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Key: I’m done with the FNM ‘Rebel Seven’ MP given ovation at PLP convention

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement MP Edison Key, one of the “rebel” seven Opposition MPs, last night declared he was “done and finished” with the FNM, while praising the governing Progressive Liberal Party as an organisation with a strong base that seemed to be doing “good things”.

Despite his presence at the PLP’s first night of convention, which he described as “something I’ve never seen in the FNM”, the Central and South Abaco MP said this should not been seen as something “bad” because he was still in support of Official Opposition Leader Loretta ButlerTurner. He insisted that his attendance there simply meant he was a concerned Bahamian.

However, in an interview with The Tribune at the

close of the event, Mr Key said his ties with the FNM were cut loose, “for as long as FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis was leading” the party.

Earlier in the night when Prime Minister Perry Christie made his grand entrance, Mr Key, who was in the front row, was one of the first people to be embraced by the nation’s leader.

“When I heard he was here, I was pleasantly surprised because he did indicate, who knows, I may show up at your convention,” said Mr Christie when he was asked to comment on Mr Key’s attendance, adding that he had not rejoined the PLP. Moments ahead of the kick off of the PLP’s 52nd three-day national convention, Mr Key was welcomed by party supporters gathered in the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel’s convention centre.

SEE PAGE THREE

TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday said the appointment of hundreds of stalwart councillors by the PLP just days before the party’s three-day conven-

tion was “overkill” towards former Attorney General Alfred Sears’ bid at dethroning incumbent party leader, Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Mr Miller, in an interview during day one of the PLP’s convention, said he didn’t think it was “fair” to

By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Perry Christie last night dismissed concerns from leadership challenger Alfred Sears, QC, that the deck has been stacked against him at the Progressive Liberal Party’s convention, telling The Tribune that the former attorney general has had more time to canvass party delegates than he has.

His comments to The Tribune came on the sidelines of the first night of the PLP’s national convention held at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, moments after PLP Deputy Leader Philip “Brave” Davis publicly declared his support for the nation’s leader.

While portraying the opposition Free National Movement (FNM) as a party in disarray, Mr Davis said the PLP was stable, with members that do not dance on stage with each other one day, then the next day “stab each other in the back”.

SEE PAGE THREE

CONCERN OVER TRANSPORT OF FAMILY ISLAND DELEGATIONS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie greeting Edison Key at the PLP convention last night.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

MILLER: OVERKILL TO APPOINT HUNDREDS OF STALWART COUNCILLORS AHEAD OF VOTE

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

PM: DECK NOT STACKED AGAINST RIVAL SEARS

Mr Sears to have so many stalwart councillors appointed prior to the convention - as many as 330 according to one report.

Coupled with PLP supporters being “funny people” who “stick with what they’re accustomed to and what they know,” Mr Mill-

er said this suggests that “the odds are stacked up against” Mr Sears.

Mr Miller said Mr Sears would have “done well” if he could manage to get the support of 30 per cent to 35 per cent of the delegates, particularly the stalwart councillors, and that he

would be “happy” for the former minister of education if he manages to do so.

However, Mr Miller said he expects Mr Christie to come out of the convention as leader of the party “with no problem at all”.

SEE PAGE SIX

ALFRED Sears is concerned about the “unorthodox” process by which he says some of the Progressive Liberal Party’s Family Island stalwart councillors and delegates have been flown into New Providence and accommodated.

A recurring concern about party conventions has been the allegation that people vying for leadership positions pay to bring delegates supportive of them to the capital, an action some say is tantamount to vote buying.

SEE PAGE FIVE

BUTLER-TURNER SAYS SHE MAJOR FAMILY ACCUSED WILL RUN AS INDEPENDENT OF FIREARM POSSESSION

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Loretta ButlerTurner yesterday confirmed that her bid for re-election in Long Island during the upcoming general election would be as an independent candidate, weeks after insisting that she was forming a “very powerful and bold” coalition with Senator

Branville McCartney and the Democratic National Alliance.

When asked by persons on social media if she had decided to officially launch an independent bid to be re-elected, the former Free National Movement deputy leader said “certainly”.

This followed an exchange on social media with several persons in which she SEE PAGE SIX

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A HUSBAND and wife, together with their adult son were remanded to prison yesterday after pleading not guilty to firearm related charges brought against them in Magistrate’s Court.

Dwight Major, 48, and Keva Major, 46, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt

each facing a count of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition on Sunday January 22.

It is alleged that they, along with 24-year-old Ra’von Major, were found with a black Glock .45 pistol and 11 live rounds of .45 ammunition for the weapon without being the holders of a certificate or licenses to possess the items.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2, Wednesday, January 25, 2017

PRIME Minister Perry Christie making his arrival into the PLP convention last night.

CLEOLA HAMILTON, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, dancing at the convention.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

THE CROWD at the Progressive Liberal Party convention’s opening night at The Melia last night.

SOME of the attendees at the PLP convention last night.

MELANIE GRIFFIN, Minister of Social Services, speaking last night.

SENATOR ALEX STORR, PLP candidate for Elizabeth Estates.

THE TRIBUNE

PRIME Minister Perry Christie greeting Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis at the convention last night.

ONE convention-goer wears a hat reminding people to register to vote.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 25, 2017, PAGE 3

Key: I’m done with the FNM from page one Many of them applauded him and could be heard shouting, “welcome home”.

Others were heard remarking that “he should have never went to the FNM in the first place”.

“It (my presence) shouldn’t mean anything,” he said when he was interviewed by The Tribune at the close of the convention, “We are one Bahamas. I was at the FNM convention and now I am at the PLP convention. I am just an observer of what is taking place. With so much negative with what the PLP is doing, I wanted to see for myself. They seem to be doing good things.

“I still have a whole lot of friends here. I have been here through the trenches.

I was with the PLP from 1970. Some times it takes a long time, but I’m OK. I’m not a member of the PLP or anything like that, but I was received here with a warm welcome this evening and a standing ovation. I have been with the FNM now for 10 years and I have never seen anything comparing to what I saw here at this convention.”

Asked if it is likely that he would be rejoining the PLP, Mr Key said he didn’t want to say right now, maintaining that, “Loretta is our leader”.

In an earlier instance last night Mr Key told The Tribune: “We’ll see what’s going to happen. I’m definitely not with the FNM or Hubert Minnis, I’m out.”

Mr Key added that he was “finished and done” with the FNM and its leader.

Mr Key entered front-line politics in 1977 and served two terms as a senator and chairman of the Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation.

He resigned his post as a PLP senator in 2005, and then left the party. He became a member of the FNM later that year.

He was elected to Parliament by the South Abaco constituency in the 2007 and 2012 general elections.

Senator Rodney Moncur was also seen among the PLP supporters gathered last night.

When he took the stage to greet supporters to the event, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts offered a “special welcome to Mr Key, saying “now let them put that in their pipes and

smoke it.”

Apart from Mr Key’s surprise showing, PLP members used the event to highlight the accomplishments of the party.

For his part, Golden Isles MP and State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis painted a grim picture of the country’s economic situation under the then Ingraham administration, asserting that the PLP rescued the country when it took office.

He defended the government’s implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) and this time suggested that the revenue collected from the tax was spent on various state initiatives under the Christie administration.

He has previously stated that this revenue went into the consolidated fund and would count against the national debt.

He said: “It is a known fact that the Bahamas government relied too heavily on customs duties and stamp tax as its principal revenue source, a tax regime that failed to capture the service component of the economy; about twothirds of the Bahamian economy is built on service.

“Value Added Tax captured that economic activity that went untaxed for many years. Continued inaction was not an option.”

Mr Halkitis also said: “As a result of our reform programme and despite a stubbornly difficult global environment, we have been able to get our finances on a good footing while at the same time: doubling the investment in scholarships from $7.73m to $16.3m.

This empowers young Bahamians. That’s where the VAT money went. “(We) provided the financial resources to transition from the College of the Bahamas to The University of Bahamas at well over $12m.

That’s where the VAT money went “We are building new schools and have invested tens of millions of dollars in repairs and upgrades of existing schools, thus empowering our young people.

“That’s where the VAT money went. “(We) provided the money in excess of $150m to introduce comprehensive National Health Insurance in short order for all our people, but especially those in most need and who cannot afford private insurance.

This empowers our people.

EDISON Key with PLP supporters at the party’s convention last night.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff “That’s where the VAT Gibson used his time on the money went. In prepara- convention stage to paint tion for NHI, we spent tens the PLP as the only stable of millions of dollars on a party in the country, taknew Critical Care Block, a ing a swipe at the internal new hospital in Exuma, up- problems plaguing the Free grades to health clinics and National Movement.

“As you know, the PLP is at PMH in addition to new the oldest, most progressive ambulance fleet.

“That’s where the VAT and yes, the most stable – and I repeat the most stable money went. “(We) facilitated a new - political organisation in fleet of aircraft for Baha- the history of the Bahamas. masair at a cost of $100m. A Our leader said it best last modern, safe and efficient week… the PLP on its worst fleet reduces state subsidies day is better than the FNM and improves public safety. on its best day.

Since it was founded, the This builds a modern BahaPLP has been the single mas.

“That’s where the VAT greatest agent of change this country has ever seen.” money went.”

He also hit out at the InMr Halkitis said tens of millions of dollars were graham administration for spent on roads, docks and the “sad state” the country seawalls in Andros, Exuma, was in when the PLP was Mayaguana, Abaco, Grand elected to office in 2012.

“Maybe it was laziness, Bahama, Cat Island and Cat Island, adding that the but many of our good and government invested in a positive initiatives that we new fleet for the Royal Ba- had started, were left to fall hamas Defence Force at a by the wayside,” he said.

“Or maybe it was incomcost of some $232m to protect our borders and marine petence, but so many of their policies seemed deresources.

He said fishermen are signed to benefit just a few empowered and have said of their wealthy friends.

“Time and time again, they are experiencing the best fishing season in many we have had to clean up the mess from their failed poliyears.

And despite the govern- cies.”

Touching on a labour isment borrowing $150m last year for Hurricanes sue, Mr Gibson said that Joaquim and Matthew re- the massive layoffs which lief efforts, Mr Halkitis said occurred at the Sandals VAT revenue was used to Royal Bahamian Resort fund hundreds of millions last year, where more than of dollars in the aftermath 600 workers lost their jobs, will “never happen again” of both hurricanes.

Minister of Labour and thanks to “pending legislaSENATOR Rodney Moncur at the Progressive Liberal Party’s conNational Insurance Shane tion,” Mr Gibson said. vention at The Melia last night.

PM: DECK NOT STACKED AGAINST RIVAL SEARS from page one

Several times during Mr Davis’ speech, supporters shouted “One leader,” a refrain that was repeated by some even after the convention ended.

Mr Sears has claimed that the PLP had appointed hundreds of stalwart councillors, who are able to vote if they are registered as delegates, just days before the three-day event.

He has also said that he has been denied an opportunity to speak at the party’s convention by organisers and said he was told he would not get the full list of voting delegates until today, which is the day the party will vote on executive posts.

“The party chairman must answer that question, not me,” Mr Christie said when asked about these allegations. “Alfred Sears has done more work travelling around the country meeting stalwart councillors than me.

“I’m told that he said that he has been disallowed speaking at the convention, I’m not speaking at the convention, for me to speak I have to win.”

However, Mr Christie is slated to speak at the convention on Thursday night, after voting is finished. The convention hall was packed last night, with many supporters standing in the room and scores more milling about outside in other areas of the hotel.

Many of the delegates waved signs with Mr Christie’s name on them.

When asked if he felt more confident of a win after the first night of the convention, the prime minister said: “I’ve always been confident, I’ve always been an optimist and I’ve always looked at things as they are with the hope that they will get better. That has always been what I have believed in and how I have conducted myself. People always say that ‘Christie is too optimistic,’ but that’s how I am.”

During his convention speech, Mr Davis, spoke of Mr Christie’s strengths as a leader and in keeping the party together. Last year, it had been speculated that Mr Davis would challenge the prime minister for the PLP’s post at a convention that was set for 2016, but

was later postponed. He has since said he will not vie for the post.

“And let me say something briefly about our leader and our prime minister,” Mr Davis told the energetic crowd. “No one is more aware of the work still ahead -- and the people who still need support and opportunities -- than Perry Christie. This is what drives him to work harder than anyone else I know; he is tireless in his efforts.

“He never lets obstacles deter him from his resolve

to push forward – when problems arise, and they often do when you are attempting real reform and big changes, he keeps pushing.

“He is driven by a vision of a country that empowers everyone, not just a few at the top. We cannot afford to turn back the clock and stop our country’s progress.

(Perry Christie), along with his experienced team, will move the country forward, together.”

He also took a swipe at the ongoing infighting with-

in the FNM. “It has been a great privilege to serve this great party as your deputy leader,” Mr Davis said. “I am indebted to you for your trust and confidence. I also thank our great prime minister, who reposed full confidence in me as his deputy and deputy prime minister.

“Where I sit gives me full insight to the challenges we now face. Fast-moving global changes require the commitment of the best team and the brightest minds to successfully guide

our way through those uncharted waters.

“For these reasons, I say to the members of this family: we ain’ like the other side.

We don’t dance together on stage one night and then stab each other in the backs the next. That ain’ us. You want something like that, you at the wrong convention. You want committed, strong, and stable leadership – you in the right place.

“PLPs are standing and working together – ready to face any storm that lies ahead.”

PAGE 4, Wednesday, January 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited Fred Smith NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Will Fred Mitchell now apologise?

ON this page today, we publish in full the letter of apology written by lawyer Fred Smith, QC, for remarks he made recently at a meeting of home owners in Freeport. At the two-hour meeting he was addressing a specific subject — racism and xenophobia — which involved a “specific group of black Bahamians intent upon victimising a specific group of foreign residents who are white”.

As Mr Smith says in his letter of apology, he made no comment that would condemn “all black Bahamians”. To do so would have been unfair and untrue.

However, apparently his words had special relevance to the group to whom they were addressed.

Mr Smith, who has devoted his life to defending the human rights of anyone being wrongly taken advantage of — regardless of race or religion— was quoted in the House of Assembly last week by Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell as seemingly condemning all Bahamians as being racists and xenophobics. The quote implied that Mr Smith’s words were a condemnation of all Bahamians — not just limited to those who are apparently trying to get Immigration to remove certain foreign owners of a Freeport condominium complex who happen to be white.

However, in trying to condemn Mr Smith, Mr Mitchell has exposed his own xenophobia, for which, he and his department are noted.

Immigration, under the PLP has been a government department that has, over the years been used as an instrument to rid this country of persons who have not toed the party line. If anything Mr Smith’s words could have been aptly directed to this department. As Mr Smith has explained in his letter published on this page today, his observations were not intended for all Bahamians as Mr Mitchell’s comments in the House implied.

However, they did apply to his specific audience.

Although, Mr Smith did not intend them for a wider audience, in our opinion they do apply to a wider group of Bahamians in these islands — especially when it comes to race.

The degrees of colour complex among many Bahamians has always intrigued us.

We recall a young maid telling us years ago how in her own home she was made feel unwanted by her mother because she was “the blackest of the brood.”

However, in the House on September 18, Mr Mitchell displayed his own prejudice by his incorrect statement about Mr Smith.

“Mr Smith,” he told the House, “who is himself a naturalised citizen of The Bahamas, and was given shelter in this country, has indicated …”

Mr Mitchell knows — or should know — that Mr Smith is not a naturalised citi-

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

zen. If he is, then so is Mr Mitchell and so are all of us.

As Mr Smith explains in his letter, although he was born in Haiti of a Bahamian father and a Jordanian mother, the family were registered as British subjects living in Haiti. At the time Mr Smith – in Haiti— and Bahamians living in the Bahamas, including Mr Mitchell – were all British subjects. On July 10, 1973, under our Constitution all British subjects born in the Bahamas before 1973 – Mr Smith and Mr Mitchell included — became Bahamian citizens. So was Mr Mitchell deliberately telling an untruth in the House about Mr Smith’s nationality?

Nor was Mr Smith “given shelter in this country” as Mr Mitchell claimed. As Mr Smith himself has said when the family were no longer welcome in Haiti they returned “home” to The Bahamas.

Mr Mitchell’s attempt to make Mr Smith out as a foreign refugee in his own country reflects poorly on Mr Mitchell.

In fact, if we research pedigree for pedigree we will discover that Mr Mitchell’s father is from San Salvador, while his grandfather on his mother’s side is Barbadian.

Mr Smith probably has deeper roots buried in these islands than has Mr Mitchell. Mr Smith on his father’s Bahamian side can trace his roots to an original Cherokee Indian who was one of the few to survive the Spanish purge after Columbus discovered these island in 1492. A photograph of his great, great grandmother shows a very beautiful Cherokee woman.

When Mr Mitchell can match this pedigree only then can he get in the same ring with Mr Smith.

•••

Democracy – PLP style Last night, we learned of how the PLP practices democracy. Mr Alfred Sears, the only contender for Prime Minister Perry Christie’s seat as leader of the party, is not going to be allowed to speak to present his platform. After about nine years — breaking their own party rules by holding no conventions during that time — it is suddenly announced that at the first convention before a general election, the only person contesting the prime minister’s seat is not going to be allowed to speak to the delegates from the platform. To speak at the party’s convention apparently is against PLP policy. And so Mr Christie, with his blanket of recently appointed stalwarts securely wrapped around him, is to march to victory having silenced all opposition.

We are certainly witnessing democracy at its Bahamian best!

What tragedy for our beloved nation.

responds to Mitchell EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM responding to Minister Fred Mitchell’s speech in Parliament on January 18, 2017 and the public reaction to my comments at the Coral Beach meeting on Sunday, January 15, 2017. It saddens me that I am being falsely and publicly accused of being “hateful, deceitful, ungrateful, dishonest and unpatriotic”.

Apology Firstly, I have brought this upon myself. I must agree; taken in isolation my recent comments sounded horrible towards “black Bahamians” I am deeply sorry for that!

However, those who know me know that I do not have a bone of hate or discrimination in my body.

I do not like my feelings being hurt.

Very dear friends have reached out to me and have expressed their hurt. In addition, I do not want to hurt anybody else’s feelings.

In addition, for my offence to my fellow human beings I humbly and respectfully apologise. I would not want to hurt a soul!

I’m no stranger to racism and discrimination. My experiences are the genesis of my vocation as a defender of human rights.

Growing up in Haiti as a foreigner, in an Arabic environment we were discriminated against.

When, in my early teens I lived in Nassau and went to Saint Thomas More, Xavier’s college and St Augustine’s, I was discriminated against by many as being a Haitian simply because I spoke fluent creole.

In 1967, I was sent off to an all-white, all English, all boys, all aristocratic boarding school.

Discrimination was rampant in England in the 1960s and 70s. I was beaten down as a WOG, a nigger, a Paki, a coon, a blacky, a brillo pad head and for being Bahamian.

Therefore, I am deeply sorry that I have caused offence to black Bahamians.

Putting My Comments into Context However, I feel that it is important that the whole story and the context of my comments is explained by me as regrettably, Mr Mitchell has taken them out of context.

I totally deny the accusations that I am a racist or anti-Bahamian.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, the very point of my remarks at the meeting was to condemn a very specific instance of racism and xenophobia – which unfortunately, just so happens to involve a specific group of black Bahamians intent upon victimizing a specific group of foreign residents who are white.

I made no comments whatsoever relative to “all black Bahamians”.

Firstly, it was a two hour meeting, but conveniently only a one minute and 57 second clip was published.

Secondly, the background to this matter is that at a condominium community in Freeport called Coral Beach, there have been ongoing problems for years between a number of Bahamian condominium owners, (some who happen to be black) and hundreds of mostly white foreign owners. A number of the Bahamian owners regrettably used their condominiums in breach of the Condominium rules.

They failed to pay their maintenance and power bills.

They have given all Bahamians at Coral Beach a bad name and have caused tensions within the Coral Beach community.

This group of Bahamians have been in league with a number of foreign owners to undermine and remove the current board of directors led by Bruno Rufa, which has for many years been successfully cleaning

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net up Coral Beach and put it on a sound financial footing for all of the owners, including the Bahamian ones.

Regrettably, this group of Bahamians have used their political, immigration and police contacts to cause trouble for the Board of Directors and have obstructed the proper management of the affairs of the Coral Beach.

Unfortunately, the Freeport Immigration department and Minister Mitchell have allowed themselves to be used by this group.

They have caused great disruption to a peaceful and harmonious community at Coral Beach.

I appreciate that my words, taken in isolation and out of context, can obviously be seen as being hurtful or offensive and for this, I repeat, I am very sorry.

My comments were obviously not directed at all black Bahamians.

In addition, if as he says, the “Bahamas Government is not involved in any dispute” at Coral Beach, why is he debating client attorney privileged information about my client’s financial affairs in Parliament?

Unfortunately, Minister Mitchell has intentionally taken my words out of context. He has intentionally created mischief in order to try to paint the picture that I am “hateful, deceitful, ungrateful, dishonest and unpatriotic”.

I am not anti-black. I am not anti-Bahamian. I am a proud Bahamian. I love my Bahamas. I have never and do not have another passport. I have nowhere else to go. I constantly strive to make our Bahamas better.

Minister Mitchell misleads the public about my citizenship Because Minister Mitchell condemns anyone in The Bahamas that has the audacity to criticise him, he has once again taken the opportunity to rail against me, under the protection of parliamentary privilege, where I am defenseless.

He has misled the public in proclaiming that I am a “naturalised” Bahamian.

As Minister of Immigration and as a lawyer he knows that I was never required to apply to the Government to be “naturalized” to become a Bahamian Citizen.

No one gave me a piece of paper to make me a Bahamian citizen!

Just like nobody gave Fred Mitchel a piece of paper to say he was a Bahamian citizen.

Minister Mitchel has also misled the public when he says that I was “given shelter in this country”!

I was not “given shelter in this country”.

This is my country as much as it is Fred Mitchell’s.

My Heritage My father was born in Nichols Town, Andros. His family hails from Exuma and Long Island.

My mother was born in Jordan in the Middle East.

Both of them were British subjects living in Haiti.

So, even though I was born in Haiti; I was born a British subject, like Fred Mitchell.

Based on our Constitution, like all Bahamian citizens born before 1973; on July 10, 1973 I became a Bahamian citizen: just like Fred Mitchell.

No ifs, ands or buts about it!

I have had as much right to be in OUR BAHAMAS from the time I was born as Fred Mitchell has.

Fred Mitchell had threatened my citizenship once again; however he cannot take that from me!

My History of Fighting Against Discrimination: For decades, as a defender of Human Rights, I have been decrying discrimination in all forms in The Bahamas.

Therefore, I accept that my words were hateful.

On the occasion of my comments, I was again decrying discrimination and racism; this time against the white foreign condominium owners at Coral Beach by a specific group of black Bahamians who are making all Bahamians look bad at Coral Beach.

I abhor racism, discrimination and xenophobia, and I do not allow it to stand unchallenged.

It is for this reason that I made the comments that Mitchell has taken out of context.

The Culture of Discrimination in The Bahamas: It is also for this reason that while utterly rejecting the suggestion that I myself was exhibiting racism, I also stand firmly by my comments regarding the general culture of discrimination, racism and anti-foreign sentiment that has pervaded this country for decades.

Every Bahamian who is honest with themselves knows what I am talking about.

I have spoken, written and been published extensively about how horrible it is and how destructive discrimination and racism is in our Bahamaland.

I too support “Bahamas for Bahamians”!

However, it is not and cannot be considered “unpatriotic” or “anti-Bahamian” to tell the truth and face up to our shortcomings as a society. Bad “stigma” or not, the Bahamas must confront its hateful xenophobia; just as I am accepting that I have been unintentionally hateful in my recent comments. That was wrong of me to speak so generally and judgmentally.

Supporting Bahamians does not and cannot mean that in promoting the interests of Bahamian citizens we should be racist, callous, harsh, brutal and generally hateful to foreigners!

Abuse at Coral beach under Minister Mitchell In fact, on Minister Mitchell’s watch, the Department of Immigration has harassed, intimidated and, in my opinion, unlawfully deported foreign Coral Beach owners, on nothing more than the word of a group of Bahamian owners.

They have unlawfully raided their homes, publicly paraded them in handcuffs; held them illegally in a toilet; refused them their medication; arrested them illegally; falsely imprisoned them in jail; unlawfully refused them entry; prevented them from entering The Bahamas to stay at their homes; and generally intimidated them to the extent that some are selling their units and leaving The Bahamas.

Many are now living in fear that they will be targeted next.

Minister Mitchell seeks to paint an unkind picture of Mr Rufa being hauled before the courts as a criminal; yet, on two occasions in 2016 the Supreme Court of The Bahamas has delivered Judgments in favour of Mr Bruno Rufa against the abuse of Mr Mitchell.

Under his watch, Minister Fred Mitchell has caused the international human rights community to condemn our beautiful Bahamaland.

Most unfortunately, he continues to feed our xenophobia; our racism; our national insecurity and thereby creates an environment in The Bahamas which is hateful to foreigners...and sadly often, to our fellow Bahamians.

The challenge that all compassionate Bahamians face is to try to heal the deep hateful wounds that Fred Mitchell and his ilk have inflicted on society in The Bahamas over these many years.

In closing, I once again apologise for my unfortunate hurtful generalisation about some black Bahamians.

I deeply regret this.

FREDERICK SMITH, QC Nassau, January 21, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 25, 2017, PAGE 5

Sears regrets lack of chance to have input into convention

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leadership contender Alfred Sears yesterday hit back at suggestions by party convention organisers that his being denied an opportunity to speak at the convention is PLP policy.

He charged that if he had the “same input as the incumbent leadership”, he “would not be in this position” of underdog heading into the three-day event.

Mr Sears, in an interview with The Tribune upon his arrival to the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel yesterday morning, again regretted not having the “opportunity” to address delegates during the convention, as he charged that in “most modern democratic contests”, voters have the opportunity to “compare, question and weigh what (candidates) say and how they present themselves before they vote”.

However, Mr Sears maintained that he “trusts” the “fairness” of the members of the PLP, whom he said “all know what has happened”. He also maintained his confidence in being able to mount a “quiet storm” during the convention.

Mr Sears’ comments were in response to statements made by PLP Convention Chairman Shane Gibson just hours before, in which the labour minister stressed that neither Mr Sears nor incumbent party leader Perry Christie would be addressing the convention prior to the election process, a policy he said that has been in place from the time the party was formed.

However, Mr Gibson said both men are “free to move amongst the delegates and campaign”.

Mr Gibson also shot down suggestions that the appointment of hundreds of PLP stalwart councillors just days before the threeday event would have a negative impact on Mr Sears’ leadership bid, as he said that stalwarts do not represent an automatic vote, but rather that their votes count “when they register”.

Nonetheless, in stating that “nothing has changed” about the PLP’s convention processes, Mr Gibson suggested that as a notable member of the PLP, Mr Sears ought to have known what to expect in terms of the policies and procedures.

“Nothing changed since we first started this years and years ago,” Mr Gibson said on Tuesday. “I knew what the process was, everybody knew what the process was prior to entering front line politics. Nothing changed since then. “…When I say nothing changed I’m not talking about the party. Obviously I can’t mean that. I’m talking about the process of being elected is still the same. We go through the same thing.

The delegates vote. We haven’t put any new process in place.”

In response, Mr Sears said: “Certainly I had no notice that over 300 stalwarts would have been appointed, so clearly if I am a declared candidate, I will not receive a definitive list of qualified delegates and stalwarts until (today). The voting is on Thursday morning. So if the process was one where I had the same input as the incumbent leadership, clearly I would not be in this position.

“But you know what?

I trust the fairness of the Bahamian members of the Progressive Liberal Party.

They all know what has happened. They all know that in most modern democratic contests, the two or three or however many candidates for leadership will address the body, the body will have an opportunity to compare, question and weigh what they say and how they present themselves before they vote. I will not be given that opportunity. But in spite of that I trust the fairness of the people, and from every indication that I have gotten there will be a quiet storm.”

He also hit back at suggestions that him being denied an opportunity to speak at the convention is a result of the party’s longstanding policy.

“It is not the norm, be-

cause first and foremost, the regulations were just provided to me by the trustee (on Monday),” he said.

“Guidelines were just provided to me by the Trustee Valentine Grimes yesterday.”

He added: “If you were to look at the leadership contests that took place in the People’s National Party in Jamaica with respect to Portia Simpson, who was prime minister of Jamaica, you know what happened? The list of qualified delegates was provided to all of the candidates weeks before.

Number two, they invited the electoral commission of Jamaica, an independent statutory body, to supervise the nomination and the conduct of the elections.

“It’s an independent body. And any party which presents itself, not as a private organisation, but as an organisation that will govern the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, how we conduct our affairs is of national importance.”

The PLP’s convention, which started on yesterday, continues today and ends on Thursday. Mr Christie is scheduled to address the convention on the final night.

Nonetheless, it is unclear whether people who intend to vie for key positions in the party played a role in bringing their supporters to the convention, as Mr Sears suggests.

One man, who identified himself as Joseph from Bimini, claimed that his MP Obie Wilchcombe paid for a chartered flight to bring the entire Bimini delegation to New Providence.

Likewise, MICAL MP V Alfred Gray said he helped bring a delegation from MICAL to New Providence.

“As the member of Parliament, you contribute however you can to have your delegation come down,” Mr Gray said. “They don’t depend on you for everything

but sometimes I suppose, I can’t speak for any other constituency, if my delegation is 15, I make a contribution to them coming and generally they raise funds through the branches. This is the PLP. This is an organisation. This ain’t no fly by night. Every branch raises funds during the year to help them come to the convention when they know the convention is coming. They have cookouts, whatever means they have to raise money.”

Mr Sears, who will challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for the PLP’s leadership post, said yesterday that he isn’t satisfied with the process by which Family Island delegates have been

THE PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party opening night of their convention at the Melia.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

KENRED DORSETT, Minister of The Environment and Housing, speaking at the convention.

SOME of the attendees at the Progressive Liberal Party convention last night.

CONCERN OVER TRANSPORT OF FAMILY ISLAND DELEGATIONS from page one

As an organisation, the PLP does not assume the responsibility of flying people into New Providence and providing them with living accommodations during the convention, Golden Gates MP Shane Gibson, convention chairman, confirmed to The Tribune yesterday.

“That’s not the party’s responsibility,” Mr Gibson said. “All delegates pay their own way or the branch pays for them. The party itself wouldn’t pay. As far as I know, everybody paid their own way. If they made some other arrangement, I wouldn’t know.”

accommodated, adding that he lacks the resources others may have when it comes to providing delegates and stalwart councillors with transportation and living arrangements.

“I’m not satisfied by the process because as a member of the PLP, the party which takes dues from the members ought to ensure and facilitate the attendance of all of its stalwarts from its Family Islands because it’s the party that decides to hold the convention in Nassau versus Freeport or any other island,” he said. “To have stalwarts looking to candidates to facilitate their presence and participation in the convention is unorthodox so there-

fore under my leadership I would ensure that there is a process which preserves the secret ballot of party members. You ought not to have to declare that you are loyal to me or the incumbent in order to be facilitated.”

Asked if he has reason to believe people have had to declare their loyalties in order to be helped out with accommodation, he said: “My understanding is that persons have been told that the party will not be responsible for their transport and accommodation and that the candidate is responsible. That was circulated in writing from the secretary general.”

Mr Sears said he was not sure if “candidate” referred

to candidate for party leader or to candidate for parliamentary seats in the upcoming general election.

He said: “We have a number of persons who have asked us to help with their accommodation and to the best of our ability (we have helped) but of course this is a David (versus Goliath) campaign. My resources are very, very limited and I don’t have the means that others have so my understanding was that there was a meeting in Freeport and certainly representations were made and I think if you spoke to them they would tell you what was said about facilitating their transport and accommodation.”

PAGE 6, Wednesday, January 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Councillors and delegates say Christie remains best choice

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie remains the best person to lead the Progressive Liberal Party and the country, for he provides stability and continuity at a time the country needs it most, according to a number of PLP stalwart councillors and delegates yesterday.

The Tribune questioned them on Tuesday, the opening day of the party’s convention, about their party’s leadership race.

None of those interviewed by this newspaper said they would support Mr Christie’s challenger, former Attorney General Alfred Sears, QC, although at least one person said he has not yet made up his mind because he “likes both of them”.

“Perry Christie is my leader from day one, from I know myself so I can’t leave him now,” said George Rolle, a stalwart councillor from Bimini.

“I don’t have anything against (Mr Sears) but he just can’t beat Perry.”

Brenda Ferguson, a stalwart councillor from the Fox Hill constituency, expressed a similar sentiment, saying: “(Mr Christie) is still the man for the job after all

these years. He knows the job. He knows the people.

He’s a leader.”

Kaylor Mortimer, from Southern Shores, said Mr Christie “has been through the trenches, giving us what we think is right for the country and the party.”

Two other women, identified only by their last names, Mrs Brown and Mrs Rolle, said Mr Christie should be allowed to complete the work he’s started, such as National Health Insurance’s (NHI) implementation.

The delegates gave varying responses to Mr Sears’ decision to challenge Mr Christie.

Mr Sears should have “waited his turn,” Mrs Ferguson said.

Mrs Brown said he should have waited until the next convention to vie for leadership.

“I think he’s very intellectual, smart young man but I was hoping that he would’ve waited ’til the next convention,” Mrs Brown said.

Mrs Rolle said she was unimpressed with Mr Sears’ “boast” that he would lead the country into a new era of government reform, insisting that she is concerned about anyone who presents themselves as the change the country needs.

PRIME Minister Perry Christie alongside his wife, Bernadette, at the opening night of the Progressive Liberal Party convention last night.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Stalwart councillors and tended to suggest that the off their couches, stop mak- dividually they are not condelegates were also in disa- problem was with the Baha- ing noise about what’s going cerned about the country as wrong and work to make a whole.” greement about whether mian people.

“A lot of people are frus- the country better.” there is an anti-PLP and Nominations for the Likewise, Mrs Brown PLP’s executive positions anti-Christie mood in the trated with government,” country that could sink the Ms Mortimer said. “You said: “I believe a lot peo- will occur today. Mr Sears party in the next general only could be frustrated ple are upset over a lot of is the only person who has when you don’t put in work. stuff. Some people are for publicly announced plans election.

While some agreed that You can’t expect things if themselves, not for what’s to challenge Mr Christie. the country has a pervasive you’re not giving of your- going on in the country.

The convention ends on anti-PLP sentiment, they self. We need people to get Once they are satisfied in- Thursday.

MILLER: OVERKILL TO APPOINT HUNDREDS OF STALWART COUNCILLORS AHEAD OF VOTE from page one He said while Mr Sears is a “decent man” who “has a lot to offer this country,” Mr Christie is a “proven entity” who is “always going to be far and above the challenger that comes in to face (him).”

Instead, Mr Miller said, Mr Christie would have faced a bigger challenge from Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, whom he said would get “twice as much support as anyone else” going up against Mr Christie.

“Whether he could beat him, I think it would be a hell of a fight,” Mr Miller said of Mr Davis. “I’m not saying the prime minister wouldn’t win it, but it would be a hell of a fight.”

Mr Miller was responding to concerns previously raised by Mr Sears that the PLP was engaging in “acts of desperation” in the leadup to the three-day event,

which would be the first time Mr Christie has had a challenge to his leadership since National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage and attorney Paul Moss faced him in 2009.

Earlier this week, Mr Sears told reporters that he has been denied an opportunity to speak at the party’s convention by organisers and said he was told he would not get the full list of voting delegates until today, when the party will vote on executive posts.

Mr Davis also weighed in on Mr Sears’ complaints yesterday, telling The Tribune: “I don’t know about the concerns he has expressed, but I would think that he ought to have a fair shot.

I think that in all of these election matters there’ll be the manoeuvring and jostling to get votes, and I expect him to do that.”

Meanwhile, Mr Miller said these types of actions are commonplace in internal elections.

“I went through two elections with Dr Nottage, my good personal friend, and the same thing happened with us,” Mr Miller said.

“The fella who controls the situation is going to do it in his best interests. That’s just politics. That’s like any fight that you go into. You can try to get as much advantage as you can to really solidify yourself in the position you hope to attain.

“The challenger always has the odds against him, and the odds are stacked up against (Mr Sears) this time. I didn’t think it was fair that they should have had new stalwart councillors, as they say some 330 something. I don’t think that was necessary to try to have an overkill as some people would take it to be.

But that’s the way of this thing called politics.

“It happened to us, so I know what’s going to happen at the end of the day.

People are going to get angry. I just hope that they

don’t go after Mr Sears in such a negative way that it hurts him personally. But I expect Mr Christie to come out as leader with no problem at all.”

Mr Miller added: “I expect that at the end of the day, I would be happy if Mr Sears could get 30-35 per cent of the votes, he would have done well, with this crew today, especially with the stalwart councillors.

Because they are generally die-hard. When I say party supporters, just how they support the party, they support the leader. That’s a mental thing with them.”

Mr Miller went on to suggest that Mr Sears never really stood a chance against Mr Christie, pointing to the “distinct advantage” Mr Christie has over his rival in terms of popularity amongst the party’s delegates as well as his incumbency. “ . . . People may say Sears can get more votes than Mr Christie, how is that pos-

sible when you have a man with more name recognition whose been around longer, and who knows the people better and the people know him better?” Mr Miller asked. “Why would you say that he will not get as much seats as his opponent?

“That there is nonsensical. It can’t happen. You can’t put a brand new entity with something that is known, a proven entity.

Whether you may like some of the things (Mr Christie) has done or not, he’s a proven entity. The proven entity is always going to be far and above the challenger that comes into face it. That’s just the way it is.”

He added: “…I think Mr Sears should be given great accolades for having stood up to the leadership and to run in that position. I think it’s a valiant effort that he’s making, he wants to see some changes that he believes is necessary and obviously he has that choice to

put his name forward as the leader in that position. And I think everybody respects him for that.”

Mr Miller also dismissed suggestions that there may be backlash to Mr Christie retaining the leadership of the party, despite some within the party and the wider Bahamian public desirous of a change in leadership.

However, Mr Miller said should Mr Christie retain his leadership post, he “must project to the Bahamian people that he will bow out and give someone else an opportunity to serve.”

“I’m not sure if the prime minister would be inclined to finish his entire term once we win the election,” Mr Miller said. “I believe quite frankly that he has this thing in his head that he has to go as far or as or further than (Sir Lynden Pindling). And then he may bow out. I think that’s about a year, 18 months down the line.”

BUTLER-TURNER SAYS SHE WILL RUN AS INDEPENDENT from page one

told observers that she was “independent”.

In one post, Mrs ButlerTurner wrote: “You’d know that l stand by my beliefs.

How can l fight against cor-

ruption, incompetence and deceit, then join you? Hell No!” The post ended with: “#ComingToKickButt.”

It is unclear whom Mrs Butler-Turner was referring to in the post.

When contacted by The

Tribune for comment on the exchange, the Long Island MP would only confirm that she was moving forward as an independent candidate.

The DNA and the Progressive Liberal Party have not yet named candidates

for Long Island. When asked if her announcement had anything to do with this, Mrs Butler-Turner declined to comment.

In December 2016, after ousting FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament and obtaining the position, Mrs ButlerTurner appointed DNA Leader Mr McCartney as leader of opposition business in the Senate.

At the time Mrs Butler-

Turner said the move was evidence that her team was willing to put the Bahamian people first to move forward to defeat the governing PLP. Announcing the decision at the time, she insisted that she and the six FNM MPs who support her have not joined the DNA, but were working together for a “common good.”

Shortly after having her ratification for the Long Island constituency revoked by the FNM’s council, Mrs

Butler-Turner said she believed persons are more inclined to vote for a “person” rather than a “party” in the upcoming election.

In December, the FNM ratified political novice and former Tribune columnist Adrian Gibson as the party’s standard-bearer in the Long Island constituency.

Dr Minnis said he was “more than confident” that the attorney would unseat Mrs Butler-Turner in Long Island.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 25, 2017, PAGE 7

TURNQUEST: PM’S CLAIM ON MORTGAGE RELIEF IS LAUGHABLE

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said yesterday that it is “laughable” that Prime Minister Perry Christie is bragging about assisting hundreds of homeowners through the government’s mortgage relief plan when thousands of Bahamians are still losing their homes.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Turnquest said 350 persons are not nearly enough and the government’s revamped mortgage relief programme has once again failed.

On Monday, Mr Christie said the government’s mortgage programme reduced qualified homeowners’ monthly payments by 25 per cent making them now affordable - where they were once unmanageable.

He called this a “significant” turnaround from the failings of the government’s first attempt at mortgage relief. Assisting struggling homeowners was one of the Christie adminis-

tration’s campaign promises ahead of the 2012 general election. It was implemented early in this term, however the programme under performed, leading Mr Christie to admit in 2013 that only four or five homeowners were expected to receive assistance.

“It is not enough, assisting 350 persons is not nearly enough,” Mr Turnquest said yesterday.

“There are thousands of individuals who have issues with their ability to repay their mortgage. The fact that the government has thrown money behind a programme that can only help 350 people is another failure. The programme is not much different than what the bank would normally do when negotiating with a lender anyway. It is almost laughable that Mr Christie thinks this is an accomplishment.

“Not to downplay those who received assistance, but this was nothing more than a promise right before elections. The true answer to assisting home-

owners is the creation of jobs and expanding the economy.”

Mr Turnquest said a government led by the FNM would take a look at the country’s bankruptcy laws, to see how “we can offer the borrower protection and the ability to restructure their financial affairs and allow them an opportunity to emerge with some security.”

Last year, Mr Christie announced plans to revive the mortgage relief programme, revealing that it would cost taxpayers $20m over four years.

During his budget communication last year, Mr Christie said his administration designed a “comprehensive” mortgage relief programme in collaboration with the Clearing Banks Association to assist borrowers negatively affected by the financial crisis.

At the time, Mr Christie said the revamped programme was expected to provide financial incentives that will allow banks to offer borrowers who have some ability to pay, but have fallen behind, the chance to get back on track.

EAST Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest.

Accused found not guilty of attempted murder and robbery of sister-in-law

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

LEON Romeo Rahming was found not guilty of the attempted murder and armed robbery of his sisterin-law who was discovered naked and badly injured in bushes in Freeport over a year ago.

He walked out of the Supreme Court a free man on Tuesday after the jury delivered its verdicts, acquitting him of both charges.

Rahming, who had spent over a year in prison on remand awaiting trial, was said to have been very relieved by the outcome and “thanked God.” Mario Gray represented him at trial and was pleased with the verdicts.

The jury of one man and eight women retired around noon and returned around 2pm, finding the accused not guilty of attempted murder by a vote of 8-1, and not guilty of armed robbery by a unanimous vote.

In June 2015, Maxine Clarke was discovered naked, with stab wounds about the body, in bushes near the Grand Bahama Academy School on Sandcombe Road. She was taken to hospital and rushed into emergency surgery, and remained hospitalised for 19 days.

Police arrested Rahming on June 5, 2015, in connection with the incident, and later charged him with attempted murder and armed robbery.

During his trial, Rahming denied the armed robbery charge, but admitted to stabbing the virtual complainant in self-defense after being attacked.

According to the prosecution’s evidence, on June 2, 2015, Rahming offered Clarke a ride and took her through a track road, where he robbed her of her handbag, containing cash, a Jamaican passport, a bank card, and cellular phone, along with other valuables, including a necklace and watch.

Ms Clarke testified in court that she had known the accused for about eight years and had been married to his brother. She claimed that her brother-in-law offered her a ride to Island Luck. She said he told her that he needed to extend his car’s rental agreement and went along with him.

According to her evidence, Rahming instead drove through a track road where he parked the car at a dead end and pulled out a knife. He grabbed her out of the vehicle, and ordered her to take off her clothes, she alleged, and told the court that she pleaded for her life.

Rahming, she claimed, then ordered her to sit down in front him and tried to break her neck. She ran off, but he caught her and stabbed her with the knife, and hit her in the head, she alleged.

Ms Clarke said she was left injured in the bushes and crawled a few distance towards a fence, stood on a stone and barely scaled the fence. Some persons at the school had come to her aid. Dazed and weak, she recalled someone covering her with a tablecloth and later being taken to hospital.

A police officer testified that he went to the SeventhDay Adventist school on

Sandcombe Road sometime after 8am where he observed a female being attended by EMS personnel.

The officer said the victim had sustained injuries and appeared weak.

After receiving information, the officer went to a residence in Freeport where the accused resided.

He testified that the accused attempted to flee, but was caught and cautioned, and then taken to the police station.

During the record of interview, the officer said Rahming admitted to stabbing Clarke, but denied robbing her. He was taken to hospital and examined by doctors, but there were no injuries. He then took police to the scene off Sandcombe Road, where he claimed he had thrown the knife in bushes, but police were unable to find it.

Ms Clarke’s Coach handbag, with her Jamaican passport, was found at West Beach Road by a male, who alerted the police.

Two doctors testified to Ms Clarke’s injuries, and said the virtual complainant would have died had she not received emergency surgery.

The defense denied the prosecution’s evidence, and claimed that Rahming was attacked and acted out of self-defense.

Rahming claimed that he picked up his sister-in-law around 1pm or 2pm on the day in question and took her to Island Luck as she asked to collect some money. She told him that the funds were not there yet and would be available around 5pm so they left.

Rahming said they got

MAJOR FAMILY ACCUSED OF FIREARM POSSESSION from page one

The Majors, when called on to enter a plea to the charges, denied committing any crime.

They return to Magistrate’s Court on March 14 for the start of their case where six witnesses are expected to give testimony.

The family was denied bail, however, and remanded to the Department of Correctional Services as the court lacked the discretion to consider or grant bail due to the charges against them.

However, they were advised of their right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court.

Before the conclusion of the arraignment, their lawyer Keod Smith expressed his clients’ concern that police were reportedly entering their Soldier Road home, where Dwight Major’s medication and medical records are held.

“There’s also been utterances about Dwight Major’s safety,” Mr Smith added.

“Who is making these utterances?” the chief magistrate asked.

Mr Smith said he was told that the utterances were

being made by police to Dwight Major that he was “going to be extracted”.

“What does that mean?” the chief magistrate asked.

Mr Smith said he did not know. However, he stressed that in the years he has represented the eldest accused, his foremost concern was for his client to continue receiving treatment for a preexisting medical conditions.

“Mr Major, have you been given an opportunity to take your medication?”

Chief Magistrate FergusonPratt asked the accused.

“Some,” Dwight Major responded. “When I asked for the keys to give to my lawyer, CDU said DEU had it and DEU said CDU have (the keys).”

“If Mr Major suffers a seizure in prison, it may take days for the prison physicians to figure out what’s wrong with him,” Mr Smith said, stressing the urgency that his client should be allowed access to his medication and medical records.

“We wish to make sure the police knows that while he’s in custody that he’s afforded the constitutional right of being treated humanely,” Mr Smith said.

Police prosecutor Sgt Timothy Saunders ques-

tioned whether the lawyer “made any effort to get the keys.”

Mr Smith said he did without success.

The chief magistrate asked Supt Kent Strachan from the Central Detective Unit about this and he said this was the first time the issue of keys had arisen.

He also said that any requests made by the suspects while in custody had been addressed.

Dwight Major clarified that the keys were eventually given to him but he wished for his lawyer to have them in order to retrieve his medicine and medical records so that they could be handed over to physicians at the prison who will be responsible for his care in the interim.

The chief magistrate said that the officer in charge of inmates at the court complex would coordinate with Mr Smith on that matter.

“Even though it’s routine when persons are transported to the prison, I’ll place a notation on his remand warrant that he be seen by a physician,” the chief magistrate said before all three accused were taken away to be transported to the Fox Hill facility.

something to eat from the chicken shack on Settler’s Way, and went to a track road to eat. He said that he was also smoking marijuana at the time. Rahming claimed that Ms Clarke was texting on her cellular phone, but it started to rain and she went to put her phone in the car.

When she returned, he claimed that Ms Clarke started accusing him of stealing money from her handbag and demanded that he return her money.

Rahming claimed that Ms Clarke was the aggressor and started “acting crazy” and attacked him, throwing her handbag in his face and demanded that he find her money. He claimed that she “yuck off” her blouse and

told him she wanted her money.

Ms Clarke, he claimed, then picked up a rock and hit him in the chest. He went to the car for his knife and as she rushing toward him he pushed her off with the knife in his hand, injuring her. Rahming claimed that Ms Clarke was not fazed and continued towards him and bit him. He said he stabbed her in the back.

Rahming claimed that the virtual complainant ran off in the bush and he threw the knife in the bush before driving off. The accused said he did not call for help because he did not know that she was seriously hurt.

He claimed that she was still clothed when she ran away, and denied robbing

the virtual complainant of her belongings.

Rahming also claimed that he was intoxicated and had drunk a few beers, two cups of rum, and had smoked some marijuana, and said that he might have done things differently.

Justice Estelle Gray Evans summed up the case on Tuesday morning, telling jurors “this is a case of whose version of events you believe.” She added that the two people involved were the only two witnesses present at the scene of the crime.

After the jury delivered its verdicts, Justice Evans thanked the jurors for their service to the court, and informed Rahming that he was acquitted of the charges and free to go.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Analysing the words of Trump

THE TRIBUNE

T

HE irony of Donald J Trump is that he is ultimately a Republican puppet.

From the moment he “decided” to run for office. And now that he is believed to have “won fair and square,” in spite of allegations of Russia toying with American psyches pre-election in Trump’s favour, powerful Republicans will keep him on their strings. I think it is something he will come to loathe before long and may even act out against. You will know when his words start shifting.

For now, here’s my speechwriter perspective and analysis of some of the words Trump delivered in his first speech as the 45th US President.

“We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and restore its promise for all of our people.”

“We the citizens” akin to “We the people,” to strike an emotional chord at the very outset of the speech.

Instead of “I”, convince listeners, people, the American public, that they have a part in the plan... that they are relevant.

“Now joined” to suggest before not joined and somehow, now, that he’s here, the effort is a national or united one. This also suggests that what came before he did was inadequate and not national or united.

“Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for many, many years to come.”

“Together, we”... again, the united front approach, trying to solidify American buy-in, to him as president, his administration, and all that is about to come including the content of his speech.

“Many, many years to

By NICOLE BURROWS

come,” suggesting that America keeps its position as leader of the free world, staying on top, unchallenged.

“Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.

Thank you.”

Patronising the Obamas is a formality, of course.

“Magnificent” is a favourite but trite word in his/ his speechwriter’s vocabulary.

“Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning because today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington, DC and giving it back to you, the people.”

“Transferring power” assumes the people lost power, or never had it. In order to get them on his side, Trump needs to convince them this is so, or at least repeat it often enough so they believe it’s so.

“The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.

Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs. That all changes starting right here and right now because this moment is your moment, it belongs to you.”

“The establishment protected itself”... makes it seem like there is a separa-

tion between himself and the establishment, when he, as a non-tax-paying, multimillionaire capitalist, with his own lobbies in Washington, has benefited from “the establishment.”

Repetition of “victories” and “triumphs” is done to reinforce and make the listener feel connected and vested.

“This moment belongs to you.” It makes the listeners believe his presidency is theirs, and him being president is their opportunity to share in the wealth of the establishment. He wants you to know he is the reason for the change.

“January 20, 2017 will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.”

Again, he wants to convince you that his presidency is meant to put you in charge.

“You came by the tens of millions to become part of an historic movement, the likes of which the world has never seen before.”

Was it really tens of millions? Doubtful. But it sounds really good. It tells you that if you weren’t a part of all those people, who must have been right, then you were in the minority, the lesser voiced, and you were wrong.

“At the centre of this movement is a crucial conviction, that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighbourhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are just and reasonable demands of righteous people and a

DONALD Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. righteous public.”

You must want these things, too, if you’re at all righteous. “...An education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge; and the crime and the gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealised potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”

All knowledge? Either a glaring error, or a gross over-generalisation. I wonder what educators think?

Conveniently, there is no reference made or attribution given to guns/gun violence in schools. A blatant omission. To skirt around the issue, like his pick for education secretary who thinks guns should be kept on hand in schools in case of grizzly bear attacks, Trump avoids the public discussion of what is reality. Moreover, to reference that in his inaugural speech would distract you from buying in and perhaps remind you of why you shouldn’t have voted for him.

“We are one nation and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams.

And their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.”

All alliterative flourish, to harness listeners’ emotions.

“For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry . . .

“And spent trillions and trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.”

Good points about US industry and infrastructure.

Probably the only thing I could ever agree with him about. I wholeheartedly welcome quality products made in the USA, in fact I specifically shop for them, and avoid the mass produced cheap and questionable products made in China, as much as I can.

“The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed all across the world.”

Diminishing wealth of the middle class is not exclusive to America. It’s like-

ly an effect of globalisation and we see it also in The Bahamas.

“From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first, America first.”

How should the rest of the world perceive this?

America’s allies? Potential business partners? Should everyone assume they will always be given the short end of the stick after now?

“Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families.”

He speaks of an Americanisation of trade, taxes, immigration, foreign affairs on home soil. With that Americanisation comes a degree of anti-foreign sentiment, which is likely to be reacted to with anti-American sentiment.

“We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs.”

Ravages? Stealing? Destroying? Take it easy, mister. Of course, with these words, you’re meant to feel angered. Clearly, the aggression here, as compared to the rest of the speech, indicates this will be a key area of focus in a Trump administration.

“Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. I will fight for you with every breath in my body and I will never ever let you down.”

Not so. At the least, it’s debatable.

Protectionist policies have no place in free trade, per the capitalist version of economics.

Free trade is what leads to prosperity. For a country as large and productive as America, this point is more than arguable.

And no human can ever promise they will never, ever let down another human; such is life.

“We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world, but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.”

Is Putin listening to this?

(Of course he is). I also hope Trump remembers this vis a vis The Bahamas and its, albeit wishy-washy, sovereignty.

“The bible tells us how

A memoriAl service for

Renaldo B. Gibson will be held on Thursday 26th January, 2017 at the Rhodes Memorial Methodist Church; Montrose Avenue, at 7:00pm In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First Caribbean acct #201671071 Jacqueline Ford.

All are invited to attend.

good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”

“There should be no fear. We are protected and we will always be protected. We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement. And most importantly, we will be protected by God.” When all else fails, or just in case, invoke God. Makes a clear distinction that Christianity is the preferred religion of America and certainly not Islam.

Nothing else is ideal. This is a significant problem for Trump’s message of unity.

He can’t unite people of differing faiths with this kind of rhetoric.

“Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger.

In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining, but never doing anything about it.”

Probably the best line of this speech. There’s definitely a lesson - or 12 - in this for The Bahamas.

“We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.”

He makes a loose reference to alternative energies, which is lackluster, considering his stance on climate change and oil, the latter of which possesses polluting qualities that serve to exacerbate the misery of disease.

“It’s time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget, that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots.”

List “black or brown” first because they’re already mad at Trump. Personally, I think modern humanity perpetuates racism by distinguishing differences in skin colour, such that there always appears to be a need for categorisation on the basis of what colour skin a person has. If we don’t get beyond this little ridiculous thing, nothing will change in the amount of respect we have for each other. Ever.

“Together, we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again.

And yes, together we will make America great again.”

Is there a significance to this order? Is this the formula “to make America great again?”

Military/defence first, industry/economy second, Americanisation third, guns fourth?

“Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America.”

A more eloquent and suitable person would have said “the United States of America”.

But no one elected Trump for his eloquence or suitability for this office... did they?

TIME’s link to full speech: http://time.com/4640707/ donald-trump-inauguration-speech-transcript/ Comments and responses to nburrows@tribunemedia.net

THETRIBUNE TRIBUNE THE

Wednesday, January 25th,25, 2017, PAGE A99 Wednesday, January 2017, PAGE

SAMSUNG DETAILS THE CAUSES OF NOTE 7 FIRES

SAMSUNG says a thorough investigation into the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 phone has confirmed widely held suspicions that its batteries were to blame, marking a first but important step toward restoring consumer confidence.

Samsung announced tighter quality controls and more rigorous testing and took responsibility for failing to ensure that design specifications given to its suppliers were failsafe.

The South Korean company was also delaying its next Galaxy phone, the Galaxy S8, which is usually announced in February.

The spontaneous fires, many chronicled in videos circulated on YouTube, prompted Samsung to recall millions of phones and take a $5.3 billion hit on its earnings — and an unknown amount in reputation.

While praising Samsung’s frankness and apologies, analysts question whether the world’s largest smartphone maker has really gotten to the bottom of the problem in blaming flaws in the design and production of batteries.

“Samsung said the weaknesses could make the phone prone to catch fire. That I understand, but what did trigger fires in such conditions?

Did they discuss if there is another cause? No,” said Park Chul Wan, a former director of the next generation battery research center at the state-owned Korea Electronics Technology Institute.

Forrester analyst Frank Gillett said the company’s emphasis seems to be on detecting problems in manufacturing, not preventing design problems earlier. The company, he said, needs to find ways to prevent commercial pressures, such as getting a phone out quickly, from causing engineers to make bad decisions.

Samsung’s Note 7 was timed, in part, to beat Apple’s iPhone 7 by weeks.

Ramon Llamas, an analyst at research firm IDC, said he would like to see Samsung show more of a “human side” to solving its problem and say what it’s doing to work with consumers affected by this.

During a two-hour press conference livestreamed in English, Chinese and Korean, Samsung said tests involving more than 200,000 phones and 30,000 batteries showed different problems with both

“Samsung said the weaknesses could make the phone prone to catch fire. That I understand, but what did trigger fires in such conditions? Did they discuss if there is another cause? No.”

Park Chul Wan, former director of the next generation battery research centre at the state-owned Korea Electronics Technology Institute kinds of batteries used in the Note 7.

Though some experts had speculated that the phones’ ultra-thin design or water-resistant features could have made them prone to overheat, Samsung says the investigation found no such problems. Samsung also ruled out software or design with the rest of the phone’s hardware, as well as the supply chain.

The Note 7 has one of the biggest battery capacities for a smartphone, but Samsung said the company and outside inspectors found no evidence that the high energy density alone was to blame.

Samsung introduced the Note 7 on Aug. 2 and weeks later recalled the first batch after reports emerged that the phones were overheating and in some cases exploding. After replacement phones also started catching fire, aviation authorities banned them on flights and the company dropped the product for good.

Having received complaints for failing to fix the problem after the first recall, Samsung brought in three private inspectors to help.

Inspectors found damage to the upper corners of batteries made by one manufacturer — likely sister company

Samsung SDI — and used in the initial batches of Note 7s. That, combined with overly thin separators and high energy density, caused the phones to overheat, Samsung said.

The cell-pouch design of the battery also did not have enough space to safely accommodate its electrodes — another flaw.

In other batches of batteries from a second manufacturer, presumably China-based ATL, used in replacements for the recalled smartphones, the researchers found welding defects and a lack of protective tape in some battery cells.

Patrick Moorhead, president of Moor Insights & Strategy, said the odds of two different suppliers having issues with the same phone are extremely low. The case “may signal we may have reached an inflection point in smartphone battery technology,” Moorhead said.

Though Samsung faulted the batteries from its suppliers, it said it would bear all costs. It was unclear to what extent the battery makers were responsible, as Samsung said only that it had provided “targets,” such as capacity and thickness. That may suggest a breakdown in communication between Samsung and its suppliers and in quality control and testing.

The Note 7 isn’t the only gadget to catch fire because of lithium battery problems. Manufacturers like the batteries because they weigh less and pack much more energy into the same space than other batteries. But they are also more susceptible to over-

SAUDI ARABIA WARNS DESTRUCTIVE COMPUTER VIRUS HAS RETURNED SAUDI ARABIA is warning that a computer virus that destroyed systems of its state-run oil company in 2012 has returned to the kingdom, with at least one major petrochemical company apparently affected by its spread.

Suspicion for the initial dispersal of the Shamoon virus in 2012 fell on Iran as it came after the Stuxnet cyberattack targeting Tehran’s contested nuclear enrichment programme.

It wasn’t immediately clear who could be responsible for the new infection, though the relations between regional rivals remain tense.

A report Monday by Saudi state-run television included comments suggesting that 15 government agencies and private institutions had been hit by the Shamoon virus, including the Saudi Labor Ministry.

The ministry said it was working with the Interior Ministry to contain the virus.

Sadara, a joint venture between the Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and Michigan-based Dow Chemical Co., shut down its computer network Monday over a disruption.

Company spokesman Sami Amin said its network remained down Tuesday, though

it hadn’t affected operations at the facility.

He declined to comment further. Sadara is based in Jubail Industrial City, which sits about 100 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of the eastern Saudi city of Dammam in the heartland of the kingdom’s oil industry. The $20 billion facility, inaugurated

by Saudi King Salman in late November, includes 26 manufacturing units that will produce more than 3 million metric tons of plastics and chemical products.

Another state-run TV report on Tuesday said the Saudi Technical and Vocational Training Corp. was affected, though a spokesman denied the virus did any damage to its network.

Associated Press

TECHTALK

SAMSUNG Electronics’s mobile president Koh Dong-jin. heating if they are exposed to high temperatures, are damaged or have manufacturing flaws.

Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsung’s mobile division, said Samsung would use what it learned from its investigations to improve lithium battery safety for the industry.

To avoid further problems, Samsung said it was introducing an eightpoint battery safety check with more intense durability tests; a new test on accelerated usage and a charge and discharge test. The tighter safety measures will be implemented in “every element of the company’s devices,” it said, including overall design and materials used.

Samsung said it also will seek advice on battery safety and innovation from a group of battery experts.

The company has recalled 3.06 million Note 7 phones. About 4 percent, or 120,000 units, of the recalled Galaxy Note 7s have not been returned.

YOUKYUNG LEE, AP Technology Writer

SIX SCIENTISTS SIMULATE MARS IN DOME

CRAMMED into a dome with one bathroom, six scientists will spend eight months munching on mostly freezedried foods — with a rare treat of Spam — and have only their small sleeping quarters to retreat to for solace.

The simulated stay on Mars with a carefully selected crew of researchers embarked on a mission last week to gain insight into the psychological toll a similar real-life voyage would have on astronauts. It’s part of a NASA-funded human-behavior experiment that could help the space agency send humans to the red planet in the next 20 years.

The man-made dome that the four men and two women call home is outfitted with futuristic white walls and an elevated sleeping platform on the world’s largest active volcano in Hawaii.

The vinyl-covered shelter spans 1,200 square feet, or about the size of a small, two-bedroom house.

A video released by the group shows the six scientists in matching red polo shirts ar-

riving and entering the dome to farewell handshakes from programme associates.

Except for the presence of the white van that brought the group, the scene was reminiscent of the red planet — the dome set in a barren, rockstrewn and reddish landscape with distant hills giving the feel of a wind-swept and forbidding environment.

“I’m looking forward to building relationships with my crew,” said mission commander James Bevington, a space scientist. “I fully anticipate coming out with five new best friends.”

They will have no physical contact with people in the outside world and will work with a 20-minute delay in communications with their support crew — the time it would take for an email to reach Earth from Mars.

The project will study the psychological difficulties with living in isolated, confined conditions for an extended period.

NASA hopes to send humans to an asteroid in the 2020s and Mars by the 2030s.

Associated Press

• THE tiny Baltic nation of Estonia is experimenting with the idea of cyberconscription, a move that gives draftees with tech skills the chance to work shoring up their military’s electronic infrastructure, an Estonian defence official said Tuesday.

The experiment involves between 10 and 20 draftees, Estonian defence official Erki Kodar told The Associated Press. It began last summer and will be evaluated after the conscription cycle ends in June.

Estonia’s compulsory military service means teens can serve between eight to 11 months in the military depending on their role on whether they serve as sailors, soldiers or in other roles.

Those accepted as cyberconscripts can expect to pass their time on a help desk or doing programming work, Kodar said.

• THE White House is moving forward with plans to give what it describes as a more “diverse group of journalists” a chance to ask questions at briefings.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in his first White House press conference that, beginning later this week, the White House will designate four “Skype seats” in the White House briefing room.

The idea is to provide an opportunity to ask question to a more diverse group of outlets that may not have the resources to hire a Washington correspondent.

The new administration has been discussing a series of potential changes to press operations.

• A STUDY of autonomous driving technology will use electric buses in Reno, Sparks and Carson City.

Regional Transportation Commission electric buses will be equipped with technology to collect data on pedestrians, bikers, vehicles and traffic lights, the RenoGazette Journal reported.

The University of Nevada, Reno is collaborating with the commission and other groups on the Intelligent Mobility research.

“If you told me 10 years ago we would be talking about this kind of technology, I would have said it was a 100 years off,” said Richard Kelley, chief engineer in the university’s Advanced Autonomous Systems Innovation Center.

“There have been so many astounding advances in this field.”

Commuters increasingly want to avoid distractions, and they want to be riders to that they can focus on other tasks, said David Jickling, the commission’s Director of Public Transportation and Operations.

“This collaboration with the university and other partners on developing safety features with an ultimate goal of perhaps being autonomous with our buses seemed like a natural step for the RTC to get involved with,” Jickling said.

Sensors will be installed on the first bus in the spring.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, January 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

SENTENCING FOR MINISTERS GUILTY OF CHILD CRUELTY DELAYED

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE expected sentenc-

ing of two ministers after being found guilty of giving a 15-year-old boy liquor to get him drunk did not occur yesterday in the Magis-

Last Rites For

Amos Albert Wright, 65 of Bowe’s Cove off Bernard Road and formerly of Barratarre, Exuma will be held on Thursday, January 26th, 2017 at 11:00 am at Church Of God South West Cathedral, Carmichael Road. Officiating will be Bishop Donnie Storr, assisted by Bishop Rhoderick Brown. Interment in Woodlawn Gardens.

His memories will forever linger in the hearts of his children: Kena, Raquel, Stefano, Kaylyn ,Darren, Tanya, Demetra, Dewana & Aneka; Lifetime Companion: Joyce Bonimy; Brothers: Bishop Donnie Storr & Real Arthur Storr; Sisters: Viola Roberts, Lorana Lloyd & Mrtlyn Storr; Aunts: Rosalee Wright & Lovelee Rolle; Sons-in-Law: Peter Demerite, Peter Francis, David Ward, Shedrock Neil & Sheldon Pearson; Daughter-in-Law: Tarecka Storr; Sisters-in-Law: Jeannie & Eloise Storr; Grandchildren: Carlecia, Kenya, Davya, Ellington Jr., Belika, Belisa, Beliah, Jordyn, Peter Jr., & Latoya; Nieces & Nephews including: Orson, Aldo & Shane Clark, Lisa Esfakis, Debbie Turnquest, Carol Butler, Dena Ingraham, Teresa Major, Marsha, Cleta, Kenton, Kelson & Terrance Roberts, Della-Reese Allen, Dawnell & Denton Storr, Carson, Demetra, Yolanda & Shakira Storr, Dencil, Brenda & Gregory Rolle; other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

The body will at CURTIS MEMORIAL MORTUARY from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesday and on Thursday at the church from 10:00 am until service time.

trate’s Court.

Arsenio Butler, 30, and Devin Sears, 28, appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes for the penalty phase of their trial having been found guilty of “child cruelty” where it was alleged that they gave a teenage boy alcohol “in a manner likely to cause injury to his health” between January 31, 2014, and February 1, 2014.

Their sentencing had been adjourned for four days to allow their lawyer Romona FarquharsonSeymour an opportunity to present character references and a plea in mitigation on their behalf.

However, Mrs Farquharson-Seymour was not present when the matter was called prompting the magistrate to ask Crown prosecutor Cordell Frazier to make attempts to contact the attorney.

After a recess, Ms Frazier informed the court that she had a telephone conversation with the lawyer who reportedly said her office had informed the magistrate’s staff at 9.30am that she was under the weather and requested a short adjournment.

Magistrate Forbes said he had received conflicting reports concerning that missive and noted that he hoped the attorney would be well

ARSENIO Butler and Devin Sears, pictured at a previous hearing. enough by Friday, January 27 to clarify what happened.

He added that the sentencing would proceed if she or another representative from her firm were not present.

Magistrate Forbes said he was also aware of a notice of appeal having been filed by the Office of the Attorney General even though the case had yet to be concluded.

This too, he said, also will be addressed on that date.

Butler, a pastor-elect, had been separately charged with indecent assault, after it was alleged that he had put his hand down the teenager’s trousers. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges in their first Magistrate’s Court appearance in February 2014.

Magistrate Forbes, in October 2015, determined that

a sufficient case had not been made by the Crown for Butler to answer to the charge of indecent assault when considering the second of two statements given to police by the complainant.

The alleged assault was only referred to in the second statement. During testimony, the complainant and police were at odds about where the statement was taken.

The magistrate discharged Butler of the assault charge.

However, the court ruled that Butler and Sears must answer to the remaining charge of “child cruelty” based on the evidence produced by the prosecution.

In a 12-page ruling handed down last Friday, Magistrate Forbes referred to an event that occurred following the decision, which he said had never occurred before.

“It is noted at this point that a remarkable event occurred which this court has never before witnessed; a letter was directed by the Crown to the court clerk inviting this court to reconsider its verbal ruling advising that it had discharged the defendant Butler of the indecent assault charge,” the magistrate’s ruling noted.

“This is clearly inappropriate as the avenue open to any aggrieved party is to file an appeal. Further, is this not

an infringement of the separation of powers and why would the executive seek to direct the court to its findings given its rights of appeal?”

“This court sincerely trusts that this is not a practice and will not become to be repeated in this or any other court,” the magistrate stressed.

Butler and Sears were nonetheless convicted of the “child cruelty” charge after the magistrate found that their evidence was not convincing.

“If one accepts all they have said, two adult men elected to transport a minor out after 11pm,” the magistrate said. “It is clear they were irresponsible. And then suggest that the minor was somehow leading them in this foray. The evidence of the virtual complainant coupled with evidence of the virtual complainant’s mother and the opinion of the doctor suggest that he was plied with substances which caused the effects that were observed.

“This court accepts the evidence of the virtual complainant that he was given alcohol by these two individuals, the reasons are unclear but this court accepts that he was provided the substance by Mr Butler and Mr Sears,” Magistrate Forbes ruled before convicting them of child cruelty.

The pair could face a fine and/or imprisonment.

MAN DIES AFTER MOTORCYCLE CRASHES INTO TREE

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

POLICE in Andros are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man following a motorcycle accident on Monday afternoon.

The accident took place shortly after 3pm near Morgan’s Bluff.

According to reports, the victim was riding his Honda motorcycle at the junction of Lowe Sound and Morgan’s Bluff, when he lost control and crashed into a tree.

The man died from his in-

juries on the scene. Anyone with information on this accident is asked to contact police immediately.

Officers from the Police Traffic Department in New Providence are in Andros, assisting with the investigations Armed robberies In other crime news, police are asking for the public’s help in locating the persons responsible for four separate armed robberies that took place on Monday.

In the first incident, shortly before 11am, police said a man was leaving a bank in the Harbour Bay Shopping

Centre when a man armed with a handgun approached and robbed him of a large amount of cash before fleeing in a grey Odyssey vehicle driven by another man.

In the second incident, shortly after 7pm, police said a man pulled into the driveway of his home in Dignity Gardens, when two males armed with a handgun approached and robbed him of a gold chain and his red Honda vehicle before speeding off. Hours later the vehicle was recovered abandoned in Jubilee Gardens.

Then shortly after 9pm a woman was standing in front of her Christie Avenue

home when two men armed with a handgun approached and robbed her of her cell phone before speeding off in a red Honda.

In the final incident, police said a woman had just pulled up to her home in Blue Hill Heights when two men armed with a handgun approached and robbed her of her handbag containing personal items before speeding off in a red Honda.

Anyone with information on any of these incidents is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

THE TRIBUNE

Walkabout in Kemp Road to tackle crime

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Kemp Road community yesterday became a basin of “prayer and love” as police, along with community and religious leaders canvassed the area with a view to arrest the scourge of crime that has gripped the area since the start of the year.

Operating with the belief that “spiritual warfare” had to be waged in the community, which has been the site of four of the country’s 13 murders this year, Bishop Simeon Hall, pastor emeritus of New Covenant Baptist Church, called on community residents to implement a self-imposed curfew. He said this was the best way to address the “mayhem” seen across the country.

“We are in a crisis,” stated Bishop Hall. “I call on the authorities to turn up the (pressure). We should call on the residents of Kemp Road to engage in a self-imposed curfew.

“I think people should see, there are 21 bar rooms on Kemp Road, right on the face of this road, 21. I counted them. People need to be in their houses after 10 (pm), the government can’t do that, but you can do it if you live in this area.”

Bishop Hall’s pronouncement was one of three recommendations he made Tuesday; the second was a call for law enforcement to do more to rid the street of repeat offenders and the last, a call for families to aid police by turning in their relatives believed to be involved in criminal activities.

“Parents should not harbour their children who are engaged in crime. If you know your child is engaged in crime it is better to turn them in rather than to go to the funeral home,” Bishop Hall said.

“I am sick and tired of funerals. Some of (the parents) have to come to the church and the church have to help them. So I am calling on the parents not to harbour children who are

CYNTHIA ‘Mother’ Pratt joins in with the walkabout as encouraged the pastors and gave them olive oil to bless the streets.

engaged in crime. Turn them in rather than having to go to the graveyard.”

Former Deputy Prime Minister and current Urban Renewal Co-chair Cynthia “Mother” Pratt asserted that “comfort” had to be given to residents in the area, saying that they were afraid and scared into silence as a result of the recent rash of murders in their community.

“That is what we have come to do, we have come to pray, encourage the people and most of all, we want them to know that we know that prayer changes things,” Mrs Pratt said yesterday.

“It is a spiritual warfare and those of us who deal with the church, we are about spiritual battles. That is why we have come into these areas,” she added.

Differing Views Tuesday’s walkabout depicted a number of key elements that often come together to shape the quality of life experienced in the Kemp Road community.

On Williams Lane yesterday, a 600-yard stretch of road that extends east from Kemp Road proper, to the dirt field just west of the old City Market food-store, the actuality of crime in the Bahamas is evident.

It was there, the first left off Williams Lane, where reporters met 59-year-old Anthony Adderley.

According to the longtime resident of the Kemp Road community, the lack of respect for adults and law enforcement by the country’s youth had evolved to a degree where things previously never considered an option has become the norm.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017, PAGE 11

THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force and church leaders held a walkabout in the Kemp Road area yesterday. Due to the recent homicides in the area, church leaders said prayers and anointing were needed for the community.

“I walked through these places day and night,” he said. “We used to sell fruits, we went to the dock like three o’clock in the morning. We walked to catch the boats that came in early to get the nice fruits, nothing happened. Big money in our baskets, nothing happened. But now, where can we go?

“The changing of times.

The generation is different, the respect isn’t there (anymore). And that is where the young guys take advantage of the whole thing.”

Mr Adderley said his fear of “violent youth” had led him to request increased patrol by police in the area, PASTOR Higgs prays and blesses Uriah Mcphee primary school. noting that the prevalence passion.

Mr Lightbourn told the of angry and misguided youth had increased over House of Assembly that he was concerned that the time.

Upon hearing these level of crime had reached claims, Ivan Butler, senior a point that couldn’t be depastor of Kemp Road Min- escalated with basic law enistries, said he wanted to forcement tactics.

On January 11, a man remake the point to the press that not all was lost in the portedly on bail for murder community, insisting that was shot dead in the Kemp “good” and “upstanding” Road area. On January 14, Keno Kelly was shot dead people resided in the area.

“As far as I am con- as he walked near Stracerned, yes there are some chan’s Corner, off Kemp challenges but sometimes, Road.

On January 18, 16-yearI think that some of the things that are said are old Ricardo Fawkes was overblown and exagger- found dead at Williams Lane, off Kemp Road. ated,” he added.

Last week, Montagu MP On January 22, Anthony Richard Lightbourn, repre- Mather died in hospital BISHOP Simeon Hall during sentative for the area, char- after being shot in Whites yesterday’s walkabout. acterised the community as Addition, also in the Kemp Photos: Terrel W. Carey/ one losing its sense of com- Road area.

Tribune Staff