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VOLUME:116 No.212, OCTOBER 29TH, 2019
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
WOMAN: COULD YOU MARRY A MAN LIKE NICKI’S?
They ran Breanna down like animals Sister tells court how gang stabbed teen over $80 cellphone By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE older sister of teenage mother Breanna Mackey tearfully recounted yesterday how five girls who were supposed to be her sister’s friends ran her down “like a dog” in the street and brutally mobbed her over an $80 smartphone last year. Her face awash with tears as she recounted “the worst day of my life”, Nafetera Brown testified how five of her sister’s friends, all “armed with something”, chased the 19-year-old “like animals” because they wanted her to pay for a broken Huawei cellphone.
FACE-TO-FACE WISE WORDS FROM A BOY WHO CARES
SEE PAGE EIGHT
MARIJUANA REPORT HITS NEW DELAY By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
Ms Brown said she could only “stand there in shock” as five of the girls pummeled Mackey about her body, and then as Mackey scrambled to a nearby apartment complex and collapsed from the multiple stab wounds she sustained to her upper back and right arm. “She was just crying,” Ms Brown said tearfully. “When I told my little sister to run, they run her down like a dog, like animals. That’s what they did to her. She ran, and that still wasn’t good enough.” Ms Brown said the savagery came just moments after a car driven by one of the girls sped after Mackey
THE BAHAMAS National Commission on Marijuana has requested another deadline extension, but hopes this time a report can be submitted before the end of November. According to Quinn McCartney, commission cochair, the delay is a result of a “late” trip to Jamaica and officials also organising a visit to Canada. While the trip to Canada is in November, Mr McCartney said the commission will not delay past that SEE PAGE NINE
NIB DISPUTE - STAFF NOW UP THE ANTE
SEE PAGE THREE
TWO BODIES FOUND AS SEARCH GOES ON
By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net
POLICE have recovered the remains of two unidentified bodies in Abaco, bringing the official death toll from Hurricane Dorian to 67. Speaking to reporters at a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) press conference yesterday, Captain Stephen Russell, NEMA director, said as the debris clearance continues,
EMPLOYEES of the National Insurance Board are on “work to rule” after their strike vote was deemed invalid on Friday. Speaking to reporters outside of NIB’s headquarters during the workers’ morning tea break yesterday, Ghion Roach, Union of Public Officers (UPO) president, said Director of Labour John Pinder SEE PAGE SEVEN
By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net
officials acknowledge that more corpses may still be among the rubble in Abaco and Grand Bahama. Captain Russell said: “The police on the island of Abaco recovered remains of two unidentified bodies. One in Dundas Town, Abaco on Monday, October 28, and one in The Mudd on Thursday, October 24, this year. I mentioned recovery efforts are ongoing as the debris clearance continues.” SEE PAGE FIVE
HALLOWEEN HEROES YOUNGSTERS got in the mood for Halloween at the Boo at the Zoo event at Ardastra Gardens at the weekend. Picture special - Page 2 Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
BETHEL HOLIDAY ‘UTTER NONSENSE’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
A FORMER commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force last night dismissed Commodore Tellis Bethel’s enforced leave from the organisation as “utter nonsense”. Former Commodore Clifford “Butch” Scavella’s criticism came as Bethel’s replacement for his enforced leave - Commander Dr Raymond King
CLIFFORD SCAVELLA - insisted Bethel’s departure would not affect hurricane relief efforts nor other
RBDF duties. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has said Dr King’s appointment as acting commander came due to Commodore Tellis Bethel’s accumulation of a large sum for his vacation. The Minnis administration’s policy is not to pay individuals for extended periods of vacation time in such instances. In this case, while Commodore Bethel is on three months vacation leave, Dr
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE FIVE
PETER YOUNG
IMAGINE A WAVE OF REFUGEES FROM HAITI
SEE PAGE TEN
PAGE 2, Tuesday, October 29, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Halloween heroes
YOUNGSTERS got in the mood for Halloween at the Boo at the Zoo event at Ardastra Gardens at the weekend. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE from page one and almost knocked the teenager down when it cut across her in a bid to prevent her from fleeing the impending attack. That act by the driver proved to be the determining factor in Mackey’s death, according to Ms Brown, as she said the victim stood a good chance of escaping otherwise. “I strongly feel and I know that if it was not for that car, Breanna would have gotten away,” Ms Brown said. “Because it frightened her and made her fall down when they gone to knock her down.” The testimony came during Dervinique Edwards’ and Zaria Burrows’ trial before Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson over allegations they murdered Mackey on January 25, 2018. According to reports from police, shortly before 6pm on the date in question, police control room was contacted about reports that a female was stabbed about the body in the Key West Street area off Cordeaux Avenue. Police officers were dispatched to investigate. Upon their arrival, a woman who was identified as the victim’s sister, Latisha Woodside, directed officers to a brown and white apartment complex on the eastern side of Key West Street. On the porch, just in front of door number nine, officers discovered Mackey, semi-conscious, lying face down and suffering from four stab wounds to the upper back and two stab wounds to the right arm. Mackey, who had turned 19 the day prior, was subsequently transported to Princess Margaret Hospital where she died around 8.28pm. Taking the witness stand yesterday, Ms Brown said at around 6pm on the date in question, she and Mackey went for a walk. According to Ms Brown, Mackey wanted to deliver a piece of cake to her friend not too far from where Mackey lived in their mother’s house on Palm Beach Street. Ms Brown said as they were walking, a car pulled up with a group of girls inside, who were all “rowing and carrying on” over the money Mackey apparently owed one of them for the damaged cellphone. According to Ms Brown, all of the girls were here sister’s friends. She said she had seen all of them a few times prior to the incident in question. Ms Brown said as the girls got out of the car and approached them, she got defensive and tried to verbally deter them from going after her sister. However, she said one of the girls, Thea Williams, pointed a knife to her face and said: “Miss, move. If you know what’s good for yourself, move.” Afterwards, Ms Brown said she told Mackey to run. “Everybody was running towards us…I was telling them ‘ya’ll leave my sister alone’ and I say ‘Bre, run,’” Ms Brown said. “And as she ran, I run to go behind her and I keep saying ‘Bre come back to me.’ “And I just stood up in shock and I just couldn’t move for some reason. A voice came in my head say ‘Nafe ain’t nothing you could do.’ I just…I just couldn’t move.” Ms Brown said while the mayhem was going on, she was on the phone with her other sister. After the girls had finished mobbing Mackey, they all jumped back into the car and sped away towards Cordeaux Avenue off Key West Street. Ms Brown said after the incident, she ran back to their house and returned shortly afterwards with Ms Woodside. Ms Woodside, when she took the witness stand, tearfully recounted how when she arrived at the apartment complex, her younger
Tuesday, October 29, 2019, PAGE 3
‘When I told my little sister to run, they run her down like a dog, like animals. That’s what they did to her. She ran, and that still wasn’t good enough’ ON TRIAL: Dervinique Edwards, left, and Zaria Burrows, right. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
sister was laying on her side with “her eyes turn over white and her mouth open.” Afterwards, she said she contacted the ambulance from her phone. Ms Woodside said the attack on her sister was weeks in the making up to that point, and would have likely happened to some degree two weeks prior had her sister been home when the gang of girls showed up at their mother’s house. Ms Woodside said on that occasion, a “dyke looking” girl — whom she later said was Burrows — Williams, Davanya Lawes, and another girl named Matia showed up and were “carrying on” and “making noise” about the money for the phone. But then there was an occasion when Mackey was at home and the girls showed up, Ms Woodside said. She explained that on that occasion, things escalated to a “conflict” where “everybody was rowing”. Then the group of girls went to the car and retrieved “knives and screwdrivers”
At that point, Ms Woodside said she held Mackey to her side and her nephew back and adamantly told the girls to “leave our yard”, which they did. Meanwhile, Constable Phillipian Brown, who was attached to the Grove Police Station, testified how later in the evening on the date in question, he and other officers, acting on information, went to Morris Guest House on Davis Street in the Chippingham area. He said they spoke with the proprietor and, after receiving certain information, obtained a key to one of the rooms. P/C Brown said when they got to the room, they entered and met two males, whom he said were “quickly subdued”. Based on the information those two males give the officers, P/C Brown said he then proceeded to search the bathroom. The bathroom door was locked, P/C Brown said, so he had to kick the door in to gain access. Once inside, he met five females huddled closely together in the tub, one of whom was Edwards. In response to a question from defence attorney Devard Francis, P/C Brown said he did not see Burrows during that incident, and neither did he arrest her. Nonetheless, he said the five girls were cautioned and arrested in reference to a murder investigation, and were transported to the Nassau Street Police Station. The matter continues today.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, October 29, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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Tell the truth about Tellis IT takes some stretching of credulity to believe that there’s nothing at all going on with regard to the position of Commodore Tellis Bethel. Commodore Bethel, of course, has been packed off on three months’ vacation – a decision that prompted questions from both members of the public and Opposition leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis so soon after the natural disaster of Hurricane Dorian. With members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force providing support on Abaco and Grand Bahama and questions about security, particularly on Abaco, people wanted to know if this was really a wise time to leave the RBDF without its figurehead. Minister of National Security Marvin Dames hardly offered any ringing endorsements of the commodore’s future when he said “no one knows what’s next” for him after his mandatory leave. Were this to be a regular vacation, the answer as to what’s next would be simple: he’d be back at work, in the same post, doing the same job. That Mr Dames dances around such a simple answer suggests fairly plainly that there is more at work here. Among the voices raising concern was that of PLP leader Mr Davis, who said “you would not expect at this time that you would be engaging in the stripping
of leadership of persons who may have the competence and capability to bring the kind of assistance you need to bring normalcy back to communities”. Former commodore Clifford ‘Butch’ Scavella, meanwhile, dismissed the government’s excuse for the mandatory leave – to save money – as nonsense. “Really and truly they could have come up with a better excuse than that,” he said. He reiterated the most important point – that the government’s bosses are the Bahamian people, and the people have to be satisfied that the decision is the right one. That’s hard to do when the government is being so coy about the process. Acting commander Dr Raymond King sought yesterday to soothe concerns about the commodore’s absence, saying storm relief efforts have gone on unaffected – though his comments about the beauty of military being that there is always succession planning doesn’t allay thoughts that this is indeed a succession process we are witnessing, just not one we’re being told about. “He is still the commodore, right?” said Mr Dames when pressed. Indeed he is. We shall see if that’s still the case when he is due to return on January 15. But if he isn’t – ask yourself if the government was as forthcoming with you as it could have been.
Why the confusion over Dorian? SPEAKING of not being forthcoming, we are still faced with a lack of clear information regarding the casualty total following Hurricane Dorian in Abaco and Grand Bahama. A press conference from NEMA yesterday – the first in a long while, but we would encourage them to keep these up, just more often – revealed another two bodies had been found. The confirmed death toll is 67 now. It’s nearly two months since Hurricane Dorian and the rate at which bodies have been found has been little more than one a day. As for the number of missing? Your guess is as good as ours. The Tribune was all set to publish a list of names of the missing on behalf of the government – the pages were ready to go on the press – when the publication was pulled. It was due to run a few days later, but that’s the last we heard of that. The trouble was there seemed to be considerable confusion as to how many were missing. Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell said 1,208 – that’s how many were on the list due to be published. National Security Minister Marvin Dames said it was just 282. And there has been no report since to make clear who was right, who was wrong, and how many people are really missing. There have been general ominous
warnings about how the nation must prepare itself for a shocking final total. Well, that warning was weeks ago. We did prepare, we’ve been prepared, and we’re not going to be able to get more prepared by waiting any more. When pressed at yesterday’s press conference for an update on the number, NEMA – just a reminder, that is the National Emergency Management Agency who ought to be front and centre in the aftermath of such a national emergency – said it was up to the police to give out that figure. That would be another department under Mr Dames’ purview – and another case of national agencies not being forthcoming with the public over very basic information. Officials could clear up that confusion today. The list of names could be published right away if the government really wanted to. If they don’t try to clear up the confusion, and let people know how many are missing, we shall leave it for you to decide what that means about those who govern our nation. It only takes one video on social media from someone with a cell phone to show more bodies than anyone has imagined for this whole official death toll to look like a huge deliberate lie. God forbid it is. Then what?
Proud to have served EDITOR, The Tribune RECENT arrests of two individuals charged with several murders and attempted murders merits public attention and gratitude. I am very pleased and continue to be proud of having been a member of this Police Force. The Commissioner, his executive team and all members of the Force have demonstrated their commitment to the task of reducing crime and making our country a safe place to reside and visit. My special commendations goes to the men and women of the Central Detective Unit where our present Commissioner was engaged for several years in the investigation of murders and other serious crimes. Unfair media and some public criticism of the
Commissioner and his team has not in any way interfered with the performance of this great public service organisation. No Commissioner of Police would give a death toll figure to the media unless there are bodies to confirm that figure. Criticism about the policing of Marsh Harbour and the adjacent settlements has come from various quarters. The media reported that there are no Police-Officers to be seen. The Officer in Charge of the District reported the arrest of fifteen or more persons and the recovery of property for places in the area by looters, which indicates to me – Police presence. The Royal Bahamas Police Force has been a shining example in our public service, an efficient
and effective organisation, that continues to perform with distinction. The Force has been a credit to our Nation with its performances at international functions, Royal and Presidential visits, as a symbol in the advertising of tourism when the uniformed Officer could be seen on billboards all over the United States. Our present Commissioner has introduced an aggressive style of policing by going after the criminals, with success. Police shooting of criminals is front page, while the victims of shootings are less publicised. Our Officers must remember the, slogan: “Police Shoot to Live, not to Kill.” PAUL THOMPSON Sr Nassau, October 8, 2019
A question of leadership EDITOR, The Tribune POLITICAL leadership is vital in any society regardless of the form or type of government. The differences in forms or types of government run the entire spectrum from: dictatorships; communism; socialism; fascism; monarchy; republic and, or, of course, the elusive and debilitating democracy. Here in our blessed country we are able to boast of some 300 years of “democracy” even if full suffrage did not come about until the 1960’s. Out of all the assorted forms and types of government, according to the late Sir Winston Churchill, the former celebrated Prime Minister of the UK, back in the day, democracy is the ‘best’ one but often unmanageable. I fully agree with his proposition. We say that we practise a form of the Westminster form of government or a parliamentary democracy. The voters elect “representatives’” who then, collectively exercise legislative powers, et al, on their behalf. We have no system of formal recall so once a person is elected to the House of Assembly, he/ she is able to remain there for the full term even if and when he/she falls out with the ruling administration. This has been demonstrated time and time again. Political leadership is a necessary evil, so to speak. Most of our Prime Ministers have shown this quality although in different forms and degrees of intensity. The late and deeply lamented “founding father”, Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, our first Prime Minister under the Bahamas Independence Order, AFTER former House Speaker Dr Kendal Major said the Minnis administration-led Parliament is “deeply tribal,” “mediocre” and “unproductive”, readers posted their reactions on tribune242.com. Sickened said: “But sadly they are still supreme when compared to the PLP. It seems impossible to find 40 good, honest, hard-working people to serve in government. The FNM have about five that I am happy with, the PLP has one. Perhaps we should agree to have a
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net 1973, was a master at the political craft. He possessed uncanny people skills and was able to mix and mingle with all and sundry. These traits were the links to his long public career. Ingraham and Christie possess some of Sir Lynden’s abilities as a leader but they both pale in comparison to achievements wrought by the maestro. Ingraham was focused and disciplined, but he had “rough” edges and the knack to rub people the wrong way. He was also, as a leader, too dismissive. Brother Christie, came into office, the first time almost like “pretty boy Floyd”. Christie was all bluster. Yes, he had the ability to speak like an orator but, sadly, he lacked the ability to take the ball over the finish line or to close the deal. Prime Minister Minnis (FNM-Killarney) is a work in progress as we speak and he is apparently having a hard time focusing. He also lacks the ability to speak coherently on complex issues. I do believe, however, that he is rising to the requirements of political leadership. He demonstrated tenacity during the brutal crusade led by the former parliamentarian Loretta Butler-Turner and Duane Sands (FNM-Elizabeth) to unseat him, permanently, as leader of the FNM. I do believe that Minnis did learn some vital political lessons under Ingraham’s mentoring. It remains to be seen if he’s an A; B; C or D student.
parliament consisting of only 10 people (with a few independents thrown in)???” There was this from Godson: “Be it as it may, however, the Bahamian voting populace felt the same way about your parliamentary colleagues, Doc.”
The Hon Philip “Brave” Davis (PLP-Cat Island), leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, is a natural born leader. He is focused and he is pragmatic. He is also determined to bring about a better life for all Bahamians. In addition, he has the ability to convey his message, in plain and simple language, to communicate the same to the unwashed masses. Like Minnis, unfortunately, Brave is not capable of speaking in the manner of the late Sir Lynden or even Brother Christie. His other traits, however, like Minnis, makes him prime ministerial material. As the nation rebuilds following Dorian, Bahamians are looking for serious political leadership. The psychology of this type of leadership, however, has never been studied much less applied. A noted industrialist in the USA back in the day, Clarence D Randal, dormer Chairman of Inland Steel wrote: “To be worthy of responsibility today, a man must have insight into the human heart, for unless he has awareness of human problems, a sensitivity towards the hopes and aspirations of those whom he governs, and the capacity analysis, he is doomed to failure“. Dr Minnis and Brave are “the cream of the crop” and they are destined to wage the mother of all political battles in short order as they both seek leadership in excellence. To God then in all things, be the glory in all things. ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau October 16, 2019. Sheeprunner12 had this to say: “The House of Assembly is using PLP-created rules . . . FNM seems happy with them. Pot calling kettle black.” John posted this comment: “You would think the PLP would use a different approach to rise out of the ashes, so to speak. You would expect more vigour, new ideas and a higher level of politics. And Kendal Major is right, he would have handled the situation differently. Every speaker would’ve.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, October 29, 2019, PAGE 5
TWO MORE BODIES FOUND AS SEARCH GOES ON from page one
When asked for an update on missing persons figures, the NEMA director told reporters to contact police for the most up to date information. “As it relates to missing persons, the missing persons desk has been deactivated,” he said. “All inquiries should be made at the Central Detective Unit (CDU)
in New Providence and in Grand Bahama.” On October 10, National Security Minister Marvin Dames said that police have reports of just 282 people still being missing. Two hundred and fifty-two of them are from Abaco and 20 from Grand Bahama, he said at the time. Mr Dames stressed that official missing persons lists must come from the police in part because if there is a need to involve the Coroner’s
Court to declare someone dead, police represent the government at such proceedings. His comments came a day after Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell said 1,208 were still unaccounted for following Hurricane Dorian. At the time, the Ministry of Social Services moved to publish an advertisement in The Tribune featuring the names of 1,208 missing people. However, the ministry later pulled the ad amid confusion about the correct figures.
To date, there are 777 persons remaining in five shelters in New Providence, according to Deputy Director of Social Services Kim Sawyer. She also noted the deactivation of the Calvary Church shelter in Centreville. She said yesterday: “As of Sunday, October 27, there were five shelters operating on two sites. At the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, we have 294 persons. There are three tents on the site at Kendal Isaacs. Tent A 136, tent
B103, tent C 107 which gives us the total of 640 persons on that site. “On Friday, we deactivated the Calvary Church on West Avenue in Centreville. At the time, we deactivated there were 47 persons there, 38 registers at Kendal Isaacs. At Bahamas Academy, we have 137 persons which gives us a total of 777 persons remaining in the shelters.” Editorial View - Page 4
All major roads on Abaco have been cleared By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net IRAM Lewis, the new minister of state for disaster preparedness, said to date all major and arterial roads on the island of Abaco have been cleared. Speaking to reporters at a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) press conference yesterday, Mr Lewis said the Ministry of Public Works’ hurricane emergency plan was activated and the clearing of the roads on Abaco officially started on September 2. He said: “The Ministry of Public Works’ contractor Bill Simmons Construction has available equipment and they went to work with other NGOs in the clearing of roads around Marsh Harbour Airport, the clinic, the government complex, MH Sea Port and the surrounding essential access routes. “The debris collected shall be sorted in the following categories and taken
A RECENT picture of the conditions in Abaco
Bethel holiday utter nonsense, says former commodore from page one King has been appointed acting commander. The announcement came earlier this month. However, the situation has been faced with criticism, with some contending it has come at too delicate a time when Abaco and Grand Bahama remain devastated following Hurricane Dorian’s passage. Nonetheless, Dr King said he has been able to continue from where Commodore Bethel, pictured right, left off, managing the country’s borders “delicately” and ensuring storm relief efforts have gone on unaffected. This is happening as onefifth of RBDF officers have been deployed to Grand Bahama and Abaco. “The institutional knowledge remains in the organisation and is not centred in a particular individual. That’s the beauty of military and law enforcement agencies,” Dr King told The Tribune. “We are structured such that there is always succession planning and always cross training whereby persons are called upon to step forward in leadership positions and it happens seamlessly. “However, I wish not to take away from the comments made by the most honourable prime minister as well as the minister of national security who have already spoken on that matter, but to say that the Ministry of National Security – they are responsible for the administration of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. “I, as the acting commander of the defence force, am concerned and given charge with the operational use of the men and women of the Royal Bahamas Defence
Force and that has been my focus – the security of our borders against transnational threats and the humanitarian disaster relief and response efforts in the northern Bahamas.” Regarding border security, the force has been able to ensure there is a continuous presence. “We’ve been quite cognizant of the need to spread our manpower to ensure that the humanitarian response, the disaster recovery efforts, security and safety requirements in the northern Bahamas – that we balance the needs to protect our southern borders against those transnational threats, weapons, drug smuggling, migrants as well as poaching and the the other threats. “There hasn’t (been compromise of borders) and it has to do with careful planning and strategic planning in terms of the vessels’ movement, which platforms we use to ensure that there are over lapping patrols and we have a constant presence, both north and south.” Overall, it all came down to the dedication and hard work of members of the force who go beyond the call of duty. For his part, Mr Scavella said the government owes Bahamians an explanation. He said: “What is happening is not within the RBDF’s remit. This is the government doing whatever it is doing. I thought it was ridiculous for the government to talk about the reason why they are sending the man on leave at this time is because they are trying to save money. That is utter nonsense and really and truly they could have come up with a better excuse than that.
“I used to tell people that when you are in the chair of authority you could do whatever you want to do, but when that person reports you to their superior, then you have to answer and you have to come up with solutions and explanations to satisfy the persons concerned. “So in the government’s case their bosses are the Bahamian people and they must now satisfy people that they are making the most prudent decision for the interest of the nation and that the Bahamian people are satisfied at the end of the day.” He continued: “When I was the commander of the defence force, I would have been reported to the security council on occasion and I said to my subordinates, ‘while I am the end all here and I am responsible for the day-today operation of the defence force the law gives me that authority, not the minister, not the prime minister.’ It is my responsibility to carry out the day-to-day duties. “While government can set its policy of which I am mandated to carry out at the end of the day, if I make a decision and if my subordinates are not happy and they complain, then they have a right to complain to the minister and prime minister and then ask for an explanation. “I must be able to give them sensible explanations of which the persons are satisfied and so too the government must answer the question and the Bahamian people must be satisfied,” Mr Scavella told The Tribune. Editorial View - Page 4
to the lay down site. White waste (such as) freezers, stoves, washing machines; electronic waste (such as) televisions, computers and printers; household waste (such as) couches, mattresses, and dressers; construction waste (such as) concrete plumbing fixtures, wiring and fibre glass. Wood - organic waste and lumber.” Mr Lewis also said plans are on the way for banks to open for business on the government compound in Abaco. He said: “Royal Bank (will) move into the government compound area. Commonwealth Bank, the local bank and the Bahamian bank we are very proud to say that they are pretty much up and running. Well, they are making an effort to have their ATM machines and they will have their infrastructure in place to allow commercial banking services in short order. “Once we confirm a physical location, we’ll be able to pass information to the press. For sure Royal Bank
are bringing in a containerised unit that will act as a little retail boutique bank and that will be set up at the government compound where we put all of the RV trailers.” John-Michael Clarke, co-chair of the disaster and reconstruction committee, said government officials are expected to be living in the recreational vehicles (RVs) by the end of the week. He said some of the government agencies have already started to operate on the ground. Mr Clarke also said officials anticipate the reopening of the Marsh Harbour Airport within the next 10 days. He said: “Originally we had targeted this week to open the Marsh Harbour Airport, that is highly unlikely. Apart from securing the perimeter, we will have to check with (the Department of) Civil Aviation to see what other protocols they have to abide by in order for the airport to be open for use.”
PAGE 6, Tuesday, October 29, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
FREE DENTAL CARE CLINIC FOR DORIAN VICTIMS By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net
IT’S been nearly two months since Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama and across the country, many health care organisations are continuing to respond to the health needs of Hurricane Dorian survivors. One of them is the Bahamas Dental Association. In a weekend-long event, BDA hosted its first oral health clinic to provide free dental care services to Hurricane Dorian victims. More than 500 people received free services as a result.
In an interview with The relief efforts… and so this is Tribune, BDA President why we’ve become engaged. Dr Emmanuel Francis said We did it over the mid-term the event - which was the holidays so we could accomlargest initiative in the modate the students while association’s history - was they’re on break.” Treatments offered at geared specifically towards students displaced by the the clinic, according to Dr Francis, included dental Category Five storm. cleaning, “This (clinic) has been examinations, brought on by the dev- fill-ins, teeth extractions, astation from Hurricane etc, and were provided Dorian. There was an in partnership with sevurgency of us doing this and eral international dental we were targeting the stu- organisations. BDA treasurer and dents (under the age of 21) of displaced evacuees and event organiser, Dr Joy those who are suffering,” he Pickstock said there were over 500 people, including said. “It was our attempt to students and adults, who make the suffering a little less received dental assessments and also to be involved in the last weekend.
THE BDA’s health clinic Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
She added that association not only wanted to help storm victims, but also to bring awareness to the importance of oral health. “We understand that during periods of disaster, the mouth usually takes a backseat because persons are focused on getting their clothing, food, etc. (But), the mouth is one of the areas that really suffers,” she said. Although the clinic has ended, Dr Francis maintains the association will continue to engage in initiatives aimed towards providing dental health relief in the wake of Dorian.
We must all do what we can, says Mother Pratt By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net
MAIN picture: Cynthia ‘Mother” Pratt. Far right, Diane Cacciatore and Sarah Nickoson, Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
IN an effort to help those displaced by Hurricane Dorian, the Mother Pratt Foundation will be distributing food and hygienic items to assist those in need. Speaking to reporters at her residence yesterday, former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt said in times like these, everyone has to be willing to lend a helping hand. The deadly Category Five storm ravaged Abaco and Grand Bahama early last month, flattening homes and businesses, while leaving thousands displaced. “Nobody saw this coming…many of our people are suffering and the masses are still down there. They have lost everything …(and) because the needs are so great, no one person can do it,” she added. “All of us can do whatever we can to put a smile
on somebody’s face So, we’re going to prepare for 500 (persons) tomorrow. Today, we’re able to sort out and distribute tomorrow a whole lot of items that will assist many people.” As noted by Mother Pratt, the foundation will be distributing various items from different centres to persons directly impacted by the storm. “What we have done is we have contacted those persons from Abaco who were placed in homes…we were able to identify many of them and that’s who we’re dealing with tomorrow and then we will move on afterward,” she said. In her address, she also commended her friends from abroad - Dianne Cacciatore and Sarah Nickoson - who will be assisting
with the relief efforts through the Mother Pratt Foundation. “(Sarah and Dianne) have been a friend of the Bahamas for many years. They are a part of the donations that continue to come to us from Urban Renewal’s time…. what this says to me as a Bahamian, there are people who truly care about the Bahamas — strangers and visitors.” Through the Mother Pratt Foundation, Ms Cacciatore said they have been able to bring in two containers so far and are currently working on bringing another. “We hope to continue for the next few years. . .we really want to step it up a notch with the ability for us to find out what the specific needs are,” she said.
MCALPINE HELPS DISTRIBUTE RELIEF TO OVER 700 PEOPLE IN NEED ON GRAND BAHAMA By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
PINERIDGE MP Rev Frederick McAlpine distributed hurricane relief items to over 700 residents in Grand Bahama yestserday at his constituency headquarters in Freeport. McAlpine and his wife Tracey were front and centre under a tent packing and handing out care packages to hundreds who had gathered in long lines at 30C Kipling Building from around 8am. This is the second mass distribution that Rev McAlpine has held for his constituents, many of whom reside in subdivisions that were impacted by flooding and lost their entire possessions. “Today, I am partnering together with NEMA, and along with my international partners,” he told The Tribune. “Today we have been able to give to over 770 persons in Pineridge and in the GB community.” Rev McAlpine said residents were given water, food, groceries, baby wipes, infant and adult diapers, as well as
HUNDREDS queue for hurricane relief supplies, such as flashlights etc. According to the Free National Movement MP, many Grand Bahamians are unemployed and in need of relief assistance. “This is a very difficult time still for GB, and the reason we have to feed people is because we realise that the unemployment number has quadrupled. And so, if people don’t have no money, they can’t buy no grocery.” While it has been said that the same people are out coming out for relief items at the various other relief distribution centres, Rev McAlpine said
it is because people are in need. “How long do you expect a care package to last for? They are coming back because they are in need, and I am happy that we are able to be a blessing to the community,” he said. Prior to NEMA coming on board, Rev McAlpine said he had helped “over 3,000 persons.” “The first time when the storm started, I was giving out tarps, generators, chainsaws – everything. And so basically, I have been doing, and today NEMA has come through and have assisted and partnered with me today.”
Equinor says the recovered oil is “safely being contained in compliance with best practices.” Mr Eriksen said clean-up crews are now entering the impacted forest area to the north to manually collect debris, branches and sediments with oil. The area from the terminal to the edge of the forest where oil was observed comprises some 3.6 miles of forest area, he reported. Response experts have conducted walk throughs in the forest and have categorised different sections according to the amount of oil found in different areas. “We will cut off leaves
and branches and bring them out physically; we will have 100 people in the woods working with this,” Mr Eriksen said. A Wildlife Unit has also been brought in, he said. “Fortunately, there has been very little wildlife impacted due to birds and animals leaving when hurricanes are coming. So, we have little wildlife impacted, and now we see the risk of wildlife is going down because the oil is drying up and we have collected the biggest amounts (of oil) so we don’t see a high risk of wildlife challenges going forward.”
EQUINOR HAS 100 WORKING ON CLEAN UP By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
EQUINOR has 100 people in the field helping in the clear up of the massive oil spill at its refinery in East Grand Bahama. Eskil Eriksen, public information officer at Equinor, says 50,000 barrels of oil and water have been recovered at the site “from day one to now”. “We have come quite far in the recovery work, but there is still lots more work to do,” he told The Tribune. “We are not finished yet and we are prepared to work…until it is finished.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, October 29, 2019, PAGE 7
NIB DISPUTE - STAFF DECIDE TO UP THE ANTE from page one
deemed the strike vote invalid because there were some technicalities with the application. However, workers voted in the poll on Friday, unaware it was not deemed valid. Mr Roach said: “We were never notified of them cancelling and we continued to vote and I just wanted to let the people know and thank them for their continued support of the union that’s fighting on their behalf. “(Work to rule) means we will work on our terms. We’ve bent over backwards, we’ve rolled up our sleeves and we dug in to be disrespected. Now it’s time to kind of reduce the pace a little bit
and we will go from there.” He said the union will take legal action to determine the legitimacy of its strike poll. “Our attorney Obie Ferguson is handling the matter and if we don’t have to take another poll we won’t. (We will do this) as long as it takes until we get our negotiations completed and we get what we feel we deserve we will continue to this work to rule.” Mr Roach said a meeting was scheduled with Minister of National Insurance Brensil Rolle yesterday but there was a time conflict. “(We were supposed to have a) meeting (Monday), I made attempts to reach the minister all weekend. Of course, they were unsuccessful so we are going to see if
we can get a meeting with him (today),” he noted. When asked if he was optimistic about the meeting, the union president said no, but he is waiting to see what comes out of it. He said: “We are only going forward on the way we’ve been treated in the past and the minister has not been helpful. I understand he said he was unaware of the failed negotiations, but we will see what comes out of this meeting (today). “The press release from the executive management that I read has been a little (disingenuous). I think the quote in there spoke to an actuarial review. For those not aware, that review was done nine years ago so they are quoting old numbers
and pretending as if it is present facts or relevant information. So, let’s not muddy the water with old numbers, let’s get in the now and go from there.” When asked if he was disappointed in the response from the director of labour, Mr Roach said he’s extremely frustrated in the response and the treatment from the Department of Labour. He said: “We don’t want to get sucked into some of the silliness of people trying to save face. There have been several letters written to the Department of Labour and I think what he is referring to is maybe my initial letter. “The Department of Labour refused to hold a poll in Abaco due to the state of the island after the
hurricane. We’ve made several corrections with that and all of the islands were accounted for.” Mr Roach said the vote held on Friday was unanimous in favour of a strike. He said: “We have 406 members, 227 would have voted here in Nassau. We got 226 yes and one no. We got 27 yes in Freeport and three yes in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. We already obtained the majority of the vote based on the islands that did vote on Friday. “ On Sunday, NIB called on the Union of Public Officers to de-escalate its issues to reach an amicable solution that won’t disrupt the pension and other benefit payments to residents who rely on NIB. The agency said it will
continue to cooperate in good faith with its staff union to assist the Ministry of the Public Service and National Insurance to conclude negotiations on a new industrial agreement in an environment where the board has to improve its efficiency targets and better manage administrative costs. The statement came after a strike poll by employees was deemed invalid on Friday. At the time, Director of Labour John Pinder said there were some legal issues with the process. Last week, NIB employees protested after negotiations for a new industrial agreement failed. Mr Roach said they walked off the job because the union wanted to send a message.
Three charged with murder By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
OUTSIDE court yesterday were, from the left, Patrick Ferguson, Kervenson Pierre and Kerry Dufrene
Photos: Shawn HannarTribune Staff
TWO Haitian men and a Bahamian man, all in their early 20s, are behind three of the country’s recent homicides, police have alleged. The three men were charged yesterday. Police claim 22-yearold Kervenson Pierre and 20-year-old Kerry Dufrene murdered Linert Dumel on October 12 in Excellence Estates. Police also claim that 21-year-old Patrick Ferguson of Sunshine Park murdered 18-year-old Romeo Lynes Jr on October 10 in the Gamble Heights Community. According to reports, shortly before 3pm on October 12, Lynes was standing outside a home in Gamble Heights when the occupants of a grey coloured vehicle pulled up and opened fire in his direction, wounding him before speeding away. Lynes was taken to hospital where he died a short time later. All three accused were charged before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt. Given the nature of the charges, they were not required to enter a plea and their matters were adjourned to a later date for service of a voluntary bill of indictment. Bail was denied and they were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim. They have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, October 29, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
I
WAS blown away by the thoughts of a tenyear-old boy who was asked to jot down in his own words some sentences about the abuse of children. I’ve known Makaio Mackey to be a high achiever since he was very young. Like my son Elijah, Makaio is an avid golfer. His mother India would rave about Elijah’s golfing skills and she felt encouraged that her son would do well in the sport. Elijah is now 23 and still hitting the green as often as possible. Makaio’s mom is teaching her son the importance of stickability in life. She has no problem convincing him to come into his own. He is finding his own ways of self expression. When Makaio found out that his mom’s co-worker had an organisation that regularly visits children’s homes in The Bahamas, he immediately wanted to be a part. He told his mother he wanted to read to the kids and thus began a relationship between him and the children that is likely to last a lifetime. The organisation he helps is called “A Hand Up” Foundation (A Touch of Hope), and is designed to empower and protect children in the homes from tragedies such as sexual abuse. For this reason, I asked Makaio to share some thoughts on child abuse, as I chose it as the topic for this week’s Face to Face, ahead of the upcoming Bahamas Against Crime Child Abuse Week. Here is what Makaio penned: 1. “All children should be loved so that we could teach children what is love.” 2. “Talk to kids not physically abuse them.” 3. “Every child should have a happy life, don’t take that away by abusing them.” 4. “Try different ways to discipline a child, not just verbal and physical.” 5. “I think all abuse is bad and should end.” 6. “Please! Please! Stop the abuse and watch the world change because it starts with a happy childhood.” 7. “Kids should be happy to get up in the morning, not terrified and always looking over their shoulder.” He sat with his father Marco, who says his son came up with these statements on his own. I received them in Makaio’s own handwriting. I was deeply moved and thankful that I thought to ask a child to be the biggest advocate in this week’s column on child abuse. Makaio regularly comes into contact with kids from the children’s homes, some who are victims of abuse. Administrators notice that the homes’ kids respond well to story time led by one of their very own peers. He is learning to take time to show care and concern for others at a very young age.
MAKAIO playing football, far left, and on the golf course, left. Above: with the founder of A Hand Up Foundation, Mark Brown
Wise words from a boy who simply cares for others Makaio’s mani
The week of activities to end child abuse will be held from November 3 to 8 under the theme: 1 All children “Protect Our Children, should be lov ed so Preserve Our Future”. could teach childre n what is love that we According to Rev Moss, 2 Talk to kids . n Bahamas Against Crime 3 Every child ot physically abuse them. sh (BAC) decided to focus tak e that away b ould have a happy life, don on child abuse because it ’t 4 Try differen y abusing them. was noted that the pert w a y s to discipline a ch petrators of crimes were just verbal and p ild, not getting younger and 5 I think all ab hysical. u younger. In some cases, 6. Please! Ple se is bad and should end. ase! Stop the they had to go to court wa abu tch the world covered and their identichange becau se and st a se it rt s with a hap ties hidden because they 7 Kids should py childhood were juveniles. Yet, they be happy to were accused of serious in the morn ing, not terrifi get up crimes including rob- always looking over th ed and bery and murder. eir shoulder “What we noticed when we spoke to some of Novemthem,” Rev Moss said, “Is ber 4 to Thursday, cannot that they showed very little November 7, BAC rep- isolate yourself against remorse or concern.” resentatives will make crime. It will find you wher“We did an unscientific appearances at the various ever you are. We wanted survey of a large number schools and will also give to focus on prevention of of young people, and we out wrist bands with the crime from then. But the found that the vast major- theme “Protect Our Chil- government decided to ity of them were abused in dren”. On November 5, the respond by focusing on the some way, shape or form in group will pay a courtesy enforcement of law against their lives. Therefore, some call on Governor General crime. That is important, became angry and hostile CA Smith. On Wednesday, but we knew that it would to mainstream society and November 6, the official (increase the gap) between were exhibiting unpredict- opening ceremony will the community and the able behaviour.” be held at the Harry C police. As we predicted, He added that in speak- Moore Library at the Uni- serious crimes like rape and ing to murder convicted versity of The Bahamas at murder increased every criminals, BAC found 6:30pm. The Child Abuse, year since 2005.” that the majority of them Exploitation & Trafficking BAC attempted to do reported childhood abuse. Workshop will be an all- their part to deal with the Therefore, the organisa- day event held at the Holy crime problem by hosting tion thought it best to take Trinity Activity Centre numerous youth programs proactive steps to allay the beginning at 9am with and working with the Minpossibility of even worse lunch provided. istry of Social Services to crime statistics than what All members of the present parenting workThe Bahamas currently public are invited to pur- shops over the years. In faces. The first BAC con- chase a T-Shirt and wear it addition, it has hosted ference on child abuse on Friday, October 8 and numerous security training was held last year, with 54 stand in solidarity with courses, led by former public and private organi- Bahamas Against Crime Deputy Commissioner sations participating, Rev to protect our children and of Police Paul Thompson, Moss says. preserve the future of this Over the years, more than “The information that country. Corporate Baha- 400 people graduated from came out was eye opening,” mas is encouraged to invite that course, and Rev Moss he said. their employees to par- said nearly all were placed “Many participants were ticipate. On social media, on jobs upon completion, amazed at the depth of you can share appropriate noting that unemployment the child abuse problem photos or positive mes- is a contributing factor to in The Bahamas, includ- sages and use the hashtag: crime. ing incest. We spoke about #protectourchildren. Call This year’s child abuse the cultural forms of abuse. 325-4357 or 328-8984 for workshop is being held People would talk about more information, or email in partnership with Sanchow their parents beat bahamasagainstcrime@ tuary, led by McCall them with a piece of wood gmail.com. Philippe (sanctuary. or wire. What was amazing Bahamas Against Crime bahamas@gmail.com). is that many would say they officially started in 2005 Sanctuary’s goal is to were thankful their parents with Rev Moss, Rev Dr advocate on behalf of beat them that way. But William Thompson, Fred survivors of human trafhonestly, they don’t know Munnings, Ken Pyfrom ficking, sexual assault and how much further they may and Ken Lam leading the sexual exploitation in The have gone if they had not charge. At the time, they Bahamas and beyond. The received that kind of pun- were making their voices group is committed to raise ishment. We talked about heard as they warned that awareness, protect, advovarious forms of child their contacts on the streets cate, collaborate, support, abuse, even those as simple were talking of a ‘tsunami listen and empower. It also as denying a child their of crime’ about to overtake aims to provide a safe space dinner. We want to bring the capital. for survivors of sexual the issues of child abuse “We warned that unless violence by building a comto the national conscience an intervention occurred, munity where survivors are and challenge the nation to there would be a major empowered to speak. Sancrespond.” crime explosion in the next tuary is working towards a BAC is calling on few years,” Rev Moss said. Bahamas where sexual viochurches, youth groups, “We reached out to a lence is neither tolerated public and private organi- cross section of society. nor ignored, and survivors sations and even the The then prime minister are provided the resources general public to par- responded by telling the needed to feel protected, ticipate in the week of nation that crime was not a supported and empowered. activities. On Sunday, problem for certain BahaThe conference is imporNovember 3, there will be mians… that if you were tant so that all Bahamian an ecumenical thanksgiv- not associating with cer- children, like Makaio can ing service at St John’s tain people you did not be given the opportunity Native Baptist Church, need to worry about crime. to shine and do their very beginning at 3pm. Monday, We warned them that you best.
festo
“Makaio Mackey is a junior volunteer who is absolutely admired for his big heart and the time he devotes to assisting with our events,”, says Minister Mark Brown, founder of A Hand Up. “Makaio may be young but he is certainly wellrounded and making great strides towards a successful future. We appreciate the time he spends with the youth at the Children’s Emergency Hostel. Makaio can be found on many Sundays reading books or simply sharing thoughts with the children in his age bracket at the hostel. I have to mention how humble and helpful he is at all times.” Minister Brown and his twin brother were residents at two children’s homes since they were infants, before being reunited with their mother when they were 13-years-old. Today, he helps children who are in the position that he was in. He recently penned the story of his life in a book titled “A Hand Up: A
Touch of Hope” with all proceeds going towards the work of the foundation. At the tender age of 10, Makaio is already in the 6th grade at St Thomas Moore Primary School. His grades also blew me away. His last report card shows almost a perfect score and has glowing remarks from all his teachers. His mother, a conference manager at the Atlantis Resorts, and his father, a Credit and Collection Field Supervisor at BPL, support their son in his academic, sporting and social endeavours. Makaio loves playing video games and in addition to golf he also loves soccer. He aspires to become a professional soccer player and a business owner one day. I shared Makaio’s statements on child abuse with Rev CB Moss, founder of Bahamas Against Crime. He was also impressed and promised to share the youngster’s impactful statements at his upcoming conference on: “The Abuse, Exploitation & Trafficking of Children”.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, October 29, 2019, PAGE 9
MARIJUANA REPORT HITS ANOTHER DELAY from page one
month, even if it means submitting a preliminary report that has to later be supported by a supplemental report. The group was initially expected to hand over a report with its findings in April, but received extensions, ultimately placing the new timeline at October 31. Mr McCartney said yesterday: “Because of our late trip to Jamaica, and we are still organising and trying to make our trip to Canada,
not that it will hold up the report but we just think it would be advantageous to make that trip. “We wanted to do the trip to Jamaica definitely because it’s in the region because the laws are similar to ours and because of what they’ve done. We definitely wanted to make that trip so that was done in early October and so we wanted to do that. “So having come back and done that, that’s going to delay us a bit, but we are also trying to organise a trip to Canada. We wanted
to do that trip to Canada because again it’s in certainly in North America (and) it’s the first country to do it federally in the western hemisphere and so we wanted to just see how they went about the process.” He continued: “So that will definitely cause us to (ask for extension). We have spoken to the minister and we certainly are asking for a slight delay beyond the October deadline. “We are certainly not trying to let this go beyond November for sure and even if we just have to give
a preliminary report and come back with a supplemental report at a later date. “So let’s just say Canada doesn’t come off until like mid-November, we won’t delay because of the trip to Canada.” Mr McCartney said following the trip to Jamaica, there are some elements of marijuana decriminalisation implemented there that the commission does support. However, when the report is submitted, they hope it adequately reflects the views of Bahamians while providing
Funeral held for former Senator Doswell Coakley
recommendations that work in the best interest of the country. “The main mission of our commission was to find out the views of the Bahamian public. Although we have not been as comprehensive as we would have liked in touching more people, we certainly had town hall meetings, a few stakeholder meetings and we’ve done walkabouts in several communities trying to gather the feel. “There seems to be a consensus toward some of the things that they have done in Jamaica and so what we
want to do is reflect what the Bahamian public wants but give our recommendations in terms of research based on best practises. “So it’ll certainly outline what members of the public feel but look at what’s happening in other jurisdictions. We want to provide recommendations in the best interest of the public. “We will give the positives and negatives. We won’t lean in any particular direction. At this stage we are stressing and trying to get all the pieces together,” Mr McCartney said.
A STATE-recognised funeral service was held for former Senator, Dr Doswell Clifton Coakley last Friday at Christ Church Cathedral. Governor General CA Smith headed the list of government officials in attendance. Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest presented the Bahamian Flag to widow, Mrs Janice Coakley. Photos: Patrick Hanna/BIS
PAGE 10, Tuesday, October 29, 2019
S
O MUCH has been written recently about the treatment of Haitians post-Dorian that I hesitate to comment further. But criticism of the Government, both here at home as well as overseas, has been growing and this prompts me to address the issue again. As most people are aware, the issue of illegal immigration from our populous neighbour to the south goes back a long way. In recent years, it appears to have been managed more or less effectively through interception of boats carrying those trying to enter the country illegally and deporting their passengers; though, doubtless, other boats will have succeeded in making landfall undetected and migrants will have worked their way up our island chain and, in some cases, beyond to Florida. Thus, it has always been common knowledge that such a threat existed. What heightens that threat now is the serious deterioration of conditions in Haiti so that more people are likely to risk their lives in trying to reach The Bahamas – and it is no exaggeration that this has become a ticking time bomb, with more than ten million Haitians on our doorstep living in a lawless, failed state that, reportedly, is barely functioning. This is truly the stuff of nightmares, particularly when one considers how uncontrolled immigration elsewhere in the world has created humanitarian problems on a daunting scale – notably, of course, people trying to reach Europe overland from Syria or across the Mediterranean from North Africa (and those with longer memories will recall the Vietnamese boat people in the 1970s and later). This has precipitated chaos and, of course, a terrible loss of life. Any sudden major increase of illegal migrants from Haiti in numbers not seen hitherto could likewise precipitate a similar disaster for The Bahamas, which
THE TRIBUNE
Imagine a tidal wave of refugees like we saw from Vietnam... North Africa ... Syria - but this time it’s from Haiti
would be simply swamped and unable to cope and this could develop into an international crisis. One manifestation of illegal migration from Haiti was, of course, the shanty towns in Abaco. But it was understandable that successive governments fought shy of having them torn down in the face of criticism and opposition from various quarters. Now, their destruction by Hurricane Dorian has changed the situation fundamentally. The severity of Dorian and the terrible damage it inflicted hit the headlines
in the international media. So The Bahamas was thrust into the limelight and it was inevitable that foreign donors contributing to the relief effort would become interested in the way the authorities handled the thousands of displaced people, many of whom were undocumented Haitians. All this is well known, but I draw attention to it now in order to suggest that perhaps this is an opportunity to take the bull by the horns and re-examine the whole issue of Haitian immigration including a reassessment of long-held attitudes. This should cover the existing structure for stopping boats in our southern waters and the system of deportation. It would also be a good time to take a hard look at existing laws, including the status of Haitians already living here and, for example, the controversial requirement those born of Haitian parents to regularise their immigration status at the age of 18. While working with CARICOM partners to assist Haiti as a fellow member, it may now be necessary to elevate the matter to another level politically by lobbying the UN and US to address what can be
and 13 years in connection with the region’s failed bid in 2017 to break away from Spain to become an independent state. Many regard such sentences as unwarranted and excessive. The Supreme Court had declared a referendum conducted by the regional government which claimed that 90 percent of those participating had opted for independence even though the turnout of people eligible to vote was only 42 percent - was illegal and unconstitutional. As a result, direct rule was
imposed by the central government in Madrid after stripping the regional government of its powers. Catalonia’s quest for independence dates back to the 18th century. In modern times, it remains deeply divided on the issue with less than half the population in favour of leaving. Nonetheless, separatists are pressing for another referendum. They believe their wealthy and productive region, as a major contributor to the national economy, has a right to self-determination and more say in its
The Peter Young column
done by the international community to bring about political and economic reform in Haiti in order to achieve some sort of stability. Not only did the US occupy Haiti for some 20 years in the last century, but later it remained closely involved politically - including allegedly playing a role in the deposing of President Aristide in 2004 - and it has been its largest donor for many years. The UN Stabilisation Force was withdrawn in 2017 after mixed results, but perhaps other ways can be found of trying to place Haiti back on to some sort of even keel. Meanwhile, the immediate issue is how to deal with the criticism of the resumption of deportation of illegal Haitian migrants - including some who have lost their homes in the shanty towns – by bodies like the UN Refugee Agency, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IAHCR), Amnesty International and others. Presumably, all these will have been briefed by Rights Bahamas. In the modern, inter-connected world due weight has to be given to their views – and it should be important for
The Bahamas to be seen to be treating migrants fairly, legally and humanely. But, at the same time, as a sovereign nation it must be able to make and enforce its own laws and to govern the country without outside interference. It is surely right, for example, to insist there should be no new construction permitted on the site of the former shanty towns. No responsible government could allow the building and development of similar such illegal dwellings so vulnerable in the face another Dorian. Judging from my own experience as a diplomat with UN bodies of this type, I believe it is important to keep them fully informed rather than leaving them to be briefed exclusively by organisations like Rights Bahamas. At the very least, it is unhelpful that such outside organizations should issue statements which may be based on incomplete information. The IAHCR may indeed have made a factfinding visit to Nassau a couple of years ago, but it is surely essential to keep all the bodies concerned fully updated on the latest developments - particularly post-Dorian - as well as to explain the background
about Haitian immigration and the dangers of potential mass migration from our southern neighbour. The same applies to the international press. This means starting a dialogue with them that goes further than the recent statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So, I wonder whether the time has come for some active diplomacy in all this. Why not invite representatives of the world’s media to Nassau for a comprehensive briefing so that all concerned are fully aware of the reality? Because of the geography we are the most vulnerable among CARICOM countries but, if the flood gates were opened, others in the region could be affected as well. Despite all this, however, some cynics wonder, after all, whether the US itself really cares that much about this thorny issue, since the pass has already been sold. One has only to look at the numbers of Haitians driving taxis at Miami airport and even in places further away, including Canada. When my wife and I were in Montreal not too long ago, we were driven in from the airport – yes, you guessed it – by a Haitian cab driver!
MORE TROUBLE IN CATALONIA HIGHLIGHTS DIVISIONS IN EU STATES SPAIN’S north eastern region of Catalonia, the economic power house of the nation with a population of 7.5 million and its own language and culture together with considerable autonomy and a regional parliament, is back in the headlines because of widespread violent riots in its capital city of Barcelona. These are in protest against the sentencing by the Supreme Court in Madrid earlier this month of nine Catalan politicians and activists to jail terms of between nine
own affairs. But Madrid remains opposed to another referendum. Some Catalans also see the police reaction to the riots as unnecessarily brutal and reminiscent of Franco’s heavy-handed suppression of the region in the 1930s. It is interesting that while the European Union moves towards ever-closer political and economic union, there remain underlying divisions within its established member states in the shape of nationalist separatist movements seeking greater autonomy or outright secession – to name just a few, Corsica, Bavaria, the Basques in Spain and Scotland whose independence referendum in 2014 resulted in a vote to stay in the United Kingdom though tensions on the issue remain high with the Scottish National Party pressing for another test of public opinion. In my view, full EU political union and creation of a federal super state remains a fantasy. But, of course, co-operation on as wide a front as possible among sovereign states in Europe remains desirable if not essential in order to ensure a peaceful future for the continent.
THOUSANDS of Spaniards marched in Barcelona on Sunday in favour of unity and against the secessionist movement in Catalonia
Younger generation may ensure less corruption A STARTLING statistic caught my eye the other day – 41 percent of the global population of some 7.5 billion are under the age of 24. On a selfish and superficial note, that is music to the ears of self-satisfied seniors because it means there will be enough people around to generate the wealth to pay their pensions for years to come. But it is an interesting statistic for other more serious reasons. Compared with earlier generations, young people today are better informed and ‘connected’ because of the internet and social media. They tend to be less bound by social conventions and religious teaching, and are better educated and on the whole healthier and have more opportunities to travel. All this tends to increase their expectations and
encourages them to become involved as activists in issues like the environment and climate change as well as human rights and perceived injustice and inequality. It gives them the confidence to challenge established authority and amounts to a form of social evolution. Many will argue that this is a good development because it brings with it a greater likelihood that tyrannical governments will be challenged. But the increasing influence of the younger generation is also no bad thing in a democracy because it provides another strand in the checks and balances holding an elected government to account and to ensure greater transparency and thereby less corruption. So, a startling statistic perhaps, but not an unwelcome one.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, October 29, 2019, PAGE 11
ILLEGAL LOGGING DROPS IN MONARCH BUTTERFLY WINTERING GROUNDS MEXICO CITY Associated Press
TREE loss in the wintering grounds of the monarch butterfly in central Mexico is down by about 25% this year compared to last year as a sharp drop in Illegal logging more than made up from an increase in tree deaths due to lack of water or disease, experts said yesterday. Monarchs need healthy tree cover to protect them rain or cold weather in the pine and fir mountaintop forests in Mexico where they spend the winter. Millions of monarchs make the 3,400-mile migration from the United States and Canada, and then return,
each year, though no single butterfly lives to make the complete trip. Environmentalists and officials in Mexico expect a strong turnout this year of monarchs, in part because of last year’s population rebound. Mexico has clamped down on illegal logging, which has fallen to about one-third last year’s level. Total tree loss from disease, drought, logging and other causes is down by an overall 25% from last year. Jorge Rickards of the World Wildlife Fund said “it is now small-scale logging, isolated trees ... we’re not seeing the big, clearcut spaces we saw decade ago.” But officials said the number
of personnel guarding the reserve west of Mexico City has been cut from a high of about 180 to about 25 as part of a government austerity and reorganisation programme. And environmentalist and poet Homero Aridjis, who grew up near the reserve, said locals are concerned about ongoing “salvage” logging of trees purportedly killed by bark beetles, disease or drought. “Based on this justification they have extracted way too many trees from the reserve and there is no way to know for sure if the trees were really diseased or infested,” Aridjis wrote. “We have seen photos of trucks continuously passing through Angangueo
A MONARCH butterfly
(a town near the reserve) loaded with wood.” Monarchs usually arrive in Mexico by the Nov. 1 Day of the Dead holiday, but have been delayed by late rains this year. In old times, Mexican villagers associated the annual arrival of the butterflies with the returning spirits of the dead. Gloria Tavera, who oversees the region for the Commission on Natural Protected areas, said “we hope this year’s contingent will be as good as last year’s,” in part because of efforts to plant gardens containing nectar-bearing plants — which the monarchs need to store up energy — along their migratory routes.
WILDFIRES BATTER CALIFORNIA AGAIN LOS ANGELES Associated Press A WILDFIRE swept through the starstudded hills of Los Angeles yesterday, destroying several large homes and forcing LeBron James and thousands of others to flee. Meanwhile, a blaze in Northern California wine country exploded in size. The flames that roared up a steep hillside near the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles’ Brentwood section illustrated the danger the state faces as high winds batter both ends of California and threaten to turn any spark into a devastating inferno. At least eight homes were destroyed and six damaged in the LA-area blaze, fire officials said. No deaths from either blaze were reported, but a firefighter was seriously injured in the blaze in Sonoma County wine country. . Some 2.2 million people lacked electricity after California’s biggest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, shut it off over the weekend in the northern part of the state to prevent its equipment from sparking blazes during windy weather. More deliberate blackouts are possible in the coming days because another round of strong winds is expected.
A MAN walks past a burning home in Los Angeles yesterday
New US Syria mission after al-Baghdadi death WASHINGTON Associated Press
PIVOTING from the dramatic killing of the Islamic State’s leader, the Pentagon is increasing US efforts to protect Syria’s oil fields from the extremist group as well as from Syria itself and the country’s Russian allies. It’s a new highstakes mission even as American troops are withdrawn from other parts of the country. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the military’s oil field mission also will ensure income for Syrian Kurds who are counted on by Washington to continue guarding Islamic State prisoners and helping American forces combat remnants of the group — even as President Donald Trump continues to insist all US troops will come home. “We don’t want to be a policeman in this case,” Trump said yesterday, referring to America’s role after Turkey’s incursion in Syria. In the face of Turkey’s early October warning that it would invade and create a “safe zone” on the Syrian side of its border, Trump ordered US forces to step aside, effectively abandoning a Kurdish militia that had partnered with US troops. Esper and Gen Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke at a Pentagon news conference to cheer the successful
PRESIDENT Donald Trump talks to reporters before boarding Air Force One for a trip to Chicago yesterday. mission by US special operations forces on Saturday that ended with IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi blowing himself up. Esper called al-Baghdadi’s death a “devastating blow” to an organisation that already had lost its hold on a wide swath of territory in Syria and Iraq. Milley said the US had disposed of al-Baghdadi’s remains “appropriately” and in line with the laws of armed conflict. He also said US forces retrieved unspecified
intelligence information from the site, which he described as a place in northwestern Syria where the IS leader had been “staying on a consistent basis”. Esper hinted at uncertainty ahead in Syria , even though the Islamic State has lost its inspirational leader, with the Syrian government exploiting support from Russia and Iran. “The security situation in Syria remains complex,” Esper said.
A big part of that complexity is the rejiggering of the battlefield since Trump earlier this month ordered a full US troop withdrawal from positions along the Turkish border in northeastern Syria. Even as those troops leave, other US forces are heading to the oil-producing region of eastern Syria, east of the Euphrates River. Trump recently has proposed hiring an American oil company to begin repairing Syria’s oil infrastructure, which has been devastated by years of war. Repeated US airstrikes against facilities for oil storage, transport, processing and refining starting in 2015 inflicted heavy damage. Esper said last week that a “mechanised” force would reinforce US positions in the oil region, meaning a force equipped with tanks or Bradley infancy carriers. He referred to “multiple state and nonstate” forces vying for control of Syrian territory and resources, including the oil. He said that while the main US military mission is to ensure the “enduring defeat” of the Islamic State, that now will include denying oil income for the group. “The United States will retain control of oil fields in northeast Syria,” Esper said, adding that at the height of al-Baghdadi’s rule, those oil fields provided the bulk of his group’s income.
IS VICTIMS SEE SATISFACTION BUT NO CLOSURE IN LEADER’S DEATH PARIS Associated Press FOR Georges Salines, whose 28-year-old daughter Lola was killed when Islamic extremists went on a bloody rampage in Paris in 2015, the death of the man who inspired the attack brought a welcome “sense of satisfaction.” But like other survivors and families of victims of the Islamic State group, Salines stressed that the death of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, does not mean the fight against terrorism is over. “It would have been even better if al-Baghdadi could have been captured and sent to trial,” said Salines. “That was probably impossible. We knew that for a long time.” Al-Baghdadi was
responsible for directing and inspiring attacks by his followers around the world. In Iraq and Syria, he steered his organization into committing acts of brutality on a mass scale: massacres of his opponents; beheadings and stonings that were broadcast to a shocked audience on the internet; and the kidnapping and enslavement of women. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Nov. 13, 2015, attacks on Paris cafes, the national stadium and the Bataclan concert hall that left 130 people dead, including Lola Salines and Thomas Duperron, 30. Duperron’s father, Philippe, who is president of French victims’ association 13onze15, which takes its name from the date of
GEORGES SALINES, left, whose daughter was killed in the 2015 Paris attacks, with his lawyer Jean Reinhar the attacks, said al-Baghdadi’s death was “not bad news.” “One major player of the Islamic state group’s actions has disappeared,” he told AP, although he said that his group would not express joy at any death. A trial of suspects in the
Paris attacks is expected to begin in 2021. French prosecutors said this month that the judicial investigation of the attacks has ended and that 1,740 plaintiffs have joined the proceedings. Fourteen people have been charged in the case, including Salah Abdeslam, the
only surviving suspect of the group of assailants. French magistrates had recently issued an international arrest warrant for al-Baghdadi in a counterterrorism investigation for “heading or organizing a criminal terrorist conspiracy.” Arthur Denouveaux, a Bataclan survivor and president of the Life for Paris victims’ group, told the French newspaper Le Parisien “us, the victims, are not seeking revenge ... but a desire for justice.” Al-Baghdadi’s death is “symbolically is a major blow to the operational capacities” of the IS group, he said. “It is essential to continue the fight for the security of the region and also of European countries,” Denouveaux added.
WORKING DOG RECOVERING AFTER RAID WASHINGTON Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump yesterday outed a military working dog that tracked down the head of the Islamic State. Trump tweeted a photo of a Belgian Malinois that he said worked with a team of special forces in the capture of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a tunnel beneath a compound in northeastern Syria. The name and other details about the dog remain a secret. “We have declassified a picture of the wonderful dog (name not declassified) that did such a GREAT JOB in capturing and killing the Leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi!” the president tweeted. Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, told reporters that the animal “performed a tremendous service” in the Saturday night raid. Al-Baghdadi set off an explosion that killed himself and three children and apparently wounded the dog. Milley said the dog was “slightly wounded” but is now recovering and has returned to duty with its handler at an undisclosed location. He and Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US is protecting the dog’s identify by keeping any information about the canine classified for now. “We are not releasing the name of the dog right now,” Milley said. “The dog is still in theatre.”
PAGE 12, Tuesday, October 29, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Cheers to fine art
BAHAMAS National Trust Wine and Art Festival. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff