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Butler-Turner appoints JP who called equality referendum ‘witchcraft’ By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net AFTER foreshadowing that some of her Senate picks were likely to shock the public, leader of the Official Opposition Loretta Butler-Turner announced Monday night that she had selected controversial talk show host Rodney Moncur to be appointed to the upper chamber. Mrs Butler-Turner also revealed that she had appointed former Senator Monique Gomez and political newcomer Jude Knowles to the opposition’s Senate bench. The selection of Mr Moncur is likely to raise eyebrows and prompt questions, as many of his views are divergent from Mrs
Butler-Turner’s stated positions. Mr Moncur is not shy about vocalising on his conservative views. He has called birth control pills “evil� and “cancerous� and has frequently marched for all convicted murderers to be hanged. Host of the radio talk show Freedom March, Mr Moncur has recently used the platform to advise people not to register to vote or take part in the 2017 general election. A justice of the peace, he was also a vocal critic of the June gender equality referendum, calling the exercise “witchcraft� and erecting a billboard outside his office urging people to vote ‘no’ to all four questions. SEE PAGE SIX
guest on Freedom March with host Rodney Moncur last Thursday, Dr Rollins said he and “others� are working to have Dr Minnis removed as party leader because the Killarney MP is “incompetent and unfit to lead.� Dr Rollins was one of seven FNM members of Parliament who wrote Governor General Dame Marguerite on December 7 asking that Dr Minnis be removed as leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly. SEE PAGE SIX
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net TWO MEN, including a man on bail being electronically monitored, were shot multiple times and killed in two separate incidents over the weekend. The homicides took the country’s murder count to 106 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. The first shooting took place shortly after 10pm on Sunday off Tonique Williams Darling Highway. According to police, the victim was standing by the door of Pressure Point bar when a man entered the building and opened fire. The victim was shot twice before the suspect stood over him, shooting him twice more before fleeing the area on foot. SEE PAGE FIVE
GIBSON SAYS UNION TO BLAME OVER OCEAN CLUB JOB LOSSES
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  LABOUR Minister Shane Gibson yesterday blamed the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union for the termination of more than 60 One&Only Ocean Club employees earlier this month, saying the union had allowed the workers’ industrial agreement to expire, leaving the door open for them to be fired. He said the union withheld this from employees and was instead trying to portray the Christie administration as a government not concerned with the rights of workers. SEE PAGE THREE
COLLIE: NO CHANCE IN HELL MINNIS WILL BE REMOVED By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net  FREE National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie said yesterday there is “no chance in hell� that FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis will be removed from his post before the next general election. Responding to comments made by Dr Andre Rollins last week, Mr Collie said the Fort Charlotte MP is a “loud mouth, political juvenile� that is “just talking to hear himself.� While appearing as a
MAN ON BAIL ONE OF TWO KILLED IN SHOOTINGS
DOOR ‘SLAMMED SHUT’ ON FNM NOMINATION FOR BUTLER-TURNER RODNEY MONCUR, who has been named to the Senate by Loretta Butler-Turner.
COST OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WAS $334,000, REVEALS MINISTRY By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE heavily criticised Christmas decorations along West Bay Street and the downtown area cost taxpayers just under $350,000 the Ministry of Tourism confirmed yesterday. In a statement released after inquiries from The
Tribune, the ministry revealed that Florarama beat out two other bidders to secure the contract for its second annual Christmas lights programme with the lowest bid of $334,000.16. Florarama is owned by former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Neville Wisdom. He served in the first Christie administration.
The disclosure from the ministry comes nearly a month after The Tribune revealed that Mr Wisdom’s company was awarded the contract. When the story first broke in November, Mr Wisdom and Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe refused to say how much the contract was worth. SEE PAGE FIVE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie yesterday said the door to a party nomination for Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner in the upcoming general election has been “slammed shut,� telling supporters to “forget it.� Responding to a scathing rebuke by the party’s Long Island Constituency Association (LICA), Mr Collie moved to shut down any speculation over whether there was an alternative path for Mrs Butler-Turner to still run on the party’s SEE PAGE SIX
PAGE 2, Tuesday, December 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Tourist struck by vehicle in Freeport By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A MALE tourist was struck by a vehicle at the pedestrian crossing on Seahorse Road in Freeport as his family watched in horror.
The traffic accident happened sometime around noon Monday in front of the bus stop on the southbound lane. When The Tribune arrived at the scene, a crowd of onlookers had gathered in the area watching as the man lay helpless in
the road with severe leg injuries. He was unable to move. The man, his wife and two daughters, were on vacation in Grand Bahama. The family had just left Solomon’s Foodstore with a cart of grocery bags and was in the process of catch-
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ing a bus when the accident occurred. According to a witness, the father had carried some of the grocery bags across the street to the bus stop and was going back to fetch the others when he was struck by a dark-coloured Dodge Neon, which was driven by a male driver. A number of persons assisted the man as he lay on the road. A woman who was either a nurse or some kind of first responder got a first-aid kit from her car and tended to the man, checking his blood pressure and making sure he remained conscious and responsive by talking to him and asking him questions. The man’s wife and two daughters were at his side throughout the ordeal. Another woman brought a towel on which to rest his head. Jitney driver Steven Lewis said he had stopped at the bus stop to pick up the man and his family when the accident occurred. “He had brought some grocery bags over to the bus stop,” Mr Lewis recalled. A male passenger in the Neon claimed that the man never looked before proceeding onto the crosswalk. Two nurses from the Rand Memorial Hospital were also at the scene and wrapped the man’s ankle. A police officer on a motorcycle arrived at the scene and met a bystander redirecting traffic on the busy highway directing motorists to the other lane away from the injured man. The ambulance arrived about 15 minutes later and took the man and his family to the hospital.
THE INJURED tourist after the accident.
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Tuesday, December 20, 2016, PAGE 3
No price tag yet for hurricane repairs despite hundreds of contracts lined up By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
WITH repair efforts related to Hurricane Matthew expected to extend into 2017, government officials are still unable to give an official price tag for the efforts, despite “hundreds” of contracts about to be signed and a large number nearing completion. National Disaster Recovery Co-ordinator and Labour Minister Shane Gibson, in an address to the members of the press after the opening of the Institute of Leadership and Management Training Centre on Monday, said his office remains unable to produce a firm figure for repair efforts as many aspects were still in flux. The Golden Gates MP pointed to varying estimations and workloads for public infrastructure, homes slotted to be repaired by government and other homes being repaired by insurance institutions, as the leading reasons behind the government’s inability to produce a “rough estimation” to date. According to Mr Gibson, his office would look to give the public specific figures
SHANE GIBSON as they become available in the coming weeks. In days following Hurricane Matthew in October, Prime Minister Perry Christie estimated the total cost of repairs to be three or four times higher than the $100m in damage left by Hurricane Joaquin last year. Despite not being able to quote a cost of ongoing efforts, Mr Gibson said his office was in the process of issuing hundreds of contacts and encouraged “good contractors who are looking for work” to submit their paperwork to the National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA). He said his office was successful in its implementation of a new system that would protect the “integrity” of the process of identifying cases that required government help. Mr Gibson stated: “That is one of the reasons we didn’t move as quickly as we would have wanted to, simply because we wanted to put the systems in place first to make sure that at the end of the day we were able to fully rationalise, and explain and justify every action that we would have taken. “We would have loved to
have walked out there and one day have everything finished, unfortunately, in the real world it don’t happen that way.” He continued: “NEMA, as it was constituted was not in a position to handle the repair and restoration at the level, when you look at the volume of destruction that occurred throughout the country, and so we had to strengthen NEMA itself and also straighten the policies and procedures that govern how we go about executing contracts and trying to bring assistance to those that qualify for it.” Addressing repair efforts to date, Mr Gibson told reporters that government efforts were “well on the way”. He said the government has given out “hundreds” of coupons for families that qualified for assistance for materials alone, that in addition to signed contracts to carry out repairs on government facilities that sustained damage during Matthew. Mr Gibson stated: “We have signed contracts to repair homes for individuals who have qualified for materials and labour, that is contracts for homes in Andros, Grand Bahama and
also on New Providence. “We are also looking at concluding those, maybe eight to ten homes that we had to rebuild that were destroyed after Hurricane Joaquin that were left because (contractors) had so much work left to do.” Another issue addressed by Mr Gibson on Monday was repair efforts at schools in Grand Bahama, a matter which the Christie administration has been criticised for by Free National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest in recent weeks. Mr Turnquest told the press that lack of action from the PLP government towards the schools and students in Grand Bahama has been despicable following Hurricane Matthew. Firing back at this criticism, Mr Gibson said Mr Turnquest was attempting to politicise a process to which the government had never been connected. “The (Freeport) Container Port committed $200,000 to the repairs of those schools. The money never came to the government,” stated the Golden Gates MP. “The Container Port wrote cheques directly to the contractors, Those contracts were executed several
weeks ago, I don’t know the exact time and I am not sure when they are going to be completed. “But those schools are being taken care of. (Mr Turnquest), being anxious to politicise the process sought to portray the view that the government had collected monies and didn’t start the repairs, when in fact, that didn’t happen. “Like everything else, whatever is being done, we are now five, six months from the general election so everything is being politicised. But those schools, the repairs are well underway. Not only there, but at all the school in Grand Bahama the repairs are underway. “Unfortunately in Grand Bahama compared to Nassau, where the contractors could have started before they were given the mobilisation funds, in Grand Bahama the economy didn’t allow the contractors to do that so they had to wait to be mobilise so their repairs are taking a bit longer than the ones here in New Providence.” Hurricane Matthew left large sections of New Providence, Andros and Grand Bahama devastated in October.
SELECT COMMITTEE ON GIBSON SAYS UNION TO BLAME OVER OCEAN CLUB JOBS BTC ‘NOT AN ELECTION TACTIC’ INSISTS MINISTER from page one
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net LABOUR Minister Shane Gibson yesterday denied that the select committee established to probe the sale of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd was an election tactic as he insisted that the Progressive Liberal Party led government was only concerned with ensuring that the “chips fall where they may.” Asked to explain the reasoning behind the government’s decision to launch the committee just months ahead of the 2017 election, Mr Gibson, who is also chairman of the committee, denied that there was anything curious about this, but maintained that it was simply a matter of scheduling on government’s agenda in the House of Assembly. He also said he was “absolutely” sure the committee’s work would be completed ahead of the election. The five-person panel, with the authority to investigate, examine and inquire into the circumstances and facts relating to the privatisation of the company, has yet to meet, Mr Gibson confirmed. However, he said it was his intention to call the first hearing either this week or next week. Mr Gibson added that he had no expectations regarding what the probe would find, adding that he was very “objective” with the process. Mr Gibson moved a resolution in Parliament last month to form the committee, but there had been calls for it from as early as 2014. That year, then PLP MP Renward Wells called for the formation of the committee, saying the details of the sale were “egregious.” “(Do) we need a reason to do that?” Mr Gibson responded when The Tribune asked why the committee was not established sooner. “Don’t forget now the initial person who asked for the select committee is (the) Bamboo Town MP. Bamboo Town jumped ship and then went over to the FNM and so after he went
we had to reorganise and that’s when they asked me to move for the select committee which I did.” He continued: “We have an agenda that we go by for Parliament.” Asked specifically about the findings being used by the government for its elections campaign, Mr Gibson said: “If it wasn’t that it would be something else. Whenever you do it, it would be criticism. So criticism wouldn’t stop. So you accept that it is what it is and everything we do now they are going to say it’s politics. So it is what it is. “All we want is for the chips to fall where they may. I don’t understand. Why would the issue be (when we decided to do it) when the issue should be did something really happen, that should be the real issue. What difference does it make when we expose it?” In November, while addressing his colleagues in the House of Assembly, Mr Gibson suggested that the previous Ingraham administration gave away BTC in 2011. He was also adamant that some inconsistency might exist between the cost at which the then Free National Movement government sold BTC and what its parent company CWC actually paid for it. BTC was sold to CWC for $210m, but Mr Gibson highlighted that in CWC’s audited financial statement, the company said it purchased the company at a cost of $204m. FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has said the formation of the select committee is nothing more than a “distraction” from the country’s real issues. In an interview with The Tribune last month, Dr Minnis said the government is using this probe to divert the public’s attention away from a proposed $2.1 billion agri-fisheries venture with Chinese investors.
Mr Gibson explained that in the expired industrial agreement was a clause that stipulated if the union wanted to change the agreement, a proposal had to be submitted at least six months prior to the expiration date. Mr Gibson further accused the union of refusing to extend the agreement on the invitation of hotel executives. He added that the union had been “ungrateful” despite all the government had done to safeguard employee rights. On December 6, 61 employees and line staff were fired from the resort with its executives citing “performance based” reasons as the basis for the terminations. The hotel was reportedly dissatisfied over unsavoury guest reviews about its staff, prompting the pre-Christmas layoffs. In an official statement, the hotel said it was in the process of “reorganising our structure and redefining job descriptions across the resort.” This, it said, has resulted in a “necessary turnover of about 60 positions” at the hotel that will “ensure a streamlining of the guest experience.”
In response, senior officials in the BHCAWU called the terminations, which come three weeks before Christmas, an “outrage” and another indicator that “the labourers in this country basically have nobody to defend them”. Mr Gibson said: “It is unfortunate that the union is now trying to shift the blame to the government as to the persons being terminated. Every trade unionist knows and anyone familiar with labour laws or the Employment Act knows that individual collective bargaining agreements gives you much better protection than the law itself. “And so for instance where in the Employment Act any employer whether you work for Cable Bahamas, The (Nassau) Guardian, The Tribune, they could walk in there today and tell you today they no longer want your service for no reason and all they have to do is pay you out. And once they compensate you in accordance with the law that is all that’s required. “In collective bargaining agreements, it’s spelled out where you have to commit a major breach and if it’s a major breach you be terminated. In most cases right away. If it’s a minor breach
you are given a verbal warning, a written warning and then subsequently terminated.” He continued: “Unfortunately in the hotel union’s case, which they are not telling their members is they allowed their industrial agreement to expire and in the industrial agreement it said that if you wanted to submit a proposal to change the agreement then you do it at least six months prior to the expiration, which they did not do. “As a result of that the agreement expired. So the employer then invited them to just extend that existing agreement, but they refused they said no and eventually it ended up in court. “Now it started off with the union because had they submitted the proposal prior to six months this would have been a non-issue. One&Only would not have been able to walk in there that morning and terminate employees because there is a set process, an agreed process of how you will go about terminating employees. “Now as for the government, we recognise that there are some deficiencies in the law which we have asked the Tripartite Council to look into and send us some recommenda-
tions because as you know before you legislate social dialogue the minister at any time can go and amend the laws and, of course, we had it where we discussed all of the amendments with the stakeholders that leads to Parliament.” Mr Gibson insisted that during the Progressive Liberal Party’s term in office, it has sought to ensure that workers were protected. “Don’t forget we went to Parliament I think it was last year where we had to validate the hotel union just to keep them existing. We had to validate them. We introduced an act especially for them. “That is why I thought it was very ungrateful for them to keep going to the press saying that it’s the government not showing that we care for the people when everything that we did from that time that we were elected in 2012 we did it for the people. “We amended the Industrial Relations Act. We did it specifically to protect the workers. We are now going back to Parliament again to amend the Industrial Relations Act again to provide protection for the workers of the country and so it is unfortunate that they didn’t do what they were supposed to do,” Mr Gibson said.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, December 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
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The gift of selfless giving this Christmas “IT is because people feel they can make a difference that they do.” At an old Bahamian home next to the Police station on Fox Hill Road, a woman they call Skully is hauling more than 360 pounds of chicken into a kitchen no bigger than Granmy’s. It’s got a big, old four-burner gas stove, some counters and a sink. There’s not a trace of stainless steel appliance anywhere. It’s homey and that’s because it was donated by the Davis family of Fox Hill, whose folks actually lived in it and raised a family that has produced one success story after another. On Friday, it takes Skully an hour just to unload the cases from her car and get them into Mosseff House. Then the real work begins. For the next 14 hours, she cleans chickens and begins the preparations. Saturday she is back again for a few hours. Sunday she arrives at 1am. A short while later, still in the dark of night, the chef arrives to start vast pots of peas ’n rice. Then the salad makers come and one after another, the volunteers pile in. They are the team that together will cook, plate and pack 2,000 meals in a matter of hours. They are the volunteers of the Bahamas Feeding Network. Organised in 2013 under the patronage of His Excellency Frank Crothers, Ambassador of the Order of Malta and Rhodes, and managed by the tireless Philip Smith, who has been feeding the hungry for more than a decade, the Bahamas Feeding Network supports some 130 churches, feeding centres and soup kitchens, including homes for the aged. On Sunday afternoon, pastors, reverends and administrators pull up to the little yellow structure where all this activity is taking place, to take the plated food back to the people in their communities who depend on the hot meal and know there will be at least one day a week when they will not go to bed hungry. This is not about fighting hunger. It is not about the plight of the poor or asking why 12 per cent of the population lives on less than $12 a day when the government collected all that money from VAT. It is not about why one candidate has a better plan to help the less fortunate. The very last thing it is about, in fact, is politics. This is a story of what happens when people pull together to make a difference in their communities. This is about the
goodness that lies within the Bahamian heart and within people everywhere. The Bahamas Feeding Network is simply one example - of which there are many - of how it is possible to do almost anything when you take it upon yourself to find the solution. One Eleuthera Foundation did it. Faced with the prospect of a treasured area being destroyed to become part of a megaresort inappropriate for the location, the community united. Under the direction of Shaun Ingraham, the Foundation commissioned a report, developed a shared vision, bought an old hotel that was on the site, and began working the 99-acre property. The Foundation established a vocational and technical training centre, launched a credit union, created recycling businesses. It empowered entrepreneurship. In an area plagued by 70 per cent unemployment, the One Eleuthera Foundation brought economic activity bordering on community prosperity. In eight years, they pumped $20 million into the South Eleuthera economy. Elsewhere, volunteers, staff and kind souls at The Cancer Society of The Bahamas help save or improve the quality of lives every single day. They lend support in a hundred ways. They drive patients to appointments, hold a hand, encourage them to attend a medical lecture, participate in communal cooking or an exercise class. Sometimes it is just a matter of being there when needed. It is because people feel they can make a difference that they do. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In the case of cancer, all those hours of education and dissemination of information have produced resounding results. In the words of one infomercial, more people today survive cancer than die from it. So, this Christmas, if you are scurrying around at the last minute, frantically trying to figure out what to give someone, consider a gift no one else can give - a bit of yourself. Your time. Your goodwill. Your wisdom. Your strength. Whatever you have that someone else can benefit from that is not material but is about volunteering a little bit or a whole lot of you. Think of Skully, hauling, cleaning and preparing chicken so others less fortunate than she will not go hungry. The smile on her face is constant. It comes from within and its warmth is a powerful testament to the reward of giving.
An ugly use of the Constitution EDITOR, The Tribune.
KINDLY permit me to share my comments on the above-captioned. We have witnessed the removal of the Leader of the Opposition through a rarely used Constitutional provision. The result has led to the elevation of Ms Loretta Butler-Turner as Official Leader of the Opposition. I congratulate her on her historic achievement and notwithstanding its constitutionality I find the process which led to her elevation ugly and filled with unmitigated arrogance and unbridled ambition. This Constitutional provision was not intended to be used to pursue one’s personal political ambition or to remove Leaders because one may view him or her as should reflect the will of the ineffective. Our Constitupeople the party represents. I tion really prefers and supapplaud those that were brave ports the position that demenough to take on this chal- ocratic processes should be lenge and potentially set a respected regardless of the new course for The Bahamas. results they yield. It will be a tough road, but Ineffective leaders should if the FNM and LBT can get be removed at the ballot their act together (which I box, unless, of course, they have no doubt can and will become tyrants or despots happen after the dust settles), Mr Minnis was democratithey stand a very good chance cally elected to lead his parof moving this nation forward ty and I am sure it was the after a victory at the polls in expectation of party mem2017. The Bahamas has been in a stagnant state for years with little hope of change. A solid and realistic plan must be drafted and shared. If it appeals to the populace we may be at the dawn of a new day. What I see out there are people yearning for this change and a new day.
On current governance EDITOR, The Tribune.
to are all thrilled to see a new face at the helm of the FNM. THE recent occurrences They anticipate a new viof disruption and conflict sion that will help to move amongst and within the three the nation forward. Most are major political parties (yes, totally disenchanted with the I said three, not two) here in PLP and wish to see the end The Bahamas have been very of their reign. Reference is disconcerting. What I read in made to the unending broken the press and on social media campaign and subsequent is even more distressing. promises made by the curWith the FNM “rebel rent PM and his party, the seven” changing the face of precarious financial status the FNM, the DNA seem- of The Bahamas, unemployingly embracing this change ment, corruption, lack of and the PLP taking its transparency and accountausual stance of maliciously bility, crime, youth education criticising everything while (or lack thereof), endless govoffering no positive solu- ernment waste and needless tion to anything is endless. travel and the list goes on. However, what I have read While the use of the Baand hear in the media is in di- hamian Constitution in this rect conflict with what I hear manner (removing a party in day-to-day encounters leader through a majority with fellow workers, friends, vote of no confidence) may family and others. Despite be criticised, it shows the what the press may be report- democratic process is being, I find that people I speak ing adhered to and in effect,
BAHAMIANS have become very exercised by the fracture in the opposition. Loretta Butler-Turner walked away from Dr Hubert Minnis. She is the opposition leader and has chosen the DNA leader, Branville McCartney, as leader of opposition business in the Senate. Mrs Butler-Turner will not be a candidate for the FNM at the general election. The party revoked her
Long Island nomination. What will she do? Where will she run? Will she run? Who knows. What we know for certain today is there is a PLP led by Perry Christie, a DNA led by Mr McCartney and a FNM led by Dr Minnis. There is no need for anyone to be confused. If you like the direction the country is going in, vote for Mr Christie and the PLP. If you don’t, choose either Dr Minnis and the FNM or Mr McCartney
letters@tribunemedia.net bers and rightly so, including those who participated in this downright petty and ugly exercise, that he would lead the opposition in parliament for better or for worse. While I too share the view that his performance has been ineffective in parliament, he was nevertheless, chosen by his party to lead them. That first and foremost should be respected. The Opposition individually and collectively has been ineffective. Do not seek to game me about the difference between the Party leader and Opposition Leader in Parliament. I know the distinction well and, I also know when it is being used to suit ones’ end or to carry out agendas. Let’s not split hairs. This notion by the dissatisfied seven who resorted to this foul exercise to wrestle leadership from Dr Minnis under the guise that they are only exercising their democratic right and are looking out for the good of the country is nothing more than a ploy to achieve through a constitu-
CLAUDE HANNA Nassau, December 18, 2016.
Dishonesty at Road Traffic
BT Nassau, December 19, 2016
What will be will be EDITOR, The Tribune.
LETTERS
tional ploy what they fail to achieve through the party democratic machinery in convention. It is also revengeful. If they respected Democracy and what the Constitution seeks to promote and protect, they would have respected the democratic wishes of party members. Being members of parliament do not give them the right or authority to usurp or overrule the democratic wishes of party members. When one does not agree with the party position or find its leader undesirable, then one ought to resign and move on. Don’t get stubborn and arrogant and all self-righteous about putting country first. If one does not want to be bound by the dictates of a political party, then one ought to enter parliament as an independent. He or she will then be free to fly solo and go off on a frolic of his or her own. One ought not to use the goodwill and resources of the party machinery to be elected and then decide that they will go on a frolic under the guise of putting country first.
and the DNA. That’s it. When it is all said and done, the Bahamian people will get the government they deserve. If the majority of you like the lousy governance of Mr Christie, then we as a people deserve all the problems that result from that choice. Be sure to register and vote and make your voice heard. MARTHA S GREENE Nassau, December 18, 2016.
EDITOR, The Tribune. ON Thursday, December 15, 2016, I took my just delivered vehicle a 2006 Mazda Demio to the Road Traffic Depot on West Bay street (Fort Charlotte) to be inspected and licensed. I was extremely pleased at the service of the Checkers, who processed me in record time, believe me I was impressed. My younger brother accompanied me to the cashier to make the payment to complete the transaction. After giving the cashier the documents she stated: “That will be $155.” One hundred and fifty five dollars. My brother said they must be doing you straight through to 2018.
My birthday is February 12, so we are looking at a three month period. I gave her exact change, a hundred, a fifty and a five. She as usual at these depots never give receipts (at least I never got one). The disc had 37.50+40 then below 75.50. I assumed it meant a total of $155, but fully intended to go to Carmichael and check what this $155 covered. What I found out was that 37.50 plus 40 equals $77.50 total. The very next day, Friday, December 15, I went back to the same cashier, who denied telling me 155, instead she said she added the inspection fee of $35 or $112.50. I told her I had two witnesses who heard her and saw me pay $155.
She knew she had an out as I was never given a receipt. Firstly, she clipped me out of $42.50 plus in February I will have to pay another inspection fee of $35, plus whatever it costs for the new plates or registration. I would write the Director of Road Traffic asking that everybody gets a receipt, as is their right; but I have written this fellow a few times before, and have not had the courtesy of an acknowledgment. Therein lies a loophole for criminal activity which cannot be traced even by Dick Tracy. JEFFREY WILLIAMS Nassau, December 18, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 20, 2016, PAGE 5
YOUNGSTERS HELP TO FEED THOSE IN NEED AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR many children Christmas time is filled with writing lists to Santa and dreams of receiving the latest toys, gadgets and electronics. This year, rather than being on the receiving end, the grade five classes at the Lyford Cay International School collected canned goods and non-perishable items in observation of the Reverse Advent calendar and presented them to members of the Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) during their Christmas party held at the school. “Instead of receiving gifts this Christmas, grade five decided that we would give gifts,” said Katina Seymour, one of two grade five teachers at Lyford Cay International School. “It was agreed that for 15 days beginning December 1, every child would bring in a nonperishable item to be donat-
ed to the Bahamas Feeding Network. We are so pleased with the response from our students and parents who have given so graciously.” Accepting the donation on behalf of the network were Philip Smith, executive director and Sean Moree, BFN board member and attorney at McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes. “This is a perfectly timed donation and we are so grateful that these children, under the guidance of their teachers, are mindful enough and understand the concept of giving,” said Mr Smith. “They are making a meaningful impact on the lives of so many others. “One in seven people go to bed hungry every night in The Bahamas and many of them are kids,” said Mr Moree. “What our organisation has done, and what you’re helping to do through this donation, is
YOUNGSTERS from the Lyford Cay Internation School with the donations they gathered for the Bahamas Feeding Network. helping to feed a lot of those people. The food items are distributed to the nearly 130 soup kitchens and churches that make up the network who either cook the food or share the goods directly with those in need.” As a token of appreciation for the donation, both
men presented each student with a t-shirt that read “I helped feed 5,000 families.” “The public can continue what these children have started and help us feed more families this Christmas through the Feed 5,000 campaign spearheaded by AML Foods,” Mr Smith urged. “Persons can either
purchase a holiday food package for $40 or donate non-perishable food items at any of the Solomon’s locations in New Providence and Grand Bahama.” The Bahamas National Feeding Network is a non-profit organisation launched in December 2013 that acts as a hub for
Union denies rumours of layoffs at Grand Lucayan By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedai.net THE Commonwealth Union of Hotel Services and Allied Workers Union on Monday denied rumours of impending layoffs at the Grand Lucayan Hotel. Michelle Dorsett, president of CUHSAWU, met with management and said she was assured that there were no plans to lay off the 350 hotel workers at the property. She said that 40 per cent of the workers are back to work at the 180-room Lighthouse Pointe resort, and the remaining 60 per cent employed at Grand Lucayan Resort are on a 13-
week training programme until the main resort can be repaired. “The main resort is damaged really bad by the hurricane,” said Ms Dorsett. “The hotel is trying its best to schedule people on a day-to-day basis so that no one is laid off.” Mrs Dorsett said the union does not want its members laid off and are making sure that the process is done fairly and smoothly. “People in Grand Bahama are hurting and our members are hurting,” she said. The Treasure Bay Casino closed its doors on December 4, putting 150 Bahamians out of work. The Freeport Container Port, which
is owned by Hutchison Whampoa, laid off 20 workers due to loss in container business as a result of significant hurricane damage at the port. Mrs Dorsett hopes that Prime Minister Perry Christie will reach out before yearend to give hotel workers and Grand Bahamians an update about what is happening in Grand Bahama and at the Grand Lucayan Resort. The resort is up for sale. The unionist said that the government and owners Hutchison Whampoa are in talks with a potential buyer. “We are waiting on the prime minister to reach out and make a statement
on the Grand Lucayan; we are depending on him to reach out and let workers know what the plans are for 2017.” “I wrote to him months ago, and I believe he will do his best. But, we want government to ensure no more layoffs - we do not need any more workers jobless and would prefer two or three days rotations so that everyone is treated fairly.” Mrs Dorsett encouraged workers to exercise patience and understanding at this time as the hotel is running a very low occupancy level. She urged workers to continue giving their best on the job. “The entire island was
devastated and I want our members to understand that it has been a tough year, and we hope 2017 will be better. “We have to keep the guests happy. At this time occupancy is low and the Grand Celebration cruise ship is coming (to the island), but not as frequently.” She said pledged that the union will continue to do all it can to help workers. “We have been assisting our workers before the hurricane, which has put big damper on the union. We have reached out to Urban Renewal and other government entities to assist us because the funds are just not there,” she said.
COST OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WAS $334,000, REVEALS MINISTRY from page one
The decorations evoked a wide range of reactions from the public, with numerous pictures of them mocked in posts on social media, and calls for public disclosure over the cost. Many have questioned the quality and aesthetics of the decorations and some of them have fallen down into the road. For his part, Mr Wisdom
said criticism and press attention to the matter is an attack because of his identity as a former Progressive Liberal Party politician. “All of this is just to get at me,” he said recently. Mr Wisdom told The Tribune several weeks ago that his family has been in the decorating business for 43 years and he deserves to make a living from it now that he is out of office. Yesterday, the ministry underscored that the pro-
TREES wrapped in decorations near Arawak Cay.
gramme’s goal was to generate and enhance the joy of Christmas. “The celebration of lights follow the concept adopted by many countries to celebrate the yuletide season. Florarama was the lowest of the bidders for this year’s decorations. “Three quotes were received for the Bay Street, Pompey (Square) and Arawak Cay decorations. Bahamas Fantasies submitted a quote of
Photo: Aaron Davis
MORTIMER DENIES MEETINGS WITH DAVIS By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Deputy Leader Christopher Mortimer yesterday denied social media and tabloid reports that he sat through a series of meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis to discuss the possibilities of him joining the governing party before the 2017 general election. Mr Mortimer, in response to inquiries from The Tribune, said there was “no truth” to the egregious reports being circulated, insisting that his post within the DNA has not been challenged, nor is it threatened. Mr Mortimer dismissed the reports as “juicy rumours,” which he said were inherent in a political season.
He also said DNA executives and delegates knew “exactly” what his beliefs are. “There is no truth to meeting with ‘Brave’ this weekend,” Mr Mortimer said. “Juicy rumours are inherent in a political season. I cannot speak to where the rumours are coming from or why they continue to pop up. I suspect that it makes for interesting water cooler debate. “As for the DNA, we handle it just like we handle every erroneous story. Besides, our executives and delegates know exactly what my beliefs are.” In 2015 Mr Mortimer denied similar reports which had him severing ties with the DNA in favour of Progressive Liberal Party nomination – a report he later called “a complete untruth.” Mr Mortimer said pre-
viously that he had never considered joining the PLP nor had he ever considered joining the Free National Movement despite being offered opportunities to do so on several occasions. “I am with the DNA because I choose to be with the DNA and I am not going anywhere,” he said at the time. The rumours come as talk between the DNA and seven dissenting FNM MPs have ramped up recently. Last week, new Opposition Leader Loretta Butler-Turner appointed DNA Leader Branville McCartney as her first Senate choice and leader of opposition business in the upper chamber, spurring speculation that the group had negotiated a deal with the third party to offset any potential expulsions from the FNM in the coming weeks.
$585,766.75; Decorations Den submitted a quote of $429,360.00; and Florarama submitted a quote of $334,000.16.” The statement continued: “The contract was subsequently awarded to Florarama, the lowest bidder. The decision by Florarama to involve a large number of Junkanoo artisans from the various groups, mixing the colours of the season with the traditional lights are aimed at creating a unique Bahamian Christmas celebration.”
“On a daily basis, hundreds of Bahamians and tourists tour the Pompey Square and Arawak Cay purchasing souvenirs and taking photographs, amidst the decorations.” It added: “As a condition of the contract, decorations used are now the property of the Ministry of Tourism.” Mr Wisdom, whose Cabinet portfolio included Junkanoo, was embroiled in controversy during his term over a multi-million dollar Junkanoo bleacher contract.
distributing food and food resources to feeding centres throughout the country. In the nearly three years since BFN has been distributing food and funding to feeding centres locally, the programme has donated more than $350,000 to its 130 partners with the aid of contributions.
MAN ON BAIL ONE OF TWO KILLED IN LATEST SHOOTINGS from page one
Police have not identified the victim but The Tribune understands he is 22-yearold Maurice Johnson of Baillou Hill Estates. The second murder took place shortly after 2am on Monday. Police said they received a call that a man appeared to be lifeless in a vehicle off Baillou Hill Road. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the victim in the driveway of his home, slumped over his while 2000 Honda Accord. The victim was shot three times. Police have not identified the man but sources say he is 23-year-old Berchinal Martin also of Baillou Hill Road. Martin was out on bail and was being electronically monitored. Anyone with information on any of these homicides is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.
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PAGE 6, Tuesday, December 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Moncur named as Senate pick from page one Mrs Butler-Turner campaigned for the ‘yes’ vote. In June, she told this newspaper that Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis should accept some responsibility for the referendum’s failure. While she was minister of state for social development in the Ingraham administration, Mrs Butler-Turner tabled a marital rape bill in Parliament, which proposed to make spousal rape a crime. After loud outcry and pushback from various sectors in the community, including Mr Moncur, the bill was shelved. In her statement last night, Mrs Butler-Turner said her choices for the Senate “reflect a need to collaborate” and “find common ground”. “I am pleased that Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling will, on my advice as leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition and after consultation with my colleagues, appoint to the Senate: Branville McCartney, Monique Gomez, Jude Knowles and Rodney Moncur,” Mrs Butler-Turner said. “As I have said previously, some of the choices may strike some as surprising, but a major theme of these appointments is inclusion from a broad cross-section of Bahamians. “The Bahamas is in economic crisis, paralysed by criminal violence and a precipitous decline in the quality of life for most Bahamians,” her statement added. “The country needs the talents and energy of a myriad of individuals who want to contribute to rescuing and renewing our country in these perilous times. “The choices for the Senate reflect a recognition of the need to collaborate, find common ground, and in particular, give voice to the difficulties and hardships experienced by every part of society, especially the most vulnerable individuals and groups in our country. “There is strength in diversity, and it is a testament
MONCUR IN HIS OWN WORDS
RODNEY Moncur and Sidney Collie as Mr Collie was named the new FNM Chairman at convention. “We need to save our the bill after “thousands of to their love of country that these Senate appointees women from foreign men descent (sic) Christian womagreed to collaborate in the and from the four bills of en objected to this evil.” interest of a common goal, this referendum. My group “That’s the end of that,” namely rescuing the Baha- is completely in opposi- he said. “Let us not let the mas from the quagmire of tion,” Mr Moncur said ear- devil destroy holy Christian corruption and incompe- lier this year. marriage!” “We are not listening to tence of the PLP.” It should be noted that Mr McCartney, leader of any arguments from these Mr McCartney had also obthe Democratic National vote ‘yes’ people. We are jected to the bill. Alliance (DNA), was ap- not going to reason with Last night, Mr Moncur pointed leader of opposi- them. We are opposed to told The Tribune he was tion business in the Senate the woman having the right “honoured” by the appointto pass citizenship (and) we ment from the “decent” last week. Mrs Gomez, an attorney, do not want foreign men to Long Island MP. While he resigned from the Senate have equal rights as a Baha- would not say how he and two weeks ago, shortly af- mian man. Mrs Butler-Turner would “We are opposed to the reconcile their opposing ter Mrs Butler-Turner and six other FNM MPs re- man passing his citizenship views, he called on people moved Dr Minnis as leader on to his children if he is not not to be “jealous” but to of the Official Opposition married. The man should instead pray for him. through a petition to Dame be married having children. He said his one regret is Marguerite. She resigned The fourth one is the most that his wife is not on the because she was one of four sinful one of them all. To island to celebrate with him senators who were appoint- insert the word (sex) is im- at this time. ed to the upper chamber by moral and indecent. I do not When asked how he and Dr Minnis. Mr Knowles is trust the government. This Mrs Butler-Turner would a fisherman and contractor entire exercise is confusion work together given their who hails from Long Island. and underhanded work. I different opinions, Mr Mr Moncur is former believe this is Obeah, this Moncur told The Tribune: leader of the now defunct is witchcraft,” Mr Moncur “At this stage I don’t want fringe party, the Worker’s said at the time. to be caught up in that. I In early 2012, when the don’t want to make it too Party. He also ran and lost on the DNA’s ticket for the controversial marital rape controversial. I ask friends Bain and Grants Town con- issue returned to the spot- and foe not to be jealous stituency in the 2012 gen- light, Mr Moncur posted to but to celebrate the fact that Facebook: “Marital Rape after I began a march for a eral election. In May, he told The Trib- in The Bahamas is a non- better Bahamas from 1974 . une that he thought the issue. It is the works of the . . powerful forces have degender equality referendum devil! God’s holy name we nied me an opportunity, but was “witchcraft,” urging praise.” I persevered. Mr Moncur also wrote people to vote against the “I ask the country to pray changes in order to “save that then Prime Minister for me and I ask friends and Hubert Ingraham withdrew foe to be happy for me.” women” from themselves.
DOOR ‘SLAMMED SHUT’ ON FNM NOMINATION FOR BUTLER-TURNER from page one
ticket after the decision by its Central Council to rescind her candidacy last week. He suggested that the letter sent to FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis by the LICA was issued in hopes that the decision will be revisited, but noted that neither he nor the party’s leader had received that letter at the time of the interview. “In any event,” he said, “even if the letter exists, no one has contacted me, no one has sent me any letter,” he said, “as a lawyer I won’t speculate, but as a politician, in the field of politics, anything is possible. “I presume, without see-
ing the letter, is that the intention is to have the FNM’s Central Council revisit the decision which the council took last week to rescind the nomination of Mrs Butler-Turner. If that is the purpose of the letter, they can forget it, it’s not going to happen.” Mr Collie said: “There is no chance that Loretta Butler-Turner will be a candidate for the FNM, in this upcoming election, that’s gone. The Central Council, duly constituted, and overwhelmingly voted to take back the nomination and there is no recourse for that, no appeal, there is no one else that the Long Island (Constituency Association) can appeal to. “The door is slammed
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shut on that one. There isn’t a sneak, no peep.” The letter to Dr Minnis was signed by the entire executive of the constituency association, and accused him of falsely representing the views of the association in allegedly telling the party’s General Council last week that it had voted to withdraw the nomination from Mrs Butler-Turner, the island’s MP. Dated December 15, the association’s letter claimed Dr Minnis had “done nothing but sow seeds of division, discord and distrust” since becoming party leader and that he is “desperate to the point of telling larger and bolder untruths.” For his part, Mr Collie said he would not address any “unsavoury” comments made about the FNM leader. He maintained that the council’s decision to rescind Mrs Butler-Turner’s nomination was not connected in any way to disciplinary proceedings launched against the seven rebel MPs. “There can be no challenge to it,” Mr Collie said, “the disciplinary proceedings that are ongoing has
to do with their (seven “rebel” MPs) membership as FNMs. So after the proceedings is completed there are five possible measures that can be taken, one of which is expulsion. He said: “The party may decide to keep them as members, but as far as the rescinding of a nomination, there is no appeal. The council is the supreme authority of the party outside of convention, and once the Central Council makes a decision there is no appeal, outside of convention. “I have a letter before me from members of the Long Island community with signatures, making a request for another candidate, putting to me the name of somebody else that they want as their candidate. This came to me after the party rescinded the nomination of Mrs Butler-Turner,” he added. Last week Monday, Dr Minnis confirmed that the party started its search for a new candidate in Long Island and Mr Collie added that the party had received a petition from voters there who say they do not want
Mrs Butler-Turner to represent them in 2017. Dillis Smith, former FNM LICA chairperson, said the petition was formal notice that “Long Island don’t want lazy Loretta”. According to Ms Smith, contention between certain constituents and the MP has been building since 2012. However, she said the “stunt” the MP had pulled in deposing Dr Minnis in Parliament was all they could take. Mrs Butler-Turner, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key and Ft Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins each signed the letter of no confidence in Dr Minnis. One LICA executive, who spoke to The Tribune yesterday on the condition of anonymity, said: “If they had a petition (to remove Mrs Butler-Turner) by persons, the right thing to do is come to us and say: hey what is this? Do you have other names? We didn’t
have a list of nominees, there was always only one nominee. So they never told us they received this letter (petition). They don’t respect the association, they are taking the word of a former chairman. Those persons want to have their way and if they can’t have their way they will cause a ruckus.” Referring to claims that the present LICA was not properly constituted, the executive added: “Also, if this wasn’t an association then how did they accept our nomination and convention delegates?” To this, Mr Collie said: “I was elected on the 14 of April, 2016 by the council as national chairman. I was re-elected on the 29 of July. My understanding is that the Long Island Constituency Association, as presently constituted, was elected in 2014. I have not gone to look at the records, I simply worked with the association that I met in place. “I have no information other than I met them in place,” he added, “I met them and I’ve been working with them.”
COLLIE: NO CHANCE IN HELL MINNIS WILL BE REMOVED from page one
Yesterday, Mr Collie said Dr Rollins could not be trusted because he frequently switches political allegiance. “What he is suggesting is not even possible,” Mr Collie said. “He started his own party that didn’t last long, he joined the PLP that didn’t last long, he was in the FNM and that didn’t last, so now he is in the DNA,” Mr Collie said. Despite this assertion from the FNM chairman, Dr Rollins has not announced that he has joined the DNA. In fact, he and the six other MPs have said
they are not resigning from the party despite a call from Dr Minnis for them to do so. The group now faces disciplinary proceedings from the party. “He needs to stop dreaming. Dr Rollins in my opinion is a political juvenile. He is a loud mouth and is bold and unafraid but has a lot to learn about politics. I dismiss any notion that Dr Rollins can remove our three time elected leader of the FNM. His comments are like spit in the wind and you cannot pay attention to it. “So what is his plan? To move into the FNM, utilise the constitution, hijack the council and call a conven-
tion to remove Minnis? He has no chance in hell. It is just ridiculous, he is talking to hear himself, no one else is paying attention.” Dr Rollins was voted into the House of Assembly on the Progressive Liberal Party’s ticket. He quit the PLP in mid-2015 after becoming disenchanted with the leadership of Prime Minister Perry Christie and joined the FNM in November last year. Last week, Dr Rollins said after he joined the FNM and got an opportunity to work alongside Dr Minnis, he found the party leader uninspiring. “Dr Minnis may be a nice guy, somebody who people might think is (upstanding).
I believe that the danger is that Dr Minnis doesn’t have what it takes to lead this country by evidence of what we have seen thus far with the Free National Movement. Dr Minnis doesn’t give me any confidence that he has what it takes.” He added that Dr Minnis has done a great job selling the belief that he could change the social norms of the Bahamas but hasn’t offered any effective timeline or action plan on exactly how he would go about it. He has previously challenged senior FNMs to call Dr Minnis to a series of closed-door meetings with the intention of helping him realise he should resign as FNM leader.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 20, 2016, PAGE 7
Nygard ‘threatened to fire dredging workers’ By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net CANADIAN fashion mogul Peter Nygard reportedly threatened to fire workers who were allegedly dredging sand for his property because they were inefficient, a Supreme Court judge heard yesterday. Committal proceedings for Mr Nygard continued before Justice Rhonda Bain concerning his alleged breach of an order during an ongoing judicial review to determine whether the fashion designer had illegally increased the size of his property. The Lyford Cay resident was not present in the Ansbacher House courtroom as he had been excused on Friday from the proceedings after his lawyer Elliot Lockhart, QC, successfully applied to Justice Bain for him to be excused from the scheduled proceedings until January 23, 2017, when a decision is expected in the matter. Before the start of yesterday’s hearing, Fred Smith, QC, and lead lawyer for Save The Bays, raised a preliminary point that Mr Nygard had on two occasions been ordered to file his submissions and/or supporting documents concerning his defence to the contempt proceeding. Mr Smith argued it would not be permissible for counsel to put questions to a witness which are not based on the case the party is advancing. “I’ll object to any question which does not fall within the case,” Mr Smith added. Mr Lockhart resumed his cross-examination of witnesses stemming from a recent site visit to the property that was conducted on October 3 by the judge, officers of the court and a delegation from Save The Bays.
Mr Lockhart questioned the co-head of a security consultancy firm that conducted surveillance of Nygard Cay in December 2014 and swore an affidavit in April 2015. “Prior to 1986 you were a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force?” the lawyer asked. “I served 30 years in the regular force,” the witness said. “You were a specialist in criminal investigation?” Mr Lockhart asked. The witness said yes. “With respect to these proceedings, did you do an investigation?” the lawyer then asked. “My remit was to do a particular thing. I did what I was asked to do,” the private investigator said. “Do you know of a company called Nygard Holdings?” the lawyer then asked. The witness said he did not. “Do you know a lawyer,
PETER NYGARD Melissa Hall?” Mr LockMr Smith, again, objecthart further probed. The ed to the line of questionconsultant said he did. ing, arguing that there is a “Did you see her with procedure for such. respect to this case?” Mr “Is this your affidavit?” Lockhart asked. Mr Lockhart asked the witMr Smith objected to ness. The private investigathe line of questioning say- tor said it was. ing: “There is no case put He was asked if paraforward by Mr Nygard in graphs four through six, submissions or affidavit which spoke to legal terms, concerning Melissa Hall or were his own words. The Nygard Holdings.” witness said no. Mr Smith said he was not “Did you go to Nygard seeking to bar the Lyford Cay?” the lawyer asked. Cay resident from defend“Yes. I went in the morning himself “but Mr Nygard ings and the evenings on is not above the law.” most of the days,” the wit“As the coalition must ness said. put its case to the defend“And following each exant so must he,” Mr Smith ercise your son submitted concluded. a report?” Mr Lockhart Mr Lockhart resumed asked. his cross-examination, askThe witness answered in ing the witness: “Who is the the affirmative and said the coalition?” reports were compiled by “I don’t know,” the wit- his son as a collaboration ness said. effort. “Who is the entity you’re “Did you speak to anyone speaking of in paragraph connected to Mr Nygard four of your affidavit?” Mr during the surveillance peLockhart asked riod?” Mr Lockhart asked.
MURDER SUSPECT GRANTED BAIL By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A MAN awaiting trial concerning a fatal nightclub shooting in Abaco has been granted $35,000 bail in the Supreme Court. Lorenzo Pritchard and Renaldo Williams face a charge of murder in the October 23 slaying of Christopher Hield. Both appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes on Thursday, December 15, for the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment. However, the documents were not ready and police
prosecutor Supt Ercell Dorsett requested an adjournment to February 21, 2017. The following day, on Friday, Williams and his lawyer Terrel Butler appeared before Justice Milton Evans in Supreme Court applying for bail. However, the application was opposed by prosecutor Raquel Whymms on the basis that there was no undue delay in the case and the serious nature of the offence. Ms Butler argued that this was not sufficient for the state to detain an accused person who has the right to presumption of innocence.
Justice Evans ultimately exercised his discretion to grant bail to Williams in the amount of $35,000. However, the conditions for bail were that Williams must be electronically monitored, surrender his travel documents and report to the Cooper’s Town Police Station three times per week on/or before 6pm. Justice Evans also imposed a daily 9pm to 6am curfew on Williams. According to initial police reports, Hield was involved in an argument with another man near a nightclub off S C Bootle Highway. Shortly after the
argument, a suspect allegedly went to his vehicle, got a shotgun and shot Hield before fleeing the area in an unknown direction. Hield was taken to the local clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police in Abaco immediately mounted an islandwide manhunt that resulted in the arrest of two male suspects for questioning in connection with the incident. Pritchard and Williams will not be allowed to enter a plea to the murder charge until they are formally arraigned before a judge of the Supreme Court.
The witness said he did not. He also said he didn’t know anyone connected to the Lyford Cay resident in a follow-up question. “Did you see Peter Nygard dredging in any of the areas of the pictures?” the lawyer probed. “No,” the senior private investigator said. Mr Lockhart asked the witness about paragraph 27 in his affidavit. The security consultant said he observed Mr Nygard speaking to persons who were working “and he cursed them out, saying he was going to fire them because they weren’t working effectively.” Mr Lockhart asked the witness where he was positioned when the utterances were made. “I was on Mr (Louis) Bacon’s property when I heard these things,” the witness said. “Is this the same property as Point House?” Mr
Lockhart asked. “I’m not sure,” the witness said. “What distance you were away when this was said?” the lawyer then asked. The senior private investigator answered “100 yards.” “Do you appreciate there’s a channel for incoming vessel to access Nygard Cay?” the lawyer asked. The witness said: “I don’t know.” In re-examination, the witness said he was conducting a “secret investigation” to see if any dredging was going on at Nygard Cay. The proceedings continue on Tuesday. Save The Bays’ battle with Mr Nygard over the construction/development activities at his Lyford Cay home stem from allegations that the activities have led to substantial growth of the property. The group claims that the Lyford Cay resident has almost doubled the size of his property, from 3.25 acres to 6.1 acres, since he acquired it in 1984, by allegedly reclaiming Crown land from the sea. The advocacy group has alleged that Mr Nygard achieved this without the necessary permits and approvals, claims that have been denied by the fashion designer. In 2015, Justice Bain was asked to recuse herself from committal proceedings involving Mr Nygard through a notice of motion filed in the Supreme Court by his former lawyer on the grounds of bias. However, in January, Justice Bain said Mr Nygard had not proved there was evidence of bias or apparent bias towards him and found the accusations to be “scandalous”. The Court of Appeal, in June, affirmed Justice Bain’s rejection of the application in an appeal of the decision by the Lyford Cay resident.
MAN REMANDED TO PRISON IN ATTEMPTED MURDER CASE By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after he was arraigned on a charge of attempted murder in Magistrate’s Court. Wilfred McKinney appeared before Magistrate Constance Delancy accused of attempting to cause the death of Kareem Nairn on Saturday, December 10. McKinney has been charged with attempted murder contrary to Section 292 of the Penal Code, Chapter 84.
He was informed that he would not be allowed to enter a plea to the charge until he is formally arraigned before a judge in the Supreme Court. He is scheduled to return to Magistrate’s Court on February 27, 2017 for the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment which would transfer the case from the lower court to the Supreme Court. McKinney was denied bail and remanded to the Department of Correctional Services to await trial. However, he was advised of his right to apply to the
PAGE 8, Tuesday, December 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Split party, split votes and the leader who splits opinions By NICOLE BURROWS
‘I
, HUBERT Alexander Minnis, is the leader of the Free National Movement ...” Cringe. That’s what he said the day after the parliamentary coup. Are we really supposed to take this man seriously? This is who y’all think is fit enough to represent us as a nation? Well, at least Trump won’t be lonely on the world stage ... he’ll be in good company with someone else struggling to speak English, and they can struggle together. I shudder to think how Minnis made it through medical school. And I would imagine he is not the only one of his kind who did. People, this is a problem. Look, I know good grammar isn’t the only consideration for wisdom or success, but is this really what we want leading us around the globe? People of the world already have ridiculous ideas of how uneducated or ignorant island or Caribbean people are; do we really need someone who can’t work out tenses and person in a basic sentence to carry our banner? How many times are we going to choose the ill-equipped to lead us? You think it’s a small thing, but it’s exactly why nothing works as it should in the Bahamas ... why government agencies can’t rise above a basic level of functionality to accomplish their minimum agendas. “I is”? My 12-year-old niece knows better than this. Any well-educated Bahamian (not necessarily educated abroad in university, and not necessarily educated abroad in an expensive university) would know better than this, and would never say it unless intentionally trying to sound illiterate. I guess it keeps us entertained - that and the white patch of hair running down only the right side of Minnis’ head. It’s very interesting. Maybe I can distract myself with that and forget about the rest for now. Doubtful. Because ... Minnis strikes again Other than headlines, which can often be misleading, I try not to read any news articles from any news source or media house just before I write this column.
It’s a writer thing ... we want to be careful not to have other people’s voices spill over into ours, unless of course we want them to, because what could look like thought theft is not a good look for any writer. But today I glimpsed The Tribune editorial: ‘Time for Dr Minnis to Step Down’, and I had to take a closer look. I wanted to make sure what it covered wasn’t the same as what I was already planning to write about. Sometimes that happens, even across news sources. And while there was some general overlapping of subject, there were two specific points of note to me in the editorial which I thought I should expand on: the first about Minnis’ refusal to step down, as referenced in the headline, and the second about how the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) split the 2012 election, giving the total votes by party/grouping. Since I had already planned to discuss more about Minnis’ perpetual leadership syndrome, and I’ve been wanting to address the split vote notion, here goes. Reasons why Minnis won’t step down 1. A general lust for power and control - he might really be that type of person. Who is to say for certain but him? I know, to the rest of us, it’s surely looking more and more possible. 2. Delusion - he believes he and only he can ‘save’ the Free National Movement (FNM) and the Bahamas. Steadily, he begins to channel Lynden Pindling, and that is not a compliment in this instance. Minnis does not realise what he needs to save the FNM from is himself. 3. Stubbornness - he won’t step down from the FNM leadership position because he just won’t step down. End of story. 4. He is ignorant ... of one significant fact - he doesn’t even realise his leadership is such a big problem swallowing up the organisation and any capability that remains in it. 5. He has been or is being lied to about his suitability as a good leader by the highest ranking and the lowest ranking among FNMs. 6. He has something somebody of influence
THE DNA’S PATH TO VICTORY? 2012 ELECTION TOTALS PLP 75,815
2017 PROJECTION PLP 45,489
FNM 65,633
FNM 39,379
DNA 13,226
DNA 69,805
wants and him becoming Prime Minister of the Ba-
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hamas is the only way for them to get it. 7. He wants something someone else has and him becoming Prime Minister of the Bahamas is the only way for him to get it. 8. His belief system - he thinks leaving is equal to being a loser and he ain’t trying to be one. In a word, ego. 9. He is a huge financial investment and/or he has made a huge financial investment as party leader, and, not realising it is already a sunk cost, he won’t walk away or won’t be allowed to walk away from the role. It’s kind of like a Bahamian college student who’s struggling to finish school when the parents say “We ain’t spend all this money on you for nothing, you better come out with something ...” or, in the case of the self-reliant Bahamian college student ... “I done spend all this money, I gatta come out with something.” And, in the Minnis/FNM scenario, the only something that’s worth it is the post of FNM leader, followed by the position of Bahamian Prime Minister. Why - and how - the DNA can win the 2017 election There are still many people who talk about the DNA only serving to split the vote in the 2012 general election and doing the same thing again in the 2017 general election. I disagree. The net effect and the impact of the DNA in the next election will not be the same. The numbers will tell a different, more interesting story. Follow the reasoning.
First of all, the people who say all the DNA will do is split the vote assume that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) voter base, and the FNM voter base, will remain the same. Neither one has remained the same. The word on every street corner says neither PLP nor FNM voter base has remained the same. The only question is how much has each party’s voter base changed? In actuality, it is not farfetched to project that the voter bases of both the PLP and the FNM have been substantially eroded, to the tune of about 40 per cent each, since the last general election. Meanwhile, the DNA voter base has not diminished, but has in fact grown by the same amount or more. Effectively, and ironically, by splitting their own votes, the PLP and FNM have made it easier for the DNA to win the next general election. Yesterday’s Tribune editorial published the following total vote figures from the 2012 election: PLP 75,815 FNM 65,633 DNA 13,226 BCP 96 Independents 1,117 A 40 per cent erosion of those PLP and FNM numbers, and no diminishment of DNA numbers, would put the DNA in a comfortable position to win the next election. By taking 40 per cent of the FNM voter base and 40 per cent of the PLP voter base, while maintaining its 2012 voter base, the DNA can take
the majority of votes in the next election. DNA 69,805 PLP 45,489 FNM 39,379 The only disruptive factor would be a mass number of people voting for independent candidates, which is always a possibility but not likely, or, if other smaller parties took PLP/FNM votes instead of them being cast to the DNA. These are just basic numbers, not inserting statistical probability, but it is enough to hypothesise about and enough to encourage you to still go ahead and vote for the DNA in 2017. The DNA’s job now, if they intend to win the 2017 general election, should be to focus firmly on the disaffected voters of the two major parties, as well as the younger voters, who are more likely to feel like they have to make a difference in this next election because their parents and grandparents won’t/won’t vote. The DNA should also be unmistakably clear about its latest alliance with the FNM, so that Bahamians who insist on being ignorant in the face of explanation and think the agreement is a merger of the two parties, the FNM and the DNA, or an acquisition of the DNA by the FNM, can be set straight with heads clear enough in the end to be wise in the polling booths on election day. Comments and responses to nburrows@ tribunemedia.net
PAGE 10, Tuesday, December 20, 2016
CAPTAIN EARNS CERTIFICATION
CRUISE Abaco has announced that Captain Raymond Lowe successfully completed the American Sailing Association’s instructor certification programme. With this certification Captain Raymond becomes the first Bahamian certified to teach American Sailing Association sailing courses in The Bahamas. Captain Raymond is now able to teach new and seasoned sailors these ASA core certifications; basic sailing, coastal cruising, bare boat chartering and catamaran instruction. Capt Raymond completed his instructor certification programme at Cruise Abaco’s base on the docks at the Great Abaco Beach Resort in Marsh Harbour. Cruise Abaco is proud to congratulate Capt Raymond.
SCHOLARSHIP FOR RADSHAD
A BAHAMIAN student has been awarded the Jess and Betty Garnett Grizzly Scholarship, the Bill and Shirley Virdon Grizzly Endowed Scholarship and the Kissinger Family Grizzly Scholarship from Missouri State University-West Plains. Radshad Davis, of Nassau, is a 2016 graduate of Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas. He is a freshman at Missouri StateWest Plains and a member of the Grizzly basketball team. He is also the son of Marvin and Judy Davis of the Bahamas. According to a statement from the school, Missouri State-West Plains is a teaching and learning institution providing quality post-secondary educational opportunities to the communities it serves. Missouri StateWest Plains offers associate degrees and credit and noncredit courses, and serves as a delivery site for bachelor’s and master’s degrees offered by Missouri State University in Springfield.
THE TRIBUNE
Claims of ‘black-balling’ of foreign dentist by officials By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Dental Council officials are being accused of orchestrating the “malicious black-balling” of a foreign practitioner after opting to reject multiple renewal applications for his long-standing service licence. Dr Larry Levin, a Rhode Island dentist with a second home in Long Island, claimed his decision to work independently of one of the council’s foremost members has left him “unable to practice my craft in a community that needs me”. In detailing the protracted process of applying for renewal of his licence to practice in the Bahamas, the veteran dentist outlined his three separate attempts to “acknowledge, accept and work with” what he called “made-up, arbitrary laws brought about to keep me out intentionally” to no avail. “It is scary that this has happen the way it has,” Dr Levin told The Tribune. “Every roadblock they placed in front of me, I worked through it by following every step they prescribed. As a result, after all the effort, they just settled on the conclusion that they don’t need me any more and that is the reason they have denied my licence this time around.” Insisting that he was reluctant to go to the press, Dr Levin - who has been practising on the island since 2012 - said he now feels the only route to justice is through a public fight. Dr Levin has been coming to Long Island for 15 years, eight or nine years on vacation to Cape Santa Maria before buying a property six years ago.
DR Larry Levin working at Dr Ricardo Crawford’s clinic He travels to Long Island once a month and spends long days in the clinic, often starting at 7am and finishing at 8pm, charging miminal fees and finds the help he offers “rewarding” and the people - who otherwise have to fly to Nassau for treatment - “appreciative” despite him struggling to meet the demand. One client messaged him following his most recent visit earlier this month thanking him for “doing such a fantastic, creative work today with inserting my bonded bridge. It is a perfect fit, looks great with no sharp edges at all. It is therefore essential keeping your word class service on Long Island and continue to give dental treatment to so many in need on this sometimes forgotten island.” He said issues came to a head earlier this year after he was informed by former partner and dentistry sponsor, Dr Ricardo Crawford, that he would be ending his practice on Long Island at some point in 2016. Dr Levin said that while he was
surprised and saddened by the news, he knew instantly that he could not withdraw his services as only he and Dr Crawford operated on the island. He said the island was “in desperate need of care”. “When Dr Crawford was my sponsor he wrote a letter to immigration to that effect. The available care on Long Island is no different now than when I worked for Dr Crawford.” Dr Levin said he gave notice to Dr Crawford that he would be interested in maintaining their practice in Salt Pond in his absence and as a result, talks commenced over equipment and utensils used in the practice to that point. “He offered me a chance to buy out the equipment we had in Long Island,” Dr Levin said. “I initially saw it as a good deal because I knew it would be costly to travel back to Rhode Island, buy and ship all of this stuff back to the Bahamas and then have them installed. “That changed, however, when I saw (Dr) Crawford’s price. It was way too much. I thought it was unwise to buy equipment at that price point. It made no sense to
buy from him, so I went the cheaper route and purchased new equipment. It never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t be operating in Long Island so I saw no issue with this move.” Dr Levin said once he started the formal application process to have his annual licence renewed for 2017, he quickly realised how big a mistake he had made. “It became a nightmare fast,” he said. “Dr Crawford withdrew his sponsorship and closed his clinic. It confused me, but I saw it as him doing what was in his right as a dentist. I got a new sponsor and applied for renewal. I got a responding letter indicating that my new sponsor couldn’t sponsor me because of their foreign status. “The letter said due to a recent technicality, you must be sponsored by a Bahamian dentist - strike one. “I wrote the council back. I asked if this was all it would take to get my licence sorted out. The Council’s response was simple: there were no other roadblocks. I got on to finding a local practitioner to sponsor me. I found a new sponsor, Dr Andre Rollins. I applied again and honestly thought that was it; I thought I was done. Got a new office space and my equipment installed. Everything was ready to go. Applied for work permit, My mind was settled. “Sometime later, I got another letter - rejected. The Council said I couldn’t be sponsored by Dr Rollins as he was a orthodontist. Apparently there was some new rule that prohibited a general dentist from being sponsored by specialist. It wasn’t seen prior to my case, and if it even existed before then, it wasn’t being enforced. “Several persons challenged the matter on my behalf and all I got after that was letters telling in plain language that I wasn’t
licensed to work in Long Island after this year.” The Bahamas Dental Act 1989, which governs The Bahamas Dental Council, prescribes that a person is qualified to be registered as a dentist if he holds a diploma, degree, fellowship, membership, licence, certificate or other status or form of recognition granted by a university, college or body empowered to confer authority to practice dentistry by the law of the country or territory where it is granted and which in the opinion of the Council is evidence of satisfactory dental training. However, when contacted for comment, one official with the Council slammed the claims made by Dr Levin. “He sees this as an issue between him and one person. It is not: the Council is not one person, the Council is eight people,” noted the official, who asked not to be named. “You get a sponsor, the Council looks at that and decides whether to offer you a licence based on a number of things. “We at the Council have been able to get a full-time dentist posted on Long Island and another - Dr Crawford - is there on a weekly to bi-weekly basis. Despite what he (Dr Levin) wants to think, we have enough operators there and we had no need for him to remain there.” The officials said the Council operated on a mandate put forward by the Department of Public Health - one dentist for every 2,500 residents. “There are enough operators on the island and he needs to understand and accept that,” the Council official said. Dr Levin claimed that Dr Crawford “is there at the most once per month for three and a half hours. Last month he did not show at all when he was supposed to.” Residents have been signing a petition supporting Dr Levin’s case.
TRIBUTE PAID TO ERRINGTON ‘BUMPY’ WATKINS A TRIBUTE was paid last night to Errington “Bumpy” Watkins after his death at the age of 90. Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, the Leader of the Opposition, said of Mr Watkins that he “was a colorful and larger than life figure who contributed to our national life over the course of many decades”. She said: “Mr Watkins was a dedicated police officer who was committed to law and order, rising to
a senior level in the Royal Bahamas Police Force. “He was very much involved in public life and politics, serving a term in the House of Assembly representing the good people of Abaco. “He often boasted of his Long Island heritage and enjoyed deep ties to the people of Long Island. “He also had an activist spirit, advocating for the causes he believed in, including just recently at a
demonstration in Rawson Square. Mr Watkins wrote many letters to the newspapers on the views and causes he espoused with passion. “He was a Bahamian storyteller with a zest for life. Mr Watkins was a farmer for many years and an avid believer in bush medicine. “On behalf of my colleagues and my family, I offer sincere condolences to his family on his passing at 90. May he rest in peace.”
YOUR VIEW ON FUTURE OF THE FNM IN The Tribune’s latest ”Big Question”, we asked readers what they thought lay ahead for the FNM, in light of it’s current turmoil. Sheeprunner12 was optimistic about the party: “The FNM has shed the deadweight and now will sprout new shoots. They have a fine cadre of candidates who can form a competent Cabinet. Minnis must LEAD now, no more ducking and backseat driving. He has three MPs now, they must raise HELL now!!!!” Theplpsucks suggested this: “Time for them to hit the ground with the candidates and talk to the people.” Banker thought there was hope for the FNM thanks to its new candidates: “Doc has not been the ablest of politicians. We don’t need politicians. We need a consensus leadership with technocrats and it seems that the candidates that Minnis has ratified are just that. The candidates have real plans and concepts to put the Bahamas back on track.” ThisIsOurs said: “Praise God Duane Sands catch sense and stick with Minnis. I suspect more people will abandon Loretta. She may be forced to dance her way back into the party.” Alex_Charles was concerned about the party’s future: “I’m simply too sceptical, especially after Minnis
ducked a debate with LBT before that failure of a convention to have a rally. Rally politics needs to die and we need to move towards a platform of debates where policies and plans can be thoroughly evaluated by the public. Gone should be the days of rum, $20 and a t-shirt. If Minnis fails to capitalise on the demand for change, if he continues to fail to get people to register to vote, and if opposition ‘groupings’ fail to unite into a coalition, which I suspect they will fail, then the FNM is heading straight for oblivion along with the entire country in the long haul.” ThisIsOurs believed Mrs Butler-Turner wouldn’t get the “traction she anticipated”: “The questions are whether Minnis is bad on his feet or if he’s just bad, and how badly do people want to get rid of the PLP. The only gamble I’m willing to take is that Loretta will not gain the traction she anticipated. Not because people like the FNM
or dislike a DNA coalition, it’s because people don’t like how she did what she did. If she hadn’t lost democratically to Dr Minnis on a vote she forced just weeks ago, the outlook might be different.” And there was this from Economist: “LBT may not be the right one but she is better than Minnis. The party needs a smart young (40ish) leader. Someone who the young can identify with and who the old feel that there is hope that the country will now do better. There are way too many old politicians who just won’t let go of the party. They want to keep it ‘their way’ and are destroying it in the process. They like Minnis because he doesn’t rock the boat. Minnis has done nothing in four years so why should I expect him to do anything if he becomes PM? I don’t. So why vote for a do nothing?” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.