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VOLUME:114 No.94, APRIL 5TH, 2017
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EASTER COLOURING CONTEST: SEE PAGE 7 IN BUSINESS
Election date in early May
BAHA MAR GRANTED LICENCE FOR CASINO
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net BAHA Mar has received government approvals for its gaming licence, clearing the path for its casino operations ahead of its soft launch in three weeks, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe confirmed yesterday. Mr Wilchcombe said the approvals for a gaming SEE PAGE SIX
Nottage says vote in first fortnight of next month By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net AS PRIME Minister Perry Christie last night described the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) election campaign as a “short sprint” with a “big battle ahead,” a timeline of the “first week or the second week of May” was revealed as when the electorate could expect to head to the polls. Before a raucous crowd of party supporters last night at the T G Glover Primary School, Bain and Grants Town MP Dr Bernard Nottage, who also has responsibility for elections and referenda, said he was
certain that the party under Mr Christie’s leadership would return to the helm of government in the first half of May. An energetic and “confident” Mr Christie further revealed that Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis will “ring the bell” signaling the end of voter registration and the full swing of campaign season. “I say without a fear of contradiction that this is the best political party in the nation, in the region (and) in the world,” Dr Nottage said. “And when the first week or the second week of May comes, this party SEE PAGE THREE
FNM: CARNIVAL IS LATEST ‘BOO BOO’ FOR GOVT By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis last night railed against Prime Minister Perry Christie and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government for failing to address crime, wasting value added tax (VAT) money and most recently
making a “boo boo” out of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. Addressing scores of supporters at a joint branch meeting in Golden Gates, Dr Minnis reiterated that an administration led by him would not “waste the people’s money on foolishness” but instead would privatise Junkanoo Carnival. SEE PAGE THREE
OMAR Archer pictured at the Magistrates Court yesterday.
Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
OMAR ARCHER DENIED BAIL IN CRIMINAL LIBEL CASE By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
OMAR Archer Sr’s apology yesterday to a magistrate for failing to appear in court four months ago for his criminal libel case was not sufficient to spare him being remanded to prison.
The 45-year-old Nassau Village resident was flanked by armed policemen as he was brought to the Nassau and South Streets Magistrate’s Court complex concerning a pending intentional libel charge brought against him in September, 2015. The allegation concerned
defamatory posts against a woman on the former political candidate’s Facebook page in April, 2015, in which he claimed she had a medical illness, was a substance abuser and had a baby in a bucket. The complainant had refuted the claims when the case commenced in No-
vember, 2016, and the matter was adjourned to December 30 for Archer Sr to present his defence. In yesterday’s hearing before Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis, the magistrate informed Archer Sr that there was a warrant of SEE PAGE SEVEN
BANDS: ROAD FEVER PARADE FESTIVALGOERS TAKE TO SHOULD STAY UNCHANGED SOCIAL MEDIA IN ANGER By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
AFTER the postponement of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival by two weeks, angry members of the Bahamas Carnival Band Owners Association (BCBOA) said they still want to forge ahead with the event’s Road Fever parade as originally scheduled. Representatives of the
BCBOA told the media yesterday that the group wants to keep the commitment of hosting the street parade on May 6. They also said the group will ask the government for permission so that overseas participants who have already paid for travel arrangements to attend the festival do not lose out. The Bahamas National Festival Commission SEE PAGE FIVE
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FESTIVAL-GOERS far and wide expressed disgust yesterday over the sudden date change for the third annual Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, accusing organisers of sabotaging the fledgling event and negatively impacting the culture of the popular showpiece. Participants interviewed
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
by The Tribune yesterday were incredulous at the explanation given by the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) and expressed shock that an event of its magnitude could be arbitrarily set aside. “I’ve never heard anything like this,” said Tahlia Welsh-Oliver, a 31-year-old Trinidadian who booked a cruise package for her SEE PAGE FIVE
PAGE 2, Wednesday, April 5, 2017
THE FREE National Movement regional candidates launch at World Outreach Ministries last night.
THE TRIBUNE
Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
A PLP supporter in party mood last night. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PLP supporters gathering at last night’s event.
THE FREE National Movement regional candidates launch last night. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
GETTING the crowd stirred up at the PLP event. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
YOUNGSTERS at last night’s FNM event. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, April 5, 2017, PAGE 3
Election date in early May from page one under the leadership of Bernadette’s husband (Mr Christie) is going to return to the government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.” The revelations came during the PLP’s joint constituency meeting for Bain and Grants Town, Killarney, Mount Moriah and Fort Charlotte where Dr Nottage, realtor Reneika Knowles, former Attorney General Alfred Sears and attorney Arnold Forbes respectively are contesting the constituencies. As he spoke to supporters, Mr Christie made a strong push for Bahamians to register to vote, while painting his party as an organisation that is unified and led by an incumbent with strong leadership characteristics. He said: “I can begin by saying there is no stopping us now. My brothers and sisters, I have given fair warning to the country. Next week the House of Assembly will be dissolved and the bell would have rung. Remember now, don’t look for Brave Davis to come up here tonight and ring the bell, but very, very soon Brave Davis will ring the bell and when the bell is rung you had better be ready. There will be no more time to register. So if you have not registered yet, please go out this week and get registered. “Listen, make sure your friends and your neighbours who are going to support the PLP, make sure they are registered. Those of you who are campaigning, this is the time to be resolute in your commitment to ensure that our supporters are registered. “Listen now, we have a short sprint and I’m using the word sprint, this ain’t no long distance race, but a big battle is ahead. “We need all hands on deck. You hear what I am saying? We need to have all hands on deck. So I stand here tonight, filled with confidence about our country’s future. I know how much work we have
MINISTER for National Security Dr Bernard Nottage at last night’s PLP event. done. I know we have more So therefore I am asking work left to be done. But you to fight along side our I also know that we have candidates all of you who come a long way, but we are here this evening.” have put in place a strong He added: “It is going foundation so that we can to be very important that grow and reach more Baha- you just not come out to mians,” Mr Christie said. rallies, that you come out “This is the team for to cheer, come out to listen this country. These are the to the music, but that you members of Parliament make yourself available to for this country. The con- walk with our candidates, fidence that I have comes to fight with our candifrom the strength of the dates.” team that we have. On Monday, Mr Christie “I think we can all agree said he is not “confused” the Progressive Liberal about when the election Party is the only party will be called, however a PRIME Minister Perry Christie last night. strong enough and united specific date has not been enough to take this coun- announced. try forward. And there is a He revealed on Sunday lot of stake in this election night that Parliament will too. That is always true of be dissolved on Tuesday, every election, but it is par- April 11, and election writs ticularly true now in a world will be issued that day. that is changing rapidly,” he In a statement from the continued. Office of the Prime Minis“We know how to chart ter, Mr Christie implored our course forward true to those who have not yet regour Bahamian values. istered to vote in the next “The difference between election to do so quickly, us and the others is, not because April 10 is the only are we strong and unit- deadline. ed, but we have the vision According to the Parliaand the ideas. We have the mentary Elections Act, an intestinal fortitude, in other election must be held 21 to AN EMBRACE for FNM leader words we have the strength 30 days after election writs Dr Hubert Minnis last night. to take the country forward. are issued. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
FNM: CARNIVAL IS LATEST ‘BOO BOO’ FOR GOVT from page one
He said the way the government made a “boo boo” out of the event proves “they don’t care and they lack compassion.” On Monday, less than a week after officials announced the event’s lineup, Prime Minister Perry Christie confirmed that the 2017 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival has been postponed until after the general election. The news has “blindsided” key stakeholders and vendors, who decried the confusion, likely damage to the country’s reputation and potential financial losses resulting from the date change. The event has been pushed back from May 4-6 to May 18-20 in Nassau. Festival organisers announced on Tuesday that they will also drop its Grand Bahama events. The Grand Bahama installment was originally set for April 21 and 22, and the pre-event included the Music Masters semi-finals competition. The loss of the major event will likely be considered a setback for the island’s struggling economy. “Look how they have made a boo boo out of Carnival. Can’t even decide on a date, inconveniencing many who had already made plans. The FNM will privatise carnival,” Dr Minnis said. In an interview with The Tribune earlier in the day, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie said the FNM “has no plans” to cancel the controversial event if the party wins the next election. At the Golden Gates
FMM leader Dr Hubert Minnis. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff Park on Tuesday night, Dr Minnis also said “Cotton Candy Christie” is in for a rude awakening and poked fun at the “small crowds” he claimed the PLP is attracting at its rallies, which the PLP has billed as regional branch meetings. The Killarney MP said Mr Christie no longer has the “stamina and work ethic” to be the country’s leader and it is time for the Centreville MP to be retired for good. “Did you hear the joke about someone going to Christie Saturday past and telling him that the PLP was going to win again? When Christie got excited and asked if this was true, the person responded: ‘April Fool,” Dr Minnis said. “Cotton Candy Christie is having a rude awakening. He believes that people like to hear him talk. The truth is, most Bahamians have already tuned him out. He couldn’t even get 20 people to show up and listen to him at the University of the Bahamas the other night. The joint rally for North and South Abaco was a complete flop. “There were rows and rows of empty chairs. Most Bahamians know that Christie no longer has the energy to be prime minister. PLPs are telling me Christie is not up
to the job. Christie is falling asleep in front of investors. He is falling asleep in front of school children. He is falling asleep in meetings. I’m told he even dives conch in Cabinet.” Dr Minnis said Mr Christie is “angry and confused” and has set a very “bad example” from the top. “Given the demands the country faces, we need a prime minister who has the stamina and work ethic to do the job,” Dr Minnis said. “Because he will not retire voluntarily, the Bahamian people will retire him in short order. If being prime minister was just about talking all the time, Christie would be the man for the job. But he is no longer up to the job. “Christie is angry and tired and confused. That’s why he stuck up his middle finger the other day. Christie is in serious trouble in Centreville. Yesterday (Monday) he used more indecent language talking to students at the University of the Bahamas. He had to quickly apologise for once again being rude and setting a bad example.” Dr Minnis said the support for the FNM “is overwhelming and growing day by day” and many PLPs are now ready to vote for the opposition party.
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PAGE 4, Wednesday, April 5, 2017
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Civil rights law prohibits LGBT discrimination CHICAGO (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled for the first time Tuesday that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBT employees from workplace discrimination, setting up a likely battle before the Supreme Court as gay rights advocates push to broaden the scope of the 53-yearold law. The 8-to-3 decision by the full 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago comes just three weeks after a threejudge panel in Atlanta ruled the opposite, saying employers aren’t prohibited from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation. The 7th Circuit is considered relatively conservative and five of the eight judges in the majority were appointed by Republican presidents, making the finding all the more notable. The case stems from a lawsuit by Indiana teacher Kimberly Hively alleging that the Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend didn’t hire her full time because she is a lesbian. In an opinion concurring with the majority, Judge Richard Posner wrote that changing norms call for a change in interpretation of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin or sex. “I don’t see why firing a lesbian because she is in the subset of women who are lesbian should be thought any less a form of sex discrimination than firing a woman because she’s a woman,” wrote the judge, who was appointed by Republican Ronald Reagan. The decision comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has begun setting its own policies on LGBT rights. Late in January, the White House declared Trump would enforce an Obama administration order barring companies that do federal work from workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual identity. But in February, it revoked guidance on transgender students’ use of public school bathrooms, deferring to states. Hively said after Tuesday’s ruling that she agreed to bring the case because she felt she was being “bullied.” She told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that the time has come “to stop punishing people for being gay, being lesbian, being transgender.” “This decision is game changer for lesbian and gay employees facing discrimination in the workplace and sends a clear message to employers: it is against the law to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation,” said Greg Nevins, of Lambda Legal, which brought the case on behalf of Hively. Ivy Tech said in a statement that its policies specifically bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and that it denies discriminating against Hively, a factual question separate from the 7th Circuit’s
finding regarding the law. The Chicago ruling came on the anniversary of the assassination of civil rights icon Martin Luther King, whose marches against racism prompted Congress to pass the landmark civil law. A GOP-majority House and Senate make it unlikely the current Congress will amend the Civil Rights Act, likely leaving it for the Supreme Court to decide. Debate in the Hively case revolved around the meaning of the word ‘sex’ in Title VII, the section of the law that deals with discrimination. Other courts have concluded that Congress meant for the word to refer only to whether a worker was male or female. They said that it would be wrong to stretch the meaning of ‘sex’ in the statute to include sexual orientation. The majority of the 7th Circuit sided with a broader meaning. “Any discomfort, disapproval, or job decision based on the fact that the complainant — woman or man — dresses differently, speaks differently, or dates or marries a same-sex partner, is a reaction purely and simply based on sex. That means that it falls within Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination ...,” Judge Diane Wood, a President Bill Clinton appointee, wrote for the majority. The dissenting opinion — written by Judge Diane Sykes, a conservative who was on Trump’s list of possible Supreme Court appointees — said the majority were stretching the meaning of the law’s text too far. “We are not authorized to infuse the text with a new or unconventional meaning or to update it to respond to changed social, economic, or political conditions.” The dissent alludes to the judicial philosophy of Trump’s high-court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, who advocates adhering largely to original legislative texts in deciding legal disputes. “It’s understandable that the court is impatient to protect lesbians and gay men from workplace discrimination without waiting for Congress to act. Legislative change is arduous and can be slow to come. But we’re not authorized to amend Title VII by interpretation,” Sykes wrote. Posner, though, said sticking to outdated meanings and cultural standards didn’t make sense. “It is well-nigh certain that homosexuality, male or female, did not figure in the minds of the legislators who enacted Title VII,” he wrote in his concurring opinion. “(Lawmakers in the 1960s) shouldn’t be blamed for that failure of foresight,” he wrote. “We understand the words of Title VII differently not because we’re smarter than the statute’s framers and ratifiers but because we live in a different era, a different culture.” By Michael Tarm, AP Legal Affairs Writer
Candidate endorsements EDITOR, The Tribune NOW that we are just days away from the general elections which will usher in a new government, on behalf of the Gatekeepers I commence the serious task of endorsing candidates who are offering themselves as prospective parliamentarians. This country would be aware that I have previously endorsed Branville McCartney and the administrative team of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA). This was done not because I decided to join the DNA party. I gave them my endorsement because I was directed by God to do so, and today I reaffirm that decision, as I most definitely and sincerely believe that Mr McCartney will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of The Bahamas,
following the general elections. It must be clear that I am not a DNA. I am still the leader of the Gatekeepers. The Gatekeepers is not a political party and is not fielding any candidates. I decided to endorse the DNA, because the Lord directed me to do so. It does not necessarily follow that I will automatically endorse every DNA candidate. I do plan to endorse a candidate for every constituency, and each will be on his or her own merit. Today, I also reaffirm my endorsement of Shonel Ferguson (FNM) for Fox Hill and Dr Kendal Major (PLP) for Garden Hills. There are some fundamental reasons why I have settled on the endorsement of those individuals at this juncture.
At some subsequent time I will elaborate on my rationalisation for endorsing those individuals, and the many others, following nomination day. It is my considered assessment, that the old traditional parties (PLP and FNM) have failed The Bahamas, have outlasted their shelf life and are now toxic to the national health of The Bahamas. Thus it is now time for a paradigm shift. It is time for Bahamians to put character above personality, and party; and God and country, above all. Let us pray fervently, for God’s guidance as we prepare for the upcoming general elections. PASTOR JEREMIAH DUNCOMBE Nassau, April 4, 2017
PM falling apart at the seams EDITOR, The Tribune ARE reports true that Prime Minister Perry Christie told an audience that it is easy to “piss away” money? If so, this crude language comes on the heels of the PM raising his middle finger at an opponent who alleged that he is currently constructing condos on Cable Beach. One look at the still photo of Christie and his crude gesture reveals a man who seems to be very angry. Whatever one makes of the PM’s latest gaffe, it was an unwitting admission that his administration has squandered $1 billion in VAT revenues with hardly anything to show for it. Just last week it was revealed that the $17.069 million that was earmarked for the Prime Minister’s Office in 2016 mushroomed to a colossal $79.947m. That budget went over by $62.8m. This can help explain
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net why the country has suffered four downgrades and has hit junk status. Also, I understand that the rally in Abaco for North Abaco MP Renardo Curry and Central and South Abaco candidate Eva Bain was a complete flop. Despite the presence of Christie, Brave Davis, V Alfred Gray, Edison Key and other influential PLPs, the event only had about 90 Abaconians in attendance. When a party has to depend on a 76-year-old man you know that party is in very deep trouble. Key has no more political capital. The embarrassingly dismal attendance portends disaster ahead for Christie, who must now be coming to the sobering realisation that his grip on the PM’s job is rapidly slipping away. Even the presence of the incumbent Key was met with
a ‘meh’ attitude on that island. In the past four weeks the PLP has held two church functions. After walking all over the Christian community like a doormat and calling the late Dr Myles Munroe “stupid”, the PLP wants to now sit up in church and talk about praying for God’s guidance when that very same guidance was shoved aside in order to pander to the wealthy numbers boys in 2013 when the election was eons away. Now that D-day is only weeks away, they are trying to fake piety with the hopes that the church has forgotten the utter contempt it was shown by Christie and his ministers. The sudden announcement that Junkanoo Carnival 2017 has been delayed also signifies that the PM is running scared and is falling apart at the seams. THE WHISTLEBLOWER Nassau, April 3, 2017
What we care about EDITOR, The Tribune I AM writing this because I hope that others will add their input to the topic “What we care about”. In this season of an election looming very shortly, it might be an idea to get those persons ambitious enough to stand in the various constituencies to focus on the things that are important to us individuals. So “what do I care about” that is not working in this country at the present time? Of course, each person has different issues from their neighbour. So let’s hear what the most important issues are and perhaps The Tribune can provide a table of the issues in order of importance.
I am only listing six but there are many others. I care about: 1) The dump - it is a very serious health issue for many. Needs a total makeover. 2) Prices - prices of everyday products seem to be rising daily, largely it seems due to taxation increases or other Government legislation. 3) The streets - full of potholes or manholes not fixed and causing severe damage to vehicle tyres and suspensions. 4) Power - cost of electricity is ridiculously high and the power outages are unacceptable. 5) Post Office - a postal service that is seriously inefficient and a main Post
Office that is a disgrace to the nation and unfair to the people working there. 6) Education - the chance for every young Bahamian to gain a satisfactory education to allow them to hold down a good job, either in the Bahamas or overseas. As I said, there are many others but, if each writer supplies five, perhaps whoever is the next Government will get a pretty good idea of what is important to the general public. If they care! “What We Care About “ should be a slogan so vote for a “What We Care About” candidate. PATRICK H THOMSON Nassau, April 4, 2017.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, April 5, 2017, PAGE 5
Grand Bahama residents left feeling ‘cut out’ by government By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
WITH Grand Bahama’s economy in the doldrums, the last thing residents expected to happen was the cancellation of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival (BJC) in Freeport. For the past two years the BJC kick-off event, featuring the semi-finals of the Music Masters competition, not only provided an economy boost to the island but attracted thousands to the Taino Beach Village for two days of Bahamian music, culture and food. The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) announced yesterday that it is dropping the Grand Bahama events, which were originally set for April 21 and 22. “It is again very unfortunate that the government
has seen it fit, in an economy that is almost dying, to cut us out of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival,” said resident Lionel Morley. He stressed that while he does not disagree with the way in which Junkanoo Carnival is operated, he disagreed with BNFC’s decision. “We disagree at this time, especially in Freeport for anything that has any economic value in Freeport to be taken away especially by those who is supposed to be promoting it. This leaves a very bitter taste in mouths of Grand Bahamians, who have supported the event two years in a row,” said Mr Morley. Vendors, security firms, production companies, Junkanooers, event planners, travel agents, taxi-drivers, artisans, musicians and production crews all benefitted from BJC. Last year, an estimated
16,000 people attended, and it was reported by a local organiser that some $1m to $2m was injected into the Grand Bahama economy from BJC in 2015. Mr Morley believes that the cancellation of the Freeport events is indicative of the Christie administration’s lack of commitment to Grand Bahama. “It questions the PLP’s commitment to the citizens and residents in Freeport, and its commitment to Freeport on the whole. And we as a people have to ask ourselves the question, who can we trust? “It is most unfortunate for the vendors that this mainstay once every year for the last couple of years now, have nothing to look forward to this year. “This is a dying economy in Freeport, there is no questioning about that. There has been no injection of new investors. As much
and public relations, I do some travelling for events,” the insider said. “If I was put in this position where you (postpone) something couple days in advance, I would never come back. I don’t want to make it seem that elections are trivial; I’m saying the reason for (postponing) it is trivial.” In a press statement yesterday, the BNFC explained that it made the “difficult decision” to postpone the event due to conflicts with the general election timetable. While it is expected that the general election will be held in early May, a specific date has not yet been announced. The commission further advised that the Grand Bahama celebrations, originally set for April 21 and 22, have been cancelled altogether with event downsized to just one island on one weekend. “You’re (delaying) it because of a potential conflict with rallies?” the insider continued. “How stupid is that? The Prime Minister said he wanted to create opportunities for people to make money. If an artist can perform for Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival on Saturday afternoon and then again at other rallies, isn’t that a good thing? There are many venues across New Providence, there are many people with sound systems.
“I’m not buying it in the slightest. The commission has to do a better job of convincing people why they recommended that Carnival be postponed. I think chairman (Paul Major) and CEO (Roscoe Dames) have to be honest.” Meanwhile, BCBOA President Dario Tirelli confirmed last night that the association is drafting an email outlining potential losses and alternate plans. He told The Tribune it was important for the bands to be united in their response given the immense international pressure and scrutiny. Mr Tirelli said: “We promised them to send an email on request for potential loss, what we want to do, and assistance from them on what they want to do. There was some bands with no representation in the meeting and I’m waiting on all of them. We want to make sure everybody has an input and have the same script. “We’re still nationalists, and we have to figure out a way that we can salvage this.”
‘WE STILL WANT ROAD FEVER’ from page one
(BNFC) and key stakeholders are still in talks over how best they can mitigate the local and international fallout from the impromptu date change for the third annual event, with insiders projecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. The BNFC met with BCBOA yesterday but the discussions did not broach the topic of reimbursement, according to one insider, who expressed grave concerns over the future of the event and the industry. “They’re having some level of discussion based upon the potential losses and the options available for either the band owners, other stakeholders, but no one’s talking reimbursement,” said the insider, who did not want to be named. “You’re looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses, some of the stuff that they can’t even quantify because there are so many other auxiliary services being provided for persons travelling to attend carnival. “We’re trying to see how can we balance the situation that Festival Commission has, that the government has, and that we have - so you’re dealing with three different sides. “I work in social media
Fury Infuriated by the sudden date change, scores also flocked to the event’s social media pages to demand a full refund and vent their frustrations. Stephan Rolle, owner of
as we complain about the management style of Carnival, we adamantly object and disagree with them taking it away, especially when they are using the purse of the Bahamian people.” Mr Morley said it is sad that Grand Bahama continues to be left out. “They continually show that they are Nassau-centric; the PLP government has abandoned ship on us twice after winning three seats in Grand Bahama, and now they have decided at the ninth hour we are not going to have it in Freeport. They are saying to us with even with your own money we don’t want to do nothing for you, even though you gat to pay the bill.” He is calling on the government to rethink their position. Since October, Grand Bahama’s tourism sector has been experiencing a sig-
nificant decline in both air and cruise arrivals following the closure of two major hotels and a casino in Lucaya because of hurricane damage. Some 1,000 jobs have been lost in the sector and unemployment levels are high. Resident Shane Carey said that Grand Bahama’s economy is struggling. “For them to cancel carnival this year is unwise because we need something to keep our heads above water. We need to get this economy going in Freeport.” Mr Carey claimed that the government has always been unfair to Grand Bahama. “They treated us like an outside child,” he commented. He thinks that BJC is a good thing for the Bahamas; however, he does not agree with the way it being run. “BJC is running a defi-
cit, but it will soon return a profit. If we continue to build it up, it will pay off,” he added. Mr Carey said postponing the event in Nassau was another poor decision by the government. BNFC officials announced that the event will be pushed back to May 1820, two weeks later than originally scheduled. “They should get it out the way so that it does not conflict with the election,” said Mr Carey, who predicts that there will be a change in government after votes are cast. “Last election I got all the seats right and I publicly forecasted it on the radio show. This election, Grand Bahama is going to win four seats for the FNM and eight in the Family Islands; Abaco, Eleuthera, Long Island, one seat in Andros and a win Exuma. The FNM is going to win by 28 seats or more,” he said.
REVELLERS march and dance in a previous Road Fever parade. Bluemonkey Bahamas, has them the experience that been outspoken about the they paid for. How exactly negative impact his busi- we’re going to do that is still ness, Bahamas Carnival up in the air. We sent an Cruise, which has booked email out at about 7 (Tuesmore than 100 carnival-go- day) morning and for the ers on an all-inclusive week- most part everybody who end cruise from Miami to has seen the email already Nassau. Mr Rolle said he has said ‘hey I want my fears the setback will take money back’. “Some have said I’m willhis company out of the race for future events as travel- ing to come to the Bahamas lers are requesting full or and do the cruise, but whatever is the Carnival porpartial refunds. “I have so much money tion of it I want that money invested in this,” Mr Rolle back. It’s not only the cruise said. “Unlike some of the but also the Carnival expecarnival bands, I don’t have rience that they’re paying sponsors. The only sponsor for,” Mr Rolle said. “I think this is going to for me is my bank account at RBC. I told the people completely take us out of (at the BNFC meeting) the race of what we do, but ‘listen, this is nonsense, we I think it will take Bahamas can’t allow this to happen in Junkanoo Carnival out of the race internationally. this manner’. “I sent a message to my For BJC to succeed it has travellers, we’re going to do to have a large international our endeavour best to give following, it will not suc-
ceed based on this. Other carnivals are capitalising on this; they’re saying ‘hey come to Jamaica we ain’t cancel’.” The BNFC pledged that the event will still deliver “three non-stop nights of cultural activities and performances with a top lineup of Bahamian musicians and regional artists; and revellers will still storm the streets on Saturday afternoon (May 20) for Road Fever.” The statement added: “The commission regrets any inconvenience caused to participants as a result of the change in date and encourages fans of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival to prepare for a weekend of pure music, culture and vibes from Thursday to Saturday, May 18-20.” • V Alfred Gray defends change, see page six
FESTIVALGOERS TAKE TO SOCIAL MEDIA IN ANGER from page one
husband and their six friends from New Jersey. Mrs Welsh-Oliver, an experienced participant, said her husband chose to come to The Bahamas because he felt the relatively new event had promise. She and her group have booked hotel rooms and flights to Miami before the cruise’s departure, and will not be able to attend the new Junkanoo Carnival dates. A self-described carnival advocate, Mrs WelshOliver told The Tribune she has already called both the cruise line and the BNFC directly to inquire about whether the change was final. She said she was giving organisers another day or two before she started requesting full refunds. “We had a surprise last night (Monday),” she said. “We cannot come for the new date, we have other things planned. So there’s thousands of dollars for about six people that’s going to be lost. It’s a huge inconvenience in the history of carnival. I’m from Trinidad so once the festival is over you’re immediately taking bookings for next year’s fete.” Mrs Welsh-Oliver added: “It’s a big deal. This doesn’t just impact their reputation, The Bahamas’, but it affects people’s perception of carnival in general. The people coming with us, this would be their first carnival and we talked it up so much. Up
until yesterday we were still talking about how good it’s was gonna be. “For people who are first time ‘mas’ players, it’s not only affecting The Bahamas but the culture as whole. If your first time is bad you’re going to remember that. I’ve never heard anything like this.” Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will now be held in Nassau from May 18-20, two weeks after the heavily publicised initial date of May 4-6. The Grand Bahama celebrations, originally set for April 21 and 22, have been cancelled altogether with event downsized to just one island on one weekend. Infuriated by the sudden date change, scores flocked to the BNFC’s social media pages to demand a full refund and vent their frustrations. While some predicted that the misstep would irreparably damage the event’s brand and the country’s reputation, others pledged to pursue relentlessly a full reimbursement from organisers and even more threatened international news exposure over their ruined holidays and lost funds. An angry Facebook user wrote: “This is ridiculous! You had plenty of us from the States waiting to travel and invested non-refundable money into costumes, flights and hotels that can’t be changed! Thousands have already been paid out to come for the dates that have been advertised for a year and a month out you
change dates!” The user continued: “This is disgustingly irresponsible! (You’re) going to (lose) not only money but respect and future business with operating like this!” Another Facebook user posted: “Less than one month and you postpone? And for no better reason than you just feel to? How very inconsiderate! So all the tourists who have already booked their flights, costumes and accommodations I guess it’s just too bad for them? “How very incompetent and small minded of the promoters/government. Moving forward I don’t see how you can recover from this massive failure,” the user wrote. “No one is going to want to spend their money on something that is so undependable! Destroying Bahamas Carnival before it has even gotten off the ground is how I see this move!” On Instagram, one user wrote: “This is the first time I would have been attending Bahamas (Junkanoo) Carnival and this a blemish on your carnival. I have been to over ten carnivals around the world and I can’t imagine this would happen so close to the event.” The user continued: “I’m travelling from Belize and there is no way I will ever come back and I will be sure to let people on my blog know about it.” Another Instagram user wrote: “So disappointed,
flights and hotel accommodations booked! Money down the drain, I hope to get a full refund. Don’t worry I’ll make sure this makes international news to let folks know the Bahamas
folks are full of it. So I’m (guessing) prior to setting the original dates you guys were not aware of upcoming elections in the country. Just shameful.” The BNFC yesterday
explained that it made the “difficult decision” to postpone the event due to conflicts with the general election timetable. Complaint video, see tribune242.com
PAGE 6, Wednesday, April 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Attorney general says Baha Mar documents released this month By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE release of the sealed Supreme Court Baha Mar documents will take place this month, Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson assured yesterday, although it is uncertain whether the documents will be made public before the government’s self-imposed deadline. Mrs Maynard-Gibson told reporters outside Cabinet yesterday morning that the documents would be released some time this month. However, she declined to specify whether
the documents would be released prior to the April 21 soft opening of Baha Mar, as she has previously declared, or after. In January, following a wave of fierce scrutiny levelled at his administration over the sealing of documents related to the new Baha Mar deal with CTF BM Holdings, a subsidiary of Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd (CTFE) the month before, Prime Minister Perry Christie told reporters that Mrs MaynardGibson had been directed to have the records made public at the “earliest opportunity”. The documents were
sealed at the request of the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM), Mr Christie has said. Later that month, Mrs Maynard-Gibson said that the release of the Baha Mar documents would “most definitely” be released before the soft opening of the resort, which is set for April 21. As recently as last week, she told The Tribune that the Christie administration is “fully on track” to honouring its commitment to push for the release of the documents. When asked for a date when the documents might be released, Mrs May-
nard-Gibson said yesterday: “During the month of April.” When asked if this would happen before or after April 21, Mrs MaynardGibson gave the same response. Last month, former Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer said there is much confusion over how the judgment of a publicly-heard civil case could be sealed so that no one, outside the judge who heard the case, Mrs Maynard-Gibson and lawyers for the parties involved, would know the contents. Dame Joan said clearly where there was no matter of defence, public safety
or public order in effect to cause the decision not to be made public. Dame Joan said “on the other hand it may be argued that because Crown land and money from the Consolidated Fund was used to pay employees of Baha Mar (money that was said to be owed to China Construction Company for the construction of the new road from the airport) that the interests of justice required the decision and the reason for it to be made public, especially when it appears to reasonable persons that there may have been a conflict of interest on the part of the government’s main
adviser, the learned Attorney General, who has subsequently reported that there was a sale to a Hong Kong entity and then that the sale is not complete.” Mr Christie announced the official sale of Baha Mar to CTF BM Holdings in December, at the time stating that the resort was set for a phased opening beginning in April, 2017, and a full completion by this fall. However, Mr Christie did not disclose the sale price of Baha Mar, adding that details of the deal are still sealed by the Supreme Court at the request of CEXIM.
GRAY DEFENDS DELAY OF FESTIVAL By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
AGRICULTURE Minister V Alfred Gray yesterday defended the controversial decision by Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival officials to postpone this year’s festivities, claiming that the delay was the “best possible solution” given the circumstances and that festival organisers “acted in the best interest” of Bahamians. Mr Gray, speaking before heading into a Cabinet meeting, said for “whatever fallout” that might occur as a result of the controversial date change, there is “a better reason why it might have to be (postponed),” adding that festival organisers “must have weighed all of the options” before making the contentious decision. However, Mr Gray said time will tell just how massive the fallout from the announced delay will be and “what the advantages are, if any”. On Monday, Prime Minister Perry Christie confirmed that the date for the New Providence leg of this year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival festivities has been suspended until after the general election. An election date has not been set; however the Office of the Prime Minister in a press statement on Sunday, announced that Parliament will be dissolved on April 11. Officials have since confirmed that Junkanoo Carnival (Nassau) will now be held from May 18-20, two weeks after the heavily publicided initial date of May 4-6. Festival organisers also announced yesterday that they will also drop their Grand Bahama events, which were originally set for April 21 and 22. The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BFNC) explained that it made the “difficult decision” to postpone the event due to conflicts with the general election timetable in a press statement and posted to the event’s Facebook account. The postponement of
V ALFRED GRAY Nassau’s festivities has key Bahamas, told report“blindsided” some Junka- ers that the date change noo Carnival key stake- would negatively impact holders, with one travel his business, Bahamas company expressing disap- Carnival Cruise, which has pointment and fear over po- booked more than 100 cartential damage to the event’s nival-goers on an all-inclubrand, as well as financial sive weekend cruise from losses up to $25,000 as a re- Miami to Nassau. sult of the date change. He challenged Mr ChrisMeanwhile, the loss of tie to give the festival the the Bahamas Junkanoo same level of respect as the Carnival in Grand Bahama annual Junkanoo parades. will likely be considered He predicted the confusion another setback for the is- would “put the nail in the land’s struggling economy coffin” for the controversial and high unemployment. event and damage its inter“I’m not responsible for national reputation. (Junkanoo Carnival), and Mr Rolle estimated more so I make very little com- than $25,000 in losses for ment, except to say that his company from marketthose who made the deci- ing costs to securing the sion must have weighed all cruise vessel. As for his of the options and came up travellers, he projected with the best possible solu- their collective losses would tion for the time being,” Mr exceed $150,000. Gray said. “I would leave it Meanwhile, Bahamas there, because I know that Carnival Band Owners Aspeople are wise, people are sociation (BCBOA) Presismart, and you’ve got to dent Dario Tirelli told The weigh the options. You just Tribune that the news had can’t have everything at the “blindsided” his associasame time. tion. “And so I’d leave it like When asked if he felt that that, but I’m sure that what- the Christie administration ever fallout might be there will suffer politically from is a better reason why it the decision to postpone might have to be (post- the event, Mr Gray said: poned). And so reasonable “Well I don’t know the basis people will act reasonably upon which people are up… It may not happen today set, but I think I indicated but it will happen sometime that reasonable people act in the future. reasonably. “I’m sure those who had “I’m sure the reasons costumes made and all that would be given for the need will be able to use them then. to postpone it, and no matBut it’s just so much you can ter what you do somebody do at any one time and the is going to be disappointed. decision is made to postpone And so I’m sure the organit, so we’ll wait to see what isers and those who have the fallout is and what the the capacity to postpone advantages are if any.” would have acted in the best On Monday, Stephan interest of the Bahamian Rolle, owner of Bluemon- people.” Last week, the BNFC announced the line-up of entertainers for the third annual event and made no mention of a planned delay in the controversial festival.
SENIOR PLPs including Prime Minister Perry Christie in the Baha Mar casino after it was announced that the resort was being handed over to Chow Tai Fook Enterprises.
BAHA MAR GRANTED LICENCE FOR CASINO from page one
licence and associated certificates of suitability were granted after a comprehensive probity investigation, and on the recommendation of the Gaming Board. He noted that there were no written comments or objections from the public within the designated 21-day period after the application was advertised, in compliance with requirements of the Gaming Act 2014. The gaming application was submitted by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) subsidiary Sky Warrior Bahamas Ltd, trading as Baha Mar. In a statement yesterday, Mr Wilchcombe said: “As required by the (Gaming) Act, a comprehensive probity investigation was conducted into the application. Through this investigation, which was based on all the eligibility criteria for licensing contained in the Act, the applicant and all persons, whether natural or juristic, holding a direct or indirect financial interest of five per cent or more in it were thoroughly examined against these criteria. “Under Section 20(2) of the Act, the Gaming Board for the Bahamas held a hearing in respect of the application, including having
hosted a gathering, which was accessible to the public, at which the applicant presented the key features of the project to which its application for a gaming licence pertained, and responded to questions posed to it by the public.” Mr Wilchcombe’s statement continued: “The Gaming Board, having considered the application and the report submitted to it in respect of the probity investigation, recommended the approval of the application for a gaming licence and the various related certificates of suitability. “Having thoroughly reviewed these recommendations, as well as the investigation report and all other documentation pertaining to the application, I have reached the conclusion that the application, the applicant and its material stakeholders have all met the qualification requirements for licensing set forth in the Act, and therefore have resolved to grant a gaming licence (subject to appropriate conditions) to Sky Warrior Bahamas Limited and certificates of suitability to its material shareholders.” He added: “The Gaming Board and its staff will continue to work with the applicant to ensure that the prevailing pre-opening requirements leading up to the soft opening of the
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Baha Mar Casino on April 21, 2017, are duly met.” Last week, Graeme Davis, president of Chow Tai Took Enterprises’ (CTFE) Bahamian subsidiary, pushed back at “baseless” and “untrue” allegations contained in an open letter to the Gaming Board, which accused the resort’s buyer of being allegedly associated with “international crime” organisations through its link to a Macau gaming group. The allegations were put forth in a paid advertisement by “Bahamians who want a better Bahamas” in The Tribune. The ad asked the Gaming Board to take note of concerns about alleged “documented associations with international crime” and the owners of CTFE, Baha Mar’s buyer. At the resort’s public hearing on Friday, Baha Mar’s new owner hit back at opposition claims that the soft opening was a “sham”, pledging that it will not repeat the mistakes of previous developer, Sarkis Izmirlian. At the time, Mr Davis said that the Hong Kongbased conglomerate has “one chance to get it right” during his presentation for the resort’s licence to own and operate the project’s 100,000 square foot casino, the largest in the Caribbean.
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THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, April 5, 2017, PAGE 7
NHI may launch without portions of primary care By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Perry Gomez yesterday maintained that portions of the government’s primary healthcare services could be “omitted” before the plan is rolled out as the Christie administration looks to finalise critical aspects of the scheme prior to the general election. A day after insisting in media reports that portions of primary care services connected to National Health Insurance (NHI) would be rolled out this month, Dr Gomez yester-
day said that his office was still not able to say what portions of the plan would be cut. Earlier this week, he told The Nassau Guardian that service plans would not be “100 per cent” ready prior to the government’s planned roll out date, stressing that “no journey ends if you don’t start”. When contacted by The Tribune yesterday for further clarification, the North Andros and Berry Islands MP asserted that his office was doing all it could to “hold our word” to the Bahamian people. He further insisted that he was unsure if all aspects
of primary care would be “a go” later this month, while noting that “we have been mandated to get this done”. Dr Gomez said facilities in the country were being prepared for the installation of universal health coverage. He added that he was of the view that many of the facilities currently operated by public health officials are “good enough for what we want to deliver with NHI”. “We predicted that NHI would come on stream in April. That date is approaching and every day we are progressing closer and closer to our plan. Now there is still some things
that have to be done, but the end of April is the time we said and that is what we will deliver,” said Dr Gomez. “That was my indication to media, end of April. Now, as we get closer and closer, we will have to make a ruling on a few things that may need to be omitted if need be. But again, we aren’t able to say now what those things are. “We will be alright though, our facilities are world class and so are our doctors. We will be alright.” The government has missed several target dates for NHI. The primary care phase was initially supposed to be launched in
April last year. However that date was pushed back to January, 2017. In late 2016, Dr Gomez said NHI could be “slightly” delayed because of Hurricane Matthew, which damaged public buildings including clinics, in October. That proposed January date was missed and Prime Minister Perry Christie later said the plan would be launched in the first week of April. In addition to the quality of public healthcare facilities, the advancement of NHI plans have been hindered by limited buy-in by healthcare practition-
ers and a lack of clarity on how the full plan would be funded and structured. Officials have maintained that NHI would be rolled out in five phases beginning with the registration phase, which started last year with the issuance of the new NIB smart cards. That phase was to be followed by the enrolment, primary healthcare coverage, select catastrophic coverage, and full benefits coverage phases, respectively, according to the NHI website. The Christie administration has long presented NHI plans as one of its key initiatives.
ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibson.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HOPES INTERCEPTIONS BILL WILL BE PASSED BY NEXT GOVERNMENT By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
WITH the dissolution of Parliament imminent, the Christie administration’s Interceptions of Communications Bill will not be debated and passed this term. However, officials hope ongoing consultations with stakeholders will help the legislation to pass during Parliament’s next sitting, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson said yesterday. The government postponed the second reading of the Bill in February after it raised widespread concerns among Bahamians and prompted a wellfunded counter campaign from activist groups like the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association. “We continue to do consultations - it’s really important,” Mrs MaynardGibson said yesterday. “As I indicated previously, this matter is something that impacts our national security. “It is critically important to the fight against crime and it’s very important to step back so that all the politicising surrounding the Bill could be moved away and for citizens to understand that interceptions are actually happening right now. The objective of the Bill is to bring it into the modern world in accordance with best international practices and, most impor-
tantly, to ensure that everything is happening under the supervision of the court, which is the best practice in other jurisdictions.” Officials in the Office of the Attorney General have engaged the Organisation for Responsible Governance, their consortium and the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce in consultations. The groups have received information they requested, including a benchmarking of the Bill to legislation in other jurisdictions, The Tribune understands. Efforts are underway to set a schedule for public consultation as well. “Our consultations are going wonderfully,” Mrs Maynard-Gibson said yesterday. “And when we explain to people what actually is happening now and that what we want to do is to make sure that we recognise what modern communications are, including internet and all of those things that weren’t around when the Listening Devices Act was passed, they are happy that we’ve taken the time to consult. “The legislative agenda clearly is unlikely to add anything more in this session, but I’m hoping that the next Parliament will see the wisdom of moving ahead and also taking in mind what the Privy Council has had to say about the importance of The Bahamas updating its laws.”
WOMAN ARRESTED AS $6,000 OF MARIJUANA IS SEIZED POLICE arrested a woman from Eleuthera on Sunday after a joint operation netted the seizure of five pounds of marijuana and $6,000. According to police, around 2pm, officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit and officers from the Eleuthera Division executed a search warrant at a home in Deep Creek, where they allegedly found the drugs and cash, which is believed to be the proceeds of crime. Police also arrested two men in New Providence for marijuana possession on Monday.
Shortly after 10pm, Mobile Division officers were on routine patrol on Kemp Road, near Wulff Road, when they saw a man acting in a suspicious manner, police said. The officers conducted a search of the man and allegedly found a quantity of marijuana in his possession. Then, shortly after 11.30pm, Mobile Division officers were on routine patrol on Farrington Road, when they saw a man acting in a a suspicious manne. The officers conducted a search of the man and allegedly found a quantity of marijuana in his possession.
OMAR Archer at court yesterday.
Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
OMAR ARCHER DENIED BAIL IN CRIMINAL LIBEL CASE from page one
arrest out for him for his non-appearance on the adjourned date. “I’d twisted my ankle and sent a medical slip with my brother but I don’t know if he brought it in. It wasn’t intentional,” Archer Sr said. He also claimed he had been in contact with the court’s staff in this regard. However, the magistrate said he had different information. Barry Sawyer, one of three lawyers who appeared for Archer Sr, formally apologised on his client’s behalf for missing court. He added that Fred Smith,
QC, is expected to represent Archer Sr, who intends to give his defence. “Mr Archer is not a flight risk and it is unfortunate the circumstances in which he was brought here,” Mr Sawyer said. “Twisting your ankle doesn’t mean it incapacitates you,” the magistrate said to Archer Sr, stressing that he didn’t follow up on his case for nearly four months. “My only fault was I didn’t call to find out the date and I do apologise to the court for any inconvenience caused,” Archer Sr said. The libel case was adjourned to April 11 for con-
tinuation in which Sgt Lakisia Moss is the prosecutor. “The defendant is remanded into custody until such time,” Magistrate Rolle-Davis concluded. On March 31, Archer Sr was arrested by police at his home 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. He had been wanted for questioning in reference to the possession of an unlicensed firearm concerning a photo on 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 explained that the edited photo was “the work of desperate PLPs trying to discredit me in any way possible”. Archer Sr is a former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) member and one time chairman of the now defunct third party, the Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM). He ran unsuccessfully on the BDM’s ticket for the former Kennedy constituency in the 2007 general election. No indication has been given as to whether a charge would be brought concerning the wanted bulletin.
PAGE 8, Wednesday, April 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
THE SCENE last night as both the PLP, left, and the FNM held events as the countdown to the election continues.
Last call to sign up and use your vote Culture Clash
By ALICIA WALLACE
A
CCORDING people registered to vote; to reports from not the number of people the Parliamen- eligible to vote. tary RegistraIt is unfortunate that our tion Department, 141,698 system puts the onus on the people had registered to citizen to opt-in to the exervote as at March 20 for the cise, forcing Bahamians to 2017 general election . gather documents, stand in Voter registration has long lines, complete forms, been remarkably slow, and and sometimes return mulattention was first drawn to tiple times, all to ensure it in the last quarter of 2016. that they are able to vote in On November 16, it was this country. The voter regreported that only 57,000 istration process is a barrier people were registered to to participation. Perhaps it vote compared to 134,000 is a part of the reason for at the same point in 2011 low voter registration, espebefore the last election. cially when so many people Voter registration is ex- remain unconvinced by any pected to increase given the political party or candidate. announcement that ParliaWhen the numbers were ment will be dissolved on revealed in November, April 10, ending voter regis- showing that less than 50 tration for the 2017 general per cent of those that regiselection. More than 30,000 tered by November in 2011 people would need to reg- registered by 2016, we all ister to vote before Tuesday knew it was a cause for conto meet the 2012 voter reg- cern. Everyone asked the istration count of 172,128. same question. Why? For many We see years, we ‘It is unfortunate ourselves as have boasted enthusiastic about high that our registration participants voter par- system puts the in general ticipation in onus on the citizen elections. general elecWe show up tions in the to opt-in to the en masse for Bahamas. In exercise, forcing rallies. We the 2012 gendress in parBahamians to eral election, ty colours. 91.2 per cent gather documents, We assume of registered stand in long lines, party affiliavoters partiction based on ipated. In the complete forms, and the colours general elec- sometimes return other people tions of 2007 multiple times, all wear. We arand 2002, gue passionwe saw 92.08 to ensure that they ately about per cent and are able to vote. The our political 90.18 per process is a barrier persuasions. cent of regMany of us istered vot- to participation.’ are longtime ers cast balswing voters, lots. While 90 per cent is unattached to any party. No quite high, it is important matter what, we are generto note that these numbers ally excited to vote. After are based on the number of five years or - worse - ten
A LINE outside the Parliamentary Registrar Department for voter registration. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff years of a particular admin- been able to gain the trust creased civic engagement. country is worth the time istration, we are ready to of the people. In 2017, most I have worked with Dr and effort. make the switch. We have a of us have no one to vote Nicolette Bethel and Dr Remember this: even if long list of grievances with for. Even so, many Bahami- Ian Strachan for months to you do not support a politithe current administration, an are committed to voting build this movement, now cal party or candidate, you and we know they need to the current administration primarily focused on en- can show up on election be taught a lesson. out, whatever it takes. couraging Bahamians to day. You can spoil your For that reason, we vote This is not exciting. This participate in the general ballot. Some people are them out. We rarely vote is not positive. This is not election exercise. We do not thinking about opting out a new administration in. the kind of election season want our fellow Bahamians in protest, as a sign of disMore often than not, we we know and love. It does to believe they must choose satisfaction, but that canvote an administration - a not make us want to stand the lesser of the evils or sit not be quantified. Spoiled political party - out. in long lines to register to it out. ballots will be counted, This time, people are a vote. Still, it is what we need Our commitment to and we will all be able to combination of angry, dis- to do. We need to seriously building people power and see how many Bahamians appointed, dissatisfied and consider the options, based creating a space for greater did not endorse a party or confused. Not to be mistak- on candidate, party leader- civic engagement is not candidate. en for apathy, what Bahami- ship, plans of action, track temporary, nor is it limited If you support a party or ans seem to be feeling now records, and voting history to the upcoming election. candidate in your constituis a sense of hopelessness. in Parliament on issues of We see this campaign as ency, let your ballot reflect We see no saviours. No po- interest to us. a step toward a stronger that. If you are committed litical party even appears to In February, Out Da Box spirit of activism and the to voting against a particuhave it all together, able to launched what has been beginning of a sustained lar party, let your ballot present a plan it is prepared deemed the “spoil-the- conversation about elec- reflect that. If you refuse to act on. From leadership ballot” campaign - part of toral reform. to choose from the options feuds to overall track re- a larger movement to build The short term goal of put before you, let your cords, no political party has people power through in- Out Da Box is get eligible ballot reflect that. Be clear Bahamian citizens to reg- about your position. Let it ister to vote, then go to the be counted. Let there be polls to cast ballots. We no mistake, no assumption present the option to spoil and no confusion. Let your the ballot as an alternative voice be heard. Bahamian to staying home or voting democracy needs you. against one’s conscience. Voter registration staThis campaign is building tions remain open up to democracy and expanding and including Monday at the options of the Baha- 9pm. For those already regmian people through a na- istered, voter’s cards are tional conversation about now available at several losomething that has always cations including Thomas existed and never been pub- A Robinson National Stalicly discussed - the ability dium, Remnant Tabernacle to choose none. Church and St. George’s Every Bahamian de- Anglican Church. Call the serves the right to choose, Parliamentary Registration whether that choice is one Department at 397-2000 to or none. Unfortunately, find out where you need to anyone who does not regis- go to collect yours before ter to vote gives up the right all cards are relocated to choose on election day. the Department on FarAfter Parliament has dis- rington Road. solved, the option to vote will no longer be available • Alicia Wallace is a to those who have not reg- women’s rights activist and istered. It is important to public educator. She progive yourself the option by duces The Culture RUSH registering to vote before - a monthly newsletter fusTuesday, April 11. The lines ing pop culture, social jusare likely to be long and tice and personal reflection the process probably won’t - and tweets as @_ AliciaAbe the most pleasant expe- udrey. Contact her at culrience of the day, but your turerush@aliciaawallace. right as a citizen of this com.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, April 5th, 2017, PAGE A9
AUTO SHOW GETS INTO GEAR WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES SOUTH KOREA’S largest auto show provides a look at the future of Asian premium cars and electric vehicles, as well as efforts by Asian auto and tech companies to catch up in the field of autonomous driving. The biennial Seoul Motor Show opened last week in Goyang, north of Seoul, for a 10-day run. There are 243 vehicles on display. Two are making their world premieres: Hyundai Motor’s Grandeur hybrid electric vehicle and Ssangyong Motor’s G4 Rexton sports utility vehicle. Eighteen others are making their Asian debuts. Although usually smaller than auto shows in Frankfurt, Detroit or Shanghai, the Seoul Motor Show is nonetheless a place to read auto trends and consumer tastes among trend-setting, tech-savvy consumers in the world’s most populous continent. This year’s highlight is Kia Motor’s first luxury sports sedan, Stinger, which launches a new era for premium sports cars built in South Korea, home to the world’s
HONDA’S Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle at the 2017 Seoul Motor Show. (AP) fifth-largest automotive group. Growing interest in environmentally friendly cars among South Koreans will be in the spotlight as well. The show is missing Volkswagen and Audi, after South Korea halted sales last summer of dozens of their diesel car models for using software to cheat emission tests. Here are some highlights of the show:
EARTH MONTH SPECIAL LONDON PLANS VEHICLE EMISSIONS FEE TO FIGHT AIR POLLUTION
HYUNDAI Motor’s Grandeur Hybrid vehicle pictured during a media preview of the 2017 Seoul Motor Show in Goyang, South Korea. (AP)
n HYUNDAI HYUNDAI Motor is putting its electric vehicles at the forefront. It is revealing the hybrid electric version of its steady-selling Grandeur sedan which boasts a claimed fuel efficiency of 16.2 kilometres per liter (38.2 miles per gallon). It also is giving a first look at a fuel cell concept car. Hyundai plans to release its second-generation fuel cell electric vehicle early next year. An executive demonstrated how in the future humans will be able to speak to a device to summon a driverless car to one’s door. In 2019, Hyundai, South Korea’s largest automaker, plans cars that will allow drivers to remotely turn on the lights or set the temperature inside a house.
n ELECTRIC VEHICLES ABOUT one fifth of the vehicles on display are electric, a sign that automakers are responding to the South Korean government’s push for more electric vehicles. South Korea plans to increase the proportion of environmentally friendly vehicles in the domestic market to 20 percent by 2020 from just 2 percent in 2015. If it achieves that goal, more than 1 million electric vehicles will be sold in the country by 2020. Jaguar, Honda, Lexus, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz are using the Seoul Motor Show to show their existing electric vehicles, while Hyundai, Kia and Genesis are presenting their plans for plug-in models, fuel cells and hybrid cars. Associated Press
THE mayor of London says drivers of the most polluting cars will have to pay a 12.50 pound ($15.55) charge to drive in the city in a bid to improve air quality. Mayor Sadiq Khan says the charge will start in April 2019 and apply to diesel cars more than four years old and petrol cars more than 13 years old. It will initially cover central London, with plans to widen the zone by 2021. The plan aims to halve emissions of nitrogen oxides from vehicles by 2020. Khan said Tuesday that “the air in London is lethal and I will not stand by and do nothing.” Diesel vehicles emit high levels of nitrogen oxides, which have been linked to health problems including heart and lung disease. Associated Press
Q: WHAT IS AN EV? An EV is an electric vehicle. It does not require any gasoline and is propelled by an electric motor using energy from the electricity grid or from solar, stored in rechargeable batteries. The motor provides instant torque, creating strong, smooth acceleration. Around three times as efficient as cars with traditional combustion engines, the running costs of an EV are usually very low. EVs also run quietly and do not emit tailpipe pollutants. The world’s top selling highway-capable electric car is the Nissan LEAF.
ST JOHN’S College’s solar-powered vehicle.
Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EVS AND HYBRID CARS? The primary difference between an EV and a Hybrid car is that the Hybrid derives some of its power from a conventional gasoline engine, requiring visits to the gas station and regular service of the combustion engine. A true 100 per cent electric car like the Nissan LEAF gets all of its power from electrical sources, including solar power and thereby is a completely zero-emission vehicle. Q: WILL I RUN OUT OF POWER WITH AN EV? With a conventional combustion engine vehicle, you make plans to refill the tank with gas when it is running low. With an EV, you fill up at home, at work, or on the road by plugging in at your convenience any time. Fully charged, the range of a Nissan LEAF is up to 100 miles and the majority of drivers drive less than 30 miles per day, so the battery will not be empty, even if you forget to plug in sometimes.
ALL ELECTRIC NISSAN LEAF AND SOLAR VEHICLE STAR AT ST JOHN’S FAIR EASY Car Sales, the only provider of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the Bahamas, featured the solarready, 100 per cent electric Nissan Leaf car at St John’s College Mardi Gras Fair. This year’s Mardi Gras featured the school’s Green Lightening Solar Crew who have built a solar-powered vehicle and are competing in the Solar Car Challenge, the top US project-based STEM initiative, helping to motivate students in science, engineering and alternative energy. As part of the Solar Car Challenge, high school teams across America are building cars to compete against each other at Texas Speedway in July. St. John’s College is the only school from this region invited to participate. The Green Lightening Solar Crew put on a dazzling display of innovation at the Mardi Gras Fair with the unveiling of their solar car. According to Pia Farmer, Director of the Easy Car Sales ECO Division, her company is actively supporting the efforts of Fr Shazz Turnquest and his Green Lightning Solar Car Crew to reach their fundraising goals. “We are proud to support our best and brightest
THE all-electric Nissan Leaf car. students to take up the renewable energy challenge,” Mrs Farmer said. “It’s time to change how we think about transportation and move to cleaner, cheaper and stress-free transportation for the Bahamas. Electric cars are here to stay and can be powered by solar energy today. I have been driving my 100 per cent electric Nissan Leaf for almost three years and I charge it from solar panels at home.” Fr. Turnquest has a vision for the future. “Imagine solar powered vehicles designed and built by Bahamians! “We owe it to our young people to help them to realise their potential by introducing to the technology of the future. Please help us to raise funds to make this journey to Texas, and beyond.” For more information visit www.greenlightningsolarcar.org and to donate please go to www.gofundme.com/greenlightningsolarcar See the video of the St John’s solar car on tribune242.com.
Q: HOW DO I CHARGE AN EV? When purchasing an electric vehicle, a charger is included, or you may choose to install a faster option. After installation, just plug in your car. Your EV is fully charged in just a few hours. Similar to cell phones, a full charge is not necessary for use. EVs like the Nissan LEAF can also use regular household power outlets, though this method takes longer. Either way, never stop at a gas station again. Q: HOW WILL AN EV AFFECT MY ELECTRIC BILL? Electric vehicles are very economical. The Nissan LEAF for example, costs approximately 5 cents per mile at current energy prices in the Bahamas. That translates into $5 for a full charge which will take you 100 miles. In general, expect to spend less than a third of what you would normally spend on gasoline - and no combustion engine service. Q: HOW MUCH DOES AN EV COST TO MAINTAIN? Electric vehicles are very low maintenance. With the Nissan LEAF for example, when service is needed, diagnostics are performed on a computer. Since there is no combustion engine, there is no oil change, no spark plugs or pistons, no radiator problems or mufflers, literally 1,000 parts which are not present in an EV to repair or replace. This makes maintenance costs dramatically lower than a traditional vehicle and translates into fewer maintenance visits and lower costs. For more questions about EVs email AskMe@easy242.com.
PAGE 10, Wednesday, April 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Man must wait two months for sentencing in murder case By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A MAN seeking to appeal his sentence for the murder of a utility technician must wait another two months before his application is heard. Leslie Webster, 57, appeared in the Court of Appeal yesterday for his expected hearing of an ex-
tension of time application concerning his formal challenge to a 60-year sentence imposed by the Supreme Court for the 2001 murder of Garfield Wright. At a hearing on January 31, Webster’s lawyer, Glendon Rolle, filed documents in support of the application and the matter was adjourned to April 4 for the hearing. However, Mikia Cooper,
who appeared on behalf of Mr Rolle yesterday, sought an adjournment as the latter was out of the jurisdiction and the request had not been objected to by Crown respondents Olivia Nixon and Bradford McKenzie. Court of Appeal President Justice Dame Anita Allen said based on the court’s file, the undertaking by the appellant’s counsel
was not carried out. However, the appellate court adjourned the matter to June. Wright, a 40-year-old Cable Bahamas line technician, was stabbed 16 times about the body with a knife as he tried to protect his 10-year-old daughter from an intruder during a breakin at the family home in Fiddler’s Green in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
Webster was linked to the crime scene through DNA taken from fingernail clippings and a confession statement after he was arrested by police. He was unanimously convicted by a jury in March 2005 and sentenced to death. However, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 2006 ruled that the country’s then mandatory death penalty upon a
murder conviction was unconstitutional. His sentence was commuted to life imprisonment afterwards and at a resentencing hearing in February, 2011, before then Senior Justice Jon Isaacs, he received a 60-year sentence. He is now seeking to challenge that punishment on the grounds that it is excessively harsh.
SEATED from left, Ranfurly Homes’ administrator Alexander Roberts; St Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk Reverend Byrn McPhail and BTVI president Dr Robert Robertson. In the second row, from left, Kirk and Ranfurly Homes’ board member Linda Eldon; Ranfurly Homes’ president Alexandria Maillis-Lynch; Kirk elder Margaret McKinney; Sigma Gamma Rho president Tanya Woodside and BTVI’s associate vice-president of fund development Alicia Thompson. At the rear are Kirk management committee chairman Peter Bates; Kirk elder Tim Lightbourn and assistant sof police and chairman of the Bain and Grants Town Scholarship Fund Anthony Rolle. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
RANFURLY STUDENTS TO GET A CHANCE AT BTVI AT LEAST four transitioning or former students of the Ranfurly Homes for Children will have an opportunity to learn a trade at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) through a new scholarship fund. The brainchild of BTVI’s president, Dr Robert W Robertson, the fund is spearheaded by St Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk, where current residents of the Ranfurly worship. Al-
ready, other partners are coming onboard, including Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. Pegged at a collective $10,000 annually, Kirk Reverend Bryn McPhail said the response thus far has been encouraging. “Since announcing it in church, there have been generous contributions and pledges coming in,” he said at the official launch yesterday. “The impetus is because we care about these young peo-
ple. We want to build into their lives not only spiritually, but help them along in life. This is also open to those who left Ranfurly years ago.” Ranfurly’s administrator, Alexander Roberts, extended a sincere thank you to the Kirk for its ongoing commitment to the homes. “This level of commitment is refreshing, rewarding, encouraging. I hope the recipients will go on to make stellar contri-
butions to society. Thanks to the Kirk, BTVI and other partners, you are addressing the needs of society. With a good education and a good attitude, doors will open, making for a better society,” said Mr Roberts. Additionally, Dr Robertson, who revealed that he will be making a personal financial contribution to the fund, said he is pleased to assist. “We, at BTVI, see the Kirk as ad-
vocates … joining the fight for their future. Their lives are more tenuous because of their circumstances. However, we are grateful that Reverend McPhail and his congregation understand that education is the great equaliser. It is no secret that one has a better chance at succeeding in life with access to a good education,” said Dr Robertson. “To prospective scholarship recipients, it is at BTVI
that you will learn a trade and earn a living. We are so pleased to be a partner in such a substantive way, but also contributing on a wider scale to national development,” he added. Meanwhile, corporate Bahamas is being encouraged to contribute to the fund as well and according to Reverend McPhail, any surplus will be given to the Bain and Grants Town Scholarship Fund, which BTVI also partners.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, April 5, 2017, PAGE 11
STUDENTS at CW Sawyer Primary School yesterday as they held a science day fair on the school grounds under the theme “Preserving Our Enviroment”.
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
SCIENCE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS SCHOOL HOSTS DAY-LONG FAIR STUDENTS at C W Sawyer Primary School are learning just how important science is in everyday life and opening their eyes to future careers. Last Thursday, the school held a Science Day Fair, the brainchild of Vice Principal and Supervisor for Science, Joan Knowles, who wanted to sensitise students to the importance of science and expose them to careers that use science on a daily basis. Ten organisations from the community - Adventure Learning Centre, the Airport Fire Department, Bahamas Humane Society, Bahamas National Trust, Bahamas Power & Light. Bahamas Red Cross, BTC, Dolphin Encounter, Environmental Health, and the Meteorological Department were invited to set up dis-
MINISTER of Enviroment and Housing Kenred Dorsett. play booths in the school’s quadrangle for the students to view and ask questions. The day started with an opening ceremony under the theme “Preserving Our Environment”, at which Kenred Dorsett, Minister of the Environment, focused his address on the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Each of the school’s
grade levels in centres set up displays around a theme chosen from the curriculum. The students were engaged in science activities, experiments and created projects with their parents related to a chosen theme. The themes on display were: Preschool - Air Transportation (Airplanes); Grade 1 - Animal Habitats; Grade 2 - Plants; Grade 3 - The Senses; Grade 4 Weather; Grade 5 - The Solar System; Grade 6: -Electricity and Magnetism. Trophies were given to the best centre display and the best project for each grade level. The school’s was grateful to the sponsors, who made the day possible: Aqua Pure, Fun Foods, Island Wholesale, Park View Mini Mart and Variety Disposables.
SOME of the work of students on show at the CW Sawyer science day fair.