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HURDLER SETS RECORD

Bain admits to recording Rolle

FNM hopeful says he tried to protect himself

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement political hopeful Lincoln Bain was adamant yesterday that he did nothing wrong as he admitted to secretly recording former Senator Lanisha Rolle during a private meeting, saying his actions were a bid to “protect myself” from possible “sabotage.”

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Bain claimed the audio recording only “came into play” to prove to party executives that the private meeting had taken place.

Insisting that he does not go around recording people, he maintained that it will soon be abundantly clear that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Asked to explain this alleged “sabotage”, Mr Bain

responded that someone called to put him on alert about an upcoming meeting with Mrs Rolle and warned him to “be careful.”

Several attempts were made to contact Mrs Rolle, however they were unsuccessful.

She resigned from the Senate on Friday after The Tribune exclusively published several stories regarding the audio recording in which she made disparaging comments about several FNM MPs, including Long Island MP Loretta ButlerTurner, during a conversation with Mr Bain. During that meeting she also told Mr Bain that he would not get the nomination for the Pinewood constituency and alleged that the ratification of incumbent FNM MPs had been purposefully delayed.

SEE PAGE SIX

SENIOR FNMS REACT TO RESIGNATION OF SENATOR

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson has asserted that former opposition Senator Lanisha Rolle’s actions as a “selfproclaimed official party ambassador” is a reflection of the “level” of leadership now at the helm of the Free National Movement. While

lamenting the situation, Mr Watson yesterday told The Tribune “it was just one of those things we will have to work through”.

Meanwhile, Brent Symonette, who also served under a previous Ingraham administration as this country’s deputy prime minister, said he believed Mrs Rolle did the right thing in SEE PAGE SIX

SEE SPORTS

‘PROSECUTE FOR THEFTS FROM GOVT DEPARTMENTS’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

BISHOP Simeon Hall has called for both Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin and Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin to “identify and seek the prosecution” of the culprits allegedly responsible for theft from departments they oversee.

SEE PAGE THREE

HAITIAN COMMUNITY SHOWS ITS COLOURS FOR FLAG DAY

SOME of those attending the Haitian Flag Day celebrations on Saturday at the Botanical Gardens. Among those at the event were Bahamian political leaders, such as Prime Minister Perry Christie and FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis. For more photographs from the day, see page two.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

SEARS TAKES LONG ISLAND STILL FIGHTS TO NIB FACING ISSUE WITH RECOVER FROM HURRICANE ‘CHALLENGES’ WILCHCOMBE WITH MOVE TO OVER FESTIVAL NEW SYSTEM

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Attorney General Alfred Sears wanted to know whether Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcome’s recent statements to the press about the Caribbean Muzik Festival were sarcastic references to him.

Mr Sears was a director of the festival until he resigned last December. In a statement released on Friday, he disclosed that he is also a “minor shareholder” in the company Caribbean Music Festival Ltd. SEE PAGE TEN

NEARLY eight months after the devastating passage of Hurricane Joaquin, Long Island is still struggling to recover despite the best efforts by those on the ground.

Island Administrator Terrece Bootle-Bethel gave The Tribune an update last week on the state of the island, characterising efforts there as “endless, but enduring”.

She said as residents continue to repair their homes and lives in the wake of the category four storm that pounded the southern islands on October 1 and 2 last year, there is apprehension and fear that the island may never fully recover.

According to her, the

steady exodus of residents from many of the island’s southern settlements has raised questions about the economic viability of the island.

The Tribune understands that a large percentage of the families residing on southern Long Island have relocated to other areas or moved away all together due to the inability to secure financing to repair their homes.

Mrs Bootle-Bethel said Long Island, faced with a stagnant economy prior to Joaquin, had a number of families that depended on fishing and farming ventures to survive month-tomonth. She noted that with the passage of the storm, many of those families in SEE PAGE 14

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE National Insurance Board has admitted to encountering “challenges” in its transition to a new IT platform, with some 30 per cent of its customer base negatively affected as a result.

NIB, in a statement released on Sunday, said “transition issues” emanating from phase two of the transitional process has resulted in “regrettable inconvenience to a number of our valued customers”.

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

HUNDREDS of visitors - both of Haitian ancestry and from elsewhere - came out to the Botanical Gardens over the weekend to celebrate Haitian Flag Day. The event on Saturday saw members of the crowd show their pride by wearing Haitian colours as they took part. The crowd also included politicians such as Prime Minister Perry Christie and FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

CROWDS FLY THE FLAG FOR HAITI

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 17, 2016, PAGE 3

PLP chairman wants PAC to probe FNM over 2007 Road Traffic decision

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

PLP chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday called for the Public Accounts Committee to investigate the Free National Movement’s decision in 2007 to cancel the request for proposal process for the modernisation of the Road Traffic Department.

Mr Roberts, in a statement, said the PAC “must call for persons and papers to get to the bottom of the cancellation of the finalised request for proposal (RFP) process in 2007 among other critical procedural and administrative issues at the department.”

Mr Roberts also questioned the “structure and format” of Auditor General Terrence Bastian’s report into the Road Traffic Department’s (RTD) internal operations, charging that it “fails to reference the findings and recommendations of the previous audit conducted during the watch of the FNM.”

Mr Roberts’ statement came in response to a press release by FNM Chairman Sidney Collie about an audit that revealed millions in losses from the Road Traffic Department (RTD) due to employees and motorists “circumventing rules and regulations.”

Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin has suggested that the issues at the RTD, though “age-old” in nature, were likely further exacerbated due to the previous Ingraham administration’s decision in 2007 to cancel the RFP process initiated by the PLP in which a firm was selected in principle from eight proposals to implement an automated motor vehicle and driver’s license system.

Weighing in on the issue last week, Mr Roberts had called for the matter to be “turned over to police” for a full investigation. Mr Collie responded on Monday by saying that while Mr Roberts was “following the FNM’s lead” in calling for a police investigation,

he, nor the PLP, is “taking any responsibility for the total waste and complete disregard of the people’s trust”.

In response, Mr Roberts charged on Monday that the FNM’s cancellation of the RFP process upon coming into office in 2007 is a “causal factor in the ongoing weak controls and instances of fraud that were cited in the auditor general’s report”.

As such, Mr Roberts called on the FNM to “answer to the Bahamian people” for allowing the RFP process to become a victim of the previous Ingraham administration’s “infamous, ignoble and failed stop, review and cancel policy”.

He added: “The FNM cannot get away with making horrible decisions, walking away from them without accountability and believe that they can cloud the issue and muddy the water through mudslinging and name calling.”

Mr Roberts then went on to question Mr Bastian’s re-

port, charging that it “fails to reference the findings and recommendations of the previous audit conducted during the watch of the FNM”.

“Further, there is no record in the report of the policy and administrative steps the FNM government took to address the week internal controls and susceptibility of the RTD during their watch,” Mr Roberts said. “The RTD did not come into existence in July of 2012. These are deficiencies that the auditor general must immediately correct.”

The audit, covering the period July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2015, was tabled in the House of Assembly last week. It focused on vehicle license revenue, license plate revenue and payroll processing.

Aside from revealing an estimated $47m in vehicle license revenue losses, the report also highlighted several other instances of apparent fraud and “collusion” involving inspectors, writers and cashiers as they carried out daily tasks.

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

‘PROSECUTE FOR THEFTS FROM GOVT DEPARTMENTS’

from page one

Bishop Hall, pastor emeritus of New Covenant Baptist Church, said in a statement that both Cabinet ministers should within the next 30 days “tell the Bahamian public what took place in their ministries and place the culprits involved before the courts”.

Bishop Hall said all government ministers must bear “more responsibility” for “these egregious, unpatriotic acts which occur on their watch,” adding that the country cannot effectively fight crime as petty criminals are jailed and those involved in “systemic theft” go free.

Bishop Hall also called for “more public outcry” from the Bahamas Christian Council on such “social inequities”.

Bishop Hall’s statement comes amid startling revelations about the internal operations of both the Department of Social Services (DOSS) and the Road Traffic Department (RTD) that were outlined in two reports completed by Auditor General Terrence Bastian.

Almost a month ago, it was revealed that staff members at the DOSS participated in a scheme in which they used $1,034

worth of food coupons intended for Bahamians on welfare to purchase groceries. In his report, Mr Bastian and his team also criticised the DOSS for “gross negligence” in allowing $4.237m to be paid to suppliers without proper authorisation, exposing it to potential fraud and corruption.

More recently, an audit of the RTD for the period July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015 estimated $47m in vehicle license revenue was lost due to “a severe lack of order and control around the safeguarding of assets, collection of revenue and reporting of the same”.

At minimum, it is believed that there is an under recording of vehicle license revenue of $10m due to management not having control over the licensing inventory.

And, in probing operations of the department, Mr Bastian’s report further highlighted several other instances of apparent fraud and “collusion” involving inspectors, writers and cashiers as they carried out daily tasks. The report was tabled in the House of Assembly last week.

“Both Minister Glenys Hanna Martin and Minister Melanie Griffin owe it to the sacred trust they both swore to uphold to identify

CABBAGE BEACH CORRECTION

IN A report in The Tribune on May 13 (“Lawyer warns Cabbage Beach dispute is far from over”) it was said that Access Industries had “insisted that the Cabbage Beach Business Owners Association (CBBOA) did not have the right to exist because the vendors were not employees hired by property owners but each operator was individually contracted to provide a service”.

We have been asked by A I Land Bahamas Ltd to make clear this was not the case. In fact, Access Industries applied for the

union’s legal action claiming the right to operate their business to be struck out on April 4 on the basis that the CBBOA, as a union registered under the Industrial Relations Act, did not have the capacity to bring this action. Under the Industrial Relations Act, a union can only commence legal action in the Supreme Court in very limited circumstances, namely in respect of property owned by the union itself, or to seek an injunction to prevent a breach of the Industrial Relations Act, and this action concerned neither.

and seek the prosecution of those responsible for the theft of millions from their respective ministries,” Bishop Hall said in his statement.

“Government ministers – all of them – must bear responsibility for these egregious, unpatriotic acts which occur on their watch.

“Within the next 30 days, both ministers should tell the Bahamian public what took place in their ministries and place the culprits involved before the courts.

We cannot effectively fight crime while some go to jail for stealing a bicycle and others involved in a systematic theft go free.”

Bishop Hall’s statement also went on to lament the findings of Mr Bastian’s reports.

“It is unthinkable that persons employed to serve the public, blatantly rip off said public, and on such large scales,” Bishop Hall added.

“Unfortunately, when these kinds of events occur they are soon forgotten and no one is prosecuted.”

Last week, Mrs Griffin said the “fraudulent” scheme at the DOSS has been forwarded to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). She said the matter “is something that is all in the hands of the police now, so they will have the opportunity to do their jobs.”

Also last week, RTD Controller Ross Smith said officials are prepared to prosecute the relevant individuals if further investigations into the operations of the department uncover anything of a criminal nature.

Similarly, Mrs Hanna Martin said any persons “found to be allegedly associated with such activity will

be immediately removed from their department in accordance with procedures of the public service.”

PAGE 4, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

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Political ‘pay back’ time is next year, not for the June 7 referendum DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says he has no reason to apologise for having voted against the 2002 constitutional referendum that would have put Bahamian women on an equal footing with their male counterparts because it was Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham who had inspired the results when he “politicised” the vote.

However, as The Tribune reporter pointed out, Mr Ingraham’s statement predicting that the party whose side won the referendum would win the election was made less than a week before the vote took place – well after the PLP had already withdrawn its support for the referendum, and was well into its campaign for its defeat. And so, Mr Davis’ excuse for his decision not to apologise is a distortion of the facts.

Two years before — in August, 2014 – Prime Minister Christie took the same position. No apology was needed, he had said for his party’s decision to campaign against the 2002 referendum. It did not matter that the PLP parliamentarians had earlier pledged their full support in the House of Assembly for its passage.

“For me moving forward there is no apology from me. There will be an explanation from me, but no apology,” Mr Christie had emphasised.

Mr Christie had explained that while both the election and referendum of 2002 were long gone, it was the church at the time that had largely opposed the constitutional changes because “all of the leaders ... said they were insufficiently consulted”.

Archbishop Drexel Gomez of the Anglican Church had claimed that the constitutional referendum was flawed and that those who did not agree with his position were side-stepping the moral issue.

We never understood what that moral issue was and why the PLP, then in opposition, would be so concerned about that issue that it would risk making itself look foolish by going back on its pledge to campaign with the government for its passage.

Also we still do not know what or who constituted the Church that was meant to have been consulted as many church leaders did participate and state their opinion on the matter. For example, the late Archbishop Lawrence Burke of the Catholic Archdiocese had much to say on the matter. One issue that he discussed at length was the Bahamian male’s fear that if citizenship were granted to a Bahamian woman’s foreign husband, the foreigner would take their jobs.

Why, he had asked, should this fear exist if a Bahamian man was qualified in his trade or profession, was honest, reliable and had a good work ethic. It’s only those who don’t measure up who have anything to fear. The Bahamian man is already threatened, the Archbishop observed, because he is being replaced by Bahamian women “left, right and centre”.

While the Christie government, then in Opposition, feigned a fear of falling into bad odour with the Church, it had no such qualms 11 years later when the Church lobbied hard and won a “no” vote against legalising web shops in the 2013 gambling referendum, only to be ignored by government, which decreed that web shops were now legal. The Church was a convenient excuse in 2002. Even so, it was not sufficient to justify government’s behaviour.

And so, as far as we are concerned we still await a plausible excuse for government’s 2002 decision. Although, in 2014, Mr Christie said he would not apologise.

He did promise to explain. We still await an explanation that makes sense.

“I think the PLP’s opposition to the (2002) referendum was that you should never do something against the will of the people, and the FNM was actually

acting against the will of the people,” Mr Christie had said in 2012. Now isn’t that interesting. Again we refer to that $1.2m gambling referendum, which when government discovered it was not required by the Constitution, conveniently passed it off as an expensive “opinion poll” and boldly defied the will of the people. Really this government is so mixed up that it can’t keep its stories straight from one year to the next.

Mr Davis said he voted “no” in 2002, but did so, not because he did “not believe in the rights of the sexes but rather because it was included in a number of other amendments to the Constitution that bred a lot of confusion and (my vote was a message) not to the bills but rather the whole process”.

Even that excuse fails to hold water. Mr Ingraham did everything possible — even before the matter got to the floor of the House – to make certain that government and opposition were on the same page so that Bahamians would know that this was not an “FNM thing” but rather “a thing that we the parliament of The Bahamas have now agreed to…”

Every change that the opposition asked for was made by the Ingraham government. If Mr Davis was confused by the number of amendments Bahamians were asked to vote on, why didn’t he open his mouth, speak his mind and get himself “unconfused”? This is just more foolishness that we do not buy.

The truth of the matter is that the PLP saw an opportunity to win an election, decided to leave Bahamian women as second class citizens, and march to victory as the next government of the Bahamas. They succeeded and now they fear “payback” from an angry people who are more confused than ever.

“I would hope no ill-effects (take place from that),” said Mr Davis. “We’re all motivated by any number of things. There is always this element of payback that exists in many of us. I just hope that they will be able to overcome their disappointment over the failure (in 2002).”

Of course, there is going to be payback.

Many are now asking why when the PLP urged them to vote “no” in 2002 they are now asking them to vote “yes” in 2016.

Only the PLP can answer that question — our mind does not follow their contorted manoeuvrings.

And then there is the Rev Peter Pinder of the Grand Bahama Christian Council, who is saddened by the confusion created by the June 7 referendum. His followers are particularly concerned about Bills 2 and 4.

“We recognise that women in this country have occupied some of the highest offices in our land. This is an indication that as a nation we believe in gender equality. This is a position we support,” he said. We hope that he means that his followers also support women’s rights to have equality in her home for the protection of her family.

Bill 2 seeks to enable a Bahamian woman who marries a foreign man “to secure for him the same access to Bahamian citizenship that a Bahamian man has always enjoyed under the Constitution in relation to his foreign spouse. In short, the bill seeks to achieve gender equality in this regard.”

There’s talk that it is now payback time.

Many are out to defeat this referendum to get back at the Christie government for not being true to its word when in Opposition in 2002, and also not obeying the will of the people who voted against gambling in 2013. In other words, this referendum has fallen into the pit of politics.

Now is not the time for retribution as too many Bahamian families will suffer.

Pay back time comes when Bahamians go to the polls to mark their ballots in 2017.

Discrimination RE: Bethel suspects PM has ulterior motive over vote EDITOR, the Tribune.

A SUCCESSFUL referendum on equality will be a victory for the Bahamian people – not the ruling party or the opposition.

A rejection of the proposed amendments will be a loss for the Bahamian

people, as we will continue to stand with Muslim countries, such as Iraq, Brunei, Kribati, Madagascar, Qatar, Swaziland, Burundi and Kuwait, in the unchristian practice of discriminating against our own people.

It is mind boggling that a pastor would spend so much time in 2016 campaigning for the discrimination and disenfranchisement of

his own countrymen and women because of their anatomy.

And to ask for public funding from the very people he is discriminating against to support his lust to discriminate!

Are we really having this conversation?

ATHENA DAMIANOS Nassau, May 13, 2016.

A matter of ethics and morals EDITOR, The Tribune ONE must wonder if the chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) takes his role as a political leader seriously when he calls the method used by the Auditor General in determining losses at the Road Traffic Department (RTD) into question.

To cast aspersions when his sincere concerns and plan to resolve the major problem of theft at the RTD should be expressed, he resorts to spitting in the wind of accountability and transparency. A path he and some of his colleagues seem most comfortable with.

Even worse is that substantive Minister Glenys Hanna Martin has not yet offered any serious reason to believe anything will done about the theft, other than blaming the pa-

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net per (manual) system, as if computers will solve a theft problem. Comments suggesting this is unacceptable behaviour seem to have been left out of her speech intentionally.

Not to mention the blame game that the governing party has resorted to. Do they need to be reminded they are in control of these things?

Equally disturbing in all this is the silence of the Prime Minister, the country’s political leader, who bears ultimate responsibility for it all.

The only reasoned response so far has come from the Controller of the RTD who said he will be setting the foundation for

a creative action plan after meeting with officials of the Auditor General’s Department.

This sneering at, and undermining the institutions of ethics and morality by the political leadership condemns us to more of the same and then the added burden of more tax increases to compensate for this madness.

Thomas Sowell in “Basic Economics,” 4th ed. (2010) reminds us that; “Honesty is more than a moral principle. It is also a major economic factor. While government can do little to create honesty directly, in various ways it can indirectly either support or undermine the traditions on which honest conduct is based”.

RICK LOWE Nassau May 14, 2016

Stuck in the system EDITOR, The Tribune.

FOR the last three days the traffic on East Shirley Street has been gridlocked because of the inefficiency of one government-hired small contractor who has been working on one manhole cover for that entire period. He is obviously being paid by the hour as he is making a five-course meal of a peanut butter sand-

wich.

After spending 45 minutes in traffic today to get from Village Road to Church Street, I arrived at said manhole to find the workmen comfortably seated on St Matthew’s Church wall in the shade with the hole still gaping and one lane of the street again blocked as a result.

If this is an example of the calibre of the small contrac-

tors hired by the Ministry of Works, it would certainly explain why BAMSI and the Urban Renewal Small Homes repairs contracts have been such a disaster, another glaring example of government’s waste of the taxpayer’s money in awarding work to unqualified crony contractors.

IAN MABON Nassau,

Rubis leak review EDITOR, The Tribune.

IF Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson can’t speak to the progress of the Rubis gasoline leak review, who on earth can?

If I remember correctly, it was Mrs Maynard Gibson who apologised for her government’s silence for nearly two years after they learned of the dangerous leak. It was she who announced that a review would be conducted into the reasons behind the government delay in warning the residents of Marathon that their soil and water supply may be contaminated.

Now, almost exactly a year after that announcement, the AG is telling the press that she is the wrong person to speak to that review. Surely, someone in her government is able to update the public on this most important issue.

Perhaps Jerome Fitzgerald, the MP for the victims of this terrible mess.

Then again, he has already told us his reason for silence – coming clean with his constituents about the toxic chemicals threatening their health might have cost him his Cabinet position.

Cabinet, then, we must

assume, wanted the matter kept behind closed doors.

If this is the case, Prime Minister Perry Christie himself must be the right person to update us on the progress of this review.

Of course, it is unclear why a review was needed at all. The government could have saved a great deal of time and effort by simply explaining to the public in the first place why they chose to conceal such a serious public health hazard for so long.

TOM PAINE Nassau, May 12, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 17, 2016, PAGE 5

FNM leader blasts govt over failure to tackle youth unemployment

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday criticised the Christie administration for allegedly giving employment opportunities to a “chosen few” in society, charging that the country’s unemployment rate is largely due to the government taking “care of their own while the rest of us suffer.”

Dr Minnis, in a statement, castigated the governing PLP for “systematically” leaving “ordinary” Bahamians behind on employment opportunities while simultaneously “telling us all that things are going well.”

He also condemned the Christie administration for “failing miserably” at reducing unemployment – particularly youth unemployment, further charging that the government has “sat idly by and allowed

the Bahamian economy to shrink for two full consecutive years.”

Dr Minnis’ statement was in reference to a recent report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which found that the Department of Labour is finding work for just two per cent of its registered job seekers.

The IDB, lifting the veil on another issue affecting the Bahamas’ 30 per cent youth unemployment rate, said the Department of Labour was catching job vacancies from only 12 per cent of listed Bahamian business.

It added that this ratio paled when compared to the 20-40 per cent of companies captured by European Employment Exchanges “at a similar stage of development” and warned that these problems meant job opportunities were not going to the most qualified and best matched Bahamians.

Instead, they were being seized by “the well connected”, according to the report, resulting in lower workforce productivity and a society that was far from a meritocracy.

“The (IDB) makes it very clear that under this government it’s the people that are well connected that get the work, not necessarily the ones most in need or those most prepared for the jobs,” Dr Minnis said. “This is how this government likes it, they have admitted time and time again they take care of their own while the rest of us suffer. How convenient for them and their friends and allies, but how troubling for the rest of the Bahamians.”

“The report and the troubling unemployment numbers – with one out of three young Bahamians out of work – means that a whole generation is wondering how they will secure an education, provide for a family, or build a life,” Dr

Minnis said. “Sadly, this government is systematically leaving them behind while telling us all that things are going well. Yes, going well for the chosen few – them and their friends and families – but not for the rest of us.”

Dr Minnis added: “Instead of growing the economy and providing good jobs as they were elected and as they promised to do, the PLP has sat idly by and allowed the Bahamian economy to shrink for two full consecutive years. “ . . . With so many families struggling and communities in economic distress it’s unconscionable - but unfortunately not surprising that we found out that this government is failing to do everything they can to help our people find employment and get the economy growing again.

“This is their main mission and they are failing miserably at it.”

FIVE BRAZILIANS DETAINED AT PORT LUCAYA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FIVE Brazilians were apprehended by immigration officials at the Port Lucaya Marina on Saturday.

According to reports, sometime around 2.30pm immigration officials received information that some Brazilians had boarded a private yacht docked at the marina and were taking preparatory steps to be smuggled into the US. When officers arrived, they discovered two persons on deck and three others in a cabin below. The three males and two women taken into custody had arrived in the Bahamas legally but had overstayed their time.

They admitted that they

were making an attempt to go the US. One of the men had also been deported twice from the US to Brazil.

The group is expected to be flown to Nassau to be detained at the Detention Centre to await repatriation.

• Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating two suspects responsible for an armed robbery that occurred on Sunday.

Police were told that shortly after 11pm, a man was walking out of a service station on Wulff Road and Montrose Avenue when another man armed with a handgun approached and robbed him of a bunch of keys and a deposit bag containing a large amount of cash.

The suspect then fled the scene in a black Nissan Sentra vehicle driven by anoth-

MAN DIES AS SCOOTER IN COLLISION WITH CAR

POLICE are investigating a traffic accident that left a man dead on Saturday.

According to police reports, shortly after 6pm a traffic accident occurred on St Vincent Road near Olive Road involving a 1998 Honda Integra car driven by an adult male

and a scooter driven by another man.

The man on the scooter received serious injuries and was rushed to hospital where he later died. The driver of the car was treated for minor injuries and later released.

Investigations are ongoing.

er man. Investigations are ongoing.

• Grand Bahama police are investigating an armed robbery involving two juveniles who were robbed by two men late Sunday.

According to police reports, shortly before 11pm officers were called to the Hawksbill area where two male minors were reportedly robbed at gunpoint of their PlayStation 4 gaming console, valued at $450.

Police quickly responded and two adult male residents of Hawksbill were arrested and the stolen item was recovered.

Investigations are continuing into the matter.

In other crime news, a man wanted by police was arrested over the weekend in Eight Mile Rock.

Sometime around 6pm

on Saturday, police on mobile patrol stopped a Buick LeSabre in the Martin Town area when they discovered a wanted suspect who was a passenger in the vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, police also discovered items, suspected to have been stolen, and seven live rounds of ammunition.

Two other men who were also passengers in the vehicle escaped and are being sought by police.

Also officers of Operation Turf Sweep, acting on information, went to Fawcett Lane shortly after 1pm on Saturday and discovered in the bushes a .380 pistol with four rounds of ammunition.

No arrest was made in this matter and investigations are continuing.

AMERICAN MAN DROWNS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

POLICE in Bimini are investigating the apparent drowning of an American man at Cat Cay on Friday.

According to reports, police received information shortly after 4pm and went to an area some 10 miles of Cat Cay, where a 32-yearold man - a crewmember onboard a 25ft fishing vessel

- had reportedly drowned while diving.

The man was taken to Bimini and pronounced dead by a doctor.

Investigations continue.

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

ROBERTS: SENATOR’S RESIGNATION IS A SIGN OF DIVIDE WITHIN FNM

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said on Friday that the resignation of Lanisha Rolle from the Senate is a sign of the deepening divide in the Free National Movement (FNM) and concern about Dr Hubert Minnis’ leadership.

Mrs Rolle resigned citing “the need to focus on a few personal matters”, after The Tribune published articles week about an alleged recording in which she made disparaging comments about several FNM MPs, including Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, during a conversation with political hopeful Lincoln Bain.

“The sudden resignation

‘

...if Dr Minnis is struggling with leading a political party then how can he possibly hope to lead a country? of Senator Lanisha Rolle from the Senate and FNM parliamentary caucus signals a deepening divide and growing unrest within the FNM which points to growing dissatisfaction with the failed leadership of Dr Hubert Minnis,” Mr Roberts said in a statement.

“One of Minnis’ primary obligations, responsibilities and mandates as party leader is to build the next generation of political leaders who Bahamians can repose their confidence in to

lead this country and he is failing to fulfil that fundamental mandate.”

Mr Roberts pointed to Heather Hunt, John Bostwick and Michael Pintard as other senators who have resigned from the Senate in the past several years.

Of these, Mrs Hunt was asked to step aside by Dr Minnis; Mr Bostwick resigned after he was charged with illegal ammunition possession; and Mr Pintard resigned over his involvement in the court action against Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard.

“Just (last) week in the press, a member of Minnis’ caucus reportedly said that Mrs Rolle’s Senate appointment only underscored Dr Minnis’ poor judgment and leadership capability,” Mr Roberts

said. “Now with literally thousands of Bahamians watching and deciding on who is best suited to lead this country, they cannot help but conclude that if Dr Minnis is struggling with leading a political party then how can he possibly hope to lead a country given the myriad of challenges facing The Bahamas?”

“For those who would publicly wish me not to comment on the internal affairs of the FNM, I am merely reflecting the observations, opinions, the whisperings and postings of literally tens of thousands of Bahamians as this spectacle – this organisational leadership debacle plays itself out in the public domain to the horror, amusement, bemusement, befuddlement and dismay of the public.”

LANISHA ROLLE

Bain admits to recording Rolle

from page one

Dr Duane Sands was appointed to fill the Senate vacancy.

“As I have said before it’s an internal party matter and personally I don’t like when I see people going out in the press talking about internal party matters,” Mr Bain said when he was contacted.

“But I will say this much.

I did receive a call warning me that I would be going into a meeting with Lanisha Rolle and to be careful because I may be sabotaged in that meeting. Based on that I decided to protect myself

by recording the conversation.

“I had no idea what would happen in the meeting. I had no idea what would be said afterwards or that the meeting would be denied or what would happen so I just recorded it for my personal reasons.”

He added: “After the meeting I was asked about it by party leaders and I was told that the other party had denied everything and that’s when the audio tape came into play to prove that the meeting took place and what took place in the meeting. But I didn’t record a meeting to go to the media, as you would know.

“You asked me for the tape (last week) and I told you I don’t want to release it, I didn’t even want to give any statements out there because I didn’t want to expose any internal party stuff but it was only after everything was being denied that it was necessary.”

Mr Bain added: “I am a male (and) she is a female so I didn’t know what would happen in this meeting. It was just one-on-one and there were no witnesses so I preferred to record it. I don’t record private meetings and I have had many private meetings with her before that. I have never

repeated anything that we have said or recorded any of it. But it was just in this instance that I was warned.”

Asked whether this situation might affect his chances of receiving the party’s nomination for the Pinewood constituency, Mr Bain said he has done nothing wrong and if constituents want him to serve he would answer the call.

“Personally I am here as a volunteer to the people of Pinewood Gardens so if they want me then they can have me,” he added.

“In this incident I don’t think I did anything wrong.

I haven’t done anything wrong at all. I took meas-

ures to protect myself and again I didn’t go down there and chase down the media and try to expose it.

“There are some of the opinion that I recorded the audio and after she said certain things I went to party leadership and told them what she said. That again isn’t the case. The details will come out once the investigation is finished but again I don’t want to personally be the one to preempt the investigation.”

As previously reported, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie is investigating the matter.

Although the senator’s resignation was welcomed by some in the party, the incident has probably complicated efforts to rally them behind Dr Minnis, who appointed her to the Senate last year despite concerns from some that she was inexperienced and undeserving of the position.

“Today I am announcing my resignation from the Senate with immediate effect,” Mrs Rolle said in a statement on Friday. “It has been a great honour and privilege for me to serve the people of The Bahamas in such high office. However, at this current time in my life I need to focus on a few

personal matters and do not feel that I will be able to devote the time needed to best serve the Bahamian people.

I cannot in good conscience allow myself to continue to serve while not being able to focus all of my attention to the work of the people.

“I truly believe the Free National Movement is strongest when it is focused on the work of the people and my hope is that my resignation today will allow the party to appoint someone that can fill my role and dedicate the needed time to achieving the greater good of all Bahamians,” she continued. “I thank the FNM leadership for giving me the opportunity to serve the people and I look forward to working in my own capacity to help ensure that the FNM continues to move forward as it strives to rescue The Bahamas from a failing government.”

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, Dr Minnis announced she will be replaced in the Senate

by Dr Sands, and said: “I respect Senator Rolle’s decision to step down today from the Senate. She has served the people of The Bahamas with great pride and I look forward to working with her in the future.”

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from page one

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resigning from the upper chamber.

However, he said he was not of the view that it placed the party in a precarious position as has been asserted by critics.

“It’s sad,” Mr Watson said when he was contacted.

“She’s not a dumb girl but she was just so up in people’s faces.

“But you really got to look at what caused her to get there like she was a self proclaimed party ambassador acting on behalf of the party. In my view it goes back to the leadership.

I wish it didn’t happen but it’s just one of those things that we will have to work through.”

On Friday, Mrs Rolle resigned from the Senate citing a “need to focus on a few personal matters.” Dr Duane Sands, the party’s Elizabeth constituency hopeful and a former senator, will replace her.

It came after this newspaper published exclusively stories about an audio recording in which she made disparaging comments about several FNM MPs, including Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, during a conversation with political hopeful Lincoln Bain.

Despite the new round of criticism that this matter has brought, Mr Symonette insisted the party is not falling apart.

He said: “I haven’t heard the tape personally. I have heard what other people have said the tape contains so I can’t comment directly to it, but I think she did the right thing to resign.

“I don’t think it puts the party in any different posi-

tion. She made comments and resigned and the leader accepted and appointed someone else. Dr Duane Sands is well known and has been given the nod for the Elizabeth constituency. He has also been very forthcoming when it comes to the government and National Health Insurance (NHI) so it works well.”

In the purported recording of her conversation with Mr Bain, Mrs Rolle spoke at length about the political future of several members of the party with whom she was dissatisfied.

She also used the discussion to inform Mr Bain that the FNM had reportedly made a decision not to offer him a nomination for the Pinewood Gardens constituency ahead of the 2017 general election.

The comments led several FNMs to anonymously call for her to resign as they also castigated FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis saying her appointment to the Senate highlighted his poor leadership ability.

Mrs Rolle faced backlash in January when she criticised Mrs Butler-Turner during a call in to a radio talk show.

She said the country would not support the Long Island MP as leader, adding that some MPs are “jealous” of Dr Minnis.

Her statements prompted several sitting MPs to demand that she apologise, which she eventually did.

Mr Watson at the time of the earlier controversy said Mrs Rolle had “no sense”, calling her one of Dr Minnis’ “tragic mistakes.”

The incident was seen as a flashpoint in the FNM that highlighted the degree of dissension surrounding Dr Minnis’ leadership.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 17, 2016, PAGE 7

SIX HAITIANS ACCUSED OVER $2M COCAINE HAUL

POLICE escorting two of the six haitian drug smugglers to court.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

By LAMECH JOHNSON conspiracy to import dan- a port in Inagua. The unit Tribune Staff Reporter gerous drugs, conspiracy continued surveillance of ljohnson@tribunemedia.net to possess dangerous the vessel and intercepted drugs with intent to sup- the boat around 7.30pm SIX Haitian men were re- ply, importation of danger- off the northern tip of manded to prison on Friday ous drugs and possession Eleuthera. afternoon following their of dangerous drugs with The vessel was ferried arraignment in connection intent to supply. into the capital nearly 12 with the recent seizure of It is claimed that they hours later where DEU ofnearly $2m worth of sus- plotted the smuggling op- ficers searched and found pected cocaine. eration as early as May 6 several concealed compartJean Kenedy Lubin, 48, and were found with the co- ments. Suspected cocaine Misney Thevil, 47, Frantz caine on May 11. was found in a number of Darre, 40, Luc-Robert Sti The accused men plead- packages in the compartFleur, 38, Oles Paul, 31, ed not guilty to all of the ments. and 29-year-old Nakeson charges.

The six men on board the Simeon, appeared before The Drug Enforcement vessel were taken into cusChief Magistrate Andrew Unit, acting on intelligence tody.

Forbes facing four crimi- from the southern islands, Chief Magistrate Forbes nal charges stemming determined that a large 60- told the men they would from the May 11 seizure: foot freighter did not call to stand trial on September 6.

FOURTH SUSPECT ACCUSED OVER BTC BREAK-IN

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A FOURTH suspect was arraigned in magistrate’s court on Friday over the recent break-in and robbery at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s JFK location.

Keno Kemp, 25, of South Beach appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes to face charges of shop breaking and stealing from a shop concerning the robbery of the RND Plaza store.

It is alleged that Kemp,

sometime between April 28 and 29, broke into and entered BTC with the intent to steal.

It is also alleged that he, being concerned with others, stole $10,023.44 in cash, $9,098.76 in cheques, 50 mobile phones and devices valued at $1,580.50 and a steel safe valued at $2,000, all the property of BTC. Three others, Kevin Morris Sands, 25, Defence Force officer Darien Miller, 32, and his girlfriend, 25-yearold Stephenique Jones were previously arraigned on the same charges.

As the others did in their

respective arraignments, Kemp pleaded not guilty to the charges and returns to court for trial on July 4.

Two former police officers, constables Ricardo Henry Bain and Herman Lawrence Pinder, were dispatched to investigate the break-in, but instead helped themselves to three phones that they stuffed in the chest area of their jackets. The alleged theft was captured on the store’s hidden camera.

Both constables have been ordered to pay a fine of $3,000 or spend 18 months at the Department of Correctional Services.

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PAGE 8, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Pastor fires back at former archbishop over referendum

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net PASTOR Cedric Moss has responded to retired Archbishop Drexel Gomez’s strong recommendation for the electorate to vote “yes” to each of the Constitutional Amendment Bills, saying he found it hard to see how the archbishop could compel people to support the referendum.

In a press statement, Pastor Moss said Archbishop Gomez seemed not to appreciate that Bahamians are entitled to have another view regarding the proposed constitutional

changes.

Last week, Archbishop Gomez criticised some religious leaders for using “suspicion and fear” of same-sex marriage to “mislead” the public and campaign against the fourth Constitutional Amendment Bill.

He said, in a statement, that these church leaders allege, without offering any factual corroboration, that the use of the word “sex” in amendment four can provide a legal “back door” for the authorisation of samesex marriage in The Bahamas, despite the fact that marriage does not, on any logical reading, form part of

the rationale spelled out so clearly in the four amendments.

Pastor Moss said: “I have great respect for Archbishop Gomez as a faithful minister of the gospel, so I take no pleasure in publicly challenging his position on the four bills in question. I do purely out of a sense of duty to contribute to the public discourse in this referendum of monumental importance.

“Regarding the three citizenship bills – bills one, two, and three – with due respect Archbishop Gomez seems not to appreciate that Bahamians are entitled to have an-

other view on these matters, just as he has another view on these matters and had yet another view back in 2002. Why can’t Archbishop Gomez accept that in the same way that he in 2002 took what he considered to be a principled position to vote ‘no’ on all of the bills and campaign for others to do likewise, others today can also have principled objections to one or more of the bills and similarly vote “no” and call others to do the same? Clearly others have the same right in 2016 that Archbishop Gomez had back in 2002.”

He was referring to

the position Archbishop Gomez took against the failed 2002 constitutional referendum brought by the Ingraham administration, which dealt with gender equality and other issues.

“I find it hard to see how Archbishop Gomez can be virtually compelling people to cast a blanket ‘yes’ vote to these bills. Does he truly believe the process by which these particular bills were placed before voters and the bills themselves are perfect and there are no reasonable grounds for objection? I know he does not because there are reasonable grounds for objection

to both the process and the bills.”

He said as it relates to bill four it is regrettable that Archbishop Gomez is oversimplifying a complex issue.

“My first response to his call for me and the other pastors to ‘present the Bahamian population with an unequivocal legal path that leads from amendment four to the passage of legislation authorising same-sex marriages’ is to similarly call him and those with him to present to The Bahamian people an unequivocal assurance that if bill four succeeds it is guaranteed that it will not lead to same-sex marriage,” he said.

NOTTAGE HIGHLIGHTS DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Justice Ruby Nottage, who is spearheading the public education effort over the constitutional referendum, said that many people have told the Constitutional Commission that they will not vote because they don’t trust the government.

RETIRED Justice Rubie Nottage, co-chair of the Constitutional Commission, said many people have told the group they will not vote in the June 7 gender equality referendum because of distrust of the government.

Mrs Nottage’s comments came during a presentation to the Grand Bahama chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority about constitutional reform and gender equality at the Kevin Tomlison Performing Arts Academy.

Mrs Nottage said the commission has come against real elements of distrust because of the government’s handling of the 2013 gaming referendum.

Most of the voters who took part in that poll said no to both questions, however the government still legalised web shops in spite of the results.

Mrs Nottage and other members of the commission have been assuring Bahamians that the constitutional referendum is legally binding and that the results must be respected by the government.

She also urged support for the referendum.

“These recommendations for changes to the Constitution are really important to us as Bahamians. It was decided that we deal with issues that concern Bahamian citizenship where one of the other is a Bahamian citizen and we are trying to clarify when a Bahamian

citizen passes on his or her citizenship.”

Mrs Nottage said that bill four is the most controversial.

This bill will make it unlawful to discriminate based on sex, which is defined as being male or female. But there are some legal critics and pastors who feel it will open the door to gay marriages.

However she dismissed this fear.

“The state wants equal treatment from us (women) when they want money from us. So we want to know that the state also is going to treat us equally.

“In this Bahamas, there shall be no law created which will discriminate on the basis of a person’s sex, and that is male or female. That is what bill four is going to do,” she explained.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, Tuesday, MayMay 17,17, 2016, 2016, PAGE PAGE 9 9

VOTER DISCONTENT COULD IMPACT EQUALITY REFERENDUM

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Christie administration’s track record could doom the upcoming gender equality referendum, as there is growing public dissatisfaction towards the government and its handling of similar votes.

During a community forum in Long Island last week, officials of the YES Bahamas campaign were urged by residents to “rethink” the way it was approaching its campaign, as voters are becoming more disinterested with proposals put forward by the current PLP administration.

Long Island Chief Councillor Ian Knowles cautioned YES Bahamas representatives that the upcoming vote is not about gender equality for voters, but more about how the electorate feels about the

PROVOST Marshal Ellison Greenslade shows the referendum proclamation at the Supreme Court. government.

“Go to the street, don’t take my word for it, go out there and ask the people, this is what they are telling you,” said Mr Knowles during a forum held by YES Bahamas at NGM Major High School in Long Island last Thursday.

“Concerns do exist with the public and those concerns centre on trust. It doesn’t come down to

NIB FACING ‘CHALLENGES’ WITH MOVE TO NEW SYSTEM

from page one

The “greatest impact” has been felt by persons seeking disability benefit claims, along with customers seeking short-term benefit claims, such as maternity, sickness, injury and unemployment, NIB said.

The issues encountered

by NIB encompassed both “technical matters and organisational culture adjustments,” the statement said.

NIB also acknowledged challenges with “other benefit types” however it said such issues “have been largely the exceptions.”

Nonetheless, NIB said it expects its services to be normal by mid-June.

According to NIB’s statement, the organisation has been engaged in the process of transitioning to a new IT platform for the past several years.

Phase one of the transitional process involved the rollout of the new NIB smart card, which was launched in May 2014. The completion of phase two, the “most complex of the phases,” was scheduled for the first week in April of this year.

“As is common in projects of this magnitude, transition issues have been encountered with the final rollout of phase II resulting in regrettable inconvenience to a number of our valued customers,” NIB’s statement said. “The issues encountered encompass both technical matters and organisational culture ad-

justments.

“We note that the greatest impact has been felt by our customers in two areas in particular. Firstly, in relation to disablement benefit claims; and, secondly, in relation to short-term benefit claims (maternity, sickness, injury and unemployment) with some 30 per cent of these having been affected. We acknowledge also challenges with other benefit types; fortunately, such challenges have been largely the exceptions.”

NIB’s statement went on to “unreservedly apologise” to its affected customers, adding that it expects a “full normalisation” of its services to be restored within the shortest possible time.

“The public can be assured that we are working hard to resolve these issues along with our technology partner,” the statement said.

“We anticipate that our services will be fully back on steam by mid-June 2016.

“We acknowledge the importance of our service and recognise the concern when such a vital service does not meet expectations. We also deeply appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we work to improve the customer experience with NIB. The board of NIB is committed to full normalisation of our services in the shortest possible time. We will take all steps necessary to ensure that our services are normalised quickly. We will keep the public informed of progress during this time.”

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equality for our sons and daughters. They brought this back in 2002 and we in Long Island voted yes.”

Referring to the PLP’s actions in that failed referendum, Mr Knowles said: “The same people who in the House (of Assembly) voted yes and supported it, came out, change their minds (and then told the public to vote no).”

“Now they are coming back to us and saying vote for this.

That is the sad part, when you talk to common people on the street, their minds are almost made up, although they know in certain instances that it is the right thing to do, they are finding it hard to trust the messages that are coming from the government and who is behind the message,” he added.

He was referring to the constitutional referendum brought by the Ingraham administration in February 2002. PLP parliamentar-

ians voted in support of the referendum bills, however the then opposition party later changed its mind on the issue and urged the electorate to vote against the proposed changes. That referendum dealt with issues of gender equality among other things.

Mr Knowles insisted that the Christie administration does not have the track record to sway voters to support the June 7 referendum.

He said the government’s handling of the 2013 gaming referendum turned of even more voters. The majority of people who voted in the non-binding poll said no to both questions, however the Christie administration still legalised web shops.

Mr Knowles stated that this action, paired with the government’s snubbing of groups opposing the gender equality referendum, gives the impression that the government “is all or nothing

in its approach” to secure a yes vote.

“Nothing is wrong with the (yes) message, but when I turn on the television all I see is yes. But then we have other respected people presenting a side that could hold water but we can’t hear enough of it because the government is only presenting one side.”

He added: “You listen to Dame Joan Sawyer, she is saying one thing, and then you have another justice saying something that is completely different – who do I trust in this situation?

Do I believe this learned attorney or do I trust another?

So it makes you question if the government is presenting a balanced message or just pushing the side they want you to support.”

Mr Knowles said the government should have taken a hands off approach and allowed the public to decide which side it supported.

On Thursday he said he is even more disappointed that the current PLP regime was attempting to strongarm the voting public into voting yes.

Dame Joan, former president of the Court of Appeal, has said the upcoming referendum is a “waste of time” adding that if she votes, she will likely vote no to the four questions.

Last week, former Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett, who supports the referendum, suggested that an apology from the PLP might sway voters who are bitter about the party’s actions in 2002.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he had no reason to apologise for voting against the 2002 constitutional referendum, saying former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham inspired the results when he “politicised” the vote.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Citizens urged to use judicial reviews to hold government to account

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net OPTHALMOLOGIST Dr Jonathon Rodgers told a conference at the College of The Bahamas on Friday that citizens should utilise the judicial review process to increase government accountability on public disclosures.

Dr Rodgers, who has written two books on the Bahamian economy, stressed that the country was in a state of political decay with zero institutional accountability because of

the government’s failure to enforce laws and the public’s inaction.

He pinpointed a legal recourse to Parliament’s disregard for public disclosure laws as a panellist at the conference on the Future of Democracy, The academic community explored themes of governance, civil society, politics and social discourse within the context of democracy at the two-day event hosted by COB’s Schools of English and Social Sciences.

“Over the past ten years,” Dr Rodgers said, “only two of 38 members have filed

on a regular basis. Seemingly the disclosures committee has not detected or investigated any anomalies even though there have been many a parliamentarian who has entered the political arena as a pauper and exited with untold riches.

What can the public do to hold parliamentarians accountable?”

Financial disclosures must be turned into the Public Disclosures Commission (PDC) by March each year.

Last month, it was revealed by The Tribune that at least 13 members of par-

liament had failed to meet the deadline. According to the Public Disclosures Act, a summary of the declarations shall be published in the Gazette and any person who does not comply with the law is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than two years.

Dr Rodgers said: “Judicial review process, any citizen can ask the courts for a judicial review of the decision of the disclosures committee not to investigate any irregularities and substantially the Prime Minister’s decision not to engage

the Attorney General to take action against delinquent parliamentarians.

However, the discretionary powers of any Prime Minister, as it pertains to the act, does not give him the right to act in an unreasonable or irrational manner.”

On the matter of disclosures, Dr Rodgers said successive heads of state have not acted reasonably or rationally, and such disregard would have been found guilty of “abject dereliction of duty and a gross violation of parliamentary code of conduct” in the United Kingdom.

Dr Rodgers explained there were several remedies once a judicial review has commenced, such as a declaration, mandamus or prohibition from the judge.

“A judge would have to declare that the majority did not file or fraudulently filed. A mandamus would follow, and penalties associated with the act would then have to be enforced.

If a judge chooses to grant the third, prohibition, parliamentarians would step down because they would be considered no longer fit and proper to hold office had they broken the law.”

SEARS TAKES ISSUE WITH WILCHCOMBE OVER FESTIVAL

from page one

He challenged officials to “call the police” if they suspect “criminal wrongdoing” over the delayed festival or to let the matter play out in court, where both sides can present their cases, if there is a contractual breach. He added that “innuendos, insinuations and allegations of wrongdoing by a public official” do not foster confidence in doing business with government.

Mr Sears, the PLP’s 2017 election candidate for Ft Charlotte, took issue with comments his party colleague made last week to The Nassau Guardian.

According to the report, Mr Wilchcombe lamented the fact that “distinguished gentlemen” did not fulfil their obligation with the festival and also threatened to take legal action against them.

Mr Sears said in response: “His statements are reminiscent of how lawyers in court refer to their opponents as ‘my learned friend.’ Whether these references by the minister of

tourism were intended as sarcasm or compliment, presumably, one of those so-called ‘distinguished men’ is referring to me, thus prompting me to issue this brief statement on my sole behalf.”

He said there is a commercial dispute between the Ministry of Tourism and Caribbean Music Festival Ltd over the postponement of a few nights of the festival and “about the fulfilment of duties by both parties, pursuant to the commercial contract to stage a series of festivals over the course of five years.”

He added: “Surely the making of innuendos, insinuations and allegations of wrongdoing by a pubic official, without full disclosure against a party in contract with a public entity does not contribute to the ease of doing business in the Bahamas or increase the confidence of Bahamian and foreign investors in contract with the government.

“If there is alleged criminal wrongdoing, call the police. If there is an alleged breach of a commercial contract, then the parties in good faith should seek

to settle their dispute amicably, failing which one or both parties can take the commercial dispute to court or to arbitration to be judicially determined ... It is my hope that both parties can come to an amicable conclusion to ensure that the Bahamian people are not shortchanged or disadvantaged, as alleged by the minister of tourism.”

The four-day festival was postponed last year after two nights of activity. It was scheduled to take place from October 28 to October 31.

Although the Bahamas government is not responsible for the event, the Ministry of Tourism is one of its major sponsors, having invested more than $600,000 in the festival.

The festival was a part of the government’s efforts to fill the Bahamian calendar with musical and sporting events that would promote culture, encourage commerce and put a spotlight on the country’s tourism products year round.

Michael Tomlinson, a Jamaican, is chairman and CEO of the festival.

ALFRED SEARS, who has challenged officials to call the police if they feel there was any wrongdoing over the Caribbean Muzik Festival.

THE TRIBUNE

E

Tuesday, May 17, 2016, PAGE 11

Choosing a new path

NVISION this.

It is 2017. A new Bahamian government has come to office. It is not a government of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). It is not a government of the Free National Movement (FNM). It is a government of all the people, rising from the remains of its predecessors, and transcending party lines and party affiliation.

Finally, by the time the year 2016 had ended, the Bahamian people had fully united in their agreement that they were grossly unhappy with where they were as a people and what they saw on the horizon ... for the future of their once beautiful nation … for those who could remember it … an imperfect land, but one nevertheless filled with unlimited potential.

Bahamians finally understood that, if they were to change the trajectory of their fate, they would have to be unified, truly as one people, in love and service to one another and to their homeland.

And so, at long last, the Bahamian people rose up for their country, for their future, for their children and their children’s offspring. They chose, as some described it, the “least of evils”, to guide them on a new path, more firmly grounded by the stronger, more resilient framework of a new constitution that represented each and every person as equal, and they did it without loss of life or a drop of blood from anyone fighting for the cause. Though, some can and do argue that the results of years of crime, the murders, the shootings and stabbings, over ten to 20 of The Bahamas’ most recent years, amounted to the same violent bloodletting as would occur in a revolutionary war.

Some argue, in retrospect, that for years we were having a civil war, fought between otherwise aimless people lacking self-identity, purpose, and inclusion.

And if that were so, then it would be beyond a shame that those who walked these limestone surfaces before us could not see the headlock in which they placed their own people.

But, no more.

For all those lost in the battle to get us here today, we take a moment of silence for the lives they could have lived. We are hopeful, finally and truly, that their descendants will know true representation, inclusion, freedom, equality, productivity and prosperity in a now more vital society.

It is late 2017. And the new leaders of The Bahamas, the ones you elected to give you the best representation in the short history of our country, free of routine corruption and political and family patronage, have formed a new system of government to guard against historic abuses as occurred in the previous, more fragile regime.

Along with the old regime, they — we — have discarded our ties with the British monarch as our head of state; dispensed of a Governor General as her representative; discarded the Westminster system of government (with its too powerful executive and practically no separation of powers); declined the Privy Council as the highest court in The Bahamas and chosen in its place the Caribbean Court of Justice; and disposed of the title ‘Commonwealth’ in our name.

We no longer require the trappings of spectacle and ceremony; they are merely celebratory veils which disguise our emptiness, serving no useful purpose and adding no value, ultimately, to our existence. Still, we won’t completely discredit, or regret, our time as a constitutional monarchy … it was, in hindsight, a step we needed to take to make this transition a smoother one.

It is the end of 2017. The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is now the Republic of The Bahamas.

In this brand new republic, under a presidential-parliamentary system, there is a

By NICOLE BURROWS

new, directly elected President Smith, who has named a new Prime Minister Rolle and a cabinet of equal numbers of women and men, all of whom are eager to honourably serve their fellow Bahamian people. Unlike France, which transitioned through an empire, a constitutional monarchy, a republic, another empire and a few more republics, over 150 years, and now on its fifth republic with 66 million people, and a fine example of freedom, equality, and enterprise, the Republic of The Bahamas drew together its mere 400,000 people to decide that, after only 40odd years of a progressively failing system of government and nearly all branches attached thereto, a new republic was the only way forward.

In this new Republic of The Bahamas, Prime Minister Rolle and the entire ministerial cabinet are accountable to President Smith and to the Parliament of elected representatives who have already demonstrated their leadership ability and commitment to all Bahamians prior to their election to the Assembly.

In this new republic, there is a new constitution, upon which the Republic of The Bahamas bases its government. In this constitution, President Smith is specifically mandated to take charge of foreign policy and defence policy and Prime Minister Rolle is responsible for domestic and economic policy, with oversight

by President Smith and a watchful Parliament of Bahamian patriots.

In this new constitution, where there is express equality for all women and men, there is also a mandate for the transparency and accountability of government, by way of The Bahamas’ first effective Freedom of Information Act, which is immediately voted on and approved by the Assembly, and enacted as the first order of business to ensure the Bahamian people will immediately and always know, when required, what their government has done, said, spent or agreed to on their behalf. Because, in this new republic, the people hold the sovereign power as equals.

In the new republic, there is freedom of thought, and also freedom of religion, solidified in the text of the new constitution of the new Republic of The Bahamas.

Your government does not obstruct your intellectual ability or academic achievement, your primary doorway to success, nor does it choose your personal, religious beliefs.

In your personal life, your educational attainment is your choice and provided by your government at no cost, and your religion is also your choice, with your morality at your own cost.

In the public life, equality of citizenship is the foundation of all things, academic, religious, economic … there is no right way of thinking other than that which is forward and productive, and all people, of lofty ambition or not, regardless of their religious faith, financial possessions, or social or political associations, are equal and protected under the First Constitution of the Republic of The Bahamas. As such, education, economy, religion, and all opportunities connected to these are equally provided and protected from political interference … and vice versa.

We needed a republic because we wanted to place stronger reins on the executive branch of government … to prevent another one of our deified leaders from exerting any type of ambiguously dictatorial rule … to prevent the abuses of power and gateways for corrupt practices within the government and civil service and amongst our elected representatives.

Our new constitution, though filled with equal

opportunity, is now a topdown chastity belt on executive power, so that our leaders would act always in our interest ... the Bahamian people’s interest. And whenever they decide not to, we shall (thank you England) swing down on them like a guillotine.

W

e are a republic to achieve a clearer separation of powers between each arm of government (the executive, the judiciary, the legislature) and to provide the necessary checks and balances on those branches of government and on our new president and our new prime minister, so we would never again have to chop down the tree and dig out its rotten roots and plant another seedling.

We chose a republic in order to put greater emphasis on the rights of every Bahamian individual under the rule of our new constitution, instead of always only following the rule of a majority which often marginalizes the minority and is at times and too often not right or just.

A democracy is not always right or fair. It embraces the rule of a majority of citizens, but our new

constitution offers greater safety against even the most subtle tyranny, placing, more securely, the power of this nation in the hands of each one of its people.

Our new republic protects the individuals within our majority and our minority. That is equality.

Our republic provides for the rule of the majority as a protection against rogue leaders, autocrats, theocrats and absolute monarchs, while allowing each Bahamian individual a defence against the herd mentality, an unfortunate by-product of our old model of majority rule and democracy.

The tool of absolute monarchy is religious doctrine. That is how you keep your people obedient. They question nothing if you say it is all divine. That is our

‘

We needed a Republic of The Bahamas because we wanted to place stronger reins on the executive branch of government … to prevent another one of our deified leaders from exerting any type of ambiguously dictatorial rule … to prevent the abuses of power and gateways for corrupt practices within the government and civil service and amongst our elected representatives.’

history. And that is why we almost didn’t get here.

We almost didn’t do it.

We almost didn’t become a republic because it seemed like we loved nothing better than to have a supreme human leader to worship … one person to tell us what to do and to fix us in every aspect of our lives. But we broke free of that unliberated thinking and one more Bahamian patriot was all we needed on election day 2017 to change what was a

national failure in only four decades into a national success after four failed decades. Our glass is half full.

This is our new perspective.

It is July 10, 2018. We are the Republic of The Bahamas.

This is a presentation give to the two-day Future of Democracy Conference on Friday at the College of the Bahamas. Comments and responses to nicol at fastmail.com

PAGE 12, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN AT RANFURLY

T

he Ranfurly Homes for Children has been a safe haven for thousands of Bahamian children since 1956. The Home provides a safe, structured environment for children who have been orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned.

YOU can make a difference in the lives of the children at Ranfurly. With your support children can have nutritious food, warm beds and a safe environment where they can discover the joy of being children. For years the children living and learning at Ranfurly have made great social and academic strides.

Their further development requires additional support in the form of a Transitional Home, planned for construction on the Ranfurly property.

This residence will cater to teenagers and young adults who are beyond school age, but need accommodation while they find work and gain independence from the Home.

We look forward to your continued support in this worthwhile endeavour.

MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES Individuals, Families & Corporate Sponsors Children Helping Children - $5 (Individual children from ages 6 - 18) Individuals Helping Children - $50 (Individual adults 18 years and over) Families Helping Children - $100

CIRCLE of FRIENDS Silver: $1,500 - $2,499 Gold: $2,500 - $4,999 Platinum: $5,000 plus

OPPORTUNITIES • • • •

Invitations to Ranfurly events Assist with fundraising events Involvement with special activities Adults are eligible to join the Board after three months • Stay in touch with Ranfurly through website and newsletters

BENEFITS

• Personal fulfillment in knowing you are impacting lives • Ranfurly children’s appreciation and positive response • Continued support provides stability and constant care

For more information visit: www.ranfurlyhome.org Please “Like” us on Facebook Ranfurly Home for Children, Mackey Street P.O. Box 1413 Nassau, Bahamas 242-393-3115

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 17, 2016, PAGE 13

LEGISLATION CONSIDERED TO TACKLE ABUSE OF THE ELDERLY

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE MINISTRY of Social Services is actively considering legislation in The Bahamas to protect the elderly from neglect and abuse, Melanie Griffin said on Friday during the opening of a new unit for senior citizens and the disabled in Grand Bahama.

Mrs Griffin, minister of social services, said that her department has been receiving reports of abuse and neglect of the elderly and that it is time to put a stop to it.

“We know that older persons often are neglected, and they are abused - believe it or not, we get the reports. They are verbally abused, some of them are physically abused, and many of them are financially abused,” she said.

Mrs Griffin said it is surprising to discover the level of financial abuse that happens to older persons who receive old age pension from the National Insurance Board.

“It should not be, but some children actually refuse to allow them (older persons) to manage their own money. When they get their pension, they don’t know how it is spent and the light is off, and there’s no food in the cupboard.

It is time we put an end to that,” she said.

“And it is time that persons who neglect and abuse emotionally and financially any older person know that we will put the law on you.”

According to Mrs Griffin, the Department of Social Services provides assistance to 833 senior citizens in Grand Bahama.

“We are providing you today with your own division and all your needs and any complaints you have will be responded to (by this unit),” she said. “The division seeks to ensure the safety and well being of our older persons.”

In response to why a unit was not also opened in Eight Mile Rock, Mrs Griffin said: “I can tell you the government has really been doing its best to make things easier for older persons and persons with disabilities and that is why it was so important to introduce the pre-paid cards in Grand Bahama.”

She noted that people in the far settlements in the east and west no longer have to keep going into Freeport and Eight Mile Rock to get food coupons.

“They are now able to have their pre-paid cards and use them in the areas in the stores where they live, and so the long lines have been eliminated,” said Mrs Griffin.

“Now we understand that there some of you, based on some of the qualifications, have been taken off the cards for food assistance, but I take this opportunity to remind you that there is a right of appeal and if you feel you have unfairly taken off, all you have to do is put in that appeal and we will give your application reconsideration,” she said.

Mrs Griffin noted that disability directly affects about 15 per cent of the population and impacts everyone one way or another. The Disability Affairs Unit caters to deaf, visibly impaired, physically disabled and mentally disabled. Each of the various groups was represented at the opening.

Jonathan Cooper, of the Grand Bahama Deaf Association, spoke about the challenges the deaf face in getting access to higher education and securing meaningful employment in Freeport.

“The deaf community has had a hard time … getting accepted into BTVI, COB and other programmes because there is no help. We would like the (establishment) of an institute programme for the deaf and hard hearing to gain under-

standing and the skills for the workplace,” he said.

He also noted that deaf people are mostly unemployed. “Many of them are going to the foodstores to pack bags to earn a living, but I know they can do more to help themselves and their families.”

Mr Cooper said that deaf people are unable to get loans from banks adding that there is a need for more interpreters in Grand Bahama for the deaf to assist them, especially in court.

He also said they are looking to have a shelter for the older deaf persons.

Leona Armbrister, of the Association of Visibly Impaired, also talked about how poorly the blind are treated in society by various persons, at banks, government offices, even at social services when they go there for assistance, and when crossing the street.

“This country is not disabled friendly. People need to be more sensitive to the needs of the blind and visibly impaired,” she stressed.

Derrick Nottage, of the Northern Council for the Disabled, said there are 106 disabled members in Grand Bahama. The REACH Association was represented

by Dorana Russell, who gave some useful tips about to detect symptoms of autism in children. Anita Wilson spoke on behalf of the Retired Persons Association for Grand Bahama.

Senior Deputy Director of Social Services Lillian Quant-Forbes, the former head in Freeport, said it was good to see the various associations represented at the opening on Friday.

Mrs Griffin urged everyone to support continued effort of the Department of Social Services as it works to extend or assistance through the new Disabilities Affair Unit Division and the Senior Citizens Division, which was officially opened by Lady Laurie Miller, the widow of the late Sir Albert Miller.

MELANIE Griffin MP at the official opening of the Department of Social Service - Disability Affairs And Senior Citizens Divisions.

Faculty Vacancy The College of The Bahamas invites applications for the following position: Assistant Professor, Haitian Creole/French Faculty responsibilities include teaching; participating in curriculum review, revision and development; participating in student recruitment and advisement; developing and participating in departmental projects; engaging in research and scholarly activities; serving on departmental, School and college-wide committees.

Applicants should be able to teach at the beginners and intermediate levels. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to teaching undergraduate students; evidence of excellence in teaching and in the use of creative/innovative pedagogies; knowledge of current trends in pedagogy; skills in course development and implementation; evidence of research and scholarship.

For a detailed job description, please visit www.cob.edu.bs/hrprofile.

Interested applicants must submit the following: • A completed College of The Bahamas Application for Employment Form (www.cob.edu.bs/hrprofile) • A letter of interest (highlighting work experience and accomplishments relevant to the position) • An up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume • Teaching philosophy statement • Evidence of excellence in teaching • Evidence of research and scholarship • Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts needed for employment) • At least three confidential, professional references Applications will NOT be considered without the complete package.

The College of The Bahamas Human Resources Department P. O. Box N-4912 Poinciana Drive & Thompson Boulevard Nassau, Bahamas Associate Vice President, Human Resources OR facultyapply@cob.edu.bs Deadline: 20th May, 2016

PAGE 14, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Long Island still fights to recover from hurricane

from page one addition to losing their homes lost the financial means to properly recover.

“It is dire in many cases throughout, don’t get me wrong here, but the biggest concern is in the south.

Families in that section are struggling and many of those families have left the island because it has proven far too difficult to repair and rebuild,” she said.

“Families from all around the island have left but most are leaving from the south. A lot of families don’t have the capacity to recover and we have seen that. There are a number of homes that are vacant (in the south) where residents couldn’t afford to make the repairs, or only afford to fix some things. If they aren’t slated for a home, then it is up to them to find the supplies needed to start over.

The main point of repairs focused on roofs. However, we had many homes that had to be fully gutted due to the severity of flood damage.”

In late October, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

SOME of the damage in Long Island after Hurricane Joaquin. said that one in every 10 homes it had assessed was “completely destroyed”. A damage assessment report compiled for NEMA at that time showed that 35 of the 317 homes assessed in Long Island were left uninhabitable, while a total of 117 were classified as “substantially damaged” by Joaquin. The report indicated that 159 of the 317 homes assessed to that point received minor damage as a result of the storm.

Last week FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis urged the government to extend the exigency order imple-

mented for residents in the southern Bahamas on the premise that many were still struggling. NEMA has since revealed that the order was being extended for residents on a case-by-case basis.

When asked about this, Mrs Bootle-Bethel insisted that it was one of the most important ways the government could encourage the redevelopment of Long Island. She said that residents needed additional time to accumulate the funds needed to replace appliances, vehicles and furniture.

“Funding wasn’t, and

in many cases to date still hasn’t been readily available. So an extension would aid tremendously,” she said.

“Persons had their forms documented and signed; they just didn’t have the financial resources to get what they needed when the order was first announced.”

She added: “In this process NEMA has been relatively hands on. In terms of assessment and repair teams, we still have one repair team going strongly.

Supplies are at this time still trickling into the island from NEMA for those requests being made, for homes under construction, in addition to the homes that are being considered.

There were some initial delays in terms of shipping, which is normal for dealing with inter-island shipping, so as supplies continue to come in we are trying our best to get those supplies into the hands of those persons that need them or need to put them to use.”

On the ground, NEMA is working to construct 12 homes. There are plans for more in the coming months; however the specifics of those arrangements are unknown.

Private sector efforts are also visible on the island. In fact, a large percentage of the homes and private businesses that are undergoing minor to mid-level repairs are being done through private sector funding.

Efforts are also underway to repair a number of government buildings.

The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be one of the most active seasons in recent years. The forecast calls for a total of 14 named storms, eight hurricanes and at least three major (category three or higher) storms.

Mrs Bootle-Bethel said discussion of hurricane preparedness remains a “horrifying, extremely draining topic.” She said she hopes that Long Island is spared this year, stressing that the island in its present state could not weather another storm.

“We have spoken about drainage, there is still a major need for storm drains in very key areas. We have spoken about training for persons on our disaster response teams. Last year, we had persons that were placed in positions where they couldn’t respond be-

cause it came down to saving themselves and responding to the persons that they were tasked to aid,” she said.

“There needs to be a national team on standby that is ready and able to move in and assist when the time calls for it. My team was rendered basically helpless.

They lost everything, they too were devastated, and so it was like the wounded helping the wounded. That is one of the major points I have wanted to get across in my writing and in my speaking opportunities is that need for a national response team that can come in and co-ordinate in a drop of a hat because during (Joaquin) the local team found themselves in need. It was extremely difficult to get mobilised and assist the way we needed to.”

Mrs Bootle-Bethel has presented the government and NEMA with a SWAT analysis that details issues that need to be re-examined immediately, as well as calls for a reformatted approach to the way the government views disaster preparedness teams within Family Island communities.

MAN SAYS HE’LL SUE FOR ‘MALICIOUS’ MURDER PLOT PROSECUTION

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN intends to pursue legal action over what he deemed “malicious prosecution” concerning allegations that he had a role in a murder plot.

Ian Porter, 45, of Star Estates, appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes on Friday afternoon fac-

ing a charge of conspiracy to commit murder under Sections 89 (2) of the Penal Code, Chapter 84.

It is alleged that he, being concerned with others, between April 30 and May 1, conspired to murder Oneil Marshall.

Shortly after midnight on May 1, police were on mobile patrol when they saw smoke coming from a vehicle in the parking lot of

the old City Meat Market building located off Market Street north, according to initial police reports.

Police examined the vehicle and found the body of an adult male with gunshot wounds. The victim, later identified as Oneil Marshall, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jamaric Green, 30, and Caryn Moss, 25, and 37-year-old Ramon Sweet-

ing were previously arraigned on the same charge concerning the incident.

As he did for Sweeting, Green and Moss, Magistrate Forbes told Porter he was not required to enter a plea to the allegation until the matter was transferred to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment.

The presentation of the indictment is scheduled for June 21.

Porter was denied bail in the interim, but was informed of his right to apply to the Supreme Court for pre-trial release.

Prior to the conclusion of the arraignment, Porter’s lawyer, Jomo Campbell, relayed his client’s concern with the arraignment where Kristan Stubbs - a Crown prosecutor - was present.

“Mr Porter did give a substantial alibi to the police

and there’s zero evidence against him,” Campbell advised the court.

The lawyer said he would place on the record, in the presence of a representative from the Office of the Attorney General, that his client “intends to take legal action for malicious prosecution”. Porter was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services in the interim.

THE TRIBUNE

‘THE PEOPLE’S PAPER’

Tuesday, May 17, 2016, PAGE 15

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PAGE 16, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

POOR PAVING AND TRUCKS BLOCKING ROADS...

THE TRIBUNE

FIX OUR STREETS!

RESIDENTS in Imperial Park and Sea Breeze frustrated by the lack of attention paid by authorities to the state of the streets in their neighbourhood have contacted The Tribune again to further highlight issues in the area.

A poorly filled and unpaved section of Pine Avenue, off Golf Course Road, is said to be deepening by the day after being dug up more than two months ago causing issues for motorists.

And through the corner off Buttonwood Drive turning into Imperial Park opposite Victory Baptist Church, residents are reportedly “disgusted” by a taxi operator whose cars are parked and repaired randomly while another nearby property has a broken down dump truck in the yard and a working truck leaking oil and causing traffic issues.

“The dump truck is taking up half the road,” one

A DUMP truck parially obscuring the road off Buttonwood Drive near Imperial Park. resident told The Tribune.

“Causes traffic problems. Also a disabled dump truck in the yard. The truck on the road leaks oil daily,

leaves sand in the road.

When it rains all the mud from the truck is all over the road.

“The taxi driver owns

taxis and fixes them daily in his yard and has vehicles not running, just parked.

Sometimes there are four to five taxis there getting repaired. All the neighbours are disgusted at this.”

Last week, a trench across Golf Course Road dug by Cable Bahamas by the junction at Savannah Avenue/Charles Saunders Highway, which had been left unpaved for more than four months, was repaired shortly after a notice appeared in the newspaper.

The Tribune has been drawing attention to areas that are being neglected, or are unsightly, unhealthy and being ignored by the relevant authorities, whether they be potholes in the road, uncollected garbage or abandoned cars.

• Email fixmystreet@ tribunemedia.net to let us know your issues.

THE POORLY filled road section of Pine Avenue, off Golf Course Road.

EL FARO CAPTAIN PLANNED TO ‘SHOOT UNDER’ STORM, HEARING TOLD

JACKSONVILLE (AP) - The captain of the doomed freighter El Faro told a colleague just before the ship’s final voyage that he was aware of a storm brewing at sea, but that he had a plan to go under it, testimony at an investigative hearing revealed yesterday.

Eric Bryson, the pilot who sailed the El Faro out of the Port of Jacksonville on its final voyage, testified before the US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation that is probing the disaster. Yesterday was the start of a second round of hearings looking into the accident.

Mr Bryson, a specialist who pilots the ships through the Port of Jacksonville, said he remembered no irregularities with

the 790-foot cargo ship, and that its crew was acting normally as it prepared to sail on September 29 to Puerto Rico. Asked if there was any discussion of the brewing storm in the Caribbean, Bryson said El Faro’s captain Michael Davidson addressed it.

“Capt Davidson said ‘We’re just going to go out and shoot under it,’” Mr Bryson said.

The ship lost propulsion and sank on October 1 off Crooked Island after getting caught in Hurricane Joaquin while sailing between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico.

All 33 aboard died in the worst commercial maritime disaster for a US-flagged ship since the Marine Electric sank off the coast of

Virginia in 1983. Most of the crewmembers were from Florida, and others were from Georgia, Maine, Virginia, Delaware, Tennessee, Massachusetts and New York. Other crewmembers were from Poland, according to the Coast Guard.

Search crews recently discovered the El Faro’s voyage data recorder at the wreckage site in the Bahamas in 15,000 feet of water, but they still have not recovered it. It may contain recordings from the ship’s bridge that will paint a more accurate picture of why Capt Davidson chose a faster, but less safe, route despite knowledge of the storm.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which

will also participate in the hearings, said it is still planning a recovery mission for the device.

The Coast Guard says a third round of hearings will explore the recorder’s data if the device is recovered.

Previous testimony showed that Capt Davidson had taken a slower but safer route during Tropical Storm Erika in August, 2015, after the company sent out a weather alert. No such alerts or discussions of the weather were found for the period before the stronger catergory four hurricane Joaquin, but emails showed that the day before the ship sank, Capt Davidson had asked his superiors about changing to the slower route home.

Yesterday, El Faro’s former captain, Boer Axelsson,

said he also chose a slower, safer route when faced with a storm on the same route in 2014. Capt Axelsson said he saw predictions of the storm’s path possibly crossing his route, and chose evasive action. He said the company deferred to his voyage plan. “I would have run right into it and I said ‘I’m not doing it,” he said.

Capt Davidson had been authorised by company official to take a slower, safer route, but he chose not to.

Officials from Tote Services Inc testified that the final decision was his.

Testimony also showed that Tote officials did not actively chart weather systems that may pose a safety concern for the company’s fleet. Capt John Lawrence, who was the last to speak

with Capt Davidson, did not understand the depth of the El Faro’s troubles until after Capt Davidson’s final call ashore to report that he was in distress.

Capt Lawrence testified that, after the call, his office finally charted the course of the storm along with the ship’s last known coordinates. Only then did he realise Joaquin was bearing down on the El Faro. Since the El Faro’s sinking, Tote has upgraded the weather tracking systems available to its fleet.

Still, Axelsson said he was never worried about the 41-year-old El Faro’s ability to handle adversity at sea.

“To me the El Faro was a Cadillac,” he testified. “She rode well. She handled well.

She wasn’t vulnerable.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 17, 2016, PAGE 17

MEXICAN FIESTA HELD AT NATIONAL TRUST

THE Bahamas National Trust (BNT) hosted a Mexican Fiesta at The Retreat on Village Road recently to raise funds for national park management.

Organised by Jose Ageeb, of Freedom Sound Productions, the event featured authentic Mexican food and entertainment, as

well as activities for children. Mexican crafts and beverages were also on sale.

Gifts from Panama Jack and Fire House Spice Company were also raffled.

“This was our fifth year for the Fiesta,” Mr Ageeb said, “and despite competition from the Junkanoo Carnival, we had great sup-

port from BNT families and friends.”

According to BNT Deputy Director Lynn Gape, partnerships like this are important to the organisation. Admission receipts are shared with the organisers and BNT members and guests are able to enjoy a family outing.

BREAKING the piñata at the BNT’s Mexican Fiesta

PAGE 18, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

THE TRIBUNE