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FREE TO GO AN EMOTIONAL Shane Gibson along with his lawyers and supporters after being acquitted on all counts of bribery yesterday.
• Jury takes less than 2 hours to dismiss charges
Report: Rashad Rolle Picture: Shawn Hanna JURORS took under two hours to find Shane Gibson not guilty in a case his lawyers said was tainted with “wickedness” and “injustice” from the start. When the foreman revealed the acquittal on all counts of bribery, the former government minister cried. SEE PAGE THREE
• Brave blasts PM for victors’ justice in doctored case
FAMILIES FACE $30 BILL TO BAIL OUT BPL By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power and Light customers will see a $20 to $30 increase in their monthly electricity bills for ten months starting in 2020, according to Minister of Works Desmond Bannister. While debating the Electricity Rate Reduction Bond Act in the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr Bannister said that the
DESMOND BANNISTER issuance of the bonds will be used to refinance BPL’s $321m debt to pay for phase
two of the new Wartsila power plant and manage other liabilities. “We expect that the issuance of the rate reduction bonds will lead to a temporary increase in the average household billing of an average of $20 to $30 monthly for about ten months in 2020,” he told Parliament. “The good news is that this will be a short-term increase that will be wiped out in 2021 when the cost of generation will
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
decrease drastically due to the completed installation of the second station consisting of even more new fuel efficient engines, better operation performance, and lower fuel costs brought on by the utilisation of Shell’s internationally respected hedging expertise.” The Carmichael MP explained that the Rate Reduction Bond Act passed under the former SEE PAGE FIVE
PAGE 2, Thursday, November 28, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
ENJOYING FRIENDSGIVING
ON Saturday, November 16, Hands for Hunger hosted its second youth holiday event known as Friendsgiving. Presented by J S Johnson Insurance Agents & Brokers, this special occasion brought together about 175 young people, supervisors and volunteers from various backgrounds to share a meal and celebrate the importance of finding commonality with others during the season. The concept of Friendsgiving was to host a lunch for the youth who live at the agencies served by Hands for Hunger’s (H4H) Food Rescue Programme, along with members of the H4H Helping Hands School Clubs. The youth ranged in
age from six to 18-years-old. Guests were encouraged to share through group games, table conversations, and interactive activities. “Hands For Hunger is extremely proud to host our second Friendsgiving event. Our hope is that each person will meet someone new and find that they have at least one thing in common by sharing stories, jokes, food, and fun,” said Paige Hanna, multimedia manager of Hands For Hunger. Providing both generous financial and volunteer support for the event was long time supporters J S Johnson. “We’re celebrating 100 years of J S Johnson and our partnership with Hands
for Hunger,” said William Mills, deputy managing director of JSJ. “We found H4H is a highly effective organisation in getting food to people who need it. We didn’t want to just donate funds this year. We wanted to get the collaboration of all the staff, our colleagues and families, to show how important the Bahamian community is to us.” The host location and all the food was donated and prepared by Baha Mar, a culinary partner and food donor of Hands for Hunger. For more information about Hands For Hunger, visit www.handsforhunger. org or contact the Hands For Hunger office at 327-1660.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, November 28, 2019, PAGE 3
DAVIS CALLS FOR INQUIRY INTO PROSECUTION’S CONDUCT
By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net AFTER former Labour Minister Shane Gibson was acquitted on all counts of bribery of which he was accused, Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis called for an inquiry into the prosecution’s conduct regarding the case. Calling yesterday’s not guilty verdicts a miracle, Mr Davis said he and his colleagues prayed for that
outcome and are pleased the jury saw the case how they saw it. “This case should have never been brought; it should not have gone to the jury,” he said in a statement yesterday. “It was clear from the start this was simply victor’s justice. The political party in power taking advantage of its position as guardians of the state to oppress the political minority. “Prime Minister Hubert Minnis goes down in history of our country as the
meanest and most vengeful prime minister. One who sought to divide instead of uniting. His Attorney General goes down in history as one whose office didn’t follow the law, but allows politics to drive the prosecution of a political opponent. “We know that the evidence was contaminated in this case by reason of bringing witnesses together to discuss remove ambiguities and difference between them. Once revealed, the trial should have been
stopped. The misconduct of the prosecutors should not go without inquiry with a view of ensuring that justice is done for and on behalf of Shane Gibson and the justice system itself. “I’m deeply disappointed in the FNM. They all stood and allowed this injustice to be wreaked upon Shane Gibson and his family. At the end of the day the jury got it right.” Mr Gibson is the second former PLP politician to be acquitted of bribery charges brought under the Minnis
administration. Frank Smith, former PLP senator, was acquitted of bribery charges in February and the decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal. When asked about the PLP’s victories in court, Mr Davis said he warned the prime minister in 2017 in a letter that winning would be the outcome. He told reporters yesterday: “I knew they were engaged in skullduggery. That they were not pursuing this as a matter of justice but as a matter of
vengeance and a matter of what I call victor’s justice and the result is here. We hope lessons are learnt from this.” Yesterday, Justice Carolita Bethel acquitted and discharged Mr Gibson of all of the 15 counts of bribery that he faced. Gibson had been accused of soliciting and accepting more than $200,000 in bribes from Jonathan Ash as a condition for expediting payments the contractor was owed by the Christie administration.
Gibson free to go
SHANE GIBSON, right, and PLP leader Philip Davis outside court yesterday after the former Golden Gates MP was acquitted on all counts of bribery. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
‘IN MY HEART, ALL SORTS OF THINGS ARE GOING ON’ from page one His lawyer arose in elation. His family and supporters in the gallery cheered. The jury’s verdict was unanimous on 13 of the bribery counts. On two of them the verdict was eight to one in Mr Gibson’s favor. More than two years after limping into a Magistrate’s Court to face charges of soliciting and accepting thousands from Jonathan Ash to expedite payments the contractor was owed, Mr Gibson walked out of the court free with no more case to answer. “Nobody knows how many hours goes into something like this,” he said afterward about the trial, which lasted six weeks. “Every single day we left court, we went to the hotel and we met. We went over every single piece of evidence, every single piece of transcript, sometimes two, three, four and five o’clock in the morning my lawyer Mr Knight and Owen still up, working.” Surrounded by supporters on Bank Lane, the former Golden Gates MP struck tones of triumph. He attacked by name the top political and law enforcement officials in the country, accusing them of perpetuating a “grave injustice” against him. He left it up in the air whether he would seek to remedy the perceived
wrongs through legal action, saying he will rely on his lawyers’ advice following a period of prayer, rest and celebration. “In my heart, right now all sorts of things are going through it, all sorts of emotions,” he said. “I’m going to speak much more to my future and more details about what actually transpired because as you know I didn’t take the stand because legally I didn’t have to. We thought their case was so weak I didn’t have to take the stand because we knew they couldn’t prove beyond reasonable doubt that I did what they said I did.” Among those he thanked was pastor Bishop Neil Ellis, whom he said “took heavy criticism when the minute he heard about this he sent a letter defending me his member and as a member they were criticising him for doing that so I want to thank him for what people considered the chance he took on me, but it wasn’t a chance, he knew me. He’s known me for years and there’s nothing like a bishop who knows exactly what you’re capable of and not capable of.” His lawyer Keith Knight had asked jurors to send a message with their verdict about how the justice system should work. He honed in on Assistant Superintendent Debra Thompson’s admission that
KEITH KNIGHT, QC she was wrong to meet with major players in the case to synchronise their statements. He attacked the credibility of Mr Ash and he repeatedly emphasised the absence from trial of Deborah Bastian, with whom the prosecution had alleged Mr Gibson was concerned on several of the charges. Mr Knight told reporters the case was difficult because of the “injustice of the investigation”. “If this case had been
investigated in the normal legal way, no charge would have been brought against Shane Gibson,” he said. “And if, having discovered that the evidence was being polluted, the right steps were taken, then this case would never have reached this point. If there was a verdict in The Bahamas of innocent, they would have returned the verdict of innocent because I stand behind a client who in my heart, in my head and within my soul I feel is an innocent man.” Mr Knight, who said he is a “friend of The Bahamas,” said he hopes to never see a case like this again. “Persons who are brought before the courts must be fairly brought and fairly treated and fairly judged,” he said. “He was not fairly brought.” Mr Gibson is the second former Christie administration official to be acquitted of bribery charges in the last year. In the lead-up to the last general election, the
Free National Movement promised to stamp out corruption. In addition to Mr Knight, Mr Gibson thanked his
other lawyers: Damian Gomez, QC, Philip McKenzie and Owen Wells. Editorial View - Page 4
PAGE 4, Thursday, November 28, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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Questions over failed prosecutions FIRST, the Frank Smith trial ended with him walking away a free man, and now the Shane Gibson bribery case has ended the same way. Both men are not guilty, both cases leave questions for whether the charges should have been brought in the first place based on the evidence that prosecutors presented. Both of the trials were high profile there can be no other way to describe accusations against former senior politicians - and one would think that before presenting such charges, the best legal minds would comb over the details to ensure there would be no accusations of using the law to take on political enemies. Instead, that’s exactly what emerged yesterday, with PLP leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, saying the case was “the political party in power taking advantage of its position”. There appears to have been significant flaws in the cases being brought - from changing of lawyers to reliability of witnesses. After all, in the Smith case, one witness was described by Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt as “manifestly unreliable” - and bizarrely she was given a $1.9m contract for
cleaning less than three months after charges were brought. It is notable that Shane Gibson did not need to speak in his own defence - the jury deciding the evidence against him was not strong enough and finding him not guilty on all counts without needing to hear any words from Mr Gibson. Not a single count. The FNM promised to crack down on corruption - but the cases brought since then have ended up with no guilt being proven. Instead, they are left with the failure of another high-profile case - are they, as the PLP claim, using the courts for political retribution? What process is going on behind the decision to go ahead with a prosecution that has ended up with two strikes? Are those making the decisions to prosecute weighing the evidence as they should, or rushing ahead before the case is ready and all the evidence is gathered? There are many questions raised by these cases - but a complete failure to establish guilt on even a single charge must make prosecutors consider whether the cases were strong enough to bring at all.
BPL gives us no reason to trust IF FIGHTING corruption was one pillar of the FNM’s election campaign, then transparency was another - and there’s precious little sign of that when it comes to the plan to take $20-30 a month more out of your pocket to pay for BPL’s debts. Minister of Works Desmond Bannister stood up in the House of Assembly yesterday and revealed the plan to charge that amount of money to BPL customers each month for ten months, starting next year. He didn’t say if this would be a percentage of your bill. He didn’t say if it would be a flat charge. He didn’t say a lot. He did say the increase would be “short-term” and that it would be wiped out in 2021 when the cost of generation is expected to decrease thanks to more efficient engines. But does that mean the charge will be scrapped then? Or just that the bills will come down by that amount so it will balance out? If the latter, then it is not a short-term charge - few people will be pleased to know the expected savings will be wiped out by the extra they have to pay. Promises were made of significant cuts to bills - not that we’d end up paying the same amount. The extra money that BPL is borrowing, it turns out, will be to pay for a second phase of Wartsila engines - but where has the deal with Shell for a new generation plant gone? That was supposed to be paid for by Shell, but why has that seemed to show little progress since the memorandum of understanding was signed?
For much of this year, the Bahamian people has suffered from power outages. The very least that BPL - and minister Desmond Bannister - owes the public is a full and complete presentation of our current situation. People need to know how much they will have to pay, what they’re paying for, what has happened to promised schemes, and why it has come to this. We live in a time when accusations of corruption have been made against recently serving politicians, when the $150m deal to buy new ships for the RBDF is being probed amid bribery allegations - so the starting premise should be to tell the public everything. And yet, as people are being asked to fork out another $20-30 a month to bail out BPL, we are left instead with vague explanations. We cannot leave this to trust. Trust is how the BPL debt got to where it is in the first place. We should also note that as we prepared to go to press last night, BPL was being slapped with a $229,535 fine by URCA for its failure or refusal to provide URCA with information it requested relating to the fire last September that caused significant damage to its power generation capacity and the ongoing blackouts. If BPL can’t be trusted to give answers to a regulatory authority, then they have no reason to ask us for our trust. If you want our money, you’re going to have to show us precisely why we’re paying and what we’re getting for it.
PM’s right about marijuana EDITOR, The Tribune THE recent statement by the Most Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis on his support for expunging the records of people convicted for possession of small quantities of marijuana is progressive, courageous and in my view the right thing to do. For decades, many young Bahamian men including those READERS have been reacting to stories making the news on tribune242.com. After the Progressive Liberal Party blasted the deputy prime minister for accusing it of “wishing the ill of a credit rating downgrade on The Bahamas”, Birdiestrachan said: “Turnquest says things like that because he believes Bahamians are stupid. So far this FNM Government
who live in the St. Barnabas Constituency have had their lives and livelihoods put on hold as a result of these records. While we are a nation of laws and every citizen must abide by them, a criminal justice system must be equitable and just to allow real rehabilitation and reintegration into civil society. I join with the prime minister in support of this timely and needed reform.
has done nothing to uplift the poor Bahamians. “The PLP Government created the middle class and the FNM Government is hell bent on destroying the middle class.” .”
As a member of Parliament, I look forward as well to the release of the report by The Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana and participating in any subsequent parliamentary debate to remedy a longstanding inequity in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. SHANENDON E CARTWRIGHT MP, St Barnabas The news that Bahamian Garth Reeves Sr, owner of The Miami Times and a noted civil rights activist in South Florida, had died at the age of 100, prompted this from K4C: “None of today’s youngins know of this man, he was one of the Best from the Bahamas. RIP.” Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
Don’t force your agenda on all of us EDITOR, The Tribune WE HAVE all known from day one that acts of homosexuality and lesbianism abound in the world, inclusive of The Bahamas. These acts of abomination, for that is what they are, are an affront to The Lord Jesus Christ and to right thinking individuals. In recent times several high profiled persons and organisations have come out of the proverbial closet to embrace and promote this perverted alternative life style. When one couples this with what appears to be a green light by the Most Honourable Prime Minister relative to the decriminalisation of small quantities of marijuana it may well lead one to conclude that Lucifer has been let loose already in our wonderful nation. We are wont to declare that we are a Christian nation, whatever that means. If we are Christians, however, it would be impossible for us to even contemplate the overt Gay agenda. It is one thing to have feelings for the same sex but, please do not seek in a very public manner to impose that agenda on me or anyone else who may oppose the same. A former very misguided and, I dare say, anti-God administration, promulgated and legislated a diabolical law allowing sexual activities between consenting same sex individuals if over the age of sixteen years. There is, I submit, a special place in Hell (if it exists) reserved just for the proponents of that piece of legislative shaving cream, for that is what it is. Some gay people and their allies are proposing a gay pride march along the streets of New Providence next year. The FNM administration, I understand, has approved a permit for that spectacle in waiting. The PLP and its leadership cadre are said to have issued a statement in support of the same. The
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Bahamas Christian Council has indicated that it would oppose such a march. Personally, as a trained lawyer, I have no problem with anyone marching for anything. March all you want but the spiritual walls which enclose God’s people will not fall down. It might be that both the FNM and the PLP are seeking to solicit votes, straight or gay do not matter. If and when these sissies and lesbians march next year they must be prepared for collateral consequences. If you march you are going to be publicly recognised and as sure as night follows day you run the real risks of being black balled in a conservative society. The police will have to be out in full force to protect these sissies from being plummeted by rotten tomatoes; spoiled eggs and bucket loads of shaving cream , for want of a better expression. Many, no doubt, will stand by the roadsides to witness their loved ones parading and prancing straight to perdition. Under our constitution and articles therein these deviants have the entrenched right to assemble and march. Not a problem. What the PLP and the FNM should do is to announce publicly their stance on gay rights; marriages and adoptions. The age of consent for deviant sexual activity is too low at sixteen. How come one has to be eighteen to vote but can get buggered or do some buggering at a lower age? Over the years our collective societal mores have jumped through the window from a six-story building with no parachute. Deviants, some say, are creased up in both chambers of parliament. I am not sure if any of them are in cabinet but I stand to be corrected. I do know that there is a dray load in the church.
Marijuana has its place in the grand scheme of things. It is a natural plant that was created by The Lord Jesus Christ so there must be a useful purpose for it being around. Having been a dedicated herbalist years ago, I am personally aware of the good; the bad and the ugly of the usage of ganja. What age limit will be imposed on those seeking to purchase recreational weed? How and where will retail weed be sold and who will be eligible to apply for a wholesale and/or retail licence? Will individuals and corporate entities be allowed to commercially grow marijuana and it’s cousin, Indian Hemp and where will they be permitted to grow them? Once weed is decriminalised will the police records and judicial convictions be expunged and/or vacated? Will persons whose convictions are eliminated will they be able to sue the government for damages for false arrest and/or imprisonment? Minnis and crew would do well to study all of the ramifications involved herein. The FNM is almost into its third year in office and there is not too much to show for it, on the ground. Sissy sex and debating the issue of weed will not be enough to secure a second term for Minnis. Bahamians are literally catching economic hell and all some of our politicians are able to talk about are these two non issues? These are not bread and butter issues. Big money is being spent on some nebulous commission to study marijuana. How much by the way are the commission members being paid? What is the overall budget? With less than six weeks left in this year we should be concentrating on more import issues. To God then, in all things, be the glory. ORTLAND H. BODIE, Jr. Nassau, November 24, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, November 28, 2019, PAGE 5
from page one
Families face $30 bill to bail out BPL
Christie administration mandated officials to increase electricity bills at that time in order to properly finance BPL. Instead of doing that, Mr Bannister accused the Progressive Liberal Party of bypassing the increase and hiring 166 people at BPL which caused overstaffing. Successive governments have failed at turning the former Bahamas Electricity Corporation, now BPL, into a self-sustaining corporation, now Mr Bannister is hoping with new legislation there will be a change. He said that the government will focus on replacing the 17 engines with an average life of 26 years, to updated machinery. “In three weeks, seven of these powerful, efficient
Wartsila engines will come online. It will be the first time since 1982 that we have invested in more than two engines, and it will begin the transformation to reliable, inexpensive power that this country needs,” said Mr Bannister. As the government is seeking to raise $650 million for BPL, Mr Bannister
outlined what will happen as a result of the new legislation. “We will safeguard the stability of BPL by refinancing existing legacy debt owed by BEC and BPL to commercial banks of approximately $320 million which falls due in December 2019. This permits the debt to be repaid on more flexible terms over
a period of 20 to 30 years as opposed to the current short-term rolling debt,” he said. “We will fund critical infrastructure investments of approximately $220 million which will stabilise the electricity system of The Bahamas, expand generation capacity, reduce the cost of fuel, help meet government
BPL boss Donovan Moxey
solar objectives, and improve metering collections.” The new Electricity Rate Reduction Bond Bill 2019, similar to the Rate Reduction Act 2015, requires every BPL customer by law to pay the rate reduction bond fee. The new legislation will repeal and replace the 2015 law. Editorial View - Page 4
‘We must face harsh reality of this debt’ By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis said yesterday his administration can no longer make short-term decisions as it relates to “cash-strapped” and “burdensome” Bahamas Power and Light. Yesterday in his contribution to the Electricity Rate Reduction Bond Bill in the House of Assembly, Dr Minnis said that the government had to face the harsh realities of BPL’s debt. “The government of The Bahamas had to step in, to back BPL’s debt. Cash-strapped and burdened with debt; the structure of the energy supplier is woefully inadequate for it to make the necessary long-term investments to purchase and to maintain the equipment and resources to provide quality, sustainable service,” Dr Minnis said. BPL’s load-shedding during the summer and into the fall was considered one of the worst New Providence has seen in recent memory. Dr Minnis said that it is this lack of consistent generation of electricity that has been one of the most vexing issues frustrating Bahamians and due to this, the
government had to make difficult decisions. “Fixing BPL’s problems comes at a cost. There is no magic formula to buying hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of equipment. You have to pay for it. To keep the lights on and to have stable service now and in the future requires investment,” he said. “What we witnessed this summer was a symptom and a poor legacy of a collapse that started at BPL many, many years ago. My government made a decision to stop making any more short-term decisions when it came to BPL, and to energy generation and distribution in our country.” The Killarney MP said it is no secret that BPL’s infrastructure is inadequate, and that its aging machinery has continuously caused financial strain, highlighting that the equipment and financial woes go hand in hand, making it necessary for BPL to upgrade. “At BPL, old machines and inadequate electricity supply have led to many, many additional costs. We have spent many millions as a country, renting generators over the years because our supply could not meet the demand. Instead of fixing BPL, the country just kept renting
more generators. It was like putting Band-Aids on an injury that needed radical surgery and a permanent fix. Along with this equipment crisis at BPL has been its financial crisis,” said Mr Minnis. As he seconded the bill, Dr Minnis accused the Progressive Liberal Party of kicking the can down the road when it came to major issues and said his administration was forced to do the heavy lifting to address the problems. “The problems we inherited at BPL were similar to those we inherited at the New Providence Landfill,” Dr Minnis said. “When we came to office, landfill fires were at a crisis level. They could not fix the problem. They did not fix the problem. “Talk and inaction are what they are about. On coming to office we created a plan. We executed the plan. The landfill is now on the way to being transformed. The same thing is happening with BPL. Within this single term in office we are fixing the landfill and BPL, something the PLP utterly failed to do under two Christie administrations.” Officials have said BPL’s new $95m Wärtsilä power plant will be complete by December.
BAHAMIAN CHARGED WITH AIDING HAITIAN MIGRANTS By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN man and two Haitians who were intercepted at sea in Bahamian waters by the US Coast Guard were charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Destry Fox, a 55-yearold Bahamian, appeared before Magistrate Charlton Smith in Court Two on the charge of assisting illegal embarkation. The prosecution alleged that Fox was found on a
vessel in waters off Bimini on Sunday, November 24, having assisted undocumented Haitian passengers Skay Neisha Charles and Illjonet Henry. Fox and the Haitian migrants were on an 18ft vessel, which was intercepted by US Coast Guard officials on patrol in Bahamian waters. Fox was suspected of being the captain of the vessel in an attempt to smuggle Haitian nationals into the US. During his arraignment, he pleaded guilty to two
counts of assisting illegal embarkation and was ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 or in default serve 18 months imprisonment. The Haitians were also arraigned on charges of illegal embarkation and illegal landing. Henry, 37, and Charles, 18, pleaded guilty to the charge and were ordered to pay a fine of $300 each or serve two months in prison. The two also pleaded guilty to illegal landing, and were ordered to pay a fine of $300 each or serve two months in prison.
MAN ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER A GRAND Bahama man has been charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court with attempted murder. Cadwell Cooper, 22, of Beaconsfield Avenue, appeared before Magistrate Rengin Johnson in Court Three on Wednesday and charged with two counts of attempted murder, and possession of a
firearm with intent to endanger life. It is alleged that on November 22, at Freeport, the accused shot two men. Cooper was not required to enter a plea to the charges and the case was adjourned to March 3, 2020 for trial. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until trial.
THE PRIME Minister addressing the House yesterday
Photo: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS
PAGE 6, Thursday, November 28, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
THE AFTERMATH of Hurricane Dorian in The Mudd in Abaco
WE CAN’T SEND PEOPLE BACK TO DAMAGED, POOR HOMES By JOSEPH DARVILLE Honorary Vice President Rights Bahamas
UN comments are ‘deeply concerning’ By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is “deeply concerned” by comments attributed to a United Nations official regarding claims of violence and abuse by law enforcement officers towards Haitian migrants as reported by a local newspaper. In a press statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the remarks attributed to Ravina Shamdasani, the deputy spokesperson from the UN Human Rights Office, are disturbing for a number of reasons,
mainly because the remarks appeared in the local press before being made to the government. Last week, The Nassau Guardian reported that Ravina Shamdasani, the deputy spokesperson from the UN Human Rights Office, said another official recently visited The Bahamas to verify “worrying” claims of “violence and abuse”. Ms Shamdasani told the newspaper that Abu Al Zulof’s visit included a trip to Abaco, where he visited shelters and other areas impacted by Hurricane Dorian and interviewed many people. In response yesterday,
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the ministry said it “is deeply concerned that a UN official would report to the media regarding matters of such gravity without having the courtesy first to inform the government and allow the government the opportunity to provide a response.” The statement added: “The ministry considers the behaviour of (Ravina Shamdasani) not to be in keeping with the way in which a UN official should conduct (herself). Furthermore, it calls into question the impartial, balanced, neutral and ethical manner normally employed by the UN when it investigates allegations of alleged abuse or alleged human rights violations. “The Bahamas government is deeply
appreciative of the support provided by the United Nations system during both the relief and recovery stages of Hurricane Dorian. The UN continues to have a strong presence in The Bahamas, providing invaluable technical support and advice. “The Bahamas is committed to working with the UN in a transparent, frank and constructive manner as we together seek to rebuild the communities adversely impacted and to restore the livelihoods of thousands of citizens and residents as a result of Hurricane Dorian,” the statement added. The ministry has scheduled a meeting next week with all UN agencies on the ground and looks forward to a productive outcome.
MR FRANKIE Campbell, Minister of Social Services, pictured, is a very compassionate and caring individual. I understand clearly his desire that individuals who are still housed in shelters need to get back to their homes. However, what is the condition of those homes? Most of the severely damaged homes are still infested with mould, vermin and other disease-carrying agents. Therefore, we cannot in good conscience send them back to such. As Far as Grand Bahama is concerned, the situation is still untenable. Even those who are aware of mould information sessions do not have access to the necessary means financially to afford the necessary kits. This was enunciated very forcefully at an NGO meeting, with many in attendance, just last week. The greatest fear is for children who venture into these dwellings to sleep at night. The health consequences could be severe in the future. Entering some of these homes, one is stifled by the foul odour and life devouring elements one has to breathe in. Firm recommendations are that every single home flooded to a certain degree should be inspected thoroughly before occupants are allowed to enter. Already, some people are sleeping on dried out mattresses thinking all is fine, while the mould inside of them is on a very fast journey of total internal infestation. I understand clearly that those who have been dedicated to caring for others in shelters and elsewhere must be given a break, but one does do have to be a rocket scientist to figure that the hundreds who are unemployed could find
meaningful work in relieving the tired and worn out. Remember too that the church leaders who have accumulated riches from the tithing of the poor should have it in their hearts now to do the Lord’s work by caring even more for his people. The number of foreign aid organisations who have worked tirelessly to feed, clothe and water our people, in spite of the many challenges, need to be encouraged to stay as long as possible. This will only be possible if much greater appreciation is shown them locally and nationally. The people who benefit so significantly should be reminded of the necessity for good manners and the honest way to receive and distribute the goods afforded them. Just to mention one organisation, THE WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN, with which I had to honour to volunteer for five weeks after Dorian, deserves a medal of honour. They and other food serving NGOs have fed the hungry of this country at a level of nutrition and deliciousness hardly experienced by many before the storm. Literally millions of meals have been lovingly prepared to be distributed among the hungry. Now to see daily the hundreds standing in line for a little hand out brings tears to our eyes. I pray the government, and especially my good friend the Minister for Social Services, is allowed to make all necessary preparations so that when our sisters and brothers can no longer enjoy the safety and shelter provided since Dorian, their dignity is foremost in the arrangements to be made in accommodating them.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, November 28, 2019, PAGE 7
POLICE at the scene where a a woman’s body was found on the beach at Stokes Cabana in the Yamacraw area.
Woman’s death brings murder count to 91 By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net
POLICE are investigating two separate incidents that left a woman dead and one man in the hospital yesterday morning. In the first incident, shortly after 7am, police said they were alerted to the partially nude body of a woman on a beach at Stokes Cabana in the Yamacraw area. At the scene, Chief Supt
Solomon Cash said there was evidence of blunt force trauma, adding officers were investigating the possibility the victim was sexually assaulted. The woman was found near an abandoned home. The killing brought the country’s murder count to 91 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. The country’s latest homicide came almost a week after National Security Minister Marvin Dames told reporters that
police will be beefing up manpower in the capital as the holiday season approaches. He was speaking on the increase of homicides for this year compared to last year’s figure around this time. The Minnis administration has previously said that they want to reduce the number of murders in the country to 85 by 2021. Last year, there were 91 murders, a decrease from 122 in 2017. By having more
manpower on the streets of Nassau, Mr Dames suggested that law enforcement officers are hoping to crack down on crime. “I can assure members of the general public that the police are out there and in large numbers and they will continue to do what they have to do to ensure that the good people of this nation are safe...the police have assured me that they’re in holiday strategy mode...and to those that are hell bent on misbehaving,
it’s just a matter of time before we get you off the streets and I make no apologies for that,” he said. Meanwhile, in Eleuthera, police are investigating an officer-involved incident that resulted in a man being shot. According to police reports, shortly after 1am, police in Eleuthera responded to a domestic dispute at Barrack Street in Harbour Island. Police said while officers were escorting the suspect
from the vehicle to the police station, he resisted and attempted to disarm the officers. As a result, he was shot and later transported to New Providence for further medical attention. Investigations into both matters are continuing. Anyone with information on either of these matters is asked to call the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991/2 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 328TIPS (8477).
PAGE 8, Thursday, November 28, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Hudson Estates residents happy to see debris being removed By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net RESIDENTS of Hudson Estates are relieved and happy about the removal of debris piles in that private subdivision, which is beginning to see some sort normalcy two months after Hurricane Dorian. Damaged items which once lined the roadside have been hauled away, providing a clean and safe environment for families there. Hudson Estates – which comprises three subdivisions in Grand Bahama — was one of many areas that was severely flooded by storm surge in early September. Homes were underwater, some up to eight feet. Household goods and furnishings were destroyed and put out to the roadside for removal. However, debris had not been moved about eight weeks following the passage of Dorian, and residents complained that it had posed a health and safety hazard to their families. On Tuesday, The Tribune visited Hudson Estates and residents were very pleased that the debris was moved.
“The area looks much better… and I am very appreciative of it being removed,” said one elderly resident, who had initially expressed concerns about the safety of children in the area back in October. “The area looks nice and it is good to come home to,” she said. The woman, a resident of 30 years, had some four feet of water in her home. In addition to losing furnishings and household appliances, she lost four vehicles as a result of the flooding. She indicated that Hudson Estates is now beginning to return to normalcy. “We have power here and debris is gone… so we are getting there,” she said, sipping a cup a tea on her porch. She was not sure which entity was responsible for debris removal. “I was told that local government had moved it and then I had heard that something had been worked out with Sanitation Services,” she said. Regardless of who moved it, she said: “It is awesome that (the debris) is gone, and I am very glad.” Another resident, Patsy Davis, said: “I am feeling
very good and I am thankful to whoever did it for us. I appreciate it and I am happy it is done.” Ms Davis said that there is no longer an infestation of rodents, flies and cockroaches in the area. “Our place looks very nice since they move it. We don’t have as much flies, rats and roaches anymore. So, I am happy that they did a good job.” The elderly resident said had several feet of water “up to her neck” in her house during the storm and had to flee with her family, including her great grand baby. “Our lives are starting to get back to some normalcy in Hudson,” she said on Tuesday. Ms Davis said she has started repairs without any assistance from government or NEMA. “Repairs are coming along, and we doing it ourselves. People come every day and say they gone try help but… they only coming, but ain’t doing nothing. I thank God my son who is do this work put all my Sheetrock in and plaster it, and I only have to paint now. I have no carpet on my floor yet.”
US TRAVEL ADVISORY REMAINS UNCHANGED
THE United States Embassy in Nassau has stressed that the US State Department’s overall travel advisory for The Bahamas has not changed since a previous level two advisory was issued in February. In a post to its Facebook page, the embassy said an alert posted on the State Department’s website was only updated on Tuesday to remove “the special alert issued for Grand Bahama related to Hurricane Dorian.”
The embassy added: “The rest of the travel advisory for The Bahamas writ large remains unchanged.” This came after this newspaper reported on Wednesday that the US had issued another travel alert for The Bahamas ahead of the holiday season due to the “increased risk” of becoming a victim of crime. The Tribune is happy to clarify the matter.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, November 28, 2019, PAGE 9
Work begins at urgent care areas at PMH LESS than one week after the signing of a contract with Inline Project Company Ltd for the redevelopment of the urgent care areas at Princess Margaret Hospital, work began at the entrance of the Emergency Department yesterday. The contract is valued at $3.6 million. The capital works include a new area for Orthopaedics and Wound Care, a revamped entrance to the hospital’s Emergency Department, and civil works inclusive of site excavation, driveways and primary storm and sewer infrastructure. These works, which also include the construction of a new ambulance bay and emergency department canopy, represent the first of two phases of the comprehensive redevelopment of the Emergency Department
of PMH in tandem with the Urgent and Emergency Care Project launched by the Ministry of Health in 2018. The construction of a new patient registration area located at the hospital’s main entrance as well as improvement works undertaken in decanted spaces formerly occupied by the Medical/Surgical Supplies Department (MSSD) and Central Sterile Supplies Department (CSSD) are designed to facilitate the expansion and upgrading of the Emergency Department at PMH. Hospital executives have pledged to take all necessary measures to minimise the impact of any and all infrastructure works to patients and visitors alike. The project has a 40 week timeline with the first phase earmarked for completion early next year.
PAGE 10, Thursday, November 28, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
ANYBODY SEE LAMAR JACKSON COMING? NOT TOO MANY ... DID you see Lamar Jackson coming? Not too many NFL experts did. Taken with the very last pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Jackson had won the 2017 Heisman trophy at Louisville, but saw his performance slip the following year. There were murmurs that his accuracy was not up to NFL standards, and that he wouldn’t prosper leading a pro offence
ON THE ATTACK: Lamar Jackson
from under centre. There was concern about injury, since Jackson is a gifted runner and figures to take many hard hits from defences. So there were decidedly mixed reviews when outgoing Ravens general manager and Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome traded back into the first round last year to select Jackson as the eventual successor to longtime and Super Bowl winning QB Joe Flacco.
It’s now a season and a half later. Flacco is long gone, traded for a mid-round pick to Denver, where he has been often hurt and unimpressive when healthy. Jackson is merely the frontrunner for NFL MVP this year. Among the Ravens’ nine wins so far are: 30-16 over the 9-2 Seahawks and Russell Wilson in Seattle; 37-20 over Tom Brady and the 10-1 Patriots; 41-7 over Deshaun Watson and the 7-4
Texans, and, on Monday, 45-6 at the Rams in Los Angeles. The Rams were thought to have the best defence in the league before the season. There are still plenty of sceptics, and maybe Jackson and his young receivers won’t go too far in the playoffs. But they host the 10-1 San Francisco 49ers this Sunday, and if Jackson leads them to victory again, there won’t be room for any more scepticism.
Pardoning a disgraced Seal - cynical or genius? THANKSGIVING morning in the United States has for the past 30 years been preceded by the charming ritual of the American President “pardoning” a couple of fat, healthy turkeys from becoming someone’s holiday feast. The president, with his wife at his side, usually pats one of the turkeys, cracks a joke or two, and the photo op is over. US President Donald Trump has stuck to this tradition for the past three years, and dutifully pardoned turkeys named Bread and Butter the other day. With Melania smiling at his side, he cracked an Adam Schiff joke about Congressional subpoenas and the moment passed lightly enough. But the two turkeys weren’t the only beneficiaries of presidential leniency on the occasion of this iconic American holiday. Trump also pardoned Eddie Gallagher a couple of days ago. Until fairly recently, hardly anyone had even heard of Eddie Gallagher. There has been endless speculation in the mainstream press and around office coffee pots about Trump and pardons, but it has focused on the president’s loyal high-level aides, associates and confidantes who are now indicted, convicted or imprisoned felons. People like Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort and Roger Stone. But Eddie Gallagher? For nearly a week, the national press and punditry have been reminding us about him. His case might be potentially far more significant than anything Trump eventually chooses to do about his crooked cronies. Gallagher has been a Navy SEAL for the past 20 years. He is fit, looks dashing in his white uniform and does his part to make up a terrific looking couple with his glamorous, steadfast blonde wife Andrea at his side. Americans do and should expect their military servicemen and women to be exemplary. They should represent the best of the nation, and have been consistently celebrated as such,
SPECIAL Operations Chief Edward Gallagher and his wife, Andrea Gallagher
STATESIDE
with Charlie Harper
particularly since President Richard Nixon and Congress did away with the military draft in June 1973. Several elite units in the American military are justifiably celebrated, either for heroic past achievements, unusually rigorous standards or both. The Navy SEALS are such a unit. The SEALs (the acronym signifies sea, air and land operations) are the Navy’s
elite special operations force, moving quietly and with lethal effect to bring down some of the nation’s most notorious foes. Osama bin Laden is one recent example. The unit’s fame has doubtless been enhanced by the CBS drama SEAL Team, now in its third prime time TV season. The SEALs were formed by order of President John
F Kennedy in 1962, and began building their reputation during the Vietnam War. A veteran of that war recalled recently that when a group of SEALs walked into a mess hall in Vietnam, the room would fall silent for a moment. “There was an air of menace about those guys,” the vet said. Even in a wartime setting, with other soldiers all around, they
stood out. There’s a quiet, assured confidence about them. Their whole aura just screams ‘don’t mess with this dude’.” It’s not altogether surprising that within such a macho culture with its singular focus on often lethal results, rogue behaviour sometimes occurs. When that rogue behaviour violates the Uniform Code of Military Justice, it is the military’s job to mete out appropriate punishment. Here’s where Eddie Gallagher enters the picture. He pulled eight overseas deployments in his 20-year navy career, including Iraq and Afghanistan. He had training as a medic, sniper and explosives expert. He earned two bronze stars, among other awards for
WHEN NIXON STEPPED IN FOR MY LAI’S CALLEY TRUMP’S intervention in the Gallagher case and his imprisonment conditions is reportedly the first such action by a sitting US president since Nixon ordered the release from a military brig of Army Lieutenant William Calley, right, in 1971. Calley had been secretly charged by the US Army with overseeing the 1968 massacre
of 109 Vietnamese civilians in the hamlet of My Lai. Once Calley had been moved from the military brig, he was easy to find, according to the autobiography of Pulitzer Prize winning American reporter Seymour Hersh. Calley told Hersh about the secret army charges. Hersh’s revelations of the war crimes committed by Calley’s
platoon subsequently energised the massive American societal resistance to the Vietnam War more than any other single incident. That resistance weakened the Nixon presidency. Looking back on his decision to intervene in the Calley case from political exile after he was forced from office in 1974, Nixon might have regretted that decision. How will Trump come to regard his intervention in Gallagher’s case?
valour. Gallagher also carried with him the scent of controversy. He was investigated for shooting an Afghan civilian in 2010 and reportedly tried to run over a navy police officer after a traffic stop a few years later. There were numerous other reported incidents, some of which allegedly violated SEAL rules and codes of conduct. The navy eventually seems to have decided that it must put him on trial. In 2018, Gallagher was court martialed after accusations that he stabbed to death an ISIS prisoner and posed for photos with the corpse afterward. By this past summer, Gallagher’s case had attracted the interest of some GOP congressmen, and eventually the US president decided to get involved. In July, Gallagher was acquitted of all but the least of the ISIS prisoner-related charges, but his sentence included demotion from Chief Petty Officer to Petty Officer First Class and a concomitant reduction in his expected lifetime navy pension of around $200,000. Eddie Gallagher has appeared to plead his case on Fox TV, and, egged on by Fox and House republicans, Trump decided to intercede and countermand the demotion. Trump also restored Gallagher’s Trident pin, a prized emblem commemorating his SEAL service. Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Navy was fired by the Secretary of Defence for trying to broker a backdoor deal on the Gallagher sentence. The case has been on front pages for days. Now, as the dust begins to settle, Trump has boasted that he will ask the Gallaghers to join him at campaign appearances. Imagine the impact of this striking couple with the president, on the stage in front of a huge American flag, railing at all those bureaucrats and liberals back in Washington, DC, trying to pull down an American war hero. It’s cynical, manipulative and misrepresentative of the reality described by the US military’s own investigators. But it also might be political genius.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, November 28, 2019, PAGE 11
HOW TO TELL IF DIGITAL ADDICTION IS RUINING YOUR LIFE By TERRI R KURTZBERG Associate Professor of Management and Global Business, Rutgers University, Newark
THE fear that digital distractions are ruining our lives and friendships is widespread. To be sure, digital addiction is real. Consider the 2,600 times we touch our phones every day, our panic when we temporarily misplace a device, the experience of “phantom vibration syndrome” and how merely seeing a message alert can be as distracting as checking the message itself. This can have real consequences. For example, other people do take it personally if you stop talking to them to answer a message. And taking a break from a task to look at your cell phone precludes deep thinking on whatever you were doing. But this tells only part of the story. We need to also acknowledge that today’s technologies can make us more connected than ever before. So how do we avoid the potential pitfalls while still reaping the benefits? How screens affect our interactions As a researcher in the area of technology and communications, I have spent nearly two decades looking at the ways in which interacting via screens is different from interacting in other ways, including face-to-face, on the phone and in writing. My research group has produced study after study showing that people are more self-serving (that is, they lie more), more negative (for example, giving others lower feedback ratings) and less cooperative (more “looking out for No. 1” behaviour) when they use digital means of communicating. And for children under five, there are serious concerns for brain development. Our fears about the impact of increasing amounts of screen time on ourselves and our children involve three main areas: mental health, addiction and the level of engagement with what’s going on around us. In all three, the risks are generally overblown. Much has been made of the potential links between depression and cell phone use – especially in teenagers – but recent evidence seems to indicate that that link is tenuous at best. As for addiction, the field of psychology has now recognised video game addiction as a genuine and diagnosable problem. Stories from rehab centers for people whose lives have been consumed by this addiction suggest the phenomenon is real and the suffering can be quite genuine. But this is rare compared with the numbers of people who play online games without serious consequences. And in terms of engagement, despite growing amounts of time spent on screens, the vast majority of kids do still get educated, make friends and go on to lead productive lives. A more connected world As more and more of our interactions move away
from the traditional faceto-face and into the online realm, I believe we must recognise that in some areas, richness and engagement may also be on the rise. Colleagues can work together from afar, friends can keep in touch without restraint and grandparents can directly touch base with their grandkids without needing to schedule a visit or go through the parents. Language changes as we interact in shorter bursts, allowing us to connect in less formal ways. Humour changes as we are able to add visuals – pictures, emojis, GIFs, memes – to our words. Even those online video games can be a portal to increased social interactions for some. Do you have a problem? Perhaps the best way to evaluate time spent with our phones is to ask two related questions. First, what are you doing with the time you’re devoting to your phone, and is it consistent with your values and priorities? If you feel that you and your kids are enjoying your screen time and not risking sleep, work or in-person interactions, you may not have much reason for concern. To help with this task, tools and apps that can track your screen time and let you know where your attention is being directed – or even limit where it can go – are becoming more prevalent. Secondly, what are your blind spots about where and how phone use might be limiting the rest of your life? Most of us realise we shouldn’t use phones right before bed – or, even worse, when driving or crossing streets – and we know we should keep an eye on our kids and teenagers to ensure that they are building good habits both inside and outside the digital realm. But we’re less clear on how our phones might be affecting our lives in other ways. The latest research offers some lessons. For starters, we’re not as good as we think at multitasking: We generally give worse attention to both tasks when we try to do two things at once. Over time, people who do this constantly end up with greater error rates on tasks, perhaps linked to poorer working memories. Even the mere presence of a phone can limit your engagement with work and your ability to build relationships with others. Finding that ever-elusive balance All of this means that even though you may not need to worry about your phone use overall, there are still moments when you’d be wise to put your device out of sight and earshot. This will give you the best chance to think about complex tasks without interruption or to engage more fully with those around you. Putting down our phones completely seems neither realistic nor desirable: Society has moved forward, phones in hand. But choosing the moments where being phone-free is most valuable can help keep you on track theconversation.com .
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AUSTRALIAN CLIVE JAMES DIES AT 80
TEXAS PLANT ROCKED BY EXPLOSION TEXAS Associated Press A HUGE explosion rocked a chemical plant in Port Neches, Texas with dramatic footage from the scene showing the moment flames were sent billowing into the sky. Three employees have been injured and all staff are accounted for, plant owner TPC Group confirmed. The blast yesterday afternoon was felt 30 miles away. A mandatory evacuation zone is in place for everyone within half a mile of the site. TPC Group said in a statement that it has activated its emergency response plan and requested assistance from Port Neches Fire Department.
Associated Press
SMOKE and fire are visible from the TPC Group Port Neches Operations explosion yesterday
Weinstein fails to get charges thrown out NEW YORK Associated Press
A NEW York judge has rejected Harvey Weinstein’s bid to throw out the most serious charges in his sexual assault case, dealing a big blow to the disgraced movie mogul as he sought to limit the scope of his looming trial and any potential punishment. The ruling made public yesterday clears the way for prosecutors to bolster their case with testimony from actress Anabella Sciorra who says Weinstein raped her in 1993 or 1994. It also leaves open the possibility of a life sentence if he is convicted at his trial, set to begin in January. Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to charges he raped a woman
ACCUSED: Harvey Weinstein in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006. He is free on $1m bail and maintains that any sexual activity was consensual.
In recent court filings, Weinstein’s lawyers objected to two of the five counts against him — both stemming from a charge called predatory sexual assault, which carries a maximum life sentence and requires prosecutors to show a pattern of misconduct. Weinstein’s lawyers argued those counts should be thrown out because prosecutors are choosing to use Sciorra’s allegation to show he’s a sexual predator who committed sex crimes against multiple women, even though that alleged attack predates the charge being enacted into law in 2006. Burke, however, ruled that such a strategy is allowed under state law. While Sciorra’s allegation is too old to be the basis for criminal charges, prosecutors can use it as part of
showing a pattern of alleged predatory behavior, Burke wrote. Weinstein’s lawyers also argued that prosecutors failed to provide enough information for him to defend himself against Sciorra’s allegation. On a disclosure form, prosecutors listed the approximate date of the alleged incident as “the winter season spanning 1993-1994,” and said it happened at “nighttime” in “a location in New York City.” Burke rejected that, too, saying that prosecutors have shown they made diligent efforts to narrow down the date of the alleged rape and that Weinstein’s lawyers were previously provided with the specific location. Sciorra alleges Weinstein raped her after she starred in a film for his movie studio.
CLIVE James, an Australian journalist, joker and intellectual who had a long career as a writer and broadcaster in the U.K., has died. He was 80. James’ representatives, United Agents, said he died on Sunday at his home in Cambridge, and a private funeral was held yersterday. James been diagnosed with leukemia and emphysema, and he suffered kidney failure in 2010. “I am a man who is approaching his terminus,” James said in 2012. He later assured well-wishers that he intended to live a few more years — and he did, continuing to write and broadcast until almost the end. “Clive died almost 10 years after his first terminal diagnosis, and one month after he laid down his pen for the last time,” United Agents said in a statement.
CHEF GARY RHODES DIES
Associated Press
CELEBRITY chef Gary Rhodes, who helped transform the stodgy reputation of British food, has died aged 59 with his wife Jennie by his side, his family said yesterday. The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi reported Rhodes had been residing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates since 2010, where he was also known for his dine-in menu at cinemas across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
MEXICO FEARS RETURN TO ‘CERTIFICATION’ JONATHAN MEXICO CITY Associated Press
MEXICANS reacted with anger yesterdat to US President Donald Trump’s pledge to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organisations. Mexican officials and experts don’t fear that Trump will send killer drones into Mexico. Such drone strikes have been a mainstay of US anti-terror operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but nobody thinks they would be launched into Mexico. What Mexicans do fear a terrorism designation could send bilateral relations back into the dark days of the 1990s, when annual US certifications of Mexico’s anti-drug efforts became a regular source of friction. The possibility of US
sanctions and aid reductions constantly loomed over Mexico between 1987 and 2002, when the certification process was weakened to a less threatening form. Mexico was faced with loss of aid or access to international financing, as well as possible trade, visa and banking sanctions. “Every time, those procedures made cooperation with the United States tremendously more difficult,” noted Mexico City security analyst Alejandro Hope. “This sends us back to all that.” Mexico’s former ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan, warned in a newspaper column about applying anti-terror strategies against drug cartels. “When your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail,” Sarukhan wrote.
MILLER DIES Associated Press JONATHAN Miller, the polymath British stage director, filmmaker and comedian who cocreated groundbreaking comedy revue “Beyond the Fringe,” has died at the age of 85 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s.” Miller qualified as a doctor before turning to the arts, spurred by the success of “Beyond the Fringe,” a satirical revue he helped create in 1960 at Cambridge University.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, November 28, 2019, PAGE 13
Grand Bahama’s water bonus By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net MORE than 7,000 gallons of clean potable water are produced every day by Mercy Corps and distributed to over a dozen water distribution sites on Grand Bahama. Water quality in Grand Bahama has been significantly reduced following Hurricane Dorian, which brought 20ft storm surge that affected more than 200 of the island’s well fields, resulting in salty tap water. Mercy Corp, a global humanitarian aid group, in partnership with Mission Resolve and Seamans, was one of the first responders on the island to provide assistance after the storm in early September. The organisation has set up a reverse osmosis system at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport. The water that is produced daily is free to anyone who needs it. Tezel Lightbourne, programme officer, said that Mercy Corps was recently provided funding that would allow the group to continue to remain here producing potable water water that is safe to drink or use - until June/July 2020. Ms Lightbourne said that Mercy Corps provides water to 13 distribution sites, including churches, clinics, and to organisations such as the Salvation Army, where people can go to refill water containers and jugs with clean water. “For awhile we were distributing to schools, but one of our partners, Water Mission, now caters exclusively to schools,” she said. Although Mercy Corps produces on average about 7,500 gallons of water per day, the group distributes 6,500 gallons because 1,000 gallons must remain in the tank. Some of the distribution sites are the YMCA,
Pearce Plaza and Davies House clinics, St Paul’s Methodist Church, Life Community Church, the Church of Ascension, and other churches. Ms Lightbourne explained that the water produced is filled in water bladders, which are then transported to distributed sites. She noted that after salt and other contaminants are removed from the water, it is pumped into 1,300-gallon bladders that are loaded onto trucks. She said the water is chlorinated as an extra protective layer before it is distributed to the public. She noted that the fivegallon refill containers or the jerrycans that Mercy Corps had distributed back in October should be used by individuals. Bleach bottles and gas containers are not recommended, she said. According to Ms Lightbourne, Mercy Corps transports huge water bladders to the YMCA two to three times a day.
She noted that water monitors are on site there and at the Salvation Army to sanitise the spigot every hour as needed. “We just got some funding; we were supposed to be here until January or February, but we are looking forward to being here until possibly June or July of next year,” she added. In addition to producing clean water, the organisation is committed to supporting the economic recovery of Grand Bahama. Mercy Corps is pumping money and resources back in Grand Bahama through an economic recovery programme. “Water is a human right and while we focus on water distribution, we recognise that the economy has been suffering ever since previous hurricanes. Even though water is free, we know it affects the commercial water depots here, and so we want to try to reach out to them and give them an opportunity to apply for the some of the
Join The Leadership and Fine Family of Calary Deliverance Church DURING THEIR
7th Pastoral
Anniversary Celebrations UNDER THE THEME: “THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS REWARD” 1 Tim. 5:17 & 18
grants because they may be lacking equipment, or even specific resources they need in order to get their businesses started.” Ms Lightbourne said
the group is also offering a programme called Micro Mentor, which helps people with financial literacy, the importance of developing a business saving account,
making sure that you have proper insurance to protect your assets, and making sure that when people rebuild they do so stronger and more resilient.
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PAGE 14, Thursday, November 28, 2019
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