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The Tribune
Volume:115 No.227, OCTOBER 19TH, 2018
Established 1903
Weekend
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
WEEKEND: STANDING IN THE SHOES OF A NATIONAL HERO
Political pressure to hand out contracts?
...Not on my watch
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie said it is “astonishing” that an audit tabled in the House of Assembly asserts that political pressure from an elected official in his administration resulted in a web shop boss receiving a large contract from the Ministry of Finance. SEE PAGE FIVE
CIVIL SERVANTS SHREDDED US SAILOR’S MURDERERS DOCUMENTS TO HIDE FRAUD LOSE FIGHT TO GO FREE By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
SHREDDING documents to cover up fraudulent activities was “a matter of routine” at the Department of Social Services, the Auditor General has revealed. The government’s chief financial watchdog warned that “impaired internal controls” and “a severe breakdown” in management oversight had exposed Bahamian taxpayers to the potential loss of millions of dollars from graft
and corruption. The report suggested that the Department’s weaknesses and failings were also undermining its mission to assist low income and poor Bahamians. The Auditor General’s office said the instructions to destroy key accounting documents had come from a “senior accounts staff member” “with the knowledge” of their supervisor. Suggesting that this breached the Public Service Act’s record retention requirements, the report said: “These acts perpetrated by accounting staff
members reveal that there are obvious weak internal controls over the custody of accounting records within the accounts department and a severe lack of accountability around the same.” Describing the document shredding as “not tolerable”, the Auditor General’s report said the loss of accounting records “could undermine the integrity” of the accounts department and “increase the risk of fraud and corruption” to the organisation as a whole. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE three men convicted of murdering American sailor Kyle Bruner during his attempt to prevent a robbery of two female tourists five years ago will remain behind bars, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Former appellate president Dame Anita Allen, and Justices Jon Isaacs and Stella Crane-Scott said the appeals by Craig Johnson, Anton Bastian and Marcellus Williams
were “all without merit”, thus warranting them being dismissed. Simultaneously, the appellate tribunal dismissed the Crown’s appeal against the sentences of the three men, which range from 40-45 years, charging that like that of the convicts, the Crown’s appeal does not have any merit. Bruner was fatally shot in May 2013. According to the ruling, around 3am on May 12, 2013, Bruner and his coworker Sean Cannif went to the Hammerheads Bar on Bay Street. While there
they met two women, Hayley Sayer and Jane Robinson, along with Ben Myers. They all left Hammerheads Bar in two cars and went to Double D’s to get some food. Meanwhile, around 4am, Williams, Johnson, Bastian, Jamal Dorfevil and Leo Bethel were in a car near the Double D’s restaurant on Mackey Street. Earlier, the trio had agreed to rob people at Hammerheads on East Bay Street, and then later on Mackey Street. SEE PAGE SEVEN
POACHERS’ HAUL - HALF WAS UNDERSIZE By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
ACTING Director of Fisheries Edison Deleveaux yesterday estimated that more than 20,000 to 30,000 pounds each of fishery products were on board two of the three Dominican vessels that were apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force over the weekend. The count on the third vessel had not been
ONE OF THE POACHERS completed up to press time. However, Marine Resources Minister Michael Pintard added that a “tremendous amount of
undersized products” are among the Dominicans’ catch, with Mr Deleveaux approximating that more than 50 percent of the catch consisted of undersized lobsters and groupers. One hundred and twenty-four Dominican poachers on three vessels were arrested by the RBDF on Saturday. The poachers engaged officers in a shootout before they were subdued. However, no one
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE NINE
A COMIC’S VIEW: ‘THE PLP WAS GONNA DO IT’
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Friday, October 19, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
‘Delay decision on Lighthouse Point for 60 days’ By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THE group Lighthouse Point Partners has urged the government to delay its decision on Lighthouse Point for 60 days, calling for an equal and fair opportunity to present its proposal for the property to the public. In a statement yesterday, LPP insisted the group deserves to have “an equal opportunity” to present a development proposal
publicly, similar to that given to its competitor, Disney. The group said the people of the Bahamas, specifically those of South Eleuthera, should have the benefit of hearing from both proposals before a final decision is made. Cabinet was expected to announce which of the two proposals it would support on Tuesday, but in a brief interview with The Tribune on that day, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said discussions on National
THE VIEW at Lighthouse Point. Economic Council matters were put off to Friday to accommodate several ministers away on business. LPP yesterday said it has requested of the government 60 days to present its
Photo: Barefoot Marketing plan to the people before the government makes its decision. “Once all sides have had an equal and fair opportunity to present their plans, then it will be
incumbent on the government to determine which proposal is in the best interest of all Bahamians, especially the people of South Eleuthera,” the group’s statement said. “We would like to take this opportunity to urge the government to give the utmost consideration to its own economic data on tourism and visitor spending, which will show that our proposal will generate 26 times more in local benefit than Disney’s cruise port model. “We will provide more jobs, better paying jobs, jobs right away, and real ownership for Bahamians. The financial backers of our plan have the funds to purchase the property, begin the development, and to immediately begin the hiring and training of South Eleutherans.” The statement concluded: “We await (today’s) vote with hope and optimism that the best interest of the people of the Bahamas will be served.” The statement comes just days after two of LPP’s leading voices, One Eleuthera Foundation Chief Executive Shaun Ingraham and Bahamas National Trust Executive Director Eric Carey revealed that the coalition group was mulling a judicial review style challenge over the lack of proper consultation should the government approve Disney’s $400m project. In an interview with Tribune Business on Monday, Mr Ingraham said the move was “obviously an option” for LPP given the perceived “injustice” in how the government has treated their proposal. This was an issue the LPP raised in a meeting with representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister last Friday. For his part, Mr Carey maintained that the public
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needed to be consulted, insisting a town hall in South Eleuthera last week on the issue could not be considered official public consultation. He told Tribune Business: “What we’ve asked for, as required by law and legal precedent with these developments, is that the government is required to do public consultation. That hasn’t happened yet.” Mr Carey said “no agenda” was published for that meeting, and argued that many attendees thought it was part of Dr Minnis’ series of Family Island meetings where all the community’s issues – not just the proposed Disney project –- were to be discussed. “It was not a legally required public consultation to allow the government to facilitate a process where our proposal was presented to the public to let them form their opinions and ask questions,” he added. LPP has proposed constructing a sustainable development which will include a 100-unit eco-lodge and a learning and research centre with space to accommodate a 20-person class on a 100-acre site adjacent to the national park. LPP claims the project should yield permanent economic contributions of 190 jobs, $7.7m in annual earnings, $13.76m in economic output annually, $11.56m in annual GDP increase and $300,000 in annual NIB payments. Meanwhile, Disney has remained committed to its pitch to develop the property into one of the region’s top cruise ports, capable of generating millions in annual revenue. To date, neither Disney Cruise Lines nor LPP has carried out a full environmental impact assessment, which is required by law.
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Friday, October 19, 2018, PAGE 3
‘No plan to arrest Jean Rony’ before case is heard By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net SOURCES close to the matter yesterday told The Tribune the government was not of the mind to rearrest Bahamas-born Jean Rony Jean-Charles until his case is heard before the Privy Council. However, when contacted Attorney General Carl Bethel declined further comment on the matter yesterday. On Wednesday, he told The Tribune Jean Rony Jean-Charles would be “accorded a fair opportunity to prove that he is the person who is in the birth certificate” submitted in court documents. Back in February, Mr Bethel noted the case had unearthed a significant and far-reaching legal challenge over the verification of birth certificates. Lawyers for Bahamasborn Mr Jean-Charles yesterday underscored difficulties obtaining Haitian documentation as a chief obstacle to completing his citizenship application. He has not worked in the eight months since he was returned to the country on a court order. “I have a copy of the travel document,” Mr JeanCharles told The Tribune on Wednesday. “But no one will hire me, they said I need something more.” “We have been working on getting his documents,” said attorney Fred Smith, “but as usual it’s often difficult to get documents from Haiti – both of his parents are dead. All of his papers burnt in a (March 2017 shanty town) fire, so we’re still working on that.” Mr Smith added: “He hasn’t worked because nobody will hire him, the notoriety from this case alone.” A recent Court of Appeal ruling, which quashes that order in favour of the government, has reignited scrutiny over the
35-year-old’s identity and whether he can prove his claim to his own birth certificate. “As we argued in the appeal, which was not dealt with,” Mr Smith said, “Jean Rony falls into a unique category of persons born within The Bahamas and he has committed no offence under the Immigration Act, and it would be unlawful and in breach of his constitutional rights to be arrested, detained, and deported.” Mr Smith said: “If Jean Rony isn’t the person who was standing before the Court of Appeal then where is the real Jean Rony? The government brought no evidence that the Jean Rony who was before the Court of Appeal was not in fact the Jean Rony that was deported, and that was accepted by the government that he was the person that was deported.” Mr Jean-Charles’ identity was first thrown into question after evidence submitted by the Department of Immigration during the Supreme Court trial stated the man deported by the Bahamas to Haiti had given a different date of birth. The Department of Immigration, in its return to the habeas corpus writ, stated an adult Haitian national who gave his name as “Jean Charles” and stated his date of birth as December 1, 1985, was arrested and detained by immigration officers during a routine status check on Fire Trail Road. He also reportedly confirmed his identity as “Jean Charles,” date of birth December 1, 1985 during a roll call of passengers before boarding the plane. However, during an interview with The Tribune in Haiti, Mr Jean-Charles insisted he told officials repeatedly during his detention that his birth date is December 5, 1982.
The matter was unresolved in the Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal Justice Sir Michael Barnett in this week’s ruling stated trial judge Gregory Hilton “fell in error” when he proceeded with Mr JeanCharles’ application for constitutional relief. Justice Hilton further found Mr Jean-Charles has been deprived of his personal liberty, unlawfully arrested and detained/ falsely imprisoned in breach of his rights guaranteed him under the Constitution. Earlier this year he ordered the government to “immediately” issue a travel document for Mr Jean-Charles to allow him to return from Haiti to the Bahamas at the government’s expense, and to grant him legal status no later than 60 days after his return, and upon him making an application. The Passport Office issued an emergency travel document valid for one year for Mr Jean-Charles on January 31, and listed the 35-year-old as a Haitian national with a birth date of December 5, 1982, according to the copy obtained by The Tribune. Justice Hilton granted a partial stay of his ruling in February. The stay released the government from his order to grant the Bahamas-born man status pending its appeal of his judgment. However, he ordered Mr Jean-Charles was not to be arrested, detained or expelled and is allowed to support himself until the appeals had been determined. In their written ruling on Wednesday, Sir Michael, with fellow Court of Appeal justices Jon Isaacs, and Hartman Longley, statedthat there could be no finding of a constitutional breach as it related to Mr Jean-Charles’ detention and deportation, due to lack of certainty over his identity. The justices found any
JEAN RONY JEAN-CHARLES, pictured during his time in Haiti. application for constitutional, or any other relief, should not have been entertained until that issue was resolved. Mr Smith told The Tribune on Wednesday he was very disappointed by the ruling, most notably because the appellate judges did not address the constitutional issues raised about the legality
of “arbitrary detention and deportation” by the government. “Although I am disappointed,” Mr Smith said, “I am glad that the issue continues to receive great attention because human rights and constitutional battles are important to be fought in the courts for the sake of developing jurisprudence, and so that we
can continue to grow as a democracy. “Win, lose, or draw, litigation on human and constitutional rights helps the country, as will eventually a determination by the Privy Council. “So the battle will continue on another front,” he added, “and we very much hope Jean Rony will be successful in London.”
JUDGE STEPS ASIDE FROM MP’S CIVIL TRIAL By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A SUPREME Court judge has recused himself from hearing Fox Hill MP Shonel Ferguson’s civil trial after revelations that Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis is due to swear an affidavit in the matter, The Tribune can confirm. The Tribune understands Justice Ian Winder recused himself on Monday after receiving word of Mr Davis’ pending involvement in the matter from Ms Ferguson’s attorney Ed Turner. Justice Winder consequently transferred the matter to Justice Keith Thompson’s court to be heard. Earlier this month, The Tribune exclusively reported how Ms Ferguson’s investment company allegedly owes over $70,000 in real property taxes, having never paid them since it assumed responsibility for the maintenance and operation of a building in Centreville some 13 years ago.
Court documents seen by The Tribune claim Ms Ferguson’s company, Turtle Creek Investments Limited (TCI), owed $74,069.22 in real property taxes as of December 6, 2017, in alleged contravention of a hire purchase agreement it entered into for the building in December 31, 2005. Additionally, TCI allegedly owes the Water and Sewerage Corporation $22,173.15 as of July this year when it was disconnected, having not paid “any utilities and insurance” on the building, which houses the Crab House and Seafood Emporium, for at least two years. The last time TCI paid its water bill was in July of 2014, it is alleged. Concerning the building’s insurance, TCI has allegedly not paid any insurance premiums for the past three to four years, something that caused the building’s owner to recently pay $15,963.75 to J S Johnson Insurance Agents & Brokers in a bid to bring the insurance policy current. Also, it is alleged that
TCI has not paid its light bill for “some time now,” and as it stands, is currently utilising a generator for electricity. Additionally, TCI has allegedly not paid any of the $10,833 monthly payments it agreed to pay for the building in question since September of 2016, resulting in the owner receiving no revenue from the agreement, despite the company currently subleasing a portion of the building for $12,000 per month. Daybreak Holdings, the plaintiff, further alleges that notwithstanding the various breaches, TCI has “failed and/or refused” to bring the hire purchase agreement current or to vacate the building. But Ms Ferguson is claiming that subsequent to entering into the hire purchase agreement, TCI opened several businesses in the building and made “timely” monthly payments. However, she said as the economy declined and crime escalated in the area, both parties agreed
to reduce the monthly payment to $5,000 until the $1.35m was liquidated. When the economy didn’t improve, she said both parties agreed to put the building up for sale and distribute the proceeds between them. In particular, Ms Ferguson claimed both parties agreed that upon the building’s sale, TCI would be reimbursed for the equity it put into the building. Ms Ferguson also claims that as of August 17 of this year, her company has paid Daybreak Holdings $1,548,609, in addition to investing over $700,000 in renovations for what she claimed was initially a building in a “dilapidated state”. Ms Ferguson claims that as the $1.5m TCI paid to Daybreak Holdings exceeds the sum owing on the hire purchase agreement, and that as both parties concluded that the principal amount under the agreement was settled, the only outstanding issue was the amount of the outstanding interest.
Concerning the outstanding real property taxes, Ms Ferguson claimed in her affidavit: “The parties agreed that all outstanding real property taxes would be settled at the sale of the building.” However, in a supplemental affidavit to respond to Ms Ferguson’s assertion, Ms Davis enclosed a copy of an email communication to her from Daniel Ferguson, TCI’s vice president, with Ms Ferguson’s alleged email copied in on the correspondence, where Mr Ferguson stated on February 5 of this year that he would arrange a payment plan with Inland Revenue.
And Ms Ferguson’s claims about the agreed sale of the building have been adamantly denied by Daybreak Holdings, which has since labeled Ms Ferguson’s assertions about it as “nothing short of ludicrous”. Additionally, Michael Craig Roberts, an attorney at Graham Thompson & Co, denied a portion of Ms Ferguson’s affidavit that claimed that both TCI and Daybreak Holdings agreed that he would have the latter provide a “figure for settlement” regarding the interest component of the hire purchase agreement.
PAGE 4, Friday, October 19, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
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Wiser heads would tread more carefully IN THESE columns two weeks ago, we took the Prime Minister to task for various failings in relation to the governance of this country. As a newspaper, we have always sought to remain measured and objective in commenting on political issues, criticising a government where we consider it necessary but without favouring one party over another despite being accused sometimes of an anti-PLP stance. Despite our commitment to remain unbiased, we nonetheless applauded the FNM’s overwhelming victory at the 2017 election because it had become clear a fresh approach was needed in Bahamian politics, with new faces at the helm after five years of the PLP government’s corruption and mismanagement. It is against this background that, in company with many others who express their views privately, we are genuinely disappointed and concerned about the current performance of the FNM government under Dr Minnis’s leadership. Over the last 18 months, the examples of so-called missteps and dubious decision-making are too well documented to bear detailed repetition. From stories reaching our ears, some of the problems have arisen from a dictatorial attitude and poor judgement at the top and a disinclination to consult and listen and to accept the advice of others. At times, Dr Minnis appears to be acting like a president rather than a prime minister who, in our parliamentary democracy, should be primus inter pares – first among equals – in relation to his ministerial colleagues and, while leading and coordinating government policy and action, should always take account of differing views in reaching consensus in Cabinet. One result of this presidential style is the Prime Minster seems to be popping up everywhere and commenting off the cuff, with unwise and inappropriate utterances, about too many issues when such unscripted comments would be better avoided. One well-publicised example was his unthinking remarks about putting Bahamians first in response to questions about aid to Haiti following its recent earthquake. Despite subsequent efforts to downplay this incident, this was clearly insensitive in the immediate circumstances of a natural disaster affecting a neighbouring country even if in itself the thought was right as a general proposition in normal conditions. Another relates to his visits to the Family Islands. While it is good for the Prime Minister to be as visible as possible around our scattered archipelago,
we question his judgment in using town hall meetings in Great Harbour Cay and Crooked Island to defend controversial actions like excessive spending on official overseas trips and the purchase of the Grand Lucayan hotel in Freeport. At meetings of this sort, he should surely be describing his government’s policies and listening to local concerns while proposing solutions to people’s problems or promising to look into them. A third, and most recent, example was last week’s town hall meeting in South Eleuthera which was, ostensibly, a chance for local people to give their views about Disney’s proposed cruise port development at Lighthouse Point. What we saw was a quite simply a proDisney. According to reports, without voicing outright support of the project Dr Minnis not only spoke about new job opportunities but also downplayed his government’s power to intervene in what he said was privately owned property while stating simultaneously that a Cabinet decision on the matter was expected soon. Amid claims that One Eleuthera Foundation’s alternative proposal, backed by the Bahamas National Trust, to create a national park, eco-lodges and a research centre has not been properly evaluated by the Government and that an Environmental Impact Assessment of both proposals has not been done while there has also been inadequate public consultation - we counsel caution in reaching a premature judgment about this controversial issue. However, the Prime Minister himself has indicated a decision will be made at a meeting of the Cabinet today. We wonder whether any lessons have been learnt from the mishandling of the Oban oil refinery project. Governance is about weighing up and reconciling conflicting views and priorities in order to make objective and rational decisions in the people’s overall interest. In a democracy, our elected representatives need always to reflect the views of the majority and carry public opinion with them; and, to achieve this, they must be seen to adhere to their own procedures and consult widely. In the case of Lighthouse Point, it is hard to see why a decision is being rushed through when it would be wiser to tread more carefully. We hope this issue will not become another example of misdirected thought and management on the part of a government that needs informed and effective leadership. Sadly, it seems to be losing its way despite the high hopes of last year’s election.
Straight to the Point ... EDITOR, The Tribune LIGHTHOUSE Point. So much of what I read is emotion ... are there any facts? The Pro-Disney people say this plan will create jobs and opportunities. Disney already has a private Cruise port, what can be learned from there? Question: How many Bahamians are employed at CC. (rumour says 55 of 160; this would mean the 120 - 150 jobs in Disney’s LHP proposal are more like 40 or 50 jobs). Did they ever hire 150 Bahamians to work at CC? Question: How many 3rd party vendors are there at Castaway Cay? Are they start-up opportunities, or are they just another business venture for otherwise successful business people? Question: How many 3rd party vendors have failed at CC? Question: How much training and investment did Disney provide to help 3rd party vendors get started? Question: when will Disney start to train and hire the tourism related permanent positions?
The LPP people say their plan will create jobs and opportunities. Question: How many Bahamians are employed by the LHP partners? (rumour says 10 Bahamians at Leon Levy Preserve, one foreigner; about 70 at OEF, and 55 Bahamians at the Island School are these numbers correct?). Question: Does LPP have any third party vendor experience? What are the successes and failures? Question: How much training and investment has LPP provided to help Bahamian businesses get started? Question: when will LPP start to train and hire the tourism related permanent positions? Pro-LPP people say the cruise port will damage the reef. There are two cruise ship ports at South Eleuthera. Question: Did anyone do a study to look at the reef at Princess Cay or Half-Moon Cay or Castaway Cay to see how the reefs are responding to cruise ships?
The pro-Disney people say they will protect Bahamian culture. If I look at Castaway Cay on YouTube all I see is Mickey Mouse culture. Question: Has Disney ever built a cruise port that protects local culture? or do they ‘Disneyfy’ everything everywhere? Pro-LPP people say that their eco-lodge will bring tourists. Question: Are there any of these eco-lodges in the Bahamas. How many people do they employ? Do they create full-time jobs? The pro-Disney people say that they will keep access to all of Lighthouse Point open to all Bahamians. Question: Has anyone talked to port authority to see if this is possible? I do not begin to know how to find the answers to most of these questions. I am hopeful your reporting team can help. LOUISE P Eleuthera, October 17, 2018
Attack on sovereignty EDITOR, The Tribune OTHER than the fact that both are located in the Caribbean, The Bahamas and the Dominican Republic have very little in common. Situated on the eastern part of Hispaniola, the official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. Only 15.8 percent of the population is black. Approximately 85 percent of the Bahamian population is black. The Mestizo/Indio represents the largest ethnic group in the Dominican Republic, making up 58 percent of the population. Mulattos and whites comprise 12.4 and 13.5 percent respectively. The current president of the country is Danilo Medina. While The Bahamas enjoys a healthy diplomatic relationship with Cuba, Haiti and other CARICOM member states, I am not aware of any diplomatic relations between our country and the Dominican Republic. If we don’t have any, now is the time to pursue one, considering the large numbers of Dominican fishermen who poach in Bahamian waters. These foreign fishermen are becoming more aggressive and more desperate. The recent shootout between Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) HMBS Madeira crew members and Dominican poachers in the southern Bahamas underscores this disturbing fact, and is another attack on the sovereignty of The Bahamas. This latest attack isn’t the first time RBDF officers have been fired at by the Dominicans. I understand that the HMBS Madeira had suffered $250,000 in damages after being rammed by a Dominican vessel in 2016. I believe the Dominican government should be held partially culpable for the actions of its rogue citizens. Maybe the Minnis administration should give serious consideration to seeking United Nations intervention in the event the Medina administration is unwilling to act. Bahamian fishermen have complained for
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net years about being shot at by hostile Dominican poachers. The situation will not improve anytime soon unless urgent action is taken in order to protect our marine resources. The Dominicans have nearly depleted their fishery resources by over exploitation. According to Dominican Today, the fishing production in the country totalled 18,000 tons in 1996; 11,104 tons in 2006 and 8,944 tons in 2015. So in a span of just 19 years, their fishing production has declined by over 9,000 tons. Ironically, this information was reported during the Dominican Republic’s Third National Report to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change. This decline has coincided with many Dominican fishermen abandoning the trade. Interestingly, Dominican Today also stated that due to the country’s inability to meet the demands for seafood in touristic areas, most of the seafood is imported. The question now is, where from? I have a strong hunch that some of this seafood being consumed by tourists in the Dominican Republic is being imported from The Bahamas by Dominican poachers. In 2012 a group calling itself The Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA) lobbied the then Christie administration to better enforce fishing laws by repealing the policy of granting permits to Dominican fishermen who were married to Bahamian women. With a language barrier between them and their Bahamian spouses, why are Dominican men marrying these women? With Dominican women being hailed as some of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, these marriages to Bahamian women look all the more suspicious. Bahamian fishermen are convinced that these Dominicans are using marriage to Bahamian women
as a loophole. Marrying Bahamian women is their shrewd way of circumventing the system. Consequently, these marriages are nothing more than marriages of convenience. If these allegations are true, it is deeply troubling that there are Bahamians out there who are willingly facilitating the poaching of our marine resources, which will eventually deprive future generations of Bahamians of conch, grouper, snapper and other seafoods. To Bahamian fishermen, these marriages have treason written all over them. They believe that these Dominicans are collaborating with their counterparts back home. At the rate the Dominicans are going, they will wipe out the fish stocks in the southern Bahamas within 20 years. And after they’re done with that area, they will move on elsewhere. One way to prevent this is to heed the suggestion put forward by the BCFA. On an unrelated note, the government of the Dominican Republic has expelled thousands of its citizens who are of Haitian descent over the past three, four years, leading to allegations of racism and xenophobia by human rights activists. My purpose in mentioning this is to point out the fact that the Dominicans look out for their own interests. It’s time for the Bahamian government to do the same when it comes to our marine resources. The Minnis administration should move expeditiously in repealing the work permits of the Dominican fishermen who are married to Bahamian women. Like many of their counterparts back home in the Dominican Republic, let them take up another trade. It is unfortunate that Bahamian women have been caught up in this mess. But our national security is at stake. We have to bolster it. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, GB October 17, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 19, 2018, PAGE 5
Christie denies being under any pressure to hand out contracts from page one Mr Christie was substantive finance minister and former Golden Isles MP Michael Halkitis was state finance minister when the agreement was handed to Pete Deveaux, CEO of Island Game web shop chain. Pointing to their roles in the ministry, the former Centreville MP said he was certain there was no pressure coming from his side of the table. The report does not name any former minister. “I have no idea why they are saying there was pressure,” Mr Christie told The Tribune yesterday. “It would be astonishing for there to be a suggestion to say otherwise. I was the minister of finance and Halkitis was the state minister. There was certainly no pressure from our side.” When contacted, Mr Halkitis said yesterday he had not seen the report and declined comment. The report seemingly sheds light on how the former government doled out contracts during its time in office. On Wednesday, House Speaker Halson Moultrie laid the report on the table. It says a $1.46m computer supply contract had been awarded to Mr Deveaux who earned a 30 percent profit margin on the deal. The revelation was made by former Ministry of Finance Financial Secretary Simon Wilson and disclosed to the Auditor General, exposing multiple internal control and procurement failings in the Ministry of Finance. The report, by Bahamas-based auditing and advisory firm FTI Consulting, found that the contract was awarded to a company owned by Mr Deveaux, chief executive of the Island Game web shop chain, and his wife even though they appeared to have “no prior involvement in businesses relating to information technology or computer procurement.” Mr Wilson, who remains on leave from his post, told FTI Consulting’s investigators that he was introduced to Mr Deveaux by “a senior elected official” in the Christie administration some three months before signing the April 3, 2017 “lease-to-own” agreement for the computer equipment. The report said Mr Wilson did not interpret the meeting’s outcome as “an implicit instruction to do business” with Mr Deveaux, but Mr Wilson “tried to accommodate” the ex-minister’s suggestion – adding that such situations were “not uncommon” within government. FTI Consulting, though, suggested that Mr Deveaux did little
PERRY Christie at the PLP convention last year. to earn his $455,000 gross profit as he and his wife merely acted as brokers in outsourcing the procurement of hundreds of desktop computers, monitors and laptops to a Florida company. Their Xua Company Ltd, which handled the contract, was likely formed specifically to handle the computer equipment deal, given that it was incorporated on February 20, 2017 - less than
HUMANE SOCIETY PREPARES TO CELEBRATE ITS FIRST 50 YEARS IN 1968 the Humane Society of Grand Bahama was founded “to protect God’s creatures in times of trouble on Grand Bahama island.” Today this mantra is the fundamental reason HSGB is going strong some 50 years later and firmly committed to alleviating animal overpopulation and suffering on the island. On Saturday, November 17 at the Bahamas Union of Teacher’s building, HSGB will host Golden Jubilee gala, along with title sponsor the Grand Bahama Port Authority. “We ask everyone to join us as we spend an evening reminiscing and celebrating the past 50 years,” said HSGB President Joseph Darville. “Our shelter has accomplished much for Grand Bahama animals; we will celebrate all those who have made it possible while looking to the future.” HSGB receives no government support and continues to honour its founders by organising free spay/neuter campaigns, facilitate adoptions, host humane education programmes and it pays for
rescue partnerships. “Every animal deserves a chance at life and a forever home,” said Tip Burrows, HSGB executive director. “We try to provide that for as many as we can while maintaining a fiscal responsibility to the animals already in our care. We believe that everything we can do to increase an animal’s adoptability can contribute to one more precious life saved.” The gala which will also serve as a fundraiser for the over 200 dogs and cats in the current care of the shelter, will feature live music by well-known singer Ryan Carroll, the Panache jazz trio, and the Soul Sistas & House of Hoops and Dreams Band. The event will also feature the infamous Humane Society silent auction items and appetizers and buffet dinner catered by Roxy Jasmine Roxbury. Tickets are on sale now at the Humane Society. To learn more, email hsgbgala@yahoo.com, or call 727.2477 or 439.1049 or visit the group’s social media pages.
CANCER CHARITY HOSTING RAFFLE
THE Cancer Society of the Bahamas is hosting its annual raffle on Saturday to raise funds to help cancer patients from the Family Islands. Funds raised go towards its Cancer Caring Centre which provides accommodation for people who come into New Providence for cancer treatment. The raffle will take place in the front of Kelly’s at the Mall at Marathon at 7pm and tickets, costing five dollars, can be purchased at the Cancer Society or at Kelly’s on Saturday.
two months before the deal’s signing, but after the meeting with Mr Wilson and the “elected official”. The report revealed that Xua Company was 213 days late in completing its contractual obligations, with the initial shipment “short” and incomplete, and many desktop computers lacking 50 percent of the promised memory capacity.
Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff No rival bids were received, as the contract did not go out to public tender, with Mr Wilson telling FTI Consulting “that leases are never subject to competitive bidding at the Ministry of Finance” - an assertion that was contradicted by other ministry officials. The report identified other discrepancies between Mr Wilson’s
testimony and the ministry’s information technology officials, and suggests that the problems with the contract made have delayed the roll-out of Bahamas Customs’ Electronic Single Window (ESW) initiative that was designed to reduce the cost, time and bureaucracy associated with cross-border commerce.
PAGE 6, Friday, October 19, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
‘Symonette should resign to avoid a conflict of interest’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
A FORMER member of Parliament said any sitting Cabinet minister who wants to enjoy the benefits of receiving state contracts should resign his seat to avoid conflicts of interest. George Smith was referring to Immigration Minister Brent Symonette, who partly owns Town Centre Mall, which the government intends to rent to house the General Post Office. The government tabled a resolution in the House of Assembly on Wednesday for the five-year lease. Mr Smith told The Tribune yesterday this resolution, in his view, was a “misuse of the government’s majority at Parliament and an attempt to make something morally acceptable when it is not.” According to the resolution, the government intends to rent the 203,000 square foot mall at $12 per ft. Town Centre Mall was once listed for sale at a cost of $16m. However, there was some discrepancy yesterday among local realtors as to whether this rate was commercially concessionary and generous as the government has said. One real estate agent said location must be considered. If the comparison is made to the Mall at Marathon, then Town Centre
TOWN Centre Mall. Mall is underpriced, The Tribune was told. But compared with rentals at Baillou Hill Road, nearby Robinson Road and East Street South, the proposed post office location is priced at market value for $10 to $15 per sq ft, the real estate agent said. On the other hand, the $12 per square foot the government is set to pay would be considered under commercial market value, another real estate agent said. It was noted that warehouse space typically starts at $14 per sq ft and retail spaces even higher. So considering the mall and its vacancies, without knowing the condition, would be a saving compared with other properties. Both agents
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff asked not to be identified. Cabinet minister permits According to the gov- the government to enter ernment’s resolution, the contractual relationships building is to be made suita- with them. Now that is one ble for the operations of the aspect of it. post office at the expense of “The second aspect of it the landlord. is if the government wants Still Mr Smith insisted it to lease a place temporardoes not matter the cost, ily I am sure that if they wrong is wrong. looked at a place like Nor“It’s an obvious case of folk House on Frederick conflict and the fact that the Street they may be able to Constitution of the Baha- find places within the city of mas talks about members of Nassau. Parliament having contrac“The General Post Office tual relationships with the should be in the city of government is designed to Nassau because it deals discourage them from even with P O boxes that has the doing it,” he said. letter ‘N’ affixed to them, “In this particular case, which means that the letit is so obvious that Brent ters are intended to have Symonette behaves as if the post office in the city of these rules don’t apply to Nassau. him and I have never heard “So Mr Symonette has to of a case where a sitting have an exemption in the
House of Assembly and only the House of Assembly can permit him to having a contractual relationship with the government,” Mr Smith said. On Wednesday Dr Minnis said at some point in the debate of the resolution Mr Symonette would declare his interests in Town Centre Mall. As he defended this decision, Dr Minnis did not seem concerned that it could hurt his political footing. This is because he said the process would be transparent. “I think it’s complete transparency and I don’t want to get into any details because they are going to debate it, but I think it’s complete transparency and if you have done due diligence, searched around, the Bahamian public have been without an adequate post office now in excess of three years the matter must be resolved,” Dr Minnis told reporters Wednesday. He spoke moments after the resolution to approve the lease was read into the record of the House. The government plans to begin debate on it next Wednesday. Asked by this newspaper if the government did not have another option, Dr Minnis said: “I don’t want to get into details because what’s going to happen is more details will come out during the debate, but what you will find out is that at a particular point in time
even the PLP had selected the facility and they had also already drawn the plans. “I believe in transparency,” he added. “I believe in doing what is right and what I feel is right. I believe in improving the quality of life for the Bahamian people. How much longer do you want them to have no access to a post office? How much longer do you want them to work in inadequate facilities and inadequate conditions?” When asked about concerns of losing political capital, he said: “It’s going to the Bahamian public. The Bahamian public will see the facts. “Let me ask you a simple question. If Bill Gates was a Bahamian Microsoft with the best possible computers for your country in terms of e-Bahamas and internet systems, and Bill Gates was also a member of Parliament, would you deny the country the use of Microsoft because he’s a member of Parliament when he declares, and you know (he is) the best in taking you to first world status?” But the Progressive Liberal Party has branded the move as a “shameful, naked conflict of interest that no parliamentary or constitutional device or sleight of hand will disguise.” PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell rejected the decision, adding the opposition party would not support the move.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 19, 2018, PAGE 7
‘DIE’ STUBBS WINS PRIVY COUNCIL APPEAL By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
STEPHEN “Die” Stubbs and two other convicts’ claims that an appellate judge ought to have recused himself from sitting on their appeal on the grounds of apparent bias are “well founded” and warrants the matter being reheard, the country’s highest court has ruled. The Privy Council said appellate Justice Jon Isaacs being a member of the tribunal to hear Stubbs’, Clinton Evans’ and Andrew Davis’ appeal could lead a “fair-minded” and independent observer to conclude that there was a “real possibility” that he had “pre-judged” issues that would arise on appeal. The Privy Council also said that as Justice Isaacs sat as a member of the appellate panel that rejected the three men’s appeals, having made rulings on “intermediate issues of major significance” during the three men’s second trial in the Supreme Court, the fair-minded observer could conclude that Stubbs, Evans and Davis did not have the appearance of a “fresh tribunal” of three judges to consider their appeals. As such, the Londonbased appellate committee said the appeals of the three men should be allowed on
the ground of apparent bias, the decision of the Court of Appeal “quashed” and the case be remitted to the appellate court to be reheard. However, it noted nothing in its ruling on the present issue involves “any assessment, even of a preliminary nature, of whether any of the other grounds of appeal relied upon has substance.” The Privy Council’s ruling is in reference to Stubbs’, Evans’ and Davis’ appeals of their convictions and sentences for the murder of Constable Jimmy Ambrose at a nightclub on March 29, 1999. On the date in question, Constable Ambrose, an officer in plain clothes, was shot and killed outside the now-closed Club Rock disco after a fight between two rival groups of men broke out. According to the brief facts of the case on the Privy Council’s website, Evans is said to have pointed his weapon at two other police officers as they chased him from the scene. The three men were first convicted in May 2002, but their convictions were overturned on appeal. The second trial before then-Supreme Court Justice Isaacs, who now sits as an appellate judge, was aborted on the first day of the summation of the case. During that trial however,
STEPHEN “DIE” STUBBS the Privy Council said Justice Isaacs made rulings on “issues of mixed questions of fact and law or involving the exercise of judicial discretion,” which were in turn rulings on “intermediate issues of major significance” in the trial. In a second retrial in July 2013, the three men were convicted of murder and attempted murder, while Evans was further convicted of two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to put another in fear. A week before sentencing, Crown prosecutors gave notice of their intent to seek the death penalty. However, then-Supreme Court Justice Roy Jones, who also now sits as an appellate judge, ruled that the case did not meet the “worst of the worst” requirements for the death penalty, and even if it had, the Crown had failed to follow sentencing guidelines by giving notice of their intention in the
US SAILOR’S MURDERERS LOSE FIGHT TO GO FREE from page one
Dorfevil was the driver of the car in which Bastian, Williams and Johnson were passengers. While in the car, Bethel pointed out two white women in a group of five people, and the five all agreed to snatch the women’s purses. Williams, Johnson and Bastian came out of the car. As Williams exited the car he saw Johnson with a firearm. Williams then snatched a purse from one of the women, and Bastian snatched another purse from the other woman. After doing so, Williams and Bastian both fled the scene. While Williams and Bastian were running away with the purses, a struggle arose between Johnson and Bruner. Cannif heard someone shouting and as he turned around he saw Sayer running behind a black male, and another black male struggling with Bruner over a purse. The person struggling with Bruner had a firearm in his right hand. Bruner pushed the gunman, who consequently fell backwards. The gunman then fired a single shot at Bruner who fell to the ground. The medical evidence revealed that Bruner died as a result of the gunshot injury. Sometime later, Bastian turned himself in to police and gave two oral statements. In the first statement, Bastian told a Superintendent Clarke: “Mr Clarke, I ga tell you the truth. I was at Double D’s when the vibe gone down but I ain’t shoot nobody. One dude name Craig Johnson who we does call Monks who live off St James Road, had a gun and he shoot the white man.” Corporal 1077 Seymour recorded Bastian as saying in his second statement: “Man, they have me lock up for shooting the white man….Seymour, I only take the white woman bag. I ain’t shoot no one.” Meanwhile, in his record of interview, Johnson confirmed he was around Double D’s restaurant with Bastian, Bethel, “Slowly” and the driver who was a friend of Bethel’s. He said Bastian handed him a firearm when they exited the car. Johnson said he was ahead of Bastian and “Slowly” when he heard a woman scream. “Slowly” had snatched that woman’s
KYLE BRUNER, the US sailor who was killed in Nassau. purse and Bastian snatched the purse of another woman. Johnson said when he asked Bastian what was happening, Bastian told him to run. He did not, however, and said a man came running towards him calling him all types of names. Johnson said he asked the man to calm down and the man swung at him with his hands. Johnson then took the firearm out of his pocket and during a fight for the firearm it fired. He said he did not mean to shoot the man. Johnson also said the details of the interview and statement he gave under caution were unreliable because they resulted from oppression by the officers. Johnson claimed that on the day in question he was at home with his mother. He went to CDU where Sgt. Johnson and Corporal 2586 Evans approached him and took him to a small room for questioning. While there, one of the officers said, according to the ruling “…You know what we is do with young punks like y’all who is tell us a bunch of f***.” Then, he claimed the officer said, “We is kill punks like y’all.” Johnson also claimed he was beaten by police and a bag was placed over his head. After denying any knowledge of the murder, Johnson said he went to a room where Sgt Johnson told him to sign some papers he was holding or be killed. Being scared, Johnson said he signed the papers. Williams, meanwhile, denied knowing Johnson, Bethel, Bastian and Dorfevil, and denied knowledge of the murder and armed
robbery. He also claimed he was bagged and strangled, punched in his stomach and altogether beaten by the officers to get him to talk. He further claimed officers told him while beating him that if he signed a piece of paper, they would release him with a charge of stealing only. Bastian, in sworn evidence, denied all charges and contested the oral statements credited to him. He also said the officers beat him while he was in custody and gave an alibi that he was at his girlfriend’s house when the incident occurred. Nonetheless, Cannif identified Johnson as the man with the firearm who shot and killed Bruner on two occasions—once at an identification parade as well as in court during the trial, which started on September 21, 2015 and ended on November 3, 2015. At the end of the trial before Justice Indra Charles, the jury found Williams, Johnson and Bastian guilty of one count of murder and two counts of robbery. The Crown had urged Justice Charles to sentence the three men to death for the roles they each played in Bruner’s death. However, after taking into account the three years each man had spent on remand, Justice Charles sentenced Johnson to 42 years for murder and 12 years on each count of armed robbery to run concurrently; Williams to 37 years for murder to run concurrently with 12-year sentences on each of the two armed robbery counts; and Bastian to 37 years for murder and 12 years on each of the armed robbery counts.
specified time. The men were ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment. Following the verdicts in the second retrial, the appellants appealed successfully against their convictions and, with the exception of Stubbs, their sentences. Prior to the substantive hearing of the matter before Justice Isaacs and since departed appellate Justices Abdulai Conteh and Neville Adderley, Stubbs’ attorney Murrio Ducille requested that Justice Isaacs recuse himself on the basis that the judge had presided over the second aborted trial. However, the Court of Appeal refused Mr Ducille’s application for recusal. At the time, Justice Isaacs ruled that in his view, him participating in the appeal would not give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias, citing the length of time that had passed since the second trial. Justice Isaacs also noted
that the court should not be too quick to grant recusal applications because of the unnecessary delays it would cause in the administration of justice. The Privy Council, in a written ruling, said it “wholeheartedly” agreed with the Court of Appeal that a judge should not recuse him or herself unless there is a “sound reason” for recusal. Otherwise, the Privy Council said “unmeritous applications for recusal” would become the norm and result in damage to the administration of justice. The Privy Council also said it is “necessary” to “stand firm” against “illegitimate attempts to influence which judge shall sit in a particular case”. And the London-based panel further said it is “conscious” that the “limited size” of the Court of Appeal in some jurisdictions, in this case the Bahamas, can make it difficult to avoid “accidental listings before
judges who have had some prior involvement with parties or with earlier stages in the proceedings.” However, the Privy Council said it is of the “clear view that the complaint made by the appellants is well founded.” “In its view, the decisions of (Justice Isaacs) made during the second trial would lead a fair-minded and informed observer to conclude that there was a real possibility that he had pre-judged issues which fell for consideration on the appeal to the Court of Appeal and that the appellants did not have the appearance of a fresh tribunal of three judges to consider their appeals,” the Privy Council’s ruling said. “Having heard arguments from all parties on the apparent bias ground, the board came to the unanimous view that the appeal should be allowed and the decision of the Court of Appeal set aside on that ground.”
VACANCY NOTICE
IP NETWORK SPECIALIST Cable Bahamas Limited is seeking to employ an experienced IP Network Specialist. The successful candidate must have IP Network Experience and the ability to lead in a technical environment. JOB SUMMARY The position of IP Network Specialist is a hands-on operational position working within the Network Operations Group. This role is expected to ensure maximum possible service availability and performance, provision customer network services on core equipment; provide IP engineering support to the Network Operations Team and other technical teams. In addition, to provide training, guidance and reporting on the dayto-day operations to the NOC Operations group; assist with IP network design projects and other projects as required which include installing, maintaining and supporting IP related technologies and elements of the Cable Bahamas IP Network Infrastructure; aid in the execution of Disaster Recovery Plans and Procedures; maintain network documentation, policies and procedures. JOB DESCRIPTION • Fault handling and escalation (identifying and responding to faults on CBL’s systems and networks); • Manage and maintain the Monitoring Systems (these report on the status and performance of CBL & Aliv Transport Networks, Cable Modem Network, and other core services and facilities); • Maintain customer premise equipment standards and deployment; • Provision customer’s aggregation links; • Maintain CBL’s Internal network infrastructure; • Develop / maintain network management / monitoring systems; • Maintain network quality of service policy, security standards and configuration; • Troubleshoot and assist in the resolution of problems and issues as they relate to IP related services; • Assist in the maintenance and tracking of hardware and software owned by the company; • Develop reports on a daily, weekly and monthly basis on network performance and trends; • Participate in a 24 x 7 call-out rotation as required; • Escalate to IP Engineers as required after troubleshooting unresolved issues; • Create and manage policies related to DHCP, access-lists, VLANs; • Configure OSPF and BGP protocols; • Work with IP network security team regarding network security standards, policy and configuration; • Develop method of procedures, testing procedures, and proof of concept labs; • Document network faults via the support systems database; • Develop and automate meaningful metric based reports; • Provide root cause analysis and post mortem exercises with a goal to future mitigation of issues; • Perform any other IP Network related duties as determined and assigned by management.
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED • A minimum of an Associate Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related field; • Industry certifications in Network+ and CCNP an asset; • At least three (3) years’ experience in a technical support or similar role; • Experience in a telecommunications environment a plus; • Good communicator with a natural aptitude for dealing with people; • Good network diagnostic skills; • Work well in a busy team, being quick to learn and able to deal with a wide range of issues; • Strong analytical skills and able to collate and interpret data from various sources; • Must be flexible and work well with team; • Ability to assess and prioritize faults and respond or escalate accordingly; • Experience with switching and internet routing technologies; • Basic understanding of network monitoring concepts and management tools. • Experience with network monitoring tools and protocols (MRTG, Solarwinds SNMP); • Intermediate knowledge of the OSI model, switching and internet routing technologies; • This position interacts with Executives, Department Managers, Network Operations Center (NOC), and Vendors on a daily basis, with regular interaction with the Outside Plant Team and Sales Engineering. Qualified applicants should submit Resumes on or before Wednesday, October 24, 2018, to the Director of Human Resources, PO BOX CB-13050, Nassau, Bahamas or send electronically with Ref: IP Network Specialist to humanresources@cablebahamas.com.
PAGE 8, Friday, October 19, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
The ‘was gonna’ govt IS Dr Hubert Minnis leading the way or just borrowing the plans of his rivals?
THIS comes a bit late but I guess now is as good a time as any to congratulate the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) on winning the 2017 Bahamas General Election. Didn’t you hear? Apparently the Free National Movement (FNM) is moving to rent the Town Centre Mall to serve as our General Post Office. And despite public outcry and the very bad political optics of the situation (one of the beneficial owners of the Mall is a sitting Cabinet Minister) the FNM has a really convenient response; the PLP “was gonna” do the same thing. That’s right, our new proxy PLP “Was Gonna” government that calls itself an FNM administration has found a comfortable (if hypocritical) position when pressed on its decision making. Ask this government a question and predictably the answers are now the same: Why are you raising VAT on the people? The PLP was gonna do it. Why are you pushing this ludicrous Oban deal? The PLP was gonna do it. Why are you looking to rent the Town Centre Mall? The PLP was gonna do it.
This excuse has become so common that if you aren’t paying attention you may not notice how regularly it’s deployed. On the VAT question, this “PLP was gonna” excuse was so rampant it forced former Prime Minister Christie to come out of his self-imposed (but much appreciated) exile to protest, “I’m really surprised because we never had any intention of raising it to 12 percent.” On the Oban question, Prime Minister Minnis brought up former Minister for Grand Bahama Michael Darville’s tour of the proposed site for the Oban project. During the hot debate in the House with opposition MP Glenys Hanna-Martin, Doc Minnis actually said, “And yet the member of Parliament for Englerston referred to the principals of Oban Energies LLC as a ‘cornucopia of crooks’. Well, these are the same cornucopia of crooks with whom some of her cabinet colleagues, and the PLP government sat down and negotiated. “Furthermore, one of them visited the site in Grand Bahama (which the nation can see on a video), approved the project, and
was about to sign the heads of agreement.” In that same debate – in what can only be called a moment of striking cognitive dissonance (or as the elders would say, “having no shame”) - Doc smugly added, “But we are now the government.” Are you really, though? Because this week we have yet another PLP “was gonna” moment. In defending this latest controversy around renting a building partially owned by a sitting Cabinet Minister, and other possible Post Office options, the PM has once again fixed his mouth to say, “I don’t want to get into details because what’s going to happen is more details will come out during the debate, but what you will find out is that at a
particular point in time even the PLP had selected the facility and they had also already drawn the plans.” For the uninitiated, that “Doc talk” word salad basically translates to: But..but.. but..the PLP was gonna! The Minister of Immigration, Brent Symonette, told this newspaper he has no knowledge of and was not involved in the Cabinet discussion surrounding the use of his Town Centre Mall property as he is currently “out of the country”. Yet here is poor, poor, pitiful Brent once again caught in another politically devastating controversy involving conflict of interest because his leader, the Prime Minister, is bent on doing everything he thinks the PLP would have done. To make his case, Doc
even gave us this laughable example: “Let me ask you a simple question. If Bill Gates was a Bahamian Microsoft with the best possible computers for your country in terms of e-Bahamas and internet systems, and Bill Gates was also a member of Parliament, would you deny the country the use of Microsoft because he’s a member of Parliament when he declares, and you know (he is) the best in taking you to first world status?” This argument fails on so many levels. First of all, back in the day, Microsoft was hit with a federal anti-trust lawsuit to stop that kind of monopoly implied. There are several companies that can claim to be ‘the best.’ (And conflict of interest
free, probably). Second of all, Bill Gates, the second richest man alive, recently turned down a political office because he felt it was “not a good use of [his] time”. (Can you blame him?) Third of all, the Gates’ have pledged to give away most of their money in life or in death to charity. Ninety billion. NINETY. BILLION. (Show me a “Bahamian Bill Gates” who will give away ninety thousand and I’ll show you a Chickcharney.) Lastly, your example, for these reasons and for the logical fallacies of appeal to probability, equivocation, false dilemma, etc., etc. is what Bahamians generally call “talking fool”. And yes, it is a serious ting! The irony of all this madness is this is supposed to be “The People’s Time”. Why would the PM keep doing everything “the worst government since Majority Rule” would have done? Did someone tell him “The People” wanted PLP Lite? Minnis once said ‘out his own mouth’ that “The PLP way is for them and them alone. That party has no philosophy or ideology other than this: get the money.” Yet here we find ourselves with the FNM fiendishly “following fashion”. Wake up FNM. Or soon your “was gonna” government is gonna be gone too. Until next week I will leave you with the words of Edward R Murrow : “A nation of sheep, will beget a government of wolves.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 19, 2018, PAGE 9
More than half of poachers’ haul was under legal limit from page one was injured. The poachers were brought to shore on Monday and remanded to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre. Videos and photos of the poachers’ large quantity of catch have since gone viral on social media. In interviews with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Deleveaux and Mr Pintard provided updates on the haul, with Mr Deleveaux adding officials hope to arraign the poachers in court today. Mr Pintard explained the catch is counted by fisheries officers, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance. The ministry is then responsible for auctioning the haul to reputable fish houses. “The two (vessels) we’ve (counted), in terms of the lobster catch, more than 50 percent of it is undersized,” Mr Deleveaux said. “It’s a wide variety of different species, but like I said, my concern is the number of undersized lobsters that we found in both cases, and a quantity of undersized grouper as well. “It’s anticipated that when they go to court they will probably face four (or) five charges, the major being illegal foreign fishing in Bahamian waters; possession of prohibited apparatus, and that’s compressors and spear guns; possession of undersized lobster (and) possession of undersized grouper.”’ Mr Deleveaux could not say whether there will be additional charges regarding the poachers’ shooting at RBDF officers, noting that charges relating to firearms are brought by police.
OFFICIALS hope to arraign the poachers in court today.
“I still have officers out there working, even right now,” Mr Deleveaux said. “Again, if I were to make an estimate… each vessel they have done inspection on, if I were to convert it to a whole weight, it would have been in excess of maybe 20,000 to 30,000 pounds…per vessel, so far.” Mr Deleveaux added it is too early to estimate the value of the catch. “I’m hoping it’s completed sometime today (Thursday) because they’re trying to get them in court for tomorrow (Friday),” he said. Regarding the haul, Mr Pintard said: “In the counting process, (fisheries officers) would do a number of things. They
would check what species are…contained therein, look at the size of them as well, which how they have been able historically to separate out undersized
from appropriate size product.“Once you’ve had counting and weighing, the Ministry of Finance then has ownership and carriage of the product. That’s no
longer the Department of Fisheries. “The product is…then auctioned off by (Ministry of) Finance. And it’s normally through the various
major fish houses, who have no issues in terms of their licensing and the various processes by which they process foods in their plants. So that’s normally in a nutshell what the procedure is. So they’re in the midst of that right now at the Defence Force base. “A tremendous amount of undersized products were there,” Mr Pintard added. “The initial count and figures will be available later, (but) clearly indicates that a tremendous amount of undersized lobster was among the catch.” When asked what happens to undersized fish, Mr Deleveaux said in the past that they would be donated to charities.
PAGE 10, Friday, October 19, 2018
TRUMP ADMITS JOURNALIST LIKELY DEAD WASHINGTON Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump acknowledged yesterday it “certainly looks” as though missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is dead, and he threatened “very severe” consequences if the Saudis are found to have murdered him. His warning came as the administration toughened its response to the disappearance. Before Trump spoke, the administration announced that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had pulled out of a major upcoming Saudi investment conference and a US official said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warned the Saudi crown prince that his credibility as a future leader is at stake. Pompeo said the Saudis should be given a few more days to finish and make public a credible investigation before the US decides “how or if” to respond. Trump’s comments, however, signaled an urgency in completing the probe into the disappearance of the journalist, last seen entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Turkish reports say Khashoggi, who had written columns critical of the Saudi government for The Washington Post over the past year while he lived in self-imposed exile in the US, was killed and dismembered inside the consulate by members of an assassination squad with ties to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia denies those claims.
THE TRIBUNE
Fear and frustration in post-Michael Florida MEXICO BEACH, Florida Associated Press MISSING relatives and worries that looters are just outside the door. Dirty clothes. Hours-long lines for gasoline, insurance adjusters, food and water. No power, no air conditioning, no schools, no information and little real improvement in sight. Daily life is a series of fears and frustrations, both large and small, for thousands of people living on the edge, more than a week after Hurricane Michael flattened thousands of square miles in the hurricane zone of the Florida Panhandle. Erin Maxwell waited in line for fuel for more than an hour Thursday at a gasoline station that never opened. “I’m tired and want to go to sleep. I don’t want to wait in another line,” said Maxwell, eyes closed and her head tilted back on the seat. Meanwhile, husband Mickey Calhoun fretted over the fate of his mother, Anita Newsome, 74. The retired sheriff’s deputy was last seen when officers took her to a hospital the day before Michael made landfall, her son said. “We can’t find her or get word anywhere,” said an exasperated Calhoun, 54, wearing stained khaki pants and a dingy towel draped around his neck.
SANDRA SHEFFIELD, 72, reacts to her predicament, as she uses a washcloth to wipe sweat from her face in her home, which now has no electricity, in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in Panama City, Florida. She and her husband refuse to leave their home, and neighbours are trying to assist them with fans and a generator. Photo: Gerald Herbert/AP A few miles away, 70-year-old Ed Kirkpatrick and his 72-year-old wife, Sandra Sheffield, huddle together in a splintered mobile home surrounded by fallen pine trees. A noisy generator powers the old box fan blowing warm air across their den. They’re both afraid to leave because of widespread reports of looting. The man, a diabetic who has a big scar down the middle of his chest from heart surgery, needs
medical attention and ice to refrigerate his insulin, said Sheffield, who has a pacemaker. But getting out in traffic takes hours and precious fuel, she said, and looters could show up at any time. “I don’t want to go anywhere because I know I’m safe here,” said Sheffield, burying her head in a twisted towel to cry. Michael slammed into Florida’s Panhandle with 155 mph winds on Oct. 10 and retained hurricaneforce winds deep into southern Georgia, also affecting the Carolinas and Virginia. Florida authorities on Thursday say the storm killed 20 people in the state, bringing the overall death toll to at least 30. With power still out in much of the Panhandle
and thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged by Michael, almost nothing is normal. Even simple tasks are difficult or impossible. Driving times are doubled or tripled because roads are clogged with police and fire vehicles, utility trucks, returning residents and people seeking help. Lines are long outside a discount store where more than two dozen insurance, financial services and cellphone companies have set up in a temporary village of open-sided tents erected on asphalt. Unseasonably warm temperatures in the 80s are adding to the misery because so few people can cool down with air conditioning. Bottled water is plentiful at roadside aid stations; ice is another matter.
Spotty cellphone service leaves those most vulnerable with little information to help them get by. Residents in Panama City eagerly ask for information about what happened about 20 miles away in devastated Mexico Beach, and for tips on finding pharmacies, coin-operated laundries and stores that might sell batteries to power flashlights with fading beams. Kelli Ladik is living with four daughters and her husband in a camper parked outside their bayside home, which has severe water damage from rain that poured in when the roof failed. Ladik is so, so tired of the grime. “We need running water more than anything. To be able to shower after a full day of cleaning would be great,” said Ladik. Her kids, three of whom are school age, are all out of class and it’s unclear when classes might resume. Some school buildings are heavily damaged and leaders are still trying to account for all the teachers, administrators and others who are needed to get the system running again. Watching friends and loved ones suffer is the hardest part for Nancy Bartice, who used to live near Ed Kirkpatrick and his wife. Feeling helpless to assist the couple, Bartice was trying to get to nearby Panama City Beach to get them gasoline and, perhaps, a better place to stay. Who knows how long the 16-mile journey could take. “They have been the most blessed couple,” said Bartice, fighting away tears. “They helped me in a lot of bad situations, and I want to do the same in return.”
CALL FOR MEXICO TO STOP MIGRANT CARAVAN GUATEMALA CITY Associated Press As some 3,000 Hondurans made their way through Guatemala, attention turned to Mexico, after US President Donald Trump threatened Thursday to close the US-Mexico border if authorities there fail to stop them — a nearly unthinkable move that would disrupt hundreds of thousands of legal freight, vehicle and pedestrian crossings each day. With less than three weeks before the November 6 midterm elections, Trump seized on the migrant caravan to make border security a political issue. “I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught — and if unable to do so I will call up the US Military and CLOSE OUR
SOUTHERN BORDER!” Trump tweeted, adding that he blamed Democrats for what he called “weak laws!” The threat followed another one earlier this week to cut off aid to Central American countries if the migrants weren’t stopped. Trump made a similar vow over another large migrant caravan in April, but didn’t follow through and it largely petered out in Mexico. On Thursday, Mexico dispatched additional police to its southern border after the Casa del Migrante shelter on the Guatemalan side of the border reported that hundreds of Hondurans had already arrived there. Mexican officials said the Hondurans would not be allowed to enter as a group and would either have to show a passport and visa
— something few have — or apply individually for refugee status, a process that can mean waiting for up to 90 days for approval. They also said migrants caught without papers would be deported. By Thursday, the caravan had dispersed a bit, with the youngest and strongest of the migrants walking ahead together, some boarding buses or trying to hitch rides. On a bridge leading out of the Guatemalan capital, Hondurans marched single-file behind a woman holding a baby in her arms as a school bus rumbled past. Juan Escobar, 24, said he had heard about Trump’s comments but said they would not dissuade the migrants from continuing their journey. “Only God on high can stop us,” Escobar said.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 19, 2018, PAGE 11
‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’
READERS RESPOND ON PO MOVE THE issue of moving the General Post Office to the Town Centre Mall – which is party owned by Brent Symonette – has sparked a lively debate among readers on tribune242.com. Truetruebahamian said: “It is better for the government to rent than own as the landlord’s responsibility would be to maintain and insure. Government does not appear to do that with any of its own buildings . . .” John posted this comment: “Pirates of the Caribbean. Did the rum running ever stop? Because this government is punch drunk and no longer even have national pride. Poor Bahamians!” Boopboop didn’t think there were many other options: “Folks, it amazes me how everyone gets in a tizzy about whose buildings is rented. The staff need to move NOW! For the old Phils compound to be refurbished to suit the operation is costly. Independence Shopping Centre would present the same challenge. They need appropriate space and parking. “On an island 21 x 7 where the options are extremely limited, they shouldn’t rent the space because the owner is a member of parliament???? “What are the other options? To build another building takes time and, as was mentioned by Truetruebahamian, even if they built a new building, government’s track record for maintaining
their buildings is dismal. If I owned a building that would comfortably accommodate the ‘Main’ post office, (not a sub post office), I’d be upset. He has the space. So what da heck?” JackArawak said: “Okay, don’t rent from Brent. Don’t have a post office. You have no idea how Banana Republic our country is.” Dawes asked: “So let me get this straight: The Government should not rent from Brent even if the location he has is the better option because it seems wrong? This is silly thinking. When you compare Town Centre to the old City Market, Town Centre wins hands down. It won’t cost as much to convert (the building is there and open), there is more parking, there are other stores in the location meaning the landlord has to keep the place clean for them as well as the post office. This is one of those decisions which actually makes sense (unlike that silly Gladstone Road one).” And in The Tribune’s latest online poll, 68 percent said they were in favour of the move – with 32 percent against it. • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.