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VOLUME:115 No.213, SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2018
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CASSANDRA, left, and Carleisa Blatch at the funeral service yesterday for their father, Inspector Carlis Blatch, at the Church of God Auditorium. Carleisa is wearing a badge saying “Love you my daddy my hero”. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Final farewell to slain officer By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames said the shooting death of Inspector Carlis Blatch, former aide-de-camp to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, should renew the country’s fight against violent crime which has ravaged communities over the past several decades.
INSP CARLIS BLATCH He was speaking at the military funeral for Inspector Blatch held at the Church of God Auditorium.
“Insp Blatch was a decent human being, a public figure, a police inspector and the aide to the Governor General, and because of who he was in life, bears witness to the widespread public attention garnered due to his untimely demise,” he said. “The reality is that his death is no different from the many persons who have lost their lives in our nation as a result of violence. If there is a silver lining to all
of this, it is with hope that his untimely and brutal death has brought most needed focus to the incessant murders that have occurred in our nation over the last few decades. “Insp Blatch’s death and the death of all of those voiceless Bahamians can only effect change if each of us here today, makes a conscientious decision to play a renewed role in the SEE PAGE FIVE
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PAGE 2, Thursday, September 27, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
MAGGIE Ewing speaking to the media after being bitten by a shark on Sunday.
Shark bite victim says she’ll be back to The Bahamas By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
found “traumatic lacerations” to her fingers and a shark tooth lodged in one. Ms Ewing underwent sucAN American woman cessful surgery on Monday bitten by a shark in Abaco and was discharged on the on Sunday says she plans to following day. Doctors return to The Bahamas in were able to save all of Ms just “a few days” and will Ewing’s fingers and she is go spearfishing again. expected to make a full Maggie Ewing, 31, of recovery. Massachusetts, was spearIn an interview with fishing in the water just off ABC-affiliated WPLG Treasure Cay when a black- Local 10 News, Ms Ewing tip reef shark bit her hand. and her boyfriend Jason She was subsequently air- Dorfman described the lifted to Memorial Regional attack, which occurred after Hospital in Hollywood, Ms Ewing had caught a hog Florida, where doctors fish.
The shark was attempting to snag the fish from the tip of her spear. “It’s a spot we’ve been to hundreds of times,” Ms Ewing, whose family owns a vacation home on the island, told reporters. “I actually turned around to see if any sharks were coming before going up.” “And I felt the pain instantly and turned around and a shark had come over this shoulder (left shoulder) and sort of latched onto my hand.” The shark let go and Ms Ewing quickly swam back
to her boat. “I…was sort of laying on the deck of the boat, attempting to stop the bleeding, really dizzy and uncomfortable,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as terrified in my life,” Mr Dorfman added. “I thought she was going to bleed out. She was turning pale and I was losing it.” After assessing the scene, local officials determined that Ms Ewing’s condition was critical and required major medical services. A Florida air ambulance service was contacted and Ms Ewing was airlifted
to Memorial Regional Hospital. “The index, long, ring and small fingers were all involved and had traumatic lacerations,” Dr Yim Kan Hwee told reporters. “Once we washed and exposed her lacerations, we did find a shark tooth on the third finger.” Doctors were able to save her fingers and hand, and “with some therapy”, expect her to make a full recovery. Ms Ewing said she does not blame the shark for the attack, plans to return
to the Bahamas in a few days, and will be back in the water when doctors allow her to. “I know sharks aren’t really going for me,” she said. “He was totally going for the fish. It was my mistake but, nonetheless, he got me.” “I think anyone who dives or spearfishes knows there’s an inherent risk. It’s definitely a risk that I would take again. It’s one of my favourite things to do. It happened, I’ll deal with it and I’ll get back into the water.”
THE X-RAY showing damage to Maggie Ewing’s hand.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 27, 2018, PAGE 3
BUT president Belinda Wilson.
Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff
Teacher union chief suspended for two months By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net BELINDA Wilson’s membership to the Bahamas Union of Teachers has been suspended for two months, effectively stripping her of the top post. This marks Mrs Wilson’s sixth suspension from her role as president, according to union officials, but the first time her membership to the union has been put on hold. The outcome of yesterday’s meeting of the executive committee was confirmed by Secretary General John Musgrove, whose membership was also suspended with Treasurer Lorraine Knowles and trustee Mizpah Pintard-Munroe. Mr Musgrove said they were all suspended for breach of the 2017 Supreme Court order that saw Mrs Wilson, Mrs Knowles, and
Mrs Pintard-Munroe reinstated as candidates on nomination ballots before the union’s elections in April that year. The three women took the union and its executive committee to court over its decision to deny them the candidacy in elections slated for June 9, 2016. They also appealed the court for an order to be paid monies withheld by the union during their suspension, along with outstanding half pay. Benefits requested were inclusive of “loss salaries, stipend, and other emoluments”. However, in his order dated March 9, 2017, Justice Ian Winder granted a “very limited declaration” and “refused all other reliefs”. Mrs Wilson was returned as president following a landslide victory over her chief opponent Zane Lightbourne on April 7. Copies of requisition forms obtained by The
Tribune purport to show Mrs Wilson authorised cheque payments for a total $105,250 to herself ($50,000), Ms Knowles ($50,000), and Ms Munroe ($5,250) on July 12, 2017. The form is signed by Mrs Wilson, Ms Knowles, and Ms Munroe, but there were no signatures from Mr Musgrove, Vice President Joan Knowles-Turnquest, or Trustee Vernencha Simmons. Another requisition form purports to show Ms Knowles requested a cheque for $63,726.09 to be paid to Mrs Wilson on July 4 for “back pay”. The form shows handwritten calculations for 15 months of suspension, vacation, and annual increases. Another form dated July 4 shows Mrs Wilson requested a cheque for $60,774.18 to be paid to Ms Knowles with similar handwritten calculations. An August 2017 document instructed a transfer
of funds from the BUT’s account to Ms Knowles ($32,418.80) and Ms Munroe ($1,800), and was signed by Ms Knowles on August 10, Mrs Wilson and Mr Musgrove on August 11. Yesterday, Mr Musgrove said he did not intend to appeal his suspension. The Tribune reached out to Mrs Wilson but did not receive a response up to press time. According to Mr Musgrove, Joan KnowlesTurnquest will serve as acting President, with acting Secretary General Tiffany Delancy-Laing, acting Treasurer Charles Adderley. Vernencha Simmons will continue to serve as trustee. Last night, the union issued a letter confirming the suspensions. Mrs Wilson and Mr Musgrove’s suspension will run from October 1 to December 1; Ms Knowles and Ms Munroe from September 26 to November 26.
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FOUR HELD AFTER DRUGS DISCOVERY BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
FOUR people were arrested in Abaco after police discovered dangerous drugs, firearms, and ammunition at a
residence, police reported on yesterday. According to ASP Terecita Pinder, Abaco police acting on information went to a residence in Leisure Lee, Abaco, shortly after 3pm on Tuesday where they conducted a search
and found one .22 rifle, a 357 Smith & Wesson revolver, one 12 gauge shotgun, one partial 12 gauge shotgun, two barrels, one magazine, 19 rounds of .22 ammunition, six .357 ammunition rounds, a crossbow and
one marijuana plant. Ms Pinder said that a woman and three men were arrested and taken into police custody as a result of the seizure, and are expected to be arraigned before the Magistrate’s Court later this week.
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THE TRIBUNE
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Is racial comeuppance part of Cosby saga? PHILADELPHIA (AP) — After spending years building his persona as a model husband and father, Bill Cosby took an abrupt turn nearly 15 years ago with a now-infamous speech to an NAACP convention. He used his celebrity status to condemn poor African-Americans, chiding them to pull up their sagging pants, deriding them for having children out of wedlock and blaming them for their impoverished circumstances. “Are you not paying attention? People with their hat on backwards, pants down around the crack, with names like Shaniqua, Shaligua, Mohammed and all that crap, and all of them are in jail.” Cosby himself is now in a Pennsylvania prison cell, and many black Americans see his sentence as a moment of racial comeuppance. As they learned of Cosby’s three to ten-year prison term for sexual assault, the same people who were his targets in the 2004 speech regarded his fate as a convergence of karma, hubris and hypocrisy. Some quoted Cosby’s own words in tweets announcing the sentence. Cosby “made the decision to focus his attention on beating up on the black poor, on telling the world that black people were dysfunctional, pathological and undeserving of equal protection under the law”, said Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill. “When somebody like that, who positions themselves as the moral authority of black America, gets called onto the carpet, you ain’t getting no breaks here. People are going to be frustrated.” Writer Michael Arceneaux said Cosby’s contempt for people who grew up in low-income communities, as Arceneaux did in Houston, left him with little sympathy for Cosby, who also hailed from humble beginnings. “I found it enraging,” Arceneaux said of the “Poundcake” speech, so called because Cosby make a remark about blacks supposedly getting shot in disputes over dessert cake. “I knew he was a hypocrite. To learn how much pain he has caused to women over decades. I find it ironic. Those speeches proved to be his undoing. I’m glad he got what he deserved,” he added. Cosby’s own words were a catalyst for his downfall. In a July 2015 memo
outlining the decision to unseal a 2005 deposition in the case, a federal judge cited the speech: “This case is not about defendant’s status as a public person by virtue of the exercise of his trade as a televised or comedic personality. Rather, defendant has donned the mantle of public moralist and mounted the proverbial electronic or print soap box to volunteer his views on, among other things, child rearing, family life, education and crime.” “The stark contrast between Bill Cosby, the public moralist, and Bill Cosby, the subject of serious allegations concerning improper (and perhaps criminal) conduct, is a matter as to which the public has a significant interest,” he continued. Cosby pointed to systemic irresponsibility, not racism, as the root cause of what was wrong with black culture. But after his sentencing, spokesman Andrew Wyatt called Cosby’s trial “the most racist and sexist” in American history. He referred to the entertainer as “one of the greatest civil rights leaders” and accused the media, judge and prosecution team of prejudice against a black man. Cosby, who is 81 and legally blind, was the first celebrity of the #MeToo era to be sent to prison. The movement, which began a year ago, has centered around men in Hollywood, the media and politics. While several powerful men have lost their livelihoods and reputations, no one else has lost their freedom. Tuesday’s sentencing came amid a firestorm surrounding the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, who is accused by three women of sexual misconduct as a high school and college student. Kavanaugh has denied all of the allegations and is expected to testify Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with one of his accusers, Christine Blasey Ford. Rather than reveling in revenge for Cosby, the focus now should be on justice for all credible accusers, Columbia University political science professor Keith Boykin said. “He disappointed me. He didn’t put anything in my drink,” Hill said. “As awful as he has been to the world, my commitment is not to punishing Bill Cosby. It’s getting justice for his victims.” By ERRIN HAINES WHACK, AP National Writer
EDITOR, The Tribune.
Widening the divide across our nation EDITOR, The Tribune. HOW long are we going to continue to denigrate each other, destroy people’s character and indulge in the worst sewer type comments. Why? Is there really anything to gain at the end of the day? The term corruption being placed on one party or the next is not healthy for the psyche of a country. We are a closely knitted family country, everyone is related to everyone in many ways. Many families are intertwined, and we would be stunned who are our real fathers. We are all mixed up. So we must be cognizant who we talk about and to whom, because we do not know who is related to whom. We have seen the “talking points” of the FNM in the last election pinned corruption on the outgoing party. But no one in the FNM bothered to look in their recent past and revived that a former candidate was arrested, charged and sentenced for corruption. Yet they would
want the public to believe that the PLP was corrupt and not the FNM. Amnesia has set in and taken root. The much talked about Road Improvement Programme saw the cost ballooned from $400m to $500m, with no sensible explanation as to where $100m disappeared to, which seems to smell of rank corruption. But I guess the colour of the skin would determine if a crime was committed or not. No investigation was done, no arrest and no one charged. “That went just like that”. Yet we continue to drive a wedge between the people from over the hill being policed, harassed and have their character assassinated while the people of a lighter hue, cut all kind of deals to the detriment of the less fortunate and “not a dog say bow”. So since there are no angels in all of this, it would be wise for us to look feverishly for things that unite us more than otherwise. This country is wounded, and if it continues, would soon be
on “life support”. This constant propaganda that caused us to hate, will soon mushroom into an epidemic that we may not recover from, thus destroying the country where no one can benefit. Greed has played a big role in all of this. A few families have decided that they are going to have it all and no one from over the hill deserves the crumbs. The playing field is not levelled! Unless and until we move away from that game plan, we would hasten our deterioration. I strongly suggest that all efforts must be made immediately to open the economy, so that the small man from over the hill can begin to see some indication that there is hope, otherwise, “dog eat your breakfast, lunch and dinner”. As long as greed is higher than compassion, there will always be suffering. IVOINE INGRAHAM Nassau, September 26, 2018.
W.
WE have enjoyed, in most cases, parliamentary democracy over the past 55 years with the advent of ministerial government during the 1960s and the emergence of internal self governance and, eventually, independence. Over the years, I have seen countless men and women enter the hallowed halls of parliament filled with zeal and vision. Indeed, they come into parliament roaring like a lion only to leave, involuntarily or voluntary, mewing like a pussy cat. Many of those over the years strutted about and preened like peacocks. They, usually, exhibited gross and puzzling signs of narcissism and, God forbid, schizophrenic behaviour. The fabled Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde have nothing on them. Well do I recall individuals who made up the first wave of PLP members of parliament back in 19671968. Men like Kendal Nottage; Darrold Rolle; James Shepherd; Frankly Wilson; Loftus Roker; Lynden O Pindling; Cecil Wallace Whitfield, et al. They were enthusiastic and gung-ho to do the people’s business. The majority of them were motivated by an opportunity to serve and not to dominate the political landscape. Today, the average individual who gets into parliament, especially by election to the House of Assembly, seems to conveniently forget about his/ her constituents and the reasons why they would have been elected. Yes, I have been an armchair observer for decades watching the comings and the goings of “important” individuals into and out of parliament. When some of them are obliged to leave their perches they age rapidly and tend to die in poverty or from abject and debilitating medical issues. They tend to forget that there is a life outside of parliament. Countless PLP MPs during the finale of the now mercifully concluded final term of Brother Christie, have vanished from the scene. Some have returned to law or medical practices and others have returned to private businesses. One or two, it is alleged, are living off wealth accumulated while they held sway. The rest have either gone underground or are still suffering the agony of political defeat. I am a PLP and make no apologies for this. Yes, like so many other rightthinking Bahamians, I was obliged to vote for the FNM in the form of Marvin Dames, who is now the MP for the great constituency of Mount Moriah and Minister of National Security. I simply could not take another hour of Brother Christie’s
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net juvenile antics and poor leadership traits. He had to go by all means necessary from an electoral point. In fact, in order to successfully change debilitating leadership into the real deal leadership which a majority of Bahamians and PLPs wanted, we had to send Brother Christie, et al, back home. We all wish the current administration to succeed but at the rate Prime Minister Dr Minnis and Finance Minister Peter Turnquest are driving the economy of our wonderful nation, with no hands apparently on the wheel, we are in for a free fall. The single saving grace of this administration is that it has a cadre of elected and appointed parliamentarians who are dedicated to providing good parliamentary representation. Please keep in mind that I am not an FNM and 85 per cent of my other habits are good. I call a spade, however, a spade. The entire country knows that my favourite FNM cabinet minister is the Hon. Dinisio D’Aguilar (FNMFree Town), Minister of Tourism & Aviation. He is hard working, a quick study with his portfolio and, of course, is a committed patriot, third only to myself and Brave Davis. I don’t, of course, understand the low profile which he’s maintained over the purchase and refurbishment of the Grand Lucayan Hotel over in Freeport. The PM, with his legendary “hands off attitude” towards the craft of governance, seems to have established a corporate vehicle to purchase that property and to get it in shape for eventual anticipated and hoped for sale to a private buyer down the road. This is all well and good, but Attorney Michael Scott, no doubt a good man, is not a known business person and has absolutely no hands-on experience in actually running a hotel. The last one that was under his sway was/is The Light House Hotel over in Andros, a very small property that has never been a viable concern... even Bahamian investors who may have some loose change have been reluctant to purchase that property despite its great location and endless possibilities. Scott, he and I were admitted to The Bahamas Bar on the same date and he is a former partner at Callenders & Company, once declared that he had “no faith” in Minnis’ leadership skills... now he is creased up, as a hotel turn-around expert, with the PM? Hopefully, for you all sake, this will all end well. In the meantime, however, I publicly congratulate D’Aguilar and Dames for
their stellar performances as cabinet ministers. I would be remiss if I did not also publicly compliment and congratulate Shanendon Cartwright (FNM-St Barnabas), chairman of the Public Beaches & Park Commission, on his stellar performance and hands on approach to parliamentary representation over in St Barnabas. He is, from long time, a focused individual and he has a grand plan to develop and nurture his constituents one at a time. As cChairman of the aforesaid commission, Grand Master Cartwright has demonstrated, over and over again, that one of the best decisions made by the embattled PM so far, is his appointment of Cartwright to that vital body. Cartwright’s constituency offices are opened every weekday during regular business hours. The staff is in place and the lights and telephones are on. You make an appointment to see the Honourable Chairman, you actually get to see him on time unless something unexpected comes up. He and his team conduct regular clean ups and oversee the removal of derelict vehicles and discarded items like furniture and appliances. I have been privileged to see the outline of plans which he has for the constituency for all sorts of literacy and other programmes. In fact, my non-profit organisation, Common Cause, fully supports his wonderful efforts to uplift all of the constituents in St. Barnabas be they FNMs; PLPs or independents. I have known Shanendon for a very long time. He, like myself, is a member of the craft known as Free Masonry. As a fellow “son of the widow” I have absolutely no doubt or a hint of suspicion as to where his heart lies. He has been mandated by The Great Architect of the Universe to ensure that their lives, as well as other Bahamians, line up within the square and the compass. If there were at least ten more members in parliament like Shanendon Cartwright (FNM-St Barnabas) The Bahamas would be able to get to the next level in short order. The measure of a person’s life, in my opinion, is what he/she is able first of all to advance the kingdom of Yahweh; support and nourish his family/ relatives and himself and, of course, what is done in love for the wider society and nation. We are to love one another as Jesus Christ demonstrated when he walked among mankind. Way to go Brother Cartwright. It is to be remembered, however, that in all things, to God be the glory. ORTLAND H. BODIE, Jr. Nassau, September 23, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 27, 2018, PAGE 5
GOVERNOR General Dame Marguerite Pindling pays tribute to her former aide, Inspector Carlis Blatch, at his funeral service yesterday.
Final farewell to slain officer from page one nurturing of our children, especially our young men, with a view to putting an end to these senseless acts of violence.” Blatch was the first police officer this year to be shot and killed. Mr Dames, describing the thankless work of officers, said: “When most are asleep in cozy beds, the Police are awake and alert, to save the lives of those they have never met. When others are engaged in celebratory activities, the Police are detailed for duty. While others don fancy suits and dresses, the Police don war gear of ballistic vests and guns. “An error in judgment in the line of duty, results in injuries and deaths. When the police tell their families, they will see them later, it is only through answered prayer that they do. The Police are our friends. So the next time we encounter a police officer, pause to reflect on the sacrifices they make each day. Some professions sacrifice time; other professions sacrifice resources; the Police may at times, sacrifice their lives.” Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson remembered Blatch as a “well-groomed and stately officer” who was “diligent, committed, persistent and dependable.” He read letters related to Blatch during the slain officer’s 14 year career in the Security and Intelligence Branch. In one letter, former Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont wrote to him: “… you have fitted nicely into the team and performed your duties with aplomb. I realized that you function under the hardship of being separated from your family
OFFICERS pay respect yesterday at the funeral of Inspector Carlis Blatch and, below, his coffin is carried by his colleagues. in Exuma; yet your cheerfulness helps to light up everyone’s day.” In another letter, former Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes wrote to a former police commissioner, saying: “One of the functions over which I had to preside was the presentation of Letters of Credentials by the Belgian Ambassador, and I am proud to say that your officers, Mr Roberts and Mr Blatch, performed with a high level of professionalism.” The widely-respected aide-de-camp was shot in front of his daughter while they waited in his car outside HO Nash Junior High School to pick-up his son. He later died in the Princess Margaret Hospital from his injuries on September 12.
A MOURNER pays tribute at the full military funeral service for Police Inspector Carlis Blatch yesterday. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Photos: Sgt 2722 Demetria Capron
PAGE 6, Thursday, September 27, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Munroe wants answers on payments made to Ash By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
A KEY witness in former Labour Minister Shane Gibson’s criminal case told investigators that Jonathan Ash “got all of his payments” from the government. This revelation follows Attorney General Carl Bethel’s confirmation on Tuesday that Mr Ash was still receiving instalment payments from the government for debts the Minnis administration met on its books. Wayne Munroe, counsel for Mr Gibson, yesterday told The Tribune documents disclosed by the Crown to his legal team during the discovery phase did not show that Mr Ash was still owed money. He said the defence is prepared to ask for a complete listing of bills still being honoured by the government. The issue was thrust into the spotlight this week after a document purportedly itemising payments to Ash Enterprises went viral
WAYNE MUNROE QC on social media earlier this recordings from September week. 25, 2017. While the document purIn these transcripts, both ports to show five payments she and Mr Ash were giving of $30,000 since April to their account of a meeting Ash Enterprises totaling with the former minister $150,000, it does not name over money owed to Mr the company or describe Ash who had several lucrawhat the payments were tive contracts for clean up for. Its origin is unclear, but in New Providence in the Mr Bethel confirmed its aftermath of Hurricane contents on Tuesday. Matthew. However, the witness’ At this same meeting, Ms admission has called into Bastian also reveals to Mr question the purpose of the Gibson an earlier admispayments. sion from Mr Ash that he Deborah Bastian, then paid former Chief Engineer personal assistant to Mr Rahman “something out of Gibson made the admission the deal”. about Mr Ash receiving Their attorneys Alecia full payment to Assistant Bowe and Raymond Rolle Superintendent Thomp- were also at the meeting. son in transcripts of audio At the time, Mr Ash and
Ms Bastian had discussed forgoing one tranche of payment for $250,000 allegedly to give to Mr Gibson. “And in your mind you was saying to forgo the payment cuz y’all were gonna work him,” ASP Thompson said. Ms Bastian then responded: “Yeah. No. Let me go back to forgoing. And I explained it to Ash. I said rather than you getting paid for four weeks, you getting paid for three weeks. When Ash called me back that day, Ash told me, ‘Simon tell me tell you send all of my payments. I ain’t forgoing nothing. Send all of my payments to him and he ga pay me. “I said, ‘No problem.’ I was saying, but I can’t see them paying him but I ga send it anyhow. I sent all of Ash payments forward to Minister Gibson, Jack Thompson, Simon Wilson and it was paid. So he didn’t forgo any payment. He got all of his payments.” According to Mr Munroe, the government must now produce the bills and show documentation of the payments.
He further questioned whether any work was done by Mr Ash for the government, noting the new VAT rate had been attached to payments for July and August. “He (the AG) has admitted to the payments and that’s not surprising since a whistleblower has clearly disclosed that they are still paying him,” Mr Munroe said. “So they couldn’t really deny it, right?” “Now the question is do you believe his account of the payment? “I am told that the VAT shown on this invoice is at 12 per cent. We know that VAT at 12 per cent only came in under the FNM and so the last two can only be services rendered after the new rate of VAT. Now bearing in mind that the old 7.5 per cent rate was the VAT for the first year of the FNM. “From the documents that they disclosed to us in the criminal matter Ash wasn’t owed any money based on those documents and those documents as far as I can recall went all the way up until the
general election. “So I really can’t see how they could say this is old debt unless they haven’t been honest in their disclosure.” He continued: “But since this admission has come out we need now to go back and revisit whether they have made complete and accurate disclosure because if there was a sum that was owed the records they gave us surely doesn’t show it. “They ought to produce the bills. They ought to show documentation that shows payments of the bills. They believe in transparency. We certainly will ask for them,” Mr Munroe said. Responding, Mr Bethel said Mr Munroe knows the proper legal forum if he has questions or issues on behalf of his client. He maintained this was not a public matter, adding his response on Tuesday to the viral document was answering to an innuendo being put on social media. Mr Bethel said it was a matter that would undoubtedly be raised in court and to “parley” the issue in public would be improper.
PLP DEMANDS: WHY CALL TRIAL WITNESS A WHISTLEBLOWER? By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel’s “whistleblower” characterisation of Jonathan Ash has raised questions about his level of willingness to participate as the key witness in the Crown’s criminal trials against two former Cabinet ministers, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell said yesterday. Mr Bethel made the statement as he stressed on Tuesday there was “nothing untoward” about payments the government was still making to Mr Ash for debt still on the books when the Minnis administration took office. Mr Ash is the key Crown witness in separate bribery cases against Shane Gibson, former Labour Minister, and Kenred Dorsett who served as Housing and Environment Minister
under the former Christie administration. In a press statement yesterday, Mr Mitchell said Mr Bethel’s comments this week made it hard to see how justice can be served in either bribery case. “We are incredulous today after reading an incredible headline about the star witness in the government’s signature case of alleged corruption,” Mr Mitchell said in his press release. “The Attorney General Carl Bethel has declared Jonathan Ash to be a whistleblower. He did so in the course of confirming that payments are being received for contracts, which the AG says were legally contracted prior to their coming to office. “The AG suppresses at every turn discussion in the Senate on these cases of alleged corruption when we raise it in Parliament. “The Attorney General,
however, now has no compunction in becoming judge in his own cause and declaring someone to be a whistleblower, i.e., a willing witness to a prosecution.” He continued: “Surely the question must be determined within a proper judicial setting whether or not the witness is in fact a whistleblower. Is he a volunteer or has he been induced, bullied or cajoled? Those are questions the defence counsel must raise in a trial.” “This is particularly so against the fact of evidence already evinced before the court about the conduct of the Crown and its witnesses in one of these cases in which the “whistleblower” is the chief witness. “Things get curiouser and curiouser. We again call for these cases to end. The atmosphere within which they are occurring is so toxic that it is hard to see how justice will be served,” Mr Mitchell said.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 27, 2018, PAGE 7
Homeless drug addict begs for leniency after stealing air conditioning unit By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
A SELF-DESCRIBED homeless drug addict yesterday begged a magistrate for leniency after being convicted of shopbreaking and theft after he stole an air-condition unit from the Bahamas Football Association’s Bay Street storage facility.
Leroy Bethel appeared before Magistrate Ambrose Armbrister and pleaded guilty to one count each of shopbreaking and theft. It was alleged that Bethel between 3pm, Thursday, September 6, and 9am, Sunday, September 23, broke into the BFA’s storage facility and stole one ductless air condition system valued at $2,016.
According to police reports, the property’s caretaker upon seeing exterior damage to a storage unit, investigated, and found Bethel asleep on the inside. Bethel was restrained by the caretaker and further questioned. During the line of questioning, it was discovered that the air-condition unit was missing. Bethel admitted to
JUSTICE Keith Thompson making his presentation to Defence Force Officers and Marines during the legal aid seminar and clinic at Coral Harbour Base.
LEGAL AID CLINIC GIVES ADVICE TO DEFENCE FORCE THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force has hosted its first annual legal aid seminar and clinic. The event was staged to ensure RBDF personnel received equality before the law and the right to counsel and a fair trial, according to a press statement, which underscored Commodore Tellis Bethel’s intent to improve the professional and personal wellbeing of officers. Participating in the event were representatives from the Judiciary and the Bahamas Bar Association. Personnel were also treated to free legal advice during the clinic. Presenters included
Acting Justice Keith Thompson, Magistrate Sandra Dee Gardiner, Attorneys L Michelle Fox, Calverna Small, Jerome Darceuil, Tara Knowles, IanMarie Darville and Sherman Bethel. Topics covered were Labour Law, Family Law, Divorce/Conveyance, Will and Probate, Criminal Law and Health Issues. “Any institution must always set out to treat its employees as human beings. You cannot get 100 percent participation and support if you mistreat your employees,” said Mr Thompson. “The main aim and objective of any institution is progress and success. The
REPRESENTATIVES from the judiciary and the Bahamas Bar Association at the first legal aid seminar and clinic at Coral Harbour Base.
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only way to do that is to have everybody on board and on the same page”. Deputy Commander Defence Force, Captain Samuel Evans, underscored the significance of the annual event for the Officers and Marines stating that: “... As an organisation, we must remain cognizant of the realities of the everyday challenges, including legal issues that confront our officers and marines, both within the Defence Force, and in our private lives. “The impetus of this legal aid clinic is to provide practical information and advice on various aspects of the law.
stealing the unit and police were called to the scene. Bethel was taken into custody and further cautioned. At his arraignment yesterday, Bethel asked the court to consider his state in its ruling. Bethel said he had no place else to go and needed help. “I am homeless,” he said. “I don’t have anywhere
to stay. “I have a drug problem. Bethel said he receives no help from his family and has long been left to fend for himself on the street. Bethel asked for mercy and pleaded for counselling. After hearing his claims, Magistrate Armbrister sentenced Bethel to 18 months on the charge of shopbreaking and 12 months on the charge of theft.
The sentences are to run concurrently. Magistrate Armbrister told Bethel the sentences served as enough time for him to take advantage of the rehabilitation services offered by the Bahamas Department of Corrections, where he was remanded for the duration of his sentence. He has seven days within which to appeal the ruling.
PAGE 8, Thursday, September 27, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Why we love to see the Tiger roar again By Diane Phillips
I
TIGER Woods celebrates after picking up his putt for par on the 18th green to win the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament in Atlanta.
FIRST noticed this strange phenomenon when working at the National Enquirer and its sister paper, the now-defunct Weekly World News. We humans are like passengers. When a new celebrity or sports hero appears on the scene we climb onboard, celebrating their talent, commenting as if we were experts on their particular skills. We watch them perform, applaud for them. But if their rise is too meteoric, we sense injustice and wait for the crash and when the predicted train wreck happens – and it almost always does – we jump off that train of support so fast we hardly leave a trace of our love behind. Oh, what a shame, but you could see it coming, we tell ourselves and our cocktail party acquaintances, establishing our keen ability to have seen the crack in their armor before the rest of the adoring world noticed. Maybe their nose was too red from snorting or they twisted their mouth in a funny way. Maybe they missed that hoop shot from afar or the high note they always got before. Maybe they were just cocky and thought they could get away with cheating on a spouse and their cockiness led to carelessness and suddenly their spouse is the one we are sympathising with. Our hero of yesterday is exposed to the whole world and we say, “See, could have told you so, was just a matter of time.” We are so disgustingly smug. But why? I spent an inordinate amount of time over the years – a few minutes here, a few minutes there – wondering why we ride the rise and fall and rise again of someone we have never met with such intimate connection. We take their journey personally. More to the point, why do we feel the range of emotions we do when a star skyrockets to the highest highs, descends into the depths of hell and, struggling, soul bared to the world, pulls himself up again and becomes the hero we first admired? Through all the minutes that I have given to the quest for this tiny bit of understanding the strange human phenomenon of following the rise-fall-re-birth of an icon, here is what I have concluded. We admire talent. We want to see it rewarded but when the reward is too fast, too great, we resent it. Sure, we know that sports and entertainment stars command insane salaries and perks. We accept that and try to justify it to some extent but it is where we begin to separate from the humble talent we first “discovered” when their salary probably more closely aligned with our own. Our connection is greater in the beginning because a) they are not famous, b) they are more like us, and c) we feel like we helped discover them, our applause helped pave the road to their success. We were in on it early.
If they keep performing well like a Kobe Bryant or Eli Manning or Shania Twain, we remain fans for life even though they become less like us. Nothing is likely to shake our confidence in them because they are not just stars, they are steadfast humans. We continue to have that in common with them. Like us, they are working hard for their money. They are like us, just more talented, so we side with them, we, the passenger, stay on their train and go along for the ride. But when they have all that fame and fortune, which we are happy to give them, and they blow it like a Michael Phelps or Tiger Woods, we jump off that train shaking our heads. “How could they?” we ask. They had it all. They had everything anyone could ever ask for. They were at the top of their game. They had fans who all but worshipped them and they threw it all away for a little oxycodone like Heath Ledger or weed and alcohol like Phelps. How could he want more when he had eight Olympic gold medals, we ask? Or the man who is probably the greatest golfer of all time, a man whose smile and clean-cut good looks looked back at you from hundreds of magazine covers and newspaper front pages, how could he have wanted more than he had and risked everything for a fling or more? Our resentment coincides with disbelief. Our feelings are like those of a woman scorned. We trusted them and they betrayed us. We are no longer fans. It is never about them. It is about how we feel about them relative to us. At every stage, it is how we identify with them and when they blow it and throw it all away, we think if we had what they had, we would never have done what they did. We disgorge them like yesterday’s soggy cereal. Done, done and done. Then, we let them pay the price and relish when they pay it in public. This endorsement cancelled, that series suspended, a contract not renewed. Yet, in the end, we are a forgiving people and once that celebrity has paid what we consider enough of a price and we believe they learned a lesson and will be good stars, icons and golfers going forward, we will ride their train. We will be the passenger who goes along for the journey again. Our faith is restored, our trust a bit shaky but for the most part, we are back in their corner because they are right back with us, starting from the beginning, more like us as they were when we first met them. Success that follows failure is the sweetest success of all. That’s why when Tiger Woods won the PGA Tour Golf Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta last Sunday, breaking a five-year winless streak, fans went wild. They screamed and shouted and swarmed him on the course as he strode the greens following his last shot, arms outstretched making a perfect Y of his body. In homes, golf clubs and restaurants around the world, those hoping for a comeback jumped up and down, bellowing The Tiger Roars Again. One sweet success wiped away years of headlines about his mental and physical condition. The Tiger was back and that was all that mattered. In my house too.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 27, 2018, PAGE 9
LEADERS MEET FACE TO FACE AT UNITED NATIONS GATHERING
BAHAMAS Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and his wife, Patricia, meet US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, at the United Nations.
Artist presents sculpture to mark tenth anniversary celebration of NAD By RIEL MAJOR THE Nassau Airport Development Company was presented with a sculpture by Bahamian artist Dede Brown for its tenth anniversary as operators of Lynden Pindling International Airport. The Vantage Airport Group unveiled its official plaque dedicating the piece
composed of 300 individual fish each covered in enamel paint with bright vibrant colours and intricate details. Ms Brown had been commissioned to create the tenth anniversary gift, “The Way”, on April 1, 2001. The massive aluminium art structure consists of 30 different species of reef fish that can be found in 900 square miles of coral reefs surrounding the islands of
The Bahamas. Entitled ‘The Way’ the piece can be admired in the International Arrivals terminal and will be seen potentially by more than 3.3 million passengers annually. George Casey, Vantage Airport Group president, said: “With this composition, we are deepening that uniquely Bahamian sense of place at LPIA. This artwork also represents
the partnership between Vantage, NAD and the government of The Bahamas, which has, in its 10-plus years, created world-class airport facilities, built a team of dedicated employees, invested in its community and warmly welcomed thousands of passengers.” President and CEO of NAD Vernice Walker accepted the gift on behalf of her team located in Nassau.
“Today, as we add another piece that further solidifies our sense of place here at LPIA,” she said, “we would like to thank Vantage for this gift to commemorate a great partnership as we continue the way forward over the next decade.” Dede Brown, born in Freeport, Grand Bahama, is known for her feature paintings, sculpture, and
unique installations. Her artwork is being showcased in exhibitions in The Bahamas, England, and in numerous print and online publications. Ms Brown’s first airport sculpture, Taking Flight, a flock of 84 life-sized West Indian flamingos, can also be enjoyed in the departure area of the Domestic/ International terminal of the airport.
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PAGE 10, Thursday, September 27, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Bahamians become foreign investors while BISX slumbers SUDDENLY, Bahamians are becoming more aware of the vast universe of investments percolating in securities markets beyond our shores. Under the newly relaxed rules of the benevolent Central Bank, citizens holding nothing but Bahamian dollars can now invest offshore, without paying the previously prohibitive exchange premiums — originally 25 percent, then 12 percent, now reduced to an appealing five percent. True, the bank won’t allow the cheaper money to be used to buy a luxury foreign home or yacht, but for marketable traded securities handled through one of our authorised financial institutions, the investing path becomes ever easier. Cornertrader - Recent publicity of the good news came from an unexpected source: one of our many Swiss-owned offshore banks, traditionally as tightlipped as a clam about their business and clientele. But Corner Bank (Overseas) Limited, licenced here since 1996, broke the mold. Subsidiary of the Lugano-based Corner Bank, run by three generations of the Cornaro family, the local management last week hosted a reception launching its ‘Cornertrader’ platform for direct investing in a wide variety of international securities. As CEO Christine Russell emphasised in preliminary remarks, for many years Bahamians have been able with a “click of a mouse” to buy thousands of products sold through Amazon, but not Amazon’s own shares actively traded in New York. The reception marked the presence of Central Bank governor John Rolle as the key regulator who
authorised Cornertrader, and I chatted with former governor James Smith amiably observing the proceedings. Ms Russell and her technicians demonstrated the Cornertrader platform — a multicolour informative screen available on any internet-linked computer, showing charts detailing a wide variety of available equities and bonds in several markets and currencies. Current trading prices are given, plus a selection of financial news. Once a client visits the Corner Bank office on East Bay Street to complete the usual account-opening process and deposit the required minimum of $20,000, Corner will handle the other formalities with our Central Bank and foreign securities dealers, including conversion of a Bahamian dollar deposit into easily investible US dollars. The client can then return to home or office computer, log in and start tapping out investment instructions for immediate execution. A demo card shows how to practice with a trial portfolio. Corner Bank is certainly the first local financial firm to make this technique publicly available within The Bahamas, to expatriate individuals and companies who already hold foreign currency, as well as to Bahamian citizens who have been limited to B-Dollar accounts. It
should soon become popular with expats experienced in making their own investment decisions — and also with affluent Bahamians who have achieved sophistication in this field and appreciate quick, independent executions. For everyday citizens, particularly those younger ones who are eager to learn and practice the nuts and bolts of trading with personal accountability, tutorials about the Cornertrader system may be required. Corner Bank appears to be already upgrading its local presence with staff for this education and also for diligent marketing among a populace only beginning to become aware of international investments. Global Invest – A week later, local securities dealer Royal Fidelity hosted about 100 attentive present or potential clients to explain its very different scheme for international investing, also approved by our Central Bank. Attendees first heard an analysis of current conditions in world markets from an expert at wellknown New York firm Morgan Stanley, together with his forecast of future trends and favoured investment categories, and then a description by Nassau executive Dave Slatter of the five different strategies offered under the Global Invest programme. These are an outgrowth of several
A CUSTOMER tries out the Cornertrader system. mutual funds already managed by Royal Fidelity, now totalling nearly $50m converted from clients’ B-Dollar deposits. The strategies range from “Wealth Conservation”, with a high percentage of safe fixed-income holdings and a low portion of equities, to “Opportunistic Growth” with just the opposite ratio. Clients select their own strategies and leave to the manager the specific choice of shares, bonds and ETFs (exchange-traded funds) of various currencies, all of them liquid securities actively traded by international brokers. As a result, investment returns have been solid but not spectacular ranging from annual 2.07 percent to 5.40 percent depending on the strategy chosen, and in each case beating the relevant benchmark figure. These returns should be attractive to Bahamians with some money tucked away for retirement who are seeking respectable growth rather than eyepopping gains (or losses). As a nation, we are fortunate our foreign-currency reserves have grown to the level of about $1.5bn, so that the Central Bank can permit - and even encourage - two competing investment schemes like Cornertrader and Global Invest. The former will appeal to more aggressive traders who want the freedom to make their own decisions, while the latter will satisfy investors with less immediate objectives willing to assign the time and effort to proven
professionals. Both can be successful.
MEANWHILE, WHAT ABOUT BISX? Beneficial as these investment programmes will be for Bahamians seeking to widen their investment horizons, they do nothing to help our domestic capital market. Their publicity underlines the comparatively minuscule capitalisation of BISX-listed equities at about $4bn, while easily available international securities range well into the trillions. For years, BISX shares have been stuck at about 20 companies whose illiquidity often requires weeks to trade, while in the US or Europe innumerable opportunities are available “at the click of a mouse”. Unfortunately, BISX simply cannot compete. Its failure to satisfy the appetite of modern Bahamian investors leads to the more serious failure of inability to provide capital for our economic growth, which largely depends on inflow of foreign funds. There is no easy answer to this deficiency, as it grows from long-standing habits ingrained in our wealthy community and our continued inability to organise new avenues to mobilise existing wealth into more productive channels. BISX and its customers could benefit from many new listings from strong old-line companies like Kelly’s, John Bull, Super Value, Asa Pritchard,
Marathon Mall, AID and Lowe’s Pharmacies, but the ultra-conservative owners of these concerns have few plans for major expansion or diversification, and thus little incentive to raise capital with share issues. We hear a great deal about the entrepreneurial growth of small and medium enterprises and their need for equity resources, but to date neither BISX nor our banks, securities firms, nor pension funds have created any formal structures to accomplish this, despite much talk about “crowd-funding”, mini-markets and secondtier listings similar to those on the Jamaica Stock Exchange — none of which have been initiated. One hopeful sign of new investment opportunities is Sir Franklyn Wilson’s recent announcement that his Jack’s Bay resort development will float a public share issue, not because he needs the money but as a gesture to kick-start Bahamians’ investment in tourism projects, which they have long shunned. Another is the eventual public offering of Government’s 51 percent stake in ALIV for an estimated $70m. And it is strongly rumoured the proposed new tourism port in downtown Nassau will be financed in part by public share offerings. Bahamians could well be open to investing in a profitable, well-regulated gaming house like Island Luck. These and a few other high-grade public offerings could rejuvenate BISX and spark public interest in local investing. It’s surprising we rarely hear any policy statements from Central Bank Governor or Ministers of Finance and Trade & Industry about beefing up our domestic capital markets, by tax adjustments and other basic financial policies. These officials seem almost unaware BISX exists, just waiting for vigorous Cabinet support, even simple jaw-boning encouragement to our old-line holders of wealth. Perhaps the publicity about the externally-oriented Cornertrader and Global Invest will now encourage our leaders to focus on our internal financial structure.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 27, 2018, PAGE 11
Clergyman wants tougher laws to stop gun violence By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A LOCAL religious leader in Grand Bahama is calling for the passing of more effective and stricter laws in relation to gun violence to solve the country’s “murder crisis”. Apostle Anthony Grant, of Agape Christian Centre in Freeport believes The Bahamas has been faced with a serious murder problem for over a decade and it is time to implement “radical laws” to deal with the vexing crisis. “Over the past 15 plus years, our country, The Bahamas, has been dealing with a murder crisis. Successive governments have played the blame game, but none has responded to the murder problem with a sense of urgency,” he said. “We believe that the time is past due for The
Bahamas to pass radical laws... in order to solve the murder problem and save this nation. We are a nation in crisis. It is time to fix that which is broken. If not for ourselves, for our children and their children.” In a press statement, the clergyman noted innocent children have been shot and killed in gun-related violence. In the month of June alone, some ten murders were carried out - three on June 9, one on June 10, three on June 12 and three on the weekend of June 15. Apostle Grant believes a greater level of priority is being placed on issues with far less negative affect on the nation. He claims that “generally we live in a lawless society where law breakers are able to break the law at every level without any consequence for their actions. Consequences speak louder
than any written law, consequences speak louder than increased police patrol”. The religious leader stressed there must a greater penalty for those who commit gun violence. He noted the laws passed in the State of Florida in relation to gun violence has been very effective in the reduction of murders and crimes there. According to Pastor Grant, since the Ten Twenty Life Law went into effect on July 1, 1999 in Florida under former Governor Jeb Bush, giving mandatory sentences to those found guilty of gun violence, there had been a 26 percent decline in violent gun-related crimes there when compared to 1998. According to that law, he said anyone found guilty of producing a firearm while committing certain felonies faces at least a 10-year mandatory prison sentence; that
firing a firearm mandates at least a 20-year prison sentence; and that shooting someone mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years to life regardless of whether the victim was killed or simply injured. He further noted that under the Florida law if a defendant is charged with a felony murder or first degree murder the maximum is the death penalty. Apostle Grant indicated that reports from the Florida Patrol Commission reported that there was a 26.4 percent decrease in violent gun-related crimes in 2000, compared to 1998. He further noted that the reports had indicated that by year 2004, the gun-violence rate had dropped 30 percent since 1998 in Florida, and the murder crime index rate had reached its lowest in 34 years, despite a 16.8 percent increase in the population.
“Four years later after passing the law, they had the lowest murder crime index in 34 years,” he added. “That says that it is working, and we need to apply things that are working. We need to look around us and see what is working for others, and if we need to use what is working for someone, then use it. “We appeal to the government. We need to do something about the murder situation. I am not saying we need to follow Florida, but I use it as an example because that was successful.” “We need government to act with a sense of desperation and urgency until something happens. We can’t continue to allow this (murder crisis) to go on and allow this diabolical spirit to roam the land,” said Apostle Grant. Apostle Grant has also implored churches to pray
and all citizens to report crimes that are committed. On the topic of capital punishment, Pastor Grant says he supports it. “As long as we have the Privy Council as the last appeal, we will not get capital punishment,” he explained. He noted capital punishment was abolished for murder in England in 1965. “We have to take power and have control over ourselves rather than having some foreign entity controlling our lives,” Apostle Grant said. According to the clergyman, the Bible also supports capital punishment. “The Bible tells us that if someone murders then that person should be killed. And this is not a punishment it is because the blood of the person that has murdered is contaminating the earth and that spirit will roam wild like it is now in The Bahamas,” he said.
READERS RESPOND TO DISNEY PLANS FOR ELEUTHERA AFTER One Eleuthera Foundation CEO Shaun Ingraham characterised Disney’s proposal for Lighthouse Point as “killing the golden goose”, there was a lively debate among readers on tribune242.com. SP said: “Anybody that says this proposed private cruise port is a good economic deal for The Bahamas is in the private cruise companies’ pockets! NO MORE private cruise port developments.” That prompted this reply from OldFort2012: “You don’t want a PRIVATE port owned by Disney? No problem. Set up a public company, get Bahamians
to invest equity into it and build the port and then rent it out to Disney.” And this from OMG: “And all the 26,000 persons in opposition are doing so just to protect the planet. Everyone directly involved has a vested interest whether that be financial or otherwise.” BahamaPundit asked: “Why is it such a bad idea, SP? I’ve been to Eleuthera
and the economy is dead as a doornail.” Becks said: “There is already a private cruise port in Eleuthera . . . hasn’t done squat for the economy . . . why would anybody with a brain think another one would accomplish what the first one hasn’t?” There was this from MaryMack53: “Though Eleuthera’s economy is dead, its beauty and mystery should be protected. Why not take a more sustainable route? Eco friendly hotel or wildlife university? There are more creative approaches to developing Eleuthera. Disney is well established and can
exploit another island in the Caribbean that is desperate. The Bahamas isn’t the place! This port development should stay in Nassau. Prince George Wharf needs a makeover and that should be made a priority. Also, if this Disney deal sees the light of day, there is no guarantee these tourists will spend any money to help build Eleuthera’s economy and destroy this island.” Which led to this question from OMG: “Do you live here, Mary? Every company that invests all over the world doesn’t necessarily exploit. In many countries the government will put in roads,
infrastructure and tax benefits just to encourage companies to come in. You have many ideas, but the people in S Eleuthera have suffered for years and can’t feed their kids or have electricity turned on because of the beauty and mystery.” To which MaryMack53 replied with: “Born and raised. Also we’re not discussing at the moment how other countries have been benefited from roads and infrastructure! Road and infrastructure are not guaranteed. Focus on the Bahamas. The Bahamas speaks for itself. Let’s see the bigger picture here for once! We have all suffered.
S Eleuthera is not the first! Everyone has been wheeling and dealing and still we have nothing to show for it. Long term thinking is the right way.” And there was this from BahamaPundit: “From what I’ve seen of Eleuthera, he should call it ‘Eleuthera’s golden desert’. It’s one of the quietest places on Earth. You can hear a pin drop for miles. If anything could be said to have the potential of being Eleuthera’s golden goose, it would be Disney.” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
PAGE 12, Thursday, September 27, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
WORLD MARITIME DAY
ANNOUNCEMENT The United Nations (UN), via the International Maritime Organization (IMO), created World Maritime Day to celebrate the international maritime industry’s contribution towards the world’s economy, especially in shipping. The event’s date varies by year and it is always on the last week of September. This year (2018) World Maritime Day is being celebrated on Thursday, 27th September with the theme: “IMO 70: Our Heritage – Better Shipping for a Better Future” in recognition of IMO celebrating 70 years since the Convention establishing the Organization was adopted. The Bahamas, as an archipelagic country, is mindful of the critical importance of shipping and the maritime sector to our economic development, therefore, we join the IMO and the global community in celebrating World Maritime Day. Regionally and internationally, The Bahamas remains an active participant in the regulatory process and strategic decision making process where we are committed to the overall objective of safe, secure and efficient shipping on cleaner oceans. Our fleet of over one thousand, five hundred and fifty (1550) ships, totaling over sixty four (64) million gross tonnage, is one of the largest financial contributors to IMO. The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) recognizes the significant role of shipping and as we continue to strive to build our capacity as a Maritime Administrator ensuring that The Bahamas can fulfill its international obligations as a flag, port and coastal state. We encourage young Bahamians to consider shipping/maritime as a future career noting that employment in this sector expands beyond sailing as an Officer or Rating to such careers as Marine Surveying, Shipping Finance, Shipping Insurance, Shipbuilding and Repairs, Ship Design, Maritime Law, Maritime Education to name a few. The BMA offers maritime opportunities through the Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps and a scholarship program. On the occasion of World Maritime Week, we invite the public to come and enquire on what shipping has to offer, and join us in celebrating an industry that is an essential component in global economic growth. Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps First Floor Gold Circle Bldg. P.O. Box N-4679 Nassau, Bahamas T: 1 (242) 394-3134 Email: maritime-cadets@live.com
FROM left, Angeline Lubin and Alatna Aly.
FROM left, Micilio Cireus and Michel Amiscar.
FROM left, Oscar Wendy and Edison Liberal.
FROM left, Nelson Pierre and Lukenson Pierre.
MANITHA FREFRE
FROM left, Terry Nacius and Wyslin Joseph.
NICOL SEMELFORT
FIVE YEARS IN JAIL AFTER COCAINE FIND By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net A SENIOR magistrate yesterday sentenced a 39-year-old Haitian man to five years in prison for his role in the smuggling of $135,000 worth cocaine into the Bahamas last week. Terry Nacius, a farmer from La Tortue, Haiti, stood before stood before Deputy Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain charged with one count each of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, importation of dangerous drugs, conspiracy to import dangerous drugs and conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply. He pleaded guilty to the charges. Nacius told the court he, along with others, loaded the drugs on to the vessel in Haiti. He said his original plans called for him to contact another person to collect the drugs once the group made landfall in Inagua. Magistrate Swain ordered Nacius, a father-of-nine, to be deported once his sentence is served. Nacius was arraigned with 12 other Haitians, nine males and three females. Edison Liberal, 50, Michel Amiscar, 47, Nicole Semelfort, 44, Micilio Cireus, 37, Lukenson Pierre, 36, Nelson Pierre, 36, Wyslin Joseph, 33, Herod Pierre, 26, Oscar Wendy, 23, Angeline Lubin, 37, Manitha FreFre, 26 and Alatna Aly, 26; all of Haiti, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The group was arrested
HEROD PIERRE shortly after 2am last Friday when officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit’s Marine Support Unit and US law enforcement officials conducted a search of a Haitian vessel near a harbour in Great Inagua. Nine packages of cocaine were discovered onboard the vessel. The drugs weighed 19.8lbs and have an estimated street value of $135,000, police said. In addition to the drug related offences, five of the accused were charged with deceit of a public officer. It was alleged on the same date, Alina Aly, Lukenson Pierre, Nelson Joseph, Erode Pierre and Angeline Lubin, all with intent to evade the requirements of the law, did attempt to deceive the public officer by providing false identities when asked. Nacius’ co-accused were sentenced to two-months in prison and ordered to be deported after their respective sentences are served. All 13 were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services for service of their sentences. The sentences can be appealed within the next seven days. Magistrate Swain also ordered the sloop and drugs to be destroyed.
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PAGE 14, Thursday, September 27, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Trump: Accusations against me influence Kavanaugh thinking WASHINGTON Associated Press AN AGITATED President Donald Trump acknowledged yesterday that past accusations of sexual misconduct against him have influenced the way he views similar allegations against other men, including his Supreme Court nominee. Wading into the #MeToo moment, Trump said he views such accusations “differently” because he’s “had a lot of false charges made against me”. He made the comments at a news conference in New York a day before Judge Brett Kavanaugh was set to testify before the Senate
Judiciary Committee amid multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. While Trump pledged to listen to the testimony of Kavanaugh’s accuser and even said he was open to changing his mind about his nominee, he made clear that he was deeply skeptical of these types of accusations. “It’s happened to me many times,” Trump said, claiming he’d been accused — falsely — by “four or five women”. In fact, more than a dozen women came forward during the 2016 campaign, claiming they were assaulted, groped or kissed without consent by Trump. Trump was also caught on
tape in 2005 boasting of grabbing women by their genitals and kissing them without permission. During the free-wheeling news conference, Trump continued to lash out at Democrats and label the allegations against Kavanaugh politically motivated. He also expressed frustrations with the delays in the process guided by Republicans and took a shot at attorney Michael Avenatti, who is representing the latest accuser. Trump’s remarks underscored the complexity of the moment, as Republicans seek to continue their efforts to install conservatives on the high court. While Republicans want
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PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks during a news conference yesterday. Photo: Mary Altaffer/AP to move forward, they are mindful of the fallout if they don’t take the accusations seriously. Should the effort fail, the party would likely explode in fingerpointing that could have implications in the November elections. “Republican senators have delayed this for weeks now,” Trump said. “They are giving the women a major chance to speak.” He added: “It’s possible that I’ll hear that and I’ll say I’m changing my mind.” Pushed to acknowledge the cultural moment, Trump repeatedly returned to the idea that qualified men would lose out on jobs because of allegations. “I don’t want to be in a position where people say, ‘No, thanks. I spoke to somebody 38 years ago, and it may not be good,’” Trump said, adding, “The people that have complained to me about it the most about what’s happening is women.” On his message for young men, Trump said: “It’s a very dangerous period in our country, and it’s being perpetrated by some very evil people.” Trump’s comments about his accusers drew swift reaction from an attorney for Summer Zervos, a former contestant on Trump’s reality TV show “The Apprentice,” who says Trump made unwanted advances toward her, then defamed her by saying she lied about it. “It is offensive that in purporting to stand by a Supreme Court nominee
who has been accused of sexual assault, Mr. Trump has chosen once again to defame and attack women, including our client, who had the courage to come forward to tell the truth about his own unwanted assaultive behavior,” said Mariann Wang. Kavanaugh and his chief accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, who says Kavanaugh assaulted her in high school, are both expected to testify Thursday. Ford has claimed that Kavanaugh tried to remove her clothes and clamped a hand over her mouth at a party when both were in high school. Another woman came forward over the weekend, telling The New Yorker magazine that Kavanaugh exposed himself and caused her to touch his penis at a party when both were Yale freshmen. And on Wednesday, a woman represented by Avenatti — who shot to fame as the attorney taking on the president for porn actress Stormy Daniels — made another accusation of misconduct. Kavanaugh has steadfastly denied all the allegations. Trump, who initially supported giving Ford time to speak, showed his rising frustration yesterday. Speaking to reporters at the United Nations earlier in the day, he said Senate Republicans “could have pushed it through 2½ weeks ago”. Trump said that if lawmakers had moved faster, “you wouldn’t be talking about it right now, which is
frankly what I would have preferred”. Asked about the decision to have a veteran Arizona prosecutor handle the questioning in the Judiciary Committee, Trump said Senate Republicans “could not be nicer” and “could not be more respectful.” Trump said he was “OK with that,” but again defended Kavanaugh as a “gem” and said Democrats are treating him unfairly. Trump also turned his fire directly on Avenatti, tweeting that he was a “third rate lawyer” pushing “false accusations” against Kavanaugh and himself. Avenatti tweeted back, calling Trump a “habitual liar and complete narcissist who also is a disgrace as a president and an embarrassment to our nation.” In recent days, the president has grown increasingly frustrated with the handling of the claims against Kavanaugh, said a person familiar with his views who was not authorised to discuss private conversations publicly. After Kavanaugh appeared on Fox News to plead his case Monday, Trump expressed concerns that he did not defend himself more vigorously. While Trump has wondered if he was well-advised to choose Kavanaugh, he now believes Republicans must fight back harder, mindful of the message it would send to his supporters if the GOP-controlled Senate cannot help him get another conservative jurist on the high court.