESPITE being In an interview and forth� the Cabinet his parMoments DNA ‘TO GO PAGE 5 march to mark the PLP IN a surprisingat the Departmentout of 12 pollwith The Tribdenied the as the na- This marked the worst in Office on anniversary AFTER leadinglandslide use of Rawson 50th defeat party won seven maiden speech Minand Parliament une, Mr Bostwick II said “there Wednesday rejected the group’s of Majority Rule. LOSE humbling leader, Dr Prime Min- ing divisions in the former Squares ty to a stunning feat for a governing will be no compromise� application to protest for a protest This latest development Mr tion’s next PLP BIG NAMESPAGE 7 dealing a parapolls, outgoing that under recent history. in Rawson and the and Parliaments Rule Day in January,on Majority group will “not is yet victory and to the ProgresChristie lost PLP stronghold, while will nis promised victory came MPS ister Perry Squares because another set back for the organiBahamians The FNM’s won five. Bahamas organiser We March attempt towardbe deterred by this the “event lysing blow Party last night, years the Centreville his watch, YOUR PROJECTED conflicts with another sation that planned to protest fascist his seat in last night by Christie John Bost- and a rocky five PAGE 9 to fear from Mr Christie wick sive Liberal on II said yesterday Monday, January the abuse of our coercion event� already booked challengIn 2012, have nothing , pointing to despite conPrime Minister constituency representing the demon- constitutional 9 - the original rights and date. FAR included two for that observance incoming the Centrevillestration said that Dr Minnis’ leadership, the government RESULTS SO PAGE 14 freedoms�. Minnis declared date 25 votes aftermore than 40 won the eighth “will go on as planned, on n, which he for to Dr Hubert fraces a abused In a post on Facebook, Progressive Majority Rule Day.announced for for of stituency have victimisatio tional� “imthe area Liberal time with to unoflead or- Chairman Party that those who trust “have continued reports ultimately However, earlier consecutive He defeated is “unconstitu MORE COVERAGE Bradley Roberts of years, according party and the post this month it “wrong�. PAGES 2-18 positions an- was announced 2,950 votes. moral� and to unofficial tured to fear�. ficial results. in Parliament that candidate Ella removal from has held Opsomething to thousands of According able his Mr Christie 1977 and the FNM’s of the Official of votes at the FNM was leader Speaking 1,349 the of by at the Q ment House today. since House all results, defeat won the Lewis the seat in the a stunning pledged that jubilant supporterslast night, Mr Christie leader of Dr Minnis on will give to pull off securing a mas- position has been Liberal Party time. polling division in E Sports Centre but one administrati Terrance of the PLP, constituencies. Assembly. a long fought National MoveProgressive 39 “This was victory is not the Free also announced his General it sive 34 of ry Regsince 1997. released a Prime 2012. he By ment leader be sworn in as Auditor the resources battle, but the Parliamenta AVA yours,� former is Although The TURNQUEST did loss, The the aboutTribune the islands of Bimini his seat to that he will fourth prime Bastianto probe how taxpay- istration Department re- mine - the victory thousands Chief Reporter Minister lost Movement statement didaturnquest@tribune and not speak full election last Dr Minnis told on the carEleuthera, bringing The Bahamas’ at Govern- needs Christie not release 5pm the tomedia.net tal to Free National packed with the and po- Mr minister at SEE PAGE SIX 25 confirmed cases By sults last night, in from the of FNMs (FNM) candidate Reece SANCHESKA DORSETT grounds. nationwide. time nival HEALTH newcomer numbers coming people’s officials Tribune Staff Reporter litical agency around “This is the “This is like a lull, terday urged residentsyesand I who secured government from the and I am your servant quiet sdorsett@tribunemedia.net Chipman, to period,� Dr remain vigilant McMillan 11pm. However it apagainst SEE PAGE THREE vironmental factors en- “We continue to get said. unofficial numbers, samFORT that ples as they the PLP only conbreedof the mosquitoes send them in for Dr Andre Charlotte MP peared that despite Rollins “The outcome the inspire “lull� intrust local transmis- testing but we have no fur- night that “there said last according to vention did not ther cases, which sioninofthe will be no theBahalast Zika virus. Mark Humes is good. disciplinary results, said coming afor confidenceDirector but that’s of Public Health We’re still monitoring and against the action� taken “obvious� mian electorate sweeping defeat residents unofficial seven doing our surveillance. Dr Pearl think that it is ROLLE tional Movement Free Nanow and IMcMillan yesterhave stood behind us day they night ter Fort Charlotte “I think we have By RASHAD Reporter MPs who told him party would wonderfulthat there has aconfirmed been ousted party winning the the party have repeatedly lead- the progressing well and Tribune Staff stand the any a better chance been no as it relates Hubert Minnis Leader Dr to rebuild emedia.net new con- to could not he been victori- opportunity as leader rrolle@tribun getting the message firmed cases of the country per- election had since the deitself,� he said. leadership out the Official Opposition, of there and persons partment’s press for for- ership despite their beous in the PLP’sadding that reengineer heeding cause there is no release on it. SIX longer, him. AS HE called This Zika thing December legal basis THE REBEL SEVEN of, SEE PAGE RASPBERRY 5, which Minister Perry sonal affection for was pro- race in January, for such a move. made a mistake� mer Prime ard Lightbourn, Lorettafrom left, Hubert Chipman, Edison Key, the number of cases raised down in July, which came who ICED TEA “the party resign as leader is when RichMr Sears, He added that Butler-Turner, Neko in New we usually Christie to Providence from a formal Andre Rollins. to the Free Na- in choosing Mr Christie. Liberal Grant, Theo Neilly, get our first case objection 22 to 23. and jected to lose Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune has been lodged of the Progressive There is one case night, Al- tional Movement’s (FNM) last solidify widespread against SEE Staff each PAGE SIX “the bogus on the Party (PLP) support FNM’s said he saw levelled against himcharges� around a new leader.� Executive Commitfred Sears tee would not have His remarks came six other members and the a case ment who took of Parlia- e-mail in response to in an because the group’s actions part ques- “were consistent action of removing in the tions from The Tribune. constitutionally with the Dr Rollins echoed nis from the post. Dr Minprotected Dr Rollins sentiments the said a growing of Long Island right of parliamentarians to number of MP recall a parliamentary FNMs are admitting Loretta lead“that and St Anne’sButler-Turner er when they the best course of MP Hubert confidence no longer have the party to take action for Chipman, who last in his/her ability under present circumstances the said the if the matter week to lead.� were is to to be taken to court, the SEE PAGE THREE
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FIREFIGHTERS yesterday battled a large blaze at the New Providence Landfill, nearly three weeks after tackling a massive fire at the city dump that burned for nearly a month. Officer in Charge of Fire Services, Chief Superintendent Walter Evans said the current fire is “not connected� in any way to the previous blaze and at this time officials do not know PRIME Minister what caused the fire. HowDr Hubert Minnis meeting ever Environment Minister Kendera Woodside, the mother of Kenred Dorsett told remurdered Eugene Woodside. he RASHAD porters at the siteBythat TribuneinStaff ROLLE suspected “sabotage� Three Reporter rrolle@tribun He said emedia.net Photo: Yontalay relation to the fire. after murder that days the Bowe team he “instructed� the struggle withpushed the country’s composure. THE the hugs and have Dr Minnis said of firefighters towords comforting the national violent crime into he felt the fam- Each citizen has of Prime ily’s spotlight yet “before a responsibilit blaze extinguished Minister Dr her pain remained and again, even pain. “What makes Hubert y our countries. Minnis and today and me feel has whatever information worse is that nomination day� “He ain’t even acute. Patricia we must bring Yes one most we see in Minnis couldn’this wife God,� Baha Mar’s live a life, certainly beforethe that forward. mother more than I feel for this the yard, of those These criminals my answer Mrs I can say.� questions Dr Minnis opening on Friday. that consumed “He’s a baby. Woodside cried. my years as a medicalI, during Mrs Minnis, live among us.� said he Kendera shortly Woodside yesterday medical I doctor, who could The blaze started emphasised breath right attention is will ensure give to the family she grieved andfor provided to as baby now just for my after 3am Wednesday her ance before that her appear- Mrs Woodside, who is year-old said officpregnant. Eugene, whoson, eight- my to be right here. They my “You can see Chief Supt Evans political move,them was not a heart out my take was killed four theago. the grieving fire body. ers expect to battledays to wear black called on women pain she’s going through,� and “This my “Why but daythese only said. one for at least another day “I son. he people ain’t almost shoot assured her in mourning this week ing a “huge� tellthat somefor my daughterThey time today they he said the wind isme “As a mother, murder victims. (Friday) too right now?� bringing my son and they inside (the medical personnel we will have I’m calling factor. house) with she cried between me. What all mothers screams they do to come because I upon after her as SIX SEE PAGE Dr Minnis my family? believe mothers because she’sto look really console the tried to What they do to us? would’ve delivered nant. can pregfamily at their “Why they most of them said Mrs Minnis, who stop this,� her I have to make sure bud Road home where Rose- live 29 years, ain’ carry me? I so they are closer to me knowing at times. “We have was tearful both and her unborn infant that was shot by Eugene they are my He’s a baby.� our sons who well and are former patients,� a stray bullet we cradle Tonio Woodside, Monday as Minnis, a gynaecologi on father, arrangemen we will also make Dr become from birth and as he did his homework. Eugene’s ts to make they consoled men we are st by fession, said. sure the as he struggled his wife even still with necessary medical “The messagepro- them. We have personnel we to speak with look after her to maintain must send to the entire and see is the police Bahamas them. I think all women can’t fight this wear should regular basis to ensure her on a alone. and black one day this the safety of her and her week mourn what’s unborn infant.� happening in SEE PAGE TWO PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts lashed out at his former party colleague Vincent Peet last night, accusBy NEIL HARTNELL ing the former North AnTribune Business so alarmed dros and Berry Islands MP Editor by the Caribnhartnell@tr bean Financial ibunemedia.n of being a “political enemy� Action Task By RASHAD ROLLE et Force’s (CFATF) Tribune Staff THE Attorney who mounted an independreIn June, Reporter ONE of the leaked emails showing a draft rrolle@tribun Gen- report on The he told Pareral yesterday ent campaign because he Sciliament emedia.net quest from Minister of Education, slammed that he instructed Bahamas the deficiencies was denied a nomination cost Bahamians to ence and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald. BRENSIL anti-money in the nation’s to begin work on his staff of from the governing party. Rolle, min- increases such addressing ister laundering the flaws from was $10,149,738. of public regime as Speaking to PLP supfor Limolink in The The revision “entirely unacservices and clientele with which his agent Mr Bethel early June. ceptable�, warning You are encour- porters at a rally in North blasted the said National Insurance, he included comes after limousine company was fa- Bahamas. between put The Bahamas they had former Christie more aged to get a reference from Andros last night, Mr Robmiliar. “in great tration for failing adminis- 2016 and May December 1,700 workers that werethan if erts said “this is war� as danger�. 2017, the in his original not regard the the president of Viacom “Also withA1MAIN known weaknesses to tackle public purse count. Carl Bethel wish. Please feel free he urged the crowd to vote ballooned Amid the told Trib- necessary urgency. with the $16,532,738 because limousine business we you by une Business contact me personally for incumbent Dr Perry Liberal Party’sProgressive of he had been FULL Christie are ready to meet with to vote a administrati the of the criticism have your agents contact Gomez, adding that STORY - SEE on’s Minnis your people anytime,� he or the BUSINESS hiring of new public Mr Porter our Managing for Mr Peet is a vote for service tion because ofadministraworkers during writes. its firings Free National Movement. directly.� that period. “As indicated we really Director SEE PAGE SIX SEE PAGE SIX only cater to highend cusSEE PAGES TWO & THREE tomers and are the official
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FUNERAL services for George Loran Pyfrom, IV, 67, who died suddenly on Wednesday afternoon, will be held at St Matthew’s Anglican Church on Shirley and Church Streets on Friday, September 28, at 4pm. The Rt Rev Bishop Laish Boyd, Sr, Bishop of the Diocese of the Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands, will officiate at the service. Born on July 1, 1951, in Nassau to the late George Loran Pyfrom, III, and Dorothy Pyfrom (nee Cash), he joined his older sister, Ethelyn, to complete their family of four. He proudly carried on the George Loran moniker. His grandfather was Canon George Loran Pyfrom (1883-1950), the first Bahamian rector of St Agnes Anglican Church, Blue Hill Road.
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THE TRIBUNE
MAN STABLE IN HOSPITAL AFTER SHOOTING By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A MAN is in hospital following a shooting in the Flamingo Gardens community on Saturday. According to police
reports, shortly after 10pm, a man was walking through a track road off Nigeria Drive when he was approached by a man with a firearm. The gunman subsequently shot the man, who then ran to a nearby
residence and was assisted in getting to the hospital where he was said to be in stable condition. In other crime news, a man had his car stolen in front of a Soldier Road business early Sunday morning.
The man was reportedly sitting in his silver Nissan Cube in the parking lot when he was approached by two armed men shortly after 4am. The car’s license plate number is AT1976. Investigations into both matters are ongoing.
VENDOR booths at Festival Place.
Vendors want first refusal on port return By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
VENDORS at Festival Place are asking to be given first preference to return to the port area following the privatisation of the Prince George Wharf. Rory Dean, the lead spokesperson for the Festival Place Tenants Association (FPTA), said the group of approximately 30 vendors have no interest in lobbying for any management company to assume control of the port. Instead, Mr Dean said vendors are open to collaborating with any group focused on transforming the property into cultural platform for the Bahamas. In a statement last Friday, Mr Dean said the group wants the port to be a place that creates positive impressions on visitors, while generating as much economic impact as possible. The government is currently considering a public-private-partnership for the day-to-day management of wharf. Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar last week said the government is looking to place the entire cruise port in a “silo” focused primarily on the overall upgrade and upkeep of the site. He said the government will formally issue a formal request for proposal once a determination is made on how best to service the property. Addressing those comments, Mr Dean said his group will stand in full support of any proposal that presents the greatest line of success for the entire operation. “We want the experience cruise visitors have at the port to contribute to them feeling inclined to spend money at this destination,” Mr Dean said. “We want cruise passengers to have such a great experience while they are moving throughout the port, that they want to come a visit again and recommend the destination to all their friends.” Mr Dean said the key to making the port standout as different from any other is culture and how it is displayed. He said Bahamians food, music, dance, language and art must always be on full display – insisting that these components often captivate tourist.
“That is where we feel that we come in. The vendors that make up the FPTA specialise in selling Bahamian products that capture the essence of Bahamian culture. “That includes food and beverage offerings of locally made jams, jellies and spices, conch carvings and conch jewellery, Bahamian made clothing and apparel, books and other accessories. “Where else in Nassau can you go and find such a varied and quality selection of authentically Bahamian products? I challenge anyone to show me another area in Nassau where you can find such a collection of Bahamian products,” Mr Dean added. He said the group decided to publicly state its position in the wake of recent media reports highlighting bids and plans for the property. Mr Dean referred to a Tribune Business report, which detailed one group’s plans to transform Nassau’s cruise port into a “must call destination” that will attract an extra 1.3m visitors annually by 2028, concerns the FPTA. The article reported that the majority Bahamian-owned Global Ports Holding group’s planned redevelopment of Nassau’s waterfront would involve the creation of open spaces, parks through the reclamation of land from the existing harbour - a proposal that would involve filling in the space between the existing frontage and nearest cruise berth. It added that it plans to replace the Festival Place building with a new arrivals plaza that will function as a gateway to downtown Nassau, not as a retail centre. Mr Dean slammed proposal, claiming if the government allows such a concept to proceed, it would effectively sever the connection between visitors and a true Bahamian experience. While the move would benefit the Bay Street merchants, Mr Dean said it would limit tourist contact with small Bahamian businesses that authentically reflect and provide a true Bahamian experience. “We are asking those persons that are currently part of the process of making up RFP’s for the privatisation for the port to include in a requirement that the successful proposal provide a suitable space for vendors,” he added.
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Monday, September 24, 2018, PAGE 15
New $6m station to protect GB By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis officially opened a new $6m fire and police station in Grand Bahama Friday. The facility has been named in honour of the late Albert J Miller, former Deputy Police Commissioner and Grand Bahama businessman. The 22,000sq ft complex is built on three acres of land donated by the Grand Bahama Port Authority Authority (GBPA), where Sir Albert had served as a co-chairman and president for three decades. Minister of National Security Marvin Dames and Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson attended the opening. Also in attendance were Sir Albert’s children, Russell and Tony Miller and Debbie Archer, along with their spouses. Sarah St George, vice chairman of the GBPA, Rupert Hayward, executive director, and Ian Rolle, president were also present. The old fire station on Settler’s Way was destroyed by the hurricanes in 2004 that struck the island, leaving firefighters without a facility of their own. The fire team was relocated to
THE NEW police and fire station in Grand Bahama. cramped quarters at the He noted that Sir Albert Police Canteen where it has rose through the ranks of remained for the past 15 the Royal Bahamas Police years. Force to become Deputy Prime Minister Dr Commissioner of Police. Hubert Minnis said Sir Sir Albert served 28 Albert was instrumental in years on the police force ensuring property for a new before leaving to join facility was donated by the the Grand Bahama Port Port Authority. Authority, where he also “I am especially pleased moved through the comto be here at the inaugura- pany becoming president tion and dedication of this and later co-chairman. He state of art police and fire retired after more than 30 station named in honour of years at the GBPA to run the late Sir Albert Miller, his private businesses. He a great Bahamian who died August 18, at age 89. made tremendous contriDr Minnis added: “He butions to nation building left us with a great legacy and to Grand Bahama,” he of community and governsaid yesterday during the ment partnership. Let us ceremony. cherish his tremendous
Photo: Derek Carroll contribution to this country and Freeport.” The new facility features an office and living space, dormitory, exercise gym, kitchen, and meeting space. Patrick McDonald is the contractor. The prime minister noted that the facility, which is strategically located to respond to emergencies, is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring the RBPF is well equipped to serve, protect and defend citizens. “I am sure that residents of the northeastern GB are elated about this major accomplishment which marks a significant
milestone,” he said. Dr Minnis said the quality of life of citizens in GB, safety, and security are of paramount importance, and it is vital that the facility is staffed with trained and efficient officers. “I am pleased to hear that crime, including the number of homicides, is trending downward,” he said. “We owe a debt of gratitude to the leadership and to the men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Force for their dedicated fight in protecting their fellow citizens,” he said. Minister Dames, who had initially served in 2009 as ACP in charge of Grand Bahama, said that the ultramodern complex would significantly improve police services on Grand Bahama. He stated that it would serve as a dual-purpose complex, a police and fire station, and noted that some 34 new fire recruits would be stationed on Grand Bahama. Mr Dames said the Fire Branch had endured substandard conditions for many years on Grand Bahama. “I am pleased that the hard-working and industrial officers of the Fire Branch are finally able to leave substandard conditions that they have had to endure
for so many years and to be now able to move into a modern facility to service the needs of the northeastern Bahamas, and by extension the entire island of Grand Bahama,” Mr Dames said. In an emotional address, Russell Miller thanked the government for naming the facility in honour of his father, who did whatever little he could to help his fellowman. “From his humble beginnings in McCann, Long Island, through the ranks of the RBPF, to the opportunities he had ventured here in Freeport, Grand Bahama, our father determined that his work will tell the story of his journey,” Mr Miller said. “He wanted all Bahamians, particularly young Bahamians, to have the opportunities to fulfil their dreams. Simply put, Albert Miller wanted to make a difference.” Mr Miller stated that no matter what his father did, no matter how big or small, he was fully cognisant of the lives he would have impacted by the steps he took and the decisions he made. There was a blessing of the building, plaque unveiling and ribbon cutting of the new complex followed by a tour of the facility.
PAGE 16, Monday, September 24, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
COFFINS of some of the victims of the MV Nyerere passenger ferry capsizing are laid into graves during a mass burial ceremony on Ukara Island, Tanzania, yesterday. Photo: Andrew Kasuku/AP
MASS FUNERAL AFTER 224 DIE IN BOAT CAPSIZE UKARA ISLAND, Tanzania Associated Press
RELATIVES wept in grief yesterday at the mass burial in Tanzania of many of the 224 people who drowned when a ferry in capsized on Lake Victoria. Colourfully painted coffins were lined up to go into graves on Ukara Island. Grieving family members places wreaths of flowers on the coffins.
The overloaded boat tipped over on Thursday as it got to about 50m from the island’s dock. People carrying their goods from a busy market day prepared to disembark, unbalancing the ferry which turned over. Horrified fishermen and others watched from the shore. One survivor said he is still searching for his daughter. “My child might have been found, but I have not seen her,” said Magesa
Chibuga, in Swahili. “I am therefore waiting for this ferry to be lifted from the water so that I can see whether she is there or not. But I am feeling very bad. I thank God I have found my wife, but the child is still missing. So God has every plan.” Identifications have been made for 172 people who died in the tragedy. The bodies of 37 others have not yet been identified. At least 40 people were rescued.
Kavanaugh faces new accusation WASHINGTON Associated Press
JUST as negotiators reached agreement on an extraordinary hearing for Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser, a second allegation of sexual misconduct by the Supreme Court nominee put the White House and Senate Republicans on the defensive and fueled calls from Democrats to postpone further action on his confirmation. A days-long back and forth over the timing and terms of a hearing with Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing him of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers, appeared
to end yesterday with the announcement that they would appear separately on Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The hearing promised a televised national drama as Ford tells her story of a high school sexual assault before skeptical Republicans, followed by Kavanaugh pleading his innocence and being grilled by Democrats. Hours later, however, The New Yorker magazine reported online that Senate Democrats were investigating another woman’s accusation of sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh, this time dating to the 1983-84 academic year, Kavanaugh’s first at Yale University. The New Yorker said
53-year-old Deborah Ramirez described the incident in an interview after being contacted by the magazine. Ramirez recalled that Kavanaugh exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party, thrust his penis in her face, and caused her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away, the magazine reported. Kavanaugh said the event “did not happen” and that the allegation was “a smear, plain and simple”. A White House spokeswoman added that the allegation was “designed to tear down a good man”. Sen Dianne Feinstein of California, called for the “immediate postponement” of any further action on Kavanaugh’s nomination.