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VOLUME:115 No.253, NOVEMBER 26TH, 2018
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Senator’s terror in cutlass rampage By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
Mr Henfield has withheld the name of the gang, telling The Tribune he did not want it printed. A CROWDED fast-food “As I put my hand to outlet quickly descended (the) glass to look outside into chaos when a group of at the altercation,” Mr teen boys burst in wielding Henfield said, “the secucutlasses and knives in pur- rity guard opens the door suit of another youngster for him to come inside, I on Friday night. guess to get away Senator from what was Ranard Henfield going on. And the was among the guy bursts in and patrons at Lil then here comes Caesar’s on Cara group of other michael Road and fellas with cutlass detailed a harand knives. rowing scene, as “People are elderly customfalling all over ers were forced themselves trying to scramble over to get out of the each other to way. His hands go RANARD HENFIELD up and you see escape the fray. A young boy him coming down was reportedly mercilessly into the person - jook, jook, chopped with a cutlass and jook - and I kept shouting to had to jump over the coun- him to jump over the counter to escape his assailant in ter. They were still trying what bystanders allege was to get after him throwing a gang-related attack, he rocks in the establishment. said. SEE PAGE FIVE
POLICE have arrested a 41-year-old Tall Pines man in connection with an acid attack on a woman waiting at the bus stop. The 31-year-old woman was waiting at the stop on John F Kennedy Drive shortly after 9am on Friday, according to police, who said she was attacked by a
man she knew. The culprit threw an unidentified liquid substance, which caused her injuries. A source close to the matter told The Tribune it was acidic. The 31-year-old woman was treated at hospital for her injuries and later discharged, according to police. The motive for the attack is not known. SEE PAGE SEVEN
US DIVER TELLS HOW SHARK BIT HIS HEAD
A MAN who survived a shark attack while spearfishing in The Bahamas this summer says he is “more grateful than ever” to be alive. American Will Krause posted a harrowing video of the August shark attack and photos to his Facebook page on Thanksgiving Day, noting on this holiday weekend he was most thankful for “God’s kindness and protection” over himself and his family. Mr Krause wrote on Facebook that he was 25 feet below the surface when the six to seven foot long reef shark “struck the back of my head and neck”. SEE PAGE THREE
CHAMBER URGES: CUT VALUE OF NHI DEAL
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
MANIAC HURLED ACID AT WOMAN By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
HOME
SIZZLING FOR SANTA THE country’s top designers showed off their work at Carey’s festive fashion show at the weekend. See tomorrow’s Tribune Woman for full coverage. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
THE government has been urged to “scale down” National Health Insurance’s (NHI) basic benefits by up to 50 percent amid fears businesses will become a “financial lifeguard” for the scheme. The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation argue that reducing the Standard Health Benefit package’s proposed $1,000 annual premium to around $500 “would be more reasonable” to absorb. The group warns that NHI’s payroll tax financing mechanism would increase labour costs by up to 7 percent - a level that some companies may find impossible to absorb. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
MCALPINE: I PUT COUNTRY FIRST - ALWAYS By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
AS HE slammed Free National Movement Chairman Carl Culmer for calling him a hypocrite, Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine yesterday suggested the FNM chair was not a real leader. Mr Culmer made the remark about the FNM backbencher last week as he deemed Wednesday’s march outside Parliament
MP FREDERICK MCALPINE a failure organised by the Progressive Liberal Party. Despite siding with those protesters who demonstrated against the Minnis administration, Mr
McAlpine further insisted he was not a hypocrite or anti-FNM but said the party does need a “come to Jesus moment” having faced two protests in less than six months. In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, the MP, who is often heavily critical of the FNM, said it was only right that he stood with those who marched on Wednesday as both he and they held the same views.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SIX
INSIGHT
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?
SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Monday, November 26, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, left, arrived in Washington, DC yesterday for a climate change conference. He is pictured with Bahamas Ambassador to the United States Sidney Collie, centre, and Fox Hill MP Shonel Ferguson.
PM IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and a delegation arrived in Washington, DC yesterday to attend a climate change forum organised by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The High-Level Conference on Building Resilience to Disasters and Climate Change in the Caribbean brings together key stakeholders, including senior policymakers, public, private, and multilateral development partners, to explore incentives to shift the focus of policies towards building resilience and innovative disaster risk financing policies and instruments that would help in this regard. Ahead of the conference, the IMF noted the importance of the event giving the region’s vulnerability to worsening climate change. “The Caribbean region’s already high vulnerability to natural disasters is likely to be exacerbated as the frequency and severity of disasters increase from climate change effects,” the IMF noted. “But for several reasons, countries in the region invest little in building resilience and rely heavily on ex-post external assistance to recover from such disasters. Reducing the human and
economic costs of natural disasters and climate risks requires a greater shift in policy focus towards ex-ante resilience building and a broad disaster risk management strategy.”
Report This meeting comes after a startling report released in October said harmful effects of climate change will be experienced at a lower temperature than previously anticipated, all while the world runs out of time to do something about it. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its landmark report on the impact of global warming at 1.5°C in early October, sending shock waves with its conclusion that an unprecedented human effort is required to keep temperature increases at a maximum of 1.5°C this century, beyond which countries like The Bahamas will face existential threats. The report said the world has until 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5°C. It raises the spectre that severe consequences of climate change will be felt in the lifetime of most living Bahamians.
US MAN ARRESTED FOR FAILING TO DECLARE MORE THAN $50,000 AN American man was arrested at Lynden Pindling International Airport on Saturday for failing to declare more than $50,000 in cash in his possession. According to police, the 43-year-old was arrested shortly after 4pm when he presented himself to a US Border Control officer at LPIA, but failed to declare the true amount of currency in his possession. The officers conducted a search of the man and recovered $51,440 in cash. He is expected to be arraigned in Magistrate’s Court this week.
Meanwhile police in Abaco are also investigating two fires there. Shortly after 3am on Saturday, Abaco police were called to a business in the Crown Haven area where they met a single-story building on fire. Officers, with assistance from members of the community, extinguished the fire. About two hours later, shortly before 5am on Saturday, police were called to the Abaco Ferry Dock where they met four vehicles engulfed in flames. Abaco firefighters extinguished the flames and an investigation is ongoing.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 26, 2018, PAGE 3
I’m just glad to be alive, says diver after he’s attacked by a shark A STILL from a video of Will Krause being attacked by a shark in August. Photo taken from Mr Krause’s Facebook page.
from page one
WILL Krause after a shark attack in August. Photo taken from Mr Krause’s Facebook page.
RBDF SAVES PAIR AFTER BOAT CAPSIZE
TWO men who were adrift at sea after their boat capsized in waters off Delaporte Point were rescued by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force on Saturday. After their small craft capsized in strong winds and six to eight foot seas, the men were left holding on to their 12-ft Boston Whaler without lifejackets, the RBDF said. RBDF patrol craft P-40, coxswained by Leading Seaman Anthony Rigby from the RBDF Harbour Patrol Unit, was deployed and found them after being notified by occupants onboard the boat. The men were rescued around 1.30am on Saturday. On Monday, November 19, RBDF patrol craft P-125 coxswained by Petty Officer Brian Anderson rescued three men from Cat Island after their boat ran out of fuel and went adrift for a day in the Exuma Sound. Thirty-five people have been rescued or assisted at sea for the year by the RBDF, the agency noted.
He added: “I miraculously escaped with several stitches, some gnarly scars, and a viral GoPro video ... While encounters like this certainly shift your perspective, it doesn’t take a shark attack to recognise God’s generosity & intentionality in our lives (sic). May this Thanksgiving point you not just to the reality that you are blessed, but to the One who is giving the blessing.” In about a minute long video of the attack taken by one of Mr Krause’s friends, a shark can be seen swimming towards Mr Krause shortly after his friend speared a fish. The shark bit Mr Krause on the back
of the head and swam away, before the victim’s friend can swim to the surface and scream “shark” to other members of their party. Mr Krause is able to swim to the surface and onto their boat, cradling his head with his hands. Mr Krause also spoke to an NBC affiliate about his experience, saying during the ordeal he did not even know
he had been bitten by a shark until he got to the surface. “I felt this huge impact on my head and my neck. I didn’t process that it was a shark bite until I got to the surface,” Mr Krause told NBC4. “I could see a lot of blood that was starting to pool around me so I was starting to get nervous that my time was up,” Mr Krause said.
PAGE 4, Monday, November 26, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
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An American degree - it may have lost its lustre PARENTS want the best for their children. Parents in Paraguay, Uganda, Cambodia, Fiji, Pakistan, Haiti and Bulgaria want the best for their children. And parents in The Bahamas also want the best for their children. Perhaps the best gift a parent can give to a child is education. Options for higher education and training for Bahamians have been varied and distinctive. The new University of The Bahamas, still emerging from the legacy of the College of The Bahamas, is our flagship institution. The Bahamas Training and Vocational Institute offers a more technically focused path to employment security. There are local alternatives. The University of the West Indies provides a regional option. Colleges and universities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth beckon to our most accomplished secondary school graduates with promises of top-quality education and training, glittering career prospects and the potential to return home to help in the continual process of moving our beloved land forward to further heights and greater opportunities for those who will follow us. In more recent times, though, young Bahamians seeking higher education and their families have looked to the nearby United States for opportunities. There are many reasons for this, including but certainly not limited to proximity, family ties, strong cultural influences and a rich diversity of higher education possibilities. America continues to attract many of our best and most ambitious students. Especially since the end of the Second World War, US colleges and universities have established a world standard and reputation matched only by their rightful progenitors in the UK. But with the ascension to power two years ago of a proudly ignorant xenophobe as American president, there have been whispers of the effects of his shortsighted and divisive policies on access to American higher education for foreign students. Educators around the world have been increasingly concerned the US might try to close its doors to foreign students. When American politicians of both parties loudly complain of Chinese economic espionage and infiltration and theft of American intellectual property, it is partly an acknowledgment of the seemingly ubiquitous presence of many eager, able Chinese students in
American universities, often in graduate departments. The careful Chinese, valuing education as much as any nation, have clearly indicated their preference for sampling what they see as the world’s best in the United States. Two recent developments in the United States are therefore cause for concern. The first was the announcement by private Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore of a historically huge $1.8 billion gift to the school by one of its most accomplished alumni, former New York City mayor and multibillionaire Michael Bloomberg. Parents and educators all across the United States took careful note that the purpose of Bloomberg’s massive donation was to permit the university to remove loans from the packages of financial assistance it can offer to incoming admitted students. At Johns Hopkins, a rising undergraduate programme, this means freedom from some financial anxiety for families of applicants facing a $70,000 annual fees and expenses bill. The university’s president said the grant would help Hopkins “recruit more first-generation and low-income students.” Nearly lost in the dramatic announcement was the fact that Hopkins’ new need-blind admissions policy would only apply to applicants from the United States. Only a very few American universities, including Yale and Harvard, have enough endowment money and foresight to offer need-blind admissions to foreign applicants. Second and more ominous is a new report issued by the non-profit Institute for International Education. According to this annual report, the total of new international students arriving in the United States in the 2017-18 school year was around 272,000. This figure includes undergraduate and graduate students, and represents a 6.6 percent decline from the previous year and is ten percent less than the number of new international students as recently as three years ago. Bahamian applications to American universities do not so far appear to have declined. American universities still want and need foreign students, for their diversity and for their full tuition payments. But in an era of America First, do the foreign students still want and need American higher education as much as before? Time and our Bahamian families will tell.
Cemetery campaign looking like a success EDITOR, The Tribune MY recollection is that I began my campaign to have Eastern Cemetery Lane restored to its rightful purpose, sometime in 2008, now some ten years ago. By deduction, this would have been during the third government of Hubert Ingraham, and the FNM party. At some point during this term the southern part of this lane was actually cut away when UBS was constructing its new premises and parking lot. The election of 2012 saw the second election of Perry Christie and the PLP and through continued agitation and numerous letters to The Tribune, I believe it was Minister Brave Davis, who had that part of the road, that had been cutaway, restored. My high hopes were dashed, however when the road was never paved and was left to become a Jumbey and weed field. In 2017, newcomer
Hubert Minnis led the FNM to governance and a new MP, Dionisio D’Aguilar, was elected for Freetown, wherein Eastern Cemetery Lane was now. As the old people used to say “nothing ventured, nothing gained” and being somewhat acquainted, on a personal level with Dionisio, through his parents, I reached out to him with a view to him looking into having the road restored. I was a little surprised, although I should not have been, when he responded very quickly to me and arranged a time when I could show him what I was talking about. We met shortly thereafter and walked to where the road currently ended, and he took a number of photos and promised to raise the matter with his colleague, Minister Desmond Bannister. On May 23 this year, I received an e-mail from Minister Bannister, requesting further information on
the matter so that he could have it investigated. A few more exchanges ensued and I was assure that it was being looked into and to my great surprise, and quite by accident this week, I saw that the Jumbey and weed had been cut down, and it really looks like Eastern Cemetery Lane will finally be restored. Attached is a recent photo from Shirley Street looking north. I was interested to find on a website www.Bahamianology.com that The Eastern and Western Cemetery Lanes enclosed what was identified in 1906 as one of seven Cemeteries in New Providence, The Agricultural Grounds Formerly The Eastern Cemetery. Many thanks to all concerned and I am sure I speak for a great many people who live and or work in this area. BRUCE G RAINE Nassau November 23, 2018
True to form, McAlpine gets his 15 minutes EDITOR, The Tribune SAW a video clip of Free National Movement MP for Pineridge Frederick McAlpine breaching a makeshift barricade which was presumably erected by officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force on Rawson Square at the Enough is Enough demonstration. The scores of angry Bahamian protesters were obviously venting their frustration at the Minnis administration, which came to high office just 18 months ago. As an FNM supporter, I am very concerned about the FNM’s current standing in the eyes of a disgruntled electorate. Obviously the governing party’s favourability has plummeted, due to escalating BPL bills, the VAT increase and the leasing of the Town Centre Mall to the state, to name a few. BPL (formerly BEC) has been a dumpster fire for decades. It is unfair to lay the blame for BPL’s failures on the doorsteps of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. The decision to increase VAT is a hard sell to frustrated Bahamians, however. Yet with massive deficits year after year and a National Debt in the billions, the Minnis administration had few other options. They could’ve decided to slash the civil service employment
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net numbers, seeing that the government payroll accounts for approximately 60 to 70 percent of government revenue each year. Such a decision would be political suicide and would undoubtedly lead to more Keep Ya Corned Beef and Enough is Enough demonstrations. On the flip side, if Minnis decides to do nothing about the deficit and the economic state of the Treasury grows exponentially worse, the Bahamian people would punish the FNM in 2022 under such a scenario. Bahamians would then complain about Minnis’ mismanagement of the national coffers. Bahamians are hard to figure out. I don’t know what to make of them. With a robust economy and the decreasing murder rate in New Providence, poll numbers for the Minnis administration should really be in the high double digits. The public relations machinery of the FNM has failed to consistently tout its successes and to adequately explain several unpopular decisions which were made by the Minnis administration to the fickle Bahamian people. In all likelihood, the Enough is Enough
protest may have been an initiative staged by Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) operatives. That McAlpine would take part in the demonstration once again underscores a troubling disconnect between him and the FNM hierarchy. True to form, the Pineridge MP got his 15 minutes of fame by breaching the barricade and joining in the protest against his own party. One gets the impression that McAlpine sees the handwriting on the wall and has conveniently decided to join the anti-Minnis bandwagon. To many frustrated Bahamians, he is their voice in Parliament, while many FNM MPs are busy towing the party line for fear of losing their lucrative posts. With no Cabinet portfolio, the Pineridge MP is in a strategic position to play the role of a nonconformist and renegade. At this juncture, McAlpine really has nothing to lose, as he is probably already viewing himself as a lame duck FNM MP. McAlpine will probably run as an independent or PLP in 2022. By joining Enough is Enough protestors, McAlpine signalled to the FNM just how far he is willing to go in his opposition against the governing party. KEVIN EVANS Freeport Grand Bahama November 21, 2018
Without tourists to spend, then why should we invest? EDITOR, The Tribune THE untidiness of Bay Street…over the past 30-plus year successive government pontificated - promoted but did nothing. Rents speculation upwards of $30.00 per square feet and you pay for everything including upkeep. Those last words are the key - owner responsibility supported heavily by the Nassau City Special Town Planning Board which seems to have been in a permanent hibernation or worse still active but blind look at the architecture they approved for The Pointe Project? Signage years ago was controlled but today you have frontages with the ugliest you could see. Cost? This does control probably the
extent that an owner will keep his property up to scratch…what is the financial return to the retailers and the property owners? Does Town Planning have a play? Yes… but… The majority of customers of Bay Street retail are cruise passengers - one can only describe them as ‘as close to broke as you can imagine’ Nassau is the last or last but one port of call at the end of the cruise. We now ask for someone to spend $100200m in upgrade of Prince George when 60% of the passengers never come ashore! No spenders why invest? Is this development idea unfounded? You decide? W THOMPSON Nassau November 11, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 26, 2018, PAGE 5
MAN DIES WITH SHOTS TO THE HEAD ON WEEKEND OF CRIME By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was killed early on Sunday morning on a track road off Eneas Jumper Corner, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Although initial police reports said the man was found “with trauma to his body,” Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash clarified to The Tribune yesterday that the victim was shot “about the head area”. Sunday’s murder came hours after two other incidents of violent crime occurred in the capital on Saturday night. These included
another shooting incident in the Coconut Grove area around 9pm and a stabbing incident on Bay Street and Elizabeth Avenue around 10pm. Both those victims were taken to the hospital, where the former is listed in stable condition and the latter in critical condition. The murder victim is thought to have been between the ages of 25 and 29. Around 5am on Sunday, police said a man was discovered unresponsive, with trauma to his body, through a track road off Eneas Jumper Corner. “Paramedics were called to the scene, and attempted to revive the male, but were unsuccessful.
He was pronounced dead at the scene,” police said. CSP Cash said based on the condition of the body, the victim was thought to have been killed “an hour or so” before police arrived. He added the man was shot where his body was found. “There’s nothing that we’re working with that we can be definitive about a motive behind the murder,” CSP Cash told The Tribune. “From all the evidence, we could conclude that he was shot… we suspect it was the head area.” This incident has pushed the country’s murder count to 77 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.
Regarding Saturday night’s shooting, police said around 9pm “a male (was) standing in a yard on Second Street, Coconut Grove, when he got into an argument with another man, who shot him before running away.” The victim was taken to hospital and is listed in stable condition. Shortly after 10pm on Saturday, “police responded to Bay Street and Elizabeth Avenue after receiving reports of a male lying in the street with injuries.” He was also taken to the hospital and listed in critical condition. Investigations into all the incidents are ongoing.
On Thursday, National Security Minister Marvin Dames all law enforcement agencies are working together to keep the crime rate down. Murders are down about 30 percent compared to this period last year and despite continued violent incidents, police have said overall crime appears to be trending down. Speaking to reporters outside his Mount Moriah constituency office, Mr Dames added the public should also soon expect to see increased police presence on the streets with a new crop of police officers to be added to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and
Senator’s terror in cutlass rampage from page one After a while they ran out.” He continued: “They didn’t come there to rob. They came after this guy they were passing and saw him outside. This wasn’t a robbery. These guys seen somebody they were looking for. These were all little boys, these were kids.” While he was shocked by the brazenness of the young boys, Mr Henfield said he was also deeply troubled by the delayed response to distress calls by emergency services to the incident. The chaos reportedly took place around 7pm, but Mr Henfield said he was unable to get through to police on 911 and had to call the Carmichael Road Police Station directly around 7.20pm. “How could you be calling 911 in a country for minutes and there is no answer? I had to call the station directly and they were able to send a patrol car,” the senator said. “The ambulance still hadn’t arrived by the time I gave my statement and left.” Police did not initially include the incident in their daily crime report on Sunday, but released scant details about the attack yesterday afternoon. Superintendent Shanta Knowles said police responded to a “disturbance” around 7.30pm on Friday at a pizza takeaway on Carmichael Road where it was reported a group of males were fighting. According to police, one
RANARD Henfield with Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General of The Bahamas, when he was sworn in as a senator. juvenile was taken to hospital where he was treated and discharged. An investigation is ongoing, police said. Meanwhile, Mr Henfield said he was told by another young boy, who left the scene to get the victim’s father, that it was a gangrelated attack. The victim had reportedly walked into Lil Caesar’s with a rowdy group of boys,
according to Mr Henfield, who said the boys’ ages appeared to range between 13 to 16-years-old. He said the pizza spot was crowded, and the boys cursed loudly about the long lines before eventually settling on ordering. The group went outside to wait for their order, and a short time later customers began to hear fighting
outside. “I spoke to (the victim’s) friend,” Mr Henfield said, “they knew the guys. He called the gang they ride with and how it all stemmed from. This little boy can’t be more than 10 years old and explaining this - what the hell are we doing to the psyche of the children of my country? “I asked the boy to get the (victim’s) parents. He came back and said (victim) ain’t got no mommy, only his daddy, and his father had to walk. He’s an old man. When you see the look of terror on this old man face. The father could barely breathe, the fear in this man’s eyes. His eyes were wide open, he’s terrified, he’s coming to hear that his son is dead.” Yesterday, Mr Henfield said the incident was personally disturbing because the pizza-run was a routine Friday night activity with his daughters. He said he left them home last Friday because they were sleeping, and reflected on how they were spared not only from physical harm but mental trauma. “There were people with palpitations, one elderly lady could barely walk and staff member passed out. The psyche on our people, it’s horrible. “My take away is we have to step up as a people. We can’t complain or read a story about what happened. We need to get involved at a community level. We have to return to the village concept.” He continued: “When
I was growing up, as terrible as we were, we knew we couldn’t walk past Ms Arthur house opposite Stephen Dillet, we couldn’t curse loudly outside our homes, we knew there was a community. “I don’t see that community spirit anymore,” he said. “We are quicker to spread negative news than to come out and help.” Noting social media posts blaming the government for crime, Mr Henfield challenged Friday’s incident was the direct consequence of a decline in community values. “I grew up in the ghetto,” Mr Henfield continued, “it’s how we
were raised, how we were socialised, the literacy, our affection came from gangs and boys – that’s not the government. This is a societal problem and our young men are out of order to run into a busy business establishment to stab and chop up somebody. “Help parents, help kids pass courses in school and dream of their future. We as a people have a lot do to, the government can’t raise our children for us. “Society can’t sit back and wait for government to fix this problem. I don’t see the government stabbing people up. We’re doing this.”
PAGE 6, Monday, November 26, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
McAlpine: I put country first - always
FROM PAGE ONE He said if the party could not understand this, then it was hypocritical for refusing to see why many Bahamians are angry having voted for a government that has now gone contrary to what it promised. And he’s sure that’s he isn’t the only FNM member who feels the same. However he said he has not been afraid to speak publicly for voters because he doesn’t have to “sing for his supper” as others do. Asked if Mr Culmer’s rebuke was a testament of his standing in the party, Mr McAlpine said he remains a member of the party, but admitted there are many in leadership and others in Parliament who have shunned him for his opposing views. “Everything rises and falls on leadership,” Mr McAlpine said. “I’m not a hypocrite. People see the government
“How could I be talking about BPL and talking about high taxation, talking about conflicts of interest and these people were marching about all of that and I’m sitting down watching all of that and not participating?” as hypocritical but I’m not a hypocrite. “I think it would have been unfair for me who has been espousing the views in Parliament of the very same concerns that the people who were marching marched about. And I took the opportunity to march with them because of the views that they were espousing. How could I be talking about BPL and talking about high taxation,
Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine talking about conflicts of interest and these people were marching about all of that and I’m sitting down watching all of that and not participating? “I did it to let them know that I support their views and the views that they espouse many people in
THE ENOUGH is Enough protest Downtown on Wednesday. the Bahamas also support. I don’t see how that makes me hypocritical.” He continued: “Matter of fact people will say that we are hypocritical because we at one time promised that we would repeal VAT but instead we increased it by 60 percent. We talked about conflicts of interest, but yet we turn around and put a post office in the building of a sitting Cabinet minister. Those things are what people will look at and view as hypocritical.” Responding directly to the FNM chairman, Mr McAlpine said were Mr Culmer a real leader he would have summoned him to his office to speak
privately about his grievances with the party and government. “I hear this talk about the chairman saying ‘I have an open door policy that McAlpine can come and see me.’ Man, that’s not what leaders do. If you have a problem with me as a member of your party, if you wish to see me you’d summon me.
Leaders “You don’t tell me when you passing through town come and see me. That’s not what leaders do. If you wish to see me as a member of Parliament, as the chairman of the party if you send for me I will come. Don’t tell me when you come to town just come in and see me if I have a problem. “I don’t have a problem with the party. Notice I don’t speak to personalities. You know I speak to governance and policy that’s what I speak to. I’m not getting personal with anybody. “And let me make this clear. I’m not anti-Minnis or anti the government.
I’m just pro-Bahamian and pro-people and if I have to choose between the party and the country I will choose the country or the people of the country for every time,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “When I say a come to Jesus moment I mean a come to Jesus moment where we communicate. “What you need to be asking me is if anyone is talking to me. “Why does the chairman have to talk to me in the press? “Now the question might also be why are you talking to them in the press? Well if you could talk to me in private I won’t have to talk to you in public. “I ain’t talking about calling me in private in a caucus where you telling us what it is and not asking us our opinion. If you speak to me in private I won’t have to speak to you in public. “From the chairman of the party go down or from whoever we need to change our communicative skills with the people of the Bahamas and the people we work with,” he said.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 26, 2018, PAGE 7
775 hotel rooms on GB is not enough, says D’Aguilar By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has said the “most critical thing” his ministry has been given to do is increase the “staggeringly low” number of hotel rooms on Grand Bahama. Only 775 hotel rooms are currently available on the island. Mr D’Aguilar noted that airline carriers, such as Sunwing, were “limited” by the number of passengers they could bring in due to the lack of rooms. In October, Sunwing announced its plans to scrap its summer airlift to Grand Bahama. Mr D’Aguilar also said the government’s acquisition of the island’s Grand Lucayan hotel is part of this initiative, adding the hotel’s sale should be completed by the second quarter of 2019 “by the very latest”. He also provided updates into the Bahamas’ negotiations for charging international airlines fees for using the country’s airspace, saying a request for proposals (RFP) for a company that will assist the country in monetising its airspace should be dropping “within the next week or so”. When asked how the ministry will improve airlift to Grand Bahama in the wake of both Sunwing and Sky Bahamas suspending flights to the island, Mr D’Aguilar said on Friday the issue is “scale”. “The first thing that we did was, I charged the Ministry of Tourism to discover exactly how many hotel rooms we’re attempting to sell,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “And when the number came back it was staggeringly low - there’s 775 hotel rooms in Grand Bahama that we’re trying to push. “So, as we determine: ‘Okay, what are we (going to) do moving forward?’ The most critical thing, this is what the government has charged us to do, is we’ve got to grow the number of rooms because we don’t have sufficient scale right now. I mean, it’s half the size of the Hyatt (at Baha Mar), for the whole of Freeport. “We’ve got to grow the number of hotel rooms and this is what we’re attempting
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar confirmed the sale of the Grand Lucayan hotel should be completed by the second quarter of 2019 “by the very latest”. to do with the Grand Lucayan project. And then when you have scale, it’s easier to generate lift. “But in the meantime, as Bahamasair falls under my portfolio, the Ministry of Tourism, my deputy director of tourism has been charged with growing, using Bahamasair as a substitute for Sunwing to identify key markets in the United States to see where we want to put in charter service to bring people into Grand Bahama.” Mr D’Aguilar said that plan is currently “under construction,” while reiterating “the issue in Grand Bahama is really scale.” “We need additional hotel rooms. We need to increase that in order to make that happen. When you look at the Sunwing numbers, they brought like 6,436 persons into Grand Bahama and I think they were limited by the amount they could bring in because there’s just no more rooms. So that is what the government is attempting to do through its Grand Lucayan project.”
When asked about updates on the sale of the resort, Mr D’Aguilar said “an excess of over 20 people” have expressed an interest. “I think just north of 11 or 12 have signed the nondisclosure agreements to get the information, they’re accessing the data rooms, it’s a very open and transparent process. “We’ve hired a company called Colliers to manage the process for us, to go out to market it, to get the proposals in, to sift through them and to make a recommendation to the government on which one we should accept. So it’s very much a process that’s underway and hopefully by the very latest the second quarter of next year we should have it sorted.” The tourism and aviation minister was also asked to provide updates into negotiations for charging international airlines fees for using the Bahamas’ airspace. Mr D’Aguilar said these negotiations are going “extremely well” and
described the Americans, who currently manage the country’s airspace, as being “very embracing, very encouraging.” Mr D’Aguilar added a decision has to be made on how the country will monetise its airspace. “So, if we’re going to think of it as ‘the Americans are going to manage it on our behalf but we’re going to have the right to charge’…the question is what to charge, how to charge, how much to charge. How does that process work? “We’re in the process of developing an RFP to put that out into the private sector for a company to come forward and provide us with that service, because obviously we have no experience in that. And so we’re seeking that expertise…and an RFP should be dropping very shortly, within the next week or so. “Where we put that out into the public domain and allow companies to come forward and tell us what is the best and most efficient and most lucrative way to monetise our airspace.”
MANIAC HURLED ACID AT WOMAN from page one
Police did not release the information in their crime report on Friday or Saturday and did not make the incident public until yesterday, after reports of the attack circulated on social media. This comes more than a year after a man who was severely injured during an acid attack in June 2017 died three months later. In September 2017, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash, head of the Central Detective Unit, said police were waiting for autopsy results to see if William Curtis Thompson’s death was connected to the acid attack. The Office of the Attorney General alleged last
year that his wife attacked Thompson during a domestic dispute between June 3 and 4, 2017. She was previously charged with attempted murder. In September 2016, a woman was ordered to pay just over $8,000 in compensation for throwing acid on her lover, his wife and their young son. The Crown later lodged an appeal against the $8,700 compensation order levied against the woman attacker who pleaded guilty to three counts of use of deadly means of harm, arguing that it was unduly lenient, as the magistrate attached no consequences if the restitution was not made. The attack occurred in December 2015.
PAGE 8, Monday, November 26, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Possibility of industrial action by doctors ‘looking less likely’ By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands.
HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday said the possibility of doctors withdrawing services is “looking less and less likely” as there continues to be “tremendous progress” in negotiations between the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) and the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA). Dr Sands added there has “certainly” been more progress with the CPSA than with the Bahamas Nurses Union, which has also threatened industrial action. “Certainly we are very pleased with the fact that the CPSA and the Public Hospitals Authority have been at the table and there has been progress,” Dr Sands told The Tribune yesterday. “The fact that the parties are communicative, the fact that even though sometimes the exchange can be somewhat tense, I believe
that we have made tremendous progress.” On October 5, more than 70 senior doctors voted to obtain a strike certificate, a move which
“Certainly we are very pleased with the fact that the CPSA and the Public Hospitals Authority have been at the table and there has been progress.” Dr Duane Sands illustrates that union members are willing to withdraw services if the PHA does not meet their requests. The CPSA is seeking greater financial benefits for its members, but the PHA insists there is not enough money to give it to them. On November 12, it was reported that senior physicians were considering withdrawing their services
over the issue. Regarding this potential withdrawal, Dr Sands said: “Certainly with the CPSA, that is looking less and less likely. Obviously, they have obtained a strike vote and PHA, and certainly the Ministry of Health takes this very, very seriously. “That said, given the progress, we would like to continue to build on what is an absolutely critical relationship with the leaders in healthcare. “The physicians that form the membership of CPSA are ultimately responsible for the delivery of healthcare in our tertiary hospitals. And the role that they play cannot be minimised or underestimated.” The nurses’ union has also threatened industrial action to oppose a shift change proposed by the PHA. When asked about negotiations with BNU, Dr Sand said: “Can’t say that we have had the same kind of progress there. And we continue to encourage the dialogue between the (BNU) and the (PHA). “But, in terms of giving you a real
CELEBRATING SANDRA COLEBY’S 47 YEARS OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
PRINCIPAL Nursing Officer Sandra Coleby was honoured with a retirement luncheon yesterday to celebrate her 47 years of public health service to the nation. Held at the Hilton, Mrs Coleby was celebrated by government officials and her peers for her exemplary work and dedication to the field of nursing. Health Minister Dr Duane Sands, who delivered yesterday’s keynote address, described Mrs Coleby as “a lady worthy of praise,” “an unselfish manager, mentor and motivator” and commended her for sharing her “remarkable gift and purpose” with the
Bahamas. “Throughout your career you have contributed to numerous departments in various capacities,” Dr Sands said. “The ambulatory care department, midwifery,
community nursing in New Providence and the Family Islands, surveillance, administration and in other areas. Although these are all assorted areas of health with specific responsibilities, you adapted and served
with excellence.” Mrs Coleby, who originally hails from Long Bays Cay, Andros, began her nursing career in 1971 after she was recruited while a fifth form student at St Johns College. She subsequently began training in the Registered Nurse Diploma Programme at the Bahamas School of Nursing, completing this training and becoming a staff nurse in 1974. Over the decades, Mrs Coleby progressed through the ranks until she began serving as acting principal nursing officer in 2007, being confirmed in this appointment in 2017. “Nursing has been an amazing journey for me,” Mrs Coleby told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of her luncheon. “I would’ve travelled nationally, throughout all the islands of the Bahamas, and I would have…travelled internationally as well, attending workshops, seminars, training sessions. So, it has been a life work for me and I have not regretted it. “I’m a registered nurse, registered midwife, I’m community health trained, and I’ve been afforded the opportunity to move up the ranks to the second highest position in nursing, and that is that of principal nursing officer…I’m very thankful.” Mrs Coleby said healthcare in the Bahamas has changed “tremendously” over the last 47 years. She particularly noted her experiences on Family Islands, where years ago she was often the only healthcare provider. “I remember delivering babies by myself. Sometimes the only person there was a frightened relative who had to assist me. And nowadays in the Family
snapshot of the progress, certainly there has been more progress with the (CPSA) than there has been with the (Bahamas) Nurses Union.” On October 31, BNU President Amancha Williams suggested nurses will not be showing up for their new shifts on December 13 as she maintained there was no legal grounds to penalise non-compliance. “They can’t penalise nobody if no nurses show up on December 13,” Mrs Williams had said earlier. “It doesn’t matter if we don’t have (a strike certificate) in hand. I don’t have to work, you can’t cut my pay, you didn’t give me that shift, that wasn’t agreed upon. It was unilaterally done (by PHA) and it should not be done that way.” The PHA has maintained the new shift system can be imposed because of an agreement signed with BNU by its former president in 2014. However, the union has said that document was never adopted into the nurses’ industrial agreement with the government.
PRINCIPAL Nursing Officer Sandra Coleby at her retirement luncheon which celebrated her 47 years of service. SHAWN Hanna/ Tribune staff
Islands, you have a full team. “In islands like Exuma and Abaco, you have a mini-hospital and they are rendering 24-hour services. So, healthcare has come a long way.” Mrs Coleby also said nursing itself has made great strides, noting the entry requirement is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, and many nurses now have masters and doctorate degrees. When asked how the healthcare field could improve overall, Mrs Coleby said: “Well, we’ve come a long way in terms of training. But we still have some ways to go. For example, reaching all of our citizens in the Family Islands.” When asked about the current issues nurses face, Mrs Coleby said: “We have to realise nurses are a part of society. And we have the same electricity bills to pay, we have children to educate, like everyone else. And people think it’s all about money. But it’s not all
about money.” However, Mrs Coleby said she does not think the Bahamas is facing a “mass exodus” of nurses, although adding that many younger nurses leave for better opportunities and the ability to explore. “For the most part, I think we have made many strides in nursing and this government today is in tune with the needs of nursing and I don’t think there are any reasons for nurses to really leave the profession now.” She also encouraged young people to enroll in the nursing field. “Nursing is not just meeting the hygienic needs of a patient. You…serve the whole man. So, being a nurse, you have to not only serve that individual, but (also) the family. And you have to be in tune with the environment that that individual is coming from. “So, nursing is all inclusive… and I say it’s a ministry within itself.”
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
PINERIDGE MP Frederick McAlpine was among the Enough is Enough protest last week. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
By MALCOLM STRACHAN
I
N the wake of last week’s march, it would seem that not much has changed. Although hundreds of people took to Bay Street to voice their frustration with the government, one would be hard-pressed to believe anything will change. This much is true, the prime minister did not seem the slightest bit moved by the complaints of the protesters. Aside from repeating the recycled script that we too often hear from politicians when citizens exercise their democratic right to protest, he did not weigh in on the issues. In fact, he ignored and deflected any attempt by the media to garner any response, besides touting how alive our democracy is. The Bahamian people would have surely preferred to hear how the prime minister felt about how he and his government intend to address the people’s concerns. But there was no sign of that. When the protesters woke up the next morning, just like the rest of us, life remained pretty much the same, and these acts seem more like a gigantic waste of time. Let’s be clear though - the intent here is not to discredit those in attendance, as peaceful protest should never be suppressed in a democratic society. However, we must ask ourselves tough questions if any real progress is going to come about. What happens after we decide enough is enough and we are still ignored by the powers that be? Are we going to huddle around watercoolers and continue to complain about the suffocating cost of living? Or are we going to re-evaluate the methods by which we sought change and do what’s necessary to truly inspire a revolution? It is obvious at this point our politicians are unbothered by our suffering. They would rather pander to their supporters and buy into the notion that we are a bunch of whiners and complainers. And to be fair, one can understand why they see us that way. Much of what is done to disrupt the status quo and affect social change is done without direction or an end-goal. This week’s march truly seemed like it was only an opportunity for people to get together and get their concerns about the Minnis administration off their chests. There was no meaningful takeaway from the march outside of giving the protesters the chance to vent. This will soon become
What happens when enough is enough?
yesterday’s news and we will all have moved on. The issues plaguing our society will still exist. However, unless we shift the culture from complaining to action, we’re simply spinning our wheels. The We March organisers may have gotten us as close as we’ve been in recent years. But that too, lost its momentum when its leader “sold out”, as some would say. In his defence, he believes that as a senator he has a bigger platform to drive the We March movement’s agenda. Nonetheless, that has been a debilitating blow for a people already prone to settling for whatever form of hell our politicians put us through. Consequently, the Bahamian
people as a collective will have to decide what kind of society we want to live in. What do we expect from our politicians after we’ve given them our votes and how will we keep them accountable? Five years can be a long time, particularly under poor leadership. When examining the current rut we are in, it can seem hopeless. However, we have to believe we can be the change that we want to realise. We must become galvanised as a people and reimagine what could be the possibilities under a new brand of governance – one truly focused on uplifting the Bahamian people. We must accept both the PLP
and FNM have showed us everything they have to offer and despite any new faces being presented as candidates, the major players remain the same. In the same way, the DNA has also been a disappointment. Although they’ve never had a chance to govern, their own lack of asserting themselves does not evoke confidence that they are ready to pick up the mantle, or even confidence in themselves. Slowly, but surely, more and more citizens are coming to the realisation that a revolution has to burn in the hearts of everyday citizens for us to witness change. Now, we have to go beyond just wanting to voice our frustration
with the government. We must be methodical and calculated if we want to yield results from demonstrating. An article published in the Harvard Business Review last year artfully laid out the steps for how protests become successful social movements. The writer listed five essential steps; define the change you want to see, shift the spectrum of allies, identify the pillars of power, seek to attract, not to overpower and build a plan to survive victory. The piece outlined some of the most successful social movements in history and poignantly made it clear why we’ve failed at accomplishing anything lasting. Whether it is we are unclear about defining the change we want to see, or our plans are not built to survive victory, we are either doomed before we start or unable to finish as a result of poor planning. To that end, the We March movement rallied thousands of Bahamians from all different walks of life behind one common goal. Unfortunately, although seemingly victorious in galvanising the Bahamian people and striking fear in the previous government, it is now considered a relic. The populace is still experiencing many of the same issues that existed under the old regime, as they seem to have no place in Minnis’ warped “people’s agenda”. While the Bahamian people are left to wonder who our defender will be, we can only hope that, sooner rather than later, we all take a long look in the mirror and see that we’re staring at them. Until the time comes where Bahamians set aside party colours and only adorn black, aqua marine and gold, we can expect more of the same.
PAGE 10 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
Coping with OECD reality
D
EMANDS of the rich man’s club, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), have once again created disarray in the Caribbean. It is a disarray to which Caribbean countries have contributed by their lack of a common and strong political response to the many impositions by the OECD on the global financial sector since 1998 when the organisation first launched what it called its “harmful tax competition initiative”. For two decades, the OECD has been systematically and resolutely, forcing Caribbean countries and other developing states, to dismantle their tax structures and international business regimes, some of which, as in the case of Barbados, have been in place for over 40 years. These international business regimes allowed International Business Corporations (IBCs) to pay low or no tax, which the OECD claimed deprived them of tax revenues. Instead of lowering their tax rates to compete; they chose to eliminate the competition. However, IBCs brought crucial revenues in foreign currencies to Caribbean governments. In the case of Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley revealed that “for every one dollar in corporation taxes paid by domestic companies” the Barbados government “received almost two dollars of corporation taxes from international companies”. In other Caribbean jurisdictions, with the possible exception of the Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands, the Barbados story is not dissimilar except for two factors. First, Barbados has more IBCs that many Caribbean countries, apart from the four jurisdictions just named; and second, over the last two decades, OECD imposed rules have eroded both the number of IBCs and the revenues they have generated in countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St Lucia. The latest OECD salvo is its ‘Base Erosion and Profit Shifting’ (BEPS) scheme which, in
THE PRIME minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley. a nutshell, on pain of sanctions, debate and discourse and even stops jurisdictions from providing worse, without any plan as to how IBCs with low or no tax regimes they were going to achieve it”. Second, in stating that her govand requires that all companies, domestic and international, ernment recognised that, without pay the same rate of tax. The sufficient time to negotiate any BEPS initiative was launched in change to the commitment given November 2015, and countries by the previous government, it that are not in compliance by the was compelled to comply, it was end of 2018 will be blacklisted doing so although “the pressure and punished unless, in special from the OECD may be hypocircumstances, they have been critical, bullying and an affront to given a grace period in which to natural justice”. conform. Hence, Ms Mottley, whose government is in the midst of a massive operation to salvage a wrecked economy that it inherited just six months ago, has F course, making announced that by January 1, commitments to the OECD on 2019, Barbados will converge its a bilateral basis and without local and international tax rates. discourse with relevant parties Significantly, the Barbados gov- within their own countries prior ernment has decided to converge to such commitments, is not to the lower tax rate. Effectively, unique to Barbados. There has this means that domestic compa- also not been a collective and nies that paid corporation taxes unified Caribbean engagement of up to 25 percent will now join with the OECD, at a high politiIBCs by paying between 1 and 5.5 cal level. Individual governments percent. have simply signed-up to OECD In making this announcement, requirements and their Ministers Ms Mottley made two statements have presented their acquiescence that have significance for the to Caribbean publics as a “vicwider Caribbean. tory”, imaginary and misleading First, she pointed out that it though such assertions were. was the previous government’s So, all the Caribbean countries decision to commit to the OECD now have to confront the reality demands and to overhaul the tax that Ms Mottley and her governsystem by year-end, something ment faced. Adherence to the done “in the dead of night without OECD’s BEPS scheme is less
O
than a month away when IBCs and domestic companies will have to pay the same rate of tax. No one can blame the Barbados government for setting this new tax standard in order to remain competitive because of the circumstances occasioned by the OECD. But the consequences for other Caribbean countries will be serious. By choosing the lower tax rate “to remain globally competitive”, the Barbados government has set a bar for other Caribbean jurisdictions that compete with Barbados as well as globally. Can they now opt to set their corporation tax at the present domestic rate – an average of 30 per cent – or should they adopt the Barbados standard of between 1 and 5.5 percent? For some governments, applying the new Barbados standard would cripple their economies. Over the last 20 years, the number of their IBCs has been decimated by OECD demands. Today, revenues from IBCs do not match the income generated from domestic companies. Therefore, these governments will have to converge their local and international tax at the domestic rate. But, the effect will drive away even more IBCs. It may also cause some Caribbean companies to shift operations to Barbados. Other Caribbean countries, that have a greater dependence
on IBCs than on domestic companies, have a choice of matching the Barbados standard or converging their tax rates even lower. A race to the bottom could be triggered. The success of the Barbados standard of a converged, low tax rate for IBC and domestic companies will be tested in the coming years. There is a risk that revenues to the government might decline. However, the expectation is that: first, the IBC business will increase; and second, the fiscal space that domestic companies will enjoy from much lower taxes will encourage them to invest in expanding their business and employing more people, rather than pocketing bigger profits. Dealing with these disruptive circumstances, because of external factors, cries out for collective regional action which, had it been taken in a timely manner, would have better placed every country to cope with them. The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the U.S. and the OAS and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com
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INSIGHT
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018 PAGE 11
Watch for the signals flagging child abuse WHETHER the abuse is a slap, a harsh comment, silence, or not knowing if there will be dinner on the table, the end result is a child that feels unsafe, uncared for and alone. Many abused or neglected children are too young to articulate what has happened to them, or to understand right from wrong. Even teenagers may not understand that it is illegal to be sexual with adults. When the abuser is a loved one, the dynamic may cause a great deal of psychological conflict for the victim and lead them to hide the abuse. Keep in mind that older children may not talk about the problem, because they fear or want to protect the offender. Or they do not believe they will be taken seriously. General symptoms of child abuse Certain general symptoms that may suggest a child is experiencing some type of abuse or neglect include: Slower-than-normal development. The child does not show the abilities and skills normally found in other children the same age, such as starting to talk or socialize with others. Some children regress, which means they slip backward, losing skills they had before. Failure to thrive - meaning the child is not gaining weight or height the way he or she should. Although this can be caused by a medical problem, it can also be a sign the child is not being well cared for. Unusual interaction with a parent. The parent may not be interested in the child. Or the child may be constantly trying not to upset the parent. The child may actually be afraid of the parent. Suddenly getting lower grades in school. Behaving in a way that is not appropriate or that causes problems. In a young child, this could mean being unusually fussy, being afraid, or not being interested in activities. Children often act out what they have seen or experienced, such as violence or sexual activity. Older children may act out in unusual ways, such as having sex, fighting, using drugs, or running away.
* Bleed through his or her pants Certain ways of behaving may also point to sexual abuse. These include: * Knowing more than he or she should about sex * Running away from home * Attempting suicide * Being involved with drugs or prostitution
Symptoms of physical abuse Children often get injured, but physical injuries may point to abuse when: * It is hard to see how they could have been caused by an accident. Suspicious injuries include * Injuries that have a pattern, such as a straight line or a circle * Injuries to areas of the body that usually are protected, such as the inside of the legs and arms, the back, the genitals, and the buttocks * The explanation for the injury changes. Or it is not a believable explanation * There are signs the child has been hurt before * The child does not receive medical care for his or her injury Emotional abuse means doing or saying things to hurt a child emotionally. For example, the adult may say things to make the child feel unwanted or worthless. A child who is emotionally abused may: * Not care much about what is going on around him or her * Not react normally to pain, other people, or changes in his or her life * Avoid a particular parent or caregiver * Act more fearful, angry, or sad than would seem normal * Not do well in school * Hurt himself or herself on purpose. Symptoms of sexual abuse A child with symptoms of recent sexual abuse may: * Not want to go to the bathroom * Show signs of discomfort or pain while sitting, urinating, or passing stools * Have discharge from the vagina or penis
Domestic and Family violence-Signs in childhood Children living in a family violence environment are living in a situation of fear, anxiety and unpredictability. They experience emotional and psychological trauma similar to children experiencing other forms of child abuse and neglect. Some will be directly targeted and may experience physical or sexual abuse as well as neglect. A child witnessing family violence is at risk of: behavioural and emotional difficulties, learning difficulties, long-term developmental problems, aggressive language and behaviour, restlessness, anxiety and depression. Help to prevent child abuse Anything you do to support kids and parents can help reduce the stress that often leads to abuse and neglect. By educating yourself and others you can help your community prevent child abuse and neglect from happening in the first place. The behaviour of children may signal abuse or neglect long before any change in physical appearance. If you suspect abuse or neglect may be occurring, REPORT IT. Be a nurturing parent. Children need to know that they are special, loved and capable of following their dreams. Learn about how children grow and mature and have realistic expectations of what your child can and cannot do. Help a friend, neighbour or relative. Being a parent is not easy. Someone you know may be struggling with his or her parenting responsibilities. Offer a helping hand- take care of the children, so the parent(s) can rest or spend time together. Help yourself. When the big and little problems of everyday life pile up to the
point you feel overwhelmed and out of control – take time out. Do not take it out on your kid. Take a deep breath. Turn on some music. Know who to call for help, and keep the numbers next to your phone. Respect kids. Treat them the same way you want to be treated. Get involved. Advocate for services to families. Help to establish parenting groups in your community. Ask your community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop services to meet the needs of healthy children and families. Promote programmes in schools. Teaching children, parents and teachers prevention strategies can help to keep children safe. Monitor your child’s television and video viewing. Watching violent films and TV programmes harms young children. It scares them, and teaches children that aggression is a good way to handle frustration and solve problems Report suspected abuse or neglect. Keeping children safe is the responsibility of every adult in the community. If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed report it to the appropriate authorities. Let us create safer commuinties. For more information, contact the national crime prevention office on 302-8430, 3028431, 3028154 or visit our website @ www.royalbahamaspolice.org
PAGE 12 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018
GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
Follow your dreams: Reflections from a first-generation college graduate
GAIN AN EDGE
A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
GOING to college is an exciting time, full of growth and exploration. It can also be frustrating and scary – especially if you are the first in your family to ever go to college. That’s because ‘first-generation’ students (a term used to describe those who are the first in their family to attend college), often have limited access to the important resources that can help make attending and graduating from college a reality. One of the goals of Lyford Cay Foundations is to increase the number of first-generation Bahamian students who have access to higher education. In fact, 89 percent of new Scholars earning Lyford Cay Foundations
awards this year were firstgeneration students. Grand Bahamian Latoya Coakley (’17), a Lyford Cay Foundations Scholar and a new graduate, is proud to be the first in her family to
achieve college graduation. Latoya admits it was not easy, but she believes that anyone can achieve their goals if committed. Here, Latoya shares what she learned on her first-gen adventure.
What college did you attend and what was your major? I attended Anderson College of Health Business and Technology in Toronto where I studied to be an occupational/ physical therapy assistant with a specialty in aquatic rehabilitation. I experienced one of my proudest moments when I graduated on November 14, 2018. What motivated you to go to college and was it a surprise to your friends and family? I was motivated to go to college after the birth of my son. I wanted to set an example for him to follow when he got older and I wanted to be able to offer him the best that life has to offer. My friends and family had mixed emotions. Some were pleasantly shocked and excited by my decision. Others felt it would be too much of a challenge for me with a toddler. Despite their feelings, they all supported my decision. What was the hardest part about going away to college? Settling in! I had to search for an apartment and learn a whole new environment. What was the most exciting part about going to college? Stepping on to my campus and going into my classroom for the very first time was the most exciting experience for me. I had hoped, prayed and believed for that moment for so long and finally it was a reality. I was one step closer to achieving my goals. What was it like learning in a different country? Toronto is a “melting
LATOYA COAKLEY, the first in her family to achieve college graduation pot.” It has a vast representation of many different cultures. They are welcoming to foreigners and I was excited to meet so many different people from so many different backgrounds. What’s next for you? I plan to further my education and training in Aquatic Rehabilitation and prepare to set up a business in The Bahamas. Healing is an art and my degree will make a difference in the lives of many individuals. I plan to use my knowledge to offer the Bahamian people private at-home therapy sessions for people who are handicapped or disabled by injury or disease.
tools and resources to assist me in my journey towards obtaining my degree. Dr Giavana Jones, Lyford Cay Foundations’ Director of Programmes, was awesome and would frequently check in to make sure that things were going okay and to see if I was having any challenges. When you feel overwhelmed, it really helps to have someone that shows that concern. Do you have any advice for others who will be the first in their families to pursue their college dreams?
What has it meant to be a Lyford Cay Scholar?
My advice would be to follow your dreams and let your passion burn brighter than your fears. Set goals, plan and prepare and watch your dreams become a reality.
To be a Lyford Cay Scholar has been a privilege and an honour. I felt a sense of pride knowing that I had been awarded a Scholarship. Years of hard work and dedication in school had finally paid off. As a Scholar, I was able to afford college. I was also able to receive beneficial
“Gain An Edge” is a collaboration of the Lyford Cay Foundations, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on higher education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia. net.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 26, 2018, PAGE 13
MORE AIRPORTS PLANNED FOR FAMILY ISLANDS By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
THE government still intends to build two new Family Island airports by way of public private partnership, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said on Friday. Exuma and North Eleuthera are to receive upgraded airports next, the minister said as he explained that those with the highest activity will be prioritised.
THE AIRPORT at Exuma.
He said he wants to begin one new facility every six months. More than eight months ago, Mr D’Aguilar told the House of Assembly of these plans. At the time he told Parliament each project could cost around $35m. The high cost presents a compelling case for the use of PPPs in this instance. The minister was asked on Friday about the state of airports in the country and how officials intended to keep up with better tourist arrivals, which they said
have been exceptional this year. “So as you know there are 28 airports in the Family Islands. There (are) a lot of airports,” he said.“The amount of funds to upgrade them all to world class level is beyond our budget. So we are in a systematic way gonna do the busiest airports first. “In 2011/2012 they did the Marsh Harbour airport. Based on a study that was done the next busiest one is Exuma. The one after that is North Eleuthera. So we are going to focus on those
two next. Exuma I think we are very close to finishing the design of that. We’re very close to putting that out to bid. Obviously to build these airports will require funds and so the government is exploring public private partnerships. “Going to these private sector companies and saying, ‘look we would like to develop this airport are you prepared to partner with us in coming up with the funds and leading the construction?’ “Because if you do one airport
at a time it will take forever. So my vision is we got to start Exuma and then six months later start North Eleuthera and that’s going to require a lot of funds in order to do that so we have to look to the private sector to see where they can assist in helping us to achieve our goal to deliver a much better airport product. “In many instances tourism and tourism infrastructure has outgrown the airport and we need a bigger airport to accommodate the growth.”
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 26, 2018, PAGE 15
Dames tells trainee correctional officers to resist corruption
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transitioning from penal to a correctional facility to concentrate on maximising the qualities of inmates within your care,� Mr Dames said. Mr Dames warned the new trainees about the temptations that will come before them and he encouraged them to listen to their conscience and to always do the right thing.
Commentary “When you live on an island seven by twenty-one there is a good chance that the next person stepping off the bus in cuffs may be your corner boy who you owe some money to, your (school mate) who beat you up on the last day of school, your family member, your church (member)...what are you going to do?� Mr Dames asked. “When revenge pushes you to cross professional boundaries to violate someone’s rights to humane and just treatment? What are you going to do when your corner boy wants a favour? There has been commentary in some sectors of the community attempting to justify the existence of corruption within the institutions like the prison.� He continued: “Yes it may be true that the salary of the job does not excite you, there are those who perceive that corrections officers are not real law enforcement officers, these persons believe that corrections officers are not held in the same highest esteem as other national security officers and therefore they should not be expected to
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uphold high standards or performance demanded in other areas of the security services. Let me be clear – there is no excuse for corruption.â€? He also said: “The Corrections Department is a close environment many things are hidden from the public scrutiny and the attitude of some in our society could deceive you into thinking that you can function with impunity within these walls. Do not be fooled I am challenging you today to stand up and resist the temptation to turn a blind eye, to abuse in corruption if and when you see it. Resist the offer to dishonestly earn your year’s salary in a month. “Plan now how you will respond when you hear who do you think you are and you aren’t better than us. Stand tall diligently fight against the forces that seek to quiet your inner conscience, your inner voice. “You need to remember that when officers become corrupt to the point of supporting the importation of contraband into the correctional centre, you are putting you and the whole department staff at risk. The contraband that you support today can become the weapon used against you or other staff members, not tomorrow but today. The money you earned from one wrong sale today may be held against you and your family for the rest of your life.â€? Over the past few years, several correctional officers have been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle drugs or other contraband into the Fox Hill facility.Â
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Marsh Harbour Healthcare Centre has a tortured history, one of missed deadlines and claims of shoddy of- workmanship, all without GOVERNMENT clear accountability. ficials commissioned the any The facility’s original Marsh Harbour Healthwent bankrupt. care Centre in Abaco yes- contractor the of Construction THURSDAY, terday, touting it as a longDECEMBER began centre 29, 2016 awaited boost to the island healthcare the former Ingraham TheTribune PRICE – $1 (Family and the Christie adminis- under Islands $1.50) tration’s National Health administration. When the Christie adInsurance plans. came to power, Like the Child and Ado- ministration renovating the $" ) (0-% Ś $1m the new health centre in lescent and Robert Smith it spent PRIME Minister Perry Christie tours SEE PAGE SIX Abaco yesterday. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff (CARS) Complex that was commissioned last year, the
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“Every Nobody Minnis with those whohomes last week. The Does it Better! their NEW PROVIDENCE Minister Dr Hubert en Rag- discussion battered has been destroyed. GRAND BAHAMA facilityABACO has been health on storm-strick Min- cane Irma 242.394.5555 residence Prime ELEUTHERA destroyed. The 242.350.3500teachers’ There is no water. and safety conditions EXUMA to deteriorate, urged the 18 been has been destroyed. The is 242.367.4204 no light. 242.332.3211 HEALTH the he smell242.336.2304 school will only continue destroyed. There about, you can yesterday as The in the afterged Island Minnis said to evacuate “As we walkcarcasses, dead animals. deister Dr Hubert on the island reduced will of dead stench(BAHAMAS) of the individuals remaining residentsIrma, which has REPORT LIMITED. INSURANCE we get them that of rubble and SPECIAL health conditions Russell, BROKERS & math of Hurricane it’s essential said. AGENTS there to piles Words: Khrisna W Carey www.Insuran ceManageme teriorate and most structures Dr Minnis the only ntBahamas.c Pictures: Terrel island unlivable. Dr Minnis to leaveom off this island,� for rendered the bly reluctant stay here,� saw for the understanda home, expressing concern “They cannot as A1MAIN Many were and a delegation and days ever known through said after he damage left by Irma place they’ve their residences, hurricane ripped first time the the safety of Five monster will have about personal belongings. We Category smell behind. the by the after island. “They are concerned may have lefthere and the Defence exacerbated of all esmaterials they the small southern a vessel the same physical condition, the destruction still whatever Force dispatch the cleanup and at The island’s carcasses and strongly urge those the Defence said. Dr Minnis of rotting animalled Dr Minnis to small community can Force will try to commence THREE security,�Established PAGE is SEE the there 1903 services, that until sential time ensure Island to leave has been on Ragged Ragged Island and be restored. to the residents; a walk through “I’ve spoken Minnis said following i’m lovin’ it! Dr devastated,�
FOREIGN former employees of Baha Mar will be paid by the government appointed Claims Commit-
FORCED COUPLE TO STOP CAR
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunem edia.net
CHIEF Superintendent Clayton Fernander, in-charge of the officerDetective Unit, Central drivers yesterday warned to tra cautious� after be “exmen forced a couple armed to stop their vehicle in the of the road before middle shooting and killing the driver. Chief Supt Fernander said police believe armed robbery may be the for the killing. He motive incident could havesaid the “happened to anyone�. The murder took place shorty after 9pm day in the area on Tuesof nium Gardens, off MillenWilliams Darling Tonique and brought the Highway, murder count to country’s 109 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. Chief Supt Fernander tee next month, said the victim, committee mians, identiChairman James Smith said former most of the foreign fied by police as Kendrick yesterday. employees Simms, was driving ceive all that is duewon’t reSince the money his wife, when anotherwith to Mr Smith said theythem. pulled en on an ex-gratia was givcar will, basis by however, ahead the China Export-Import receive a “high ing them to of them forcstop. figure�. Bank (EXIM) and “The man was tended primarily was indrivfor BahaSEE PAGE FIVE ing through Millennium SEE PAGE FIVE
PARTIAL PAYMENT FOR
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemed ia.net
FOREIGN BAHA MAR STAFF
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certain neighbourhoods� and the suggestion to do By NICO SCAVELLA is “emotional and makes so no do much more to “fully Tribune Staff Reporter DESPITE the country sense�. derstand this senseless unnscavella@tribunemedia. His comments came recording 13 homicides net of killings,� and have set law 13 days, Commissioner in hours after the country reof corded its 27th homicide PRIME Minister Perry enforcement respond “as Police Ellison Greenslade Christie yesterday likened quickly as possible� and in the year. Seven people for said the Bahamas is not have a “very meaningful way� the Bahamas’ crime in ROLLE a state of “crisis� and in been killed since Friday. situation to the “Wild West,� their crime fighting efforts. By RASHAD Reporter On Monday afternoon, average Bahamian can the These efforts, Mr Chrisconas he said the recent Tribune Staff wave emedia.nettinue to “go about their day police also reported that a of murders in the capital tie suggested, would likely rrolle@tribun man was stabbed outside as normal day� without include dedicating the an establishment must solicit a “major� Nottage’s fear be on Nassau and stantial� number a “subof being attacked. DR Bernard forever “continuous� effort by Manwill At a press conference Street while two men were his ers to patrol the of officEmergency acti“footprints the Bahamian administration streets of shot while in the The National to “flood New Providence at police headquarters t etched on tal landscape� after they agement Agency (NEMA) on Ross Corner. These area of the streets� with officers and sithe police managemen in multaneously giving victims developmen work asMonday a for- after a weekend of were said to cations with from entering the vated its emergency evacuation a bid to do “all that is necesthem be in stable “carnage�, and an Commissioner condition A DORSETT through his of the Bahawere blocked sary to bring this madness “the capacity to interdict at the Kenplan yesterday in hospital. SANCHESK the said movements the mer president of Greenslade only area. were also shelter was established soto Athletic of peopleBy a halt�. at the Commissioner Staff Reporteret lution to the country’s crime mas Association Several persons with respira- dal G L Isaacs Gymnasium Mr Christie, speaking on the streets,� incorporat- Tribune bunemedia.n Greenslade said Centre s, the Bahamas problem to the hospital Association , theis to “keep prolific ply not enough it is simElizabeth Sports with reporters yesterday, ing more reserve police of- sdorsett@tri during Gar- rushed offenders for people on Queen as a shelter Medical Association S in Jubilee tory complaints. said the “madness� occur- ficers, and “if necessary� and as a behind bars�. He to “point the finger Tribune arrivedwere which was used Union said - for displaced RESIDENT to evacuate their the at the incorporating Royal afMinDoctors’ When The Bahamas Royal Baharing is due to gang activity residents forced police in times of crisis� last hurricane consumer FORMER Prime Police Force remas Defence Force marines dens were after a massive the scene, severaltheir roofs, as the the minister for and retaliation. health and (RBPF) is not yet refuse to “manage to accept the believed on landfill ister Perry Christie homes yesterday their a defeat, was as I did when I the dump is smaller homes. residents. fairs, education, considering Providence thick, pouring water Opposi- implementing He said the past bloody in policing efforts. The fire at by a for it arrears, into in closer to their pictured yesterday. W. a curfew fire at the New or “locking down SEE PAGE THREE COMMISSIONER Mr Christie also said national security, who was in sponsibility response to blaze grew Parliament for Tall to have been started Road. “Brave� weekend is a “shocking Photo: Terrel of Police Ellison Greenslade he blanketed the community of airport tenant described recent resigned,� he said in Trail Leader Philip would assistlevelled Fire speaking e Staff smoke. tion be conference also off Member speaking at a press development� that will as yesterday. with black hazardous bush fire the criticism recent Carey/Tribun Miller was Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune reion from accusations Mr Christie Davis said Wednesday. in questions on the Royal Bahamas Pines Leslie in hosing down their 71, died Staff quire the government TWO AND THREE administrat e spending, misfea- moves made by the government SEE PAGE THREE entrance pandering at his administration Members of to SEE PAGES Dr Nottage, the Cleveby a party blocked the visibility ing residentsproviding transportaof irresponsibl WELLS at a “misstep� Police Force as By RICARDO Reporter Wednesday He will receive homes and who needed help. any thought sance and cronyism. that weeks. By RICARDO WELLS he was “disap- to its base. the subdivision was never residents to said those Clinic. acceptfor maintained Angry Tribune Staff “There also land being tion was the three most recent He zero. in arrangenemedia.net that I Tribune relating Mr Christie inci- a double shooting Staff Reporter dropped to by the allegations govin verbal alterrwells@tribu a state funeral announced, documents s would on my part ty for any degree dents, which have left on Ross By LAMECH Per- pointed�around by the new berwells@tribunemedia.net a review of one became involved irrements to ing responsibili of human trafficking. man dead and three others Corner yesterday, lamented Tribune Staff JOHNSON Prime Minister tossed matters that to these two controversie the press secion of any whatsoever of criminality, FORMER fire off Fire Reporter Suppression Act, Chapter the “too bold� as according to Office of the the notion James Coakley, 53, administrat yesterday condemned ernment concerning a smaller bush to the city his last term the country and po- in hospital in serious condi- crimes occurring nature of ljohnson@tribunemedia.net of 106. absolve his and prove that much sponsible spending andbare’ is just ry Christie spread retary for the AS Anthony have ed by Cargill Creek, Andros Minnis administra- transpired during tion. in the caplice Movement fre- Trail Road that blanketed Jubilee is as noth- that ‘the cupboard is wrongdoing efforts by the his government in The former ital recently, as he insisted Prime Minister, continue to grapple was brought before fire the Officer-in-charge prime minister.at accusations from of the FNM’s rhetoric slogans.� the Free National A MAN appeared with the latest spate of areas in Chief also charged boxer was to prevent dump. The tion to portray as he challenged flees from in Magistrate Newbold. vio- Central Detective of the that a “handful of prolific Magistrate’s “political political slogans.� with Hitting back Minnis adminisA DORSETT light, YOUNGSTER done enough the New Providence Gardens and surrounding PAGE SIX lent SEEcrimes, ing more than challenges I have Unit, offenders� remain the Court yester- son-Pratt Joyann Fergu- counts of rape filed three SEE PAGE THREE a negative leader to carry out a law enforceat and threatened A at the New Providence By SANCHESK under hell-bent day accused of members of Reporter to answer to two Section quent fires have caused some of thick, black smoke the controvergovernment officials are seeking Chief Superintendent Clay- on terrorising officials fire “One of the the nation’s te examination of the sexually as- counts were asked et Tribune Staff 6(a) of the Sexual prompting who led the $8m to issues. the public. ton Fernander, speaking of trafficking in pertration concerning Landfill that Many residents saulting a woman during bunemedia.n the public’s assistance several homes, of more thanclean up as the person led the government to “dispassiona Offences Act, Chapter sdorsett@tri in the media on the to develop respiratory sial pay out 99. It and who SEE PAGE THREE SEE PAGE THREE the Christmas holidays. sons contrary to Section is alleged came as a masscene of Jubi- them record�. interview at one vendor for hurricane that he engaged in to an ment owners in Their comments at the landfill, She is alleged to be a victim 3(1)(a) of the Trafficking off of $1.2m During a lengthy raging ANGRY home home on Thursin Persons Prevention was startand the write yesterday expressed sive fire was SEE PAGE SIX and his Cable Beach defended his lee Gardens concern that neither which officials believe nor day, Mr Christie disgust and Liberal Party the Progressive energy. solar, to produce of agreeof Works heads The By RICARD MINISTER said the governcases of im- Tribune St challenges, Desmond Bannister ment requires to “address enced alleged concerns� pressed certain and BPL delayed officials solicitROLLE migration from migrants rwells@trib today marks which he suggestedof docu- he has “serious Power and ment and consistent By RASHAD Reporter By AVA TURNQUEST WHILE By SANCHESKA DORSETT of Staff with Bahamas to “keep the reliable of electricity on the for both sit- the submission ing bribes The bill will allow Tribune beatings Tribune deadline Chief the THE o ability supply the Tribune Staff Reporter Reporter an law as it placed emedia.net tellProvidence, Light’s and alleged prisoners in commissioner of police, former parliarrolle@tribun aturnquest@tribunemedi are chal- lights on this summer,� of island of New or a ity solely in the author- sdorsett@tribunemedia.n ting and to file financial ments. of the B the abilia.net person acting migrants and hands of et Among these the lack on his behalf, the independent will include finanStates has mentarians Public Discloyesterday ing The Tribuneprevent the whichmeet the requirements with obtaining judiciary, THE United Bahamas custody. the Ministry continued ATTORNEY General to obtain a warrant from a adding that may ty to disclosures, Chair- lenges from spouses, POLICE are investigatthe Yesterday, the cial records in situations reliability highlighted Allyson Maynard-Gibson Supreme Court judge to in- international the ICB met ing the from fulfilling of the project.� “intimida- of Foreign Affairs said � lays, mis sure Commission ’s circumstances surthe instalLaroda told tercept and examine standards requireoper- government government “inaccurate yesterday defended the mental This involves supporting man Myles yesterday that particularly and “no In- son’s communicationsa per- and also addressed recent rounding the death of a Mar all the necessary they may have report had all (INCL. VAT) “incomtion of non-govern terception of Communicato from criticisms lation “of The Tribunestill some that wherebank accounts prior ments in the Baha gered op three-year-old boy who s� and efforts and in some cases . re necessary was ated organisation tions Bill as an important telecommunications opera- Devices of the Listening found unresponsive and authere were tire prop He said there heads of agreement.he is al- infrastructu g�. plete� information in a car an incident year sh by the government that SEE PAGE FIVE anti-crime tool that would tors, internet providers and Council. Act by the Privy in front are “outstandin yesterday, to marriage. inhibit “free some unwilling-n He added of his daycare yesReferring to Minpostal services. at new, althorities to enhance the privacy of criminal Education In an interview in his dis- was also Izmirlia She said any suggestion terday afternoon. lawready “looking including and apprehensio said In a statement yesterday, Fitzgerald or� to th for in which speech through abiding citizens rather ways,� Mr Laroda some persons ness that the The body of the toddler as problems than ister Jerome SEE PAGE THREE ternative libel laws� encroach upon it, as detrac- Mrs Maynard-Gibson ex- “spying legislation was a was discovered its latest Howe cussions with SEE PAGE 12 to make bill� was false. plained that this move shortly afBahamas in required the tors are claim. exwas who ter 2pm on Monday report. they unprecedented in Bahamiby a human rights also referSEE PAGE FIVE the disclosures, The report SEE PAGE SIX
ced to leave Residents for ic fumes to escape tox
• CALLS FOR REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS
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ATTACKS EX-BOXER ON RAPE, TRAFFICKIN G CHARGES
ATTORNEY GENERAL: INTERCEPTI ON BILL BOY, 3, FOUND WILL ENHANCE PRIVACY, NOT HARM IT DEAD IN CAR
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G concern ADMITTIN Bernard Notin over what Dr have battled last tage may his isolation during Prime Minisdays, former yesterday for ter Perry Christie admiration the expressed forth by the effort put security to former national the build-up minister in election. the May general from his Breaking away since being public silence office in hisof a voted out last month, toric fashion Mr Christroubled his visibly portions of his tie detailed with last conversation and longfriend childhood colleague on political time Thursday. Centreville The former Nottage as Dr MP saw “fought tewho someone throughout his naciously� he loved and life for thosetrait he said he a supported, up to their display on saw . last conversation PAGE SIX By SANCHESKA DORSETT SEE Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.n et
SEE PAGE SIX
DR PERRY GOMEZ
By AVA TURNQUE ST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@t ribunemedia.n et WATER and Sewerage Corporation Adrian Gibson Chairman yesterday confirmed the existence of a “do not list populateddisconnect� by scores of elites at the government owned utility provider as he pledged initiate a crackdown to on delinquent accounts. Mr Gibson told The Tribune the list� held “confidential 221accounts with a combined , total of $175,000 for ending June the period 2017. He said that he plans to direct the corporation to notify all persons owing excessive arrears to resolve debts or face disconnectio n. “There is dential list,� a list confiIsland MP said.the Long “In fact, I that all the would think over the last corporations year or two, and more particularly May of this in year, there has been tion paid toclose attenthat list by the managemen t with a view to changing the way those lists usually operate. “As it stands, this confidential list of persons has a number on it, and really and truly used to notify it’s being courtesy call persons by I can say too or letters. chairman of that as the the corporation I am going that all personsto direct excessive arrears owing who are SEE PAGE EIGHT
By RASHAD Tribune Staff ROLLE prepared. rrolle@tribun Reporter By SANCHESK During a emedia.net A DORSETT address fromlive national Tribune Staff Reporter homicides WITH as his office sdorsett@tri the guarding the well as safefore- last night, Dr cast for Hurricane bunemedia.n residents of et Minnis Fox Hill. Maria said: “Hurricane projecting the ACTING Maria is Commission storm to pass another During a near the Southeast of Police Anthony potentially er walkabout dev- son Fergu- Fox Hill on Tuesday, Baha- astating hurricane in mas Friday that we the announced yesterday Commission Acting Minister Dr morning, Prime must carefully monitor.� establishme Hubert Minnis Ferguson nt of two said the er He added: is urging residents Though most separate Royal Anti-Gang Bahamas Firearms of those of the Bahamas and islands to was spared Police Force anti-crime tigation Tracing and Invesbe vigilant units aimed and Unit will operate SEE PAGE TWO gang activity at eliminating out of the Central Detectry, reducing in the coun- tive Unit (CDU) the number while the of SEE PAGE 11
INSURANCE MANAGE MENT
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WELLS By RICARDO Reporter Tribune Staff nemedia.net rwells@tribu
the holiday would on the actual date be observed of the historic event, Tuesday, January The change in the 10. public holiday calendar has been perceived by many as an attempt by the government to strike success of a seconda blow to the event by We March Bahamas.
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Covering The Bahamas for . it must be abandoned as Hurri40 years. is so devastated the island Ragged Island remained on home has
WIPEOUT: Prime
Christie denies claims on spending
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By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business utility operator Editor nhartnell@tr ing to “walk is quite willibunemedia.n away� from et maximum $25m, five-yearit BAHAMA BPL Light’s (BPL)S Power & if themanagement contract board and hold a “crunchboard will administrati Minnis on with PowerSecur meeting� The meeting,wish it to go. with the outcome e today, be attended which will ical in deciding likely crit- executives by PowerSecure and their attorneys latter remains whether the from the US, is viewed as manager. Multiple Tribune CLEOLA as key to determining Business sources whether HAMILTON OBIE yesterday two sides will “kiss and the confirmed $6,118 make up� or WILCHCOMBE that the DAMIAN US FULL separate. $4,911 STORY - SEE GOMEZ BUSINESS NINE individuals $3,413 July. The sums named on the BPL “do HURRICANE not disconnect� do not include any payments list INSURANCE: made or furtherand the amount they owed at the end of debt incurred since that date. Are you Covered
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former Progres- close to sources sive Liberal the Party Cabinet Monday Mr matter, as of ministers owed Wells has since more than paid $9,000 on $20,000 each his accounts at Bahamas with an outstanding Power and Light, balformer minister with one ance of some $8,600. The source for some $60,000 in arrears also said as ARNOLD as of July, of Monday according to FORBES a list obtained in talks withMr Forbes was by The Tribune. $62,023 to settle the the company The Credit and Collec- a three-monthbalance over tions Department period. Mr listing of Forbes, former MPs, senators PLP Mount and board Moriah MP, members for the period to Cabinet was appointed ending July in January that former 31, revealed and previously served 2015, State Minister chairman as the in the Ministry of the Bahamas Agricultura of Works Arnold Forbes l and Industrial owed BPL Corporation. $62,023.14. Others on The list obtained the “do not Tribune contains by The disconnect� list are: former Minister delinquent accounts of Health of six Perry Gomez, former Dr former PLP Cabinet minisPines MP Tall ters, two former Leslie Miller, PLP MPs, former Minister two private of one sitting entities, and Dr Danny Johnson, Youth former Cabinet min- Nassau Village ister: Bamboo MP Dion Renward Wells. Town MP Smith, former Tourism Minister Obie Mr Wells, Wilchcombe DR DANIEL , $9,277.07 and who owed former South Beach MP JOHNSON two separate $3,703.96 at Cleola Hamilton $24,413 $12,981.03 in locations - former Minister of and total – did not for Legal State want to comment Affairs Damian yester- Gomez. day, and the other former SEE PAGE EIGHT
Newspaper
Newspaper
‘We will still march without permission’
‘STAY VIGILANT’ AS ZIKA CASE TOTAL RISES TO 25
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UNLIVEABLE ANCE AND BEAUT
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seats: Encaptured four Island and Cat were spent under to South Aners’ dollars administration. glerston; 1,900 votes and San Salvador; Christie the win with is evidence 2017 the as well as Exuma By SANCHESKA A DORSETT Mr Christie’s 1,875. unofHe said if there�, the new dros VIRGIL ELECTION Islands. DORSETT By SANCHESK Reporter to the Tribune Staff Reporter By KHRISNA Reporter the same route as seat, Fox According the the Ragged of “criminality et planned� even Tribune Staff from the Parwill allow SPEAK An additional being resdorsett@tribunem Deputy Chief without the government’s bunemedia.n ganiser Ranard Henfield ficial results Registration government course. THE PEOPLE edia.net nemedia.net sdorsett@tri PAGE 4 was still permis- that “after revealed nounced its kvirgil@tribu sion. his Hill, law to take several weeks of last month that the to press time. and liamentary t, Mr Chipman after ON’ back planned a decounted up DESPITE being In an interview and forth� the Cabinet his parMoments DNA ‘TO GO PAGE 5 march to mark the PLP IN a surprisingat the Departmen out of 12 pollwith The Tribdenied the as the na- This marked the worst in Office on anniversary AFTER leadinglandslide use of Rawson 50th defeat party won seven maiden speech Minand Parliament une, Mr Bostwick II said “there Wednesday rejected the group’s of Majority Rule. LOSE humbling leader, Dr Prime Min- ing divisions in the former Squares ty to a stunning feat for a governing will be no compromise� application to protest for a protest This latest development Mr tion’s next PLP BIG NAMESPAGE 7 dealing a parapolls, outgoing that under recent history. in Rawson and the and Parliaments Rule Day in January,on Majority group will “not is yet victory and to the ProgresChristie lost PLP stronghold, while will nis promised victory came MPS ister Perry Squares because another set back for the organiBahamians The FNM’s won five. Bahamas organiser We March attempt towardbe deterred by this the “event lysing blow Party last night, years the Centreville his watch, YOUR PROJECTED conflicts with another sation that planned to protest fascist his seat in last night by Christie John Bost- and a rocky five PAGE 9 to fear from Mr Christie wick sive Liberal on II said yesterday Monday, January the abuse of our coercion event� already booked In 2012, have nothing , pointing to despite contwo challengPrime Minister constituency representing the demon- constitutional 9 - the original rights and date. for that observance SO FAR incoming that included the Centrevillestration declared government “will go on as planned, after leadership, said won the RESULTS 14 he eighth votes freedoms�. Minnis 40 date 25 the PAGE Dr Minnis’ of a fracn, which on Dr Hubert more than In a post on Facebook, Progressive Majority Rule Day.announced for stituency for time with have abused victimisatio tional� “im- es to the area for Liberal to unoflead or- Chairman Party that those who trust “have continued reports ultimately However, earlier consecutive He defeated is “unconstitu MORE COVERAGE Bradley Roberts of years, according party and the post this month it “wrong�. PAGES 2-18 positions an- was announced 2,950 votes. moral� and to unofficial tured Ella to fear�. ficial results. in Parliament that removal from has held the FNM’s candidate the Opsomething to thousands of According Christie able his Official at the Mr was of FNM 1977 and Lewis by 1,349 votes Speaking at the Q House today. results, the stunning defeat of leader in the House of won all the the seat since a pledged that jubilant supporterslast night, ment Mr Christie leader of Dr Minnis on will give to pull off securing a mas- position has been Liberal Party time. polling division in E Sports Centre but one administrati Terrance of the PLP, constituencies. Assembly. a long fought National MoveProgressive “This was victory is not the Free also announced his General 34 of 39 a 2012. sive Reg1997. it ry the Auditor since released but Prime ment leader be sworn in as AVA the resources former is yours,� Although he Bythe The Parliamenta t did battle, TURNQUEST loss, The aboutTribune Chief the islands of Bimini his seat to that he will fourth prime Bastianto probe how taxpay- istration Departmen re- mine - the victory thousands Reporter Minister lost Movement statement didaturnquest@tribun and not speak full election last Dr Minnis told on the carEleuthera, bringing The Bahamas’ at Govern- needs Christie not release 5pm the toemedia.net tal Free National packed with the and po- Mr minister at to 25 confirmed SEE PAGE SIX candidate sults last night, in from the of FNMs By cases (FNM) SANCHESKA DORSETT Reece nationwide. nival grounds. people’s time HEALTH officials numbers coming Tribune Staff Reporter litical newcomer agency around “This is the “This is like a lull, terday urged residentsyesand I who secured government from the and I am your servant quiet sdorsett@tribunemedia.net Chipman, to period,� Dr remain vigilant McMillan 11pm. However it apagainst SEE PAGE THREE vironmental factors en- “We continue to get said. unofficial numbers, samFORT that ples as they the PLP only conbreedof the mosquitoes send them in for Dr Andre Charlotte MP peared that despite Rollins “The outcome the inspire “lull� intrust local transmis- testing but we have no fur- night that “there said last according to vention did not ther cases, which sioninofthe will be no theBahalast Zika virus. Mark Humes is good. disciplinary results, said coming afor confidenceDirector but that’s of Public Health We’re still monitoring and against the action� taken “obvious� mian electorate sweeping defeat residents unofficial seven doing our surveillance. Dr Pearl think that it is ROLLE tional Movement Free Nanow and IMcMillan yesterhave stood behind us day they night ter Fort Charlotte “I think we have By RASHAD Reporter MPs who told him party would wonderfulthat there has aconfirmed been ousted party winning the the party have repeatedly lead- the progressing well and Tribune Staff stand the any a better chance been no as it relates Hubert Minnis Leader Dr to rebuild emedia.net new con- to could not he been victori- opportunity as leader rrolle@tribun getting the message firmed cases of the country per- election had since the deitself,� he said. leadership out the Official Opposition, of there and persons partment’s press for for- ership despite their beous in the PLP’sadding that reengineer heeding cause there is no release on it. SIX longer, him. AS HE called This Zika thing December legal basis THE REBEL SEVEN of, SEE PAGE RASPBERRY 5, which Minister Perry sonal affection for was pro- race in January, for such a move. made a mistake� mer Prime ard Lightbourn, Lorettafrom left, Hubert Chipman, Edison Key, the number of cases raised down in July, which came who ICED TEA “the party resign as leader is when RichMr Sears, He added that Butler-Turner, Neko in New we usually Christie to Andre Rollins. Providence from a to the Free Na- in choosing Mr Christie. Liberal Grant, Theo Neilly, get lose our to first 22 to 23. and case objection has been formal Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Al- jected Movement’s (FNM) of the Progressive There is one case last night, SEE PAGE SIX against “the bogus lodged solidify widespread support Staff each on the tional Party (PLP) FNM’s Executive said he saw levelled against himcharges� around a new leader.� Commitfred Sears tee would His remarks came six other members and the in an because not have a case of Parlia- e-mail ment who took the group’s actions in response to quespart “were consistent action of removing in the tions from The Tribune. constitutionally with the Dr Rollins echoed nis from the post. Dr Minprotected Dr Rollins sentiments the said a growing of Long Island right of parliamentarians to number of MP recall a parliamentary FNMs are admitting Loretta lead“that and St Anne’sButler-Turner er when they the best course of MP Hubert confidence no longer have the party to take action for Chipman, who last in his/her ability under present circumstances the said the if the matter week to lead.� were is to to be taken to court, the SEE PAGE THREE
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FIREFIGHTERS yesterday battled a large blaze at the New Providence Landfill, nearly three weeks after tackling a massive fire at the city dump that burned for nearly a month. Officer in Charge of Fire Services, Chief Superintendent Walter Evans said the current fire is “not connected� in any way to the previous blaze and at this time officials do not know PRIME Minister what caused the fire. HowDr Hubert Minnis meeting ever Environment Minister Kendera Woodside, the mother of Kenred Dorsett told remurdered Eugene Woodside. he RASHAD porters at the siteBythat TribuneinStaff ROLLE suspected “sabotage� Three Reporter rrolle@tribun He said emedia.net Photo: Yontalay relation to the fire. after murder that days the Bowe team he “instructed� the struggle withpushed the country’s composure. THE the hugs and have Dr Minnis said of firefighters towords comforting the national violent crime into he felt the fam- Each citizen has of Prime ily’s spotlight yet “before a responsibilit blaze extinguished Minister Dr her pain remained and again, even pain. “What makes Hubert y our countries. Minnis and today and me feel has whatever information worse is that nomination day� “He ain’t even acute. Patricia we must bring Yes one most we see in Minnis couldn’this wife God,� Baha Mar’s live a life, certainly beforethe that forward. mother more than I feel for this the yard, of those These criminals my answer Mrs I can say.� questions Dr Minnis opening on Friday. that consumed “He’s a baby. Woodside cried. my years as a medicalI, during Mrs Minnis, live among us.� said he will Kendera shortly Woodside yesterday medical attention doctor, to ensure The blaze started breath right I could give my the family who emphasised Mrs she grieved is provided andfor as baby now just for that Woodside, after 3am Wednesday her to her ance appearyear-old before said officEugene, whoson, eight- my to be right here. They my “You can see who is pregnant. Chief Supt Evans political move,them was not a heart out my take was killed four theago. the grieving fire body. ers expect to battledays to wear black called on women pain she’s going through,� and “This my “Why but daythese for at least another people ain’t he almost shoot only son. They in mourning one day this week said. “I assured her ing a “huge� tellthat somefor my daughter time today they he said the wind isme “As a mother, murder victims. (Friday) too right now?� bringing my son and they inside (the medical personnel we will have I’m calling factor. house) with she cried between me. What all mothers screams they do to come because I upon after her as SIX SEE PAGE Dr Minnis my family? believe mothers because she’sto look really console the tried to What they do to us? would’ve delivered nant. can family at their “Why they most of them said Mrs Minnis, who stop this,� her I have to make surepregbud Road home where Rose- live 29 years, ain’ carry me? I so they are closer to and that was her unborn tearful me knowing at times. “We have was shot by Eugene they are my He’s a baby.� infant are our sons who both well and we former patients,� a stray bullet we cradle Tonio Woodside, Monday as Minnis, a gynaecologi will also make on father, arrangemen Dr become from birth and as he did his homework. Eugene’s ts to make they consoled men we are st by fession, said. sure the as he struggled his wife even still with necessary medical “The messagepro- them. We have personnel we them. to speak with look after her to maintain must send to the entire I think all is the police Bahamas women should regular basis and see her on a can’t fight this wear alone. and black one day this of her and herto ensure the safety week mourn what’s unborn infant.� happening in SEE PAGE TWO PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts lashed out at his former party colleague Vincent Peet last night, accusBy NEIL HARTNELL ing the former North AnTribune Business so alarmed dros and Berry Islands MP Editor by the Caribnhartnell@tr bean Financial ibunemedia.n of being a “political enemy� Action Task By RASHAD ROLLE et Force’s (CFATF) Tribune Staff THE Attorney who mounted an independreIn June, Reporter ONE of the leaked emails showing a draft rrolle@tribun Gen- report on The he told Pareral yesterday ent campaign because he Sciliament emedia.net quest from Minister of Education, slammed that he instructed Bahamas the deficiencies denied a nomination was cost Fitzgerald. Bahamians Jerome to in his staff the nation’s to begin work ence and Technology BRENSIL anti-money of from the governing party. Rolle, min- increases such laundering the flaws from on addressing ister of public was $10,149,738. regime as Speaking to PLP supfor Limolink in The The revision “entirely unacservices and clientele with which his agent Mr Bethel early June. ceptable�, warning You are encour- porters at a rally in North blasted the said National Insurance, he included comes after limousine company was fa- Bahamas. between put The Bahamas they had former Christie more aged to get a reference from Andros last night, Mr Robmiliar. “in great tration for failing adminis- 2016 and May December 1,700 workers that werethan if erts said “this is war� as danger�. 2017, the in his original not regard the the president of Viacom “Also withA1MAIN known weaknesses to tackle public purse count. Carl Bethel wish. Please feel free he urged the crowd to vote ballooned Amid the told Trib- necessary urgency. with the $16,532,738 because limousine business we you by une Business contact me personally for incumbent Dr Perry Liberal Party’sProgressive of he had been FULL Christie are ready to meet with to administrati the of the criticism have your agents contact Gomez, adding that a vote STORY - SEE on’s Minnis your people anytime,� he or the BUSINESS hiring of new public Mr Porter our Managing for Mr Peet is a vote for service tion because ofadministraworkers during writes. its firings Free National Movement. directly.� that period. “As indicated we really Director SEE PAGE SIX SEE PAGE SIX only cater to highend cusSEE PAGES TWO & THREE official the tomers and are
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NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames urged 54 new trainee correctional officers to resist corruption and the smuggling of contraband to inmates inside the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. A commencement service was held on Friday welcoming the new trainee correctional officers to the team. During his remarks, National Security Minister Marvin Dames expressed his excitement for the trainees, but warned them of the important job they now hold and the need to not give into pressure to make fast money or to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing inside the facility. Mr Dames said: “I’m truly honoured to share in this special occasion when 54 trainee correctional officers will join the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. “I applaud you for embracing change to assist with the transformation of lives and provide a hope for new beginning to the offenders that you will oversee. “Squad of 2018, when we were preparing to recruit new officers, a stringent vetting process was implemented that included academic qualifications, a background check, a medical examination and a psychological assessment to ensure that we enlisted the most qualified candidates who would adopt the policies of a correctional institution. “I am advised that you are the first cohort of trainees to receive instructions in dynamic security as a separate training module.� According to Mr Dames, research reveals that a positive staff inmate relationship plays an integral role in the cognitive change process of offenders. “Therefore, they are looking forward to you developing right relationships with inmates that will inspire them to live their best lives. “Squad of 2018 as I stated earlier you are joining the organisation at a time when the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services is
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THE TRIBUNE
MAN ARRESTED FOR THEFT OF COPPER WIRE IN EIGHT MILE ROCK By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was arrested for stealing copper from a business in the Eight Mile Rock area last week, police reported. According to ASP Terecita Pinder, the arrest was made shortly after 9am when officers from the Eight Mile Rock division, acting on information, went to the Harbour West Plaza where they caught man in the act of stealing copper wire. The man was arrested and the investigation continues.
Drugs In other crime news, police discovered a quantity of dangerous drugs worth $6,000 in the Freeport area. According to reports, shortly before 3pm on Thursday, November 22, officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit, acting on information, proceeded to Sergeant Major Road where they found a plastic bag containing six pounds of
what is suspected to be marijuana concealed in bushes. No arrest was made, but police are investigating the matter. Police also said five men who were wanted on outstanding warrants of arrest for serious court matters were arrested. And a police operation launched on November 22 resulted in the arrest of eight persons for outstanding warrants and one drug arrest. On Friday, A 28-yearold Freeport man was arrested for breaking into a shop in the downtown Freeport area. ASP Pinder reported that shortly before 4am officers of the Central Detective Unit, acting on information, went to a business where they observed a man coming out through a broken front glass door with items, suspected to have been stolen. The man fled on seeing officers but was captured, and the stolen items were recovered. The man is known to police and investigations are continuing into the matter.
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PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis received the ‘Alumnus of The Year Award’ from his alma mater during Saint Augustine’s College Alumni Association’s inaugural Lighthouse Awards & Gala Ball at the British Colonial Hilton on Saturday, November 24. Pictured from left are Osbourne Moxey, Class of ‘96; Dr Minnis; Cherelle Cartwright, president, SAC Alumni Association; and Phelice Jones, chairperson, Gala Ball. (BIS Photo/Yontalay Bowe)
HONOREES from St Augustine’s College Alumni Association’s inaugural Lighthouse Awards & Gala Ball on Saturday. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, pictured centre, was named ‘Alumnus of the Year.’ His wife, Patricia Minnis is pictured centre left, along with other award winners. (BIS Photo/ Yontalay Bowe)
PM: I wanted to drop out, but my mother insisted I finish school By LINDSAY THOMPSON
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis received top honours from his alma mater during Saint Augustine’s College Alumni Association’s inaugural Lighthouse Awards & Gala Ball at the British Colonial Hilton on Saturday. The association views the awards as the first step in galvanising SAC alumni talent, and recognising those held in high regard for contribution to the development of the country in various areas. The prime minister received the ‘Alumnus of the Year Award’. Following the ceremony, he said he wished his mother was able to witness the event. He credited both his parents, but especially his mother for encouraging him to complete high school, when he wanted to drop out at 10th grade because it was financially difficult to complete. “My mother insisted that I finish and (be the
Dr Hubert Minnis receives SAC’s ‘Alumnus of the Year’ award first of her children to go to college),” Dr Minnis said. He noted that when he started SAC it was an all boys school, and after girls started attending, the monks admonished them to be gentlemen. He also credited SAC administration for instilling discipline in its students. Dr Minnis was born in Bain Town to Rosalie North and Randolph Minnis on April 16, 1954. He earned his early education at Our Lady’s Primary and Western Junior Schools, and secondary education at St Augustine’s College, which he graduated from in 1971. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in the US with a bio-chem degree and a MBBS degree in medicine from the University of the West
Indies; he further matriculated in London. He is a member of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (MRCOG) and a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FRCOG). The prime minister also once served as a consultant and head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and deputy chief of staff at the Princess Margaret Hospital. He established a stellar career in private and public medicine having delivered an estimated 5,000 babies. He is married to the former Patricia Beneby, and has three children. A Junkanoo enthusiast and member of the Saxons Superstars Junkanoo group, he is often seen rushing on Bay Street during the Boxing Day
and New Year’s Day Junkanoo parades. Other Lighthouse honourees were: Oscar Francis, Alumni Achievement/Sports (posthumous); Bishop J Rodney Roberts, SAC Spirit Award (posthumous); Eugene “Geno” Nairn, Lifetime Achievement Award; Kiki Davis Carter, Entertainment; Frederick Albury, Alumni Achievement/Business; Dr Rodney Smith, Alumni Achievement/Education; Maryann Clarke (Higgs), Alumni Achievement/ Sports; Dr Kim Scriven, Alumni Achievement/ Medicine; The Cargill Family, Legacy Award; Bishop Walter Hanchell, Humanitarian Award; Alpheus “Hawk” Finlayson, Spotlight Award; and Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Rising Star Award.
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 26, 2018, PAGE 17
MORE THAN A DOZEN PRE-SCHOOLS IN VOUCHER SYSTEM WITH GOVT By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE second phase of the Ministry of Education’s universal pre-school initiative was launched on Friday in Grand Bahama where it was announced more than a dozen private pre-schools have entered into a partnership with the government for enrollment of preschoolers through a voucher system. This follows a similar announcement in New Providence. Some 13 pre-schools in the private education sector were invited to the contract presentation and official signing ceremony for their participation in the Private Preschool Partnership (PPP) programme. Permanent Secretary Lorraine Armbrister was in attendance and signed on behalf of Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd, who
TWO Ukrainian navy artillery boats and a tugboat were transiting from Odessa on the Black Sea to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.
RUSSIA FIRES ON UKRAINIAN VESSELS IN BLACK SEA; TWO CREW WOUNDED By MATTHEW BODNER, Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s coast guard opened fire on and seized three of Ukraine’s vessels Sunday, wounding two crew members, after a tense standoff in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula, the Ukrainian navy said. Russia blamed Ukraine for provoking the incident, which sharply escalated tensions that have been growing between the two countries since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and it has worked steadily to bolster its zone of control around the peninsula. Earlier in the day, Russia and Ukraine traded accusations over a separate incident involving the same vessels, prompting Moscow to block passage through the narrow Kerch Strait, which separates the peninsula from the Russian mainland. The Ukrainian navy said two of its gunboats were struck and Russian crews boarded and seized them and an accompanying tugboat. Russia’s Federal Security Service, known as the FSB and which oversees the coast
guard, said there was “irrefutable evidence that Kiev prepared and orchestrated provocations ... in the Black Sea. “These materials will soon be made public.” The FSB confirmed early Monday that it fired on the vessels to force them to stop, and then seized them. The European Union and NATO called for restraint from both sides and for Moscow to restore access to the strait, which Ukraine uses to move ships to and from ports on either side of the peninsula. Ukrainian authorities said they had given advance notice to the Russians that the vessels would be moving through the strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. Russia said the three Ukrainian vessels made an unauthorised passage through Russian territorial waters, while Ukraine alleged that one of its boats was rammed by a Russian coast guard vessel. The tugboat, which was rammed, was traveling with the two Ukrainian gunboats from Odessa on the Black Sea to Mariupol, an eastern Ukraine port, via the Kerch Strait.
“The most important developmental stage of a child is the first few years of life which means that by age three and even earlier children can benefit from pre-primary education.”
Permanent Secretary Lorraine Armbrister was unable to attend due to other commitments. She said that Grand Bahama, Andros, and Abaco would participate in PPP with the distribution of vouchers to preschoolers immediately. The Ministry of Education will visit and conduct monitoring and assessment in other Family Islands to also execute agreements for
the PPP arrangement with other private pre-schools. Ms Armbrister noted that the ministry is seeking to enroll an additional 1,000 preschoolers in the Bahamas every year. However, she said the public education system is unable to accommodate them all, and so the government has embarked on a preschool expansion project that is estimated to cost some $1.3 million for 2018-2019 school year. The ministry will be enrolling some 500 students in the private sector through a voucher system covering up to $2,000 per child, which includes the cost of tuition and learning materials for children in approved private pre-schools. Ms Armbrister noted that early childhood education is crucial. “The most important developmental stage of a child is the first few years of life which means that by age three and even earlier
children can benefit from pre-primary education,” she explained. She said the investment in early education is expected to yield high returns both economically and socially as pre-primary education provides the opportunity for the young child to develop skills and competencies necessary to become a successful student and productive citizen. The Bahamas is a signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Inter-American Education Agenda, which seeks to ensure that all boys and girls have access to quality early education development and care and pre-primary education by 2030. “For these reasons, the Ministry of Education is implementing universal pre-primary education as one of the key initiatives maintained by the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit,” said Ms Armbrister.
SIX KILLED FOLLOWING ARGUMENT AT HAITIAN-DOMINICAN BORDER PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Six people were killed Saturday at the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic after an argument, authorities said. Haitian police inspector Harry Deny told The Associated Press that the four custom officers and two civilians died in the town of Malpasse. He said the incident began when one officer shot a person who tried to cross the border with merchandise without stopping. A group of people then retaliated against the officers and burned them to death as they took refuge at a police station.
No further details were available. The killings come as Haiti faces a seventh day of protests that have shuttered schools and government offices. Demonstrators are demanding that President Jovenel Moise resign for not investigating allegations of corruption in the previous government over Petrocaribe, a Venezuelan subsidized energy program. Moise said in a brief televised address earlier in the week that people have the right to protest but that he is not stepping down. “The Haitian people have elected me as president in free and fair
elections,” he said. Moise did not address the allegations of corruption but said he was keeping all victims in his thoughts, especially police officers who were killed. He also made an appeal for dialogue and said the government will take all necessary measures to ensure people’s safety and restore peace to Haiti. At least 11 people have died during protests that have spiraled out of control. Police on Friday fired tear gas at a crowd as people threw rocks, tried to loot stores and broke car windows in Port-au-Prince.
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THE TRIBUNE
Migrants enveloped in tear gas after heading toward US By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — Migrants approaching the U.S. border from Mexico were enveloped with tear gas Sunday after a few tried to breach the fence separating the two countries. U.S. agents shot the gas, according to an Associated Press reporter on the scene. Children were screaming and coughing in the mayhem. Honduran migrant Ana Zuniga, 23, said she saw migrants open a small hole in concertina wire at a gap on the Mexican side of a levee, at which point U.S. agents fired tear gas at them.
“We ran, but when you run the gas asphyxiates you more,” she told the AP while cradling her 3-yearold daughter Valery in her arms. Mexico’s Milenio TV also showed images of several migrants at the border trying to jump over the fence. Yards away on the U.S. side, shoppers streamed in and out of an outlet mall.
Fence U.S. Border Patrol helicopters flew overhead, while U.S. agents held vigil on foot beyond the wire fence in California. The Border Patrol office in San Diego said via Twitter that pedestrian crossings have
been suspended at the San Ysidro port of entry at both the East and West facilities. All northbound and southbound traffic was halted. Earlier Sunday, several hundred Central American migrants pushed past a blockade of Mexican police who were standing guard near the international border crossing. They appeared to easily pass through without using violence, and some of the migrants called on each other to remain peaceful. They convened the demonstration to try to pressure the U.S to hear their asylum claims and carried hand-painted American and Honduran flags while chanting: “We are not criminals! We are international workers!”
MIGRANTS break past a line of police as they run toward the Chaparral border crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, Sunday. (AP) A second line of Mexican police carrying plastic riot shields stood guard outside a Mexican customs and immigration plaza. That line of police had installed tall steel panels
behind them outside the Chaparral crossing on the Mexican side of the border. Migrants were asked by police to turn back toward Mexico. More than 5,000 migrants have been camped in and around a sports complex in Tijuana after making their way through Mexico in recent weeks via caravan. Many hope to apply for asylum in the U.S., but agents at the San Ysidro entry point are processing fewer than 100 asylum petitions a day. Irineo Mujica, who has accompanied the migrants for weeks as part of the aid group Pueblo Sin Fronteras, said the aim of Sunday’s march toward the U.S. border was to make the migrants’ plight more visible to the governments of Mexico and the U.S. “We can’t have all these people here,” Mujica told The Associated Press. Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum on Friday declared a humanitarian
crisis in his border city of 1.6 million, which he says is struggling to accommodate the crush of migrants. U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter Sunday to express his displeasure with the caravans in Mexico. “Would be very SMART if Mexico would stop the Caravans long before they get to our Southern Border, or if originating countries would not let them form (it is a way they get certain people out of their country and dump in U.S. No longer),” he wrote. Mexico’s Interior Ministry said Sunday the country has sent 11,000 Central Americans back to their countries of origin since Oct. 19. It said that 1,906 of them were members of the recent caravans. Mexico is on track to send a total of around 100,000 Central Americans back home by the end of this year.
BRITISH Prime Minister Theresa May walks past the EU flag at the conclusion of an EU summit in Brussels, Sunday. (AP)
EU SEALS BREXIT DEAL AS MAY FACES A HARD SELL AT HOME By LORNE COOK, JILL LAWLESS AND RAF CASERT, Associated Press
BRUSSELS (AP) — After months of hesitation, stop-and-start negotiations and resignations, Britain and the European Union on Sunday finally sealed an agreement governing the U.K.’s departure from the bloc next year. So much for the easy part. British Prime Minister Theresa May must now sell the deal to her divided Parliament — a huge task considering the intense opposition from pro-Brexit and pro-EU lawmakers alike — to ensure Britain can leave with a minimum of upheaval on March 29.
Obligations It’s a hard sell. The agreement leaves Britain outside the EU with no say but still subject to its rules and the obligations of membership at least until the end of 2020, possibly longer. Britons voted to leave in June 2016, largely over concerns about immigration and losing sovereignty to Brussels. EU leaders were quick to warn that no better offer is available. “I am totally convinced this is the only deal possible,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said. “Those who think that by rejecting the deal that they would have a better deal will be disappointed the first seconds after the rejection.” For once, May was in complete agreement. “This is the deal that is on the table,” she said. “It is the best possible deal. It is the only deal.” Acknowledging the vast political and economic
consequences of Brexit, May promised lawmakers their say before Christmas and said that it “will be one of the most significant votes that Parliament has held for many years.” She argued that Parliament has a duty “to deliver Brexit” as voters have demanded.
Vote “The British people don’t want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit,” she said. “They want a good deal done that fulfils the vote and allows us to come together again as a country.” Not all agree. Main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called the deal “the result of a miserable failure of negotiation that leaves us with the worst of all worlds,” and said his party would oppose it. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose Scottish National Party is the third-largest in Parliament, said lawmakers “should reject it and back a better alternative.” Pro-Brexit former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said May should insist on new terms because the deal “has ceded too much control” to Brussels. On the EU side, the last big obstacle to a deal with Britain was overcome Saturday when Spain lifted its objections over the disputed British territory of Gibraltar. So it took EU leaders only a matter of minutes at Sunday’s summit in Brussels to endorse the withdrawal agreement that settles Britain’s divorce bill, protects the rights of U.K. and EU citizens hit by Brexit and keeps the Irish border open. They also backed a 26-page document laying out their aims for relations after Brexit.