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Call for probe into judge ‘harassment’ Former Bar Association president speaks out over allegations surrounding Peter Nygard, Keod Smith By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net FORMER Bahamas Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson yesterday called on Prime Minister Perry Christie, Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson, and Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade to immediately address allegations of harassment and intimidation of a Supreme Court judge. Insisting that the allegations suggest that constitutional democracy is under threat, Mr Johnson also urged the Bar Association, the judiciary, and any con-
PM: COUNTRY RISKING FUTURE IF IT ELECTS MINNIS
cerned lawyer to take a vocal stance in demanding a full investigation. He was referring to allegations that billionaire Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard and his attorney, former Mount Moriah MP Keod Smith, were involved in efforts to intimidate Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles and harass her son. The allegations were confirmed by Mr Nygard’s former public relations officer Earlin Williams in an exclusive interview with The Tribune, and followed an investigation by this newspaper into a report published in the St Lucia Today SEE PAGE SIX
ATTORNEY GENERAL DEFENDS INDEPENDENCE OF JUDICIARY By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemeda.net
ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibson yesterday defended the independence of the judiciary and underscored the resources allocated by the government for their protection, in the face of allegations that a former member of Parliament was involved in efforts to intimidate a Supreme Court judge. Mrs Maynard-Gibson said that she could not confirm or deny whether Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles had recused herself from the “murder for hire” civil case against Canadian billionaire Peter Nygard and attorney Keod Smith. SEE PAGE SIX
PRIME Minister Perry Christie speaks in Fox Hill last night. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune staff
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net DAYS after insisting that he and members of his party were cutting Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis some “slack” before waging a full campaign to highlight his failures, Prime Minister Perry Christie last evening berated the former Official Opposition leader during a community meeting in Fox Hill. As a part of his 30-minute long dia-
tribe which saw the nation’s leader impress upon voters the successes of his administration since being elected to office in 2012, sentiments of encouragement for his ratified candidates, and even an obscene hand gesture while referring to allegations being levelled at him; Mr Christie said despite all of the negativity meant to bring down his administration, the country would be risking its future if it moved to elect Dr Minnis as its next prime minister. At one point during his speech, Mr SEE PAGE TWO
need to be taken. Dr Minnis’ comments came hours after the country marked its 32nd homicide for the year and its 18th murder this month. This also means that 601 people have been killed since the Progressive Liberal Party took office in May 2012, according to The Tribune’s records. Ahead of the 2012 general election, the PLP posted billboards throughout New Providence - in areas heavily trafficked by tourists and
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net BY the end of the year, the Christie administration will have driven the country’s deficit up to a number that exceeds what was left by the previous administration, Free National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said yesterday. He was speaking after the Central Bank of the Bahamas’ recently released January report showed that the country’s half-year fiscal deficit has risen to $312.2 million, a 112 per cent increase. When elected in 2012, Christie administration officials criticised their predecessor for leaving the country in a “dire” fiscal position, noting that it met a deficit upwards of $500 million as a result of the Ingraham administration’s policies. Mr Turnquest said yesterday: “Right now the deficit, according to the latest Central Bank report, is up to $314 million. When you consider the SEE PAGE SEVEN
FOUR MEN, TEENAGER IN COURT OVER RECENT SHOOTINGS
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribuemedia.net
locals - which said there had been more than 490 killings under the last five-year Ingraham administration. The PLP, then in opposi-
FOUR men and a juvenile appeared in Magistrate’s Court yesterday to face separate murder and attempted murder charges concerning three recent shooting incidents in the capital. In the first of three arraignments, Stanford Pinder, 24, and a 16-year-old boy stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt accused of intentionally causing the death of Leonard Sweeting on Thursday, February 23, and attempting to cause the deaths of Robert Munroe, Phillip Rolle and one-year-old Patrayer Finlayson. According to initial police reports, gunmen with handguns approached and fired several shots at the group standing in front of a home on Scott Street before fleeing the area on foot. The victims were rushed by private vehicle to hospital, where
SEE PAGE SEVEN
SEE PAGE FIVE
‘CRIMINALS WILL RAVAGE COUNTRY UNLESS DEATH PENALTY ENFORCED’ By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday that unless the government is willing to enforce the death penalty, “criminals will continue to ravage our country and keep citizens in fear.” Dr Minnis said our country is losing the battle to the criminal element and “more serious measures”
DEFICIT UNDER PLP ‘EXCEEDS WHAT WAS LEFT UNDER THE FNM’
FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
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PAGE 2, Tuesday, February 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
PM: COUNTRY RISKING FUTURE IF IT ELECTS MINNIS FROM PAGE ONE Christie stuck up his middle finger as he lashed out at allegations that he owned a condominium property obtained through political impropriety. He added that he would not let political lies of this sort distract him from the task of governance. On the issue of his rival, the Centreville MP didn’t mince words in his address, contending that Bahamians should not hand over reigns of the country to a party as unstable and dysfunctional as the FNM. Mr Christie said: “(If) in the seriousness of your reflection and contemplation you are asking yourself, ‘what should I do?’ What you mean what should you do. What you shouldn’t do, that should be in front of you. You have no right, even though this is a wonderful flourishing democracy, you have no right not to recognise that every time this Minnis-led FNM was tested they failed the test.” He added: “How are they going to assemble together? What reliance do you have to place on them when all of the evidence available to you is that they have not been able to demonstrate any kind of unity to carry this country forward?” Mr Christie went on to belittle the leadership capabilities of Dr Minnis further, asserting that his inability to grasp the issues facing the country over the last five years has been a matter he could have taken the former opposition leader to task over, but opted instead to let it play out. As a result, Mr Christie said those who supported Dr Minnis early on in his administration now find themselves at odds with him
PRIME Minister Perry Christie on stage last night. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune staff because he has clearly failed those he was charged with leading. “Look at the quality of persons who make up the Progressive Liberal Party team…. they cannot be matched by any of the parties, most certainly not the party that purports or represents themselves as being the opposing party - the FNM.” Of his track-record since the 2012 general election, Mr Christie noted that Dr Minnis received a vote of no confidence by the majority of his parliamentary team. He added that this action proves that if entrusted with the post of prime minister, Dr Minnis would again fail those he is entrusted to lead and serve. “Look at leadership and ask yourself…. Do you really think Minnis knows anything about the economy? Do you really think he knows anything about the islands of the country and how they should be integrated into the economic development of the country? “See even the FNM in the range of my voice will have to shake their heads and say I am right,”
FOX HILL MP and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, Prime Minister Perry Christie, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald and PLP Saint Anne’s candidate Dr. Charles Clarke. Mr Christie said. pening in Bimini; and the answer to serve and improve the Bahamas. “Do you think if (Dr) Minnis is not ‘Christie is delusional’. The He added Dr Minnis has done landed in London or New York or answer isn’t hiding behind the tel- all he could to destroy his party. Rome and they put a microphone evision set. Last night’s community meeting in front of him and say what do you “Come out here and stand up was jointly held by the PLP’s comthink about this issue in the Baha- and take people on the tour of munity branches from St Anne’s, mas; do you think Minnis would the islands (and) articulate one Fox Hill and Marathon. be able to explain? by one; can’t happen. And maybe The event heard speeches and “Wherever I am in the world, in another ten years he would be platform updates by several memCNN - you have to be able to rep- more astute in doing it, but (the bers of the party, including Fox resent your country. You have to people) don’t have no time to wait Hill MP Fred Mitchell, Marathon be able to know your country. You ten years. MP Jerome Fitzgerald and the have to be able to know what is Mr Christie said the PLP has a newly ratified candidate for St happening in Inagua, what is hap- team of quality members prepared Anne’s Dr Charles Clark.
YOUNGSTERS ON THEIR MARKS FOR ‘URBAN LOVE GAMES’ TEAMS from all nine Urban Renewal Centres in New Providence took part in the annual ‘Urban Love Games’ at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Saturday morning. The event, for the young and young at heart, also included relays between pastors, armed forces and MPs. • See Sports section for more Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
rry Christie PRIME Minister Pe n Renewal ba Ur th wi d re is pictu ‘Mother’ Pratt Co-Chairs Cynthia at the event. len Al on rn and Alge
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, February 28, 2017, PAGE 3
SWIMMING PIGS AUTOPSY RESULTS STILL NOT MADE PUBLIC
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Humane Society President Kim Aranha yesterday questioned why the results of autopsies performed on the seven swimming pigs that died in the Exumas have not yet been released to the public. Mrs Aranha told The Tribune that the longer the cause of death is kept a “secret” the more people will speculate that something nefarious was done to the animals. More than a half a dozen of the swimming pigs were found dead under mysterious circumstances more than a week ago. The majority of the pigs, believed to be around 15, are still alive. According to reports in a local daily, the owners of the pigs believe the animals died after being fed “rum, beer and the wrong food.” Officials have yet to reveal the actual cause of death. “To me, keeping it a secret is worse. I can’t think of any scenario why they would not come out and tell us,” Mrs Aranha said. “I find in life when people refuse to talk and refuse to answer your questions you end up thinking the worst. Whenever someone hides something it is
“I find in life when people refuse to talk and refuse to answer your questions you end up thinking the worst. Whenever someone hides something it is human nature to suspect it is a negative reason. I am prepared to believe that there is a good explanation for this and I would love to have it.” Bahamas Humane Society President Kim Aranha
SOME of the swimming pigs in Exuma. Several of the pigs were found dead more than a week ago.
human nature to suspect it is a negative reason. “I am prepared to believe that there is a good explanation for this and I would love to have it. I don’t understand why people aren’t being upfront with this, my personal feeling is that it wasn’t nefarious, I have a feeling that they were fed the wrong
food because to me if it had been intentional they would all be dead. “These were farm animals, if someone was going to get rid of them wouldn’t they have butchered them? None of it makes sense, I have a feeling it was a terrible accident.” Last week, Minister of Agri-
culture and Marine Resources, V Alfred Gray told The Nassau Guardian that as a result of the deaths, visitors will no longer be permitted to feed the pigs, though they will still be able to visit them. Mrs Aranha said: “This is not a very good idea.” “The idea of putting a net
around them is insanity. They should sell food to the tourists like around $5. That way the tourists can get the fun out of feeding the pigs and the pigs can still be safe. To me that is a no brainier, why would you prevent the tourists from going up to them? “That is why people go there, the tourists will leave if they can’t interact with the pigs.” The Tribune has attempted to contact the Ministry of Agriculture for several days but calls were not returned up to press time.
UNION CLAIMS ATLANTIS SEEKING TO TERMINATE STAFF MISSING WORK FOR MEDICAL REASONS By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A HOTEL union yesterday warned the Atlantis resort against allegedly seeking to terminate employees who have missed work for medical reasons, charging that it would “fight” the company “tooth and nail” to preserve the jobs of workers at the Paradise Island property. Bahamas Hotel Catering & Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) Secretary General Darrin Woods, speaking with The Tribune, yesterday claimed that the company is allegedly “moving in” on employees who have missed significant amounts of time off from work - either due to an industrial accident or illness - with a view to terminating them. Mr Woods also accused the resort of seeking to “circumvent” the established process of dealing with the potential termination of employees for the aforementioned alleged reasons, adding: “We ain’t going down that road, not today.” Mr Woods’ claims were dismissed by Atlantis public relations executive Ed Fields, however, who told The Tribune when contacted yesterday that he is “not familiar” with the union’s claims. Additionally, Director of Labour Robert Farquharson said he has not received a formal complaint regarding Mr Woods’ claims to date. Mr Farquharson also indicated that should the claims prove true, the hotel union’s industrial agreement with the resort allows for the union and the company to arbitrate the matter before soliciting the intervention of the Department of Labour. Nonetheless, Mr Woods claimed that to date, multiple employees who have either been out sick for some time and/or suffered industrial accidents at the resort have allegedly been targeted by management
with a view to having them terminated. In particular, he referred to a female employee at The Cove who is allegedly being targeted after missing work due to an industrial accident. “This particular lady still has another surgery that has to be done, and you’re saying you want to sever the lady and she got hurt on your job? “Come on man,” Mr Woods said. “…We intend to fight them tooth to nail on this one. Because one of the main things that the unions were asking for in general, is when we talk about how persons are treated on the job, in particular when they are injured on the job. And so for this one, we have to stand firm on this.” Mr Woods also accused the company of seeking to bypass the established protocol in dealing with matters of this nature, which is soliciting the opinion of a medical “specialist” relative to the nature of the injury and/or illness before gravitating towards the option of termination. “They are trying to get from A straight to Z without going through the other 26 letters of the alphabet,” he said. “So from the union’s standpoint we have to stand strong against it, because once these persons are exited from the system, what happens to them then? Their abilities to earn income is lost, any chance of reemployment is lost. “…What we are saying, let’s follow the process and the procedure that is laid out in both instances. But they want to circumvent the process, and move directly to work up, which in fact is termination at the end of the day. We’re not going to be a party to that,” Mr Woods said. When contacted, Mr Farquharson said: “Atlantis has an (industrial) agreement, and that (agreement) has a mechanism inside it called final arbitration tribunal, which provides for the
THE Bahamas Hotel Catering & Allied Workers Union made the claims against the Atlantis Resort (above) yesterday.
(BHCAWU) and the company, Atlantis, if there is a dispute, they go to final arbitration before it is even filed here at the Depart-
ment of Labour. “I mean I’ve heard some issues regarding one or two persons in management who may have had
that situation. But nothing formal has come before me, and if anybody would have complained I would have asked them to make
a formal complaint. But to date I have no formal complaints here at the Department of Labour in regards to that.”
PAGE 4, Tuesday, February 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
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When will the animal cruelty stop? IT IS said that you can judge a society by how it treats its animals. If that is so, the Bahamas would be judged harshly. This is a nation trapped in the past in many ways, in fear of immigration and anyone foreign, in denying the obvious that tax breaks incentivise economic growth, in believing that the public will blindly follow whatever medicine the government of the day prescribes. But as resistance to blind obedience grows along with the demand for respect for human rights, there is one area in which far too little attention is being focused - how we treat our animals. The treatment of animals is nothing to be taken lightly, not only for its intrinsic righteousness but for its economic impact. In the age of social media, photos of animal cruelty circulate faster than a juicy rumour. When a Surrey horse carrying tourists collapsed and died on the street in downtown Nassau in 2012, images and shock waves went viral in minutes. It is foolhardy to think people do not care. By mid-morning yesterday, a column that appeared in The Tribune by Bahamas Humane Society President Kim Aranha, questioning whether Surrey horses were really a part of Bahamian culture, drew dozens of comments. In fact, it aroused more interest more immediately than many of the breaking hard news stories that we cover. Animals cannot speak for themselves. Their silence keeps them unwitting, humble servants. Who speaks for the Surrey horse forced to breathe in the diesel fumes of jitney buses or withstand the whipping of a driver who wants that horse to keep moving when he can hardly lift his head? Who speaks for the Surrey horse whose shoes are worn and yet he must walk the hot streets? Where is the police officer who is supposed to stop the driver who violates the brief rest time required? Do all the new officers know of the regulations and the different hours according to season? Who speaks for the Surrey horse forced to carry a load of 400 pounds of passengers and driver? It is true that government funds are being provided for better food and that the horses continue to be inspected, that there are fewer incidences of yanking the shoes off one horse to nail onto another, and then back again at great pain just to pass inspection. These are living, breathing beings.
They feel pain. They wince to no effect. They cry and no one hears them. They suffer in silence until they die. And then what? Then another horse comes in because why? “It is part of Bahamian culture?” So was slavery and when that was recognised for the horror it was, it ended. The renewed focus on Surrey horses comes only days after several of the famed swimming pigs of Exuma were found dead. No one is saying yet what caused the deaths or whether they were deliberate or accidental. What we do know is that it was only two years ago that the swimming pigs made a huge splash and became a boon to Exuma tourism. Thousands have visited and photographed the unlikely tourist attraction since. Several people we reached out to who are familiar with the situation believe the deaths were bound to happen. The pigs were eating leftover food that could have been spoiled in the hot sun. They may have run out of fresh water given the lack of rain. No one was fully in charge of monitoring or managing their health and a company that voluntarily brought in a vet to look at them was told to mind its own business. This animal cruelty for commercial gain must stop. Fortunately, there is evidence of improved care for domestic pets thanks to organisations and good souls dedicated to educating about proper nutrition, spaying and neutering and regular veterinary care. We notice their efforts and we applaud them. Yet our hearts break for those animals whose very presence or physical strength makes them enslaved beasts of economic burden, unpaid accidental contributors to a local economy. It is only when the tragic happens and headlines scream the tragedy that the public reacts in shock as if they had not seen this coming for a long time. And for anyone who thinks speaking out against animal cruelty is something new, we call your attention to the Bible, where man is warned against treating the animals in God’s kingdom with anything less than they treat one another. Throughout the Bible, kindness to animals is pervasive - in Proverbs, Psalms, Isaiah, Genesis, Luke, Ecclesiastes, Deuteronomy. And even in Exodus, man was given a seventh day to rest so the animals could rest, too.
Praise for Naughty’s piece on Communications Interception Bill EDITOR, The Tribune. ON Friday of last week, in his column “A Comic’s View” Naughty addressed the Communications Interception Bill and made some personal observations. His handling of the matter was very important for us all. I wonder how many people appreciated the fact that someone had finally done what should have been done weeks, if not months ago. Rather than simply bellyaching about the Government threatening to spy on him, he actually read the Bill. Then, in an even more unusual (but important) act, and realising that there was nothing unusual about
a communications interception bill, having watched hundreds of TV crime dramas in which the case revolved around a warrant for wire-tapping or eavesdropping, he found a copy of an American equivalent and compared the documents. He was then able to discover that the bills are very similar, except for a few clauses. Finally he was able to focus on those individual clauses that caused him concern, and to express his concern rationally. Those responsible can now address his specific concerns rather than just his objection to the whole bill. He
had thrown out the bath water, but kept the baby safe. This is what is expected of legislators, activists and journalists before they come to us with a request for our support. It is also what a citizen does when he accepts responsibility as a citizen. Naughty, the socalled comedian, has demonstrated to us all how to be a citizen. And the tools he used were available to all of us (mostly the internet) when we decide to act as responsible citizens. Thanks, Naughty. PAT RAHMING Nassau, February 26, 2017.
Martial law, spy capabilities EDITOR, The Tribune. Re: Police Uneasy At Move To Call In RBDF In Crime Fight. The Tribune, February 24, 2017. MARTIAL law, combined with NIA & Intercept/Spy capabilities, might well be useful in fighting crime. However, it could also increase the power of certain unethical politicians who seem to have little respect for privacy and the
courts. Further power enhancement could be achieved with an eventual introduction of covert neighbourhood informers who are secretly on the government payroll ---- of course, this would be under the guise of providing jobs. KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau, February 26, 2017.
Prime Minister Perry Christie treading on dangerous grounds EDITOR, The Tribune. IN THE Nassau Guardian, December 23rd, 2016, Prime Minister Perry Christie says “Acts of God caused negative S & P action.” Mr Christie said, “We’re talking about a country that has been devastated not by the decisions of the government, but by the allowance of God.” In The Nassau Guardian, January 18th, 2017, the National Review says: “A desperate man with a burgeoning god complex . . . Last month the Prime Minister tried to shift the narrative after the credit ratings agency Standard and Poor’s downgraded our country’s sovereign credit rating to sub investment grade. He blamed it on acts of God ‘not the decisions of the government’ saying the hurricanes of 2015 and 2016 triggered the state of affairs that led to the downgrade. There have been many devastating hurricanes in the past and no Prime Minister in either government during those years has ever blamed God for a downgrade until now and for you, Mr Christie, to blame God - this is blasphemy. Be very careful how you handle Almighty God’s Holy Name. You are treading on dangerous grounds. This is the first time in the history of the Bahamas, that every island was hit. This is a wakeup call. In The Nassau Guardian, October 8th, 2012, in the National News, the Prime Minister said, “They could have the best intention in the world. They can pray and say ‘Oh God, I want to do this.’ But God has spoken. God made me the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. But guess what? Do you know who the Prime Minister of the Bahamas is? You could go to Hubert. You can go to Greg Gomez. You even could go to Minnis, but then they got to call me.” If the Prime Minister sees fit to blaspheme God’s Holy Name by stating that God caused the Bahamas to be downgraded due to the hurricanes then from a spiritual standpoint, perhaps God is showing HIS displeasure with the corruption and inadequacies of the govern-
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net ance of the PLP. However, regardless of this accusation by the Prime Minister, remember the economy of the Bahamas was trending downward and was downgraded prior to either hurricane. We have had devastating hurricanes in the past and no downgrades. How could you now, Mr Prime Minister, blame God for the downgrade? Mr Christie, you said you are the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and God put you there through the people. But remember, just as you said God put you there, HE can also remove you from there. If you believe that you are so great and powerful and foolish enough to challenge the Almighty God, know now it’s a fight you will never win because no man can fight against the Almighty God and win. You are high and exalted but God is able to bring you down. Mr Christie, it seems that you are putting yourself high on a pinnacle. Remember King Saul, King Nebuchadnezzar, his son King Belshazzar, King Herod they were all high in power, but Almighty God brought them all down. As I mentioned earlier, be very careful how you handle Almighty God’s Holy Name. You are treading on dangerous grounds. Do we now have demigods in the government? More to come on the downgrades. In The Tribune dated October 30th, 1991, Fred Mitchell, who was the leader in the People’s Democratic Force, wanted Prime Minister Lyden Pindling to give an account of his trip to Africa, and Mr Mitchell said: “It is our view that this trip was largely a waste of time, at GREAT PUBLIC EXPENSE. We are reliably informed that some 19 persons were in the Prime Minister’s party.” Several government ministers have already visited Africa, and you, yourself, Mr Mitchell have done so on several occasions. With all due respect, Mr Mitchell,
you wanted Prime Minister Lynden Pindling in 1991 to give an account of his trip to Africa. Shouldn’t you and all the ministers that went to Africa give an account of their trips also? After all, you are all traveling on the taxpayers’ money and the Bahamian people have a right to know what you are doing with their money. That’s why the Bahamian people need “The Freedom of Information Act” to see how their money is being spent. The Bahamian people need the government to provide the “Freedom of Information Act” Legislation to show transparency and accountability. The spending of the taxpayers’ money on trips all over the world and the VAT tax in the millions could alleviate the national debt. STOP UNNECESSARY SPENDING AND OVER SPENDING. The government is accountable to the Bahamian people in all they do. The Bahamas is a country of laws. These laws must be respected. Mr Halkitis in The Nassau Guardian dated January 25th, 2017, said they have received over one billion dollars in VAT tax since January 2015. He is quick to say how much of this money went to different ministries or departments, but how much of this went to the national debt? The Bahamian people have a right to know. The intention back in 2015, all the VAT tax collected was supposed to go to the national debt. The VAT tax, isn’t this supposed to decrease the national debt? It’s increasing instead of decreasing. Where is the money going? Back in 2012, The Tribune dated December 15th, reads “Radio host slams political parties after credit rating downgrade. Talk show host Darold Miller yesterday chastised both the Free National Movement and the Progressive Liberal Party administrations for excessive and unnecessary spending after the country’s credit rating was downgraded.” What about Moody’s warning “6 months to avoid downgrade” recorded in The Tribune January 8th 2014? SEE PAGE SEVEN
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, February 28, 2017, PAGE 5
PETER NYGARD
NYGARD TO FIND OUT ‘CONTEMPT OF COURT’ FATE ON FRIDAY CONTROVERSIAL fashion mogul Peter Nygard is set to learn on Friday whether he will face prison for contempt of court. Justice Rhonda Bain is expected to rule on an application to commit the Lyford Cay resident to the Department of Correctional Services, Fox Hill, after it was alleged that he engaged in dredging activities off the coast of his Nygard Cay home in defiance of a court order. Local environmental group Save The Bays (STB) has brought several judicial review cases against Nygard over offshore construction works allegedly carried out in the absence of necessary permits and approvals and which have resulted in the near doubling of the size of his property. An injunction against such activities was handed down by Justice Bain on June 13, 2013. It is alleged that Nygard violated this in December, 2014. In addition to his committal to prison, STB is asking the court to order that Nygard be required to remove all of the sand, spoil or other material that has been dredged and extracted from the sea bed since December 11, 2014 - and which was subsequently spread along on a beach at Nygard Cay and place it along the public beach at Clifton Bay, known as Jaws Beach. In closing arguments yesterday afternoon in Supreme Court, Fred Smith, QC, attorney for STB, told the court that clear evidence had been presented, in the form
of photographs and witness testimony, proving that for a period of nine days in December, 2014, Nygard periodically dredged the sea bed at Simms Point/Nygard Cay in explicit contravention of the court order. He noted that Nygard has not denied that he was fully aware of the terms of the injunction and therefore knew he was breaching it by conducting such activities. Mr Smith argued that the dredging was clearly authorised by Nygard, as it was carried out on his property and at times, under his supervision. In his closing arguments, attorney for Nygard, Elliott Lockhart, QC, told the court that a permit to dredge the sea floor was granted to Nygard Holdings Ltd and not Peter Nygard in October, 2014. Therefore, he argued, and in the absence of any definitive evidence to the contrary, the court should assume that the company, and not the individual, carried out the dredging complained of in STB’s application. Peter Nygard and Nygard Holdings Ltd, Mr Lockhart stressed, are separate entities. He added that no evidence had been adduced to prove that Nygard was personally responsible for the dredging which took place off the coast of his property. Mr Smith branded this an “absurd” argument which “defied logic” as it would allow any individual, prohibited by the court from undertaking certain activities, to simply carry them out under another name.
STANFORD PINDER, 24.
FROM PAGE ONE
Sweeting died of his injuries. The young child and the two men survived the incident. Pinder and his juvenile accused, who cannot be named because of his age, were told yesterday that they would not be required to enter a plea to the charges until they are formally arraigned before a judge of the Supreme Court when the case is transferred there through the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment scheduled for April 25. Both alleged that they were brutalised while in police custody and the minor, according to his mother, has a pre-exist-
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
JARRET MAJOR, 30.
CALVIN HIGGS, 29. By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net THREE men were remanded to prison yesterday after they were arraigned in connection with a recent seizure of drugs and firearms by law enforcement officers in Abaco. Anthony Powell, 34, Jarret Major, 30, and Calvin Higgs, 29, appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes facing four drug related charges: possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, importation of dangerous drugs, conspiracy to import dangerous drugs and conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply. They were further arraigned on two counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm, a count each of possession of a firearm with intent to supply and possession of ammunition with intent to supply, two counts of importation of firearms, two counts of conspiracy to import firearms and importation of ammunition.
NICHOLAS LIGHTBOURNE, 23.
SPENCER LEWIS, 25.
FOUR MEN, TEENAGER IN COURT OVER RECENT SHOOTINGS
THREE CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH DRUGS, FIREARMS SEIZURE IN ABACO
ANTHONY POWELL, 34.
THE 16-year-old boy is brought to court.
The trio pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges related to the February 24 arrest. It is alleged that the trio, between February 8 and February 24, agreed with a common purpose to import and were allegedly found in possession of dangerous drugs - marijuana - into the Bahamas with intent to supply. It is further alleged they were found with two 9mm weapons - Beretta and Springfield - and 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition for the illegal firearms without having the requisite licences and certificates to possess the items. The men will stand trial on May 16 in connection with the seizure. Due to the nature of the charges, they were denied bail and remanded to the Department of Correctional Services. However, they have the right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court. Powell has retained attorney Jomo Campbell to represent him while Major and Higgs are represented by Murrio Ducille and Krysta Mason-Smith.
ing heart condition that requires treatment and monitoring. The chief magistrate made a note of the concerns on their Department of Correctional Services remand warrant. In the next arraignment, Nicholas Lightbourne, 23, was also arraigned on charges of murder and attempted murder concerning a shooting on Sunday, February 19. It is alleged that he intentionally caused the death of Clearance Gibson and tried to kill Shonae Sweeting. According to earlier police reports, shortly after 11pm, the victims had just left a party and were walking on Knowles
Drive off Tonique Williams-Darling Highway when five masked men with handguns in a small white vehicle pulled up and shot them before speeding off. Gibson was pronounced dead at the scene, while KINGSLEY CHOUTE, 22. Sweeting was taken to Shortly before 7.30pm, hospital to receive mediAriste and Cox were sitcal care. This case is scheduled ting in a vehicle on Durto be fast-tracked to the ham Street off Mount Supreme Court on April Royal Avenue, when two armed gunmen ap27. In the other arraign- proached and shot them ment, Spencer Lewis, 25, before fleeing on foot. and Kingsley Choute, 22, They were taken to hosstood accused of inten- pital where Ariste died of tionally causing the death his injuries. A Voluntary Bill of Inof Kirt Ariste on Friday, February 3, and attempt- dictment presentation for ing to cause the death of this case has been scheduled for April 26. Dino Cox.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, February 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
CALL FOR PROBE INTO JUDGE ‘HARASSMENT’
FROM PAGE ONE newspaper last year. “It leaves a lot to be desired and I think no less a person than the prime minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas must not just say something but demonstrate the necessary intestinal fortitude to do something,” Mr Johnson told The Tribune. “Do you know what it is to terrorise a lady and her child and her family? “This is frightening and let me tell you something, just like others I have concerns for my safety too, these people ain’t easy. I have concerns for my safety too with them, they’re vicious and if somebody having regard to what judicial independence means, to upholding the laws, just think about the laws they go to arbitrate on murders, rapes, civil matters.” He added: “When you see someone can attack that, they can attack the very right to life, they will attack the very right to conscience, to freedom of movement, they have no conscience and I assign them to the category of a reprobate.” Mr Johnson also said: “ . . . The honourable attorney general should speak loud to this. (Mrs MaynardGibson) she is the leader of the Bar, she is to come to the defense of the judiciary and she cannot sit silent, and if she decides to sit silent in these circumstances I call on her to resign.” The association’s new president, Nicholas Mosko, declined comment on the matter yesterday.
Allegations Mr Williams, a selfproclaimed member of the “Nygard/Keod Smith public relations machine” from 2009 to 2016, told The Tribune that he was aware of Mr Smith’s travel to St Lucia, and also confirmed a Whatsapp message purported to be from Mr Smith, which identified Justice Charles’ son. His claims come amid speculation over whether Justice Charles has recused herself from the “murder for hire” case filed against Mr Nygard and Mr Smith by several Save The Bays
KEOD SMITH
directors and independent plaintiff, Rev CB Moss last year. Justice Charles did not preside over the case on February 16, a date she set to hear motions for an injunction, a strike out action and the addition of an affidavit. Up to press time, Mrs Maynard-Gibson had not responded to questions placed by this newspaper asking for confirmation of Justice Charles’ recusal. The St Lucia newspaper alleged that a Bahamian lawyer, who they identified as Keod Smith, accompanied by a Bahamian police officer, were conducting investigations into the background of a Supreme Court judge and paying officials to supply them with private information. Since then, The Tribune has seen copies of St Lucia immigration entry documentation for Mr Smith on September 9, 2016, and Royal Bahamas Police Force officer Camala McCoy, who entered the country a day earlier. Commissioner Greenslade has previously denied reports that a senior police officer had been sent to St Lucia to assist in the purported probe, and at the time, said that he had ordered an investigation into the matter. Commissioner Greenslade did not respond to messages placed by The Tribune for an update on those investigations up to press time. Meanwhile, Mr Johnson said the allegations deserve answers from public officials.
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“Whether or not (the police officer) was off-duty, the question that the Bahamian public want to know is whether he went there in his capacity as a police officer, and whether or not he was off-duty, there are things you can do if you look at the Police Act, while you are off-duty that can undermine the duties of the commissioner of the police. “So (Commissioner Greenslade) he has to investigate, he has to bring a report. “He is the provost marshal of the court, he carries out the duties of the court. “He can’t sit idly by and comfortably say he was off duty when another country, another group are not only reporting on it but calling on the St Lucian government to distance itself from it, and to go to CARICOM and make certain of it and saying that they’re not going to be a part of this witch hunt.” Mr Johnson is currently representing Mr Williams in his libel case, in which Mr Williams is being sued
by Mr Nygard’s Lyford Cay neighbour and longtime adversary Louis Bacon. Mr Williams was previously represented by Mr Smith, and claims that he severed ties with both Mr Nygard and Mr Smith in November 2015 after he was advised by Mr Nygard, through his legal counsel, to “come clean”. In June 2012, Mr Bacon brought defamation proceedings against Jones Communications Limited for the articles published in the Bahama Journal. During the proceedings, Wendell Jones on behalf of his newspaper, confirmed in a statement in open court that Earlin Williams was the author of the articles: ‘Louis Bacon’s Conspiracy and Corruption at Lyford Cay’; ‘Louis Bacon Hedges a Bad Bet as FNM Trounced in Elections’ and ‘Louis Bacon Continues to Outrun Law.’ According to a Supreme Court writ dated July 11, 2012, Mr Bacon is seeking an injunction against Mr Williams for four articles posted on BahamasPress.
com: “Louis Bacon’s Conspiracy and Corruption at Lyford Cay,” “Smuggling, How a Billionaire Plays Nintendo - Meet the Three Louis Bacons,” “Louis Bacon hedges a bad bet in the Bahamas as ruling FNM trounced in General Elections” and “Will Louis Bacon move operations to TI as dragnet closes on him in the Bahamas?” Mr Williams has an ownership stake in A Culture Shock Media Group, which produces the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Bahamas Ambassador Magazine “BAAM”. In 2012, he was listed as a consultant for the Bahamas Information Services’ Special Projects Unit, according to Director General Luther Smith, who said the unit was comprised of Elcott Coleby, deputy director, Mr Williams, and Latonya Symonette, special assistant. It was unclear up to press time whether Mr Williams was still attached to the government agency, and in what capacity.
Mr Johnson stepped down as bar president last month to pursue a political career as the Free National Movement’s standardbearer for Yamacraw. When asked to respond to likely criticism that his interest was motivated by a political or personal agenda, he maintained that his commitment to the country and the integrity of the judicial system mattered more than political allegiance. “My commitment to my country transcends political alliance and that is what we need in this country,” he said. “Our commitment to the three arms of government especially to the judiciary should transcend our political allegiance, if I find that (FNM Leader) Dr Minnis or anybody else tries to undermine that institution that guarantees stability in this country and protection for all regardless of origin, sex, religion, conscious, and all those different things, I will distance myself from them.”
AG DEFENDS INDEPENDENCE OF JUDICIARY ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibson FROM PAGE ONE “The matter that you have drawn to my attention is between private parties,” she told The Tribune. “I am advised that the Office of the Attorney General as government’s lawyer has no knowledge of this matter.” Mrs Maynard-Gibson, whose portfolio also includes the Ministry of Legal Affairs, was asked whether the allegations of harassment and intimidation of Justice Charles raised concerns, or had prompted any investiga-
tions. She replied: “In the Commonwealth of the Bahamas we have an independent judiciary comprised of highly respected, smart and hardworking judges. “This is vital to democracy and the rule of law. “The government continues to allocate significant resources to protect judges. I am confident that any complaint made to the commissioner of police would have been taken very seriously and thoroughly investigated. And I am confident that the com-
missioner of police would have fully briefed the complainant on the outcome of the investigation.” The Tribune understands Justice Charles asked Chief Justice Sir Hartman Longley to reassign the case. Justice Charles did not preside over the case on February 16, a date she had set to hear motions for an injunction, a strike out action and the addition of an affidavit. At that sitting, Supreme Court Justice Donna Newton presided over the matter, and it was adjourned without an explanation.
FATAL STABBING TRIAL IS DELAYED
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE trial into the fatal stabbing of a banker continued in the Supreme Court
yesterday after testimony was delayed by three days of legal discussions held in the jury’s absence. Detective Sgt Reuben Evans testified that on January 4, 2016, he arrested a man named Lamar Albury, whom he pointed out in the courtroom. Albury’s lawyer, Michael Hanna, asked the witness where was his client arrested. Sgt Evans said the arrest occurred at the Central Detective Unit on Thompson Blvd. “So he turned himself in?” the lawyer asked. “Yes. He came in with an attorney at the time,” the witness said. It is alleged that Albury murdered Devince Smith sometime between December 19 and 21, 2015. Smith’s partially decomposed body
was found shortly after 2.30pm on December 21, 2015 at his St Alban’s Drive apartment. Police were alerted to the apartment after relatives, who had not heard from the victim, went to his home and found him dead in the living room. Smith was a sports coach and was employed at Pictet Bank & Trust Ltd. He was also a former president of the New Providence Volleyball Association. Albury maintained his “not guilty” plea to the murder charge he faces when the trial began last week. Cordell Frazier and Anya Allen are prosecuting the case for the Crown while Mr Hanna is representing Albury. Last week Monday, the jury heard that Albury allegedly confessed to his
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relatives that he fatally stabbed the banker, who had hired him to do maintenance work at his apartment for an upcoming holiday gathering, when the victim allegedly made a sexual advance at him. The following day, Smith’s housekeeper testified that in the three months she had known Albury, the accused had been to Smith’s apartment on three occasions and on two other occasions, the accused and Smith were seen in the victim’s Jeep drinking. Legal discussions prompted a number of adjournments in the case from Wednesday and the jury was told by Senior Justice Vera Watkins that the case would resume on Monday. In yesterday’s proceedings, the jury also heard testimony from Detective Cpl Lawrence Smith who said that around 7pm on January 5, 2016, he received information and instructions from Sgt Sonny Miller who gave him a pair of Nike tennis shoes. The officer said he photographed the items before packaging them and submitting the shoes to the police forensics lab for analysis. Mr Hanna asked the detective if there was any sign of suspected blood on the shoes. “Yes, sir, that’s why I submitted a request for analysis form with a cover letter,” the witness said. The case resumes today at 10.30am.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, February 28, 2017, PAGE 7
SENATE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL DEBATE MOVED TO MARCH 2
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
DEBATE over the Freedom of Information Bill, which was expected to be brought before the Senate for its first reading yesterday, will instead commence on Thursday at 10am. Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, leader of government business in the Senate, yesterday
moved to have the business of the upper chamber adjourned to March 2. The move for an adjournment came shortly after she moved to have the bill for the act to give to the public a general right of access to records held by public authorities and to make provisions for incidental and connected purposes read for the first time in the Senate. The House of Assembly passed the revamped FOI Bill earlier in
February. A FOI Act was passed by the previous Ingraham administration shortly before the 2012 general election but did not have an enforcement date. When the Progressive Liberal Party assumed office, the government said the legislation would need significant changes. In December of last year, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald tabled another version of FOI leg-
islation. However, Mr Fitzgerald, the minister with responsibility for the legislation, said the bill that was passed earlier this month presented several “big changes” when compared to its predecessors. The Marathon MP asserted that this reincarnation of FOI legislation is vastly better than the “woefully short” aspirations of the law passed in 2012 - a piece of legislation he said the former administra-
tion “rushed” through Parliament to gain political points. On Friday, Mrs Maynard-Gibson said that she was unsure what would happen to the legislation should there be a change of government at the election. In an interview with The Tribune, Mrs Maynard-Gibson said the PLP is determined to see the bill through to the end but admitted that “it will take time to implement” even after it is passed in the Senate.
SISTERS SERVE UP FIFTH ‘REBECCA’S MYSTERY SOUP KITCHEN’
FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest.
DEFICIT UNDER PLP ‘EXCEEDS WHAT WAS LEFT UNDER THE FNM’ FROM PAGE ONE
THE hardworking sisters of Rebecca Chapter No.4, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated, rolled out the fifth “Rebecca’s Mystery Soup Kitchen” on Saturday at the Urban Renewal Centreville Office, Deveaux Street. The sisters, who are doing their part in feeding the indigent in the Bain and Grants Town community,
added a new component to their popular initiative by also giving away clothes to those who needed them. The concept of Rebecca’s Mystery Soup Kitchen is to show up unannounced at various locations in the Bain and Grants Town community. Photo: Tia Charlow-Moss
‘CRIMINALS WILL RAVAGE COUNTRY UNLESS DEATH PENALTY ENFORCED’ FROM PAGE ONE
tion, campaigned that it had the answer to violent crime while the Ingraham administration did not. It promised that if elected it would get crime under control. Speaking about the crime figures, Dr Minnis said in a statement released yesterday: “Thirty two - that is an outrageous number of young Bahamians that have been killed on our streets in the first two months of 2017. It is shocking that under this inept PLP government we have seen 600 Bahamians lose their lives. “This government fails our young Bahamians every time one of them loses their lives. The PLP has spent a year touting statistics trying to convince Bahamians that crime is down and now we are in an even worse place.” He added: “Bahamians need real leadership on this issue, not just empty rhetoric and broken promises. The FNM has brought forth our ‘Change Team’ that includes former police officers who will bring real world experience to the government. A FNM government will fight crime at its roots and rid our country of the growing crime epidemic. We will return our streets to the people because it is the people’s time.” In a separate statement posted to Facebook, Dr Minnis said the FNM is willing to do “everything necessary,” including enforcing the death penalty, in order to get a handle on crime. “Our country is losing the battle to the criminal element, and more serious measures must be taken. A re-
sponsible government will be proactive in doing everything in its power to remove any impediment that prevents it from executing the laws of the land,” his statement said. “Unless we are able to show the criminal element that we are willing to impose the death penalty and bring law and order back to the Bahamas, these criminals will continue to ravage our country and keep its citizens in fear. The FNM is prepared to do everything necessary to ensure that law and order is restored in this country. This scourge of violent crime cannot continue to go unabated and everyone must work together in this time of social crisis. Enough is enough.” Capital punishment in the form of hanging remains a sentence for convicted murderers, however the death penalty has not been carried out since January 2000. No convicted murderers were executed during the last Ingraham administration when Dr Minnis was minister of health. However, the previous government did amend the Penal Code in 2011 to specify which crimes would be deemed the “worst of the worst” to better align with the Privy Council’s standard on the death penalty. In 2006, the Privy Council ruled that the Bahamas’ mandatory death sentence for convicted murderers was unconstitutional. Last year, Dr Minnis told reporters that the necks of “murderous scumbags” in the country must be “popped” in order to keep Bahamians safe.
Earlier this month, the FNM outlined its goals to fight crime should the party win the next general election, noting in its recently released party platform plans to establish a national neighbourhood watch programme in every community, re-institute term limits for the commissioner of police, establish a sexual offenders register and enforce Marco’s Law. The FNM also plans to create a Guns and Gangs Unit in Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and undertake a “comprehensive audit” of the RBPF to review the pay of police officers and determine whether the crime fighting agency has the “requisite manpower to effectively execute its mandate”. The party said during its next term in office it will enforce a zero tolerance for crime; develop a modern, efficient crime fighting machine; establish, build and equip an independent forensic lab; work with community based partners; eliminate habitats where criminality flourishes; enact legislation to establish the National Intelligence Agency; enforce Marco’s Law and establish the sexual offences register; use state of the art technology; establish a national neighbourhood watch consultative council; establish a public sector anti-corruption agency; conduct a comprehensive review of police officers compensation and re-institute term limits for the commissioner of police, commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the commissioner of corrections. The plans are outlined in Manifesto 2017, posted on the FNM’s website, ourfnm.org.
Prime Minister Perry Christie treading on dangerous grounds FROM PAGE FOUR Also in The Tribune, August 26th, 2015, “Credit rating downgraded by Standard & Poor’s”. This was before the hurricane hit the Bahamas in October. What about the corruption recorded in The Nassau Guardian, August 19th, 2015: “Bishop Gomez agrees system is corrupt – Backs son’s concerns that corruption being ignored”. Also in The Tribune August 26th, 2015 - “PM told to tackle corruption claims. Former Immigration Minister Loftus Roker yesterday urged Prime Minister Perry Christie to address the corruption and conflicts of interest claims made by State Minister for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez.” The Tribune dated October 26th, 1974, reads “Corruption rocking PLP to foundation says Roker”. Also in The Tribune
dated November 21st, 1991, “Corruption forced Roker’s resignation. Former National Security Minister Loftus Roker resigned from the PLP when he was convinced that Prime Minister Lynden Pindling was ‘not prepared to rid his government of crooks’.” The Tribune dated November 27th, 2015, reads “Gomez stands by pledge to tackle government corruption. Both Loftus Roker and Damian Gomez have stated that there is corruption in the government.” There must be some truth in what Mr Gomez said about corruption in the government because his father Bishop Gomez backed him on that and furthermore, according to The Punch dated January 3rd, 2017, “The Prime Minister and his Cabinet dumped Gomez for his anti-corruption stance”. For example, whatever
happened to the $47 million lost at Road Traffic, recorded in The Tribune May 10th, 2016? Whatever happened to the disappearance of $25,400 at the Freeport Passport Office, recorded in The Tribune, November 5th ,2015. And what about “Theft fears at Post Office” recorded in The Tribune dated February 4th, 2016? Has anyone in government investigated the above to find out what happened and who is responsible? With all of the above, this is why Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s are downgrading the Bahamas to “Junk”. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this out. A blind man can see that. Anyone with common sense should know that many politicians do not usually tell the truth, especially during election time.
The agencies will not downgrade you because of the hurricanes, but will downgrade you on foolish spending of the taxpayers’ money and corruption. In the Living Bible, Psalm 118. Verses 8-9 read: “It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in men. It is better to take refuge in Him than in the mightiest king”. Also in the Living Bible, Psalm 75. Verses 6-7 read: “For promotion and power come from nowhere on Earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another”. Mr Christie, may Almighty God continue to bless and protect the Bahamas and its people is my sincere prayer. Sincerely in Christ, TONY G ZERVOS Nassau, February 5, 2017.
decline in revenue collection and the increase in expenditures with no indication that it’s going to update anytime soon, particularly in an election year, it is likely we will meet or exceed the recurrent deficit that was left in 2012 and that is despite the added impact of VAT.” Mr Turnquest said this possibility should put to bed the idea that the Progressive Liberal Party is best at managing the country’s finances. “It shows in simple terms the lack of management, the ineffective fiscal policy of this government, the irresponsible spending on programmes that bore very little return, if any, and a ballooning public service,” he said. “The results speak for themselves. We’re not talking about a recession that they faced here. Yes they’ve had to contend with a blip from the hurricane and we have to appreciate that but the expenditures have not been balanced out as a result. “We haven’t seen any belttightening from this government. Any talk of 2012 are far outweighed by what we see today in the face of a global economy that’s growing and a national economy that seems to be shrinking. “The report indicates that a 4.2 per cent rise in personal emoluments has occurred,” Mr Turnquest noted, calling this “incredible.” “Some would say it’s negligent,” he added. “It’s unusual particularly in a period like this to have such a significant add on to the payroll of the government on the backs of the taxpayers while having a spiralling national debt.” Mr Turnquest said he attributes this rise partly to
temptations that come during an election season. “I do connect it to the election season in some respects but this phenomenon is not new for this government,” he said. “If you go back to the last five years you would see significant increases year over year, reflecting new hires and consultants hired by the government.” In its report, the Central Bank attributed the deficit hike to the fall-out from Hurricane Matthew, which hit devastated parts of the country in October 2016. Mr Turnquest said this isn’t a sufficient explanation, however. “I don’t buy it with respect to the fiscal deficit,” he said. “While revenues are down, expenditure is up 11.7 per cent. For them to say it’s attributable to the hurricane is disingenuous. We know they borrowed $150m to assist with that.” Mr Turnquest said he wants more information about transfer payments and National Health Insurancerelated expenditures. “We have to look at these transfer payments which are up $53m,” he said. “We need to know what that represents. I suspect it has to do with the Bank of the Bahamas. “There was another item of interest, which is other specific subsidies and transfers led by National Health Insurance. “We need to know what that amount represents because we seem to be no closer to NHI than we were five years ago after spending millions of millions of dollars. If all of this money is in consultancy fees, it portends a disaster.”
7
PAGE 8, Tuesday, February 28, 2017
1
“Seven people killed in 48 hours”? Crime is not decreasing, and it will not be decreasing. Not now, not soon. And there is no political leader, no priest or no other person who has ‘the answer’ to crime. Any crime-fighting initiatives short of radical tactics, military or martial law, will be ineffective against the worst crimes in this country. People are under the illusion that the court system works for the good of the people and serves justice on victims while punishing the guilty, but the system is broken and does not work to the benefit of justice. Politicians and attorneys can pay as much lip service as they want, and maybe to themselves they accomplish micro amounts of success in their efforts, but without an overhaul of the little Mickey Mouse methods used by law enforcement, lawyers and judges, there will continue to be gaping holes in the system that cannot be filled in the short or the medium term. As ‘The Potcake’ Leslie Miller said, if there are no repercussions for anything, there will be no differences made in the ‘war on crime’. And every party sending someone forward to talk about ‘fixing’ crime better be damned careful about what they say and promise - it cannot be done. You can start to try but
things to accept about life in the Bahamas
ANDRE ROLLINS makes his point in the House of Assembly - see number seven.
By NICOLE BURROWS
don’t fool yourself into thinking you can make a difference if your efforts consist of the same pussyfooting manoeuvres practised by the same types of leaders.
2
The people won’t get smarter. The reason why we suffer so many social ills is owed to so many uneducated and undereducated Bahamians squeezing through the education system at warp speed and with few or no credentials. Education is not just about book learning, it’s about cultivating personality, social development, learning tools for navigating real life and making informed decisions. If more than half of all high school graduates in the Bahamas have failing grades and graduate with nothing, the society you end up with is similar to but worse than the one you have now. There are probably at least two and likely up to four generations of Bahamians who have fallen through the education cracks and until they get re-programmed to function in a productive society, there will be no example of a productive society for the others who follow them.
3
THE TRIBUNE
The economy won’t ever really recover, because the nature
“Andre Rollins, promising star he may have been a few years ago, has fallen from grace and blended in to the league of people like Loretta Butler-Turner, Jerome Fitzgerald and all the rest of the low stoopers who resort to name-calling and personal attacks.” of productivity is not applicable to Bahamians. The nature of productivity in the world is changing. There is nothing to recover to unless Bahamians have nothing to do with their economy ... in other words, they become a territory of another country with resources to invest in 21st century productivity. With no productivity to make it competitive, a permanently sluggish economy will result in and reflect greater unemployment, which is but one factor in the desperation that leads some poorly mentally developed Bahamians to commit violent crimes. Perry Christie himself called it an incubator for criminality. One would think if he knows this, he
would have sought the help of others with sense and produced at least one feasible action plan in the last five years. Besides, Bahamians as a majority grouping cannot be wealthier than anyone else in the Bahamas. That’s not what Bahamian leaders are concerned with. The so-called leaders are status quo-maintaining and nothing of significance gets accomplished for the greater good of the people because those who lead are not good at getting things done. There are some lazy bastards in the House of Assembly who think they are working just because they move their lips. And because they have convinced themselves that they are doing something, they never leave the jobs in which they are wasting the people’s time. You can’t improve a country filled with people who keep the status quo, and who are led by status quo-keepers. I would think by now that would be more than evident. Moreover, they are all too familiar with the people and circumstances about whom they are required to make difficult decisions, and they seem to come down on the wrong side of this process most of the time.
4
Praying for change without changing amounts to nothing. Bahamians need to step out of their hyper-religious worlds and understand and practice the practicality of faith - any faith ... not just the one they follow. Religion is manmade. There is no right religion. And as long as religious people are in a majority and they look down on others of different faiths, they will stay divided and regressive as a nation.
5
White-man wigwearing does not make attorneys smarter nor does it make them appear smarter, particularly when sitting before a council of white men from whom the wig-
wearing barrister practice came, especially when they themselves are not wearing said wigs. Wig-wearing puppets. And you want them to be innovative in the judicial system, set precedent that makes sense enough to be followed? When they wear white men’s headdress to make them look and feel relevant? I don’t know. Maybe the white man wig-wearing is the ‘black’
“If more than half of all high school graduates in the Bahamas have failing grades and graduate with nothing, the society you end up with is similar to but worse than the one you have now.” equivalent of white men in ‘black face’? Who knows? None of them will answer that question honestly. None of them have the presence of mind for that level of self-examination. But it doesn’t matter does it, if all they need is a title? The alternative to the reverse ‘black face’ argument is that the white men’s wig-wearers are a people who so loathe themselves, or have no identity of who they are in the first instance that they must adorn the appearance of an ethnicity they do not possess. Not to mention, as the council of white men sits before an audience of black attorneys, the councilmen have the sternest of faces while the attorneys are laughing their heads off. These people are a joke. Your leaders, my fellow Bahamians, are a joke. They might as well take this opportunity to be swallowed up by the Donald Trump variety show administration, as it appears stupidity, ignorance and idiocy are the norm for those in charge.
6
‘Suspected marijuana’ in ‘ferl wrappings’ will always be a greater crime than drunk driving in the minds of ignorant Bahamians. And they are not trying to consider anything different. For this reason, Bahamians are considered by many to be a lost people.
7
Politicians are as relevant as you make them when you interview them, and they don’t produce ‘news’ most of the time. They prefer personal insults against one another that amount to mechanisms of laziness and insanity. Name calling can’t even escape Parliament. So lazy are they with their mental being that no one of sound mind can take them seriously or believe in them ... unless money changes hands. Andre Rollins, promising star he may have been a few years ago, has fallen from grace and blended in to the league of people like Loretta Butler-Turner, Jerome Fitzgerald and all the rest of the low stoopers who resort to name-calling and personal attacks. And in the process, they pretend to know something more than we do. If you know something, if you have more information that will inform the Bahamian people, but you choose to keep it to yourself, then you are no leader. If it’s something the Bahamian people need to know, spill it. Say what needs to be said, because holding it close to you and threatening to divulge is the same as keeping it secret when it should be told. If people who think the same way about the world and their place in it - PLP, FNM - are elected to serve as the government of Bahamians, the political landscape will remain the same, with the same problems. Beneficiaries, and prospects for the future as they have for the last decade. Comments and responses to nburrows@tribunemedia.net
PAGE 10, Tuesday, February 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Luxury chance to make amends for Valentine’s disasters ONE lady almost killed her boyfriend, another man just seems constantly unlucky in planning romantic nights. They were just two of the people who shared their tales of Valentine’s woe in the KISS FM ‘kiss and make up’ competition, hoping to win a prize which will make amends for everything that had gone wrong on the annual day of love. Now Vanessa Sawyer and Bruno Barr can enjoy a treat with their respective partners as winners of a luxurious experience at the One&Only Ocean Club, which includes being picked up by limousine, a sensual couple’s massage and a dinner at the superb Dune restaurant. They were the two winners of the competition which invited listeners to submit their Valentine’s mess-ups and were announced yesterday on the Radio House stations. Vanessa Sawyer thought she had the perfect night planned for William Clarke as it was their first Valentine’s Day after dating for four months. They had discovered that neither had been given gifts or ever been treated specially in the past. She determined to treat her man. She planned his favourite seafood dinner with candles followed by a bubble bath in the jacuzzi at a townhouse in eastern New Providence she had rented for the oc-
casion. During the day, she went to season the fish and set up the romantic evening while he was at work and thinking they had dinner plans at a restaurant. “He was supposed to pick me up from home but I told him would be getting ready by my aunt out east (he never met my aunt before, therefore he didn’t know where she lived),” she wrote. “So I gave him directions where to come. When he arrived, I opened the door in a lacey red lingerie, his mouth dropped to the floor. “I had the room dimly lit with the table set up with his sesame-crusted Grouper with butter and ginger sauce, steamed veggies, tossed salad and fresh baked dinner rolls and a bottle of Pierre Marcel chilling in an ice bucket. With rose petals all over the floor leading to the jacuzzi tub.” After dinner, they went to the jacuzzi. “We got in the tub and suddenly he started to cough and when I looked at him his lip was swollen. Then his right eye started to swell. Then he said he was having problems swallowing. I rushed him to the hospital. He was rushed straight through to A&E. They said he was having an allergic reaction to something. They asked what he had eaten and they initially thought it was the fish but ... we found out it was the sesame seeds, which is very
Funeral Service Enith “Anne” Roselia Carey née Knowles, 80 of Cable Beach, Nassau, The Bahamas, who died at Doctors Hospital, Collins Avenue, Nassau, on Saturday, 25th February, 2017, will be held at Ebenezer Methodist Church, East Shirley Street, Nassau, on Thursday, 2nd March, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. Reverend Jerry Hilbun will officiate. She was predeceased by her parents, Martha and Clement Knowles; Sisters, Meridith Knowles, Esley Darville, Jeannette Cartwright and Martha Meleznera. She is survived by her Husband, Douglas Carey; sons, Captain Kirk Carey, Dr Anthony Carey and Mario A. Carey; grandsons, Cole Carey and Kiano Carey; great grandson, Sebastian Peterkin; granddaughters, Amber Peterkin, Sasha Carey, Colleen Carey-Williams, Heather Carey, Abby Carey and Isobel Carey; sisters, Keva Clarke and Eva Knowles; daughterin-laws, Denise Carey, Margaret Carey and Venita Carey; grandson-in-laws, Alexander Peterkin and Dustin Williams, other relatives and friends; nieces and nephews, Mildred, Predencia, Jess, Barbara, Paul and Paula, Martha, Keith, Steve, Debbie, Marsha, Phillip, Richard, Lisa, Kathy Jeanette, Betty, Patricia, Robert, April, Astrid, Ingrid, Nancy, Anthony, Judith and Edsel . Numerous other friends and family including, Armond, Olivia, Hildred, Justine, Adena, Violet, Hildred, Isobel, Maxwell, Same, Leon, Charmaine, Cheryl, Doreen, Melanie, Dawson, Jason, Andrika, Abigail, Betty Cole, The Burrows Family, The Knowles Family, The Fields Family, The Moree Family, The Roberts Family, The Davies Family, Pattie, The Lightbourne Family, The Carroll Family, The Scott Family, The Darville Family, the McCartney Family, The Ledard Family, The Cancino Family, The Lewis Family, The Maillis Family, The Cartwright Family, The Percentie Family, The Cooke Family, Thompson Family, The YPO Forum Family, Family and Friends from The Towers of Cable Beach, The BHG/MCR Family and all the Doctors Nurses and Staff at Doctors Hospital. Instead of flowers the family request, donate blood to either Hospitals Blood Banks in memory of Mrs. Enith “Anne” Roselia Carey. Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited, 19 Palmdale Avenue, Palmdale, on Wednesday, 1st March, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Arrangements Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.
KISSFM COMPETITION WINNERS Vanessa Sawye and her boyfrie r nd, William Clarke.
rare form of an allergy.” He spent two days in A&E. “Wow, I almost killed my boyfriend on Valentine’s Day. I felt so bad. But how was I to know that he was allergic to sesame seeds when he never knew.” Bruno Barr said his wife of ten years, Lerdon, called him immediately she heard about the KISS FM competition as he seems to have the worst luck whenever he tries to treat her or take her out. Life and two children get in the way of spending quality time with each other so it takes a lot of planning just for a night out. He planned a surprise couple’s massage at a spa at Sandyport, booked in advance, paid the deposit and even made special requests. Two days before the date, he received a confirmation call. “We got there at the appointed time but the place was locked and no one was there,” he wrote. “This
time, my wife is looking at me like … ooooooooooookay.” When Mr Barr called the proprietor, she apologised but the spa was not operating because of a fire in the air conditioning unit the previous day. “All I could do was treat her to the ‘Bamboo Shack Lover’s Special’ that they had going on,” he wrote. On another occasion, one of their friends was hosting a paid Junkanoo event with dinner and dancing. However, when they arrived, there was only one other car in the parking lot so they decided to leave, catch a movie and come back later. But there was nothing of interest at the cinema. “We left to dine at a restaurant out Cable Beach. However, they did not have the meal that my wife was interested in. We ended up going to Wendy’s (Cable Beach) to sit and eat.” They drove back to the
Last Rites For
George Morley, 60 of Potter’s Cay and formerly of George Town, Exuma, will be held on Tuesday, 28th February, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Christ the King Anglican Church, Ridgeland Park West. Officiating will be the Venerable Archdeacon James Palacious. Cremation will follow. Predeceased by his Mother: Enith Morley nee Bodie; Siblings: Louis, Majorie, William, Glenroy, Marilyn; Nephews/Niece: Charles, Brico, Christopher and Theresa Morley. Left to cherish his memories are his Son: Gregory Morley-Sands of Freeport, Grand Bahama; Father: centenarian Frederick “Freddie” Morley of Cottage, Exuma; Siblings: Althea Morley, Carolyn Morley-Brice, Frederick Morley Jr., Beatrice Morley; Granddaughter: Sanaya Sands; In-laws: Edna, Angeline, Margaret, Maxine Morley and Basil Brice; Granduncles/Aunt: Rev. Harold and Carlton and Dotlyn Bodie; Numerous Nieces and Nephews including: Jannet, Eric, Jennifer, Bernadette, Bridgette, Carlos, Patrick, Trevor, Apastra, Turkessa, Debra, Arnette, Winifred, David, Kevin, Darrell, Dwight, Keith, Monique, Bridgette, Terrance, Mark, Craig, Kenderick, Latoya, Coramae, Ingrid, Craig, Samantha, Nikia, Nado, Theodore, Pearline, Kendrick, Ivan, Tamika, Petra, Casindy and Latoya Morley; Cousins: John, Freddie, Douglas, Creswell, Cyril, and Rev. Daniel Morley, Eleanor Morley, Althea Sweeting, Wendy “Pat” Morley, Andrew, Robert and Agatha Musgrove; Melvin, Charles, Japeth, Basil, Alfred, and Sydney Bodie; Caroline Collie, Beatrice Bodie and Elva Musgrove. Friends of the Potter’s Cay Dock and of Grand Bahama, Mrs. Eterne Sands, Uncle Tellis, Mr. McClain, lineages from the Hermitage, Moss Town and George Town and so many too numerous to mention. The body will repose on Tuesday at the church from 10:00 am until service time.
BRUNO and Lerdon Barr, winners of the KISSFM Valentine’s Competition. Photos: Shawn Hanna
“We got there at the appointed time but the place was locked and no one was there. This time, my wife is looking at me like … ooooooooooookay.” Bruno Barr Junkanoo event to find two cars in the car park, realised the night was a “dud” and went home. Among the other entries, two stood out. Clarice Campbell planned a luxurious evening with lobster and champagne dinner by a hired chef and an expensive watch from John Bull as a surprise gift for her date. The chef was booked and the gift bought and specially wrapped. “We began the evening with the bottle of Moët and light conversation,” she wrote as they anticipated the feast to come. “A half an hour past the delivery time for the meal and I started to get nervous; an hour went by - no food. So I decided to call the number that I had used to make the arrangement and heard nothing.” There was no food in the fridge to fix quickly.
“My Valentine night was screwed. So I thought to sip on the rest of the wine and let him open the gift. Excited to see the look on his face, I handed him the bag ... he opened it to find a ladies watch. Oh my goodness, the sales clerk or gift wrapper made a huge mistake.” Ebbie Jackson and her husband are runners so go to bed early as they get up early to train. For Valentine’s Day, they had decided to go out for a rare meal. But after work, both were too tired and fell asleep. When she finally awoke “I found him sleeping on the couch knock right out”. “We are such older, tired folks that we don’t get to go out and enjoy each other over a meal so this give away would be a surprise to him and a treat to both of us because we seldom get to spend time out during evenings.”
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TRUMP: OSCARS FOCUSED HARD ON POLITICS BEFORE ‘SAD’ END WASHINGTON (AP) — US President Donald Trump is giving Sunday’s Academy Awards two thumbs down, calling the botched ending “sad.” The president said in an interview with Breitbart News on Monday that the Academy Awards “focused so hard on politics that they didn’t get the act together at the end.” Pointing to the flubbed awarding of “Moonlight” as the Oscar-winning best picture after initially giving the prize to “La La Land,” Trump said, “to end US President Donald Trump. that way was sad.” The president was attending a Governors’ Ball at the White House for most of Sunday’s awards ceremony. The annual Oscars ceremony carried a political edge throughout the evening, with many winners, presenters and host Jimmy Kimmel taking digs at Trump. Trump, who was photographed at the Oscars in 2011, said the ceremony “didn’t feel like a very glamorous evening.” He said the event “was a little sad. It took away from the glamour of the Oscars.” The president has been critical of the Oscars before. In February 2015, he complained that the Oscars ceremony was “absolutely terrible” and “boring” and suggested the “perfect host for next year: Me.” At the end of Sunday’s ceremony, presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway apparently took the wrong envelope onto the stage for best picture and mistakenly read “La La Land” as the winner. Kimmel came forward to inform the cast that “Moonlight” had won the prize. The 32.9 million viewers tuning into Sunday’s Academy Awards represented a drop-off of more than a million from last year and Oscar’s smallest audience since 2008.
PAGE 14, Tuesday, February 28, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
BNT OFFERS STUDENTS THE GREAT OUTDOORS
A SPECIALLY-packaged national park excursion programme for school groups has been launched by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). The programme features activities that complement the school curriculum, tailored for each grade level. Special activities will tie in to annual events such as Earth Day (April 22) or World Wetlands Day (February 2). With over seven million acres of Bahamian land and sea now protected, the BNT is working to expand park use. Students can learn about the environment in an outdoor classroom setting. The BNT education team engages with over 12,000 children a year through school presentations, park visits and workshops. The goal is to inspire young people to explore and appreciate their environment. According to BNT Education Officer Garelle Hudson, the park excursion programme gives stu-
FAMED SCULPTOR CONSIDERS SAN SALVADOR FOR NEW PIECE
dents the opportunity to discover natural treasures that they previously overlooked. “Weeds become bush medicine and the bush becomes a native forest. “It’s a way for children to learn about their culture.” Schoolteachers have welcomed the programme, and the BNT is targeting 20,000 student park visitors annually. Initially, guided visits will be limited to three na-
tional parks on New Providence: The Retreat, Bonefish Pond and the Primeval Forest. The BNT is a non-governmental, non-profit, membership organisation working to protect Bahamian natural resources by building a network of national parks and promoting environmental stewardship. Contact education@ bnt.bs to book a park experience for your class. THE CHARGING Bull in New York is the most famous of Arturo DiModica’s sculptures. Pictured with the Italian sculptor (second left) are, from left, Valerie Brown-Alce, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s New York Office; Consul Joy Newbold, Bahamas Consulate General New York; Arthur Piccolo, of Bowling Green Park and friend of Mr Di Modica; Consul Sandra McLaughlin, Bahamas Consulate General New York; and Consul General Forrester Carroll.
WORLD famous Italian sculptor Arturo DiModica has expressed an interest in sculpting one of his masterpieces to be erected on San Salvador, where the great explorer Christopher Columbus, a fellow Italian, first landed on October 12, 1492. Mr DiModica, 75, orginally from Sicily but who moved to New York in 1973, discussed his proposed project with Forrester Carroll, Bahamas
Consul General to New York, during a courtesy call on Thursday. He said that he initially wanted to sculpt the piece for San Salvador 25 years ago, when the Bahamas commemorated the 500th year of Columbus’ landing in what he called “the new world”, but had to put the project on hold. He said he is now ready to fulfil his dream and, with the Government’s consent, on the occasion
of the 525th anniversary, he would like to establish a lasting memorial to that time when the two worlds met. Many of Mr DiModica’s masterpieces can been seen around New York City, but the most famous is “The Charging Bull”, which has stood at the entrance of Bowling Green Park since December, 1989. The three and a half ton bronze work is a tourist attraction.
NEW TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES INDEPENDENTLY DESIGNED THE covers of the 2017 BTC Bahamas telephone directories, which bear photographs showing the beauty of the Bahamas, have been designed independently for the first time. Chief Marketing Officer, Janet Brown, said: “Normally, we work with an arm of government or the community to showcase a special event, activity or to pay homage to great leaders. This year we decided to feature scenes from the islands of the Bahamas on our cover. As a company, BTC connects every island, rock and cay. We are particularly proud of the fact that last year, we became the country’s first quad play provider in the Bahamas, providing landline, internet, mobile and television services.” Directories have been in stock since January and are available at all BTC neighbourhood stores in New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands. Customers can also collect directories from all Post Office locations in New Providence, Cost-Rite and Solomon’s Super Center. Businesses in New Providence requiring directories in bulk are asked to collect them from the BTC Perpall Tract location. Teachers and students find the directory useful as it contains information about the government and facts about the country.
THE TRIBUNE
CARIBBEAN HOTEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION HELPS HURRICANE AFFECTED HAITI AND BAHAMAS
THE Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association presented cheques totalling $70,000 to hotel associations in Haiti and the Bahamas to assist residents in both countries with Hurricane Matthew relief efforts. Recognising the considerable hardship and damage which Haiti and part of the northern Bahamas faced in the aftermath of the hurricane, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) President Karolin Troubetzkoy called upon fellow hoteliers in the region to respond to the association’s call for support. CHTA developed a fundraising initiative through online auction channel CharityBuzz.com, with which CHTA previously collaborated on a relief and recovery project for Dominica. Regional hoteliers donated room nights for the auction to benefit residents in Haiti and the Bahamas, some of whom continue to struggle to put their lives back in order.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017, PAGE 15
HOTELIER Agnes Pierre-Louis receives Haiti’s donation from (l-r) Vanessa Ledesma, Frank Comito and Karolin Troubetzkoy of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. “Thanks to the generosity of our CHTA members, we are heartened to make these contributions to our sister organizations,” said Mr Troubetzkoy. “Our Caribbean countries and the industry responded when help was needed and I wish to thank those who answered the call.” Mr Troubetzkoy presented a $25,000 cheque to The Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association’s President Carlton Russell at Carib-
bean Travel Marketplace at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in January. A cheque for $45,000 was presented to Agnes Pierre-Louis, treasurer of L’Association Touristique d’Haiti. In consultation with CHTA, the Bahamas and Haiti associations have identified areas where relief will be targeted, aimed at addressing long-term improvements to those affected.
THE Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association’s (BHTA) President Carlton Russell receives CHTA’s contribution from President Karolin Troubetzkoy.
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