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VOLUME:115 No.02, NOVEMBER 22ND, 2017
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Sir Durward Knowles A Tribune publication
SIR DURWARD KNOWLES: SPECIAL TRIBUTE SUPPLEMENT INSIDE
‘Baha Mar’s open, that’s the priority’
Newbold defends Minnis’ position after PLP attack By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis does not intend to apologise for his shifting position on Baha Mar or for criticising the former Christie administration’s handling of the project, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold said yesterday. Months after claiming he would initiate a “real sale” of Baha Mar once elected, Dr Minnis attended a lavish ceremony on Friday to mark the opening of the SLS, the latest significant development at Baha Mar since the Christie
administration’s controversial efforts to get the resort open. Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis told The Nassau Guardian Monday that Dr Minnis was a “hypocrite” for praising Baha Mar’s current owners and for not acknowledging that he was wrong about the resort’s fate while he was in opposition. Mr Newbold said “absolutely not” when asked if Dr Minnis believes he should apologise for his handling of the Baha Mar matter as Mr Davis wants him to.
PRESS Secretary Anthony Newbold has defended Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis from criticism that he makes too many premature announcements, saying Dr Minnis is entitled to “make statements that he feels are appropriate for him to make,” including about major matters not yet discussed with his Cabinet colleagues”. His statement came during the weekly press briefing as
he was pressed on whether Dr Minnis too often speaks about major initiatives before ensuring that key details are fleshed out. There have been unanswered questions about several of the administration’s plans that Dr Minnis has announced since the May 10 general election. Weeks since he announced his intention to turn Ragged Island into a green island, for instance, details of this have been scant and the cost of the project is unknown. SEE PAGE SIX
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net FOREIGN Affairs Minister Darren Henfield forecast border security challenges will increase as the United States terminates the temporary status of some 59,000 Haitian refugees over the next two years. The temporary protected status allowed Haitian refugees to live and work in America following the 2010 earthquake that decimated the country. SEE PAGE THREE
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter Sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
N W O T E H T T N I PA
E G N ORA
...TO END THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE By FELICITY INGRAHAM MINISTER of Social Services & Urban Development Lanisha Rolle announced her intention to lead a national campaign to end gun and gang violence. Mrs Rolle made the commitment as she addressed the Zonta Club, which is leading a charge to “paint the town orange” to speak out against acts of violence this week. Members of Zonta tied orange ribbons and bows in the Pinewood Gardens and Cable Beach
Covering The Bahamas for 40 years.
US ACTION ON HAITIANS WILL AFFECT BAHAMAS
USAGE DOWN BUT POWER BILLS GO UP
SEE PAGE SIX
‘WHAT PM SAYS IS UP TO HIM’ By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE ZONTA Club is pictured as they draped Pinewood Gardens with lovely orange ribbons for domestic violence awareness. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Olympic legend celebrates centenary
communities Declaring yesterday as her desire to part of the see the nation United Nations’ “change the 16 days of culture of activism acceptance against genof acts of vioder-based lence,” Mrs violence. The Rolle said: group’s “Say “As minisNo To Vioter, I intend lence Against to lead efforts Women and to implement LANISHA ROLLE Girls” camand execute a paign is transformative worldwide and in The agenda of programmes Bahamas, members used focused on the elimithe opportunity to speak nation all forms of to motorists and resi- violence.” dents about the issue of SEE PAGE TWO violence in the country.
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IRATE Bahamas Power and Light customers yesterday railed against the electricity provider for an increase in their power bills despite claims that less electricity was used. Several angry consumers vented their frustrations on Facebook, with several people threatening to organise a protest in front of the company’s headquarters on Baillou Hill Road. SEE PAGE THREE
TEN POSITIVE FOR TB AT RM BAILEY By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net TEN people, eight staff members and two students, have tested positive for tuberculosis at R M Bailey Senior High in New Providence, Health Minister Dr Sands confirmed yesterday. SEE PAGE FIVE
STIFLING THE PRESS WON’T GET THE JOB DONE, DR MINNIS
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Wednesday, November 22, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
PAINT THE TOWN ORANGE...TO END THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE
from page one She called for Bahamians to not only “say no” to violence, but to also “show no” to those who continue to show no regard for the rights and lives of others. “History has already demonstrated that it is simply not enough to say no - we must show no. When we show no, we demonstrate a commitment and resolve to stand up against violence of every kind.” “We must challenge ourselves to take deliberate steps to transform the thinking of society.” The Department of
Gender and Family Affairs, the Domestic Violence Unit, Counseling and the Child Protection Unit of her ministry will work with churches, NGOs, other government ministries and corporate Bahamas to execute an effective national campaign to stomp out the scourge of violence, she said. The ministry will be “promoting advocacy initiatives and giving oversight on the detection and prevention of violence in the country,” Mrs Rolle told Zontians as she addressed Zion Baptist Church on Sunday. She called for an end to the acceptance of violent behavior in the homes
ZONTA Club members draped Pinewood Gardens with orange ribbons for domestic violence awareness. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Each shoe will represent a where the first life lessons are learnt, noting that there life lost to violence. A previously reported exists a “culture of violence in too many Bahamian University of The Bahamas study showed that 58.1 per homes.” As Zonta painted the town cent of male students and orange yesterday, members 32 per cent of female stuasked the public to par- dents felt that it is “okay ticipate in the “Walk in My for men to hit their women” Shoes” event this Saturday and in some cases, “the at Arawak Cay from 10am- women were to blame,” 6pm. Bring lightly-worn used Mrs Rolle noted. Children must be taught or new shoes to the event from noon to 5pm as a part right from wrong from a of the drive, and shoes will be tender age, she said, and donated to various charities. must have good examples of acceptable behavior in their homes. Once a sensitivity to the subject is established It is imperative therefore, must be prepared to profrom primary straight through to high school, she she said, for people to speak vide more temporary safe feels that the country stands up and speak out and “say houses for victims of vioa better chance of turning no” any time they see acts lence where necessary, of violence starting from provide counselling, and around troubling statistics. “We must show that there the home and extending to we must also take an holisis no excuse for violence. schools, communities, and tic approach by providing rehabilitative services to We must report violators the country. “Showing no means assist offenders. promptly to authorities; “Violence against women and when that authority turning up to court to give does not respond timely evidence against violent and girls cannot be toleror appropriately, we must perpetrators; telling others ated and so we will say no report their conduct to about the violent and unre- and show no,” she declared. “My ministry plans to another authority until our morseful proclivities of a former partner; and sympa- play an instrumental role cry for help is heard.” “We must show no to this thise and support those who in promoting the legislaunhealthy trend of thought find themselves as victims tion to protect persons from all forms of violence and begin promoting an of violence.” Insensitivity also exists against any gender and any organised exchange of information to sensitise persons against victims, she said, member of the family.” Reverend T G Morrison to the dangers of accept- noting that sometimes ing and condoning violent people comment that an gave the sermon, calling individual would only stay for Bahamians to remembehavior,” Mrs Rolle said. Mrs Rolle recalled some in an abusive relationship if ber that “we declare this a Christian country” and that recent tragedies in the they want to. In response, she shared if citizens live by Christian nation’s capital, including the shooting of “a baby the comments of two vic- values, violence would be at home in Bain Town,” 8 tims who made these curbed. Zonta is also inviting year-old Eugene Woodside remarks at a recent event: who was doing homework “Don’t tell me how easy it the public to a town hall when he was shot and is to leave an abusive rela- meeting to discuss viokilled, and the recent shoot- tionship if you have never lence against women and ing of a parent in a school been in one” and “But for girls on Tuesday, November 28, at 6.30pm at Jones yard at St Francis Xavier the grace of God go I.” Mrs Rolle advised: “We Communications. Primary School.
POLICE HUNT TWO IN MURDER PROBES THE Royal Bahamas Police Force is asking the public for help in locating two men who they believe can help in ongoing murder investigations. The first is 23-yearold Michael Newland, of Montel Heights. He has a dark brown complexion, is 5’8” to 5’10” and of slim build. The second man is 24-year-old Byron Bradley Demeritte, of Garden View Estates. He has a dark brown complexion, slim build and is about 5’11” to 6’. Anyone with information is asked to called police at 919, 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.
MICHAEL NEWLAND, above, and Byron Bradley Demeritte.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, November 22, 2017, PAGE 3
US action on Haitians will affect Bahamas from page one Speaking to reporters outside of the Churchill Building yesterday, Mr Henfield also classified Haitian migrants entering The Bahamas illegally as “economic refugees,” saying it was likely the country’s immigration problem would outlive current policymakers. Mr Henfield said the government was working to organise a mission to Haiti to broker talks on migration challenges, which he thinks should work in tandem with joint economic initiatives. He advocated a multi-faceted approach with greater collaboration from the Haitian government moving forward; however, he made it clear that he fully
supported enforcement of the country’s laws when it came to illegal landings. “We empathise with Haiti and the conditions in Haiti are still the poorest country in the hemisphere,” he said. “I think people are required to live on less than a $1.23 a day, circumstances are not good but these are the times in which we live in, these are the issues that we face. “These situations must be looked at objectively when governments consider the circumstances of the case and I think Mr Trump is doing what he thinks is in the best interest of the United States, just as we in the government of The Bahamas are doing what we believe is in the best interest of our country.” Mr Henfield continued:
“We are still grappling with the issue of how do we curtail illegal landings on our border. It’s been going on for more than 50 years now. I suspect personally that more persons displaced in Haiti or moved or returned to Haiti will mean more challenges for us on the border. “It remains a viable option for them, so it falls upon us to police our borders and to negotiate with the Haitian government as best we can to see how best we can ameliorate the circumstances in the future.” It was announced by US Homeland Security on Monday that the Trump administration was ending the programme with an eviction deadline of July 2019 or face deportation. According to the New
York Times, the Haitian government asked the Trump administration to extend the protected status. On Monday, a spokesperson for Canada’s Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen told the CBC that while Canada remains an “open and welcoming country to people seeking refuge,” anyone entering Canada must do so “through the proper channels”. Yesterday, Mr Henfield said the US government did not advise the Bahamian government that it was taking this step, adding that it was a sovereign issue. He pointed to the government’s recent December 31 immigration deadline as a similar message to Haitians; however the Minnis administration had previously
stressed Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ ultimatum was intended for all nationalities here illegally. Mr Henfield said: “I don’t think they were aware we were taking similar action when we took actions that all Haitians living here illegally ought to return to their country voluntarily by the end of the year. I’m sure everybody is aware of the potential impact on The Bahamas but it was a sovereign decision taken by a sovereign country. We all reserve the right to do that. “The government of The Bahamas is considering a mission to Haiti where we will speak about the issue of immigration and the whole circumstances surrounding migration to The Bahamas. What we are seeing from Haiti are
basically economic refugees, economic migrants seeking a better way of life and so our approach must be more broad, not just about securing our borders but it should also involve other aspects of commercial activity maybe by Bahamians in Haiti. “It should include what the Haitian government is expected to do as a country with whom we share borders.” When asked by a reporter for his answer to the country’s immigration problem, he said: “If I had the answer to that I’d make a lot of money to tell the Europeans what to do, to tell the United States what to do. The issue of immigration I suspect will be ongoing long after we have departed this place.”
PLP TO REVIEW CONSTITUTION AHEAD OF NEXT ELECTION By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net ADMITTING the Bahamian electorate’s view of his party is often one of “cynicism”, Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis said he is confident an impending review of the PLP’s constitution will aid in rebranding the organisation in the lead-up to the next general election. He said the existing structure of the PLP’s constitution might have lent to a negative view of the party. Speaking during a press conference to announce the appointment of the party’s constitution committee yesterday, Raynard Rigby, who will chair the group, said the aim is to ensure the PLP maintains its core objectives, hopefully leading to a win in the next general election. He said the last time the opposition party engaged in a major review of its guiding principles was around 2005 or 2006. “I am very confident about that,” Mr Davis said in response to a question from The Tribune on whether the exercise could assist the party in looking
more favourable in the run up to the 2022 general election. “I think the perception out there is that the PLP had become over the years a sort of a closed shop and I think the structure of the constitution may have lent itself to that perception. I think that the first step of revisiting our constitutional mechanisms and structures is to show that we have become more inclusive and be more responsive to a contemporary Bahamian electorate.” Addressing those gathered at the press conference, Mr Davis said: “At critical junctures in our party’s history, we have rebranded, retooled and refreshed ourselves. The loss of May 10, 2017 and the subsequent national general convention of October 2017 present such opportunities. The party has undergone a series of analytical reviews. We hope to be able to share with the public some of those recommendations, once our internal procedures are done. In the meantime, however, work has begun.” Meanwhile, Mr Rigby outlined the scale of the
committee’s work. The former PLP chairman said: “We’ve not had a meeting yet, but I can foreshadow that what the committee will be doing is looking at the existing constitution, looking at the recommendations that we’ve already had presented at the run up to the last convention in October, and deciding how we are going to divide the work in terms of where the meetings will be, that is in New Providence, in Grand Bahama and Abaco. “[We also will be] speaking to important constituencies in the party - the Women’s Branch, Young Liberals, the National Progressive Institute and speaking to the leadership as well to get their views. So at the end of the day it’s going to be a process that is deep, that is thorough, that is embracing so that all voices in the party are heard and listened to.” In addition to Mr Rigby, the committee’s members include Deputy Chairwoman Attorney Jaqueline Simmons, Keenan Johnson, Cassietta McIntosh, Alexandra Hall, Joseph Curry, Tristan Lockhart, Terrence Bethel, Een
PHILIP “Brave” Davis, leader of the PLP, speaking yesterday at the PLP headquarters. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Colebrook, Mario Bannister, Joette Penn, Keith Seymour Esq, Paula Adderley, Neressa Seymour,
Ginger Moxey, Eva Bain, Lisa Major, Alex Storr, Marion Curry and Lashell Adderley.
USAGE DOWN BUT POWER BILLS GO UP from page one
When contacted for comment, BPL Chairwoman Darnell Osborne said she was unaware of an increase, however Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) President Paul Maynard said a combination of the reliance on the Blue Hills Power Plant as well as an increase in the fuel surcharge has led to the higher light bills. Mr Maynard insisted neither BPL nor the government could “absorb” the financial blow of fuel prices. “The increase this month is due to an increase in the
fuel surcharge, the price of fuel has gone up and we are using the most expensive fuel to run the the Blue Hills Plant,” Mr Maynard said. “Our minister has said that BPL has to go on its own, meaning the government is no longer subsidising BPL’s bills so it is being passed to the costumers. We have to pay for ourselves. “Clifton is unreliable and has been on and off for several months and until we get that fixed we are using the Blue Hills Plant as the primary power plant and it not only uses more fuel but is uses more expensive fuel, so that is
MAN HURT IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING A MAN is in hospital after he was injured by drive-by shooters on Tuesday. According to police, shortly before noon a man was walking on Providence Avenue in
CORRECTION
ON PAGE B10 in the Woman’s section from November 21, the caption for the second story, with the headline “Motivational speaker wants to give women the ‘WOW’ factor”,
Chippingham, when the occupants of a Nissan Cube approached and shot him before speeding off. The man was taken to hospital where he is detained in stable condition.
was incorrect. The caption belonged to the story above it. The correct caption should have read: Ria Newbold, founder of WOW Cultivators. The Tribune apologises for the mistake.
where the increase in the bills comes from. The bills will continue to increase unless things change very soon.” However, Mr Maynard said he believes the company’s new Chief Operating Officer Christina Alston, a Bahamian who most recently served as director of supply chain services for Georgia Transmission Corporation, will turn around the struggling electricity provider. “She has a lot of zeal and she seems to know what needs to be done. She came with a plan and rolled her sleeves up as soon as she came,” he said. “She dove right in and
the staff are optimistic that she will get things done, we believe she will turn this company around.” Meanwhile, angry customers vented on the company’s social media page demanding answers for the higher bills. “It is so sad and as Bahamians we are so complacent. We just complain and do nothing about it. It takes action for things to change. Why not on a Saturday morning everyone who feel that their electrical bill is too high get their children and family members to march in front of the BPL office for two hours - that would send a message to both them and the
government,” one person wrote. Another said: “Our light bill for the month was $885 and last month it was $450. I asked if we’re running a mall. There’s no way a bill can jump from $450 to $885 in two months. Bahamas Power and Light Company Limited this is ridiculous.” In July, after a significant increase in power bills because of a fuel surcharge increase, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister said the government cannot continue to absorb the cash strapped utility provider’s expenses. Mr Bannister told The Tribune that BPL has a “huge legacy debt” and
The committee has been given a deadline of June 2018 to report to party executives.
unfortunately the cost will have to be passed on to the public “directly or indirectly”. He was responding to the Central Bank of The Bahamas’ monthly report that revealed BPL’s fuel charge increased by 8.3 per cent to 13.7 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) on a monthly basis, and by 49.7 per cent when compared to May 2016. In a statement earlier this year, BPL explained that an increase in bills for the month of May was also caused by its reliance on engines at the Blue Hills Plant, which uses more expensive fuel than the Clifton Power Station.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, November 22, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
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A Prime Minister who waded beyond his depth PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, invited to address the third annual Press Club’s awards banquet Saturday night, seemed to know more about the workings of the foreign press than the achievements of the Bahamian journalists sitting in front of him. At last, Bahamian journalists had grown, not only in numbers over the years, but were now sufficiently confident to form their own club, hold annual events to recognise the achievements of their colleagues and present awards. And so it was no wonder that Bahamas Press Club President Anthony Capron felt that the Prime Minister should have been “more gracious” in his keynote address to them. The Prime Minister did not even seem to know that the education of young Bahamian journalists, whose abilities he was criticising, was only made possible under his own party when Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham replaced the repressive PLP regime under the late Sir Lynden Pindling. Although Prime Minister Minnis at least recognised that Bahamian journalists must take on “multiple roles given the number of reporters and limited resources” he still found it “surprising that some who serve as editors also regularly write or offer commentary. This is not a practice that would be allowed by journalists in other countries. I am not speaking here of editorial writing,” he said. What an absolutely dumb observation — almost as dumb as the conversation we had with the late Prime Minister Pindling when we tried to convince him of the need for a work permit for an experienced foreign journalist who could help educate our young Bahamian staff. Sir Lynden tried to convince us that anyone who could write could be a reporter. For example, he said, the late John Taylor, a brilliant Bahamian dramatist, could easily be turned into a good reporter. John, who later became a minister of religion, got a great laugh out of that one. Although, he could write drama, he himself admitted he could never qualify as a journalist — nor had he the inclination to even try. The conversation with Sir Lynden and his complete lack of knowledge of journalism – although he foolishly tried to pretend that he was an authority on the subject — reminded us of a reply to an application we received to an advertisement we had published in The Tribune to try to find local journalists. The applicant tried to convince us that because she had beautiful penmanship, she was just the candidate we were looking for in our news room. We tried another tack. We arranged a meeting with a PLP immigration minister with a proposal to send some of our young journalists to a certain overseas newspaper for training. In return, the newspaper would send an equal number of their trained journalists to fill the empty chairs in The Tribune’s newsroom. The Minister thought it was a capital idea. The only hitch, he did not think that Sir Lynden and his colleagues would like foreigners writing about them. And so that idea hit the ground. It seemed that no matter which way we turned we could not get our staff trained — Sir Lynden and the PLP wanted a quick end to The Tribune, and they did it behind closed doors out of the sight of the public through the rejection of work permits for competent staff to train our inexperienced journalistic hopefuls. We had to put out a daily newspaper with an untrained staff. In those early
days every bit of copy that crossed our desk had to be rewritten as we rushed to meet the deadline of the waiting press. It was not easy. Eventually we had a breakthrough. One year, we were allowed one permit for a British journalist. Instead of putting him in our newsroom, where he was desperately needed, we opened one side of our building for a school. There he was not only to teach our staff, but other aspiring journalists were invited to join. We paid them all a small weekly stipend. In those days, we were an afternoon newspaper and so on Saturdays when we published they came into our newsroom to try going out on interviews and writing their reports. The late Eugene Dupuch, QC, after whom the Eugene Dupuch Law School is named, lectured them on Defamation. They were taken to sit in on the courts and try their hand at reporting there, they attended parliament. They also learned shorthand. Before the year was up, they were publishing their own little newspaper. But at the end of the year, the renewal of the English journalist’s work permit was refused. The school closed. Dr Minnis’ common sense should tell him that in the UK and the USA there is such a large pool of experienced journalists from which to recruit and the financial resources of the large newspapers are such that, or course, they will employ staff for each separate position and one will not encroach upon the position of the other — although they have the ability and training to do so if required. In The Bahamas, with so few qualified journalists, they have to be versatile in their writing. Wherever the need, they fill in when required. Dr Minnis said he found “better reporting in our daily newspapers in the business sections, where the writers report in more detail on critical issues, which will have a significant and long-term impact. It is telling that the headlines in the business sections are not tabloid in nature,” he said. Other than Neil Hartnell of The Tribune, an experienced journalist with a BA degree in Economics and Journalism, who has a Bahamian reporter under him, most of the news in the Business section is produced by the Associated Press with staff reporting from all ends of the globe. Dr Minnis seems to have an aversion to tabloids, not knowing that all tabloids are not sleaze. In Europe they massively outsell the broadsheets – delivering content in a manner which the majority of the public prefer. Why even the old “Thunderer” — The Times of London – has gone tabloid in format. It had been printed in broadsheet for 219 years, but switched to compact size in 2014 in an effort to appeal to the younger reader and commuters using public transport. However, the Sunday Times remains a broadsheet. Unfortunately, although Dr Minnis tried his best, for those of us in the profession we know that on Saturday night he had waded beyond his depth and did not understand the problems in his own country. We congratulate Press Club president Anthony Capron and his club for a job well done — as an aging part of them, we know that it is not easy. Also congratulations to Anthony “Ace” Newbold on his appointment as the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary. We respect Mr Newbold as a fearless newsman, who will tell it like it is. We hope he tries to lengthen the prime minister’s vision.
Explain VAT payment EDITOR, The Tribune. AFTER a visit to the United States culminating with a Customs inspection, I find I need a lesson on VAT as it relates to Customs Duty. After a smooth flight with Bahamas Air, following a harrowing experience with security at Miami airport, I thought I would have no further problems. However, while having my duty worked out by the very pleasant customs officer I heard the word VAT mentioned and I questioned how
VAT could be charged on customs duty when duty was neither goods nor services. I received an answer to the effect that customs officers did not make policy, they merely carried out policy. However, when I was told that after claiming my exemption and taking into account my non-dutiable items my duty was $36 but my VAT charges were $109, naturally I needed an explanation. I was then told that the VAT charge was not based on the duty but on
the total amount I spent. Hold on, I said, but I paid sales taxes in Florida why am I paying sales taxes again under the guise of VAT? The same explanation relating to policy was given. So I paid the duty and the VAT. But, I want someone to explain to me why VAT is being charged either on duty or under the guise of sales taxes because I am totally confused. JEANNE THOMPSON Nassau, November 11, 2017.
Clean up our streets EDITOR, The Tribune. GARBAGE - seems the never end to it and a horrific costs to the Treasury to clean up and then be faced in days with further littering. NB12 showed a News item where two men reported they had cleared up an area and revisited the same cleaned area a day or so later only to find piles of garbage on the same spot. (1) All garbage has some form of identification - do the due diligence of sorting through and you will know who to charge and who will be required to clean up the mess. (2) As seemingly the cleaned spots are favourite dropping spots surely common sense tells you position a large container size dumpster there and allow people who wish to get rid of garbage to drop it off and organise regular pick ups. You will save thousands I suggest. (3) The Police need to be more attentive - everyone sees people dropping garbage and even the refrigerator - appliance - front room furniture,
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net etc, these people must be prosecuted and part of the Court fine must be they pay for the cleaning up of where they littered. If it is a business - two strikes that can prejudice your Business Licence (puts some beef in the punishment) and if you lose your Licence make it difficult to get a new one under a different Company name. (4) Drive along Cable Beach you see daily the professionals heading to the dump but their loads are not secured or covered ... don’t wish to name, but next time I will. Sheets of plywood - half a sheet of reinforcing mess on West Bay last week right off the top of one of those large waste containers - lucky no one got hurt. (5) Beaches - all need medium to large sized dumpsters which will be collected after every holiday or week-end and returned. 50 gallon drums are too small. Surely the Police can
pass by on week-ends and holidays late afternoon and police that people are not leaving their garbage behind them - instant fine of $250.00 Editor ... pay by the next day or head to Court where the fine could be as high as $850.00. Of course all of these issues are only relevant if we, Joe Public are interested? I honestly have my doubts that the majority are and that’s the problem. Expensive Government clean-ups are a total waste of Treasury money. Town Planning - Building Control of Public Works when you drive around and see Infractions with commercial vehicles parked on residential lots and threefour-five-six old vehicles on lots in sub-divisions surely you can prosecute the owners? Fortunately most visitors do not travel outside of the mega resorts but what about us who live here? Have some pride in your neighbourhood people – just a little pride! W THOMPSON Nassau, November 19, 2017.
The week that was EDITOR, The Tribune. DOING business in The Bahamas - Doc appoints a high powered committee on the perception it is difficult doing business BUT listening to the GM/President of that new mega Resort hell The Bahamas is the best place on the globe to do business? Have a Committee to investigate what? Wonder what his secret is? By the way, sir - always thought a campus was at a University or College not a resort? Inaugural BahamasAir flight to Houston - fanfare all right for those on the flight but for the passenger waiting for their scheduled 737 jet flight to Ft Lauderdale it was one long long wait with no explanation. I guess what the Chair of BahamasAir
and his cohorts forgot that there was a scheduled flight Nassau-Ft Lauderdale return using the same 737 they were flying free on to Houston! o apology no snack - no voucher· no water· not even an apology or reason, but we call this an historic day for BahamasAir! Thanks a lot to Mr Tommy T & Co, if I were Prime Minister on knowing this you would be fired. Arrogance, sir. The flight to Ft Lauderdale 202 was supposed to arrive at LPIA at 1.05pm. It arrived at 6.00pm. 250 Haitian migrants land close to Coral Harbour RBDF base - you listened to the Minister? Hey guy New Providence is 21x7 - you have lookouts at Yamacraw Beach hundreds of private pleasure boats sail up and down to
Exuma and not a soul saw anything? Migrants’ Rights - F Smith,QC would be correct if in the past 27 years we had enacted a comparable Law to the UNCHR Refugee Convention which we signed and subsequent protocols. There is no obligation for our Law Enforcement to ask whether the migrant wanted to claim refugee or political refugees status we can without even a Court hearing bundle them off back to Cuba and Haiti once arrangements are completed. 27 years and we ain’t passed any Law obviously we never had any intent, but sign The Convention. ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, November 19, 2017.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, November 22, 2017, PAGE 5
TEN POSITIVE FOR TB AT RM BAILEY from page one Speaking with reporters before heading into a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Dr Sands also revealed 235 people in Eleuthera had positive Mantoux tests and about “25 or so” have suspicious chest x-rays. The Mantoux is a skin test that can tell if a person has had exposure to TB. One person who was recently released from the Carmichael Road Detention Centre has also tested positive for TB and Dr Sands said his ministry is in the process of screening the people with whom he came into contact. Despite the positive tests, Dr Sands said there is no
reason to panic or be fearful. He said The Bahamas still has one of the lowest rates of TB in the world and the Ministry of Heath, along with the Department of Public Health, is working “hard to keep it that way”. “In Eleuthera we have completed screening on 2,000 persons and we found thus far that more than an 100 persons in that screening have positive Mantoux tests and some of those persons have suspicious chest x-rays,” he said. “Now I have to be very clear that suspicious x-rays does not necessarily mean TB, but it is more likely to be an active case and we are probably looking at 25 or so persons. When we now look at R M Bailey,
we have screened about 110 staff and teachers and we have begun the process of screening the children, so all together we have screened just about 400 thus far, and eight teachers and staff members have had positive tuberculin skin tests and two students have had positive tests thus far. We still have a significant number of students to test and to finalise the reading of the skin tests on those who were screened. “There is another case of an individual who has been in the Detention Centre for a number of years, who was discovered to have TB, and we are now in the process of educating and screening the persons with whom he has come in contact.”
DR DUANE SANDS, Minister of Health. Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff Dr Sands said there is “really nothing” people can do to avoid contracting TB and is encouraging the public to have better hygiene practices and to educate themselves on the virus. “The way you prevent TB is with appropriate public heath measures, screening and a level of etiquette as to how people behave when they cough and sneeze and how they discard tissue paper. If you sneeze in a crowded place block it with your arm,” he said.
“We have gotten to be not so good at these things. There is no bleach, no Dettol, no Lysol, no Savlon that you can clean the house that will reduce the likelihood of the spread of TB. We happen to enjoy one of the lowest rates of TB in the world and we want to keep it that way and so not withstanding that communication can be perceived as frightening, we are proud of our public health record and that The Bahamas ranks about 138th as it relates to other countries in terms of the amount of TB.”
TB is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. It is an infectious disease that generally affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections do not have symptoms. If left untreated when it becomes active, the disease kills about half of those infected, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Anyone with questions on TB is asked to call the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Unit at 376-1103, 376-3970 or 502-4705.
Retrial for man convicted of sex with boy By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE Court of Appeal has ordered a retrial for a man previously convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a boy as well as allegedly encouraging that boy to commit sexual acts with another boy. Appellate Justice Stella Crane-Scott, in a written ruling, ordered the appellant, referred to only as “SS” in the judgment, be retried in the Supreme Court “at an early date” after quashing his 15-year sentence for the illegal sexual acts he allegedly committed between December 2009 and December 2011. In the ruling, the appellate judge sided with the submissions of the appellant through his counsel, that the trial judge, Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs, failed to give an “adequate corroboration direction” to the jury regarding the circumstances of the case. Thus, she said, she is satisfied the trial judge’s corroboration direction was “woefully inadequate” and “amounted to an unreasonable exercise of the judge’s discretion”. According to the ruling, the appellant was previously charged over allegations that sometime between December 2009 and December 2010, he purposely encouraged the older boy, aged ten at the time, to commit sexual acts with the younger one, age six at the time, and that sometime between December 2010 and December 2011, he had sexual intercourse with the then ten-year-old. The accused pleaded not guilty to both offences. Nonetheless, on November 19, 2015, a jury convicted him of both offences and subsequently sentenced him to 15 years on each count to run concurrently from the date of his conviction. A notice of appeal was filed against his conviction
and sentence on November 24, 2015. Following a change in legal representation, the grounds of appeal were amended on January 16, 2017, and the appeal proceeded to a substantive hearing on January 31, 2017, on the basis of the amended grounds. Justice Crane-Scott noted in the ruling that at the hearing, SS’s attorney abandoned both grounds one and three, and his submissions thus proceeded on the basis of the six remaining grounds. However, she said it was unnecessary to “discuss” grounds four, five, six or eight, as she said grounds two and seven “will completely dispose of the appeal”. According to the ruling, ground two stated that the trial judge erred in law when he failed to give an adequate corroboration direction having regard to the circumstances, while ground seven stated that the verdict was unsafe and unsatisfactory having regard to the circumstances of the case. Regarding ground two, SS’s attorney Murrio Ducille complained that the trial judge erred in failing to give an adequate direction to the jury regarding the particular circumstances of the case, which he said were firstly that it was a sexual case, and secondly that the case was based upon the “uncorroborated evidence of a child complainant”. Mr Ducille further submitted that two Crown witnesses had, in the course of their testimony, both expressed “blatant animosity towards the appellant”. The ruling noted that while Mr Ducille accepted that corroboration is not required to secure a conviction for either offence, and further conceded that the trial judge did warn the jury about the danger of convicting on the uncorroborated, or unsubstantiated evidence of the child, the attorney contended that a “fuller, more robust warning” was warranted given the sexual nature of the case, as well as the animosity towards the appellant.
In particular, Mr Ducille complained that given the circumstances of the case, the judge should have warned the jury of “the special need for caution in relation to the evidence of the appellant’s ex-wife, as well as that of the child complainant, both of whom were witnesses whose evidence could have been tainted by what, he termed, an improper motive”. Thus, appellant’s attorneys submitted that in view of the inadequacy of the warnings and the other “misdirection and irregularities” identified in other grounds of appeal, the jury’s verdict was thus “unsafe and unsatisfactory” and that their client was not afforded a fair trial in contravention of Article 20(1) of the Constitution. At the trial, the Crown’s case against SS was based primarily on the oral testimony of a child complainant, called “Y” in the ruling, who was the younger of the two boys. According to the evidence, Y was ten years old at the date of the trial and was six years old on December 2010. Regarding Mr Ducille’s submissions that the evidence led during trial could have been tainted by an improper motive, Mr Ducille referred to a testimony at page 73 of the record which he suggested established that the mother of the two boys was a witness “who harboured a grudge towards the appellant” and in “respect of whom the judge ought to have given a stronger warning to the jury”. In deliberating on a disposition to the matter, Justice Crane-Scott noted in the ruling that apart from that particular excerpt, she was “satisfied” from a review of the mother’s evidence that she was a witness who “still harboured negative feelings” towards the appellant, all of which Justice CraneScott said “played out in the court below and in full view of the jury”. Justice Crane-Scott also said she was “completely satisfied” that the evidence led
during trial established that both Y and his mother were witnesses “who could have been motivated by improper motives” and who “had been shown to bear the appellant some grudge or ill-will”. Thus, she said she is satisfied that the trial judge’s corroboration direction was “woefully inadequate” and “amounted to an unreasonable exercise of the judge’s discretion”. Regarding ground seven, Justice Crane-Scott said based on her “foregoing review of the evidence” and her views on the “inadequacies” of the trial judge’s direction, it is “not difficult to see why, in the absence of a more robust corroboration direction and warnings, I am left with lurking doubts about the safety of the appellant’s conviction”. “The jury were faced with resolving the central issue in the case, namely, a clash of credibility between
a ten-year-old child and the appellant, both of whom had given sworn testimony in the court below,” the ruling said. “Given the nature of the case, without adequate corroboration directions and warnings, it is impossible to say that no actual miscarriage of justice has occurred. “Put another way, it is impossible to conclude with any degree of confidence that even if a proper direction were to have been given, the jury would inevitably have convicted. In my view, the appeal also succeeds on ground seven.” On the issue of whether or not to order a retrial, Justice Crane-Scott said in the ruling that she took into consideration the “expense and length of time” that ordering a new trial might involve, but does not anticipate that a retrial, if ordered, would last longer than five working days.
She also said she took into consideration the “ordeal” the appellant would have to undergo should a retrial be ordered, but said in the instance the words of Lord Diplock are applicable: “I think it is in the interest of the public, the complainant and (the appellant himself) that the question of guilty or otherwise be determined finally by the verdict of a jury, and not left as something which must remain undecided by reason of a defect in legal machinery.” “In summary, and for all the above reasons, I would allow the appeal, quash the appellant’s convictions and the associated sentences and order that the appellant be retried in the Supreme Court at an early date,” the ruling said. COA President Dame Anita Allen, as well as COA Justice Jon Isaacs, agreed with the decision.
PAGE 6, Wednesday, November 22, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
‘Baha Mar’s open, that’s the priority’ from page one
Mr Newbold also sidestepped questions about whether Dr Minnis thanks or credits the former Christie administration for efforts that have now resulted in the opening of the two of the hotels at Baha Mar. “I think when you ask about the prime minister
apologising for shifting his position, he’s never shifted his position for wanting Baha Mar to open and providing jobs for the Bahamian people,” Mr Newbold said at his weekly press briefing. “He always said so much of the assets of the Bahamian people are invested in this project, you better open this hotel man, so that Bahamians can benefit. There’s no need for the prime minister
to apologise.” Asked if Dr Minnis thanks the PLP for its efforts, Mr Newbold said: “He wants the hotel to open. There are any number of reasons that have been positive as to why the hotel has not been opened and the role the PLP administration played in that. The prime minister wants the hotel open. He does not intend to apologise to anyone nor feels he should
be apologising to anyone for wanting the assets of the Bahamian people to benefit them. “That’s the bottom line. The assets of Bahamian people are tied up in this property, so open it up and we could argue about a lot of things after that.” In March, Dr Minnis posted on his Facebook page that he would “engage and execute a real sale” of the Baha Mar resort “to a
qualified and respectable purchaser who believes in Bahamians,” should the FNM win the next general election. This statement came months after then-Prime Minister Perry Christie announced the official sale of Baha Mar to CTF BM Holdings, a subsidiary of CTFE last December, at the time stating the resort was set for a phased opening
beginning in April 2017, and a full completion by this fall. However, it was later revealed that Baha Mar’s Rosewood hotel is not expected to open until later next year. Ahead of the general election, Dr Minnis did not attend the soft opening of the Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar. At the time, the FNM called the Grand Hyatt’s soft opening “fake”.
‘WHAT PM SAYS IS UP TO HIM’ from page one
Mr Newbold said yesterday his last information on the matter is that Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) was “attempting to ensure that what they were supposed to do [in Ragged Island] is done properly and efficiently.” Dr Minnis also pledged in September to table a Mandatory Evacuation Bill in Parliament, but it has been ten weeks since his initial timeline for tabling of that bill, which has been missed. Mr Newbold admitted yesterday the bill has not been sent out for
consultation as Dr Minnis indicated it would. He could not say if the bill has as yet been drafted. There was also no action after Dr Minnis announced a June 30 deadline for dealing with politicians and high-ranking civil servants who failed to make their annual disclosures in accordance with the law. To this, Mr Newbold said Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) Chairman Myles Laroda informed officials prior to the June 30 deadline that all disclosures have been delivered. “The last information we got from the commission chairman was that I think
everyone had disclosed,” Mr Newbold said. “That was the last information up to that point. Whatever the deadline was, and it may have been June 30, my understanding was the members and those people who were obligated to disclose had done so. Again, I don’t know that that has changed.” However, this contradicts what Mr Laroda told The Tribune after the deadline passed. Mr Laroda, on July 12, said at least three people failed to file their disclosures in the time the prime minister allotted. Before yesterday, officials tended
to explain the inaction on this matter on the fact that the initial deadline coincided closely with the expiration date of board appointments. Mr Laroda has also said the PDC had problems meeting because of a mould issue in their office. “The prime minister makes statements that he feels are appropriate for him to make,” Mr Newbold said yesterday. “He will make statements sometimes without consulting with the Cabinet and he has a right to do that. There will be times when he will of course consult with Cabinet before he makes statements, but
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. he’s the prime minister, he can make statements.” Asked if it is important to announce plans that do not prompt more questions than answers - such as the administration’s agenda for expanding citizenship
rights - Mr Newbold said: “Whatever is brought out, there will always be more questions asked and raised. “Does he have to have it all spelled out at the moment that he makes a statement?”
DAVIS CRITICISES MINNIS ON PAY - DESPITE OWN ABOUT-FACE By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE changing his own position on a proposed raise for members of Parliament, Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday criticised Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for his change of position, saying Dr Minnis’ new tone seemed “convenient” and not grounded in principle. Mr Davis said the prime minister is correct in saying people have the right to change their minds, but the context of the change,
taking into account its possible impact, is important to consider. “First of all, he’s right to say that persons do have the right to change their minds,” Mr Davis told reporters at the PLP’s headquarters on Farrington Road yesterday. “But what is important is the context in which minds are being changed. You’re changing your mind and the impact it could have and the consequences for the change of minds. “And again, you ought to have some good reason grounded in principle and not convenience. “His change of mind or
heart seemed to be more convenient than principles when you look at his reasoning and I think therein lies the challenge when you have a leader that is more concerned about convenience than principle and that is what I read in his change of heart.” The Official Opposition leader was speaking to Dr Minnis’ comments reported by The Tribune on Monday, when he said: “If I am headed out east then somewhere I decide to turn around and head out west, am I wrong?” Dr Minnis made the statement when asked about his turnabout from
2014, when he was against salary increases for MPs as proposed by the Christie administration. At the time, Dr Minnis said if he were leader, the Free National Movement would not support any pay increase considering all the pain and suffering in the country. Mr Davis has also changed his tone on this issue. Following the prime minister’s announcement earlier this month of his intention to give MPs more money in the next budget cycle, Mr Davis told this newspaper the move was “overdue”. He said Dr Minnis should consider recommendations the former administration made rather than establish an entirely new committee to consider the matter. But the very next day, Mr Davis said his party does not support the prime minister’s proposition, stressing the personal needs of well off politicians should not come before assisting poor Bahamians. During the Christie administration’s last term, Mr Davis, then deputy prime minister was on
board with a pay increase for politicians, insinuating it would curtail corruption. In May 2014, when the former administration considered the matter, Mr Davis said: “(It would) remove the temptation for politicians to do things that are not right. Because if they (MPs) are earning a living by doing this, then there would be no need for them to do anything else, I think that’s what the Bahamian public has to understand.” The Minnis administration has been criticised heavily since the prime minister announced the proposal. Last week, Dr Minnis’ Press Secretary Anthony Newbold seemed to walk back the comment, saying a raise is dependent on an economic upturn. Absent from this debate over the last several weeks was further explanation from Dr Minnis, who was questioned about his proposal on Friday night on the sidelines of the opening of the SLS Hotel at Baha Mar. He said Friday: “Listen to me carefully. We look at things globally. We will have committees that will
review the entire public service, public service reform. A part of it will look at the salary scales of each minister, [this is] members of Parliament, prime ministers, corporations, etc. “It is unfair and you don’t carry what I [don’t] want you to carry. Carry this. It is unfair for some individuals to be [paid] half a million dollars a year and others getting paid $18,000. It’s unfair. That has to be corrected and that is why you need public service reform looking at the dire structure and correcting it so that individuals will receive what is due. “At the same time, in correcting [the sector] you look at the placement of individuals to ensure that they are placed in the right position because individuals’ performance are bad, not because they don’t want to work but they are misplaced. So that is all a part of public reformation.” Dr Minnis has painted the intended increase as a sensible development, especially in view of the substantial salaries the former Christie administration paid some contract workers in the past five years.
PAGE 8, Wednesday, November 22, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Stifling the press won’t get the job done, Dr Minnis W
E have a media and communications problem in The Bahamas. Some would have us believe this is a reflection of the competence and work ethic of journalists, avoiding their own responsibility. While I should not have been shocked, I was disappointed by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ speech, from start to finish, at this year’s Bahamas Press Club Awards. In it, he expressed great displeasure in the work of the press which is often a reflection of his performance. It is now abundantly clear he blames the press for his loss of popularity points, and that he has decided against self-reflection, or even being open to feedback on his positions, actions and inaction over the past six months. It is unfortunate he carried so much blame only to lay it at the feet of the people who do the critical work of keeping Bahamians informed. In his speech, Minnis — an obstetrician and gynecologist now serving as Prime Minister — attempted to tell journalists how to do their jobs.
He highlighted the “obligation to report on policy matters” and accused the press of reporting on “less substantial” stories he deemed to be much easier to cover. This is simultaneously laughable and infuriating, particularly when it seems near impossible for the press to obtain statements from at least one Minister. It was reported that RISE, the Conditional Cash Transfer project, was cancelled and it took days to get a rather generic statement that offered no insight. Minnis bragged about the appointment of a Press Secretary, but is there a real benefit to the Bahamian people, or does it allow Ministers and Members of Parliament to avoid the press and scapegoat a person who can offer no substantive comment without their direction? If the Press Secretary exists to limit or delay access to information, we can certainly do without that liability. Interestingly, Minnis encouraged journalists to “give their readers and viewers a more global perspective”. While it is beneficial to
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaking at the press awards.
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis with members of the media at the Bahamas Press Club Awards - where he had harsh words for the press, calling on them to report more on policy matters. know what is happening open eyes to possibilities or causes, so it is strange he national concern, sparking throughout the region and spark ideas which deviate would want the news to be movements to shift culture. The press cannot be all over the world, many from the norm — a norm more inspiring and posibenefits tive than the blamed for national Bahamians are barely able that reality of this sentiments about any govto keep up with national the elite. Journalists report According to country and its ernment administration, news; not because of incomgovernance. political party, or political petence or disinterest, but Minnis, “The on what is real, journal- what exists and We, the figure. because of the time-con- best Bahamian any of these bodies suming, energy-sucking ism criticises, what is verifiable. people, want orIf individuals are parstruggle to make ends meet. celebrates, and Tasked with work- inspires”. He It is not their job to read about ticularly concerned about the Freedom their image or their work, ing more than one job bemoaned to give us the of Information it is advisable for them because we’re not even the “negaand will to carry on. Act. We want to reflect on their words, talking about a living tivity to know what deeds and misdeeds and wage, meeting household cynicism” of It is not their is happening how they measure up to responsibilities, waiting for journalists, job to make us venturwith the RISE our demands. If they want unpredictable lengths of even program and to read and hear reports of time for buses that do not ing to say news feel good — or how people are good governance, the first run on a schedule or even reports are pre- bad — about accessing social step is to practice it. stay on route and exercising dictable. The the state of the services benFreedom of the press is financial and culinary crea- news, however, efits. We want real and trying to stifle or tivity to feed ourselves, who is not fiction. nation. Minnis to have access suppress it will not get the can really dig into compara- Journalists even noted report on what himself that to the bills job done. tive politics? being debated As the Prime MinisIf RISE is cancelled, is real, what in Parliament. ter said: “There are many jobs are lost, and the Prime exists and what journalists are We want to be wonderful and positive stoMinister is talking about is verifiable. It not to champion increasing pay for Members is not their job any organisations a part of the ries reported by the press, decision-makthough I sometimes believe of Parliament, most of us to give us the ing process. there can be even more.” would rather not delve into will to carry or causes. on. It is not This does Journalists could report international news. In fact, when we do dare their job to make us feel not mean, however, we do on the enactment of to talk about global affairs good — or bad — about the not want follow-ups on Marco’s Law. They could and make comparisons, state of the nation. Minnis stories that leave us with- report on the consultaparty operatives are quick even noted himself that out critical information tive process and passing in their attempts to shut journalists are not to cham- because no one is available of the highly anticipated down conversations that pion any organisations or to answer questions. It does Freedom of Information not mean we don’t want Act. They could report on to hear from the people the fulfilment of promises who have access to and a like term limits for Prime long-term relationship with Ministers. They could information, whether they report on positive, exciting, are bringing nothing but endorphin-inducing events, facts or offering further but they need to happen commentary as fellow citi- first. zens of this nation. It does It’s time to focus on not mean we will support making the news we want or condone a speech that reported. All Bahamian belittles or attempts to limit citizens, whether in the the people we depend on to Cabinet or Parliament or bring us information that, not, need to recognise our quite often, we would never role in the governance of get from the source. this country and immediNon-jokes about inti- ately cease the shirking of mate partner violence and personal, professional and the failure of MPs to dis- national responsibility. Do close are just two stories something newsworthy that heightened our aware- and then dare the press to ness of pervasive issues of ignore it.
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PAGE 10, Wednesday, November 22, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Teacher murder jury sees interrogation videos By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE trial of two men and a teenager accused of murdering former Queen’s College elementary teacher Joyelle McIntosh continued yesterday with video evidence of police interrogating two of the accused days after the incident occurred. During yesterday’s proceedings before Justice
Bernard Turner, jurors saw three videos submitted by the Crown involving police interrogation of two of the accused, Armando Sergeant and Johnny Mackey, concerning their involvement in the November 11, 2015, crime. In one video in particular, Sergeant was seen being taken on a ride in a police vehicle with three other officers on November 19, 2015, from the Wulff Road
Police Station to Kemp Road and ultimately Parkgate Road, where the incident occurred. Two medical officers stationed at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDSC) also took the witness stand and testified about examining the three accused individuals in the matter upon their respective admissions to prison between November 24 and 25 of 2015.
Yesterday’s proceedings victim was shot multiple are the latest in the murder times in her head and body. trial concerning the murder She later crashed into a wall of the fourth grade teacher. at the intersection of ParkIt is alleged the teenager, gate and Village Roads. who was 17 at the time of the All three have denied the incident, along with Sergeant allegations. of Kemp Road and Mackey, Viola Barnett and aka, Eagle Eye of Bonaby Akeyra Saunders represent Alley, attempted to rob the Crown. Sonia Timothy McIntosh at gunpoint of her represents the teenager, 2009 silver coloured Toyota while David Cash repreCorolla worth $6,000. sents Sergeant. Dorsey It is alleged that during McPhee represents Mackey. the failed carjacking, the The trial continues.
JOYELLE MCINTOSH
WITNESS SAYS HE WAS ONE OF FOUR IN SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net CROWN witness Virgil Hall continued his testimony in the Freeport Supreme Court on Tuesday, identifying himself as
one of the four masked men seen in surveillance video footage of the armed robbery and murder of a couple in Deadman’s Reef on the night of September 12, 2015. He claimed the other men in the video were
co-accused Allan Alcime, Paul Belizaire also known as “PJ,” and Devaughn Hall, known as “Short Man.” It is alleged Kevin Dames, the fifth co-accused, drove them to Deadman’s Reef on the night in question.
Belizaire, Devaughn Hall and Dames are on trial for armed robbery and the murder of Barry and Sheena Johnson, who were found shot dead at their triplex apartment in Deadman’s Reef on the morning of September 13, 2015. The Johnsons’ GMC truck and keys had been stolen. Alcime and Virgil Hall were initially arrested with the three men, but accepted plea deals in exchange to testify for the Crown, which later withdrew the murder charges against them. Both pleaded guilty to armed robbery and are serving time in prison. During cross-examination yesterday Virgil Hall said he cooperated with police after he was arrested because he did not want to be charged for something he did not do. Attorney Geoffrey Farquharson questioned Hall about a number of previous offences and incidents
dating back from 2012 to 2015, and suggested the witness knew how the system worked and had planned to make a deal with police once he was arrested. “At your record of the interview, you told police you would cooperate with them?” Mr Farquharson asked. “I ain’t getting charge for no murder, for something I ain’t do,” replied Hall. “If someone trying to pin something on you… you ain’t gon tell the truth?” Mr Farquharson suggested the statement Hall gave to police was not his own and that police had written it and told him to sign it. Hall denied the suggestion and stated police wrote down what he told them. Mr Farquharson then questioned Hall about the working arrangement between him and his friend Alcime. The lawyer asked: “You
were fixing cars together, you were his helper?” Hall agreed they were partners and worked together on cars at Alcime’s house. “You were thieving people’s cars and chopping them up,” suggested Mr Farquharson. The witness denied they were running a chop shop and said they repaired cars. Mr Farquharson suggested when Alcime received a call from “Short Man” about another job for them to do, Virgil Hall knew it was not about fixing a car. The witness explained Alcime visited him after work and told him “Short Man” had a job for them, which he thought was about fixing a car. On their way to Devaughn Hall’s house, he said Alcime told him it was about robbing some ‘drug boy’ of $2m. The trial continues.
Semi-Military Funeral Service for R/Cpl. 1092 ALTON “Tibbs” VIRGIL, 64 of #17 Silver Palm Lane, Sea Breeze Estates and formerly of San Salvador, will be held on Thursday, November 23rd, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, West Street. Officiating will be Monsignor Simeon Roberts assisted by Deacon Danny Price. Interment will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens and Mausoleums, John F. Kennedy Drive & Gladstone Road. Loving memories will linger in the hearts of his beloved WIFE: Diann Virgil; DAUGHTERS: Jaomi and Ashly Virgil and Khrishna Russell (Dwayne); MOTHER: Adline Virgil; BROTHERS: David (Carolyn), Presly (Pethrel) and Hansel Virgil (Jestina); SISTERS: Telzena Young of South Carolina, Lillian Rolle, Hester King (Lawrence), Retired Chief Petty Officer Shari Lynn and Mahalia Virgil, Frozena Perry and Andrea Pierre of West Palm Beach and Elva Lorandos (Don); ADOPTED BROTHERS: George Armbrister, Leon Gibson, Henry Romer, Richard Ross, Frederick Anthony, Raymond Daniels, Sterling Rigby, Emerson “Bolo” Andrews, Obediah Goodman Carrington McIntosh and Randy Burrows of Atlanta; ADOPTED SISTERS: Druicilla Malcolm, Joyanne Knowels, Betty Poitier, Velda Knowles, Verl Davis, Tracey Steele, Angela Johnson, and Naomi Nahara; UNCLES: Anvil Lightfoot, David and Edwin Lightbourne, Edley Gaitor, Nesbitt Ferguson and Jeffrey Saunders; AUNTS: Stephanie Saunders, Hazel Edgecombe, Valdrie Virgil, Lilla Mae Gaitor, Rose Newton, Andrea Sturrup, Carolyn Major, Florence Para, Gladys Moss, Majorie, Patricia and Joan Lightbourne, Adrana Este, Edith and Carolyn Saunders and Manenchia Clarke (Herbert); BROTHERS-IN-LAW: George Cooper, Retired Petty Officer Wayne (Dazelle), Kenrid, Timothy, Kendall (Christine), and Tony Munroe (Pamela) of North Carolina; SISTERS-IN-LAW: Pauline Winder (Burgess), Merle Jones (James) of Philadelphia, W/Superintendent Cleomi Cooper-Saunders (Rory), Michelle and Debra Munroe, Yvanda Rolle (Michael), and Rosemary Whylly (Lionel); NEPHEWS: Robert Mason, Christopher Young, Lenny and Demetrius Rolle, Diogenes, Devaughn Tremaine and Elexio Virgil, Lawrence “Lavan” King, Alton Solomon, Isaac Perry, Ian and Dalaino Morley, Cruzando Mortimer, Gino and De’Angelo Pierre, Trae Lorandos, Rajiv Anthony, Jermaine Johnson, Gino Bullard, Joey Angelo Kemp, Cody Dean, Jameal Sands, Marlon and Garmal Cooper, Dion of Atlanta, Neil of Barcelona and Paul Winder, James and George Jones and Ryan Cauthorn of Philadelphia, Santeno, Cheamond, P/C 3956 Wayne ”Laron”, P/C 3819 Wayne, Kenrid JR. and Cordell Munroe, Marine Seaman Denzel and Delmaro Bullard; NIECES: Beverly Harris, Reva Young of South Carolina, Sophia Kemp, Bernadette Rolle, Fabia Johnson, Candice Bowe, Shonel and Raquel of West Palm Beach, Georgette, Preska, Lesette, Leshima and Magen Virgil, Afton Bullard, Peadra Dean, Shantique Curtis, Shakera Johnson, Chole and India Lorandos, Lakishma Cooper, Usha Jones, Joanelle Bowe, Tamara Pierre, Nicole Winder, Ikea Jones and Joy Cauthorn of Philadelphia, Simone, Latara and Dianthus Munroe; COUSINS: Maria Forbes and family, Florinda Williams and family, Cora Clarke and family, Maxine Burrows and family, Cedric and Luela Pratt and family, Yvonne Williams and family, Vann Gaitor and family, Archie Nairn and family, Blossom Lightfoot, Nicole Lightfoot, Charles, Margo, Marsha and Merna Virgil, Michaela Virgil-Storr, Michelle Lundy, Pamrekia Ferguson, Asa Ferguson and family, Carolyn Coakley and family, Dorothy Lockhart, Telzena Coakley, Bertle, Arlington and Norman Lightfoot and family, Erma Delancy and family, Dorothy Major and family, Matthew, Ezra, Erle, Patrick, Ephraim, Leonard Davis and family, Sanchia Davis-Meadows and family, Barbara Tynes and family, Gregory Daxon and family, Lavette Smith and family, Steven Daxon and family, Mamilee Daxon and family, Anya Saunders, Monique Baton and family, Rose Scott and family, Alfred Saunders, Gerrard Saunders and Daphane Saunders; GODCHILDREN: Javan Goodman, Nadia Armbrister, and Danielle Carey; OTHERS RELATIVES AND FRIENDS: Pamela Storr and family, Rosemary Hunt and family, Lilly Knowles and family, Eula Edwards and family, Clarice Gibson and family, Jessica Bowe and family, Lanette Bain and family, Daphane Styles and family, Raquel Forbes and family, Harry Geoffe and family, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander and family, Clifton Fernander and family, Brad Forbes and family, Keith Forbes and family, Linc Scavella, Hon Philip “Brave” Davis, Father Simeon Roberts and St. Cecilia’s church family, St. Cecilia’s choir and Mens’ group, NBK #3 Koinonia family, San Salvador family, Eleuthera family, Cat Island family, Ragged Island family, Fourth Street family, Gerrad and Doris Burrows and family, Princess Margaret Hospital family, Royal Bahamas Police, the 1971 Graduating Class of “The” Government High School, the 1975 Graduating Class of Prince William High School, Mission Baptist Church, Grove Holiday family, Turning Point family, Ed & Bevvie Curling, William & Constance Rahming, Rev. Dr. Ivan F. & Joan Butler, Justice Donna Newton, Pastor Leroy “Tinkle” (Melody) Hanna, Rev. Dr. R. E. Cooper Jr. and family, Mary Walker, Greg Solloway and Edward “Ed” Whan III, of Florida, University of the Bahamas, Bank of The Bahamas (LAD), Scotia Bank (BSLU), Deanne and Denrea Johnson, Superintendent Hinds, Superintendent Walter Evans, Chief Superintendent Craig Stubbs, Superintendent Skippings, Chief Superintendent Juanita Colebrooke, Silver Palm Lane family. Viewing will be held in the Serenity Suite at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Roads on Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until service time.
FUNERAL SERVICE FOR MR. WENDELL CARVER GRANT, 85 of #19 Santa Maria Drive, Freeport, Grand Bahama and formerly of Nassau, New Providence, will be held on Friday, November 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at The Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King, East Atlantic Drive and Pioneer’s Way, Freeport, Grand Bahama. Officiating will be Archdeacon Harry Bain, assisted Rev. Marie Roach-Hepburn. Cremation will follow. Wendell Carver Grant is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 55 years: Veronica Delores Grant (née Turnquest); His children: Dr. Ilsa Camille Grant, Wendell ‘Robin’ Carver Grant II, Wende Nicole Hanna (Brian); His Grandchildren: Lester Calvin Taylor, Kelly Beatrice Taylor, Maya Alexi Grant, Brian Morgan Hanna, Cole Ashley Hanna, Chase Wilton Hanna; His Aunt: Lottie B. Albury and family of Washington D.C.; Brothers-in-Law and Sisters-in-Law: Andrew Conliffe, Sir Orville Turnquest, Roberta (Basil) Sands, Frederica (George) McCartney, Gurth Ford, Dr. Jean Turnquest, Archbishop Patrick Pinder, Rev. Samuel Pinder (Gayle), Leslie (Luis) Archbold, V. Antoinette Miller; Nieces and Nephews: O.H. Michael Smith (Susan), Andrea GrantJames, Kathleen Grant, Austin H. Grant III (Portia), Robert Grant (Lovern), Joy Rolle (Colby), Rodericka Albury (Prince) and family, Jean Turnquest, Cyprian Turnquest (Cheri) and family, Caryl Lashley (Charles) and family, Michele Fields (Edward) and family, O.A. ‘Tommy’ Turnquest ( Shawn) and family, Robert ‘Sandy’ Sands (Michelle) and family, Diane Stewart and family, Dr. Basil Sands and family, Renee Lockhart and family, Dr. Duane Sands and family, Donna Adderley and family, Bryan McCartney and family, Pamela McCartney and family, George McCartney, Gurth ‘Jack’ Ford and family, Mark Ford, Kimberley Miller, Vanessa Hall (Antonio), Larry Kirton (Josie) and family, Kenny Kirton and family, Karen Orange (Darryl) and family, Tai Archbold, Josette Archbold, Dr. Rose Archbold (Fred), Michael Archbold (Devin), Tanya Robinson, Farouk Pinder, Gayon Pinder, Indira Johnson (Taleco), Samantha Pinder, Atara Pinder, Erica Pinder, Helga Knowles (Solomon), Paul Cartwright, Robert Cartwright; Grand Nieces and Nephews: Owen Smith, Melissa Thompson (Ian), Jamel Grant, Aaron Butler, Justin Adderley, Gabrielle Conliffe, Gianna Conliffe, Deniqua Sargent, Meagan Johnson, Ashton Russell, Aisha Grant, Austin Grant IV, Aerik Grant and Robert Grant II. Predeceased by his siblings: Erma Grant-Smith, Austin H. Grant II (Anne), Pearl Grant, Claudia Conliffe 7 Cousins: Merlene Smith, Rachel Edwards, Verdell Mills, Douglas Grant, Gerry Cumberbatch, Vienna Johnson, Jimmy Albury, and their respective families. Family & Friends: Dr. Timothy McCartney and Family, Carolyn Bartlett and Family, Louise Gibson, William T. Fauntroy Jr, Mavis Adderley, George Cox, George Edwards, Wilmore Brown, Sir Cyril Fountain (Alacia), Iris Knowles, Dr. Marcus and Chantal Bethel, Dr. Pamela Etuk, Orry J. Sands, Nigel & Stephanie Bowe, Joan Bowe McKay, Peter and Midlean Basden, Stanley Low, Kenny Basden, Llewelyn Parker and the Princess Country Club Golfers, Donald and Deborah Archer, Roger and Shirley Nixon, Eileen DeGregory and family, Terence Gape, Neko and Barbara Grant, J.M. and Laverne Pinder, T. Maitland Cates, Leroy Bell, Peter and Arlene Watson, Frederick and Tracey MacAlpine, Neil Johnson (godson), The Hanna Family, Gary Neilly, Marilyn Miller, Ruth Romer, Renata Outten, Victoria Pinder, Desrine Ferguson, the staffs of W. Carver Grant & Co. Ltd., Veronica D. Grant & Co., Entrepreneurial Services Limited, Kidney Center Limited, the Rotary Club of Lucaya, Canon and Mrs. Harry Bain and the Christ the King Church Family, Arawak Lodge #8877E.C., Delta Lambda Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Bahamas Institute of Professional Engineers, Dr. DuVaughn Curling, Yolanda Charlton, Marion Taylor, Ione Henley and her nursing team, and a host of other family, friends and colleagues too numerous to mention. Viewing will be held in the “Serenity Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Limited, #11-A Coral Road, Freeport, Grand Bahama on Thursday from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. and again at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until service time.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, November 22, 2017, PAGE 11
PAGE 12, Wednesday, November 22, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
ZIMBABWEANS celebrate outside the parliament building immediately after hearing the news that President Robert Mugabe had resigned. Photo: Ben Curtis/AP
MUGABE RESIGNS AS ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT HARARE, ZIMBABWE Associated Press
ZIMBABWE’S President Robert Mugabe, who once vowed to rule for life, resigned on Tuesday, succumbing to a week of overwhelming pressure from the military that put him under house arrest, lawmakers from the ruling party and opposition who started impeachment proceedings and a population that surged into the streets to say 37 years in power was enough. The capital, Harare, erupted in jubilation after news spread that the 93-year-old leader’s resignation letter had been read out by the speaker of
parliament, whose members had gathered to impeach Mugabe after he ignored escalating calls to quit since a military takeover. Well into the night, cars honked and people danced and sang in a spectacle of free expression that would have been impossible during his years in power, whose early promise after the end of white minority rule in 1980 was overtaken by economic collapse, government dysfunction and human rights violations. “My decision to resign is voluntary on my part and arises from my concern for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and my desire for a smooth, non-violent transfer of power,” Mugabe said.
TRUMP FAVOURS MOORE DESPITE CHILD MOLESTATION CLAIMS WASHINGTON Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday discounted allegations of sexual assault against Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore and said voters should not support Moore’s “liberal” rival. Trump addressed the swirling controversy surrounding Moore for the first time since top Republican leaders called on Moore to step aside more than a week ago. “We don’t need a liberal
person in there,” Trump said of Moore’s rival, Democrat Doug Jones. “We don’t need somebody who’s soft on crime like Jones.” Trump said he will announce next week whether he will campaign on Moore’s behalf. Six women have accused Moore of pursuing romantic relationships with them when they were teenagers and he was an assistant district attorney in his 30s. Two have accused him of assault or molestation; he vehemently denies it.