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VOLUME:117 No.14, DECEMBER 10TH, 2019
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
HEALTH: WHY EXPERTS SAY MORE SEX IS GOOD FOR YOU
$300 a week
Pinder reveals new target for minimum wage By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE government is looking to raise the minimum wage in the public sector to at least $300 per week, Labour Director John Pinder said yesterday. He said internal discussions have revolved around raising the minimum wage to between $300 and $350 for government workers. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced the forthcoming increase last week. However, the exact plans have not yet been revealed. Mr Pinder said it is hoped the government’s increase will lead the private sector to follow suit. “The government always aims to lead by example
‘THEY BEAT ME BECAUSE I HAD A JOB’
and be the benchmark,” he said. “We hope the private sector would follow. We’ve been discussing it for some time at the National Tripartite Council but there has been no conclusion.” Mr Pinder said about ten percent of public service workers are making minimum wage. There are about 20,000 government workers. He said the minimum wage increase is necessary because of rising costs of living. Mr Pinder said the National Tripartite Council has been discussing creating a living wage: a wage high enough to maintain a strong standard of living. However, the council has disagreed on what the living wage should be, he said. SEE PAGE FIVE
FOR many residents on Grand Bahama, the destruction brought by Hurricane Dorian has only compounded the frustration of trying to make a living in an already anaemic economy that has not been able to fully recover from previous storms more than a decade ago. Prior to Hurricane Dorian, the island’s unemployment rate was 10.9 percent, according to data
released by the Department of Statistics in May. However, latest doorto-door assessments conducted on the island by the Department of Social Services has revealed that nearly 50 percent of Grand Bahamians are unemployed after Dorian. In the report, “PostHurricane Social Trends in Grand Bahama,” unemployment in Freeport was 47 percent; 48 percent in East End; and 60 percent in West End as of November 5. SEE PAGE THREE
MARSHA BUILT A SAFE PLACE FOR WOMEN
SEE PAGE EIGHT
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
A HAITIAN man whose rough arrest was captured in a viral video has alleged that an immigration officer told him he was beaten because he has a job at BTC when many Bahamians can’t find employment. Evince Gaston, 31, travelled in a BTC van to a Haitian village on Joe Farrington Road where he encountered immigration officers on Friday. An altercation followed between himself and three immigration officers, which was captured on cell phone video. The altercation, he alleged yesterday, left him with bloodshot eyes,
G BAHAMA STILL BEING BATTERED BY DORIAN By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
FACE-TO-FACE
SEE PAGE SIX
HONOUR FOR ROLLE FIFTEEN Bahamians who were recipients of Queen’s Birthday Honours celebrated during a ceremony at Government House yesterday, including acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle, above right with Governor General C A Smith, who received the Queen’s Police Medal for exceptional contribution to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Report and pictures - Page 2 Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
BOY SHOT AS HE PLAYS WITH GUN
A BOY is in hospital after he was shot in the groin while playing around with a gun found inside a relative’s home, police said. Police said the incident happened shortly after 2pm on Sunday when a juvenile male was visiting relatives at Romer Street, Fox Hill and another boy found a firearm inside the home. SEE PAGE TWO
‘14 DOMES SHOULD BE UP BY FRIDAY’ By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net
WITH 14 of the government’s 250 dome structures expected to be completed by Friday, chairman of the Disaster and Reconstruction Committee John-Michael Clarke said yesterday the government is still in the process of determining who will be allowed to live in those domes. “I can say that the Department of Social
HOW the domes look Services does have a list of persons that may qualify for these temporary housing
…and the authority is vetting that list…so it’s just a matter of assigning priorities and making sure we can contact those persons and the domes are available for them,” he told reporters during a press conference at the National Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters yesterday. “We will be meeting with the Department of Social Services this week because
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE THREE
PETER YOUNG
ONE ACT OF EVIL SHOULD NOT DESTROY HOPE
SEE PAGE TEN
PAGE 2, Tuesday, December 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Celebration party for the Queen’s Birthday Honours
FIFTEEN Bahamian recipients of The Queen’s Birthday Honours were presented with their medals by Governor General CA Smith including, top left, Dr Christina Darville; top right, Nurse Julieth Brown-Minnis; bottom left, Hugh O’Brien; bottom right, Olvin Rees. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
FIFTEEN Bahamians who were recipients of Queen’s Birthday Honours celebrated during a ceremony at Government House yesterday. In June, it was announced that several prominent people had been awarded Queen’s Honours for stellar service to the country. Among the honorees are acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle, who received the Queen’s Police Medal for exceptional contribution to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Frederick Asa Hazlewood received the honour of Knight Commander, Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) for services to business; Pastor Paul Adlai Scavella received the honour of companion, Order of St Michael and St George for services to religion and community; while Godfrey Brian Thomas received the honour of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to business.
Those who received the honour of Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) include James Randolph Bain, for services to business; Kingsley Livingstone Black, for services to education and labour; Dr Christian Elizabeth Darville, for services to medicine and business; Julieth Naomi Minnis, for services to health; Hugh Allison O’Brien, for services to the community; and Olvin Peter Rees, for services to business. The honour of British Empire Medal (BEM) went to Brian Berkley Brown, for services to the community; Nesbitt Alphonso Higgins, for services to politics; Robert John Roberts, for services to the community; Reverend Dr Ifill Earlin Russell, for services to religion; Daniel Olander Sumner, for services to sports; and Reverend Dr James Samuel Sweeting, for services to civics and religion. Governor General C A Smith the honours to the recipients.
BOY SHOT AS HE PLAYS WITH GUN from page one
“As they were playing with it, the firearm discharged a bullet, hitting one of the males in the groin,” police said. “He was transported to hospital and is detained in stable condition.” Police did not release the ages of the two boys. A 33-year-old male resident of the home was taken into custody in connection with this incident and the weapon was recovered, police said.
Meanwhile, shortly before 9pm on Sunday, a man was standing on the corner of Honeysuckle Street, Culmersville, when a small gray vehicle drove through the corner. Two armed men came from the vehicle and opened fire in his direction, before getting into the vehicle and speeding away. The injured man was transported to hospital and is listed in stable condition. Editorial View - Page 4
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 10, 2019, PAGE 3
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WANT $1,000 STIPEND
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
SCHOOL board workers in Grand Bahama are frustrated about not receiving a government stipend for hurricane relief, which has been extended to all public sector workers in Grand Bahama and Abaco. In September it was announced that all government employees would get a $1,000 stipend for all government workers affected by Hurricane Dorian on
Abaco and Grand Bahama. Government workers will also get a $1,400 lump sum this month. Yesterday, school board workers contacted The Tribune to express their concerns about being excluded. “We feel bad about it because we were also affected by the hurricane and we also need assistance just like everyone else; this is bothering plenty of us,” said a school board worker who asked to remain anonymous. According to the worker,
there are about 30 to 40 school board workers on Grand Bahama, many of whom were affected by the storm. “We have lost possessions and also sustained damage to our homes, so why shouldn’t we also get the same assistance as those government contract workers here and in Abaco?” the worker asked. The Tribune contacted the Ministry of Education yesterday and spoke with District Superintendent Yvonne Ward. Mrs Ward explained that
education officials had submitted the names of all their employees, as well as those of every school board worker to the government to receive the funds. She said the ministry was trying to get the funds for them initially. “They are not like teachers who are hired by the Ministry of Education. School board workers are hired by the school board, which is separate from the ministry, and the school board would have to see if they can get the money for them,” she explained.
Superintendent Ward feels that they should not be excluded. “We are still trying to see what we can do, and I contacted the permanent secretary who said they are trying to work it out,” she said. According to an official in the ministry’s human resources department, the issue is that school board workers are not employed by the government and do not have an employee number. “They are not government employees even though they are
INSIDE the dome. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
getting a salary from the (Public) Treasury,” said the official.She noted that like private institutions, requests are made for stipends from the government and the funds are used by the institutions for whatever they need. “Each school board gets a stipend and the board hires people they would need. We have requested that money (hurricane relief money) for them, but whether government approves it is not up to us,” she said.
RESIDENTS QUEUE UP FOR NEMA FURNITURE
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
‘14 domes should be up by Friday’ from page one once the contractors have the domes erected, we can begin what we intended to do and that is get persons back on the island of Abaco repairing their properties and living in a comfortable space.” But, in the meantime, Mr Clarke said people who want to live in these domes should register with the Ministry of Social Services. “We’ve gotten inquiries and I know in Abaco, they are taking names at the NEMA office at the government complex, in Grand Bahama not so much,” he added. “But we will be actively and aggressively engaging social services to get the proper applications information out. (And) applications for the domes can be made through the Department of Social Services.” To date, there are currently 497 people living in shelters in New Providence, with 380 in Kendal Isaacs
Gym and 117 in Bahamas Academy Gym, according to the Department of Social services. But, last month, Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell revealed the government is hoping to have those shelters deactivated before the holidays. It is still unclear, however, where shelter victims will be sent once remaining shelters are deactivated. Speaking on the matter yesterday, Mr Clarke said: “We’re not going to put anyone outside, but we want to make sure that we have a reasonable and working solution both for the shelterees here in New Providence and for those who want to move back for Abaco..that’s one of the reasons why we want to engage social services this week to determine and look at what our original targets are and to determine what modifications needs to be made to those original targets so that we could accommodate the shelterees.” Mr Clarke told The Tribune last week that the
CAPTAIN Don Kubley. first 40 dome structures in Abaco will be open to displaced families “before” or by early January in Spring City. The remaining domes, he said, will be completed by March 2020. But, speaking at yesterday’s press conference, contractor at Brickell Management Group Philip Robinson said he is hoping to have the domes completed before the deadline, adding that the first dome structure in the Spring City was erected last weekend. “My intention is to have 14 up by Friday… and with each dome, (it) will be fitted
out with a bathroom. The bathroom will consist of a shower, sink and a toilet part and the rest of the space will be left open for the inhabitants to take over from there,” he continued. “But our intention is to have 110 domes this side of Christmas on the island and the remainder to be on the island by the end of January. We are working through the Christmas period to keep moving forward.” CEO of InterShelter Inc, Captain Don Kubley, manufacturer of the domes, also spoke about the many benefits of the structures during the press conference. “We are as mobile as tents and as portable as tents and go up faster than many tents, but once our buildings are up, they’re immune to environmental challenges. . .they’re waterproof. They’re bug proof. They’re earthquake proof,” he said. “They’re hurricane proof and they’re comfortable. One of the great things about them for transitional
housing after a disaster like (Dorian) is you can stay and put one in front of their home and they can have a nice comfortable, warm safe place to be until their home is rebuilt.” The $6.4m temporary dome city in Abaco is expected to accommodate about 1,000 people for two years. In October, Mr Clarke said the government was considering charging dome city tenants a “nominal” fee for rent after the expiration of a free period. When asked if persons will still be charged to live in the domes, he replied: “To be honest, we’re still working out some of the protocols where the entire length of stay will be free. “At some point, you would have been heard that there was going to be a charge. None of those things as a matter of policy have been confirmed, but prior to anyone taking up residence in any of the temporary shelters, all those details would be ironed out.”
RESIDENTS flocked to Grand Bahama’s NEMA warehouse yesterday for the distribution of furniture at the old Fenestration Glass facility on Queen’s Highway. Vehicles, particularly trucks, were queued up for miles around 9am to load and transport items such as beds, chairs, dressers, and other furnishings, which were brought to the island for hurricane relief. RBDF and police officers were on hand, providing security, and to ensure order during the distribution process. Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, and the Minister of State for Disaster, Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction Iram Lewis, and Katherine Smith, Grand Bahama coordinator of NEMA, were in attendance. Many residents in Freeport and East Grand Bahama were severely impacted by flooding during Hurricane Dorian. Immediately after the storm, damaged furnishings were piled up along the roadside in many subdivisions in Freeport. Individuals who lost their furnishings were asked to bring a photo ID and proof of their address. Many residents were grateful for the assistance. “I had no insurance and all my belongings and furniture were destroyed,” a woman who identified herself as Ms Forbes told The Tribune. “I was not working and did not know how I would able to buy furniture, especially with Christmas coming, I just thank the government for what they are doing to help us,” she said.
GRAND BAHAMA STILL BEING BATTERED BY DORIAN
from page one
Some residents have left the island in search of job opportunities in New Providence, and abroad in the US, Canada, and even in the UK. During a recent walkabout, The Tribune spoke with several persons about unemployment in Grand Bahama, many of whom seemed downcast about the employment situation on the island. Lavenia – who was unemployed before the storm – is fearful she will be pushed out of the job pool by younger candidates suddenly out of work due to Dorian. “I have been unemployed for almost a year. . .Now, with the storm you have younger persons than me and it is kind of hard to just find jobs,” she sighed in frustration. “You have so many families that are split up because the head of the household has either moved to another island for work. And even now, islands that persons (would) have gone to have gotten devastated. So, moving to somewhere (else) is not even an option.” Grand Bahama is a frequent target of major storms. The Royal Oasis Resort – one of the island’s anchor hotels — suffered
MOTHER-of-two Lavenia hurricane damage and closed in 2004, leaving about 1,200 residents out of work and affected the economy. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew also caused significant damage to the Grand Lucayan resort, where two of three hotels, and the casino closed. Lavenia, a mother of two, is very concerned about the future of her children in Grand Bahama and would rather them leave for better job opportunities and a better future. “I have two sons; they are young, and I would like to see them, before things get too worse, to even leave the Bahamas because of the way the storms are. I feel like it is only going to get worse every time because of the way that nature (climate change) is going now - things are only going to get worse. I would like for them to leave.” Freeport resident Princess Bain said that jobs are desperately needed in
Grand Bahama. “We need jobs in Grand Bahama, but I don’t see no way right now. Nothing is happening. The people – a lot of them are suffering,” she said. Families are still struggling, despite relief efforts from the government, said Ms Bain. “People trying to give a little bag here and there, but that is not sufficient for families because you have to pay light bill, water bill, rent, and some people have mortgages they need to pay, and it is hard on everybody. “We have to keep on praying and asking God to open doors. Pray for the businesses, that they would be prosperous and would be able to hire more people,” she added. “My house, right now, is in disarray because I have no insurance, everything tear down; the car, everything is gone. But I thank God I am still alive.” The retiree, like many others on the island, had hoped the Grand Lucayan would have been sold and fully reopened by now. “My grandchildren are unemployed, and so I keep on hoping that better would come. I thought the hotel would have already been opened up and running; we have a lot of promises, but we need some action,” she said. Well-known resident Terry Goldsmith believes
that the unemployment situation in Grand Bahama will give rise to crime. “What is good to see is how everybody has come together as a nation family. What the problem is I believe, other than unemployment, we are going to see an increase in crime. Not just young people, but all over. “But at the end of the day, no one expected what we got. Not to the intensity that it (Hurricane Dorian) was. As an ex-military man, you don’t prepare for hurricanes, you prepare for war, and you need people in NEMA who have some kind of military background so that the organisation is ready for war, and that is exactly what it is. You got to prepare for war, so you need people at the top who have military experience — that’s what they need.” Despite the uncertainty in Grand Bahama, Mr Goldsmith is optimistic that residents will bounce back. “I been here 52 years in The Bahamas, and Bahamians are resilient. They always make noise, but they always come back and I am proud to say I am a Bahamian now,” he said. Cruz Alevaraes lamented that the cost of living in Grand Bahama is high, while salaries and wages are low.
PRINCESS Bain “People are still fighting with unemployment in addition to low wages, and the cost of living in Grand Bahama is high,” said Mr Alevaraes. “A number of things needs to be addressed. We are losing the employment sector in Grand Bahama as a result of a dragging economy. That is just the reality, and nobody seems to be in a capacity to do anything about it,” he said. Meanwhile, government officials have said they are waiting for the official job
numbers produced by the Department of Statistics and are taking the Department of Social Services report with a grain of salt. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest said that an assessment report by the Department of Social Services is not an official statistics report and should not have been released. Mr Turnquest also noted that the report was taken immediately after the hurricane when many businesses were still closed. He stated that persons would have reported they were unemployed because businesses had not yet reopened. He believes that the unemployment percentage in Grand Bahama could not be accurate as some businesses have reopened and resumed operations, and persons have returned to work.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, December 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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Why the sudden turnaround on minimum wage? THE news of a rise in the minimum wage to at least $300 per week will be a welcome one for public workers – and beyond if the private sector follows suit. But it does seem a surprising move – particularly at this moment in time. We have a hurricane-sized hole in our finances, and the cost of rebuilding Grand Bahama and Abaco to come, so there must have been some serious bean counting going on to work out if we can afford to increase the minimum wage right now. It’s also a surprise given that it appears to have come despite a wave of government denials. In August, Finance Minister Peter Turnquest said the government had not given any detailed consideration to increasing the minimum wage. Hurricane Dorian hit two weeks later, throwing all kinds of consideration awry. At the same time, National Tripartite Council member Peter Goudie said that talk the council was debating a minimum wage increase was “unequivocally not true”. He said: “There has been no discussion on it, and I’m the one who led all the research last time on the minimum wage when it was increased from $150 to $210 per week. We had considered the idea of reviewing of every couple of years but, because inflation is low and the economy as we all know is awful, it’s not been on our agenda.”
Union leaders in August were wanting a rise to between $250 and $300 – the government is looking to make that $300 the lower level of their considerations, and even raising it to perhaps $350. A minimum wage increase is a complex issue – of course, workers deserve to be properly paid for the employment they provide, and that means they should be able to go home with enough money that they don’t have to worry where their next meal is coming from or of how much they can afford to put a roof over their head. This column has in the past also called for consideration of a living wage proposal – a figure higher than the minimum wage which could be used as an aspiration for businesses to aim for, and which would factor into consideration for contracts from government, which would go to businesses that paid their workers better. If the government has done its figures, and can afford a minimum wage increase, then it is a positive thing for those workers earning the lowest wages. But we do wonder – given how determinedly previous talk of a rise was shrugged off – if this truly is affordable right now. We welcome the move – but we don’t want to risk the economy at this most delicate moment either. Do your sums carefully, Mr Turnquest. There’s a lot riding on them.
Safety first A BOY is in hospital tonight – injured after he played with a gun he found in a relative’s home. He and another child found the gun inside the home and were playing with it when it went off. We are lucky that the boy is alive. We hope he makes a full recovery. Guns in the home are not to be taken lightly. If you have one, it must be
secured. It shouldn’t be kept loaded, either. It is a weapon and a danger – and should be respected. Safety should be the first goal of any gun owner. So if you have one? Lock it away. Keep it unloaded until it’s ready to use. These children just wanted to play – it’s for adults to make sure that dangerous toys are kept well out of reach.
Are we still beyond our Ken? EDITOR, The Tribune YOUR editorial on Wednesday December 4 is apropos. Even before Dorian, we had the launch of our Tech Hub in Freeport and I had hoped that we might have opened our eyes beyond our shores, but clearly we hadn’t, and if Freeport has not borne the fruit that we had hoped for, maybe now is a good time to look around and see what the competition is doing. The Cayman Islands, or at least its main benefactor Kenneth Dart, very likely took the original concept of Freeport Bahamas, and created, among other ventures “Cayman Enterprise City” (CEC), a city within a city “. Sound familiar? Tenants of CEC, in addition to getting various levels of office accommodation and services, had a given level of work permits thrown in FREE. I don’t know what the numbers are now but several years ago, I recall AS the cost of living increases in the country, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said his policy is in place to “protect the poor and marginalised” – readers gave their reaction on tribune242.com. Proudloudandfnm posted this comment: “You say you’re protecting the poor but you never said how. All these prices going through the roof but you never said how you’re protecting them . . .”
that one could get shared office accommodation and three work permits for about 12,000.00 Cayman dollars. By contrast, under our competitive offering in the tech hub, work permits would be available for professional/technical people from upwards of 12,000.00 per person. The bottom line is that no one is going to set up their tech, or medical business, in Freeport and pay a thirty-six thousand dollar premium for work permits, over a similar option in Grand Cayman where the permits are included in the rent? Not to mention other competitive imbalances, such as value added tax and high import duties. I think that sometimes our Government feels that we exist in a vacuum, and for some things that is true, (Real Estate, Legal, Retail and Wholesale), so we only have to be competitive locally. Although our closed shop Legal Profession keeps our financial
BONEFISH said: “Poor fiscal policies by this FNM government have caused the cost of living to increase so dramatically. Three former cabinet ministers in the Ingraham
services business far behind that of the Cayman Islands. Perhaps the best plan for Grand Bahama now is to revisit some of the elements of the original Hawksbill Creek Agreement and see what kind of economic activity might flow from another fifty years of that. Sadly, Ken Dart came to Nassau, under the previous Government, and was so unimpressed, or disgusted, that he turned around and left. Maybe some humble diplomacy could entice him back but if not maybe there are others with similar big dreams out there. The old adage is as true today as a hundred years ago “you have to spend money to make money” and for a Government, giving up on some tax revenue is the equivalent of spending money. BRUCE G RAINE Nassau, December 8, 2019. cabinet basically said so. Also a journalist linked to a former cabinet minister in the Ingraham government basically predicted this may happen. They have created on their own accord some fiscal and monetary problems, Some of these problems they may not be able to solve. Economics is a very complex subject. It is not as simple as Turnquest and Johnson believe.”
Dorian: More than just a natural phenomenon EDITOR, The Tribune A PROMINENT Family Island prophet from the Pentecostal community is purported to have predicted the coming of Hurricane Dorian to Grand Bahama as divine judgment. If this claim is accurate, his recent prophecy regarding New Providence and Andros conjures up a sense of foreboding for The Bahamas – seeing that the capital city is located in the former. The country has already been dealt a harsh blow with its second and third largest economies being brought to their knees by Dorian to the extent that the unemployment rate on Grand Bahama now stands at 50 percent. In Abaco, I would assume that it is much worse. I shudder to think about the ramifications of New Providence and Paradise Island being pummelled by a major hurricane, considering the many Over-the-Hill shanty town communities in Nassau as well as flood prone areas such as Pinewood Gardens. If a Category Five storm like Dorian could pummel Freeport, despite its strict Grand Bahama Port Authority building codes, what would it do to Bain and Grants Town, Englerston and Farm Road? That’s a scary thought. Judgment can be averted by repentance, and
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net a return to our Christian heritage. With an official tally of 70 deaths and an estimated $3.4 billion in damages to Grand Bahama and Abaco, Grand Bahamians, who are accustomed to weathering major hurricanes, view Hurricane Dorian as an unusual storm, because it lingered for three days over the North West Bahamas. To Grand Bahamians, it looked like an intelligent mind was steering Dorian. God is good. Yet how does one reconcile God’s goodness with the Dorian tragedy? Herein lies the role of Gottfried Leibniz’s theodicy, which argues that this is the best of all possible worlds. The only other alternative would be a world of automatons, which would be dehumanising to human beings. Free will is intrinsic to our humanity. God is sovereign. Yet in His infinite wisdom, He chose to grant to His creation, man, free will. Man exercised that freedom in rebelling against his Creator in Eden. As a result of that initial rebellion, man must now contend with the reality of moral and natural evil, Hurricane Dorian being of the latter. So was Dorian judgment
on Grand Bahama and Abaco? Yes, but only insofar that God lifted His hedge of protection from both islands. Many Grand Bahamians believe that Dorian was demonic, amid reports of Grand Bahamians and Abaconians seeing demonic entities and voodoo paraphernalia during the storm (this writer being one of them). They believe that Satan was behind the storm. And there is biblical grounds for such an hypothesis. In Job 1:18-19, Satan murders the children of the Old Testament patriarch by sending either a tornado or a hurricane. In Luke 8:22-25, Mark 4:35-41 and Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus rebukes the tempest, which has led many Bible scholars to believe that Satan was behind it. In Ephesians 2:2, Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air.” This implies that he has the ability to manipulate the weather, within the parameters of God’s sovereign will. Granted, this theory is politically incorrect to some people. But many Grand Bahamians believe that a demonic mastermind was behind Hurricane Dorian. To them, Dorian was much more than just a natural phenomenon. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama December 8, 2019.
The poor are the majority EDITOR, The Tribune PM says he’s focused on the poor? Seriously? According to The Nassau Guardian, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said, “We feel that the wealthy, the rich individuals, regardless of the outcome, they would be able to survive and protect themselves. And we would still need them to help generate jobs, employment, etc, but we would do all we can to protect that grouping that needs protection, and that is the poor and marginalised. So, regardless of what happened, policies will be there to ensure their protection.” There is little to nothing that this administration has done to help the poor in The Bahamas. Even less to help the economy here. Their raising the
level of VAT did not help the poor. Their going along with the rate hikes by BEC/ BPL did not help the poor. Their ignoring of Family Islands needs have not helped the poor. Their continued borrowing of money at high interest rates did not help the poor. Their inability to crack down on crime has not helped the poor. Their lack of attention in providing quality health care at PMH has not helped the poor. Their lack of planning for hurricane relief did not help the poor. Their allowing the web shops to continue fleecing the poor, did not help the poor. Their lack of understanding of our economy, by making the statement that we need the rich to, provide jobs and employment, (aren’t jobs and employment the same thing?), has not helped the
poor. Minnis, by his choice of words, refers to poor people as a “grouping”. I always thought that the poor were people. This administration, like the one before, is beholden to the moneyed interests for their survival. They have few policies, let alone Christian policies, which would indicate they give a rat’s ass about the poor. Dr Minnis, the poor are not a grouping. The poor are the majority of Bahamians. Your lack of understanding of basic economics and your inability to honestly empathise with the majority of your people show clearly that you are not suited to be Prime Minister of The Bahamas. PORCUPINE Nassau, December 8, 2019.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 10, 2019, PAGE 5
PASSPORT RENEWALS CAN NOW BE DONE ONLINE By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Passport Office yesterday launched the first phase of its electronic services allowing for the renewal of adult e-passports to be done online. Speaking at yesterday’s launch, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Marvin Dames noted the move as a major milestone for the country as the government seeks to modernise its services to better serve the Bahamian people. “Today’s public launch of the first phase of the online services for the renewal of
adult e-passports marks a major milestone for the Passport Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government and the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,” he said. In June, Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield noted the various challenges plaguing the Passport Office in providing services to the public. One issue, he said, was the overcrowding at the facility. But with the public utilising the electronic system, Mr Dames said it would alleviate some of the overcrowding currently
occurring at the Passport Office. “The online portal is an alternative to relieve the waiting lines of the Passport Offices for the renewal of adult e-passports. Once the online application is successful, our citizens will be able to collect their documents from New Providence and Grand Bahama Passport Offices or one of our missions in the United Kingdom, China, the United States of America and Canada,” he said. “To adequately facilitate the online operations, an online unit is now operational, complete with a help desk and operators
to assist the general public with any technical matters that may arise during the application process. The telephone number for that online unit is 1-242-3972388. Additional details and information can also be found on the (Ministry of Foreign Affairs’) website.” In an effort to counter other challenges experienced at the Passport Office, Mr Dames added that the government plans to install passport satellite stations in four islands: Inagua, Exuma, Long Island and Eleuthera. “(This) will undoubtedly provide a great convenience
to Bahamians residing on these islands and will also eliminate the expenses associated with travel into New Providence. Moreover, these satellite stations will provide more job opportunities for Bahamians on our family islands,” he continued. In his address, Mr Dames also commended the staff at the Passport Office for their dedication and hard work in “making the launch a reality” and for their collaboration with the Canadian Bank Note (CBN) Company Limited. CBN, a leading company in secure technology solutions, was contracted
Sands confirms commitment The Tribune to vaccinations16
to upgrade the country’s existing e-passport system. Sami Elton, CBN’s executive director of business development said: “The online system, which is fully integrated with the passport system launch today, remains one of the most advanced in the world and CBN is extremely pleased with the collaboration between the project teams at CBN and the government of the Bahamas.” The second phase of online services for the renewal of e-passports for minors is currently in the works, Mr Dames added.
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HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that the vaccinations brought into the country are safe and properly administered by the country’s medical professionals. “The vaccines that we bring into the country are safe and are sourced from the Pan American Health Organisation, and are used in multiple countries around the world,” Dr Sands told this newspaper yesterday. He was contacted in response to The Tribune’s lead story on Monday, in which Elizabeth DupuchCarron shared the story of her two-year-old son Aidan who died on Christmas Eve in 2017 after being diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis (HLH), which can be triggered by vaccinations among other causes. Aidan was given all of his six-month vaccinations in a single session, which Mrs Dupuch-Carron believes led to his illness and eventual death. Dr Sands noted that Aidan’s story is indeed very unfortunate, but also the result of a very rare medical condition. He stressed the importance of vaccinations, saying that much of the resistance
to the injections comes as a result of misinformation. “When you look at preventable diseases, such as measles, last year more than 140,000 died from a disease that we have the ability to prevent. And if you read this story, Aidan’s parents make it clear that they are in support of vaccinations,” Dr Sands told The Tribune. However, the minister did indicate that the government and the health industry must look at every opportunity to learn from what happens and seize opportunities to make things better when they can. Mrs Dupuch-Carron had urged parents to question the medical treatment that their children receive, and to trust their instincts. She said that she felt uncomfortable with the number of vaccinations Aidan received in a single visit, but said she was assured by the nurse at the office that it was okay. “Instead of listening to my instincts and taking my baby and running, I didn’t want to appear rude by questioning the knowledge of a medical professional… it was a broken medical system that cost us our Aidan, so it is in his memory, that I tell you to empower yourself for your baby’s sake,” she said.
JOHN PINDER
MINIMUM WAGE AIM REVEALED HOU&SE PAGES HO ME THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
from page one
For his part, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation CEO Jeffrey Beckles said talk about what impact the minimum wage increase could have on the private sector is premature. “What’s there to comment on,” he said yesterday, noting the government hasn’t provided substantive plans. “The one who made the comment has to put meat on the bones (of the plans).” In August, Trade Union Congress president Obie Ferguson said unions were agitating for a minimum wage increase to between $250 and $300 per week because the existing wage of $210 is “inadequate” for the average Bahamian household. On Sunday, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) chairman Fred Mitchell dismissed the anticipated minimum age increase as a “cold, cynical, calculated move” to garner support from the public service, not an act of generosity. He questioned the government’s about face on the issue, noting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest recently said no minimum wage increase was being contemplated. Editorial View - Page 4
THE MEDICAL BLUNDERS WHICH COST ELIZABETH DUPUCH-CARRON HER SON
I knew what they were doing was wrong. Aidan died. Don’t let it happen to you INSIDE: READ HER SHOCKING STORY HOW The Tribune reported Aidan’sFOX storyTRIES yesterday TO END US LEGAL ACTION By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
AN Island Luck cofounder is urging the New York federal courts to dismiss the US government’s near decade-old human smuggling charges against him because his “rights” are being violated. Adrian Fox, who teamed with Sebas Bastian to create The Bahamas’ largest web shop by market share, is arguing that the
ADRIAN FOX charges should be thrown out because the US government’s failure to launch extradition proceedings against him has breached
his “right to a speedy trial”. The US, though, is resisting Mr Fox’s bid on the basis that this was only launched when his efforts to negotiate a “deferred prosecution agreement” with the New York attorney’s office stalled. Documents reveal that legal representatives acting for Mr Fox have been talking to the authorities in a bid to settle the case since at least 2014.
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PAGE 6, Tuesday, December 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
39 HAITIAN MIGRANTS HELD IN JOINT OPERATION A JOINT maritime operation between the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Police Force, Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos Islands (OPBAT), and the United States Coast Guard on Saturday resulted in the apprehension of 39 Haitian migrants in the southern Bahamas. The migrants — 26 males and 13 females — were
spotted on an isolated cay off the south eastern coast of Great Inagua earlier last week. Because of the rocky terrain, efforts to reach the migrants by land and sea proved difficult, the RBDF said in a press release. As a result, a US helicopter was dispatched to assist in removing the migrants who were eventually taken from the cay and turned
over to immigration officials in Inagua for further processing. This is the second group of migrants to be caught in Bahamian waters within the past month. On November 8, a total of 58 undocumented Haitian migrants were apprehended near Deadman’s Cay, Long Island aboard a 40-ft sloop. They have since been
charged before the courts and repatriated. “The state-of-the-art Kelvin Hughes long range coastal radar installed at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force base in Inagua has proven to be effective in the fight against illicit activities,” the law enforcement agency said. “There has also been an increased maritime presence by Defence
Force assets with the support from the USCG aerial reconnaissance.” The news of the apprehension came after police reported that a Haitian woman awaiting deportation died at the Central Police Station in Grand Bahama on Friday. According to reports, shortly after 6pm, the 51-year-old woman – who
had been convicted of breaching the Immigration Act – was found unresponsive while in the custody suite at the station. Paramedics took her to the Rand Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Foul play is not suspected in this matter. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
‘They beat me because I had a job’ from page one
a scrape on his face and minor bruises to his back and neck. In the video, an officer hits him in the back of his head, shouting “don’t play with me” and “boy catch yourself, boy catch yourself!” In a second video, Mr Gaston is presumed to be on the ground being restrained by several officers crowded around him. The videos don’t capture what initially happened, Mr Gaston said yesterday. “I was on my BTC job,” he said. “Immigration meet me there doing my job. One of them come to me and ask me for my paper and my wallet was in the van. They don’t give me chance to go get it, they just slap me, they punch me on my face couple times.” He claimed the videos don’t show when an officer “put me on the ground and beat me again,” he said.
He also alleged: “They put me on the bus and slap me again on the bus. When I reach, they left the handcuff on me for two hours, then took me to the police station and then to the hospital.” Mr Gaston, who is no longer in custody, said he has worked as a BTC sales agent for almost two years. He said he has legal status to be in the country. He also said he is in the process of taking legal action because of what happened. “I was terrified because he came to me in an aggressive way,” he claimed. He said BTC has been supportive of him throughout the ordeal. On Sunday, Immigration Director Clarence Russell said his department’s internal investigation team is probing the matter. However, he urged people not to jump to conclusions based on a few seconds of video. “All citizens of the
Commonwealth of the Bahamas and visitors alike are presumed innocent until proven guilty or until such time as said suspect enters a plea of guilt,” he said. “In the absence of all of the facts of evidence, one should refrain from presuming innocence or guilt, given any circumstance. Especially those social media based. The matter to which you make reference is now the subject of a thorough police investigation and that of my Immigration Department’s internal investigation teams.” Mr Russell continued: “I remind members of the public that in all circumstances, the statute laws of this nation shall be carried out, without malice, favour, prejudice, ill-will or fear. Uniformed on-duty officers have a lawful duty to perform, in protecting the sovereignty of this nation. We will not be deterred.”
SCENES grabbed from the video
THE TRIBUNE By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net THE Electricity Rate Reduction Bond Act 2019 was passed in the Senate yesterday. The act, which will replace a similar piece of legislation passed previously by the former Christie administration, allows for Bahamas Power and Light to adjust its rates at a minimum semi-annually - to ensure that the collection of such fee will produce sufficient revenues to pay all ongoing financing costs. Minister of Works Desmond Bannister has previously said the rate reduction bond will lead to a $20-$30 increase in BPL bills for 10 months in 2020 before these bills decrease. However yesterday Attorney General Carl Bethel said he was not sure if this figure was set in stone. As he debated the legislation in the Senate yesterday, he said this is the first time the government has a “comprehensive strategy to resolve the long running and vexing electricity problem”. He said: “This bill, the purpose of it is specifically stated section four. It’s to establish the legal framework for the organisation of the issuer, that’s the Bahamas Rate Reduction Bond Limited, a company that has been incorporated…
Tuesday, December 10, 2019, PAGE 7
Senate passes rate reduction bond bill is mandated to be formed by section five to serve as the issuer of the bonds. To establish the legal framework for the organisation of the issuer and the issuer of rate reduction bonds secured by the rate reduction bond property and other assets of the issuer. “(It’s) provided by the sole purpose of the direct and indirect payment and satisfaction of the rate reduction bond financing liabilities. The Bahamas Rate Reduction Bond Limited also has the power to enter into contracts that the government of the Bahamas with BPL or any…utility with a servicer or financing entity and any other private or public entities. The plan is this Bahamas Rate Reduction Bond Limited will utilise the services of institutions abroad to place the balls into the financial markets abroad.” Mr Bethel continued: “The first requirement is
to obtain the ratings of the international ratings agency and then to put them to the market and those persons who invest would invest at a fix rate of term to be determined over a period of years would receive payments by the bond fee that will be paid by every consumer. The $30 which may go down and which may go up and there is power to make every 60 days in advance to make adjustments in that way.” The attorney general said there are four old critical problems that must be addressed. He said: “New Providence suffered as a result of the fact that between 2015 and 2019 there was no increase in the generating capacity of BPL and there was no what they call redundancies. When old generators having to be run 24/7 and when problems affected one or two there were no back-up generators
Juvenile has his murder conviction overturned
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A MAN previously accused of being an accomplice to murder when he was a teenager seven years ago has been freed on appeal. The appellate court quashed the 35-year sentence Glenardo Johnson was serving in connection to the murder of Owen “Pappi” Rose Sr on June 3, 2012. The man previously said to be his accomplice in the matter, Livingston Woodside, was not so fortunate. His 40-year sentence for the crime was affirmed by the appellate court. According to the evidence led at trial, Rose, of Elizabeth Estates, was found dead on the night in question at Washington Street with gunshot wounds to his body. It was the Crown’s case that the murder was a paid execution with Woodside, who was 19 at the time, pulling the trigger and Johnson, who was 16, serving as an accomplice. The case against the pair were based on the statements they each gave to the police. Woodside’s statement said that on the date in question, a man known as “Thugs” showed up at his house on Homestead Street to buy an ecstasy pill from his stepfather “Kaz”. Afterwards, “Thugs” approached him and asked if he wanted to accept a “hit”. When Woodside replied in the affirmative, he was told the hit was on a man called “Pappi”. Woodside subsequently told “Thugs”: “…I don’t even know how this man look. How I supposed to go kill him?” In response, “Thugs” told him “don’t watch noting”, and that he had a “little boy” called “Cock Cox” ready and waiting. Woodside said he asked “Thugs” for a gun, and received a Glock 40 in response. Afterwards, he and “Cock Cox” went walking from out of his yard and ultimately to Washington Street. When the pair arrived at a shortcut, Livingston inquired as to Rose’s whereabouts.
In response, he said “Cock Cox” told him: “Let’s walk down there to see where he is so we could hurry up deal with this vibe.” When they did so, “Cock Cox” pointed Rose out. Both men put hoods over their heads and proceeded towards the victim. While they were walking past him, Livingston took the gun from his waist and shot Rose. Afterwards, they ran onto Homestead Street en route to Miami Street. While standing near a water pump on Miami Street, Livingston said the pair saw “Thugs” pulling out of his yard. Livingston said when he asked the man if he was ready to pay them for the hit, he was told to wait three days. Afterwards, Livingston said he and “Cock Cox” went their separate ways. He said he didn’t see “Cock Cox” until that Wednesday. The pair then made their way on foot to “Thugs’” house, where the man paid them $10,000. Livingston said they split the money equally and again went their separate ways. Livingston said he used his share to buy a car. Johnson’s statement meanwhile, said that around 10pm on that date, a guy he knew as “Vincent” told him he had someone he had to shoot. Johnson said he told Vincent “let’s go” in response. Johnson said the pair were walking long Miami Street when Vincent pointed out a Rastafarian man standing through a shortcut facing an unspecified church. The man was seated on a bucket a couple feet away from his home, smoking. Johnson said Vincent subsequently gave him a chrome and black .40 handgun and told him to shoot the “Rasta man”. Johnson complied, and fired three shots in the man’s direction. After the victim fell to the ground, the pair fled the area. After making it to a twostory church, Johnson said he gave Vincent the gun. They subsequently got into a stolen car and drove to a spot on Palm Beach Street in the Englerston
community. Afterwards, the pair went their separate ways. Both men were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. During trial, both men asserted that their statements were not made voluntarily and were obtained as a result of police brutality. However, they were still convicted of the offenses. Woodside was sentenced to 40 years in prison, while Johnson was sentenced to 16 years. Woodside appealed on the grounds that the trial judge ought to have acceded to his no-case submission pertaining to inconsistencies in the Crown’s case and that the prosecution failed to prove evidence of joint enterprise. He also asserted that a 40-year sentence was too harsh. Johnson, meanwhile, appealed on the grounds that he was a juvenile, and that his statement to police was not taken in the presence of an appropriate adult. Johnson also claimed that the police did not explain to the adult who was present what his role and responsibility was. Concerning Woodside, the appellate judges said his complaint that his sentence was too harsh was “meritless”, as he killed a man “he did not know and with whom he had no grievance for no reason other than money”. Concerning Johnson however, the appellate judges said the trial judge should not have admitted his evidence as it was taken in clear breach of rules governing the taking of statements from juveniles. Additionally, the appellate court noted that the trial judge did not consider the fact that Johnson refused to sign his statement, which is inconsistent with it being given voluntarily. As the statement was the single bit of “critical evidence” against Johnson, his conviction was deemed unsafe and worthy of being quashed in its absence. Thus, both his conviction and sentence were quashed. Attorney Christina Galanos represented Johnson on appeal, while Sonia Timothy represented Woodside.
to fill the void in generating capacity. “A critical part of the intended use of the fund is to create redundancies…. We have the seven Wartsila engines and the government has also supported the purchase of another 32-megawatt electric generator. The third aspect is the Shell liquefied natural gas generating generators that we’ve brought on stream between now and 2021. This generator will give greater redundancies coupled with the Wartsila generators that are now coming on stream.” He added: “The strategy for the people...is to guarantee regular, reliable, dependable, certain electrical supply 24/7. This is being achieved as we speak.
Secondly by 2021 to drive the cost of electrical generating upwards of 40 per cent. “When the bond is issued there will be an extra surcharge based on what is set by the fee. The figure of $30 has been thrown around, I’m not sure that is set in stone because we have to look at the terms of the bonds when they are actually issued to be able to determine of how to spread the load of how to pay for the fee.” During his contribution yesterday, opposition Senator Dr Michael Darville slammed BPL’s Chairman Dr Donovan Moxey for refusing to comment on the hefty fine of almost a quarter of a million dollars by the
Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority for “repeated and continuing breaches” of both the law and its license. The House of Assembly recently passed the Electricity Rate Reduction Bond legislation to allow for the government to issue a rate reduction bond fee to be paid by Bahamas Power and Light customers. This legislation comes as a bailout to “cash strapped” BPL for the refinancing of some $650 million necessary to repay debt owed to local banks amounting to $320 million and for desperate upgrades. On December 15, the new $90 million-dollar Wartsila power plant engines, which is being tested now, are expected to be in operation.
www.ub.edu.bs
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply for the following career opportunities at University of The Bahamas, Oakes Field Campus: Air-Condition Technician II, responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair, assembling, modification and maintenance of air condition and refrigeration systems. Specific duties and responsibilities include repairing or replacing defective aircondition equipment, components or wiring; fabricating, assembling and installing duct work and chassis parts using metal working tools and welding equipment; testing pipes or tubing joints and connections for leaks using pressure gauge or soap and water solution; and installing various makes and models of air-condition and refrigeration systems. Air-Condition Technician Apprentice, responsible for assisting the Air-Condition Technician with the installation, maintenance, repair, and modification of air condition and refrigeration systems. Duties and responsibilities include disassembling defective air-condition and refrigeration fixtures, components, equipment, replacing defective or worn out parts and reassembling equipment; examining air condition and refrigeration fixtures/components/equipment for loose connections and broken insulation and tightening or fastening connections using electrical and/or hand tools; and working from ladders, scaffolds and roofs to install, construct, maintain or repair air-condition related fixtures. Help Desk Specialist II in the Office of Information Technology, responsible for receiving, prioritizing, documenting and actively resolving end user help requests; providing support for hardware and software problems; and assisting with maintenance of IT-related inventory records. Specific duties and responsibilities include documenting all pertinent end user identification information, including name, department, contact information and nature of problem or issue; creating, prioritizing and scheduling work orders for reported issues in the Help Desk ticketing system; escalating work orders (where required) to the appropriately experienced technician and updating tickets to reflect current status and recording, tracking and documenting the help desk request/ problem-solving process. Health & Safety Technician III responsible for assisting with the inspections, assessments, evaluations, maintenance, installations, and enforcement of the University’s health and safety programmes and regulations. Specific duties include identifying campus-wide risks and hazards that may potentially affect the health and safety welfare at work for employees, students and visitors; recommending immediate control measures to prevent, eradicate, or resolve issues relating to risks and hazards; performing routine inspections, evaluation, installation, and servicing of fire safety/other equipment; conducting health and safety inspections of housing and residential facilities and preparing reports; and assisting the Director in developing Health and Safety policies, programmes, practices, and procedures. Detailed position announcements are accessible online at: http:// www.ub.edu.bs/about-us/career-opportunities/. Interested applicants should submit the following to the Human Resources Department via hrapply@ub.edu.bs (Attn: Vice President, Human Resources) by Friday, 20th December, 2019: • A cover letter of interest highlighting work experience and accomplishments relevant to the position; • Completed UB Employment Application Form (www.ub.edu.bs/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Applicationfor-Employment-Staff.pdf) • Current curriculum vitae or resume; • Copies of relevant qualifications and certificates; • Copy of the relevant pages of a valid passport showing passport number, photo identification and expiration date; • Copy of N.I.B. Card; • Copy of valid driver’s license; • Copy of voter’s card • At least three (3) written, professional references.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, December 10, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Bind us together O
FTEN when one decides that they want to make a difference in the world, they get involved in some kind of club or NGO… maybe a church’s ministry outreach programme. They find a way to engage with others in something that is already established, where the wheels have already been set in motion. Not Marsha Hadassah Curry. She made her mark on the community in the same way she lived her life – marching to the beat of her own drum. Marsha, better known as “Dassah” to her loved ones, poured her energy and effort into building a safe place for battered women. She built it from the ground, up. She did it without asking the government or corporate Bahamas for a major grant of any kind. She went to the everyday man and asked for $14.50. The reason she asked for this amount was because it was enough to purchase one piece of plywood. She told people that $14.50 represented about the same amount they would spend on lunch. She asked them to skip lunch if they had to, for just one day, to donate to her cause. She went all around New Providence and Eleuthera asking for the donation, so much so that she gained the nickname “14.50”. You could hear people calling out the amount as she approached them; she responded with a big smile and the latest update on her dream – “Hadassah’s Place”. Hadassah’s Place is located in Eleuthera, the island that Marsha decided to migrate to when she left Nassau, doing what seems to be impossible for some. She retired at the age of 50. She got a crown land grant and started the building. She proudly posted the construction process on Facebook. This gave her an outlet to be accountable to all the people who supported her dream. Marsha completed the building’s structure, and placed hardly plank on the outside for a beautiful finish. Her next step – complete the inside of the building by creating bedrooms for battered women, including those
How Marsha poured her energy and effort into building a safe place for battered women with children, to escape to. The plan was to give the women a chance to recuperate in a serene island environment, expose them to professionals who would help them to get their life on track, and bring in teachers who would share various skills to help them create means of income for themselves. The reason why she chose to focus on battered women and their children, is because she had met so many in her career. As a beautician and barber, Marsha came across women who would confide in her about the horrors they were going through at home. Coming to the salon to be dolled up was an escape for them. Marsha’s magnetic personality caused them to draw to her and
let her know all they were going through. She met women from all walks of life who were facing various types of abuse at home. Many of them could not see their way out; there was no escape for them. If only they had somewhere to run to in order to get out of the volatile situation, they could make a better life for themselves. For this reason, Marsha decided that she would build a safe home for women like them when she retired. Eventually, she left the hustle and bustle of the capital and traded her scissors and clippers for balmy breezes and sandy beaches. She built her home there, and then turned to her next project, Hadassah’s place. The project brought her a lot of joy and a sense of fulfilment. She felt as if she
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would have a great influence on the women who would seek refuge at her shelter; her bold personality was something to be emulated. Marsha would tell you that she gained success only on “mother’s wit” and that if she were more educated, she would be “leader of the free world”. However, Marsha fell ill before she could see her dream come to full fruition. She ended up travelling to her daughter in Florida to seek medical care as she battled with cancer. She was surrounded by loved ones who took care of her as she dealt with her chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Her daughter Karla, son David Jr, son-inlaw Tim and grandchildren provided the loving care and support she needed. She was also cared for by her one of her best friends, my aunt Elizabeth (Beth) Ingraham-Davis. She and her husband Jeffrey Davis provided moral support as well as spiritual support for her. They shared many happy moments which helped to make the burden light. Marsha would tell Beth: “Get the pots going! We are going to have a party!” She loved Aunt Beth’s cooking and she requested dishes reminiscent of home including: split peas soup with lots of cassava; boiled fish; chicken souse; liver with onions; pork chops and lamp chops. “She ate very little, but she wanted to know she had food there that she liked,” said Aunt Beth.” On November 23, 2019, Marsha was called home, as Bahamians would say. Marsha touched many lives and knew many people. Her friends often joked and called her “a professional funeral-goer, because it seemed that nearly every week she was attending someone’s funeral. She was also known for openly crying and expressing her grief. In some ways, it was a show of respect for those whom she touched and who touched her along the way. As fate would have it, her own death will bring people together not just once, but twice. On December, her first memorial was held Fred Hunter’s Memorial Home in Hollywood, Florida. It was a beautiful, unconventional service, because there was no specific order. She was beautifully laid out; her
MARSHA Hadassah “Dasah” Curry family and friends came forward as they felt the spirit and gave testimonies of the joys they shared with her on Earth. Uncle Jeffrey raised familiar hymns and at the end, they all joined hands in a circle and sang the hymn “Bind Us Together”. Her funeral in New Providence this past Saturday at Epiphany Church at 11am in traditional Anglican style. It is significant that Marsha died just two days before the International Day to End Violence Against Women and Girls. Her memorial and her funeral were held during the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence. Her tribute is in todays paper – the day before the end of the 16-day campaign, which culminates on International Human Rights Day. Her efforts to do something about it are a testament to the kind of passion we should all have for the causes we believe in. Last week, I looked at the Zonta Club and work that these Bahamian women have been doing in the 16 Days of Activism for the past seven years. “Marsha truly had a personality that was larger than life and anyone that met her instantly became a well-loved friend,” her memorial booklet reads. “There was no one
that she would not help; whether it was providing a meal, shelter, a kind word or even just a smile. Marsha identified a need within the community where women in distress were underserved. That became her life’s passion, and Hadassah’s place, incorporated in 2017, was born.” “She was always creating laughter and fun times for everyone,” says Beth, “She was so positive and upbeat even when she was dying.” “I remember in the last week we spent together, she had me answering her phone: ‘Mrs Curry’s office!” People would laugh and say she has a secretary now!” She lived a colourful life. She obtained a farming licence and had successful crop sales. She was an avid political supporter, and she was trampled at a protest held Downtown, where she suffered a broken shoulder. Marsha is survived by her mother, Inez Eloise, her husband David Curry Jr; their children: Karla, David, D’arvid, Daavan, Davado, Nathan and Isnell. She is also survived by her grandchildren, siblings Lawrence, Prenetta and Jemma, and a host of other relatives and friends. She is a graduate of LW Young high school, and she travelled to Atlanta to become certified in cosmetology.
LEFT: Marsha’s son DJ, far right, looks so proud of his mother and the love she shared with the world; above: Hadassah’s Place, a home in Eleuthera for battered women
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 10, 2019, PAGE 9
ALFRED M SEARS, QC, CONSIDERS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RECOVER FROM DORIAN
We need to build a safe and prosperous future for The Bahamas HURRICANE Dorian’s $3.4 billion loss has decimated 27 percent of the GDP of The Bahamas making it impossible for the country to make its budgeted $340 million debt servicing on the $8.4 billion outstanding national debt. On November 4 the Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas, Mr John Rolle, forecasted the losses sustained due to Hurricane Dorian, during the Monthly Economic and Financial Development Report for September 2019. He stated they could exceed $2.5 billion, about 20 percent of the $12.45 billion Gross Domestic Product of The Bahamas. However, on November 15 the World Health Organization, InterAmerican Development Bank, UNLAC and Pan American Health Organization, estimated the total cost of the impact and effect of Hurricane Dorian on The Bahamas at $3.4 billion, about a quarter of the country’s GDP, comprising
72 percent in damage, 21 percent in losses and 7 percent in additional costs, with the private sector absorbing about 90 percent of the losses, “or the equivalent of the US losing the combined economic outputs of California, Texas and Florida.” According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest, while addressing Accountant’s Week on Monday, November 11 80 percent of the homes and businesses destroyed or damaged during Dorian were either uninsured or underinsured; thus, forcing the government to take on unbudgeted risks of covering this loss to the detriment of the country’s finances and credit standing. Mr Charles Johnson, Council Member of Bahamas Insurance Association, speaking at the annual Accountants’ Week conference, disclosed that the BIA estimates represent a $1.5 billion to $2
A Celebration of the life of
Ruth Pauline Higgs, 90
of Marsh Harbour, Abaco, The Bahamas, will be held on Thursday, 12th December, 2019 at Ebenezer Methodist Church, East Shirley Street, Nassau at 4:00 p.m.
THE CHAOS caused by Hurricane Dorian was clear for all to see. Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
MY NATIONAL SECURITY IMPERATIVES DISASTER risk reduction and building of resilience are national security imperatives, in my view, and require a national conversation and scientific study, as part of long-term planning and designing contingencies for effective governance during and after a disaster. The safeguarding of Nassau, as the capital city, is a strategic priority, given concentration of state functions therein. Should The Bahamas explore constructing a purpose-built capital in Andros or in a suitable location with less vulnerability and the requisite resilience to withstand billion financial impact. He explained the 20 percent of businesses and homes destroyed or damaged during Hurricane Dorian have made claims totalling about $1 billion. He disclosed that about 75 percent of the claimants are underinsured. However, 80 percent of the claims relate to Abaco, with Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Resort accounting for up to about 50 percent, compared with 12 percent in Grand Bahama. Mr Johnson, while encouraging homeowners and businesses to insure for the replacement value, predicted there will be from 2-3 percent increase in deductibles for catastrophic insurance and about a 30 percent rate increase from reinsurers. However, both the government and the IDB projections of losses and damage fail to capture the non-economic costs and damage that the people of Abaco, Grand Bahama and The Bahamas suffered from Dorian. According to Dr Adelle Thomas and Lisa Benjamin, in a paper entitled “Noneconomic loss and damage: Lessons from displacement in the Caribbean” published in Climate Policy in July 2019, “this focus on economic costs obscures the significant non-economic
the existential threats of global warming? Based on shared national security interests, the government of The Bahamas should engage the government of the United States to expand the scope of their 2005 Memorandum of Understanding regarding Hurricane Recovery in The Bahamas to allow temporary relocation of refugees from The Bahamas, better access to financial grants for restoration of public infrastructure, support for debt forgiveness and timely access to climate change funding for restoration to reduce vulnerability and increase hurricane resilience.
loss and damage – such as effects on health, sense of place and community cohesion – that was incurred from the 2017 hurricanes and the need for robust, national policies to address these impacts.” Thomas and Benjamin drew from the experiences of Ragged Island residents with Hurricane Irma and state that non-economic loss and damage may include loss of life, health, territory, traditional knowledge, culture, biodiversity, ecosystem services, as well as climate induced displacement, damage to and loss of physical properties such as traditional meeting houses, places of worship, artefacts, sacred places and communal land as well as intangible goods such as cultural values, traditions, sense of identity and loss of a sense of place. Further, Thomas and Benjamin, based on the Ragged Island case, recommended “the need for governments to consult with communities post disaster on rebuilding and relocation efforts to include non-economic loss and damage in evaluating the costs of rebuilding.” Has the government taken an inventory of the non-economic damage and loss suffered by Bahamians and residents to determine the scale of the national
restoration and rehabilitation required to achieve a more resilient Bahamas? Given the scale of population displacement, economic disruption and non-economic loss and damage to Bahamian society, it is imperative the government properly calculate and frame a claim for restitution, climate justice and financing. Further, the destruction of the Haitian-Bahamian communities of The Mudd and Pigeon Peas in Marsh Harbour raises special issues of law, public policy and international humanitarian law. These communities comprised persons with Bahamian citizenship, permanent residency status, work permits, undocumented migrants as well as persons born in The Bahamas who have a right to apply at age 18 or waiting to be registered as citizens of The Bahamas under Article 7 of the Constitution. There has always been both a demand for Haitian labour in Abaco for decades and continuous contribution by the Haitian-Bahamian community to all aspects of economic and social life in Abaco. In The Bahamas the law does not require people living here to possess a biometric nationality/identification card. Nevertheless, there is a
presumption, fuelled by prejudice, stigma and misguided public policy, that all the residents in The Mudd and Pigeon were undocumented migrants who should be deported from The Bahamas. Therefore, residents of these communities - with a legal right to live in The Bahamas - who may have lost official documents during Hurricane Dorian face the real prospect of deportation, denial of the right to receive compensation for lost property and mass disenfranchisement. As a discrete minority, it is imperative the government make a proper assessment of the economic and non-economic loss (inclusive of deaths and missing persons) of the residents of The Mudd and Pigeon Peas, consistent with the Constitution, international humanitarian law and public reputation of The Bahamas. There should be public education of the Haitian contribution to The Bahamas to counter stigma and prejudice; framing of a policy for the orderly integration of the Haitian community into Bahamian society; timely regularisation of those with a constitutional and legal right to citizenship, permanent residency and work permits; and negotiation of a Work Contract Scheme with the government of the Republic of Haiti for orderly recruitment of labour from Haiti. The government, rather than squandering this opportunity on quick fixes, should embrace the solidarity and partnership of the local civil society and the regional and international community, to pursue medium and longterm national development measures to mitigate vulnerabilities and build resilience to ensure a safe and prosperous future for The Bahamas.
Officiating will be Reverend Milton Lightbourne, assisted by family and friends.
Nassau: A disaster waiting to happen?
Interment will follow in Ebenezer Methodist Cemetery, East Shirley Street, Nassau.
HURRICANE Dorian should force us to recognise that Nassau, despite its stronger building inspectorate, enforcement of the Building Code and more professional management of large construction projects, shares some of the same vulnerabilities as Abaco and Grand Bahama. Nassau, an unplanned capital city, was designed to serve the colonial enterprise with quaint colonial buildings lacking the resilience to withstand the threats of global warming. The strategic political, health and security institutions operate out of inadequate physical structures that were designed and built for a colony serving the narrow metropolitan interests of Great Britain. They are inadequate to serve a sovereign nation state whose very survival is being threatened by global warming
Ruth died peacefully at her son’s residence in Nassau on Saturday 7th December. Pre-deceased by her husband Raymond, and sisters Persis, Elsie and Frances. She is survived by her sons Colin (Anne) Higgs and Bill (Lauren) Higgs; her daughter Carol (David) Lowe; her grandchildren Lesley Zlicha, Justin (Amanda) Higgs, Rory (Zerifeh) Higgs, Katrina (Richard) Curry, Kara (Philip) Smith and Duran Lowe; her great-grandchildren Eliana, David and Talya Zlicha; Journey and Ciella Higgs, and Nevaeh Curry; numerous nieces and nephews and special friends. Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.
caused, primarily, by the industrialised countries. The low lying southern and western coastal areas of Nassau are particularly vulnerable to flooding. The projected increase of more intense and frequent hurricanes means there will be more tornadoes, sea surges of up to 20 feet and more resulting in more severe wind and water damage to the built structures. Based on recent experience of hurricanes Irma, Matthew, Joaquin, Sandy, Ike, Wilma, Katrina, Rita, Frances, Jeanne, Floyd, Lili, Erin and Andrew the key strategic infrastructure of governance is particularly vulnerable and lacks resilience. The House of Assembly, Senate Building and the main Supreme Court Building were built in 1815 by the Loyalists for a colonial society; the Adderley
Building, where the Cabinet Office is located, is also vulnerable and lacks the designed features to withstand winds of 185 miles per hour, gusts of 220 miles per hour and 20-plus-foot storm surge flooding. The Princess Margaret Hospital, despite its elevation, is also vulnerable to such hurricane conditions. The Royal Police Force Headquarters, except perhaps for the Paul Farquharson Building, may also vulnerable. If the national legislative, executive, judicial, health and security infrastructures were threatened by a hurricane, where are the bolt holes, shelters, bunkers, refuge to which our strategic national decision makers will relocate to ensure continuity of government, stability, order and the restoration of The Bahamas during and after a hurricane or any national disaster?
PAGE 10, Tuesday, December 10, 2019 AFTER such a long leadup, it is hard to believe that Britain’s eagerly anticipated General Election is just two days away. This Thursday, December 12, the nation goes to the polls for the third time in recent years – following the votes in 2015 and 2017 and the EU referendum in 2016 – in what is being dubbed as the most significant election for the last half century. All the hype; the speeches; the TV debates with everyone interrupting, point scoring and talking over one another; the endless photo shots of politicians indulging in unusual activities with the public to show how in touch they are with ordinary people; and the door-to-door canvassing – all of it is almost over and the candidates now nervously await the verdict of the people. This time, however, the whole show is particularly serious stuff because the outcome of this historic election could shape the country not only for the next few years but for decades to come. The basic choice between the two main parties – the Conservatives and Labour – is continuation of the existing free market capitalist system or a hard-Left socialist agenda which
Everything still to play for as Britain goes to the polls critics say could wreck the UK economy. It is also about the difference between securing Brexit, which a majority voted for in the referendum, by January 31 or dither and indecision and, possibly, a reversal of the whole Brexit process. I last wrote about the election in this column two weeks ago and reported then that the latest polls suggested a comfortable majority of around 50 seats for sitting Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party. The polls have remained about the same in the meantime, though the Tories’ lead has widened slightly since there has been no late Labour surge. But I noted then that anything could happen at the last minute to upset this prediction. Furthermore, pollsters are often wrong. In 2015, they suggested a hung parliament and there was a Tory majority. In the EU
The
Peter Young column
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UCH is the US mainstream media’s concentration on domestic issues that the serious terrorist attack which took place at the end of last month on London Bridge in the heart of Britain’s capital may even have escaped some people’s notice altogether. The incident was depressingly reminiscent of similar attacks by Islamic extremists. In this case, a man of Pakistani origin living in the UK called Usman Khan, who had been convicted of a terror act in 2012 and let out of prison halfway through a 16-year sentence, murdered two young people – a man and woman both in their twenties – at a meeting nearby of criminologists that he had been attending to discuss the merits of rehabilitating and releasing prisoners. He then ran on to the bridge where he was subdued by passersby before being shot dead by the police. The supreme irony of this terrible event was that Khan ended the lives of the very people who were defending his human rights in the belief that he had been rehabilitated and had changed his life. They were amongst others at the meeting who - as idealists believing in compassion and redemption – were guided by moral principles and values like the possibility of transformation and forgiveness that so many regard as essential in a civilised society. Further details of the incident do not need to be repeated here. But this unbearably sad case, with two young people’s lives snuffed out by a person who, it seems, had been deemed a model of what rehabilitation can achieve after passing a de-radicalisation course, brings to the fore yet again the complex moral conundrum about redemption in the face of evil. Forgiveness is, of course, at the core of Christian belief in the virtues of faith,
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hope and charity. But this incident has reignited the debate about the desirability and practicality of redemption to enable offenders to take their place in society once more. The purpose of prison is to punish criminals, isolate them from society and to deter others. But rehabilitation is also important both on humanitarian grounds and also to try to prevent recidivism. In Britain, automatic early release was made statutory in 1991 under a Conservative government for prisoners serving shorter sentences. Reportedly, this was done partly to relieve overcrowding in prisons. It was extended in 2008 by a Labour government to include those convicted of the most serious and violent crimes. It is instructive that the UK authorities declared at one point that preventing homicides by those under the supervision of the state should be a priority. However, if early release is mandated automatically halfway through a sentence, it must be assumed that there is little the prison or probation officials, or even the courts, can do apart from carefully monitoring those concerned after their release – and this is against a background of public criticism of institutional naivety by the so-called experts who seem all too often to have the wool pulled over their eyes in dealing with the early release of prisoners. In face of public concern, the Conservative Party’s manifesto for this week’s General Election declares “…..we will add 10,000 more prison places. We will end automatic halfway release from prison for serious crimes”. Many voters will support that, but it is surely right that, in respecting human rights, rehabilitation should remain an important part of Britain’s prison system and that those serving their time in prison should be given a chance to redeem themselves. Moreover, there will be exceptional circumstances
referendum they foretold a narrow win for Remain and Leave won with a majority of over one million votes, and in 2017 they got it wrong again in predicting a Tory majority and the nation ended up with a hung parliament. Then, in the US, how could people forget that hardly anyone thought that Donald Trump could possibly win the 2016 presidential election. This time, I believe the difference that points to a Tory overall majority is attributable to Brexit, with many people liking the party’s message “Get Brexit done”. Because of this, some 80 normally safe Labour-held seats are on the verge of falling to the Tories. There remains the possibility, however, of so-called tactical voting by the supporters of other parties to keep the Tories out, and this poses an uncertainty hanging over Mr Johnson’s chances of success. But his announcements about extra
spending on the National Health Service, welfare, the police and education and a commitment to introduce a new Australian-style points system for immigration are also all resonating with the electorate. For his part, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is under pressure to explain how Labour will fund its massive spending and borrowing plans, together with free broadband for all, discounted train fares and introduction of a 4-day week. His proposed mass nationalisation – including water, energy and the railways – together with higher taxes will not be popular and he is also under heavy fire over the party’s anti-Semitism. Moreover, Labour have made clear they are not in favour of business, with the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (Minister of Finance) saying, incautiously, that part of his job description is to overthrow capitalism.
when offenders may have been driven to wrongdoing through deprivation or some sort of personal damage so the criteria for early release should always be defined with care, and proper account should also be taken of the rights of the victims. It is interesting to note that prison and probation service officials generally support rehabilitation and some will doubtless be opposed as a matter of principle to the abolition of automatic early release. But it is equally important that those concerned should adopt a hard-headed and realistic approach in their
assessment of sometimes persistent violent criminals who may even have become more brutalised while in prison. Notwithstanding all this, the prime task of any government is to provide national security and to ensure the safety of its citizens. So the increasing acts of terrorism taking place in the UK, since the horrific attacks in London in 2005 that resulted in 56 deaths and some 700 people injured, have introduced another dimension to the debate. Most people now accept that those who have been radicalised and have signed up to pursue
It now seems that more and more people are beginning to recognise that Boris Johnson has the fight, tenacity and boldness to make Britain successful post-Brexit, though there are still some who do not trust him. So everything is still to play for. A hung parliament is possible if other parties like the Liberal Democrats – a progressive, pro-European party with a
pro-business agenda – perform better than expected and the Tories do less well than anticipated and there is tactical voting. In that event, Mr Corbyn could form alliances with other parties and become Prime Minister. However, there is a large body of voters who want to stop him reaching No 10 Downing Street since they recognise that the danger of taking Britain back to the bad old days of socialism in the 1970s is all too real. Overall, the evidence points to a victory for the Tories with a reasonable working majority which they will need in order to deliver Brexit and meet their other manifesto commitments. Once all the results are in by Friday, I would be surprised if Boris Johnson is not still Prime Minister. I happen to believe that that will be the best outcome for the country.
terrorism fall into a new category of criminal behaviour. Driven as they are by deeply-held beliefs and an ideology whose stated aim is to implant Sharia principles in countries like Britain, they cannot be rehabilitated. Those who are convicted terrorists constitute a threat to the peace and to law-abiding citizens and, as dedicated fanatics, should never be let out of prison on licence – and their murderous ideology needs to be confronted. It has, of course, now become clear that those who claimed that the London Bridge killer had
been de-radicalised and had forsworn violence were deluded. Such terrorists have to be dealt with differently and more harshly. Nonetheless, the belief of idealists in the indestructible power of love – and their efforts to seek rehabilitation of those prisoners who, unlike terrorists, deserve consideration –- should surely be recognised and supported. Despite the wickedness perpetrated by the London Bridge killer and the resulting grief and misery, it is essential, for all our sakes, that one particular act of evil should not call into question such beliefs and efforts.
TORY leader Boris Johnson
Why one act of evil should not destroy all hope
TUSK’S BEHAVIOUR MORE SUITED TO THE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND I WONDER whether others were as irritated as I was following the much publicised so-called mocking of President Trump by the Canadian and French leaders at a recent Buckingham Palace reception for the 70th anniversary of NATO. Having viewed several times the video clip of the exchanges between these two, who were also talking to their British and Dutch colleagues as well as Princess Anne, they were to my mind little more than
poking some fun at him for being late because of attending a press conference. What’s more, his name was not even mentioned. It was all pretty low key stuff – unwisely indiscreet perhaps but not really much more than cocktail party chitchat. Why I find this episode irritating is that the media have made so much of such a trivial incident and beamed the video around the world instead of concentrating on reporting the substance of what
was an important international gathering. What was much worse, though
similarly trivial, was the action of former European Council president, Donald Tusk, in putting on social media a photo of himself making a gun gesture with his hand up against the back of an unsuspecting Trump during the NATO summit. It appears this has caused something of an uproar. Apparently, making a gun-like hand gesture of that sort can be considered in the US a criminal offence in certain circumstances. But, whether
or not that is true, it was a disrespectful and childish thing to do that was more suitable for the school playground; and then to publicise it on social media, as if proud of such a silly act, simply compounded the error. One commentator wrote “What a vile, pathetic, petty little man you are” – and to think this was the person who led the Brexit negotiations with the UK. What poor judgement and what a sorry tale.
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Tuesday, December 10, 2019, PAGE 11
POLICE OPEN CRIMINAL PROBE INTO VOLCANO DEATHS NEW ZEALAND Associated Press
WHITE Island after its volcanic eruption
NEW Zealand police said this morning they were opening a criminal investigation into the deaths of tourists on a volcanic island where a powerful eruption of ash and scalding steam occurred as dozens of people were exploring the barren landscape. Five deaths were confirmed after Monday’s eruption of the White Island volcano. Eight other people are feared dead, but unstable conditions on the island were continuing to hinder a search. Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims did not go into details of the criminal investigation but said it would sit alongside
an investigation by health and safety regulators. The announcement indicates authorities are concerned safety standards may have been breached. Many people are questioning why tourists were still allowed on the island after seismic monitoring experts raised the volcano’s alert level last month. “These questions must be asked and they must be answered,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in Parliament. About 47 people were on the island at the time of the eruption, and some of those evacuated suffered critical burns. “To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your grief and sorrow, and we are devastated,” Ardern said. Experts said they thought
there was still a 50% chance of another small eruption taking place within the next day, making it too dangerous for search teams to return to the island. Ardern said aircraft have not seen survivors, and Tims said attempts to send up drones were prevented by windy conditions. The eruption sent a plume of steam and ash an estimated 12,000 feet into the air. Helicopter crews landed afterward despite the danger and evacuated many survivors. One of the rescue boats that returned from the island was covered with ash half a metre thick, Ardern said. Russell Clark, an intensive care paramedic worker, said the scene looked like the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, “just blanketed in ash”.
PAGE 12, Tuesday, December 10, 2019
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‘FBI justified in probing Trump’ WASHINGTON Associated Press THE FBI was justified in opening its investigation into ties between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia and did not act with political bias, the Justice Department’s internal watchdog declared yesterday, undercutting President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he has been the target of a “witch hunt”. The long-awaited report rejected theories and criticism spread by Trump and his supporters, though it also found “serious performance failures” up the bureau’s chain of command that Republicans are citing as evidence that Trump was targeted by an unfair investigation. The affirmation of the investigation’s legitimacy, balanced by criticism of the way it was conducted, ensured that partisan battles would persist over one of the most politically sensitive investigations in FBI history. Another review of the origins of the probe continues, and the prosecutor picked by Attorney General William Barr to lead that effort hinted Monday he’ll take a harder view of the FBI’s actions. Monday’s review by
PRESIDENT TRUMP Inspector General Michael Horowitz knocked down multiple lines of attack against the Russia investigation, finding that it was properly opened and that law enforcement leaders were not motivated by political bias. Contrary to the claims of Trump and other critics, it said that opposition research compiled by an ex-British spy named Christopher Steele had no bearing on the decision to open the investigation known as Crossfire Hurricane. And it rejected allegations that a former Trump campaign aide at the center of the probe was set up by the FBI. It found that the FBI had an “authorized purpose” when it opened its investigation in July 2016 into whether the Trump campaign was coordinating with Russia to tip the election in
his favour. The report said the FBI had cause to investigate a potential national security threat. FBI Director Chris Wray, in an interview with The Associated Press, noted that the report did not find political bias but that it did identify problems that are “unacceptable and unrepresentative of who we are as an institution.” The FBI is implementing more than 40 actions aimed at fixing some of the bureau’s most fundamental operations, such as applying for surveillance warrants and interacting with confidential sources. Those changes are in response to some of the report’s criticisms. They largely centered on how law enforcement officials set about eavesdropping on a former Trump campaign aide who they said they feared was being targeted for Russian government recruitment. The inspector general identified 17 “significant inaccuracies or omissions” in applications for a warrant and later renewals from the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to monitor the communications of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
PROTESTS AFTER DEADLY INDIA FIRE NEW DEHLI Associated Press DAY laborers in one of New Delhi’s most congested neighborhoods demonstrated against unsafe working conditions yesterday, a day after at least 43 people were killed in a fire at an illegal factory. Dozens of workers who were asleep when the fire broke out were trapped in the burning four-story building with little ventilation and only one exit. Tucked in an alleyway tangled with electrical wires, firefighters had to fight the blaze from 100 meters away. The building, zoned for residential use, had been clandestinely and crudely converted into a cluster of small factories in a pattern repeated in old and crowded areas across the city of 28 million. Tens of thousands of such spaces have been closed in a drive spurred by a decades-old court case, but a Delhi Municipal Corporation census counted more than 30,000 illegal factories last year. Sunday’s tragedy illustrates authorities’ struggle to control the proliferation of illegal factories in ancient parts of the city that were long exempt from regulation, despite the Supreme Court order to close them or revamp the surrounding city infrastructure, including widening roads and installing water service, according to New Delhi’s master plan.
CHINA CLAIMS ALL HAVE ‘GRADUATED’ BEIJING Associated Press PEOPLE who were at vocational training centres in China’s far west Xinjiang have all “graduated” and are living happy lives, an official has said. But Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities from the region say their family members continue to be arbitrarily detained in camps and prisons. Shohrat Zakir, Xinjiang’s Uighur governor, made the remarks as part of a propaganda campaign launched following US Congress’ approval last week of the Uighur Human Rights Policy Act.