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VOLUME:114 No.90, MARCH 30th, 2017

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A DECADE OF PROGRESS AT LPIA - SPECIAL GUIDE

INSIDE

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PM: Not a dollar of VAT wasted Christie says $1.14bn in revenue has not been frittered away

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AMID lingering questions regarding Value-Added Tax (VAT) collections, Prime Minister Perry Christie was on the defensive yesterday as he explained how his administration handled $1.14bn in VAT revenue accumulated during 2015 and 2016, insisting that not one dollar of the money has been “frittered away” or spent “surreptitiously”.

Finally giving an extensive explanation of VAT revenue since the matter was reignited following the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) convention in January, the Prime Minister told parliamentarians it was a

GOVT SPENDING UP BY $285M PM: 40% OF VAT MONEY TO DEFICIT $350M DEFICIT: GENIE CAN’T GO BACK IN BOTTLE

SEE BUSINESS

“worrisome” and nonsensical misconception that his administration mishandled VAT money. This issue, he said, needed to be put to rest once and for all.

SEE PAGE SIX

‘TIME IS VERY SHORT’ UNTIL THE ELECTION BELL IS RUNG

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

WHILE much of the country waits in anticipation for Prime Minister Perry Christie to “ring the bell” indicating the date for the 2017 election, yesterday he hinted that “time is very short” until voters head to the polls.

During one of his four communications in the

House of Assembly, Mr Christie said some MPs may have drawn the conclusion that voter registration stations will soon close.

“Mr Speaker, as I am doing this I am sure members would ... draw some very strong conclusions that there is not much time for people to register,” Mr Christie said. “So I would simply say ... that time is very short.”

SEE PAGE SEVEN

ANDREW JOHNSON, 57, of Harbour Island, Eleuthera, appeared in court yesterday to be formally charged in relation to breach of the Parliamentary Elections Act. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

FATHER OF FOUR DENIES VOTER FRAUD

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A HARBOUR Island father of four denied committing voter fraud during his arraignment in Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon.

Andrew Johnson, 57 and a long serving Water and Sewerage Corpo-

ration employee, was brought before Magistrate Samuel McKinney facing the charge of making a false declaration, contrary to Section 94(a) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Chapter 7.

It is alleged that, between February 27 and February 28, while at Harbour Island and under oath, he made a statement before Revising Officer

Lucy Butler for the purpose of registering to vote knowing the statement to be false.

The section under which Johnson was charged notes that “Any person who - (a) makes any false statement, for the purpose of being registered as a voter; or in answer to any lawful SEE PAGE TEN

TWO-YEAR DELAY IN FEED MILL $35M SPENT BY GOVT ON UPGRADES AFTER DISPUTE RECOVERY AFTER HURRICANE

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

UPGRADES at the Gladstone Road Feed Mill intended to provide uninterrupted power supply and higher quality feed have been halted for nearly two years due to a disagreement between the project’s consultant and the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), Ag-

riculture Minister V Alfred Gray confirmed yesterday.

As a result, custombuilt equipment valued at $130,000 has been sitting in storage uninstalled since July, 2015, with its warranty set to expire in October.

The equipment and installation costs to fly in technicians were paid to US manufacturer Easy Auto but hinge on the SEE PAGE TEN

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government spent $35m on hurricane-related expenses as of January 31, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday.

Discussing his administration’s fiscal performance in the first half of this year, Mr Christie noted that Hurricane Matthew had a direct impact to the government

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

of over $300m.

Of the $35m that has been spent in relation to Hurricane Matthew, $21m was used for recovery purposes like clean-up and relief costs, he said.

He added that $9.67m was spent on reconstruction efforts for schools and other public buildings, and $4m was used for a home reconstruction programme.

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Thursday, March 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

YOUNGSTERS at Mt Carmel Preparatory Academy taking part in the Vocabulous Expedition month.

MAKING READING

VOCABULOUS

THE students and staff at Mt Carmel Preparatory Academy primary division observed the month of February as ‘Vocabulous Expedition’ month.

The aim of this initiative is to foster better reading habits and promote better vocabulary that will assist with better writing skills.

“Reading isn’t just a habit or pastime that keeps children out of trouble; it’s also a way for children to improve their spelling, reading comprehension, and critical thinking,” said Nickisha Deveaux, vice principal of Mr Carmel’s primary division.

The project was spearheaded by Adassa Pennerman and Garcia Forbes. During the month long event, parents and grandparents came in to read to students and reinforce the importance of reading.

The lower primary division had a reading theatre while grade four students read to the principal, grade five recorded an audio book and grade six wrote mini storybooks.

Adventure Learning Centre came in for a puppet show geared towards reading. The event culminated with a vocabulary parade, which was held on March 3.

The students created a do it yourself costume showcasing the vocabulary word they were given. They also gave the definition and a sentence using the word.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 30, 2017, PAGE 3

Dame Joan Sawyer blasts Fitzgerald fuel leak silence FORMER President of the Court of Appeal Dame Joan Sawyer has lashed out at Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald for his revelation earlier in this Parliamentary term that he kept quiet for more than a year on the contents of a report into an underground fuel leak in his constituency.

Her critique of Mr Fitzgerald was outlined in two letters sent to the MP on February 15 and July 29, 2016, to which she said she has not received a response.

In the latest letter, Dame Joan advised Mr Fitzgerald that she would forward the documents to the media for publication.

Dame Joan said she is a constituent of Marathon, having moved into the area in 2011.

“At the beginning of the revelations about the (fuel) escape, you were reported in the press as admitting that you had kept the report of the escape secret for some 18 months, ostensibly because if you had revealed its contents you stood in jeopardy of being removed from the Cabinet,” she wrote.

Dame Joan said she did not think there was basis under the Official Secrets Act or the Cabinet code of secrecy for him to remain quiet.

“If it was because of the Official Secrets Act, then I

think that position is untenable as the secret was not of any national/official or governmental business and the ill-advised apology by the Attorney General only added insult to injury.

“It also appeared to me that if it was because of the doctrine of Cabinet secrecy, it failed to meet the basic requirement for that protection to exist since the mere fact that a matter may be spoken of in a Cabinet meeting cannot in and of itself cause Cabinet secrecy to attach itself to what was said and done.”

Dame Joan also said the delay in disclosing the report may have deprived those persons who may have wished to sue over the fuel leak due to a statute of limitations.

“Further, the lapse of time between the actual escape and when that fact became known may have been sufficient to allow the physical evidence to dissipate so that the withholding of the information about the report would amount to obstruction of the court of justice ... not to mention the inhumane treatment of people that that failure to act evidences.”

Dame Joan also hit out at Mr Fitzgerald for saying in 2016 that he felt the government handled the ordeal properly.

FORMER Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer speaking at the We March Bahamas protest march.

“Did you really think sance - which the oil leaks during the Rubis oil leak ernment in 2013 to investithat all the inhabitants of appear at first blush to have saga. gate the matter. The firm’s The fuel release of 12,000 report found that residents the Marathon constituency created - affects a signifiare illiterate or without cant number of persons in gallons of unleaded gaso- were exposed to potentially line was observed in late harmful chemicals, includcommon sense? How could the particular area?”

In a letter dated February December, 2012, by former ing cancer-causing benzene. you, as a lawyer, make such a statement in light of the 15, Dame Joan said she no- operator Fiorente ManThe report was completed common law of torts which ticed some young women in agement, and reported to on February 20, 2014, and the Marathon area wearing Rubis on January 19, 2013, only released in April, 2015, applies in this country?

“Have you forgotten the t-shirts with the message according to the BEST causing some observers to duty of the Attorney Gen- that “Fitzgerald cares” and Commission. accuse the government of Black and Veatch was suppressing the document eral to act on behalf of the she wondered if they were public where a public nui- serious, given his actions later contracted by the gov- for more than a year.

NEARLY $1.3M IN BANK ACCOUNT AFTER CREATION OF BTC FOUNDATION

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday moved to address lingering concerns over the two per cent shares in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) Ltd that were placed into a foundation after negotiations more than three years ago.

Speaking in the House of Assembly, Mr Christie

said as a result of the share transfer, there was nearly $1.3m in a bank account mandated to be used for the betterment of Bahamians.

“The BTC Foundation is the custodian of 5,093,200 non-voting shares of BTC,” Mr Christie said in a short communication during the morning session of Parliament.

“The council members of the (BTC) Foundation are the Governor of the Central Bank Mr John Rolle,

the Financial Secretary Mr Simon Wilson and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Urban Development Mr Colin Higgs.

“The custodian of the foundation is Royal Fidelity. In addition, the foundation has on deposit at the bank $1,299,724.67, which represents the initial deposit of $1m and proceeds for dividends issued by BTC on September 9, 2016.

“The dividend payment

was $299,980, the difference between the current balance and the two deposits is bank fees.”

In January, 2014, Tribune Business reported that BTC’s controlling shareholder enabled Mr Christie to claim regained majority ownership for the Bahamian people by handing two per cent of its equity stake to a foundation in a deal where “everyone saves face”.

It was the main feature of

GIBSON DENIES CANCELLATION OF ARMED FORCES HEALTH COVERAGE MINISTER of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson hit back at social media rumours that the government was cancelling health coverage for members of the armed forces once National Health Insurance comes on stream.

Speaking in the House of Assembly last night, Mr Gibson sought to clarify erroneous reports he said were being circulated by Sloan Smith, president of the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU).

He accused Mr Smith of playing “politics” and spreading false information.

“We sat around the table today, his advisors advised him to sign the agreement when we told him that listen here, we would put a clause in there to let you know that we guarantee you that your coverage will remain the same, the only difference is primary healthcare would be covered under National Health Insurance, with the same access to the same facilities, the same doctors,

CORRECTION - COLINA INSURANCE IN A report yesterday (Girl denied insurance as she lay on hospital bed) a statement by Colina Insurance Limited should have read “In all cases, the insured and the insurer are

both bound by a policy agreement.” It was erroneously reported as “the insured and the insurer are not bound by a policy agreement”. We are happy to make this clear.

nothing will change, and the balance covered by the health insurance.

“So I just want to reassure the public, reassure the police, the defence force, customs, immigra-

tion and the prison – all of the uniformed forces – that it is untrue that the government intends to cancel your health insurance on the implementation of National Health Insurance.”

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the agreement worked out

by London-based Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) and the Christie administration’s negotiating team, with nothing changing at BTC in terms of its daily operations. The key terms were that CWC would retain board and management control at BTC. When the deal was finalised, Mr Christie said the

shares came at no cost to the government. The shares represent just under two per cent of CWC’s equity in BTC. The Ingraham administration sold 51 per cent of BTC to CWC in April, 2011. While in opposition, Mr Christie promised to return the majority shares to Bahamians if he was reelected.

PAGE 4, Thursday, March 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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Baptist ministers think now is the time to speak “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak - Ecclesiastes 3:4” Over the weekend, four Baptist pastors at last considered it time to speak.

On Sunday, they released a statement declaring that “the prayers of the naysayers have been nullified and 5,000 Bahamians stand the chance of gainful and meaningful employment”.

On the sidelines, an exhausted Prime Minister felt that at long last he had reached the finish line, just in the nick of time. Of course, the contest was the opening of the long awaited Baha Mar, which has been struggling to unlock doors, put down the welcome mat and receive guests since December, 2014.

“Right-thinking Bahamians do not care about the irrelevant aspects of the politics involved,” said the reverends.

“Thank God for those who will be employed and add a much needed economic boost to their lives and to the Bahamian economy.”

For Prime Minister Christie, what mattered was that he was delivering on his promise to have Baha Mar opened by April 21. Although open - “soft opening” they call it - it is still unclear when reservations will be taken for serious business.

But no fear, on April 21 human bodies will be walking through those doors and rooms will be occupied, if only by staff.

“Hyatt is in occupation,” said the Prime Minister. “The rooms will be occupied. Everything is now going in dress rehearsals for the opening where staff will be staying in the rooms and the housekeepers will be practising what they will do. The kitchen will be employed to cook food. It’s operational. And what is so fabulous about it is sometime in the next two, three weeks, another 500 Bahamians will be employed.”

But it was more than keeping his word to Bahamians, it was a charade to entice the international rating agencies, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to take a second look at the Bahamas - a country not yet in rags, which can still hold its own among the big boys. Last year, Standard & Poor’s dismissed the Bahamas’ credit as “junk”, while Moody’s threatened that unless there was visible fiscal discipline, they too would lower this country’s credit rating. In pure, simple English, our government is spending far more than it is earning - so much more that the country’s fiscal balance is seriously threatened.

No wonder Bahamians want to know where the sizeable amount of Value-Added Tax money, earmarked to reduce the country’s debt, has gone while the debt keeps rising.

These credit agencies see the handwriting on the wall, and without a dramatic reverse in policy they will not be impressed - April 21 or no April 21. Surely, Mr Christie does not think that these agencies are so naive that their executives can’t see - as expressed by the Opposition- that all this shuffle is just another publicity stunt, a “photo op”.

So far, Baha Mar can’t say when the staff will stop sleeping in the guest rooms so real guests can start contributing to

the hotel, and eventually the country’s economy.

We are also pleased that about 500 Bahamians with a promise of another 500 have found jobs, but we also wonder whether the Baptist ministers are rejoicing too soon.

The reason we have our doubts - one being that we have been around too long and quickly recognise election signs, clearing the roads, painting neglected buildings, jobs that last for a very short period, then once the worker’s X is marked on the ballot paper, the jobs suddenly disappear until the next election. It happens every five years. It’s important that these persons with part time jobs understand that the money they are making now is only good until the election is over. It is also important to take what they can get now as long as they can, but even more important is not to sell their vote for a “mess of pottage”.

Collect your pay, but use your X to return a government that can stimulate the economy so that work can be created for everyone - their job security being dependent on their individual skills, and their conscientious application to the job.

Don’t sacrifice your family for the few cents that now jangle in your pockets.

Reports are coming in that MPs are hustling to get their constituents placed - note the emphasis is on “placed” - no qualifications required.

We understand that certain MPs are scribbling job letters to get their constituents “a position” at the hotel, qualified or not.

We could tell many stories about the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and their job letters. But the one that gave us the heartiest laugh was the PLP job letter, intended for the hospital across from The Tribune, that landed on our desk because the applicant was so “green” about her town that she thought The Tribune was the hospital.

Of course, neither can we forget the disgraceful case of Judy Mae Lewis, 21 at the time, from the Bluff, Andros. In November, 1983, Miss Lewis was a successful applicant for a position in the new Cable Beach casino. She was hired on a Friday and told to report for work at 8am Monday. She was given an identification card as proof of her hiring. An eager Ms Lewis reported for work before 8am. She presented her card. Between Friday and Monday her name had disappeared from the list. She was pulled aside and quietly told that the names of those hired had just been returned from a “government board”. Her name had been scratched off the list. The casino supervisor demanded she return the card given her on Friday, which was proof of her hiring. She stood her ground and refused. She and her brother then came to The Tribune.

It had been discovered that her brother, Orthniel Lewis, was chairman of the Free National Movement (FNM) branch in the Bluff, and his sister, Judy Mae, had voted FNM. As a result - no place in the inn.

A month earlier, Sir Lynden Pindling had announced that a PLP register of business skills would be compiled and made available to Ministers and Permanent Secretaries. Skills didn’t matter, but how you voted did. He said that while the PLP’s political opponents “made sport” of the Cable Beach project “it is only fair, therefore, that those of you who bore the heat of the day and fought for this project should share in it, work in it and protect it from the vandals who never wished it to succeed”.

Any wonder our standard of service in the this country is so inferior - is this the fate of Baha Mar? Have these Baptist ministers jumped the gun and spoken too soon? Time will tell.

Architects board EDITOR, The Tribune

I AM not sure that politicians understand the importance of the creation of such a Board and its composition.

This Board is meant to be the highest authority with regards to things that affect architects and the profession. Therefore it

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

should be made up of seasoned practitioners with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Just as you will have veteran lawyers sit on the Court of Appeal so is this intended to be with architects. The Board is not intended to be a reward for those who are politically faithful and certainly per-

sons who are currently up for charges by the Board should not be members.

Proper consultation with the Institute of Bahamian Architects is required by the Architects Bill.

GORDON C MAJOR B.Sc FIBA Nassau, March 24, 2017

Pushin’ Da Envelope will return tomorrow

China and building Baha Mar EDITOR, The Tribune I SEE the Prime Minister has suggested that Dr Minnis approach the Chinese contractor and say “Well done”. What he should say is “About bl***y time”.

Although the PLP through photo ops and appearances are seemingly treating this as a marvellous step on their part, nothing could be further from the truth.

One man’s vision plus his millions of dollars caused Baha Mar to even come into existence, employing thousands of Bahamians in the process and improving what was becoming a Cable Beach wasteland with tacky hotels. And what was his reward for this? The threat of deportation.

To my mind, it would seem that because the Chinese contractor and the Chinese participants, both

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net organisations ultimately owned and controlled by the Chinese Government, there might well seem that there was possible collusion between the two to squeeze out the original developer and take over ownership.

Whether the Government was a mere pawn in such a chess game or whether it was an active participant is open to question. It takes no credit either way. In any other country all this would be the subject of a public independent investigation.

Don’t forget that at one time, on the strength of a broken promise by the contractor of a completion date, rooms were sold and guests appeared, to the complete embarrassment of not only the investor but the

Government as a whole.

Give credit where credit is due, Mr PM, and don’t try to hoodwink everyone that the present Government has done such a marvellous job. If it had been left to the actual contractual parties, i.e the Chinese and the investor, the resort would have been opened years ago.

Whatever the Chinese may say you should insist that a statue of Sarkis Izmirlian for his foresight and vision should be placed in the main lobby, or at the very least a plaque signifying the fact that Baha Mar was his idea and undertaking.

Somehow I doubt whether he will even be invited to the opening.

INTERESTED SPECTATOR Nassau, March 29, 2017

Mackey ‘forgot’ Customs debt EDITOR, The Tribune IT IS absolutely incredulous that the ultrahypocritical utterance, by Bradley Roberts at a PLP campaign rally in Hatchet Bay, could so swamp both The Tribune front page and Business lead page, over an FNM candidate owing some $9,500 to Bahamas Customs.

Not to see Bradley Roberts, two feet firmly in his mouth with this, blows my mind. I would have hoped you would have asked Mr Roberts for any feedback he could give on the Road Traffic Department’s missing funds, or the Post Office Savings Bank malfeasance fisaco, or any of the

other hundreds and hundreds and thousands and thousands of cases of public money that is still unaccounted for, and very likely stolen, on his PLP Prime Minister’s watch.

And then, what the devil does that say about the proper running of the Finance Ministry’s Customs Department, that, with an established and uncontested debt on its books, for nearly four years, it has allowed Mr Mackey to “forget” about it. Yes, on Mr Roberts’ PLP Prime Minister’s watch.

How much more money is owed to Bahamas Customs, if I might be so curious as to ask? And how much more money is owed

to the Real Property Tax Department, and business licence, and Bank of Bahamas? And how much other money has Mr Roberts’ PLP government wasted of the Bahamian taxpayers’ money.

And Bradley Roberts has the unmitigated gall to castigate the FNM for a candidate’s paltry (by comparison) debt to Customs. With all due respect, I think it would have been far better to leave blank spaces in your paper, instead of spending money on ink on this matter.

BRUCE G RAINE Nassau, March 27, 2017

Pastor Duncombe EDITOR, The Tribune.

This is an open letter to Mr Christie Dear Mr Christie and my friend, Mr Roberts: You may recall that in 2009 we often met and exercised together at Goodman’s Bay. For many mornings you may remember how I tried to persuade you, Mr Roberts, to run for the position of chairman of the PLP (our party at that time). Your response to me was, “I am retired”.

Eventually, after much persistence on my part, and support and encouragement from Mr Christie, who also walked at Goodman’s Bay periodically, you finally agreed to contest for the position, and the rest is history.

I have reminded you of this for a reason.

You need not be reminded that Mr Ingraham was then the Prime Minister, and I had told you that Mr Christie would beat Mr Ingraham in the next election, based on a dream I had, and that in fact, Mr Christie would retire Mr Ingraham, from political life. My contention was that Mr Christie needed a strong personality like you (Mr Roberts), as chairman of the PLP Party, to complement him. It pained my heart to give that advice, because one of my favourite politicians, Glenys HannaMartin, was then serving as the first female chair person of any major political party in the country. Well, that’s all history now.

I advised you, based on dreams that I had received.

I usually refused to relate my dreams, lest it be perceived that I was attempting to make myself out to be a prophet. The fact that God may give dreams to an individual, does not make that person a prophet. I am not a prophet. In fact, the Bible reveals that God gave dreams to heathens who did not even know Him. For example: King Pharaoh of Egypt (Genesis 41:1-25), the baker and the butler of King Pharaoh (Genesis 40:1-23), King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Daniel 2:1-49 ; 4:137), and Pilate’s wife (Matthew 27:19), just to name a few. God is sovereign, and can do whatever He wishes, whenever He wishes, by whomever He wishes.

I have shared publicly some things, only after repeated attempts, to share those information with you both. I was then mandated to warn The Bahamas.

My public utterances were also based on dreams, and my interpretation of those dreams. So, may I remind you and the nation, that it was revealed to me over one year ago, in two frightening dreams, that one of our greatest threats to our nation’s sovereignty, is the demonic-like infiltration of the Chinese. We may ignore this Chinese warning if we will, but only to our spiritual and economic destruction, including the devaluation of our dollar. The reason it is important that we have a

change of government now, is because the present government is in bed with the Chinese, and are becoming increasingly comfortable in this relationship, to the detriment of The Bahamas.

Call me an alarmist. Call me whatever you will. I can only speak what I have seen and heard.

Unfortunately, there are some good people still left in the PLP, but because they lack the courage, or insight to oppose Mr Christie’s pro-China policy, they must all go down together. I have discharged my duty to warn the Bahamian people, to the best of my ability. The remainder is in the hands of the Bahamian voters. This election, above everything else, must be fought on our knees, in prayer and fasting before God. Because He said, “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”. 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is now up to us whether we will experience healing, by turning to God, or suffer further destruction.

My God help us to turn to Him, especially our religious, political, and civic leaders, so that God can bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

JEREMIAH DUNCOMBE Nassau, March 22, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 30, 2017, PAGE 5

FNM blasts landfill ‘false hope’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net AS the government continues its search for resolutions at the New Providence dump site, Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest yesterday dismissed indications that the administration was now exploring a request for proposal (RFP) process, blasting the move as “empty rhetoric” presented as means to “inspire false hope” to those that have suffered through the “calamity” of fires.

In a statement, the East Grand Bahama MP said his party will act with a sense of urgency on matters that place the lives and liberties of Bahamians “in trouble”, insisting that the party would develop a multi-tiered plan that includes the necessary expenditures to correct and enhance waste management infrastructure and processes.

He also accused the Christie administration of presenting news of a potential RFP on a promissory

DEPUTY leader of the FNM Peter Turnquest. basis, warning Bahamians affected by the landfill not to overlook the “track record” of the government on matters of this nature.

“We can only hope this isn’t simply another broken promise the Christie government is making to inspire false hope, but given their track record my confidence and resolve is minimal at best,” stated Mr Turnquest.

“While the government continues to serve up empty rhetoric, citizens in Jubilee Gardens and surrounding communities have been forced from their homes, they are exposed to daily

health hazards, and their school days have been disrupted,” he added.

“In the midst of these unacceptable conditions, the PLP carries on with their election-season promises, casually tossing out false hopes for a resolution.

“People’s lives have been turned upside down - where is this government’s sense of urgency? Five years of lofty promises but no follow through. Five years of dismissive, callous disinterest to Bahamians who (are) suffering like the families impacted by the landfill disaster.”

In reference to his party’s plans for waste management, the FNM deputy leader said: “We will seek to line up the world’s most talented engineers who have mitigated waste management issues in all parts of the world to work sideby-side with us to fix these problems once and for all.

“Our plan will also focus on educational campaigns centred on waste management practices such as proper recycling in order to build long-term stability of

our landfills.

“This is not a time for inaction, it is a time for bold responses, and the cost for doing nothing today will be tenfold if fails to act today,” added Mr Turnquest.

“Bahamians’ quality of life is a precious resource that deserves the utmost care and attention to ensure its not wasted. After five years of PLP casual disinterest, and empty rhetoric and broken promises the Bahamian people can illafford another five years of PLP rule.”

Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett this week stated that government plans to issue a structured tender process for proposals to manage and remediate the New Providence Landfill.

He told Tribune Business on Monday: “An RFP (request for proposal) is being structured now, and that will be advanced to deal with the total operation and remediation of the site.”

Reoccurring fires at the city dump have plagued residents of southwest New Providence for much of the

last 20 years.

In a separate statement, FNM Marathon candidate Romauld Ferreira laid out the party’s long-term environmental plans.

The environmental attorney argued that health of the nation’s environment was being jeopardised by Christie administration’s “ongoing ignorance” to issues.

Mr Ferreira claimed environmental problems extended beyond the resources needed to fund conservation and environmental protection efforts, suggesting that there has been a severe lack of knowledgeable engineering and legislative prudence in the Bahamas.

“FNM leadership embraces the importance of protecting the Bahama’s natural resources, such as coral reefs, that act as natural defence mechanisms against the symptoms of climate change,” he said.

“Our conservation efforts must first focus on the proper mechanisms to protect these crucial assets. It is imperative that our gov-

ernment passes an Environmental Protection Act to enforce these protections with which to mitigate the effects of global warming.”

He furthered: “We must act with resolve to ensure our government possesses the courage to adequately fund environmental protections and fosters the ingenuity to create new ideas for long-term solutions.

“Experts say that beachfronts are the most vulnerable locations affected by the negative consequences of climate change. Currently, 80 per cent of the Bahamas is within 10 feet of the sea level.”

Mr Ferreira implied that the country’s primary industries face greater environmental threats than ever before. He added that Bahamians can no longer wait on a government that talks about change but fails to act.

“It is time for a new government - an FNM government - that is proactive in protecting our natural resources, our health and our way of life,” his statement concluded.

PROFESSOR CALLS FOR SMOKE EVENT INDEX SYSTEM

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A LOCAL university professor yesterday called for the establishment of a smoke event index, as well as the placement of smoke monitoring systems throughout New Providence to better equip the capital with the means by which to better assess hazards caused by the recurring fires at the New Providence Landfill.

Dr Danny Davis, assistant professor of chemistry, environmental and life sciences and director of institutional strengthening at the University of the Bahamas, said the establishment of a smoke event index (SEI), augmented with readings from smoke monitoring systems, would hypothetically reduce the likelihood of New Providence residents “being arbitrary on how we reflect on these events”.

The SEI, Dr Davis said, would allow for residents to be able to gauge the intensity of smoke emanating from a fire burning anywhere in the capital in particular, by establishing a scale from zero to 10 - zero representing a “normal clear day” and 10 representing the

March 5 landfill fire, which has been considered to be the worst blaze to hit the dump.

In doing so, Dr Davis said residents - hypothetically would be able to gauge the intensity of smoke emanating from a fire and take the necessary steps to protect themselves, their families and hopefully their belongings, without necessarily “having a science background”.

As for the monitoring systems, Dr Davis said while he could not say just how much New Providence might actually need, if secured they should be placed not just around the dump, but throughout the residential, commercial and tourist-friendly areas of the island.

“The range for clear smoke days would be zero, and the maximum for this smoke index will be the 10 which you correlate to the March 5 smoke event,” Dr Davis proposed. “All other events that happen after this, whether it be a dump fire or whether it be the place on Soldier Road on fire or houses on fire, whatever it is, with a network of monitors, you can now determine the severity of any smoke event relative to the March 5 smoke event.

“So we can now talk about how bad a smoke event was in reference to the March 5 smoke event …

We’re not in fact being arbitrary on how we reflect on these events.

“What it does, it gives the public something that they can relate to without having a science background,” he added. “You can see an index value of zero and things are well, you can see an index value of 10 therefore you should take some precautionary steps.

That’s what an index does.

An index makes it digestible for everyone. And in this instance I’m proposing a smoke index because that’s the only thing I have the capability of measuring today.”

Dr Davis was speaking during a Research Edge Forum on the New Providence Landfill fires and air quality monitoring at the University of the Bahamas’ Harry C Moore Library yesterday morning.

The previous day, he revealed that an initial assessment of air quality around the Aquinas College campus showed a substantial reduction in air quality on days when smoke is in the area - in some cases 71 times worse than on clear days.

As a result of the reccurring fires at the city dump, environmentalists associated with the school viewed the campus as a prime location to carry out an extended study on air quality.

In November, officials outfitted the schools with a nephelometer to monitor air quality at the campus.

Readings showed a need for officials to add wind gauges and several other weather apparatus to its system, all formatted to measure, assess and document smoke and air trends at the school and its surrounding area day-to-day.

Dr Davis said yesterday that in the absence of an official report, the March 5 fire was the “worst” fire to hit the New Providence landfill, based on the number of school days lost by Aquinas and other nearby schools, as well as the fact that residents had to be evacuated from their homes.

He asked: “So in terms of getting some real attention to what’s going on, the question is the fact that we have to close schools for extended periods, is the fact that we had to evacuate a whole area - is that sufficient for us to (re-evaluate) how we’re doing things?

“Will this be our tipping

point and we change the way that we approach this issue?”

When asked how much it could potentially cost to outfit New Providence with smoke monitoring systems, Dr Davis said: “When we talk about the cost of a monitoring system, I would like to reshape the question. Let’s talk about the return on the investment.

What is it costing us not to have a monitoring system?

What is it costing us not to have a smoke index? What is it costing us not to have an air quality index? It doesn’t matter whether or

not we spending $100,000 on a monitoring network, the thing is what is the return we’re getting from the $100,000?

“And I predict the return is going to be multiple times more than what the cost of the network is going to be. So let’s not distract the public, let’s not distract ourselves on what the upfront cost is, let’s look at the return we’re going to get for money well spent. A monitoring station for particulate matter, for other components of smoke and pollution is money well spent.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, March 30, 2017

PM: Not a dollar of VAT wasted from page one

VAT was implemented on January 1, 2015, at a rate of 7.5 per cent on most goods and services.

According to Mr Christie, while VAT collections are automatically sent to the Consolidated Fund, where revenue is “indistinguishable” and not earmarked for any one purpose, it goes toward three categories of reduction.

These include tax reduction, funding of expenditure and deficit and debt reductions being the residual outcome. He was adamant that the government had been “crystal clear” from the onset that the administration’s programme for tax reform had manifold objectives.

While VAT did yield more than $1.1bn, Mr Christie said there was a vast impact on recurrent government revenue due to the elimination of the hotel occupancy tax, VAT refunds and other tax reductions. These amounted to a total reduction of $344m in revenue foregone since the introduction of VAT, but the net impact on revenues to the government was $756m.

He told the House that in summary, 40 per of the VAT revenue went towards reducing the deficit, 30 per cent replaced revenue foregone from tax reductions and the remaining 30 per cent went towards general expenditures.

To further support transparency, the Prime Minister also announced the launch of a new website - under-

standingVAT.org - intended as a new resource for Bahamians to better understand how VAT was spent.

“As I mentioned earlier, some $1.14bn was collected in respect of VAT in 2015 and 2016. Of this total, the Department of Inland Revenue collected $726m: $316m in 2015 and $410m in 2016. The department also refunded some $20m in VAT over these two years.

The Department of Customs collected $415m over the two-year period: $209m in 2015 and $207m in 2016.”

He also said: “Every single dollar of revenue is fully accounted for each and every year and is subject to audit by the independent Auditor General. As such, not one dollar of VAT revenues collected over the past two years has been frittered away or spent surreptitiously. That is a grave and nonsensical misconception that, once and for all, must be put to rest.

“This communication has also reiterated the various objectives of revenue enhancement through VAT implementation, and has highlighted, with supporting data, the extent to which new VAT revenues have: first, facilitated additional government spending in priority areas and in response to adverse economic and natural events; second, accommodated reductions in other major taxes for consumers, business and property owners; and third, directly contributed to significant reductions in the GFS deficit over the past three years.

“Put further in layman’s terms, if I reduce the amount by which my

expenditure exceeds by revenue, the less money I borrow. This is a slowing of debt accumulation. As my revenues start to exceed my expenses, which are projected to take place fiscal year 2018/2019, there would be an actual reduction in debt. However, to be clear, every year an element of expenditure is the servicing repayment of government debt and therefor if the government has been able to repay debt without having to borrow as much, we are on the right fiscal trajectory.

“I have made it clear today that we believe it is the government’s responsibility to explain as clearly as possible how the revenues that come into our government are utilised. This communication is one way of reaching out to citizens,” Mr Christie continued.

“Our nation has faced and continues to face important economic and social challenges. Through its Charter for Governance pursued during its current mandate, my government has demonstrated that it has the vision for the future and the action plans needed to improve the quality of life for all Bahamians. A great deal of fundamental and needed change has been initiated and implemented over the past five years. The government is steadfastly dedicated to further pursuing and completing its change agenda in the period ahead.”

Money lost Mr Christie gave a breakdown of the revenues that were lost due to tax reductions.

THE TRIBUNE

PRIME Minister Perry Christie at a PLP event at Sadie Curtis Primary School this week.

“With the implementa- pay tax in full or make ar- government was placed in tion of VAT in January, rangement to do so and a the position to provide ad2015, and with the fiscal harmonisation of commer- ditional funding for some year 2015/2016 budget im- cial property tax rates at a important social and public plemented in July of 2015, lower level of 0.75 programmes. per cent and a reduction the government began the These, he said, were in process of paying back to in the maximum rate of national security, health, Bahamians some portion of Business License fees, from education and social serthe dividends from our suc- 1.75 per cent to 1.5 per cent, vices. cessful VAT regime, there- plus a reduction in rates to “Since the implementaby providing much-needed 0.75 per cent for agricul- tion of VAT, the governtural and fisheries operated ment has hired an additax relief.”

According to Mr Christie, businesses, food, meat and tional 99 police officers at among the measures an- fruit processing and inde- $1,782,000 per annum - durnounced were: a change in pendent fuel distributors in ing the fiscal year 2015/2016; the calculation of customs the Family Islands. it has hired an additional Stamp duty on real estate 166 Defence Force officers duty, from a CIF (cost insurance freight) to a FOB (free transactions was lowered to at $2,988,000 per annum on board) basis; the outright 2.5 per cent, with VAT ap- - during the fiscal years elimination of import du- plying only to properties 2015/2016 and 2016/2017; ties on several items; duty above $100,000. it has employed 347 more Mr Christie said in the teachers and education reductions on several other items; the maximum duty on 2016/17 budget, the govern- support staff at $8,400,500 motor vehicles was reduced ment’s efforts to provide per annum - during the from 85 per cent to 65 per additional tax relief for fiscal years 2015/2016 and cent; duty exemptions under consumers, businesses and 2016/2017; and it has hired the Family Island Develop- property owners continued 103 additional doctors and ment Encouragement Act with an elimination and health professionals at were extended for another reduction of import and ex- $2,932,550 per annum duryear in Abaco, and the east cise duties on a number of ing fiscal years 2015/2016 and west sections of Grand consumer goods and build- and 2016/2017.

Bahama, Eleuthera and Bi- ing materials; expansion of “These vital expendimini were added to the list tariff concessions for light tures would not be possimanufacturing; extension ble without VAT revenue. of qualifying areas.

He also said that duty con- of duty exemptions under Nor would it be possible to cessions under the City of the Family Island Develop- service the debt associated Nassau Revitalisation Act ment Encouragement Act with the acquisition of the were extended for another and the City of Nassau Re- vessels from the RBDF, at year; there was a reduction vitalisation Act for another $25m a year, or purchase a in the top property tax rates year; and real property tax new immigration, border on owner-occupied residen- concessions granted to resi- control and passport system tial properties, from 0.75 dential properties were ex- at a combined cost of $33m, per cent to 0.625 per cent; tended to commercial prop- of which $5.8m was paid in more pronounced property erties among other things. this fiscal year.

These cut backs resulted tax relief for pensioners in “Nor would it have been mid-value properties; a 10 in a loss of $134.9m be- possible to purchase a new per cent discount for per- tween 2015 and 2016 in cus- Road Traffic system at sons who pay property tax toms and excise duties and $8.3m, of which $1.9m has early each year; a morato- considerable losses in vari- been paid off this fiscal year, rium of six months for the ous real property tax fees. and four new Doppler raAdditional funding waiver of real property tax dars at $23m of which $7m Mr Christie said over would be discharged this fissurcharges on residential properties for persons who the past two years, the cal year,” Mr Christie said.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 30, 2017, PAGE 7

Activists fear FOI Act will not be enacted as election looms

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

AS the general election looms, activists fear that the government’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2017 is heading for the same fate of its predecessor, which was passed by the previous government months before the 2012 election but never enacted.

A pressure group of more than 20 civil society organisations (CSOs) are calling on the government to clearly elucidate the next steps needed for the enactment of Freedom of Information legislation, as they fear the legislation is “stuck in limbo”.

The outcome would be ironic, according to Matt Aubry, executive director of the Organisation for Responsible Governance, given the extensive public consultation process undertaken by this administration.

“There’s nothing publicly available to tell us what the status of it is, what the next steps are,” Mr Aubry said.

“We would love to see not only what is required to drive an enactment date but when would that enactment date be.

“If they don’t enact it, it puts it in the exact same scenario that it was before.

It would seem that if the current government is trying to put things in place

that they’ve done, it makes sense and seems like a lowlying fruit that it’s one of those things they can knock out. It would be an easy way so we don’t follow the exact same pattern of what happened last time.”

Mr Aubry said: “We feel like the public needs clarity on what has happened.

The last we heard is that the (Attorney General) said she didn’t know if a plan would be enacted before election.

We’ve asked and awaiting response from the government on what are the factors that would determine enactment.”

Mr Aubry said his organisation has done a lot of work educating sitting government members, and the wider public, about the importance of the legislation to the democratic process. He said that while some of the recommendations offered by civil society were not accepted by the government, the legislation that was passed earlier this month was still great start.

“There are a lot of things that need to take place,” he said. “We understand from the initial consultations that there would be needed to be a period of intensive education and training on the part of the government to set up all the different functions. It can’t be left up to a new group, who could very well get in and say let’s toss this out. Educating the government still needs to hap-

pen, so does the (educating the) public.

“We want to know what’s happening on their side so we can position ourselves to take over that effort so the public and media are ready and know how to utilise this bill, and why it’s important.”

An FOIA was passed by the 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, 2016, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald tabled another version of FOI legislation.

However, the bill that was passed in February presented several “big changes” when compared to its predecessors, according to Mr Fitzgerald, the minister with responsibility for FOIA. The CSO collective includes Citizens for a Better Bahamas, Our Carmichael, The Organisation for Responsible Governance, We The People, Save The Bays, The Abaco Chamber of Commerce, The Nassau Institute, reEarth, HeadKnowles Foundation, Grand Bahama Human Rights Association, Waterkeepers Bahamas, The Bahamas Press Club, The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employ-

‘TIME IS VERY SHORT’ UNTIL THE ELECTION BELL IS RUNG from page one

At this point before the last election cycle, Bahamians were still speculating as to when former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham would call the 2012 election.

The House did not dissolve until April 10 and the election date of May 7 was announced that night when Mr Ingraham gave a national televised address.

As of March 20, 141,698 people had registered to vote in the election. This is roughly 18 per cent less than the 172,000 on the 2012 voter registry.

On Monday night during a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) regional branch meeting, Mr Christie urged supporters to register to vote.

“PLPs, I’m asking you not just to vote for Alex

(Storr), Dion (Smith) and Hope (Strachan), I’m asking you to fight alongside of them. Help us! Help us register!” the Centreville MP said to applause.

“Listen to me: help us register every vote. Help us reach out to your friends.

Help us tell the story of the changes that are underway because of the work that we are doing. Change is happening in the Bahamas and big changes are on the way,” the nation’s leader added.

Mr Christie urged those present on Monday night “to give the PLP another opportunity to serve you”.

National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, who has responsibility for elections and referenda, said last week that in a matter of “weeks, if not days” the House of Assembly is likely to dissolve, implying that an election date is soon

to be announced.

While the government has not given any indication of when the next election will be called, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly last week expressed gratitude to his supporters. He is not offering himself for re-election.

Last week Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell also thanked his colleagues in the House for their years of dedicated service and foreshadowed a win for the PLP at the polls.

This heightened speculation that the government will “ring the bell” for the general election very soon.

Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins also thanked his constituents last week and Mr Christie for giving him the opportunity to serve while confirming that he will not be offering himself as a candidate in the next general election.

ers’ Confederation, It’s Our Turn, Young Marine Explorers, Civil Society Bahamas, The Bahamas Retailers Federation, The Coalition to Save Clifton, Rise Bahamas, Citizens for Justice and BREEF.

MATT AUBRY, executive director of the Organization for Responsible Governance.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

PAGE 8, Thursday, March 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

ROTARY CLUBS TEAM UP TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY EFFORTS

FROM left, Linda Lafleur; Heart Foundation treasurer and trustee, Hope Sealey; Rotary president-elect, Erin Jones; Rotarian, Adrian White; Rotary secretary and director, Marilyn Cambridge; chairperson Heart Ball Committee, Roy Barnes; Heart Foundation chair, Diane de Cardenas; Rotary president, Constance Gibson; Rotary director, Keith Sands; Rotary director.

ROTARY clubs in the eastern United States and across the Caribbean Basin are combining resources to promote Community Service Projects reflecting Rotary International’s six areas of focus.

These are basic education and literacy, economic and community development, disease prevention and treatment, peace and conflict prevention/resolution, water and sanitation, maternal and child health. From Delaware to Trinidad, the Rotary Club of East Nassau (RCEN) has chosen the Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation to fulfil the organisation’s commitment.

Erin Jones, member of RCEN and The Heart Ball Committee, spearheaded the project. She said that 67,500 Rotarians in as many as approximately

1,600 clubs will be collectively making a difference for thousands of families in hundreds of communities.

“All members in our club have already committed to helping The Heart Foundation in our community. We are hoping the citizens and businesses in our area embrace our mission and help us.”

The project, known as Rotary Has Heart, is being highlighted by Rotary clubs as the signature project in the first quarter of the year.

The mission of the Sassoon Heart Foundation is to assist children in the Bahamas with heart disease. Within the past three years, 32 children received lifesaving surgeries through the foundation. Medical expenses have escalated over the past few years from $10,000 to $20,000 per case to an average of $55,000 to $75,000.

Doctors speak up on NHI changes

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net AS the enrollment phase of National Health Insurance (NHI) nears, senior doctors are still seeking answers to a long-held question: what about the healthcare system and culture in the Bahamas will truly change when NHI is introduced?

The 90 or so members of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) are among the most senior and high-ranking medical professionals in the country.

In a recent press statement to The Tribune, they acknowledged that communication between themselves and NHI officials has improved. They stressed that they remain committed to improving health services in the country.

But as the deadline for provider registration closes tomorrow, signalling that

the enrollment phase of NHI scheme could then begin, the CPSA says it remains concerned about elements of the existing system.

Although the government has focused on strengthening healthcare facilities around the country, for instance, the CPSA seemed to question if sufficient emphasis has been placed on ensuring that there is necessary manpower to provide medical services.

The group said: “Both consumer/patient and provider should be asking, ‘what am I to expect (about healthcare services) that (will be) different (from what I experienced before)?’ As previously stated (by this group), primary care in the Bahamas already follows the template of ‘care for all without discrimination’. In the Bahamas, a major problem is accessibility.

“Traditionally, the focus has been on improving fa-

cilities in Nassau. Limited facilities exist in the (Family) Islands. Many persons know that building a clinic in South Andros without proper personnel is wasteful. In 100 mile-long Eleuthera there is one physician.

“Do we instead need one physician for every 25 miles? In the clinics, timely availability of medication is a challenge, forcing islanders to turn to Nassau for their supply. In reference to communities that are off the mainland, what is the plan to ensure their access will be no less than someone living in Pride Estates?

“The government has undertaken a health strengthening exercise and, as advised by foreigners, it has built clinics and implemented electronic medical records systems that cost millions of dollars. Ultimately, however, to ensure delivery of quality healthcare, appropriate, qualified manpower is needed, and

attention must be given to reasonable provision for accommodation, transportation and reimbursement.

“Otherwise, when National Health Insurance is implemented, the noise in the marketplace (will become) another empty promise to you, the Bahamian patient.”

The CPSA also expressed concern about the scope of benefits that will be provided under NHI. Some government officials acknowledge that a major challenge with its NHI scheme will be managing expectations of Bahamians who may not appreciate that only limited coverage will be provided through primary care services. After primary healthcare is implemented, the government hopes to implement its Essential Benefits Package sometime later, which will provide more comprehensive services.

However, the CPSA said in its statement that separating primary care services from more comprehensive ones will create a new set of

challenges.

“It is guaranteed that, in the first seven to ten years, the number of persons requiring advanced, expensive, financially demanding care shall increase,” the CPSA said. “This number shall require input from more than just a primary care physician.

“The diabetic person with kidney problems, glaucoma, retinal damage, heart problems, joint issues, and hypertension, these patients will require drugs, rehabilitative services, diagnostics, dietary service and health coaching on how to achieve and live a healthy life, for example. Without including these facets of healthcare in the scope of benefits, NHI funds will not truly improve health outcomes.

“It is gratifying to our association that the current government has accommodated and, to an extent, considered the concerns (this group has expressed).

Catastrophic care has subsequently been given a budgetary allocation. The concern we have is whether our pre-

mier health delivery facilities will be adequately included in this exercise, not just used as a safety net or a dumping ground when the effort fails at other facilities.”

Finally, the CPSA urged government officials to have regard for the expertise and experience its members.

“A concern of the CPSA and its members is not the number of providers who have signed on to participate in the NHI scheme, rather it is the continuation of the divide and conquer methodology, misinformation, coercion, enticement, intimidation and bullying being used to obtain signatures,” the group said in its statement.

“Senior, qualified physicians in this country expect no less respect than a QC, the judiciary or policy-makers and demand due respect for their experience, input and support for a less than ideal system. Many persons have worked for more than ten years in the system, having willingly sacrificed diverse opportunities to serve our Bahamian people.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 30, 2017, PAGE 9

Minnis has no knowledge of seat offer to Butler-Turner

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday that - as far he knew - “no one” in his party offered Official Opposition Leader Loretta ButlerTurner any “seat” in the upcoming election, other than the Long Island one fore which she was ratified before the nomination was revoked.

Dr Minnis also defended his recent absences from the House of Assembly, saying “I am working hard to get the prime minister’s job”.

“I am out campaigning trying to get Prime Minister Christie’s job, you have a leader of the (Official) Opposition and she is in the House,” Dr Minnis told The Tribune.

His comments regarding Mrs Butler-Turner came a day after she revealed that she had an informal “conversation” with someone in the FNM but the talks fell apart when she was offered a seat other than Long Island.

In an interview on “The Real Deal” with host Ortland Bodie, Mrs Butler-

Turner said she is still a member of the “FNM at heart” and she is only running as an independent in the next general election because she is “not able to run under” the FNM’s banner.

“Oh, I don’t know anything about that,” Dr Minnis said when contacted by The Tribune.

“As far as I know she was offered Long Island and ratified for Long Island but beyond that I am unaware.

As far as I know, no one spoke to her,” Dr Minnis said.

When asked by the talk show host on Tuesday why she didn’t “put her pride to the side” and attempt to get back into the FNM’s fold, Mrs Butler-Turner said: “To be very honest we did have that conversation and the sad thing is, though it was not a formal conversation, they did not want to give me a seat that I have, the one that I am protecting.”

The Long Island MP did not say with whom the conversation was or what seat she was offered. She also said when it comes to retuning to the FNM “there is always hope”.

In January, Mrs ButlerTurner confirmed that her

FNM LEADER CALLS FOR PEACE IN BUILD-UP TO GENERAL ELECTION FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has asked Bahamians to be peaceful as the general election approaches.

“My fellow Bahamians, as we embark upon (a) general election, the most sacred fabric tailored into our God given democracy, I want to make a special plea, firstly to supporters of the Free National Movement and then to Bahamians at large,” Dr Minnis said in a press release yesterday.

“Let us all, with a spirit of nationalism and pride, conduct ourselves in a way that would bring dignity to our electoral process and glory to God. Resist altercations and the use of profane language or bodily gestures.

God has made us all equal and we are all deserving of common courtesy each to the other. In the end, the sovereign will of the majority will prevail.

“May God bless you, and may God bless our beloved Bahamas.”

Earlier this month, supporters of Michael Halkitis, the Progressive Liberal Party MP for Golden Isles, clashed with FNM supporters who were canvassing the

constituency.

Several videos of the altercation were posted on social media and show supporters from both parties heckling each other; however, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie has insisted that it was the PLP’s supporters who first engaged his party members.

In one video, a team of FNM members, including Dr Minnis, are seen campaigning in the Golden Isles constituency when they were taunted by PLP supporters.

Some in the group also verbally attacked Dr Minnis, telling him he could not control his own party so how could he run the country, while shouting obscenities.

In a statement later posted on social media, Mr Halkitis explained that he was aware that Dr Minnis and his candidate were doing a walkabout in the area, and intentionally led his team of campaigners in another direction.

However, he said, Dr Minnis led his team to the PLP headquarters which led to persons in the FNM “verbally taunting” the PLP supporters.

$35M SPENT BY GOVT ON RECOVERY AFTER HURRICANE

from page one

Mr Christie also told Parliament that 5,083 loans were made to employees in the public and quasi-public sector, amounting to $31m.

During his own communication, Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson also revealed that the government’s 180-day exigency order for the import of building materials and other supplies has been extended for another 90 days.

The order applies only to residents of New Providence, Grand Bahama, Andros and the Berry Islands.

The goods covered under the exigency order include building materials, electrical fixtures and materials, household furniture and appliances, and plumbing fixates and materials.

Mr Gibson, the minister responsible for hurricane

relief and restoration, said 8,713 people in New Providence and Grand Bahama have been processed under the exigency order so far.

An additional seven people in the Berry Islands and 119 in North and Central Andros have also benefitted, he added. “The government would have foregone $23,293,343 and 49 cents since the start of the exigency order.”

Under the exigency order, eligible people are allowed to import duty exempt materials of up to $3,000 by air and $10,000 by sea.

“This was done to eliminate the red tape and to allow Bahamians to import much needed materials,” Mr Gibson said. “Persons were also allowed to import generators free. However, in the second order this will not be included. With the implementation of the new extension order all material and supplies must be preapproved by NEMA.”

bid for re-election in Long Island would be as an independent candidate.

Shortly thereafter, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie said the minute Mrs Butler-Turner nominates herself as an independent candidate she will no longer be a member of the FNM. Mr Collie had earlier said, according to the party’s constitution, any FNM member that runs against a nominated FNM candidate “automatically disqualifies” him or her from being a part of the party.

In December, the FNM appointed a three-person tribunal to decide the fate of Mrs Butler-Turner and the six other members of Parliament who ousted Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly earlier that month.

The party accused the group of MPs of bringing the party into “disrepute, division, rancour and dishonour” through their actions.

The FNM’s council also withdrew Mrs Butler-Turner’s candidacy for Long Island and ratified Adrian Gibson, 32, an attorney and former Tribune columnist, for the seat.

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis during the party event at Pinewood Park this week.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

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THE TRIBUNE

Halkitis applauds PM for clarifying VAT spending

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net STATE Finance Minister Michael Halkitis yesterday applauded Prime Minister Perry Christie’s efforts to clarify the collection and allocation of Value-Added Tax (VAT) revenue, asserting that the government must reassure voters that “nothing nefarious or untoward has transpired” and that it is being transparent.

In an interview with The Tribune moments after Mr Christie addressed the House of Assembly on the topic, Mr Halkitis noted that the “full court effort” put on by the government yesterday had more to do with correcting misconceptions and untruths, rather than “building up political points”.

The Golden Isles MP, referring to Mr Christie’s lengthy presentation on VAT and the launch of a government website dedicated to the issue, said the nature of the tax has placed the government, its spending and miscellaneous actions all “on the firing line.”

“People want to know,” Mr Halkitis said outside

GOLDEN Isles MP Michael Halkitis.

Parliament yesterday. “Ini- plain it.” tially there was this percepMr Halkitis said the tion by the public that VAT Christie administration would be placed in a sepa- wants to ensure Bahamirate, distinct pot and be ex- ans are aware of three main clusively used to pay down points: it is collecting revthe debt. enue; that revenue is direct“What I have been try- ed to a government bank ing to explain to the public account, one from which is that it works to pay down expenditure has to be apthe debt, but through a pro- proved; and finally, there is cess. A process of eliminat- a system whereby an indeing deficits and having to pendent Auditor General borrow less. can at any time go into any “Now, it is our job as government revenue agency a government to explain and perform an audit. these things to the Baha“Nothing nefarious or mian people and so, if there untoward has transpired. are questions that remain, No panic is necessary bewe have to explain again or cause everything is being find different ways to ex- done in a transparent way,”

he added.

“Yes, people are right to question the government’s priorities. They can very well say that they don’t agree with the way the government is spending. But what we want to do is dispel any notion that there is something missing or some nefarious act going on.

“With this new form of taxation, because persons can now look at their receipts and see a tax actually coming out, people will have questions and concerns.

“There is now heightened interest in government spending and revenue because everyone can now draw direct lines from their finances to the finances of the country. But what we always sought to do was to be as clear as possible.”

Moreover, Mr Halkitis warned that despite the government’s attempts to clarify VAT, there will remain a segment of society, primarily those politically opposed to this administration, that would never accept any information used or given by the administration.

Asked directly about Mr Christie’s remarks in the

House of Assembly yesterday, Mr Halkitis said: “I don’t think it will put an end to anything because of the nature of the complaints coming out.

“Those asking questions aren’t asking from a point of economics or logic. They are of the view that the government is the problem and everything they do or work toward is driven by that.

“Of course, some people will be satisfied and then there are others who will ask other questions, but there is going to remain that group that is going to keep this political and only speak to it from that view.”

Last week former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham insisted that public concerns over the national debt and VAT would be eased by greater transparency.

Mr Ingraham at that time accused Mr Halkitis of being evasive when it came to “a very basic question about the VAT and the expense for VAT,” adding, “he seemed to have been challenged to respond to the question”.

Mr Ingraham, during an interview on Bahamas at Sunrise, added that the national debt in and of itself

would not be viewed as a challenge if persons could see where the money is going and what the money is being used for.

The Christie administration has maintained that VAT revenue, once collected, is directed to the nation’s Consolidated Fund, from which it addresses financial needs and expenses.

On its new website, understandingvat.org, the government answered the question of why it was still borrowing money if VAT was supposed to be used to reduce the country’s debt.

“Governments have to make hard choices,” it says in the website’s FAQs section. “An important goal is to reduce our country’s debt, but at the same time, we have to continue to invest in people and make the changes we need to improve our security and our economy. If we cared only about reducing the debt, we would not be funding new scholarships, building new sports stadiums, fixing roads and docks, or introducing National Health Insurance, for example. But all these things are important to a nation’s health and wellbeing.”

FATHER OF FOUR DENIES VOTER FRAUD from page one

enquiry by a revising officer, returning officer or presiding officer, or for the purpose of making any objection to the registration of any other person as voter, or in any oath or declaration taken or made by him by virtue of any of the requirements of this Act, knowing such statement to be false; shall be guilty of an offence against this Act, and

any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of any such offence shall also be guilty of an offence against this Act.” When called on to answer to the charge, Johnson pleaded not guilty.

His lawyer, Philip Hilton, asked the court to consider granting his client bail of his own recognisance. The attorney said his client was gainfully employed at the Water and Sewerage Corporation for the past 27

years, has four adult children and a wife present in court.

Mr Hilton stressed that Johnson had no antecedents and was not a flight risk and deserved an early trial date so that his client would not be deprived of his right to vote.

The attorney added that he was instructed that there was no intention to deceive anyone and questioned why police had brought his client to court in handcuffs

and shackles as if he were a violent criminal.

Police prosecutor Sgt 603 Lakisia Moss said she did not object to bail but said he should have a suretor as there was no guarantee Johnson would not abscond, notwithstanding his ties to the community.

Magistrate McKinney scheduled Johnson’s trial for April 25 and said it would continue until May 1 if necessary.

He also granted Johnson $5,000 bail with a suretor and said he would be released from custody once the conditions were satisfied.

The revising officer and Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall are two of six witnesses expected to testify in the trial next month.

ANDREW JOHNSON, 57, of Harbour Island, Eleuthera.

TWO-YEAR DELAY IN FEED MILL UPGRADES AFTER DISPUTE from page one

preparation of a power room and generator.

“The disagreement was such that they could not go on with the programme

with her [the consultant],” Mr Gray said.

“The programme is halted, meaning we stopped for the time being until they could find a new consultant to carry on the programme.

The programme is not cancelled, it is halted because there was some disagreement between the consultant and BAIC, which was more financial than otherwise.”

He added: “So as soon as they can either sort that out or we can find a new consultant (it will resume).

It (the equipment warranty) ends in October and we’re hoping, I’m sure it will be resolved by then.”

Mr Gray did not disclose the nature of the disagreement, and BAIC Chairman Dion Smith has repeatedly declined to comment when contacted by The Tribune.

The project was initiated by former BAIC Chairman Arnold Forbes, who was appointed as state minister of works and replaced by Mr Smith in January, 2015.

Last October, farmers reported that scores of pigs starved to death due to the lack of power supply at the government’s feed mill following Hurricane Matthew.

Mr Gray’s admission also follows claims by farmers that contaminated feed from the Gladstone Road mill has led to hundreds of livestock deaths this year.

He told The Tribune that tests ordered on the suspected feed have been completed and that he was

planning to hold a press conference to release findings along with the autopsy reports conducted on the Exuma swimming pigs, some of whom died recently.

The Ministry of Agriculture transferred management of the feed mill to the BAIC in July, 2014, as part of a restructuring process to improve quality of services provided to farmers and the Gladstone Road research centre.

According to documents seen by The Tribune, the project’s scope included, but was not limited to: phased modernisation of the feed mill; developing feed formulations; developing and implementing operating procedures and good practices; evaluating and measuring raw material and finished goods; and providing cost/benefit analysis and cost of production metrics to livestock farmers.

In a progress report dated March, 2016, it was noted that the project’s main objective was to upgrade and modernise an “outdated and manual dilapidated feed mill facility. The potential of cross contamination is highly likely.”

Procurement of a power generator was cited as a major pre-condition to the upgrades, according to the report, because of the frequent power outages in Nassau, especially during the summer months, it is imperative that the feed mill has access to a power generator.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 30, 2017, PAGE 11

Man interviewed by police within hours of deadly armed robbery

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A JURY heard yesterday that a man accused of being involved in a gunpoint robbery that turned fatal had been interviewed in police custody within hours of the incident.

The evidence of Cpl Chris Pickstock was read into the record at the agreement of both Crown and counsel for the accused in the case of 29-year-old Henley Claridge.

Claridge faces two counts of armed robbery and a single charge of murder, alleged to have been committed on March 4, 2014.

It is claimed that he robbed Tonika Laroda and Darius Adderley of two Samsung cellular phones together valued at $600. He is further accused of intentionally killing Adderley by means of unlawful harm.

Claridge, when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court on July 4, 2014, pleaded not guilty to all three charges. He maintained that plea at the start of trial last week.

He has retained Jiaram Mangra to represent him while Desiree Ferguson and Cassie Bethel are prosecuting for the Crown.

With the reading of Cpl Pickstock’s statement yesterday, the jury heard that on March 5, 2014, the officer had downloaded the suspect’s video interview from the digital recording system connected to the interview suite at the Central Detective Unit (CDU).

There were four cameras in the room where the suspect was interviewed by Sgt 7747 Deleveaux between 1.41am and 2.40am. Cpl Pickstock saved the video information from the interview to a compact disc and made two copies, one of

which was given to the investigator who interviewed the suspect.

The other copy was placed in CDU’s database, the jury heard.

On Monday, Cpl Ernest Pratt testified that on March 8, 2014, he filmed Claridge’s interview with police which began at the Nassau Street Police Station at 10.44am.

The jury was shown the footage in which Claridge and police detectives left the station and arrived at an apartment complex where a graveyard at the rear was separated by a stone wall.

The police and Claridge then went to the scene of the robbery where Claridge said that someone nicknamed “K-Dog” had instructed him to be a lookout behind a tree while he executed the robbery on the unsuspecting occupants of the vehicle.

In cross-examination, Cpl Pratt admitted that the

video interview was not the first time he had encountered Claridge, as he had seen him at the CDU. Mr Mangra asked if there was any reason why the inquiry did not begin at CDU and Cpl Pratt said he only followed the instructions of the investigator.

The accused’s lawyer asked for the time that they left CDU with Claridge; however, the officer said he could not recall.

Cpl Pratt denied the subsequent suggestion that the video recorded inquiry began at 10.38am and not 10.44am.

Last week, the jury heard that shortly before 9pm, Adderley was sitting in his 2003 Dodge Town and Country Van on Roseland Street with a girlfriend when a masked man with a handgun robbed them.

Before fleeing into the direction of the graveyard, the suspect shot at the ve-

strange the Gender Equality Referendum results were presented ... and how the PLP executives were more informed about the results than PC Hall? What do you think will happen when the advance poll results show that the PLP is losing the election by 7 or 8pm? What will Hall do?”

But Well_mudda_take_ sic had this to say: “Don’t let your feelings of helplessness and despair about the lack of political alternatives in our country today turn to fear and paranoia, and eventually paralysis. There are important things many of us can still do to protect ourselves and our families as much as possible from

what lies ahead. Around the world there are many people suffering a miserable existence in failed states because they ignored the writing on the wall. Keep in mind too that we already have an unusually high concentration of failed states in our region, namely Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba and a couple of less well known ones in Central America.”

Publius said: “For what it’s worth, at least some of these issues were caught.

These sorts of things happen every election cycle, it’s just that the citizenry never hears about it.”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

READERS’ VIEW ON PASTORS IN THE Tribune’s latest online poll, we asked readers if they agreed with the pastors who petitioned President Trump over the promotion of same-sex marriages in the Caribbean region.

The majority of those voting - 70 per cent - did not agree with the pastors.

The poll is still open, so don’t miss your chance to vote on the The Tribune homepage.

After Prime Minister Perry Christie urged PLP supporters at the party’s regional branch meeting to register to vote, readers gave their responses on tribune242.com.

BMW1 said: “A desperate plea for help. Ain’t getting’ it from me. IT’S THE PEOPLE’S TIME. Cobalt held a similar view: “The writing is clearly on the wall for Perry and his

PLP. Listening to him beg for votes was quite comical.

Time to move on Christie ... your time is up. But don’t go out begging. At least have some pride and dignity.”

Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall’s announcement that several people have attempted to gain two voter’s cards by registering twice at different locations prompted this comment from Sheeprunner12: “Sherlyn Hall is prepping us for the eventual chaos that will follow once the polls close at 6pm. Does anyone remember how

hicle, hitting Adderley in the back. The woman was unharmed during the robbery. Adderley was taken to hospital by ambulance, but

died of his injuries shortly after his arrival.

The case resumes today before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs.

PAGE 12, Thursday, March 30, 2017

FNM candidate for Marco City Michael Pintard speaking at the Rotaract Club alongside DNA candidate Nevar Smith, seated.

THE TRIBUNE

Photos: David Mackey

Pintard: Act will harm Freeport

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement (FNM) candidate for Marco City Michael Pintard believes that the Investment Incentives Act, 2016 will “seriously damage” Freeport and should be repealed.

“If you think things are tough now, if we do not repeal the legislation just passed, things are going to get even worse,” he told a non-partisan political forum in Freeport.

“What the government has done quite quietly is they have put in place a

THE AUDIENCE at the Rotaract forum in Grand Bahama. piece of legislation that will seriously damage Freeport,” the former senator said.

The Rotaract Club staged the first political forum in Grand Bahama, which proved successful attracting a large turnout of young businesspersons eager to hear from the political candidates contesting the Marco City seat.

Mr Pintard, and Nevar Smith, the candidate for the Democratic National Alliance, presented their positions and ideas to a packed room at Geneva’s Place.

The Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) candidate for Marco City Norris Bain did not attend, even though an invitation was extended to all the candidates.

Questions were submitted to each candidate in advance of the forum, and the candidates also took questions from the audience.

During his presentation, Mr Pintard highlighted some of the many challenges confronting business owners in Freeport, and believes that part of the problem is interference of successive governments.

He thinks that the process of forcing businesses to get approval first at the lo-

cal level then at a national level has discouraged many investments in Grand Bahama.

The FNM candidate contends that “tens, possibly hundreds of millions, were never invested here in Freeport” because of the process now in place.

“The reality is that a part of the problem in Freeport is that successive governments have unfortunately interfered with a wonderful model in the Hawksbill Creek Agreement,” he said.

“The FNM intends to set up a one-stop shop so that if you are a Bahamian and wish to invest in Freeport you won’t have to get an approval in Freeport then have to go to a politician motivated by political consideration to hold up your project for six months or one year until you are no longer interested.”

Mr Pintard pointed out that the sale of the Port Lucaya Marketplace almost fell through awaiting the government’s approval.

“It was sold and approved by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) many months until the deal almost came off the table,” he

recalled.

“I will fight for your rights to be protected, not just from the GBPA (if they are excessive in any of their decisions) but from the central government of the Bahamas,” he vowed.

For his part, Mr Smith said The Bahamas is in perhaps the worst state it has ever been since independence, and highlighted the high levels of crime and unemployment.

He said that both the FNM and PLP governments have taken Bahamians for granted.

“I joined the DNA because this provided me with the most viable, credible and serious alternative; I joined because the party has shown me that it is serious about empowering the youth of our nation and giving us the tools that we need to be all we can be in this country,” said Mr Smith.

He expressed concerns about the high rate of unemployment and under-employment in Grand Bahama over the last 10 years under successive PLP and FNM administrations.

Mr Smith was elected as a local government councillor at 27. He was voted as deputy chief councillor and at one point served as acting chief councillor for Freeport.

He said that DNA would give priority to Grand Bahama’s tourism sector by encouraging more touristic development in western and eastern parts of the island.

“In conjunction with the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce and various public/private lending institutions, a DNA government will introduce a national tourism business idea competition annually as a way to get more Bahamians engaged in the process,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 30, 2017, PAGE 13

BAMSI chief tells of agricultural decline in nation GODFREY Eneas, president of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI), in his book ‘Agriculture in the Bahamas’ highlights the continual decline of the country’s small ruminant industry for almost 40 years.

The industry has suffered because of limited interventions until the recent establishment of BAMSI, according to a press release from the institute.

The technological advancements that have benefitted livestock production in the Caribbean are only now being addressed through BAMSI-led initiatives, the press release said.

The BAMSI small ruminant unit, established in 2015, is expected to develop into national breeding herds of sheep and goats providing stock to livestock farmers throughout The Bahamas. It is a major intervention in the small ruminant industry as it represents the largest holding of diverse breeds in the Bahamas, with the main objectives of teaching, extension and research, BAMSI said.

BAMSI’s objective is to demonstrate to farmers improved housing structures, feeding technologies, disease management and hygienic animal slaughter techniques to develop the industry.

BAMSI’s sheep and goat unit currently houses over 600 animals at different physiological stages. Three groups of pedigree goats Savannah, Kiko and Boer - were imported last August with the objective to improve existing herds in The Bahamas. These are all meat breeds which can adapt easily to the geog-

GODFREY ENEAS raphy and climate of The Bahamas. In addition, the breeding herd consist of several breeds of sheep including the local Bahama, Persian blackhead, Dorper and Barbados black belly.

The sheep and goats are managed under both intensive and extensive systems.

The intensive system comprises a suspended slatted floor with forage racks and automatic water flow, which afford the animals a more secure and hygienic environment, BAMSI said.

Here the feed from managed pastures is chopped and fed in combination with grain-based concentrate.

Improved animal husbandry techniques are employed by the BAMSI livestock staff, ensuring that hooftrimming and de-worming are routine procedures for both the sheep and goats under this system, BAMSI said.

Animals managed extensively are on a pasture rotation programme, where grazing is the primary means of feed, and supplemented if required with grain-based concentrate, the school said.

In his book, Mr Eneas

noted that the production of sheep and goats has traditionally taken place on bush pastures in Exuma, Eleuthera, Long Island and Cat Island. To overcome the constraints of reliance on bush pastures, the establishment of managed pastures is critical to the sustainable development of the small ruminant industry in the Bahamas.

Over 40 acres of legume forages are being established in Andros and will be managed as crops with irrigation and fertiliser applied, BAMSI said.

These improved high protein forages are to be evaluated for growth performance, nutritive content and adaptability. Sheep and goats are ruminants, which mean that they grow best when fed on grasses and forages, so a feeding regime will be developed based on these forages established at BAMSI. These grasses and forages will be made available to other Family Islands; so that all livestock farmers will have the opportunity to supply high quality feeds throughout the year, BAMSI said.

PAGE 14, Thursday, March 30, 2017

THE NATIONAL Training Agency held a graduation ceremony on Gladstone Road on Thursday, March 23.

THE TRIBUNE

Photos: Raymond Bethel Sr/BIS

Gibson hails success of NTA at graduation event THE National Training Agency (NTA) is boasting 70 per cent employment after participants have acquired a variety of skills for the workforce.

Minister of Labour and National Insurance and Minister of the Public Service Shane Gibson addressed the success of the NTA during the graduating ceremony of cohort seven on Thursday, March 23.

The disciplines were hospitality, allied health, auto body, office procedures, Microsoft Office/Quick Books, customer service, retail business skills, and teacher’s aide.

The exercise brings the number of individuals graduating under the training programme to nearly 3,000 since its inception almost four years ago.

“Graduates, you have done well. You have upgraded your skills and earned relevant certification. Use the knowledge and skills you have acquired wisely,” Mr Gibson said.

Approximately 70 per cent of all NTA graduates

MINISTER of Labour and National Insurance and Minister of the Public Service Shane Gibson, addressing the National Training Agency graduation ceremony. have found employment at more than 40 public and private sector companies and organisations across the country.

“Words cannot express how proud I feel to be the minister responsible for this agency of change and second chances,” Mr Gibson said.

Established three years and eight months ago, the NTA is touted by the government as the national symbol of excellence. It has provided training and certification for over 3,000 young Bahamians.

Over the last six months, the agency has provided soft skills training associated with several Inter-American Development Bank projects, impacting the lives of an additional 1,200 individuals on New Providence and Grand Bahama.

On July 15, 2013, Prime Minister Perry Christie officially launched the NTA. Cohort seven became the first group of NTA trainees to receive their certificates and awards in a ceremony at the facility on Gladstone Road, which is designed to accommodate the Mandatory Workforce Preparatory Programme – the signature programme of NTA. “When I reflect on the success of this agency, I often think about how much further along we could have been in our efforts to develop employability skills

and reduce youth unemployment if the agency had been established in 2007 as planned.

“We are grateful to have a prime minister who fully supports the work of the NTA, and is extremely proud of every one of you for taking full advantage of the training that this agency offers,” Mr Gibson said.

Graduates have been employed at Atlantis, One & Only Ocean Club, Sandals, Breezes and the British Colonial Hilton.

Baha Mar, which is expected to begin its phased opening in April, has also partnered with the NTA in its recruitment drive and it is anticipated that a number of these trainees will become Baha Mar employees.

Other businesses and organisations such as Doctors Hospital, the Public Hospitals Authority, National Insurance Board, Super Value, Solomon’s, Diamonds International, Dollar Rent A Car/Quality Auto Sales and Sanpin Motors, have also enabled NTA graduates to pursue their dreams.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 30, 2017, PAGE 19

PAGE 20, Thursday, March 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

BSFN junior expert Bronson Russell with a Mahi Mahi in Abaco

KEEP checking the Bahamas Sport Fishing Network (BSFN) expert page for fishing reports throughout the Bahamas: this will be helpful in tracking the “hot spots” and providing advice on gear and fishing methods being used.

For a sample of the spectacular fishing to be had in The Bahamas, expert advice, tournament dates and results, informative features and photo galleries visit the BSFN page at tribune242. com or www.bsfn.biz or on Facebook - Bahamas Sport Fishing Network.

BSFN slideshows can be found on USA Today’s website in the Travel section at experience.usatoday.com.

LUKE Rowland cashed in on the last week of lobster season.

CAPTAIN Tyson on the Grouper.

A PERMIT at Deep Water Cay.

A CATCH of Hog Fish in Grand Cay.

MARTIN Scan found a big Wahoo near Inagua.