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HOUSE & H O M E SPORTS: BAHAMAS TEAM NAMED FOR CARIFTA TRACK AND FIELD VOLUME:114 No.92, APRIL 3RD, 2017

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

20-page g uide

Parliament to end on April 11

POLICEWOMAN SHOT DEAD IN FREEPORT NIGHTCLUB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A FEMALE police officer who was fatally shot at a club in Freeport over the weekend is being hailed as “a loving mother and an officer who was loved by everyone”.

Officer 3518 Theresa Jessica Thompson-George, 24, is the daughter of wellknown Bahamian reggae artist Jay Troy Thompson, SEE PAGE SIX

Register by next Monday in order to vote in election

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Satff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

PARLIAMENT will be dissolved on Tuesday, April 11, and election writs will be issued that day, Prime Minister Perry Christie revealed last night.

In a statement Mr Christie implored those who have not yet registered to vote in the next election to do so quickly, because the current register will close on April 10.

“For general information, especially for the benefit of all those persons who would like to vote in the forthcoming general election but have not yet registered to do so, it is my in-

tention to cause the present Parliament to be dissolved on Tuesday, April 11, and to cause writs of election to be issued the same day,” the statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said.

“This will mean that only those persons who would have registered to vote on or before Monday, April 10 would be able to vote in the forthcoming general election.”

According to the Parliamentary Elections Act, an election must be held 21 to 30 days after election writs are issued, meaning the next vote will likely be held in early May. SEE PAGE SIX

PLP: MINNIS ‘UNPRINCIPLED AND ILL-PREPARED’ TO LEAD

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) continued to promote its message that the Christie administration is the “only government” that can take the Bahamas into the 21st century at the weekend, while accusing Free National Movement

(FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis of being “unprincipled, ineffective and ill prepared”.

While addressing scores of supporters at a joint Abaco branch meeting at the Central Abaco Primary School on Saturday night, Prime Minister Perry Christie said he has the SEE PAGE FIVE

WE March and Raising Awareness about the Bahamas Landfill (RABL) protest march against the dumpfires. Protestors marched from Scotia Bank Cable Beach to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

200 MARCH TO PM’S OFFICE IN PROTEST

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net MOVED to action primarily because of the ongoing issues plaguing the New Providence Landfill and surrounding areas, about 200 We March Bahamas protesters marched to the

Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, calling on the nation’s leader to “bring some resolution” to their concerns.

Clad in all black and armed with placards, the protesters marched from Scotiabank in Cable Beach towards the Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield Building

on West Bay Street, waving signs that read “Jubilee Lives Matter”, “Our Lives Matter”, “Rights Delayed is Rights Denied” as well as sporadically chanting things like “Kill the Bill,” referring to the government’s proposed Interception of Communications Bill.

Ranard Henfield, We March Bahamas lead organiser, said at the end of the march that he, along with his daughter, would be leaving the country on Sunday, after having sent his pregnant wife overseas a month earlier.

SEE PAGE THREE

CTFE CHIEF HITS OUT AT EDISON KEY: I AM BACK CRITICS OF ‘SOFT OPENING’ HOME WITH THE PLP

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

CHOW Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) Bahamas President Graeme Davis has hit back at critics of the company’s decision to conduct a ‘soft opening’ of Baha Mar before accepting guest reservations, saying “they’re not in the lodging business - we are.”

However, Mr Davis did not give a definitive answer on when guest reservations will be accepted, instead insisting that CTFE is proceeding “thoughtfully” to avoid previous mistakes with opening delays.

Seeking to allay public concern that the April 21 soft opening may be a “sham” because of a lack of SEE PAGE 12

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CENTRAL and South Abaco MP Edison Key has officially declared that he is no longer a member of the Free National Movement (FNM) and has returned “home” to the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) after 13 years.

Speaking with report-

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

ers at the governing party’s branch meeting in Abaco on Saturday night, the Central and South Abaco MP reiterated that he will never be part of the FNM as long as Dr Hubert Minnis is leader.

He also threw his support behind the PLP candidate for Central and South Abaco, Eva Bain, and said not SEE PAGE FIVE

PAGE 2, Monday, April 3, 2017

THE TRIBUNE THE TRIBUNE

THE WE March protest yesterday, which saw protestors speaking out about the dump fires and other issues. Protestors marched from Scotia Bank Cable Beach to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

AN AERIAL photo showing the We March parade as it makes its way along Cable Beach yesterday.

A PROTESTOR with a sign demanding answers on VAT.

QC Fred Smith participates in the protest.

PROTESTORS demanding clean air following the dump fires.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 3, 2017, PAGE 3

RANARD ERIC HENFIELD, community activist, at the head of yesterday’s march.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

A YOUNGSTER with a protest sign at yesterday’s We March event.

200 MARCH TO PM’S OFFICE IN PROTEST from page one

He said he has “no idea” when he plans to return.

However he said he would be willing to return to the country to take part in organised protests.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Perry Christie told The Tribune in Rawson Square shortly after the march that despite all of his efforts, including the movement’s ‘Black Friday’ protest in November, Mr Henfield “started off on the wrong foot” with his demands to the government and charged that the group would “never be able to get things done the way they’re trying to get it done”.

Mr Christie also accused Mr Henfield of seeking to present his concerns from “the outside”, based on We March’s actions towards him. “I could only assume that you don’t want the outcomes you’re arguing for, because you can’t force anybody to do anything,” Mr Christie said.

Nonetheless, Mr Henfield maintained that yesterday’s march was key to demonstrating that the We March

movement was influential enough “to inspire Bahamians enough to have the audacity to march to their Prime Minister’s Office as opposed to simply marching to Pompey Square or marching to Rawson’s Square”.

“I think what this shows is that we, as a people, are no longer afraid of our politicians nor even our Prime Minister,” he said.

“But it also shows that, like I’ve been saying for the last few weeks, democracy has changed. It’s no longer where we just sit down and accept whatever our politicians say and do. We now see Bahamians, for the last few months since Black Friday, standing up and demanding to be included in the national conversations, the conversations in Parliament, the conversations in Cabinet and the conversations with political parties at their private meetings, saying it’s time you put the people’s voice in the room.”

Mr Henfield also refuted claims that he was in talks to join one of the country’s political parties, revealing that he plans to leave the country within

the next week.

“I am not in conversations with any particular party, or any party for that matter,” he said. “I moved my wife out of the country a month ago, and if you noticed today you’ll see me and my daughter. My wife is eight months and about two weeks pregnant, our baby is due in another week or two.

“I will leave the country this Sunday. I am not interested in running; you won’t see my name on a ballot.

You won’t see me at any campaigns or any rallies, you won’t see me endorsing any parties, nor will you see any party saying ‘well, Ranard is now a part of us’.”

When asked when he plans to return, Mr Henfield said: “Well, I have no idea when I intend to return to the country. But I can tell you this much - that I am not going to be on any ballot for any party. I’m not in conversations with any party about running for any party or taking any postings for any party. I’ve had those offers and I think I’ve made it very clear to every single party that I’m not interested. I’ve always been antiparties, and that is because

I believe once you swear your allegiance to a party, you can never be neutral.”

He added: “At some point in time if the country decides they want to march again, based on who takes the government, I’ll be glad to fly back in and lead that march as well. But I’ll be leading that march from inside or from the back of that march.”

Concern Meanwhile, other protesters, like Melissa AllenMaynard, a concerned Jubilee Gardens resident who has been negatively impacted by the most recent fire at the New Providence Landfill, called on the government to address the suffering she and other Tall Pines residents have had to endure as a result of the March 5 blaze.

Four weeks after the fire started, some residents of western New Providence were still complaining about lingering smoke over the weekend.

“We, the Jubilee Gardens residents are here because we have been affected for the last month,” Ms AllenMaynard said. “We have reached out to the govern-

OMAR ARCHER ARRESTED BY POLICE IN FIREARM PROBE

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FORMER political hopeful Omar Archer Sr was arrested early Friday morning, a week after police issued a wanted bulletin for his arrest.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean confirmed that Mr Archer Sr was in custody but did not provide any further details.

According to sources, the 45-year-old Nassau Village resident was arrested, without incident, at his home shortly after 3am.

Mr Archer Sr was wanted for questioning in reference to the possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Several days ago, Mr Archer Sr - a vocal supporter of the Free National Movement (FNM) on social media - posted a photo to his Facebook page that depicted him holding a shotgun with a text overlay that read “Minnis messenger paid for by the Free National Movement.”

In the comment section, he claimed that the edited photo was “the work of desperate PLPs trying to discredit me in any way possible.”

Mr Archer Sr is a former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) member and one time chairman of the now defunct third party, the Bahamas Democratic Movement.

An outspoken and controversial political figure, Mr Archer Sr has often clashed with members and supporters of opposing parties due to his confrontational style of campaigning.

In March, Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney announced that he filed a legal action against him in the Supreme Court over allegations he described as “gutter politics.”

In a Facebook Live video, Mr Archer allegedly cautioned Mr McCartney not to criticise nor speak ill of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, and threatened to reveal allegations about Mr McCartney’s family business and other personal de-

tails should the DNA leader not take heed.

In May 2015, police issued a wanted bulletin for Mr Archer Sr in connection with several ongoing investigations into intentional libel allegations. He grabbed headlines during that time after he jumped out of a second-story window at the South Street Court Complex and broke his legs in the fall. Mr Archer Sr was at the court for an unrelated matter.

“He saw the officers and then he ran, nobody was pursuing him,” Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle said at the time.

In 2013, Mr Archer pleaded not guilty to charges of intentional libel and two counts of threats of death against National Security State Minister Keith Bell and a police officer.

It was alleged that on or about May 2, 2013, he unlawfully published defamatory remarks about Mr Bell and also threatened the senator with death.

It was also claimed that he threatened Cpl 1405 Adrian Miller with death on May 3, 2013.

Mr Archer Sr ran unsuccessfully for the former Kennedy subdivision in 2007.

ment, we have reached out to Environmental Health, we have reached out to (the National Emergency Management Agency), we’ve reached out to the Prime Minister. We need some resolution. We are still underneath smoke. It is really bad for us.”

Also present at the march was Fred Smith, president of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA), who called on Bahamians to “get the crooks out of Parliament”.

“All these PLPs who’ve been messing up this country for the last five years need to be kicked out,” Mr Smith said. “Now I don’t know what the next crew are going to do; whoever comes in, maybe they’ll do better, maybe they’ll do worse. But we’ll march and continue to march until we kick out all of the crooks who are stealing so much of what the Bahamas has. Our freedoms, our clean air, our clean environment, our right to a job, our opportunities. Everything is just being wasted by this crew.”

Mr Christie, speaking with The Tribune on the sidelines of a World Autism Day candlelight ceremony

in Rawson Square less than an hour after the protest, said while demonstrators were well within their rights to protest, the movement, and in particular its leader Mr Henfield, handled the situation regarding their concerns incorrectly.

“They have a right to demonstrate, whatever the issues are, if they feel that’s the way to get things done,” he said. “I told him a long time ago, if you really want results, you’ll sit and talk about them, but when you try to talk from outside, I could only assume that you don’t want the outcomes you’re arguing for, because you cant force anybody to do anything. You have to sit and persuade and discuss and negotiate.

“And one of the things that is very clear in the country, when it came to VAT, I negotiated and worked with the private sector and the private sector as a result, helped me to implement VAT. That’s how you do things in the Bahamas I believe, and I think he started off on the wrong foot and you can never be able to get things done the way they’re trying to get it done,” Mr Christie said.

PAGE 4, Monday, April 3, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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Trump’s blighted presidency might last longer than expected THE first couple of months of Donald Trump’s presidency have hardly been auspicious.

There is a lengthening list of disgraced and misbehaving senior aides, campaign promises blunted, defeated or forgotten, and Trump’s obdurate refusal to shift gears from his raucous, incautious campaign to a manner more closely approximating what Americans have come to expect of a president.

The welter of circumstantial evidence continues to build and roil around Trump’s and his campaign’s ties to Russia, with former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn at the centre of it all. It becomes harder to reasonably deny that there must be some fire behind all the smoke.

Trump’s increasingly acrimonious feud with some conservative members of the Republican party imperils enactment of his campaign agenda. More disputes are sure to follow as House speaker Paul Ryan pursues his Reagan-era economic theories and Trump clings to his populist mantra.

Democrats must be licking their chops.

In the White House and the cabinet, ethical issues abound. Nepotism, for example, notwithstanding its widespread acceptance in the private economy, has been frowned upon or legislatively forbidden in the government sector. Some of the American civil service’s most stringent strictures penalise using a government position to the advantage of friends or family.

Nonetheless, Trump has given significant, highly visible roles to one of his daughters and to his son-in-law. Their experience qualifies neither for their current or proposed responsibilities. Trump’s cabinet is full of associates who ignore significant apparent conflicts of interest involving their new duties. The US is now led by a president who evinces little regard for past practice or present propriety.

Trump’s approval ratings are at all-time low levels for a chief executive at this stage of his tenure. There is talk of a Trump presidency measured in months, not years.

There is contrary evidence, however.

The most persuasive comes from the bifurcated rust belt/farm belt state of Ohio, a state that is perhaps the nation’s most reliable bellwether. No Republican presidential candidate has ever won the White House without carrying Ohio, which is one of the nation’s most critical swing states.

This is because Ohio is almost unique in the tightness of its urban-rural balance of population and political power. While the big cities, except non-union Cincinnati, tilt predictably for Democrats, the rural and significant suburban areas of the state generally favour Republicans. Trump won comfortably by eight percentage points, holding his own base and making serious inroads in blighted blue-collar strongholds in industrial northeastern cities such as Youngstown. Ronald Reagan triumphed in much the same way 30 years ago.

In the first 150 years of US history, Ohio exerted profound influence on national affairs. Claiming eight presidents among its native sons, the state was home to a major commercial and industrial centre (Cleveland), hosted significantly more automobilerelated manufacturing than Michigan and was a major producer and shipper of glass, coal, rubber, steel and grain. Most transcontinental rail lines crossed the state and it was a major player in Great Lakes shipping.

In recent decades, however, the state has suffered a net loss in population as its industrial base dwindled in the face of globalisation and technological advancement.

Population loss has led to a smaller Congressional delegation. Despite these setbacks, however, Ohio continues to hold the attention of analysts and commentators throughout any presidential campaign.

So how do Ohioans feel now, as Trump and his administration flounder and flop from gaffe to misjudgment to legislative defeat with little apparent interest in righting the ship?

A recent survey conducted by BaldwinWallace University in Cleveland revealed that an astounding 94.4 per cent of Ohio voters sampled would not have voted differently than they did in November. This survey was conducted over two weeks in a period after the flame-out of Trump’s ban on Muslim immigrants and the revelations of improper behaviour and the subsequent resignation of his first national security adviser.

Public opinion surveys rarely reveal such a preponderance of views. This one, even making allowance for sampling errors, indicates that dissatisfaction with the federal government in Washington DC and with business as usual remains as a major political force. It also suggests Trump will be around longer than many might believe.

Smoking dangers EDITOR, The Tribune.

I WRITE this letter as a wake up call and a warning to all Bahamians, young and old, Black and White, rich and poor, FNM, PLP, or DNA. You see them, on the bus stop, in restaurants and bars, and downtown: Smokers. Users of tobacco, puffing away on their cigarettes and Backwoods and little “beadies”.

Smokers, polluting the air with their second hand smoke, either unaware or uncaring of the negative effect their habit has on anyone and everyone in their vicinity. Smokers, spending their hard earned money on cigarettes, either buying them in singles or as a whole pack eager to quench their insatiable hunger and thirst for nicotine. Smokers.

The Bahamas has a major smoking problem, a problem that is getting worse by the day, a problem that was brought to this country by our massively sized neighbour to the north, the United States of America.

For decades, we Bahamians have been brainwashed and manipulated by Big Tobacco into believing that smoking was a “ fad”, that it was the “cool” and “hip” thing to do, that smoking makes you a macho man (Marlboro Man), or that smoking somehow makes you sexually appealing, hence the usage of highly attractive women in cigarette ads. Smoking has become so prevalent in this country that we now have our own tobacco industry, where we manufacture, promote, and sell our very own cigarettes and other tobacco products, all for

the almighty dollar, believing that having a tobacco industry in the Bahamas would stimulate our economy.

If you are reading this, please heed this warning: if you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Ever.

Smoking will not make you macho. It will not turn you into a “real man”. It will not make you sexually appealing.

It will do you absolutely no favours whatsoever. What it will do, with absolute certainty, is kill you. Smoking will kill you, slowly, painfully, and horribly. You probably know this already. You’ve probably heard over and over again, ad nauseum, how smoking gives you cancer, and how it’s one of the leading causes of preventable death. But, until you’ve seen with your own eyes what cancer does to the human body, you simply do not know just how dangerous smoking really is.

Let me tell you about cancer: It’s not a disease, like, say, influenza or cholera. Oh no, dear reader, it’s much more than that. Cancer is a creature, a parasite, a living thing. It’s alive. And like all living things, it feeds. And like all parasites, it needs a host to feed off of. That host is you. Once cancer forms inside of you, it grows, feeding off of you, robbing your body of all of it’s nutrients.

You go from being a strapping, healthy and strong individual to nothing more than skin and bones, your body incapacitated and helpless, an empty and immobile husk of your former self. You suffer.

You find yourself praying for death as your body destroys

itself, slowly, painfully, horribly. And all because you chose to be a sheep and follow the crowd by giving in to smoking. And while you’re slowly dying, Big Tobacco grows richer and more powerful, literally cashing in on sickness, misery and death.

In today’s world, there seems to be endless talk about terrorism; Islamic extremism has become the hot button topic on every media outlet, with everyone in constant fear of the next terrorist attack. Everyone is fearful of terrorist groups such as ISIS and Al Qaeda, but the biggest “terrorist group” doesn’t quote the Quran or worships Allah or speaks Arabic and wears robes, sandals, burqas or hijabs. The real terrorists wears business suits and ties and wingtip shoes and carries a briefcase.

The real terrorists speaks English and worships Benjamin Franklin’s printed green face. The real terrorist is Big Tobacco, who kills millions of people year after year and thousands of people every day, a feat ISIS and Al Qaeda can only dream of accomplishing. And now, these literal death merchants have come to our shores. I cry shame on the government(s) of the Bahamas and the Ministry/Minister of Health for allowing an actual tobacco industry to exist in this country. Clearly, money matters more to the people in charge than the health of their citizens CANCER PATIENT’S SON Nassau, March 22, 2017.

Death penalty limitations EDITOR, The Tribune

Re: ‘Criminals Will Ravage Country Unless Death Penalty Enforced’ (February 28) IT IS absolutely mindboggling that any reasonable person would tout enforcement of the death penalty as a worthwhile solution to crime.

Leaving out well-meaning considerations of ethics and religious beliefs etc, it has never been proven to lower crime rates significantly. Therefore, why continue to spout the crimereducing benefits of a death penalty?

Reliance on the death penalty sounds like such an attractively easy and obvious solution. Furthermore, state-sanctioned homicide often has instant appeal to an apprehensive electorate (as long as it’s done in private, of course). It grabs the imagination and fires up one’s baser emotions very nicely.

But in order to improve our crime situation, we must also educate our young properly and use harsh approaches like tough love, community service in distinctive dress, curfews, aversion methods and public humiliation (such as caning) liberally. This should not only better their brutish lives but improve ours as well.

At present, far too many of our young people are actually too stupid to comprehend the meaning of a death penalty or any other kind of penalty - unless significant physical pain and/ or degradation are involved

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net (please spare me any references to slavery). Furthermore, the imbeciles are often so incredibly dumb that they frequently believe they are invincible and will not get caught. This lack of critical reasoning is carried over into adulthood.

On top of all that, they are too mindless to care.

Many a bleeding heart will be shocked at terminology such as this. They might prefer to talk about poverty, lack of love in the home, low self esteem, culpability of the church and society etc. Others may even suggest formation of yet another committee to look into crime. Meanwhile, it’s as if the Bahamian house is burning. When there is a fire, there is little point in discussing the problem. We have to put the fire out. Immediately.

It would be nice if all the aspects of crime could be handled with a simple solution, such as the death penalty, but unfortunately, as much as we would wish it to be, it simply is not the case.

It never has been and never will be.

We tend to focus on homicides when talking about crime, but homicides are simply a final symptom of the widespread disease of lawlessness. Homicide is not the first and only crime performed by these dangerously silly, mental midgets. Homicide is frequently a result of the previous life of crime that led up to it. Therefore, we

have to recognise the ‘broken windows syndrome’ as well.

It is now essential to make some hard, expensive efforts to guide/teach the rudiments of civilised behaviour forcefully to these cowardly and violent predators. If this also means passing appropriate laws, or an introduction of a mandatory National Youth Service etc, then we should do it. Also, we must stop overlooking crimes of friends, family, lovers and especially our professionals and other ‘leaders’. We have to confront our failures and admit the only hope for our young, trigger-happy nitwits to become somewhat caring, productive citizens and improve their economic plight is to insist on, and enforce, improved academic or vocational education, as much as possible.

If a death penalty, along with praying and marching makes some people feel better, by all means continue. However, the limitations should be recognised.

Meanwhile, at the risk of sounding elitist, let’s actually do the hard and costly work to do something constructive about the clear connection between crime and our young people’s tiny, malicious, underdeveloped minds. Most of these young are worth salvaging.

Not only is it essential for our self preservation but it is also our moral duty to try to do whatever is reasonable and necessary to accomplish that goal.

KEN W KNOWLES MD Nassau, March 31, 2017

Headline concern EDITOR, The Tribune WHILE The Tribune’s article on March 31 is balanced and well written, especially as you asked both parties for comment, I have issue with the headline title “Four-hour botched surgery left me close to death”.

Your headline is often the only thing that persons will read and remember. Without knowing the details of the surgery it is very unfair to call a surgery “botched”.

As the physician stated, there are often adhesions in abdominal/pelvic surgery which greatly increases the risk of complications.

These type complications occur the world over and unless there is some official record of the surgeon acting

incorrectly it is really disingenuous to call the surgery “botched” and imply that the result left the patient “close to death”.

In addition, unfounded accusations such as these can adversely affect a physician’s ability to obtain malpractice insurance (and therefore earn a living), even if no wrongdoing is found.

I ask that in future, before you attach such misleading headlines to your articles please consider the the implications. In this case casting aspersions on the physician and, without realising it, all practicing physicians in the Bahamas.

I respect The Tribune and I expect nothing less than responsible journalism the Tribune Media Group.

Please note that the Bahamas Medical Council is an extremely vigilant organisation especially as concerns patient safety and wellbeing. Any patient that has issues with a physician can lodge a complaint (oral or written) with the medical council and be assured that the matter will be taken seriously and resolved.

I hope that you continue to bring matters of medical importance to the public and also feel free to contact the Medical Association of the Bahamas for any assistance that you may need.

SY COOLIDGE PIERRE MD President, Medical Association of the Bahamas Nassau

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 3, 2017, PAGE 5

PM: Minnis has no clue about governance

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie chastised Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis on Friday, claiming the Killarney MP seemed to have no clue about governance in The Bahamas or how the Ministry of Finance functions.

On Thursday night, during an FNM candidates launch at Arawak Cay, Dr Minnis accused the Christie administration of wasting Value-Added Tax (VAT) collections, adding that Bahamians did not believe the lengthy explanation given to them by the nation’s leader in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

This seemed to have offended Mr Christie. When The Tribune asked him on

Friday morning whether he felt vindicated by being able to give an account of the revenue, the Centreville MP wasted no time in blasting Dr Minnis.

“What I should say to the public is that I note that the member of Parliament for Killarney, who is no longer the leader of the (Official) Opposition, has indicated that the figures are unbelievable,” Mr Christie said on the sidelines of Palmdale Primary School’s special assembly in recognition of Cyber Week.

“I would simply want to say for the record, the accounting was done in accordance of the requirements of the Constitution (and) the Financial Administration and Audit Act and they were prepared by the same civil servants and public officers who will advise him if, by chance, he

becomes the next prime minister of The Bahamas.

“When he speaks to the work of public servants he should not try to denigrate them by being careless and irresponsible about conclusions he’s drawing and trying to suggest that they are my figures.

“They are not my figures and he would be amazed to know the public figures involved in the compilation of those figures and the conclusions drawn.

“Moreover those figures are submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and all of the rating agencies. So I am not sure what they would be thinking of someone who is representing themselves as having the capacity to be the next prime minister of The Bahamas and seems not to have a clue about governance in this

country and how the Ministry of Finance functions and how these things are arrived at.

“So it’s not a question of my being vindicated. It’s a question of recognising that the Bahamian people have a right to know and I have now met that condition and all I have tried to do is to answer the question as to where the money went and to show, in fact, the tremendous concessions we give,” Mr Christie said.

During one of his four communications in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Christie was adamant that the $1.14bn in VAT revenue collected by the government in 2015 and 2016 had not 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 convention in January, Mr Christie told parliamentarians it was a “worrisome” and nonsensical misconception that his administration mishandled VAT money.

This issue, he said, needed to be put to rest once and for all.

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 outset 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.

EDISON KEY: I AM BACK HOME WITH THE PLP from page one

DR HUBERT MINNIS, leader of the FNM.

PLP: MINNIS ‘UNPRINCIPLED AND ILL-PREPARED’ TO LEAD from page one

“intellect, eloquence and energy” to run the country while Dr Minnis, on the other hand, is afraid to stand on the same stage with him and debate the issues.

Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of the PLP Philip “Brave” Davis scolded Dr Minnis for being unable to “speak in Parliament” and chastised the Killarney MP for “hiding behind his Facebook page” out of fear that the public will know “Dr Minnis has no idea what he is talking about”.

Minister of Agriculture V Alfred Gray told the crowd that if the FNM wins the next election, the party would close the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) and “victimise” PLP supporters.

“I hear the other people have painted the town red,” Mr Christie said. “I just want you to know that we haven’t starting painting yet but remember you have yet to see the day the FNM leader, who says he wants to be Prime Minister, where he can stand here with the Prime Minister and the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party and talk about the issues.

“So people have to make a choice and they must determine whether or not a particular person who represents himself as a leader has the capacity to lead this country further into the 21st century, even though he can not speak to the issues. You have to decide who is best for the country.

“When you look at the team who has been assembled for the PLP there is no choice but to arrive at the conclusion that we have the best team ... I have the intellect, I have the eloquence and I have the energy. Why should we allow the FNM to come in and stop and cancel things? We have to keep moving forward. We have to be able to say that devil is a liar.”

Meanwhile, Mr Davis said Dr Minnis did “nothing” while he was Cabinet minister in the last administration, “nothing” while he was in the Official Opposition and will continue to do nothing if he is elected to lead the country.

“Seriously, no one can even think of a significant contribution he made in all of the years he was a minister,” Mr Davis told the crowd. “Can you think of anything Hubert Minnis did when he sat around the table? One thing? The only he was known for was awarding himself a big fat government contract, that is what he did while he was in government and then in opposition he broke up his party.”

On this aspect, Mr Davis was incorrect. In 2005, a company called Leechez Investments Ltd - in which Dr Minnis has shares - was awarded a contract with the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) for lease of its Stat Care building.

The contract was awarded during the first Christie administration, before Dr Minnis entered politics.

However, the contract continued while Dr Minnis was health minister and still exists today.

The PLP has called the matter a conflict of interest; however Dr Minnis has said he disclosed his interests to former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham when he was elected in 2007.

He has also said Mr Ingraham told him to have the government move out of the building in question, which Dr Minnis said he did.

However the PHA reportedly could not find another building to rent and continued to rent the building on a month-to-month basis.

“Look how he treats your very own (Central and South Abaco MP) Edison Key,” Mr Davis continued on Saturday.

“Now he come to you and ask you him to believe in him when the people closest to him don’t believe in him.

How foolish he thinks we

are; he wants us to believe in him when those who sit around and was with him don’t even believe in him.

“Recall a senior FNM wrote that if Hubert Minnis were elected he would plunge the country into a national nightmare; that is what they say about their leader. Minnis’ own colleagues, the people who know him best, they said he repeatedly misled them.

They said he would say one thing and do another.

“They call it the Hubert Minnis trust deficit, that’s what they call it. He is unprepared and he is unprincipled and that is dangerous because there is a lot of hard and serious work left to do,” Mr Davis said.

“We need someone who knows and understands the issues, not someone who can’t even speak in Parliament and can’t be interviewed on radio or television for fear of making a mistake. That is not someone you trust to negotiate with investors.

“Hubert Minnis, who requires other people to do his thinking and writing, who hides behind Facebook, he wants to represent us, I do not think so.”

Mr Gray warned the crowd that if the FNM is elected to government, the party would “fire and victimise” PLP supporters.

“The FNM will cause trouble for you, they will try to keep you from voting,” he said. “I read the newspapers and I see the comments on Facebook and I see hate and venom being spewed from everywhere. I can tell you PLPs, if the FNM miss and win, PLPs you are in trouble. You don’t have to take my word for it, watch what is going on out there, they want this bad because they want to get at us bad, bad, bad and if you think I am joking watch and see.

“They can’t win, I am telling you, if you read what they are saying they are only waiting to fire some of you. This is not the time to play; they will fire you and they will close BAMSI.”

only will he do everything to ensure that she wins her seat but he will also work as hard as he can for the PLP “to stay the government of The Bahamas”.

His comments came moments after he embraced Prime Minister Perry Christie and other senior members of the PLP on stage and was seen using the PLP’s hand gesture several times throughout the night.

“The FNM knows and Minnis knows that I am not longer with the FNM - period,” Mr Key said. “I am supporting the PLP and I am supporting Eva in Central and South Abaco and Renardo Curry in the

north. I am supporting the PLP; it’s simple as that. I am not supporting the FNM as Dr Minnis is leader - period. I have told him that.

So you can take that in your pipe and smoke it. Bam. “I was born a PLP, I been here from 1970. I was never a strong FNM. I don’t need to make too much statements but I am not with the FNM any longer simple as that period. I will help Eva win and I will do all I can to help the PLP remain the government.”

Mr Christie said it was a “tremendous feeling” to have Mr Key standing with the PLP and pledging his support.

Last December, Mr Key accused Dr Minnis and FNM officials of going behind his back and having

secret meetings in Central and South Abaco about selecting another candidate for the area. The FNM later ratified James Albury, 23, for the constituency.

Later in December, Mr Key was one of seven FNM MPs who wrote a letter of no confidence in Dr Minnis to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, asking her to strip him of his post as Official Opposition leader. Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner was later appointed as Dr Minnis’ replacement.

Mr Key resigned as a PLP senator in 2004 and later left the party. He joined the FNM shortly afterwards.

At the time, he claimed there were forces in the PLP that were working against him.

EDISON KEY MP, left, pictured with Prime Minister Perry Christie and George Wilson.

PAGE 6, Monday, April 3, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Parliament to end on April 11 from page one

“I would therefore encourage all my fellow Bahamians to play their part in our democracy by registering to vote if they have not already done so, and to do so without further delay,” the statement continued.

The statement was released a day after Mr Christie reiterated that the “time is very short” until he calls the next general election, again urging Bahamians to register as soon as possible.

Addressing supporters at joint branch meeting in Abaco on Saturday, Mr Christie hinted that the House of Assembly will be dissolved very soon, imply-

PRIME Minister Perry Christie. ing that the election date will be announced imminently.

“You need to register

now,” Mr Christie said on Saturday. “Let me get this out it this way, tell them you heard the prime minister

say there is very little time left and if you are going to participate as a voter in the upcoming election you must register now. I am saying it again. There is very little time left and if, as they should, you want to be able to vote in the election, you must now register.”

Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis also implored supporters to register and vote.

“You know what is coming, the bell will soon be rung,” Mr Davis said. “So please, we only have a short time left to register. You can only vote if you register.

If you do not want the Free National Movement to win the election, register and vote.”

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.

Parliament did not dissolve until April 10, 2012 and the election date of May 7, 2012 was announced that night when Mr Ingraham gave a national televised address.

Last Wednesday, the House was adjourned until April 10.

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.

Last Monday, during a

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) regional branch meeting, Mr Christie also 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.

POLICEWOMAN SHOT DEAD IN FREEPORT NIGHTCLUB from page one

who is the son of former Free National Movement MP and Grand Bahama FNM Council Chairman David Thompson.

In a moving tribute to his daughter on Facebook yesterday Mr Thompson said: “I feel like crying for years and it’s hard to even think. I lost my baby to the increasing violence in our country.

Jessica was an awesome daughter, sister, mother and friend.”

She was one of two people killed at the weekend.

Police said a man died in hospital after he was stabbed during a fight at Potter’s Cay Dock early on Friday morning.

In reference to Saturday’s killing, police said officers were called to the scene of a shooting shortly after 9pm at an establishment on Oakes Street in Grand Bahama where reports of gunshots were heard.

Inspector Terecita Pinder reported that when police arrived at the scene, they discovered the lifeless body of a woman lying on the ground with a gunshot

OFFICER 3518 Theresa Jessica Thompson-George. wound to the body.

Thompson, a reserve officer, mother of twin boys and an avid flag football player, was not on duty at the time she was shot. It is believed that the shooter was a female.

Her father thanked everyone for the overwhelming flow of love, condolences, support and prayers from friends and family.

“She was one of the nicest ladies you would ever want to meet; a daddy’s girl and a loving mother of twin

sons, a great officer who was loved by everyone,” one person posted on Facebook.

“This beautiful young lady loved to travel and will be remembered for her beautiful smile and her love for flag football. She will definitely be missed.”

Another loved one posted on social media: “They say God knows all things and everything He does is well done. He makes no mistakes. I’m just lost for words. My dear sister you

will forever be in my heart.

I’ve never met someone so kind hearted but outspoken. You always looked up to me, I’m now going to need you to watch over me Jessica. How do I carry on?”

In reference to Friday’s killing, police said around 12.30am, a fight broke out among a group at Potter’s Cay Dock that led to a man being stabbed. He was transported to hospital where later died from his injuries.

Three women and a man are in custody assisting police in that investigation.

Thompson is the fourth person killed in Grand Bahama this year. There have been 40 murders so far this year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Insp Pinder said police are actively investigating the matter and are appealing to the public for assistance. Anyone with information that can assist the police with these investigations is asked to call 919, 242-350-3107 through 12 (in Grand Bahama), the Crime Stoppers hotline at 328TIPS or the nearest police station.

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017

insight@tribunemedia.net

the stories behind the news

The oppression of expression under Emperor Christie The government continues to confuse its role as public servant with demigod status, evidence of a tyrannical style of leadership says Malcom J Strachan

T

he era in which we exist today allows us to participate in a more informed

society.

Regular citizens have become active in voicing their opinions about the issues plaguing the country.

During the current administration’s tenure, we have certainly been plagued by more than our fair share of issues.

We are watching our beautiful piece of paradise become a wasteland - under siege from a crime wave, corruption, hopelessness, rising unemployment, a failing economy, decrease in home ownership and an education system that is failing our youth.

Bahamians are understandably irate at the decline of their overall quality of life.

With most of the world climbing out of the ruins of the 2008-09 ‘Great Recession’, the Bahamas is still trying to stagger its way back to economic stability.

The former opposition party and now governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) blazed the campaign trail with a laundry list of promises that was music to the ears of many Bahamians who desired change.

The PLP’s promises to essentially be the antiFree National Movement government is what led to them becoming its replacement.

Retrospectively, despite the majority of the electorate buying into the PLP’s vision for the Bahamas circa 2012, we have been taken for a ride.

Crime has gotten considerably worse. Murders under the PLP have far eclipsed the 490 that were plastered on billboards around the island during their previous campaign season - Saturday’s fatal shooting in Freeport, which was the 40th murder in the first three months of 2017, took the total under the Christie administration to 609, according to The Tribune’s records.

While there may be a direct correlation between the level of youth unemployment and the rise in crime, the government has been more concerned with throwing national parties, costing in excess of $60m through Carnival and other ‘distractions’.

This is a far cry from the party that proclaimed that they believed in Bahamians. The mortgage relief

programme designed to “reverse the effects of mortgage foreclosures” and “save the middle class”, per the PLP’s 2012 Charter for Governance, has failed miserably.

The PLP implemented Value-Added Tax (VAT) and promised that revenue from it would be used to reduce our national debt. Oddly enough, after accumulating $1.14bn in VAT since 2014, the national debt that was projected to be $5bn after the 2012-2013 fiscal year is now a whopping $7bn.

The Prime Minister’s most recent report on VAT has not satisfied most thinking Bahamians. However, Mr Christie would dare say that his report should silence those that lack confidence in his words. The country’s self-proclaimed economically savvy government have crashed this ship into four credit downgrades - highlighted by a weak economy, still overlydependent on tourism and shuttered hotel projects.

Despite these realities that Bahamians experience every day, the government still arrogantly suggests that it has done a good job.

It continues to confuse its role as public servant with demigod status; either patronising us with more undelivered promises or becoming hostile under questioning from the public.

The latest to suffer under this government’s tyrannical style of leadership is political activist, Omar Archer. Archer’s unfiltered and controversial style of exposing the government has led him to becoming quite popular in the country of late. Prominent members of society, particularly the Prime Minister, have been in Archer’s crosshairs, as he has been leaking startling information and threatened to expose more officials from the PLP, as well as the Democratic National Alliance. We knew it was only a matter of time before this was all going to come to a screeching halt.

On Friday, Archer was arrested. A warrant was put out for his arrest for allegedly being in possession of an unlicenced firearm.

The warrant was issued after a photograph of Archer was posted on Facebook holding a shotgun in 2013.

To think that the photo, which had been online for four years, would only provoke police action at

The work of civic groups, such as We March Bahamas which held a protest yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister, is vital in holding the government to account. Photos/Terrel Carey

“To think that the photo, which had been online for four years, would only provoke police action at this time after Omar Archer’s trashing of the government should concern Bahamians throughout this country.”

Ranard Eric Henfield, community activist, at the head of yesterday’s march. this time after Archer’s trashing of the government should concern Bahamians throughout this country.

The firearm, as Archer had previously posted, was licenced, but that did not stop the authorities from seeking his capture. hile we would not seek to infer any political motives to the actions of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, it is concerning that Archer’s arrest has taken place at this time. After all, he, like all of us, should be free to speak our minds, to challenge authority and speak truth to power.

Article 23. (1) of our Constitution speaks to our right of freedom of speech: “Except with his consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of

W

expression, and for the purposes of this Article the said freedom includes freedom to hold opinions, to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with his correspondence.”

Those on the frontlines have not been the only people that the government has been trying to suppress. Facebook activism has become one of the mechanisms by which many groups of regular citizens voice their displeasure with the way the country is being run.

The PLP has had to double down on their public relations efforts and deploy operatives in the social sphere to disparage those who would dare to speak ill against the Emperor and his court. Much to the fury of the people,

Chinese investment “All that glitters is not gold” or “good from afar but far from good” are quotes that appeared appropriate recently.

On March 23, a frontpage story in The Freeport News was headlined “DEVCO’s new initiative to assist residents, stimulate economy”. The reporter dutifully reported on a press conference held at the Grand Bahama Development Company Ltd’s head office.

DEVCO is a company controlled by the Chinesebased conglomerate formerly called Hutchison Whampoa.

In the article it stated

Carey Leonard continues his series on why doing business with the Chinese is not proving beneficial to the Bahamas with a look at where the profits go. that DEVCO plans to release 150 lots from inventory at reduced prices, some by as much as 40 per cent,

for sale to the local market.

This, they said, was part of DEVCO’s commitment to making property available

the government sought to quietly table the Interception of Communications Bill under the guise of a crime fighting measure.

Most fair-minded Bahamians see this as a ploy by the government to allow them to legally spy on our phone calls and emails without our knowledge or permission.

We are living within a system that allows for the oppression and punishment of its citizenry for challenging the autocratic PLPstyled leadership, despite our constitutional rights.

We, as a people, need to remove the veil from our eyes. Perry Christie has been in political office for as long as half the country has been alive, and he still wants to add another five years to his resume.

The PLP is proving to be relentless in its mission to

retain power. Technology has allowed information to circulate around the country much faster than in previous election cycles, presenting an obvious difficulty for a government that is not transparent and accountable.

Therefore, the PLP has one weapon at its disposal it must tarnish the image of anyone that dares to challenges it. That is why the work of civic groups and activist groups, such as We March, are so important.

That is why you, the average citizen, are so important. You control this country - not the politicians. We must remind them of this fact, over and repeatedly, before it’s too late.

• Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net

All that glitters is not gold

to all Grand Bahamians and to attracting developers to build homes on the island.

The question that comes to mind is ‘who are you really trying to sell to; Bahamians, who you say need help, or developers to come and build homes on Grand Bahama Island?’ Surely, if you were genuinely after developers you would have done more than hold a press conference with the local newspapers?

Since this was done locally, it is probably safe to assume that the true intent is to target the local market, and the idea of developers coming in were

words of fluff and nothing more.

The Commercial Manager is quoted as saying, “We are hoping that this will, in turn, stimulate the economy and cause individuals to become lot owners and eventually home owners, and therefore give us a better outcome in the long term for property development here on Grand Bahama.”

The President of DEVCO is quoted as saying, “We are very cognisant of the impact of Hurricane Matthew, as it has had a huge impact on the local economy and a programme of this nature, where we

are making land available at affordable prices will, hopefully, stimulate the economy and help people get on the property ladder during these difficult times.”

So let’s break this down.

DEVCO, a company that is controlled by Hutchison, is selling land at discount prices to people who are experiencing a bad economy and little work because Hutchison’s hotel arm and Container Port arm have directly or indirectly, in the case of Memories, laid off hundreds of Bahamians.

How are out-of-work Bahamians supposed to be See pg8

PAGE 8 MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017

Email: insight@tribunemedia.net

Chinese investment - All that glitters is not gold From pg 7 buying up land and building on them? There was no mention of any very low interest or interest-free loans to help make this happen.

Hutchison’s property arm, now called Cheung Kong Properties Holdings Ltd and ultimate owner of the 50 per cent interest in DEVCO, entitled its Shareholders Interim Report 2016 “Strong Resilience to Market Challenges”. Its profit for the first half of 2016 is HK$8,606 million or about US$114 million in the first six months of the year. They are making almost US$20 million a month or nearly US$1 million for every working day. Yet there is no special offer from DEVCO, whose top management says that it is cognisant of the impact of Hurricane Matthew and “hopefully, stimulate the economy and help people ...”

The whole thing sounds more like some shyster or two-bit stock brokers trying to sell dubious “penny mining stock” in Canada.

One would think that a company that has achieved such global success would be above stooping to such deceptive marketing.

How does getting Bahamians to spend what scraps they have left help the economy?

It will help Hutchison continue to make that US$1 million a day. The only stimulation to the economy will be a further spiral downward as Hutchison takes out of the country its dividend from the sale of the property.

If Hutchison put as much time into promoting the Port Area to Direct Foreign Investment as they have in trying to fool the Bahamian public they may actually “stimulate economy”.

And it does not stop there. DEVCO does not pay Service Charges. This is because before Hutchison purchased a 50 per

cent interest in the land owned by DEVCO and the other assets transferred to Port Group Limited, they (the Harbour, the airport, the industrial land, everything) were all owned by DEVCO. DEVCO was the company that promoted the Port Area.

DEVCO sold land and was continually reinvesting profits into capital expenditures and maintenance of the Lucayan area. This is why DEVCO did not pay Service Charges. The new purchasers of land took care of what they purchased with Service Charges while DEVCO continued to take care of what it owned. After all it was, and still is, the largest land owner, and what looked good sold well.

DEVCO subsidised flights into the Port Area. Indeed, in the 1960s, one of Baha-

“If Hutchison put as much time into promoting the Port Area to Direct Foreign Investment as they have in trying to fool the Bahamian public they may actually ‘stimulate economy’,” says Carey Leonard.

“It is clear that when it comes to business the Chinese companies, like Hutchison, are completely lacking in a moral sense as they are unconcerned whether something is right or wrong.” mas Airways’ turbo prop aircraft was mainly paid for by DEVCO. Later it had a large stake in Laker Bahamas.

All of the above brought tourists, second home buyers and new industry to Grand Bahama.

It must be remembered that all the roads (except for the Queen’s Highway, which includes the Grand Bahama Highway) and verges in the Port Area are private. They are all maintained by the Grand Bahama Port Authority Ltd and, in the Lucaya area, a subsidiary of DEVCO called the Lucaya Service Company Ltd (LUSCO).

This is why anybody who pays Service Charges should not be required by the Government to pay Real Property Tax as they are already paying tax to keep the roads and verges maintained, in an area twice the size of the island of New Providence.

To impose Real Property Tax would penalise Grand Bahamians with double taxation.

As DEVCO sold its property, it no longer had the potential to improve its bottom line and any maintenance of the infrastructure would be a financial burden that would eventually bankrupt DEVCO once it no longer

had sufficient land to sell.

Therefore, it made perfect sense for the purchaser of lots in the Lucaya area to shoulder a reasonable share of the expenses required to maintain the roads and verges there.

But here is the problem.

Hutchison stopped promoting and selling to foreign investors and Bahamians alike. They also stopped pumping in their share of the cost of the upkeep of the Lucayan area.

This meant that the local landowners, foreign and Bahamian alike, were now burdened with the upkeep.

Yes, Hutchison has abused its position to take a free ride on the backs of the hard-earned wages of Bahamians. It has Bahamians paying to take care of the roads and verges to all the unsold thousands and thousands of unsold DEVCO lots.

In addition, DEVCO owns and manages LUSCO so that Hutchison decides where the money paid by hard working Bahamians is spent. The sole purpose of LUSCO‘s existence is to maintain the Lucaya roads,

profit in the first six months of 2016 - that’s profit, not turnover - has decided to use the hard earned money of hard working Grand Bahamians to pay for a bridge that will ultimately fatten Hutchison pockets by substantially increasing the value of the DEVCO land on the eastern side of the Grand Lucayan Waterway?

Guess who owns most of the land on the eastern side of the waterway? DEVCO, 50 per cent owned and controlled by Hutchison, of course.

No wonder DEVCO wants Bahamians to buy more lots. That means more money to maintain the Lucaya area at no expense to the Hutchison entity.

The March 23 press conference report described above had nothing to do with stimulating the economy in the Port Area - and the Bahamas in general and everything to do with fattening the bank accounts of the shareholders.

Hutchison has set out to drain what little money is left in the pockets of Bahamians and put it in

“It will help Hutchison continue to make that US$1 million a day. The only stimulation to the economy will be a further spiral downward as Hutchison takes out of the country its dividend from the sale of the property.” parks, bridges and verges.

As stated earlier there is only one public road in the entire Port Area and that is the Queen’s Highway and Grand Bahama Highway.

In 2014 The Freeport News carried an article about the construction of a bridge to cross the Grand Lucayan Waterway joining the Grand Bahama Highway. What was significant about the article was that LUSCO was included and mentioned. Since then there have been rumours to the effect that LUSCO paid for the construction of the now completed Sir Jack Hayward Bridge. That had better not be the case.

First of all, Service Charges are not paid to LUSCO so that they can be used to improve the only Government road going through the Port Area. This is the one and only road, in the Lucaya area, that LUSCO has no responsibility for at all.

Is it possible that the multi-billion dollar company, Cheung Kong Properties Holdings Ltd (read Hutchison) which made about $1 million a week

their own pocket. Remember, they have to keep that US$1 million a week profit machine going. The Chinese don’t care about the Bahamians or the Bahamian community. The Bahamian community and the Bahamas are faceless to Hutchison, whose only purpose is to make money in accordance with their own plans. If Bahamians are put out of work and starve as a result of their corporate ambitions, it is of no concern to them.

There is a lesson here: the dichotomy between the Chinese reputation for “saving face and honour” and the way the Chinese do business, in an “amoral way”. It is clear that when it comes to business the Chinese companies, like Hutchison, are completely lacking in a moral sense as they are unconcerned whether something is right or wrong.

Nassau has experienced the same thing with Baha Mar. From the newspaper reports, it is clear that the Chinese State-owned China Construction Company has no moral compass. This

has resulted in the shoddy construction and delays in construction.

Had Baha Mar been up and running in 2014, as it was supposed to, but for China Construction Company’s amoral behavour, 5,000 to 7,000 Bahamians would have had jobs three years ago, thousands of tourists would have spent money here with the resulting Customs Duty, VAT receipts and National Insurance payments because of all the extra employees paying into the system. If Hutchison had properly marketed the Grand Lucayan/Our Lucaya hotel complex and DEVCO, there would have been thousands, maybe tens of thousands of jobs for Grand Bahamians, such as construction, hotel, retail, transportation, maintenance etc, additional taxi rides and tours all contributing to the Public Treasury and National Insurance.

The effect of this amoral behavour of Chinese foreign direct investment is that the Bahamian people have not got the thousands and thousands of jobs that they should have had years ago and are now in a very desperate financial position. The effect has, in no small way, contributed to the dire financial straits that the country finds itself in today.

To date, the Bahamas has yet to see any benefit from Chinese investment, Baha Mar or otherwise. If anything, such investment has inflicted an almost fatal blow to employment of Bahamians and the nation’s economy by the constant delays.

We have been hearing about the planned expansion of the Freeport Container Port for four or five years and have got nothing.

Nothing means no employment for Bahamians. Nothing means no additional revenue for the Public Treasury and National Insurance. Nothing means no excitement generated to encourage other investments in the Port Area.

Clearly, any investment, especially any new investment in the Bahamas by a Chinese company, be it Chinese state-owned or just owned by Chinese citizens, needs to be looked at with great scepticism as it is fraught with very real economic danger and financial pain to Bahamians.

When it comes to Chinese investment, all that glitters is certainly not gold.

• Carey Leonard is a commercial lawyer and an associate in the law firm of Callenders & Co, Freeport.

Hutchinson’s lack of marketing of the Grand Lucayan has hindered the chances of many Bahamian jobs.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017 PAGE 9

E3SPORTS

It’s all about academics: busting the big college myth Friday, September 30, 2016, PAGE 3

GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

ALL you have to do is graduate at the top of your class, and then the college doors will swing wide open while scholarship dollars fall into your lap. Right?

Wrong! Although academics are important, experts agree that they are only a small part of what leads to college acceptances, scholarship awards and eventual career success.

“The students who rise to the top of our Scholarship application process are those who have far more going for them than just good grades,” Dr Giavana Jones, Lyford Cay Foundations’ Director of Scholarships and College Success, says.

“Inevitably, the students who are successful in college are those who are able to demonstrate their ability to balance their academics while handling the day-today pressures of life while pursuing higher education.

These are the students that our donors are interested in investing in.”

So, if it isn’t just about academics, what are colleges and organisations that offer scholarships looking for?

Here are five frequently cited qualities that students who edge out the competition share.

1 They have a clear career plan that enriches the community Simply setting a prestigious career goal is not enough to make you stand out.

What will set you apart is demonstrating that you have researched the needs in your community and created a career plan that harnesses your interests and

skills to meet those needs.

Rashad Storr, a Lyford Cay Foundations Technical Scholar studying Aviation Technology, is an example of someone with a focused plan for success.

“My programme has equipped me to work on everything from small charter planes to the large planes that are operated by Bahamasair. I can literally do anything now in aviation technology,” he says. “In the Bahamas, airline mechanics are rare. My skills are going to open doors that I could have only dreamed of just a few years ago before receiving this scholarship.”

2 They demonstrate a genuine interest in their field If you are interested in becoming a respiratory therapist, those reviewing your college application will expect to see your participation in clubs, internships or job shadowing in the health field reflected in your application.

Participating in activities related to your field illustrates your interest and your passion, so be sure you find a way to get involved long before you plan to apply for college.

3 They are interested in the world around them Application reviewers are looking for students who want to improve their communities, so be sure to include information about your community service experiences on your applications and resume.

When selecting activities to become involved in, look for what you enjoy as well as what can help you develop

GAIN AN EDGE

A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

LYFORD Cay Scholars Rashad Storr, left, and Joshua Ritchie have learned that it takes more than academic accomplishments to stand out from the crowd. skills in your field. For example, a future teacher may seek out opportunities to become involved with tutoring programmes for students in need.

4 Others can vouch for them No matter what you are applying for, you will need references from individuals who can confidently vouch for your work ethic, skills or character.

Joshua Ritchie, another Lyford Cay Foundations Scholar who is studying Mechanical Engineering, knows the importance of references.

“When I was a technician, my customers often remarked about how they

THIS WEEK IN THE TRIBUNE TUESDAY Woman and Health weekly advice on taking care of your mind and body and women making waves in The Bahamas Plus comment from Nicole Burrows and sporting mischief and mayhem with Inigo “Naughty” Zenicazelaya

WEDNESDAY Tribune Tech - a look at what’s new in the world of technology for Earth Month Alicia Wallace tackles social and political issues

of the moment in The Bahamas in her Culture Clash column

THURSDAY Obituaries and Religion, a weekly review ‘On da Hook’, a weekly look at fishing in The Bahamas

FRIDAY Weekend - a 28-page section devoted to the best in arts, music, fashion, food, books, entertainment, gardening, animal matters, fitness, history and interviews Sports - The Finish Line, a look at the local sports

scene, by Brent Stubbs Plus A Comic’s View Naughty’s unique take on the week in The Bahamas

SATURDAY The Tribune’s Top 5: a special video review of the week’s top stories by Khrisna Virgil on www. tribune242.com Every day in The Tribune, news, business, sports, weather and Classifieds Trader - the best guide to cars for sale, real estate, help wanted and more.

Plus breaking news and updates on your mobilefriendly tribune242.com

admired that I was working full time in the same field that I was studying at the then College of The Bahamas,” he says. “They knew that I cared about my field enough to further my education and they liked the services that I provided.

When I decided to continue my education abroad, those same customers were happy to write me great letters of recommendation.”

5 They are willing to work toward their goals Students who have worked to overcome challenges often stand out just

as much as the students with the 4.0 Grade Point Averages.

“At the Foundations, our independent scholarship committees are impressed when they see that a student has a hunger to transform their life and works hard to achieve their dreams,” Dr Jones says.

The bottom line is simple. College is achievable for everyone whether your grades are stellar or whether you have experienced academic challenges along the way. Colleges and organisations who offer scholarships

are looking for well-rounded students, and grades are just one of many factors in this competitive process.

NEXT WEEK: How the University of the Bahamas can help you become a wellrounded student • “Gain An Edge” is a weekly collaboration of the Lyford Cay Foundations, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on higher education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia.net.

PAGE 10 MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

OAS needs review after fracas in Venezuela O

N March 28, the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) experienced a public spectacle of disarray that, in 36 years of diplomatic life in many international and multinational organisations, I have never witnessed. A similar observation was made by many other seasoned Ambassadors.

The spectacle, which was a complete breakdown of all the norms of diplomatic discourse, resulted from the dysfunctionality of the OAS, the antiquated nature of its governing Charters, and the long overdue need for a revision of its procedural rules. A highly fractious and contentious public meeting - carried live via an Internet streaming - was brought to a premature end with some delegations on their feet, ready to walk out, accusations being fired back and forth across a room (named after the great Latin American integrationist, Simon Bolivar), and the Chair of the meeting struggling to retain order.

The occasion was a request by 18 member states,

which included four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, to discuss the situation in Venezuela - a situation, described by governments, think-tanks and non-governmental organisations as dire. Among the reasons for concern that they cite are a looming humanitarian crisis arising from a shortage of food and medicines; a stand-off between the government and opposition parties that is destabilising the country; a rapidly deteriorating economy; and the imprisonment of opposition political activists. These are all descriptions hotly denied by the Venezuelan government.

The meeting was preceded by enormous pressure on many of the OAS member states to come down either against or for Venezuela’s refusal to allow the meeting to proceed. In the run-up to the meeting US Congressional representatives wrote to governments urging them not to side with Venezuela.

Senator Marco Rubio went somewhat further by warning Haiti, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador

World View

ate for this Council to commission three distinguished jurists drawn from member states to offer Opinions from which the Council could accept the two that are closest to each other.

We remain convinced that this should be the way we

By SIR RONALD SANDERS deal with legal opinions in the future. There should that it would be difficult public war with the Presi- never be any doubt about to protect them from pos- dent of Venezuela, Nicolas the legal basis for our acsible cuts in US aid if they Maduro, in language (by tions as there is now.”

This matter points to the supported Venezuela. The both of them) reminiscent Venezuelan government of domestic political hus- need to review the Charter, also sought to marshal forc- tings, had not helped to heal which was written at a difes, particularly among the divisions between member ferent time in international countries to which it had states or to create an atmos- relations - a time when provided concessionary fi- phere for constructive dia- governments were less connancing for oil under Petro logue - a role which every cerned about the internal Caribe arrangements.

Secretary-General of every affairs of other states, and when the In the event, lines were international risk of condrawn between member or multina- ‘Lines were drawn tagion and states, not helped by toxic tional body between member harmful efremarks and two reports is expected states, not helped by fects lacked by the Secretary-General to play. the bite that of the OAS, Luis Almagro, Venezuela toxic remarks and they have tothat many representatives opposed the two reports by the day, includof member states felt had request by ing refugees, exceeded his authority. His the group of Secretary-General break down 18 countries of the OAS, Luis in security for a meetAlmagro, that many and humaniing at which tarian crises the situation representatives of that become in the coun- member states felt a burden on try would be had exceeded his neighbourdiscussed. ing states.

It based its authority.’

There objection should be on Article 1 of the OAS Charter, which states that absolute clarity on whether the OAS “has no power any member state can proother than those expressly hibit a discussion of its circonferred upon it by this cumstances should a majorCharter, none of whose pro- ity of others - and evidence visions authorises it to in- - suggest that a discussion tervene in matters that are is warranted. And, legal within the internal jurisdic- Opinions, if they are necestion of the Member States”. sary should come from obHowever, the Permanent jective and neutral jurists.

Further, in today’s interCouncil was compelled to rely on the only available national reality of humanilegal Opinion as to whether tarian crises, cross-border Article 1 did indeed prohib- contagion and a widespread it discussion of Venezuela global desire for stability without the permission of within states, every governing charter of all organisathe government.

That came from the chief tions, including the United legal officer of the OAS Nations, should be reviewed Secretariat, who answers to to allow for assessments of the Secretary-General, and situations in member states while his Opinion might if there is sufficient concern be perfectly correct, it was by a majority of other memdoubted by member states ber states and evidence of during the meeting, giving a breakdown in democracy rise to uncertainty about and the rule of law, or of whether the Council was a humanitarian crisis. Inproceeding on a sound legal deed, if the OAS Charter footing or in violation of the provided for such an evidence-based assessment, Charter.

For the third time in 18 its member states would be months, I drew attention to constrained to stick to the this fundamental problem rules in the full knowledge by saying: “We proposed to that if they are broken, a the Permanent Council that majority of other countries it would be more appropri- would have the right to in-

quire into their situation.

I made the suggestion for “the appointment of a Commission to review the OAS Charter, including the establishment of objective machinery which would determine if there are good reasons for addressing stresses on democracy, the rule of law and human rights in a member state”.

And I made the point that the proposal was not inventing the wheel since similar machinery exists in the Commonwealth of Nations for its 51 member states, and the role of the machinery - a representative committee of ministers - is not be to be punitive, but to be helpful through a series of engagements. Only when such engagements have been exhausted is suspension contemplated.

The Permanent Council meeting last Tuesday was held in conditions that set its failure even before it started. In no other diplomatic circumstances has any country been discussed with a view to negotiating resolution of a crisis, in the full glare of the media and on live television. There was no opportunity for frank and confidential discussion or for negotiation and compromise. Consequently, the slanging match ensued, blinkered and deafened.

The OAS is an ailing organisation. Its charter is not relevant to its time; its procedures are ill defined and the lines of authority, particularly between the Permanent Council and the Secretary-General are unclear; and it is starved of the financial resources it needs.

To be effective and relevant to its people and its times, the OAS urgently needs a Charter review, or like an ailing patient on life support, it will be paralysed until it passes away in indecisiveness and insignificance.

• Sir Ronald Sanders is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 3, 2017, PAGE 11

Baha Mar workers’ passports no longer withheld

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Department of Immigration has investigated allegations that Chinese nationals who entered the country to construct the $3.5bn Baha Mar resort had their passports and work permits withheld in contravention of Bahamian law.

Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis described the act as an attempt to control the foreign labourers during debate in the House of Assembly on an amendment to the Trafficking in Persons Act in March.

He said the Christie administration was concerned about the matter.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration said Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell indicated that the International Labour Organisation had asked officials to investigate the claims when he met with representatives of the National Congress of Trade Unions last Monday.

“The Department of Immigration has investigated these allegations,” the ministry’s statement said.

“Having met with the officers of the company, the department reminded the

company of its obligations in law. The department was assured by the company that the practice does not now obtain and where it once did was ceased forthwith.”

Mr Mitchell also said: “The Department of Immigration will be doing spot checks throughout the coming days without notice to employers to ensure that all companies meet their obligations and conform with the accepted practice with regard to this. The Department of Labour has also been asked to follow up on job sites as well. The attorney general has been briefed on the matter.

“All employers in this country are reminded that each employee who is a foreign national cannot consent to surrender their passport to an employer nor can he consent to surrender that employee’s work permit. The documents should be in the employee’s possession at all times.”

As part of the Baha Mar deal, Parliament approved the issuance of 8,150 work permits for non-Bahamian construction workers, with a condition that no more than 5,000 permits be used at any given time.

Baha Mar’s general contractor is China Construction America.

GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS WATER & SEWERAGE CORPORATION WATER SUPPLY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS – CAT ISLAND

INVITATION FOR BIDS The Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (GOCB) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in an amount equivalent to US$28.5 million towards the cost of the Water Supply Improvement Project (the Project) and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under this contract. Payment by CDB will be made only at the request of GOCB and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject, in all respects, to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than the GOCB shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The Project is being implemented by the Water & Sewerage Corporation (WSC).

WSC now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the design and construction of the water supply infrastructure upgrade for Cat Island. The works include the installation of water mains; the supply and installation of water storage tanks; site preparation for the installation of Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment plants; and the construction of pumping stations and disinfection systems. Provision is to be made for connections to the WSC’s existing and potential customers. The distribution system is to include side streets in between the start and end point as indicated on the drawings. Site preparation for the RO plants is to include pavement design and construction, inclusive of provision for all utilities and photovoltaic lighting. Bidders may bid for any individual Lots or for both Lots, as follows: LOT NO. 1: North Cat Island Lot from Bain Town Settlement to The Bluff Settlement The design and construction of approximately 106,794 feet (32,551 m) of transmission and distribution mains and approximately 460 water service laterals; site preparation for an RO plant to be located at Bennett’s Harbour.

LOT NO. 2: South Cat Island Lot from Smith's Bay Settlement to Old Bight Settlement The design and construction of approximately 95,512 feet (29,112 m) of transmission and distribution mains and approximately 430 water service laterals; site preparation for an RO plant to be located at New Bight.

LOT NO. 3: South Cat Island Lot from Knowles’ Settlement to Smith’s Bay Settlement.

The design and construction of approximately 16,835 feet (5,131 m) of transmission and distribution mains and approximately 80 water service laterals.

Consideration will be limited to firms or joint ventures of firms, which are legally incorporated or otherwise organised in, and have their principal place of business in an eligible country and are either: (a) more than 50% beneficially owned by a citizen or citizens and/or a bona fide resident or residents of an eligible country, or by a body corporate or bodies corporate meeting these requirements; or (b) owned or controlled by the Government of an eligible country provided that it is legally and financially autonomous and operated under the commercial law of an eligible country and otherwise meets the eligibility requirements of the CDB Guidelines for Procurement (2006).

All countries are eligible.

Eligible bidders will be required to submit full qualification information with their bids establishing their eligibility to bid and qualifications to perform the contract. Bid and qualification information are to be submitted in the English Language on the prescribed forms inserted in the Bid Documents. Submissions that do not provide the information required, or do not demonstrate the prospective contractor’s ability to perform satisfactorily, will not qualify and will not be considered for further evaluation.

Qualification requirements in respect of each individual Lot include, inter alia: (a) an average annual construction turnover (defined as certified payments received for works in progress or completed) within the last 5 years of at least One Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD1.8M) for Lots 1&2 and One Million United States Dollars (USD$1Mn) for Lot 3. (b) an average annual design of works turnover (defined as certified payments received for works in progress or completed) within the last 5 years of at least One Quarter Million United States Dollars (USD$0.25M) for Lots 1, 2 & 3. (c) a demonstrable cash flow (including access to credit) of Three Hundred Thousand United States dollars (USD300,000) for Lots 1 and 2 and Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD$200,00) for Lot 3. (d) experience as a contractor/sub-contractor in the construction of at least two (2) assignments of a nature, scope and complexity comparable to the proposed project activity within the last ten (10) years (to comply with this requirement, works quoted should be at least 80 percent complete).

FRED MITCHELL, Fox Hill MP in the House of Assembly.

SHIPYARD WORKERS SENT HOME AFTER BOMB THREAT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

OPERATIONS at the Grand Bahama Shipyard came to a halt on Friday morning when workers were sent home for the rest of the day following a reported bomb threat.

The Tribune spoke to an employee who said workers were only told that the shipyard was closing for the day due to an emergency.

When The Tribune contacted police concerning the reported threat this newspaper was referred to shipyard officials concerning the matter. But officials could not be reached for

comment.

The disruption in operations impacted business at the shipyard, which is the largest ship care facility in the region, employing more than 800 workers.

Grand Bahama police are also questioning a 22-year-old Eight Mile Rock man in connection with an armed robbery last week.

Police received reports shortly after noon last Tuesday that a man with a handgun had entered a business in Russell Town, Eight Mile Rock and robbed the employee.

The gunman fled on foot but was later arrested by police.

TEENAGE BOY AND TEXAS MAN DIE IN SEPARATE DROWNINGS POLICE in New Providence are investigating the circumstances surrounding two apparent drowning incidents, one involving a teenage boy, which occurred last week.

According to reports, shortly after 4.30pm on Friday, the boy was swimming in waters off the western tip of Arawak Cay when he lost consciousness.

He was brought to shore, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be

performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Police also reported that a man visiting from Texas died while snorkelling off western New Providence on Thursday.

According to reports, shortly after 12.30pm, he was snorkelling with several other men in waters off western New Providence when he lost consciousness. He was transported to shore where he was pronounced dead.

(e) experience as a designer of at least two (2) assignments of a nature, scope and complexity comparable to the proposed project activity within the last ten (10) years (to comply with this requirement, works quoted should be at least 80 percent complete).

Bidding Documents may be obtained by eligible bidders from the first address below, as of Monday April 3, 2017 at 10:00 hrs Bahamas time, for a non-refundable fee equivalent to Fifty United States Dollars for each Lot. Requests may be made by written application including email. Written applications must be clearly marked: “Request for Bidding Documents for the Design & Construction of Water Supply Systems – Cat Island” along with the relevant Lot Number(s). Written requests must also include the name, address and contact information of the bidder for which Bidding Documents are being requested. Payment should be by wire transfer, bank draft or bank guaranteed cheque made payable to: Water & Sewerage Corporation.

Information to pay by wire transfer can be obtained from the first address below.

Applicants who request that documents be forwarded to them must submit an account number from a local courier agent that accepts freight collect charges. Documents will be promptly dispatched, but under no circumstance will GOCB or WSC or their authorised agent be held responsible for late delivery or loss of the documents so transmitted.

Submissions in sealed envelopes clearly marked “Bid for the Design & Construction of Water Supply Systems – Cat Island” along with the relevant Lot Number(s) and must be received at the second address below not later than 16:00 hrs Bahamas time on the 8th May, 2017. Bid opening will take place immediately after the deadline for submission at the second address below in the presence of bidders representatives who choose to attend. Qualification information only must be simultaneously submitted to the third address below. All bids must be accompanied by a completed Form of Bid Securing Declaration.

GOCB/WSC reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, and to annul the process and reject all bids, at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected prospective bidder(s) or any obligation to inform the affected prospective bidder(s) of the grounds for GOCB/WSC action. GOCB/WSC will not defray any costs incurred by any bidder in the preparation of bids.

Address for Correspondence

Address for Bid Submission and Bid Opening

Address for Completed Qualification Information Only

The Project Coordinator Water Supply Improvement Project Water & Sewerage Corporation #87 Thompson Blvd Nassau, New Providence COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS

The Office of the General Manager Attn: Internal Control and Compliance Division Water Supply Improvement Project Water & Sewerage Corporation #87 Thompson Blvd Nassau, New Providence

Procurement Officer Caribbean Development Bank P.O. Box 408, Wildey St. Michael BARBADOS, W.I., BB 11000

Tel: Fax: E-mail: CC: CC: CC:

(242) 302-5548 (242) 302-5547 wccdbproject@wsc.com.bs wcleslie@wsc.com.bs dnairn@acojvbahamas.com mvbastian@acojvbahamas.com

COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS

Tel: Fax: Email:

(246) 431-1600 (246) 426-7269 procurement@caribank.org

PAGE 12, Monday, April 3, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Minnis: Still no word on secret deal ahead of fake Baha Mar opening FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis called Baha Mar’s impending opening “fake” yesterday, saying while the government will campaign on the issue before the next election, Bahamians still do not know what is in the Christie administration’s “secret deal” with Chinese investors.

“We are on the eve of the

PLP’s campaign opening of Baha Mar,” Dr Minnis said in a statement. “A Herculean undertaking the embattled Prime Minister and his party have made a central part of their campaign. Yet the people still don’t know what’s in the PLP’s secret deal with their Chinese allies.”

He also criticised Attorney General Allyson May-

nard-Gibson’s comment last week that the government is still on track with its commitment to have the Baha Mar Supreme Court documents unsealed before the resort’s soft opening.

“Whose ‘track’ are they on - certainly not the people’s because if they were, they would have done away with all this secrecy months ago,” Dr Minnis said.

“ To question our government’s secretive ways is not ‘rooting against Bahamians,’ those are the lies of dictators and tyrants. To the contrary all Bahamians are happy to see that the long-promised opening of Baha Mar is hopefully realised, but they still want to know at what cost was this opening secured?

“We do know this gov-

ernment has cost Bahamians over $450m in salaries and wages that could have been collected had the resort had been opened as they promised years ago.

They waived the VAT for some as part of their deal and have yet to confirm whether their deal has been finalised. And many are left wondering how can this resort do a soft opening

without marketing or taking reservations?

“The FNM continues to stand with the people calling on the PLP to unseal their deal. Only then can the people be truly satisfied that the Baha Mar opening was not out of political expediency at cost too steep for them to (bear).”

Baha Mar is set for a soft opening on April 21.

CTFE CHIEF HITS OUT AT CRITICS OF ‘SOFT OPENING’ from page one

guest reservations, Mr Davis insisted that CTFE is “a lodging company that has experience” that will “open in the right fashion” to ensure that “every guest walks away with an exceptional experience and tells that in order to regain the trust that was lost in the past”.

Mr Davis comments came on Friday during a public Gaming Board hearing at the British Colonial Hilton on Sky Warrior’s casino licence application for Baha Mar. Earlier this month, Baha Mar was officially “transferred” to Hong Kongbased CTFE, despite the absence of a casino operator licence and no definite answers on when guest reservations will be accepted.

At the time, Mr Davis said guest reservations would commence “very, very soon” with the launch

GREAME Davis gives a presentation as the Gaming Board considers a licence application for Baha Mar casinos from Chow Tai Fook.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff of Baha Mar’s advertising campaign.

He went on to suggest that non-paying guests would “fill” the resort on its first day of operation, explaining that guests were “invited” for Baha Mar’s celebration and ribbon cutting to commemorate its opening.

However, the “transfer” has prompted criticism, particularly from Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, who previously questioned the Christie administration’s “election year optimism” over Baha Mar’s expected soft opening while the resort has yet to engage in any

significant marketing.

Dr Minnis also questioned why, with weeks until the soft opening, the new resort’s new owners have failed to acquire a casino licence.

“There’s been speculation and talk in the papers I don’t try to play politics, I can tell you that,” Mr Davis said on Friday. “But I can tell you that I’m a lodging executive for 30 years. And I do know how to open a hotel. And when some people say that there are no reservations and how can we be opening, they’re not in the lodging business - we are.

“And when it comes to the past experiences of opening and not opening and missing your opening dates, anyone that’s been in the lodging business knows you don’t open until the experience, your details are exceptional in every way.

And if that means you open with 10 rooms, you open with 10 rooms.

“That is the way we do it in the lodging business, not when you’re in a business to need it open for financial reasons immediately.

We are sustainable, we have great depths and resources to open this project in a

thoughtful way, in a way that we as lodging executives do.

“And it’s going to ensure that we have a preview period, that we thoughtfully open, so we don’t end up as was in the past, where we’re disappointing and ruining people’s vacations and costing millions in lost business, in lost dreams and vacations.”

He added: “We only have one more chance to get it right, and we’re not going to take risks. We’re going to open in a thoughtful way and I can assure you that it is real, and that we will be opening and our guests will be enjoying it. And we will start with invited guests which we’re full already, and we will continue as the days progress, to open up those reservations beyond.”

Mr Davis’ contributions during the public hearing, as well as during his subsequent interview with reporters, were devoid of details. However, he stated that guest reservations would take place in the coming days.

“Like I said, we only have one chance to get it right, and that’s to ensure that we open thoughtfully, that we open in a phased manner, that we can ensure the experience is exceptional on day one,” he said. “That means to ensure that our associates are trained, that we have everything working, and we’re confident that we will be.

“But we want to make sure that when those first guests arrive, which we have a tremendous amount of invited guests already, that we’re full in the first days, we’ll open that reservation system. Rest assured, we’ll open those reservations.

“This is not a sham. This is not anything other than a lodging company that has experience, that will open on our terms, that will

open in the right fashion, that will ensure that every guest walks away with an exceptional experience and tells that in order to regain the trust that was lost in the past.

“So rest assured if you’re concerned about advertising or you’re concerned about not seeing reservations online, we know what we’re doing. We’re experienced lodging executives, we have a company with a great depth of resources to ensure that we open thoughtfully and there will be guests coming in here in the very near future.”

When asked if CTFE feels confident it will receive a casino operator licence from the Gaming Board, Mr Davis said: “We’ve done a tremendous amount of work, we have hired a world class executive team, we have provided and will provide any documentation or any request from the Gaming Board to ensure that the Gaming Board is comfortable with us being the operator of the Baha Mar casino.

“But we’re very confident that we’ve addressed any concerns, all issues, and we’re excited to get opened in 21 days.”

Prime Minister Perry Christie announced Baha Mar’s sale to CTFE last December. Its April 21 opening has been branded “an election gimmick” by opposition members after it was confirmed that the acquisition by CTFE will not close until all construction work is completed.

Last month, Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, told Tribune Business that CTFE had agreed “to take possession and operate portions of the resort” until its deal with the China ExportImport Bank could close.

SUB-SEA FIBRE BREAK BLAMED FOR ISLAND-WIDE INTERNET OUTAGE

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A “CRITICAL sub-sea fibre break” to Cable Bahamas Ltd’s main BICS network in Grand Bahama was the reason for an islandwide outage in internet services throughout New Providence and some Family Islands on Saturday, the company has said.

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Cable Bahamas, in a series of updates over the weekend, said the outage, which started between noon and 1pm according to some customers, affected the company’s “broadband internet, fibre and circuit” network in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, and Eleuthera.

“The company has advised that initial investigations indicate that the cause of the interruption was a cut on its main international and inter-island BICS fibre link in Grand Bahama by a third-party company working in the area,” a Cable Bahamas statement read last night. It said it was “the first widespread internet outage” the network had experienced.

Cable Bahamas said full internet services were restored late on Saturday night after re-routing traffic through its “redundant network link”, a process which had taken “several hours”.

CBL Chief Operations Officer John Gomez said that even though all services had been confirmed restored using the re-route procedure, the company’s investigations into the cause was continuing. “We have reconnaissance and reporting teams in the field now,” he said. “They are collecting data so that we can ensure we have the most complete information we need to fully assess the damage and effect all the necessary permanent repairs.”

He said permanent repairs

were expected to be completed today.

But last night, customers were angered when there was further disruption during the popular series finale of The Walking Dead on the AMC channel.

Mr Gomez said the company would be issuing a one-day credit for the service interruption to all REVON home and business customers, to be reflected on customer statements for May. Aliv’s phone services were also down for some time on Saturday for some customers, The Tribune understands, although the cause was unclear. Cable Bahamas is Aliv’s 47.25 per cent controlling shareholder.

Last month, CBL announced that the company would offer all of its TV services to subscribers over one weekend as compensation for an “unforeseen disruption” in REVTV video services at the time.

CBL said that on 10am on March 21, it experienced service issues on its video network, resulting in multiple channels across New Providence, Abaco, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera experiencing intermittent service outages.

In 2014, bush fires damaged a primary fibre optic feed in Grand Bahama, ultimately affecting the services to cable-based broadband Internet subscribers in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 3, 2017, PAGE 13

Delay in sentencing for man guilty of choking his mother

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN facing up to 60 years in prison for beating and choking to death his 81-year-old mother must wait an additional three weeks for his sentencing.

Jerome Butler, 57, was scheduled to appear before Justice Indra Charles on Friday morning in Supreme Court for a sentencing hearing more than two months after a jury unanimously convicted him of intentionally and unlawfully causing the death of Princess Ruth Butler.

However, Crown and defence counsel requested an adjournment because the ordered probation report had only been received the day before the hearing and impeded their ability to prepare and submit written arguments to the court concerning punishment.

As a result, Justice Charles adjourned the matter to April 21 at 10am.

Butler stood trial for ten days before Justice Charles concerning the February 4, 2015 murder.

Mrs Butler was found dead in her home at Petersfield Road in Highbury Park shortly after

8am. An autopsy revealed that she died of asphyxia, and as a result of finding facial bruises and internal injuries about her body, police launched an investigation.

Her son was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court 12 days later in connection with the death. He pleaded not guilty to murder when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court three months later.

During the trial, the jury heard testimony from Corporal Chris Pickstock, who presented photos and videos extracted from a Samsung Galaxy cell phone, al-

legedly owned by Butler, on February 11.

According to Cpl Pickstock, the videos and photos were taken on February 4 at 6.30am and 6.34am.

During cross-examination by Butler’s lawyer David Cash, Cpl Pickstock acknowledged that there were “a lot” of other videos and photos in the phone.

Crime scene investigator Constable 1800 Levar Neely also testified and said he took photographs of the crime scene on February 10.

One of the photographs showed a suspected bloodstain on the bedroom floor,

the jury said.

Mr Cash asked Constable Neely if it was the “best practice” in homicide investigations to take photographs while the body was at the scene. The detective agreed with the defence lawyer’s suggestion.

Constable Neely also agreed that he could not say how many people were in the room between February 4 and 10, 2015.

The jury also heard testimony from Dr Austin Davis, who examined the body and said the initial death certificate indicated that the victim had died of natural causes as he had found

nothing peculiar about the body, except for a bloodstain on the sheet.

Sergeant 527 Basil Evans testified that he had questioned the 57-year-old at the Central Detective Unit on February 12, 2015 concerning his alleged involvement in his mother’s murder.

He denied suggestions during his video recorded interview with police that he had physically attacked his mother and choked her to death because of an argument over money he had spent on his girlfriend.

Uel Johnson and Alicia Delancy prosecuted the case.

THE RANFURLY Home for Children held a portrait hanging of the founder, Hermione Ranfurly, whose daughter, Lady Caroline Simmonds, is pictured speaking with the children about her mother while holding the painting.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

AN EASTER TREAT AND A SLICE OF HISTORY BOYS and girls at the Ranfurly Home for Children enjoyed a special early Easter treat of rollerskating with benefactor Lady Caroline Simmonds on Friday.

Lady Caroline paid a visit to the home to return a portrait of her mother, the home’s founder Hermione, Countess of Ranfurly, that was recently restored by artist and art conservator Katrina Vanderlip.

The portrait of the countess was painted in 1954 by an unknown artist.

“I noticed that the picture was in need of care and attention at the end of last year,” Lady Caroline told The Tribune on Friday. “It had termites and needed attention. Mrs Vanderlip offered very kindly to restore the painting, which she has done as a gift to Ranfurly.

“The main point of today is we’re taking all the children out this evening to the roller skating rink for an easter outing.”

The children were sporting iconic yellow t-shirts from Lovebrand, a company supporting the conservation of elephants worldwide, she said. “Rather timely on the day the Chinese had decided to co-operate,” she added.

She said the roller skating treat was being shared between her and Andrew Stanford, of Stanford Moving. “He is very kind to the children’s home. Any outing is appreciated,” she said, describing the outing as “a huge success”.

“It’s greatly appreciated when people give their time to the children. Time costs nothing ... well it does, but if you have spare time some children need extra time with computers, music instruments, help with art, reading, just one-on-one help is very much appreciated.”

The Ranfurly Home now has a brood of free-range chickens, she said, looked after by the residents and whose eggs are available for purchase, with proceeds going towards the upkeep of the institution.

Lady Caroline gave a special mention to Tropical Trading Furniture Warehouse, located in the Airport Industrial Park, for selecting the Ranfurly Home for its annual charity sponsorship this year.

“All donations are welcome, “ she said. “Can you imagine feeding 28 children, three times a day and all the laundry that goes on.

It all mounts up.”

YOUNGSTERS from the Ranfurly Home for Children who were treated to a rollerskating event.

PAGE 14, Monday, April 3, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

DNA candidate says PM ‘weak’ on VAT answers

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net DEMOCRATIC National Alliance (DNA) candidate for Garden Hills Youri Kemp on Friday blasted Prime Minister Perry Christie for what he termed a “weak performance” accounting for the value-added tax (VAT) regime that was “thin” on analysis or answers.

Mr Kemp, the party’s spokesperson for the economy and finance, joined a chorus of political groups and pundits left unsatisfied

by Mr Christie’s parliamentary address on VAT in

YOURI KEMP the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

“It was clear to anyone listening that the ‘report’

would be thin on analysis, as well as short on actual answers,” he said in a statement on Friday.

“The Bahamian people deserve better than this and we, in the Democratic National Alliance, believe wholeheartedly that change is needed and needed now.

Considering that the junior minister for finance already went on record stating that there was no possible way for a proper accounting for the VAT revenues and expenditures; and considering that there was no mid-term budget given by Christie or his junior minister, this administration not only missed the mark on the

point of giving us details on the VAT regime, but devolved their level of service to the Bahamian people.

“The DNA expected a detailed breakdown, line for line and proper analysis on how the VAT regime was performing; from what areas and sectors were they receiving VAT revenue from; and what validates the statements by the prime minister on the expenditure side with the tax revenue with VAT highlighted. We did not get that. What we got was a rally speech with no substance and misleading terms that we feel are insulting.”

Mr Kemp pointed out

that the country’s deficits were back at pre-VAT percentages, with overall debt rising to more than $7 billion, despite the fact that the tax was promoted as a measure that would decrease deficits and reduce overall debt.

Mr Kemp lamented that Mr Christie missed a chance to not only break down VAT performance as a taxation measure, but also speak to its performance in relation to customs duty.

“For example, from which sectors VAT was being extracted from primarily and how that is affecting revenue and the overall buoyancy of the economy?

He failed to deliver, and we think that he did not even know he had to deliver on that.

“Lastly, the Central Revenue Agency, which was supposed to be the newly constituted agency to assist with all of the aforementioned concerns on VAT and overall revenue management, has been set aside by this administration in what we would clarify as a purposely neglect of proper accounting and management protocols.

“It is not going to get better under this administration. It is spend, spend, and spend with no accountability. They must be changed.”

PRIME Minister Perry Christie and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin in attendance as the National Airport Developments Company (NAD) celebrates ten years in operation.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF NAD NASSAU Airport Development Company (NAD) on Saturday celebrated 10 years of operating Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) under a partnership with Vantage Airport Group and the Government of the Bahamas.

NAD began an anniversary countdown earlier this year, celebrating with a number of community activities. The private operating company also shared, on its website and social channels, a series of highlights and achievements that have helped make LPIA one of the top-ranked airports in the region. More recently, NAD recognised longserving employees, a group of more than 60 people who have worked with the company since it was inaugurated in 2007.

To further mark the occasion, Vantage Airport Group is gifting to NAD a custom art piece to be displayed at LPIA. The work will be created by local artist, Dede Brown, and will consist of several hundred fish painted in vibrant hues to capture the beauty and diversity of Bahamian sea life. It will be installed in a central, high-traffic area and will complement the airport’s existing art pieces that work together to create a uniquely Bahamian sense of place.

“It is a matter of great

CUTTING the cake at NAD. pride for me to share in this commemoration and celebration of this significant benchmark for the Lynden Pindling International Airport,” said Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation, at a special reception on Saturday at LPIA, at which the Prime minister was present.

“The last ten years have seen tremendous growth and enhancement such that our airport has distinguished itself not only in the region but globally for its beauty and standards of excellence.”

“NAD’s operations have transformed LPIA into a world-class facility that provides a welcoming first and last impression for our passengers,” said Vernice Walkine, CEO of NAD. “I am so proud to celebrate

Photo: Jay Isaacs this anniversary and the success of our airport, which is due in large part to the power of this partnership, the strength of our operations and the expertise of our employees.”

“Vantage is delighted to share in this anniversary and commemorate a decade of operations at LPIA,” said George Casey, Chair and CEO of Vantage Airport Group. “Our partnership has led to a best-in-class facility with a high-performing team that drives innovation and best practices. The result is that LPIA has a well-deserved reputation as a leading airport in the region. I’d like to thank the Government of the Bahamas for placing their trust in us to operate this important gateway airport.”

THE TRIBUNE

THE ANNUAL “Walk to Wendy”, in aid of Dr Wendy Stuart, who has Amyotrophic Laterals Sclerosis (ALS). Participants in this annual fun, run and walk headed to the home of Dr Wendy to encourage her and uplift her spirit.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

WALKING TO

WENDY DR WENDY STUART, who has Amyotrophic Laterals Sclerosis (ALS).

Monday, April 3, 2017, PAGE 15