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OBITUARIES

ds Classifier h 12, 2012 Monday, Marc

e TheTribun

real estate

Volume: 112 No.122

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CLASSIFIEDS TRADER

Letter lists the failings of FNM leader

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  SIX FNM parliament members have put together a damning case against their leader, Dr Hubert Minnis, highlighting a myriad of inefficiencies, including his failure to take command of the party “at almost every turn� despite their repeated efforts to support him.

And after four years at the helm of the organisation, the MPs said there was a growing “trust deficit� exacerbated by the “heartbreaking� reality that Dr Minnis “proved himself not to be a man of

his word�.

As a result, they said, “our clarion call to action by this Central Council could not be clearer; we absolutely need an early convention to speak to the legitimacy of Bahamian democracy. Equally importantly, we need to confirm whether our current leader still benefits from a mandate to lead�.

They accused Dr Minnis of knowingly and intentionally distorting facts, saying one thing then doing another, and misrepresenting the words or views of his colleagues.

‘FULL STORY OF TOGGIE AND BOBO NOT KNOWN’

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WORKERS DEMAND ACTION OVER UNSAFE CONDITIONS

SEE PAGE THREE

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  MORE than two months after Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis admitted to meeting with one of the “criminals� involved in the alleged Peter Nygard murder for hire plot, six FNM members of Parliament say they are “confident� that the full story has not been told.

In an eight-page memorandum sent by the six MPs to the party’s Central

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE TWO

SEE PAGE THREE

FREE National Movement newcomer Mark Humes yesterday said that Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins did not have a credible record to support his aggressive critique of the party’s leadership.

Mr Humes, former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) chairman, called on Dr Rollins to declare whether he intends to vie for the FNM leadership

EMPLOYEES from the Department of Land and Surveys protesting over health fears at the building on East Bay. See page 13 for the full story.

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

MITCHELL: DECEPTION BY VOTE ‘NO’ SIDE IS A SIN

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell yesterday spoke out against religious leaders opposing the four referendum bills, claiming that their “deceptive campaign� against the gender equality vote is “a sin�.

He also insisted that some pastors are using “false SEE PAGE SEVEN

INTERNATIONAL GROUPS SUPPORT ‘YES’ VOTE

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net SIX major international agencies yesterday threw their support behind a “yes� vote in the upcoming gender equality referendum, projecting that its success will impact reform efforts worldwide.

In a joint statement, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UNICEF, UN Women, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Pan American Health

Organization (PAHO) and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) commended the Bahamas for holding the June 7 vote. “If passed,� the statement read, “these amendments will ensure that Bahamian mothers and fathers have equal rights to transmit nationality to their children, and that Bahamian women are able to confer their nationality to their non-Bahamian spouses on the same basis as Bahamian men.�

SEE PAGE SIX

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

MURDER PLOT SUSPECT GRANTED $20,000 BAIL

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN awaiting trial concerning an alleged murder plot was granted $20,000 bail in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

SEE PAGE 11

THE NEXT EDITION OF THE TRIBUNE WILL BE ON MONDAY

PAGE 2, Thursday, June 2, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

‘THE FULL STORY OF TOGGIE AND BOBO NOT KNOWN’ from page one

Council, it was suggested that Dr Minnis’ explanation about his meetings with Livingston “Toggie” Bullard could come back to harm the party.

They accused him and former party Chairman Michael Pintard of “wheeling and dealing” with Bullard and another self-professed gang member, Wisler “BoBo” Davilma, who was also named in the controversy.

The MPs maintained that had Dr Minnis not kept them in the dark over this situation, a “chairmanship might have been saved” and the party’s brand would not have been dealt such a severe blow.

In late March, Mr Pintard resigned as the party’s chairman and as a senator over concerns about his involvement in uncovering the alleged plot.

St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central Grand Bahama MP

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FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis Neko Grant, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and Fort Charlotte MP Dr Rollins sent the memorandum to the FNM’s Central Council on Tuesday, May 31.

The memo said: “Far too often, the parliamentary team simply did not know where the leader was going, what he was going to say, when or where. Consequently, too often when he faced the barrage of PLP counter attack, none of us knew what ‘run’ the leader was on in the first place, so we were ill-equipped and ill-prepared to defend him.

“The most recent example of this was the disaster of Toogie and BoBo (sic).

Even as he and the former national chairman were talking/coordinating with, wheeling and dealing with these men, Dr Minnis kept his colleagues completely in the dark.

“MPs were later blindsided in the House of Assembly, when the Progressive Liberal Party leaders launched their blistering counterattack designed to redirect attention from themselves.

“Had the team been fully briefed, a chairmanship might have been saved, and the damage to the FNM brand would not have been as severe.

“Even to this day, we are confident — based on what we know from sources outside the FNM — that the full story of ‘BoBo’ and ‘Toogie’ (sic) has not been told. Like a sly fox, or snake in the grass, the PLP is lying in wait for the right moment to pounce.”

It continued: “PLP politics aside, it is clear that by inviting this unscrupulous pair to his home, Dr Minnis exercised poor judgment in the extreme. Right-thinking Bahamians—including hard core FNMs—have admitted this. Had the leader consulted his colleagues, we would have advised him to act differently.”

On March 21, the Killarney MP told The Tribune that Bullard, his constituent whom he said he met three times, contacted him to pass on a warning to Mr Pintard that he was about

to be allegedly “set up” by a high-ranking member of government and others.

After his admission, some questioned why he did not reveal these meetings earlier.

However, Dr Minnis was adamant that he only met with Bullard and stressed that he never discussed Mr Nygard, a Lyford Cay resident.

He added that he did not hear of the alleged murder for hire plot until The Tribune published claims in an affidavit filed on March 9 by directors of Save the Bays.

At the time, he told The Tribune: “One of the chaps, ‘Toggie’, called me, a constituent, and said to me that Michael Pintard is going to a meeting and (a member of government) is going to set him up. He stopped by me and said the same thing.

I called Pintard and told him.”

“His exact words were ‘Pintard is going to a meeting, warn Pintard not to go because (name omitted) and them trying to set him up.’ That would have been the end of it.”

Dr Minnis said he did not know what Mr Pintard’s meeting was about, but he did warn the former senator not to go to any sit down.

When asked why he did not reveal this when he spoke about the Nygard controversy in the House of Assembly a week earlier, Dr Minnis responded that he told his parliamentary members about it.

Three weeks after Dr Minnis’ initial meeting with Bullard, the man called him after a fishing trip and dropped off some of his catch.

Dr Minnis said during that encounter the two men talked about fish and had a casual conversation. Dr Minnis said his wife, Patricia, was also present and asked Bullard about his family. He said he met Bullard a third time when the self-proclaimed gang member again brought him fish.

These meetings occurred at his home, presumably in early 2015, but Dr Minnis said he could not remember the exact dates.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 2, 2016, PAGE 3

MPs: Minnis not a man of his word ncil e FNM Central Cou th of rs be em M To: irman National Party Cha — lie ol C ey dn Si CC: Leader hard A. Minnis – Party o Grant, M.P., Ric ek CC: Dr. Hubert N ., .P M , an pm ubert Chi ler-Turner, M.P., H s, M.P. From: Loretta But ., Dr. Andre Rollin .P M , lly ei N o he T Lightbourn, M.P., 16 Date: May 31, 20 ction Re: A Call to A

from page one

The MPs further insisted that Dr Minnis was a “political neophyte” when he was unanimously elected to lead them, but was supported by “legacy” leaders of the FNM along with his parliamentary team that wanted him to succeed.

They claim that Dr Minnis has not taken advantage of this support team and has failed to lead.

This scathing assessment of the Killarney MP was contained in an eight-page memorandum to the FNM’s Central Council, which according to the party’s constitution is the highest authority outside of a national convention.

Dated May 31, 2016, it names Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly and Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins as the memo’s senders.

It is an attempt to convince the council to swiftly decide on an early convention and comes days after the same MPs threatened to petition the governor general to have Dr Minnis removed as leader of the Official Opposition.

“For well over three intensely frustrating and oftentimes painful years the parliamentary team, and former colleagues, did everything they could to help and support the leader,” the memorandum, obtained by The Tribune, said.

“We gave the leader every opportunity he needed to take command of the party and lead us to victory. In doing that, the team repeatedly gave the leader tremendous latitude and deference to set the pace and the tone. Regrettably, we and the party met with failure at almost every turn. Dr Minnis just did not trust the team, nor did he trust the more than 70 years of experience in political leadership that it represented.

“For almost the entirety of his tenure — and despite repeated attempts to guide and support him — Dr Minnis proved himself incapable of leading his team. Consequently, the parliamentary team lacked focus and direction often because the leader failed to

provide that focused leadership and direction. This was true of the parliamentary team and the party as a whole. There is absolutely no denying the fact that the party continues to lack a focused plan for national transformation.”

It continued: “Article 25 of the FNM’s constitution declares that the leader shall be responsible for ‘implementing and coordinating the party’s policies and political activities after consultation with the executive committee, the parliamentary members, party officers and others...’

“On a consistent basis Dr Minnis failed to lead in this regard. Almost two years ago when Prime Minister Perry Christie announced to the Bahamas and the world that he would be proceeding with a number of Constitutional Amendment (Bills), he also declared that he was making that announcement after consultation and agreement with Dr Minnis as leader of the opposition. It was a gut-wrenching experience to know that Dr Minnis’ colleagues were learning of his deal with the prime minister at the same time the rest of the Bahamas was being apprised of it.”

With respect to resignations and recommendations for Senate appointments, the MPs said Dr Minnis consulted with his “Cabinet-in-waiting” on a “need to know basis.”

“Consequently, we were frequently the last to know.

Consistently, MPs learned that outsiders were able to share more about what the leader was doing before we were apprised of these actions by our leader.

“Repeatedly, the leader made policy speeches, utterances, and released policy position papers with absolutely zero consultation with his colleagues. This, after repeatedly assuring the public that he was going to be a different type of leader.”

REALITY CHECK Nonetheless, the MPs maintained that this scathing description of the FNM leader was not about personal agendas but that it was a “reality check.”

They maintained that the time had come for a defence of themselves after enduring “mean-spirited,

FNM MPs en used to attack be s ha gs tin ee m Council look good. onths, the forum of der and make him ea L e th nd fe de Over a period of m or to protect nce of the ribe as our failure f but powerful defe ie br a ve ga , an for what they desc ert Chipm Leader was for St. Anne’s, Hub Party Leader. The e th of t en m ct Recently, the MP di mning in g would be e proved to be a da ial Council meetin ec sp a at th d se MPs. That defenc vi was ad n—would be eeting, so Council tside of Conventio ou y rt Pa r ou absent from the m of ity underperforming. be the highest author to — U ed O ar Y pe at ap th so arranged entary team t why the Parliam s on the MPs have ou ck ab ta s at ct e fa bl e ia if th st ar ju able to he eless the un arranged. Neverth r ve ne as w g tin That mee ified. as we do persisted and intens asons why we feel re e th il ta de in t, ve set ou powerful nt no longer. We ha again, the united, le e, si m n co ai m be re d n an ca n e io W y Convent must hold an earl y rt Pa r ou hy w d an ian people.

Dr. voice of The Baham ously rallied behind im an un up ro G ry tside Parliamenta him and many ou defeat in 2012, the d g te in or nt pp oi su pp e sa W di . a After Opposition the Leader of the be to s ni in M t Huber ted him. as separating parliament suppor evidence that he w ed ow sh r de ea L co, The itnessed, with ction in North Aba FNM. We have w he T of y or st From the Bye-Ele hi , d ic. The Bahamas adition, legacy an bl tr , pu ds e or th ch in e t th or pp om himself fr the squandered su s not galvanized ion, dilution and ha os r er de e th ea , L et r gr ou re , unfailing go, bal. However ge. Wherever we rted to a tribal ca an ve re ch s of ha s P m ra PL og e under th ticulate pr so bstantive, open, ar u all fix our party, su yo g tin ill w ga n ul he om W pr ?” pe from FNM holetter vicious and the blic by at- Minnis’ recent missteps, pupersonal” PART e anofythe can s ther pporters “isee d and victimized r su he ou us tacks by Dr Minnis’ch ardent MPs said Bahamians by cr g MPs, detailing what they say ed in ng be le d al an e ggling stru supporters.we ar the FNMbu assino that areare the failings of party leader cause we have not shown ssescorrupt neless l less al sm , be , le op choi pe “For almost the entirety and no self-interested or betterSee DreHubert thecefull e a Minnis. that po ar w at th ce en id nf coDNA. of Dr Minnis’ tenure T the no or letter on www.tribune242.com vePLP ” asheyasha lief?have you, The Council. get re is to leader, FNM MPs Regarding the way forth n later today. tte ri w ve ha e w hy w is t been attacked andbevilified the six MPs said this tter. Thaward, them

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by the leader’s supporters in council and on social media. With each mean-spirited, vicious and personal attack by the leader’s ardent supporters, we turned the other cheek and resisted the urge to say ‘It isn’t me.’ But there comes a time when one must put up a fight and defend himself.”

The memo said given what has happened in the party’s council over “the past six months in particular” they had no other choice but to defend themselves.

“It is our hope that this narrative provides a more balanced representation of why your parliamentary team has functioned in the manner in which it has.

“This parliamentary team is one of accomplished and emerging ‘professionals’. Everyone continues to make tremendous sacrifices in order to serve their country. The decision to take strong action at this time is not at all about us, or some personal agenda against the leader. We act in recognition of the greater national good and the good of the party.”

As a direct result of Dr

is one of the moments in history when the Bahamas is in greatest need of bold, unifying, capable leadership as the country is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis in crime and youth unemployment.

They said virtually all Bahamians agree that the country is in the midst of a crisis of unprecedented severity. As a result, they are starving for change. But they do not see the potential for change in any political party today, the MPs said.

This, they said, could result in increased likelihood that Bahamians would want to give up on the country and leave, while impatiently waiting for a new leadership/political alternative to emerge.

“Those of us who understand our history know that this is a moment in which we must demand of ourselves that we rise to the occasion. “Unfortunately, we are not currently structured to do this,” the MPs’ memorandum said.

1|Page

• For the full text of the memo, see www.tribune242.com

HUMES HITS OUT AT CREDIBILITY OF ROLLINS

from page one

post at the convention, or find more constructive ways to assist the organisation through this difficult period.

Mr Humes also ran against Dr Rollins in the 2012 election, but lost the Ft Charlotte constituency to Dr Rollins, then a PLP member.

He insisted he was not against Dr Rollins’ “belligerent” call for a healthy democracy within the FNM, but was only suggesting that the cause would be better served if it were brought by a member with a proven record that could lead by example.

Mr Humes asked: “Has he shown over the short term of his political career that he does have the right judgment to see the wider picture and the temperament to lead a charge for or call into question another’s visionary and transformative leadership skills?”

“I stand to be corrected, but did he display right judgment when he pandered and joined up with the PLP and, later, the FNM, understanding prior that neither leader had ‘vision’?

“Dr Rollins was well aware,” Mr Humes added.

“The public domain is full of his comments about the lack of vision that both Perry Christie and Hubert Minnis had before he made a determination to join them both,” he said.

“So why is he now, once again, sounding alarms and getting everyone else alarmed again over something he knew and said he knew before he joined these organisations?”

Dr Rollins’ recent outspoken stance on the FNM’s leadership struggles has positioned him at the centre of renewed efforts by the majority of the FNM’s parliamentary team to engender an earlier convention date.

Six of the opposition’s 10 MPs have threatened to petition Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to remove Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition unless the initial November date is pushed up.

A special council meeting will be held Thursday night to discuss this.

In his latest attack, Dr Rollins lambasted supporters of Dr Hubert Minnis, accusing them of “espousing the tactics of a demagogue interested in dumbing down the debate because the leader has no substance or vision for this country.”

Yesterday, Mr Humes underscored that the Fort Charlotte MP had four years to demonstrate vision and transformation in his constituency as both a member of the PLP and FNM, and had squandered the perfect opportunity.

“As an MP, God gave him charge over a small cause, like Ft Charlotte, to possibly prepare and establish him, one day, to lead this greater national cause,” he said.

“What is it in his track record as leader in the community that would point to him as able to criticise the vision, change, and transformation skills of another at this present time?”

Mr Humes added: “What would the residents of Ft Charlotte have to say about that? Would they consider him truthful to his words, and if not, could this hurt him as the chief messenger?

“If it does, he too must be careful that his words do not come back to haunt him when he says, that leaders must never be afraid to allow democracy to reign.

“But, perhaps, if he too is fit and can show signs of his vision in the community, he too will weather the storm in Ft Charlotte as its elected leader.”

Mr Humes theorised that if the Fort Charlotte MP was viewed as disingenu-

ous by the majority of his constituents based on his contradictory statements and actions, then his credibility and that of the FNM party would be negatively impacted.

“It is my belief that the temperament and decision making abilities of visionary and transformative leaders should display a certain level of skills that speak to right thinking, particularly in times of crisis; particularly in leading others through times of crisis, to safety and success.”

Mr Humes said: “And as much as many may be fond of Dr Rollins’ messages, the ways in which he chooses to deliver them – in most instances – makes some call into question the messages as hypocritical and/or duplicitous in many aspects.

“It calls into question his ability to lead this important charge, because he does not appear to have the right temperament to deal with the decisions that come about as a result of his own judgment.”

Mr Humes cautioned Dr Rollins to demonstrate a greater level of awareness as he was being judged by another generation of potential leaders, who would ultimately decide whether he had the integrity to lead at the local and national level.

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THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

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Best protected Great Barrier Reef corals are now dead THE sweeping reefs growing off 200 steamy miles of remote Australian coastline — from Cairns to Cape Melville, home to sugar farms and dive resorts — contained some of the least damaged corals growing in one of the world’s best marine parks. Until now.

In stunning new findings that have laid bare the limitations of marine parks as defences against rapid environmental change, more than half of the corals surveyed in large chunks of this pristine stretch of the Great Barrier Reef are expected to soon be dead.

“Reefs that are in better shape should fare better under climate change,” said John Pandolfi, a University of Queensland professor who contributed to highprofile coral surveys, the results of which were released this week. “But, in this case, we found huge instances of coral mortality.”

The coral deaths followed intense coral bleaching, which was caused by global warming and influenced by the whims of the weather. Hot waters have caused corals worldwide to spit out the algae that provided their colour and food. Those that can’t cool down and find new algae quickly enough die.

The colourless coral corpses of north Queensland will soon be blanketed with mats of algae, and the hard skeletons will begin to crumble. It may take decades for the submerged wonders of what had recently been unspoiled reefs to resprout and recover from the wipeout, if they ever do.

Temperatures continue to rise worldwide. The amount of heat-trapping pollution released every year from fuel burning and deforestation has plateaued in recent years, while the amount of pollution in the atmosphere continues to pile up. Bleaching is caused primarily by warm waters, and the current worldwide bleaching is the third and worst on record, all since the late 1990s.

“Things aren’t going to be as good as they are now — we can look forward to some very difficult times,” Pandolfi said.

“The reef is going to continue to degrade.”

Overall, 35 per cent of the corals surveyed in the central and northern sections of the Great Barrier Reef were reported this week to be dead or dying. Scientists photographed and dove into 84 reefs and used six categories to score the condition of 200,000 corals. Dead corals could often be spotted by the algae that quickly grew over them.

The news from coral surveys south of the popular tourist city of Cairns was bleak, with about five per cent of corals found dead or dying. But that was some ten times better than the doom that befell reefs further north.

Corals south of Cairns appear to have been saved by the happenstance trajectory of a February cyclone, which washed them with cooler waters and churned up the sea. That protected them from the high temperatures and searing exposure to UV rays that killed so many of their cousins further north.

“We dodged a bullet in the central portion of the reef this time, but no guarantees that will occur again,” Pandolfi said.

“Nature is an incredibly complex place, and it’s very difficult to predict how future bleaching might play out.”

The discovery of the collapse of sweeping sections of corals was viewed by scientists with so much urgency that they were not put through peer review before highlights were released to the media on Monday. James Cook University, which led the surveys, declined to provide detailed information about the sampling methods or analysis, making it difficult for journalists or other scientists to evalu-

ate or interpret the findings.

“The research is publicly funded,” James Cook professor Terry Hughes said.

“I released our mortality results because, as a scientist, I’m ethically obliged to inform people on an issue of national and international importance.”

Hughes said details about the methodology would eventually be published.

“Given the intensity of the research, there’ll be many publications arising.”

David Kline, a Scripps ecologist who wasn’t involved with the coral surveys, said that he had “complete confidence” in the findings. “Survey methods are pretty standardized,” he said. “They haven’t changed much in the last 30 or 40 years.”

Emotions had been running high even before Monday’s news release over the future of one of the world’s great natural wonders amid a two-year period of rapid global warming. Climate change made it 175 times more likely that Coral Sea temperatures would reach the high levels in March that triggered extensive bleaching, according to the results of a recent scientific analysis.

Climate research and Great Barrier Reef management are both hot political issues in Australia, where a federal election will be held next month.

The Australian government has been criticized for failing to protect the reef from agricultural pollution and other threats, including coal mining. Following a request from Australia, the United Nations recently removed information about threats to the Great Barrier Reef from a report dealing with climate change and world heritage.

The north Queensland coral wipeout occurred around the same time that global temperature rise was reaching the halfway point toward the 3.6°F of warming that a new United Nations treaty aims to prevent. Countries haven’t yet committed under the Paris Agreement to take the steps needed to prevent that level of warming. Years of further negotiations are planned.

The extent of the coral wipeout was particularly remarkable because it occurred inside one of the world’s best protected natural areas. Fishing restrictions and other rules are in place to protect reefs that serve as nurseries for large fisheries and as drawing cards for a tourismheavy economy.

“The coral animal is the keystone species on a coral reef — like the trees in a forest,” Kline said. “When the corals die you lose the three-dimensional structure that’s really important. A lot of these fish, their larval stages depend on hiding in among the corals to hide from predators.”

Kline said the Great Barrier Reef is inside what’s considered to be “one of the best managed and most successful” marine parks in the world.

Large marine parks have been created around the world in rapid succession during the last decade, quadrupling the amount of protected ocean to nearly 4 percent. The UN aims to see 10 per cent protected by 2020.

“In other parts of the world, we’ve had mortality events this severe,” Kline said.

“But everyone thought with the Great Barrier Reef marine protected area that, hopefully, we wouldn’t see mortality events as high.”

Kline said that means the future of coral reef environments will depend on local strategies for protecting them — in addition to a global curbing of greenhouse gas pollution. Such strategies may include farming and transplanting corals and creating artificial reefs from concrete and other material.

“Clearly, marine reserves on their own aren’t enough,” Kline said.

Tips for job tips EDITOR, The Tribune Re: Labour Dept. placing just 2 per cent of job seekers (The Tribune, May 13).

VERY little money changes hands officially between the public and the hard-working staff at the Employment Exchange.

Sadly, this means that the opportunity for corruption is minimal and therefore so is productivity. (Corruption, after all, greases the wheels of productivity in our country).

In order for any worthwhile improvement in “placement” for job-seekers to occur, it is clear that

the incentive of a little corruption needs to be introduced into this government entity which is performing so exceptionally poorly.

KEN W KNOWLES MD Nassau, May 15, 2016

Dissent in the FNM ranks EDITOR, The Tribune FOUND myself in the middle of a discussion with a couple of the young Turks in the Free National Movement this week.

I was being informed about my lack of knowledge as to what was going on in the Party, regarding Dr Minnis and the questions regarding his suitability to lead the party into the next election. I really enjoyed the exchange, trying to give historical input to the issue of the Free National Movement and their problems with leadership.

In the midst of the discussion, two words kept on coming, charisma and polls. As far as I can figure out, some research was done and the polls that were taken showed that Dr Minnis was lacking in particular areas.

I wanted to suggest that what they were looking for in a leader could be found in the average Baptist pastor; seems like they were looking for a Perry Christie type to fill the bill. I surmised that the polls were only taken among Party members, because when I brought up the issue of needing a person who would at least command the popular vote, I was told that I really did not know what I was talking about. Deep political stuff, I guess.

However, there are a cou-

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net ple of things I do know. The last two elections lost by the Party could be attributed to the fact that there are some in the party who have no patience at all. I know that if Branville McCartney had exercised some patience, Loretta Butler-Turner would be leading a quieter life in the party; and the Free National Movement could still be the government.

It seems that there are those in the party who do not understand that in an, “event-focused, personality-driven, crisis oriented culture”, such as ours, change only happens when the voters see a choice of diametrically opposed contenders.

The squabble that is going on now should have been left for after the election.

The Free National Movement needs Minnis if they are to win, they have no one else in the party with the “charisma” to command the popular vote.

They are deluded to think that the populace is going to trust them, when they are already a part of the “status quo” that this nation is having internal issues with. The “ rebels” have compounded their folly by using the same

language that members of the governing party are using in their descriptions of Minnis; which is kind of stupid, to say the least.

When you take all of what you see and hear into consideration we begin to see a class warfare issue; where Minnis is seen as an outsider to groups within both parties.

There are those in the Free National Movement who must understand that there are not enough FNMs in the world to cause them to win the Government in 2017, and it can only be achieved through the popular vote that Minnis commands.

This isn’t anything new, Pindling and Ingraham had the same problem, but Minnis is a much nicer person.

Heads would have been rolling by now if we were a couple of decades removed.

Maybe there is time for these young upstarts and old malcontents to understand where they are and “know what they are looking at”, but there are really too many Coffee houses in this little country of ours.

This may not mean anything, but none of the persons vying for leadership can beat Perry Christie dancing; at least Minnis shakes a mean cowbell.

EDWARD HUTCHESON Nassau, May 31, 2016.

Instant citizens?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ONE side of the upcoming Referendum that no one, especially the ‘Yes’ folk, has not addressed is after June 8th, and assent of these amendments how many people qualify to immediately apply for citizenship?

I do not see that the required ten years starts after June 8th, 2016. I understand it is what you have already under the belt... if you have been married anything up to 43 years, 1973, on application government is required to process.

Since July 11, 1973, this

has been the problem anyway as government ain’t in any hurry to process citizenship or permanent residence.

Does the Director of Immigration know how many thousand citizenship and Permanent Residence applications sit in his office gathering dust since 1973?

The bottom line is the average mid-aged woman will vote I suspect ‘No’ because they do not want their girls marrying non-Bahamians – let’s not be naive there are few male Bahamians worth their salt in the marriage sweepstakes.

Seeing this is such a criti-

cal political issue if the ‘No’ votes wins will Mr Christie do what he is supposed to do under the Westminster system - resign? Guess he has nothing better to do so he will not, but anywhere else in the Commonwealth on the failing of this referendum the PM would.\ Imagine after June 7 no more squeaky voiced young women pushing the ‘Yes’ position down our throats on the radio – boy these folks do not know what annoys Bahamians!

W THOMPSON Nassau, June 1, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 2, 2016, PAGE 5

Advisory council is formed to guide NHI

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE National Health Insurance Secretariat announced yesterday that it has invited numerous stakeholder groups to be a part of an advisory council that will oversee the implementation of the health plan.

The move, which was recommended by the government’s NHI consultant KPMG, is designed to fos-

ter inclusivity after stakeholders complained about insufficient engagement and consultations.

The new governance structure will be officially launched on June 6.

In a statement to The Tribune yesterday, the United Healthcare Reform Alliance (UHRA), a coalition of medical stakeholder groups formed earlier this year in reaction to the government’s NHI plans, said its members

would accept positions on the council.

“All members of the UHRA are firm believers and proponents of universal access to quality healthcare,” Dr Sy Pierre, spokesman and president of the Medical Association of The Bahamas (MAB), said.

“UHRA member organisations that have been invited to serve on the council welcome the opportunity to work with the government and other stakeholders to

improve our national strategy for (universal healthcare) and enhance the model implemented to expand our existing UHC system. The UHRA can confirm that our member organisations will accept the appointments and work assiduously to ensure that The Bahamas is the healthiest nation in the region by 2030.”

The scope of the council’s power to influence decisionmaking is unclear.

However, the council

will be responsible for supporting the design and implementation of universal healthcare (UHC) and for reviewing and providing feedback, upon request, on matters brought before it.

The organisations invited to have a place on the council include: the MAB, the Nurses Association of the Bahamas, the Bahamas Health Professions Association, the Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association, the Bahamas Dental Associa-

tion, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, CMO Emeritus, PAHO/WHO country representative, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC), the National Congress of Trade Union of The Bahamas, the Trade Union Congress, Bahamas Public Service Union, the Bahamas Insurance Association, the Bahamas Christian Council and civil society Bahamas.

DNA LEADER: HEADS SHOULD ROLL WITHIN FNM OVER THREATS TO MINNIS

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday said “heads should roll” within the Free National Movement over recent threats from six FNM MPs levelled at party Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

Mr McCartney said the recent manoeuvres by certain members of the FNM’s parliamentary caucus against Dr Minnis is akin to “mutiny” – something for which he said those FNM MPs “would need to meet the consequences” if he were in Dr Minnis’ position.

Last week six of the FNM’s ten MP’s gave Dr Minnis an ultimatum: call an early convention or they would write to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to have him constitutionally removed as leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament.

Dr Minnis, meanwhile, has downplayed the threat, telling The Tribune on Monday that he “has never felt so good” and is not concerned about the “noise in the market.”

“Heads would roll,” Mr McCartney said yesterday.

“For persons to take that approach and then chicken out and don’t take it further, well they would need to meet the consequences.

And certainly I would hate

BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY for that to happen within That is a sad state; the FNM the DNA while I’m the is in a sad state. Which is leader, because there are unfortunate because they options that the leader can are the Official Opposido. tion.”

“And I will not take it “Certainly I heard when lightly, I can tell you that. (Dr Minnis) said he was And I trust the good doctor very happy last weekend, would not take it lightly as said that he never felt betwell. Because that’s almost ter, and he said that he has mutiny; that’s almost mu- no gripe with anybody. Well tiny within the FNM.” I’m sorry, I would if that He added: “…And then I were to happen, I would not read where one of the ‘Sad be happy with that situaSix’ (MPs) said they were tion.” not trying to undermine the Yesterday, Mr McCartleader. Well I don’t know ney questioned whether what you call that. If you the six FNM MPs caredecide to give the leader an fully thought out their plan, ultimatum that he must do pointing out that even if Dr certain things or else, and Minnis is ousted as leader then you have a letter we’re of the Official Opposition told, to present to the gov- he would still remain leader ernor general again – this of the FNM. is the second time. If that is Those FNM MPs supnot undermining the leader porting the effort are St then I don’t know what is. Anne’s MP Hubert Chip-

man, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins.

“I don’t know if they have thought it through in that regard,” he said. “The leader of the party has significant powers within the party, has significant say in who runs for the next election, has significant say as to whether or not people ought to be disciplined within the party, has significant say as to whether or not people ought to be expelled from the party. Dr Minnis has a lot of choices at his disposal.”

Last year, it was reported that a group of FNM MPs had drafted a letter to the governor general to have Dr Minnis removed, however that letter was never sent.

The FNM’s convention is slated for early November, but the party will hold a meeting tonight to discuss an earlier date.

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PAGE 6, Thursday, June 2, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Butler-Turner is worried by turnout

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner said the low voter turnout for gender equality referendum’s advance poll was a “clear and frightening” indication that the majority of the Bahamian electorate is either “confused or disengaged” because of the many “different stories” associated with the vote.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mrs Butler-Turner said she believes the opinions from civic, political and religious leaders have turned people off from voting. She is encouraging all Bahamians to exercise their right to vote even if they plan on voting “no”.

“I noted the low voter turnout and I believe it is

because of the inaccurate information that has been given out by religious leaders, political leaders and civic leaders,” Mrs ButlerTurner said.

“All the different stories have not helped the process. I cannot knock anyone for their beliefs if they are speaking facts. But when people spread misinformation about what the referendum is truly about, that is what bothers me. If someone has the facts and makes a recommendation I cannot take an issue with that.

“These people must be honest and fair with the public because people are looking for direction. As far as I understand, this referendum is in the best interest of the country. It will allow our nation to develop and allow our citizens

‘

These people must be honest and fair with the public because people are looking for direction. As far as I understand, this referendum is in the best interest of the country. It will allow our nation to develop and allow our citizens to be equal and so having said that I would admonish leaders and people who are being looked up to, to speak the truth. to be equal and so having said that I would admonish leaders and people who are being looked up to, to speak the truth.

“If this continues to happen, the end result of the referendum will not be a reflection of the majority of Bahamians, 43 per cent is very low. “Bahamians generally always participated in elections about 80 per cent, so that low percentage is frightening.”

Mrs Butler-Turner said everyone should be a part of the process and she will continue to do her part in “encouraging people” to vote “yes”.

On Monday, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall said only 43 per cent of the people eligible to vote at the advance poll in New Providence turned up. There was a high voter turnout at the polling station in London and 16 of the 21 eligible voters in Miami voted, he said.

However, he said, the people who were on the register for the advance poll and did not vote will still get a chance to vote during general voting next Tuesday.

LORETTA BUTLER-TURNER

INTERNATIONAL GROUPS SUPPORT ‘YES’ VOTE

from page one

It continued: “The changes would also enshrine the principle of equal rights among women and men in the Constitution.”

Bill one seeks to give Bahamian women who are married to foreign men the right to pass their Bahamian citizenship to any child of that union no matter where that child is born.

The Constitution currently says that only Bahamian male citizens by birth have that right.

Bill two seeks to give a Bahamian woman married to a foreign man the right to secure for her husband the same access to Bahamian citizenship as a Bahamian

male has in relation to his foreign wife.

Bill three would grant any unmarried Bahamian man the right to pass on his Bahamian citizenship to any child he fathers with a foreign woman with proof of paternity.

The fourth bill seeks to end discrimination based on sex.

The agencies outlined several international conventions on human rights standards that address the proposed amendments: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the

Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability and the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man. “Furthermore,” the statement said, “the amendments would enable the Bahamas to meet its commitments in relation to citizenship matters under the Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action for Refugees, Displaced and Stateless Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean, adopted in 2014.”

It added: “By voting for the four bills, the Bahamas will serve as a positive example to the international community, and its actions will help to encourage reform in countries worldwide which have yet to afford their citizens equal nationality rights.”

THE WORDING OF THE FOUR BILLS IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM Bill 1: Approval of alteration to Article 8 and the repeal of Article 9 of the Constitution.

Do you approve of The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2014?

Under the proposed change to the Constitution, a child born outside of The Bahamas would, after the coming into operation of this amendment, become a Bahamian citizen at birth if either its mother or father is a citizen of The Bahamas by birth.

Yes [ ] No [ ] Bill 2: Approval of alteration to Article 10 of the Constitution.

Do you approve of The Constitution (Amendment) (No 2) Bill, 2014?

Under this proposed change to the Constitution, the foreign spouse of a Bahamian citizen would, after the coming into operation of this Article, be entitled to apply for and obtain citizenship subject to satisfying: (i) existing national security or public policy considerations; and (ii) new provisions guarding against marriages of convenience.

Yes [ ] No [ ] Bill 3: Approval of alteration to Article 14 of the Constitution.

Do you approve of The Constitution (Amendment) (No 3) Bill, 2014?

Under this proposed change to the Constitution, a Bahamian father of a person born out wedlock after the coming into operation of this amendment would be able to pass his citizenship to that person subject to legal proof that he is the father.

Yes [ ] No [ ] Bill 4: Approval of alteration to Article 26 of the Constitution.

Do you approve of The Constitution (Amendment) (No 4) Bill, 2014?

Under this proposed change to the Constitution, it would be unlawful to discriminate based on “sex”, which would be defined as “being male or female”.

Yes [ ] No [ ]

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 2, 2016, PAGE 7

QC calls on Bahamians to vote yes to all questions

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WITH less than a week left before the June 7 referendum on gender equality, prominent Freeport attorney and human rights activist Fred Smith, QC, is urging Bahamians to end discrimination between men and women in The Bahamas by voting “yes” to all four referendum questions.

“We should take whatever steps we can at every opportunity to cut back discrimination even if it does not deal with all discrimination,” he said on Wednesday at an International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) meeting in Freeport.

“To the extent that the bills end any part of the institutionalised constitutional framework of discrimination that exists, I urge you all to vote yes.”

Mr Smith, president of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association, said the association stands against

discrimination.

The attorney said Bahamians will again have “an opportunity of a lifetime” on June 7 to make men and women equal under the law.

“This is an opportunity which does not come every five years, or every ten years, or even every 15 years. The last time we had this opportunity was in 2002. Let us please not waste it again. I urge all of you to take advantage of it,” he said.

The outspoken QC said the referendum is chance to correct 43 years of inequality and unfairness, injustice, and of wrongs to “our women, families, mothers, our significant others, our sweethearts, our partners, our sisters, our daughters, and our wives.”

Pointing out that while the drafting of the bill has not been perfect, Mr Smith said that the many different views and comments expressed demonstrates the beauty of democracy.

“Many persons have made valid criticisms; valid

comments; pointed out different interpretations; suggested changes. But at the end of the day, on June 7, please remember, that this is very simple; the four bills make men and women equal under the law,” he explained.

Mr Smith said that legal arguments will continue whether or not the bills are passed.

He noted that there are so many different groups or persons, all of whom are entitled to respect, and who feel that for one reason or another, the bills either go too far or do not go far enough.

“But the one simple point that we must not lose sight of is that the bills simply reduce discrimination and make men and women equal under the law. There is no argument against that simple point,” he said.

“Of course, the bills could have been drafted more carefully; or the bills could have taken different issues into account; or the

from page one

about hidden agendas and all this other stuff,” he said.

Mr Mitchell said the group of pastors should prescribe to the biblical commandment: “Thou shall not bear false witness.” “… They need to learn that commandment. They need to take Christ as their own personal saviour and ask for forgiveness for running this deceptive campaign. It’s a sin. Because this is simply about equality for women and men; nothing more, nothing less.”

Bill four, regarded as the most controversial, seeks to prevent discrimination of any type based on sex – or being male or female.

The amendment would insert the word “sex” in Article 26 of the Constitution to make it unconstitutional to discriminate based on someone’s gender.

On Wednesday, Christian Council President Rev Dr Ranford Patterson said he was “unequivocally” voting against the bill, claiming that it “scares the hell out of me”. He has fears that if successful, the fourth bill would allow gay marriage.

He said he was still “praying” about how he should vote on the three other bills.

Responding on Wednesday, Mr Mitchell said the government is only looking to have it “circumscribed” into the Constitution that sex is viewed as meaning born male and born female.

He said that anything beyond should be characterised as an attempt to misrepresent that aim of the upcoming referendum.

Mr Mitchell said it was now the responsibility of voters to ensure the passage of the bills, particularly women voters.

“And this is a very simple thing. There are 15,000 odd more women on the rolls than men. Women outnumber men on the electoral rolls, so women are the main beneficiaries of this.

Women run everything in this country, this is the last frontier, legal equality. And so, women will have to decide on Tuesday, do they want what men have,” he stated.

Mr Mitchell went on to address recent claims by former Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer, contending that her comments have been “most injurious.”

Dame Joan, at a recent public forum, expressed her discontent for the bills, calling the upcoming referendum process “unnecessary” as the government has the ability to enact statutory laws through Parliament that would address matters pertaining to the first three bills.

The first three bills deal with issues of citizenship.

Mr Mitchell, however, on Wednesday said while that may be possible, statutory law can be revoked by a Parliament just as quickly as it is introduced.

He argued that the Constitution should show equal discrepancy for the rights of women and men.

“The point also is, men don’t have these (rights) by virtue of the statutory law; they have it by virtue of the Constitution. So all you are trying to do is to say, whatever men have via the Constitution women should have. That’s it.”

MITCHELL: DECEPTION BY VOTE ‘NO’ SIDE IS A SIN

stories” to frighten Bahamians into voting against their “own interest.”

The Fox Hill MP implored his constituents to vote “yes” to all four questions on the ballot, asserting that success of the referendum would be in the best interest of all Bahamians.

“This is a simple matter,” he said at a press conference at the Department of Immigration.

“The government is proposing with agreement of the (Official) Opposition to make men and women equal before the law. If this passes, whatever men have in the Constitution today, women will have and vice versa.

That is all this is about.”

He warned that residents should not be “fooled” by opponents of the Constitutional Amendment Bills, suggesting that if the June 7 vote fails, “it will not be the government who loses, but the future generation of Bahamians.”

Mr Mitchell implied that those behind the various vote “no” campaigns were injecting fears about LGBT rights and sovereignty infringement into the debate to camouflage their individual prejudices.

Speaking particularly to the position taken by some religious leaders, Mr Mitchell said that the pastors opposing the referendum don’t have the guts to openly reject women’s rights – the issue he suggested, is driving their opposition to the Bills. “… What I find is, that these folk who are opposing, these preachers who are opposing cannot, would not dare get up and say in public that they don’t agree with equality for women because they know . . . the church runs off (of) women.”

“So no preacher is going to get up and say, ‘I don’t agree with equality for women’ because they know (there is) no church unless women are there. So they have come up with this smokescreen and nonsense

bills may have left certain things out of account; or yes it’s true we could have voted for this same equality in 2002.

“But at the end of the day, on June 7, we are presented with a unique opportunity to cast our vote, to say ‘yes’.”

Mr Smith said the Constitution should be a living, breathing, organic document, which evolves as society changes.

“Yes even after the referendum, after June 7, 2016, there will still be work to do; fight other forms of discrimination; and to live and breathe fairness, justice and equality for all into our Constitution,” he said.

Mr Smith said the referendum is not a political trick.

“Just because the bills may not be perfect doesn’t mean we should not seize this opportunity to reduce and end discrimination in any way that we can in The Bahamas,” he said.

FRED SMITH

PAGE 8, Thursday, June 2, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

The hypocrisy undermining the referendum campaign

A Young Man’s View

By ADRIAN GIBSON

T

HE STINK of rank hypocrisy engulfs the upcoming constitutional referendum.

Whilst the anti-discrimination principles being espoused by the Bills are noble, many Bahamians fear that they would, by voting yes, sanction an untrustworthy government to yet again engage in political sleight of hand.

Though sweet hearting is a secret, undercover pastime of Bahamian society, we are socially conservative.

Bahamians would gamble and then turn around and vote no to legalisation of gambling.

As my father told me some time ago, he felt that some Bahamians feel that they took the moral position to vote no because they felt that gambling is “generally wrong but though they do it, that they would soon repent, stop and ask forgiveness and therefore wouldn’t want to do so long-term”.

‘

We are socially conservative but hypocritical with it. That is the reality of life in Bahamian society.

Given that Bahamians are distrusting of this government and seemingly believe that the passage of the Bills would lead to same-sex marriage and society being overrun by foreign nationals — arguments advanced by the No campaign — the Bills are in jeopardy of failing. Again, that failure would in part be due to our fears, social conservatism and hypocrisy!

A constitutional referendum was promised

by Prime Minister Perry Christie upon taking office.

Mr Christie initially announced that the constitutional bills would be brought to Parliament before the end of 2013 and passed by February, 2014.

At that time, he said the referendum would be held

by June 2014. The referendum was initially expected in June 2013, to coincide

The government has been unfair with the campaign. The governing party has overtly shown its hand, openly campaigning themselves and financially supporting the ‘Yes vote’ campaign without simultaneously providing seed money for the ‘No vote’ campaign. The issue that presents is that taxpayers money is being used to promote a campaign for fairness whilst the government is itself, hypocritically, being unfair by refusing to sponsor opposing campaigns.

PRIME Minister Perry Christie at the launch of the Yes Campaign for Constitutional reform. with the 40th anniversary would enable a child born a Bahamian woman who of Independence. The ref- outside The Bahamas to a marries a foreign man to erendum was again delayed Bahamian woman to have secure for him the same acto November 2013 and then automatic Bahamian citi- cess to Bahamian citizenit was set to take place on zenship at birth. Presently, ship that a Bahamian man November 6, 2014, only to only those born in another has always enjoyed under yet again be cancelled. PM country to a Bahamian fa- the Constitution in relation Christie then said that he ther are able to take auto- to his foreign spouse. The hoped the vote would hap- matically Bahamian status, bill contains provisions depen before the end of June but not if the father is non- signed to ensure foreigners, 2015. That too didn’t hap- Bahamian and the mother male or female, who enter pen. And so, here we are is Bahamian. into bogus marriages with with the vote finally schedBoth PM Christie and Bahamian citizens, will not uled to take place on June Constitutional Commission be assisted by this constitu7, 2016.

Chairman Sean McWeeney tional change.

The four Bills, according said the change will not A foreign spouse who to Mr Christie, represented operate retroactively. The wants to acquire Bahamian the first round of constitu- government will grant Ba- citizenship based on martional reform. He asserted hamian citizenship to all riage to a Bahamian will that the Bills are bound by a applicants born abroad af- not be eligible for the concommon thread — the need ter July 9, 1973 - and before stitutional change if they to institute full equality be- the law changes – to a Baha- are no longer married to a tween men and women in mian-born mother and non- Bahamian, if they are marmatters of citizenship and, Bahamian father, subject to ried but have no intention more broadly, to eliminate the exceptions and in ac- of living with the Bahamian discrimination in the Baha- cordance with procedures spouse, or if it can be shown mas based on sex. already prescribed by law. that the foreign spouse only The first bill proposed The second bill enables married the Bahamian to

access Bahamian citizenship. In all these cases, Bahamian citizenship applications will be denied.

The third bill seeks to remediate the one area of the Constitution that discriminates against men based on gender. Presently, an unmarried Bahamian father cannot pass his citizenship to a child born to a foreign woman. The bill will give an unwed Bahamian father the same right to pass citizenship to his child that a Bahamian woman has always had under the Constitution in relation to a child born to her out of wedlock. However, proof of paternity by one of the methods prescribed by law is required.

The final bill will end discrimination based on sex.

This involves the insertion of the word “sex” in Article 26 of the Constitution

‘

‘

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 2, 2016, PAGE 9

...here is the same Perry Christie essentially asking Bahamians to repeat the same process but unwilling to apologise for his commentary and his actions in 2002.... He clearly rejected change and progress at that time, yet here he is.

Unapologetically! In fact, Mr Christie told another daily that he had no intentions of apologising and boldly asserted that “the time has gone. The elections from 2002 are over”. to make it unconstitutional to discriminate based on whether someone is male or female.

It makes clear that the existing exceptions will continue to apply. In particular, same-sex marriages will remain unlawful as prescribed under the Matrimonial Causes Act. Whilst I can appreciate that men should not enjoy a right that women do not have, I believe that every right and privilege and every freedom guaranteed by our constitution should be equal between male and females. I do have queries and concerns with respect to two of the bills and I will discuss those issues in my follow-up column on Monday.

T

he government has been unfair with the campaign. The governing party has overtly shown its hand, openly campaigning themselves and financially supporting the ‘Yes vote’ campaign without simultaneously providing seed money for the ‘No vote’ campaign.

The issue that presents is that taxpayers money is being used to promote a campaign for fairness whilst the government is itself, hypocritically, being unfair by refusing to sponsor opposing campaigns.

The government and yes vote organisers have gone about this all wrong. The mistake they made was to promote the bills as predominantly beneficial to women as opposed to promoting the bills as seeking to remove constitutional discrimination across the board (which is what, I believe, is intended).

On 27 February, 2002, the Ingraham administration held a referendum to remove discriminatory language from the Constitution.

Among questions of

equality were other pertinent questions of national interest. The questions, as proposed then were: 1. Do you approve of a Teaching Service Commission?

2. Do you approve of the creation of an Independent Boundaries Commission?

3. Do you approve of an Independent Parliamentary Commissioner?

4. Do you approve amending the Constitution to increase the normal retirement age of judges from 67 to 72 for the Supreme Court, and up to 75 for the Court of Appeal justices?

5. Do you approve amending the Constitution to permit foreign spouse of Bahamian citizen to reside and work in The Bahamas for the first five years of marriage, and thereafter entitled to citizenship?

6. Do you agree that all forms of discrimination against women, their children and spouses should be removed from the constitution and that no person should be discriminated against on the grounds of gender?

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham decided to “kill two birds with one stone” and originally proposed to hold the referendum on the same day as the election asserting that it would ensure that the “maximum number of persons” participated in the process. He later decided against that.

In the House of Assembly on December 6, 2001, the former Prime Minister stated that he had the support of then Opposition leader Perry Christie and then third party MP Dr Bernard Nottage. By December 20, 2001, the House voted by a margin overwhelmingly in favour of the amendments to the constitution. Thirty-eight MPs voted that day.

The governing Progres-

sive Liberal Party (PLP), though supportive of the amendments in the House, subsequently launched major campaign against the Bills.

Former Attorney General the late Paul Adderley, who was one of the framers of the constitution, claimed that the former prime minister was “getting it all wrong.” Perhaps, it was he — along with others — who, I am told, helped to persuade Mr Christie to change his mind.

The electorate voted against the proposed amendments. Resultantly, the PLP held a grand celebration.

Mr Christie then claimed that the referendum results demonstrated that the Bahamian public is not “dumb and stupid.” He went on to say: “Rather, the Bahamian people demonstrated that they can separate fact from fiction and that they can and will make up their minds intelligently and rationally based on what they honestly believe to be in their own best interests and the best interests of our nation.” He claimed that the results demonstrated how sacred the people held their constitution.

Yet, here is the same Perry Christie essentially asking Bahamians to repeat the same process but unwilling to apologise for his commentary and his actions in 2002.

About the 2002 referendum, Mr Christie also said: “The clear and unmistakable signal that the Bahamian people telegraphed yesterday is that they do not want any government messing with ‘their things’ unless they, the people, are fully included in the process of constitutional reform from start to finish — and that the process of constitutional reform must never be rushed.”

YES Vote supporters at advance polls this week.

He clearly rejected PLP pastors — are now change and progress at that campaigning in support of time, yet here he is. Un- the four Bills when in 2002 apologetically! In fact, Mr they were loudly and ferChristie told another daily vently against amendments that he had no intentions that would have yielded of apologising and boldly the same outcome. This is asserted that “the time has bloody hypocrisy! gone. The elections from Fox MP Fred Mitchell 2002 are over”. was, as the old people say, And then, of course, one of the ring leaders who there is Attorney General vehemently opposed the Allyson Maynard Gib- amendments. He urged son who glibly claimed Bahamian women to be in the Senate in 2012 that “very cautious”, raised pubthe public rejected the lic alarm about the former amendments in 2002 be- prime minister’s intentions cause of the former prime and told voters that they minister and further could be “stuck with a badclaimed that the PLP was ly drafted Act that has serinot at fault. ous consequences”.

Notably, FNM MPs TenYet, here they all are nyson Wells, Algernon Al- now campaigning in favour len and Pierre Dupuch also of a vote which would accampaigned against the complish that which was amendments in 2002. proposed 14 years ago and However, what’s of note doing so unapologetically. today is that Bishop Neil There is no wonder that the Ellis, Archbishop Drexel “no campaign” has gained Gomez and Bishop Samuel so much traction when you Greene — three known take into account how in-

tellectually insulting these men have been to the Bahamian people.

They all did a John Kerry (former US Senator, now Secretary of State), except it’s in reverse. They were against the bills and now they are for them! They have offered no sincere explanation as to the sudden about face nor have they offered an apology. But, we all know that it is politics! They did it for political gain!

I respect Alfred Sears for being decent and honourable enough to apologise.

This is why I sincerely believe that he is the frontrunner to succeeding Mr Christie as leader of the PLP. His sincerity is refreshing.

On Monday, I will discuss each of the Bills and reveal what I intend to vote on June 7th with respect to each Bill. ajbahama@hotmail.com

PAGE 10, Thursday, June 2, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Union chief: We may campaign against PLP

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net FRUSTRATED unionists may campaign against the Progressive Liberal Party ahead of the next general election, Trade Union Con-

gress President Obie Ferguson suggested yesterday.

“We will not support anyone who does not support us,” he said during a press conference ahead of Friday’s Labour Day holiday.

However, he acknowledged that even amidst dis-

pleasure with the government, he sees no attractive alternative to the governing party.

“I don’t see one political party in the country that could be counted on,” he said as he delivered a scathing assessment of the state

of labour relations two days ahead of the holiday that celebrates the labour movement.

Part of Mr Ferguson’s anger stemmed from Labour Minister Shane Gibson’s statement several weeks ago that the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) is one of just two unions that have not signed an industrial agreement with the government since the Christie administration came to power.

Mr Gibson said this to suggest that the government’s relationship with most unions, outside BCIAWU, is strong.

However, Mr Ferguson said seven unions have incomplete industrial agreements and he criticised the government for not standing up to hotels like Sandals and the Melià for taking actions he believes infringes on the rights of unionists in the country.

Some unions, he said, have been waiting for over five years for an acceptable industrial agreement to come before them.

“The workers of the Bahamas are suffering,” he said.

When contacted by The Tribune yesterday, Labour Minister Shane Gibson said his reference to two unions with outstanding industrial agreements referred to groups under organisations controlled by the government, not private companies like Sandals and the Melià resort.

He declined to comment on outstanding industrial agreements between unions and private companies.

As has become his tendency, Mr Ferguson also teased that industrial action could take place to boost

OBIE FERGUSON the labour movement in the country.

“One bright early morning something will happen,” he said. “Maybe we need a three-day shut down to bring sense to people’s head.”

Mr Ferguson also said his union has filed an originating summons in court seeking relief with respect to the conduct of top police officials during last year’s Labour Day Parade.

The action is meant as a warning to the police ahead of Friday’s parade.

Among other things, the TUC is seeking a declara-

tion from the court that the police should pay the organisation’s expenses that were incurred by the union in preparation for last year’s event which was allegedly disrupted by Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethel.

The TUC is also seeking a declaration that says ACP Bethel acted outside the law when he allegedly ordered participants in last year’s parade to take certain actions in an effort to speed up the parade.

Mr Ferguson said the Police Act of 2009 does not give officers such powers.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 2, 2016, PAGE 11

KILLERS OF COUPLE IN ANDROS FACE WAIT FOR SENTENCING

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO men must continue to wait before they are sentenced concerning their roles in the disappearances and murders of an Immigration Department officer and his girlfriend in Andros.

Zintworn Duncombe, 28, and James Johnson, 22, reappeared in the Supreme Court for the penalty phase of their trial, having been unanimously convicted in March by a jury of murdering Shane Gardiner and his girlfriend, Tishka Braynen.

However, reports from the Department of Rehabilitative Welfare Services – which were requested by the court – were still out-

standing when Justice Indra Charles called the matter on Tuesday.

A new sentencing hearing date has been set for June 17.

Gardiner and Braynen were allegedly killed after a failed plot to take $8,000 in gambling winnings from the immigration officer.

Braynen, of Cargill Creek, and Gardiner, who lived in Love Hill, both in Central Andros, were reported missing around 1.45pm on November 24, 2013. Gardiner had recently been assigned to the island.

On December 21, 2013, police in Andros discovered the remains of a man with “items related to a female”.

While the jury returned not guilty verdicts for al-

leged murder accomplices Daniel Coakley, 28, and Cordero Saunders, 26, all four men were unanimously convicted of double kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.

The Crown is seeking the death penalty for Duncombe and Johnson, which resulted in the requests for the production of a psychiatric report and social inquiry report with respect to the two convicts.

Duncombe, Saunders, Johnson and Coakley, who all denied the allegations, were respectively represented by lawyers Ian Cargill, Moses Bain, Donna Major and Terrel Butler.

Darnell Dorsett and Patrick Sweeting prosecuted the case.

MURDER PLOT SUSPECT IS GRANTED $20,000 BAIL

from page one

Ramon Sweeting, 37, appeared before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs for a bail application that was argued by his lawyer Jomo Campbell.

The Coral Harbour resident’s application was unopposed, leading the court to exercise its discretion to grant Sweeting a bond ahead of trial.

Sweeting was arraigned three weeks ago in Magistrate’s Court facing a charge of conspiracy to commit murder under Section 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 Sunday, 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 Marshall, was

pronounced dead at the scene.

Jamaric Green, 30, Caryn Moss, 25, and 45-year-old Ian Porter were also arraigned on the same charge concerning the incident.

However, no one has been charged with Marshall’s actual murder to date.

The matter is to be transferred to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment. The presentation of the indictment is scheduled for June 21.

They will be allowed to enter a plea to the allegations when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court.

CYCLIST KILLED AFTER TRUCK SPINS IN COLLISION

ZINTWORN DUNCOMBE

A CYCLIST was killed in a traffic accident in New Providence yesterday.

Shortly after 3pm, a collision occurred at the corner of Market and Fleming Streets involving a white Honda Accord and a black Ford truck.

The truck spun out of control on impact and collided with an adult male riding a bicycle. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

GUN SEIZED

JAMES JOHNSON

A MAN on bail for murder was arrested yesterday following the seizure of an illegal handgun.

At about 5pm, officers from the South Central Division acting on intelligence went to Fairfax Street, Ridgeland Park, where they arrested the suspect after they found a Glock Pistol in his possession.

The suspect is currently on bail for murder and attempted murder.

MAN ISSUES THREATS TO KILL CHINESE AND ‘WAGE WAR’ WITH POLICE

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are on the hunt for man who allegedly threatened to “kill Chinese” persons living in the Bahamas and “wage a war” on the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Officers from the Central Detective Unit want to speak with Andrew Scott, 37, who they believe can assist them with their investigations.

This comes after a video surfaced on social media where a man hurled death threats at the government, Chinese persons in the Bahamas and the country’s

ANDREW SCOTT armed forces.

In the nearly three-minute long video, the man also accused the government of robbing the Bahamian people and attempting to legalise gay marriage.

The man in the video also said the “Bahamian people” will “not stand “ for what the government is doing and “anarchy and war

is coming.”

“You and you little 3,800 police and 800 Defence Force Officers, we **** ready. Seven hundred islands and cays, 3,800 or 4,000 law enforcement officers can’t do **** against 400,000 people,” the man said.

“We will start killing these Chinese, we will start doing them good, we will do them real good, we will give them a reason to run back to China.

You hear me, everyday you all talking about the Haitian and Jamaican, but taking deals from the Chinese.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

PAGE 12, Thursday, June 2, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Rise in Chinese nationals held at detention centre, Mitchell reports

FRED Mitchell speaking yesterday.

Photo: BIS

By RICARDO WELLS posed to be a hard knock Tribune Staff Reporter against anybody who is enrwells@tribunemedia.net gaged in this activity, and it seems to me that all of us; A RECENT spike in the the judiciary, the executive number of Chinese housed and the legislature, includat the Detention Centre is ing our citizens at large, due to these immigrants be- ought to be on the same ing apprehended after their page about the kind of penhuman smuggling schemes alties that are inflicted on have gone awry. people that engage in this While giving a briefing to activity,” he said. reporters, Foreign Affairs Recently, officials in and Immigration Minister Grand Bahama apprehendFred Mitchell said yester- ed 28 Chinese and one Coday that of the 129 migrants lombian. at the centre as of June 1, 42 The group was taken into were Chinese nationals. custody in the Lucaya area The group also included of Freeport on Sunday.

46 Cubans, 17 Haitians, Mr Mitchell also coneight Jamaicans, five Do- demned notions that major minicans, two Ecuadorians investment projects like and two Hondurans.

Baha Mar and the Pointe The Carmichael Road fa- were providing a means for cility also had one national Chinese to enter the couneach from Ghana, Nigeria, try illegally.

East Africa, Kenya, Gambia, The Fox Hill MP insisted Suriname and Colombia. that the managers of those Mr Mitchell indicated projects have to complete that the huge spike in the a stringent bond process to number of Chinese at the qualify those workers for Detention Centre comes as employment in the Baharesult of cracking down on mas. smuggling operations.

He indicated that all docHe said immigration of- umented Chinese workers ficials have found that some tied to the Baha Mar proChinese migrants gain en- ject have returned to China try to the Bahamas by com- and all workers attached to ing as a tourist, over staying the Pointe project are acon their allotted travel time counted for. and then try to enter the Meanwhile, addressing United States through ille- the issues with Cubans at gal means from Bimini and the centre, Mr Mitchell said Grand Bahama. immigration officials were He said the process has working “expeditiously” to now been identified and rid the centre of all Cuban, procedures are being gener- highlighting their likeliated to limit the problem. hood of inciting confronta“… The policy of the Par- tions and damaging propliament is that there is sup- erty.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 2, 2016, PAGE 13

PROTESTORS out in the hot sun yesterday.

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

WORKERS DEMAND ACTION OVER UNSAFE CONDITIONS

EMPLOYEES at the Department of Land and Surveys yesterday protested working conditions at the government building, calling for immediate action to address a mould infestation.

Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) President John Pinder said the workers’ health fears have intensified following the recent death of a co-worker from a respiratory illness.

“For years now, we’ve been having issues with the Land and Surveys building on East Bay,” he said. “It’s just that the mould has now infested most of the build-

ing, it is very visible and it’s making staff members sick.

“There was a staff member that died a few weeks ago, he had a respiratory condition and it’s believed it had to do with the mouldinfested building.”

He added: “So, of course, this is playing on their psyche, but a number of them are developing respiratory conditions.”

Mr Pinder underscored that the government was obligated to ensure safety in the workplace, and called for immediate action to relocate workers until the building could be sanitised.

ANOTHER sign highlights issues over promotions at the agency.

ONE protestor wearing a mask to highlight breathing problems inside the building.

WORKERS protest outside the Land & Surveys Department yesterday.

PAGE 14, Thursday, June 2, 2016

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 2, 2016, PAGE 15

Poverty alleviation in The Bahamas begins with a history lesson

Your Say

By ROCHELLE R DEAN THE Bahamas is a nation of 700 islands and cays.

While it is in close proximity to the United States of America, a developed nation, the Bahamas itself suffers from an identity crisis.

It is a crisis of development, not culture. The Bahamas must recognise that it is not a developed country. While its closeness to the Americas allows for the country to enjoy the leisures and even some of the cultural aspects of the United States, the Bahamas should not compare itself to its giant of a neighbour.

The Bahamas must recognise that it is a nation that has many advantages but that its state of development is on par with countries like Uganda, Tanzania and others.

Our proximity and grouping with the Caribbean region gives us an incorrect analysis of our developmental state.

While many Caribbean countries have gone through the same recourse, countries like Brazil and Barbados are now in the stages of reform. The Bahamas must now do the same by looking at itself outside being a part of the Caribbean. While the economy had made the Bahamas one of the best economies in the region, it still does not place the country in the pool of developed nations.

The Bahamas must emerge from the disillusionment that it is a wealthy nation. Its leaders must see America as a nation to emulate, not one of comparison. The country’s leaders must take a look at the policies implemented by the US and see how they apply to and affect the country. The Bahamas should not implement policies and legislation conducive for a developed country, not pass laws that are not fitting for the country’s economic growth.

The Bahamas must take a look at its history outside politics. We must research our neighbours and determine what were the policies that made them great. The Bahamas should no longer seek to come on board with policies and/or global agendas that do not help or strengthen the country’s development. The Bahamas must look into the early stages of countries that have

‘

How can a nation promote services and not fully maximise its potential in the industrial field? With the country’s national average at a decline, there seems to be a disconnect with the promotion of services over more industrious professions.

become great nations and determine their growth.

The Bahamas must go back and determine how it can make a solid trade agreement to export our farming and fisheries. A country that has the perfect environment to cultivate agricultural goods and fisheries should not continue to waste its resources due to a less than zealous desire to correct and/or expand its global presence and state of development beyond its Gross Domestic Product.

How can a nation promote services and not fully maximise its potential in the industrial field? With the country’s national average at a decline, there seems to be a disconnect with the promotion of services over more industrious professions.

The Bahamas has the resources, tools and labour force to reduce the unemployment rate, but lacks the vision and ambition to do so.

The Bahamas must demand its leaders to go back into history and retrace its steps - to colonial days and the days of Woodes Rogers.

We must take a look at his tenure in the country, his exit or exile and his return.

Is the country synonymous with this type of behaviour?

Does The Bahamas reject excellence only to have to have it come right back to assist in breathing an environment of discontent, revenge and lack of zeal to see the proper development of the country? These are questions that we must ask on our way to being a devel-

TO ADVERTISE IN THE TRIBUNE, CONTACT 502-2394

oped nation.

The country must realise that it is geographically in a position to learn from the United States, enjoy the benefits of first world living while making steps toward its development.

The country must question its leadership and demand leaders who are not only competent but have a sensible approach to the development framework and the growth of its people.

The Bahamas can no longer continue with the same approach as it needs to begin to take a serious look at sustainability and the type of nation its citizens are working to build.

The Bahamas must recognise that it can become a fully developed nation by navigating through the right channels to development.

Poverty alleviation begins with a history lesson.

Rochelle R Dean is a Bahamian scholar, research fellow and peer-reviewer and a theory writer of economics presently completing a Bachelors of Science dual degree in economics and public administration with Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.

ROCHELLE DEAN

PAGE 16, Thursday, June 2, 2016

PLEASE FIX MY STREET

THE TRIBUNE

POTHOLES marking the way along Lewis Street.

THE BROKEN and wrecked paving along Lewis Street.

GOVERNMENT NOTICE COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP PLAN UNITED KINGDOM AWARDS 2016 Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for scholarships tenable in the United Kingdom under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan commencing, October 2016.

Candidates should hold, by October 2016 a first degree of at least upper second class honours standard, or a degree of second class and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master's degree). If you are applying for split-site (PhD) study your application must be made in the context of a departmental/institutional link with a UK university already in operation or currently under negotiation. Your proposed UK supervisor must provide a letter of invitation. The 12 month period of study in the UK supported by the scholarship can be taken at any stage during your PhD study, providing this is justified in your study plan. It can be divided into two six month periods, with no more than 12 months elapsing between each award term. If you have not started your PhD at the time of application, you will be eligible to spend a maximum of six months in the UK in your first year of study.

If you have already started your PhD study at a UK university, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. Applications without any supporting statements from your proposed supervisors will be considered ineligible.

VALUE OF AWARD Each scholarship provides: (a) Approved airfare to the United Kingdom and return on expiry of the scholarship (a scholar's dependents are not eligible); (b) Stipend (living allowance) at a rate of £1,068 per month, or £1,268 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area; (c ) approved tuition and examination fees; (d) a grant towards the expenses of preparing a thesis or dissertation where applicable; (e) Warm clothing allowance; (f) a grant for expenses for approved study travel within the UK or overseas; (g) Fieldwork grant towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (usually the cost of one economy class return airfare to your fieldwork location); (h) Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to your home country (unless you have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse and or child allowance during your scholarship, or have received a return airfare to your home country for fieldwork); (i) If your scholarship is at least 18 months long, you will receive the following family allowances:



Spouse allowance of £222 per month if you and your spouse are living together at the same address in the UK (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship)



Child allowance of £222 per month for the first child and £100 for the second and third child under the age of 16, provided they are residing with their parents;

(j) If you are widowed, divorced or a single parent, child allowance of £444 per month for the first child and £109 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are with you at the same address in the UK. You must make application directly to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission using the CSC's Electronic Application System (EAS). Further details, the prospectus and the link to the Electronic Application System (EAS) are available on the website: follow the link at http://bit.ly/cscuk-schilarshipsdeveloped-cw.

The deadline for application is 6:59 p.m. (EST) on 17 June, 2016 at the latest. All documentation, including references, transcripts, unconditional offers and supporting statements must be provided by 11:00 a.m. (EST) on 27 June, 2016.

You are not required to apply via a nominating body for this scholarship.

AN UNFINISHED roadwork project in Grants Town is causing issues on the busy Lewis Street thoroughfare for area residents, who have now drawn The Tribune’s attention to the problems.

Now locals are having to contend with a section of unpaved road, potholes, a protruding Water & Sewerage outlet and flooding.

The project began in early November and, according to residents, it took almost a month to pave only half of Lewis Street, from East Street to Comfort Street. The rest of the work was never completed, even though the old asphalt

was dug up in order to repave the road. Only a small portion near the traffic light at Lewis Street and Market Streetwas made good.

Now the road has numerous potholes and is very uneven, especially between Lewis Street and Comfort St and Lewis Street and Market Street. There is a Water & Sewerage outlet that is protruding by Lewis Street and Glinton Square as a result of the road being dug up.

Nearer to East Street, the Water & Sewerage outlet is totally covered, so when it rains heavily, it floods, as there is no place for the water to go. The drains were

completely covered as well.

No one has returned to resolve these issues and complete the work. Lewis Street is frequented by daily traffic with locals, tourists, emergency vehicles, armoured cars and delivery trucks.

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 TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 2, 2016, PAGE 17

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

PAGE 18, Thursday, June 2, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Now Accepting Scholarship Applications Scholarships to St Andrew’s School are awarded on a competitive basis to those of a high academic standard. This year, we are also offering two (2) full scholarships for the prestigious pre-university International Baccalaureate Dipolma Programme (IBDP).

To apply, students must be: 1. A Bahamian citizen 2. Have attended a local Government or Private School 3. Be at least sixteen (16) years of age 4. Have GPA of 3.70 or above 5. Must also have successfully completed five (5) BGCSE examinations with an “A” or “B” grade to be eligible for consideration. For students currently sitting BGCSE examinations predicted grades may also be considered.

To apply, students must submit: 1. Completed application form, obtained from school website under Admissions/Admissions Applications menu option 2. Copies of the last three (3) report cards or transcript 3. Copy of Birth Certificate 4. One-page essay about why you would benefit from an IBDP education at St Andrew’s School 5. Two (2) reference letters from teachers

Deadline For applications Monday, 10th June, 2016 No applications will be accepted after this date.

To submit applications, or for further information, contract: Karen Carey Director of Admissions, Marketing & Development St Andrew’s School P.O. Box EE-17340 Nassau, Bahamas

For more information about us, please visit our website: www.st-andrews.com

MARTIQUE THOMPSON, of First Step Academy, won the 2015 primary school prize. She is pictured with some of her family members and her new HP 15.6in laptop.

REWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

FOR THE ninth year in a row, Custom Computers is carrying on its tradition of rewarding outstanding students across the nation through its annual “A’s for Excellence” campaign.

Started in 2007, the initiative invites primary and secondary school pupils who attained ‘A’ subject grades on their final report cards for the 2015/2016 academic year to enter a random drawing for the chance to win one of two grand prizes - an HP laptop for primary schools and a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop for secondary schools.

Carrying on another tradition, the Family Island school which submits the most ‘A’ grades will be awarded a state-of-the-art multi-function machine (printer, copier, scanner, fax) including installation

and supplies.

“We are committed to recognising and rewarding our nation’s youngest minds for stellar performance in their studies,” said Custom Computers’ General Manager Melissa Miller-Strachan. “This year we are grateful for the Ministry of Education’s support in helping us to get the word out to as many school administrators, educators and students as possible, and we look forward to our continued partnership in growing this rewarding campaign.”

New Providence students are asked to bring a copy of their final report card or transcript, as well as a government-issued photo ID, to any of the three Custom Computers locations - Harbour Bay, Cable Beach or Old Fort Bay Town Centre - to submit their entry.

Students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Family Island students may enter online by visiting www.aforexcellence.com, where full details of the campaign are available.

A student’s name will be entered into the raffle for up to 10 ‘A’ subject grades.

Therefore, if a student has 10 ‘A’s’, his or her name will be entered into the drawing 10 times. The more grade ‘A’s’ the students attain overall, the greater their chance of winning.

There is no purchase necessary to enter this contest.

Entry deadline for submissions is 3pm on Sunday, August 14, 2016. The random prize drawings will take place on August 20 and will be streamed live on the web.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 2, 2016, PAGE 23

LOCAL guide Tom Butler with Yellowtail Snapper in Bimini

LOCAL guide Ryan Neilly with a 50lb Bull Mahi near Spanish Wells.

LOCAL guide Deek with a 83lb Yellowfin Tuna in Eleuthera.

LOCAL boy David Rees with Abaco Yellowfin Tuna.

SUMMER has arrived and offers a wide variety of options when thinking about boating and catching fish.

This week, The Bahamas Sport Fishing Network (BSFN) has been receiving fishing reports of Mahi, Yellowfin Tuna, Yellowtail Snapper, Wahoo, Hogfish, Grouper and Sailfish all being caught throughout the Bahamas.

So make sure before leaving the dock your boat is rigged and ready for bot-

tom fishing, deep sea fishing and spearfishing to ensure you have the full repertoire onboard for success. Its a great time of year to be in The Bahamas!

Keep checking the BSFN expert page for fishing reports throughout the archipelago: this will be helpful in tracking the “hot spots” and providing advice on gear and fishing methods being used.

For a sample of the spectacular fishing to be had in The Bahamas, expert

advice, tournament dates and results, informative features and photo galleries visit the BSFN page at tribune242.com or www. bsfn.biz.

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

PAGE 24, Thursday, June 2, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

YOUNGSTERS visiting a conch midden on the southern shore of New Providence.

Learning to be a conch expert for a day STUDENTS from C R Walker Senior High School and St John’s College got a chance to see what it is like to be a “conchologist” for a day as participants in the nationwide “My Science!

My Conch!” citizen science project.

They were taking part in the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) spring field trip, building on other hands-on marine environmental education offerings exploring mangroves and coral reefs.

“We are concerned about the current and future availability of conch in The Bahamas, particularly since conch populations have declined throughout the region. We want to make sure that we still have conch for generations to come,” Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, BREEF’s director, said.

Since 2013, My Science! My Conch! has visited communities in Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Exuma, Acklins and Crooked Island to bring the “Conchservation” message to as many Bahamians as possible. BREEF was joined by partners from Community Conch, a nonprofit research organisation, and the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) to bring the programme to New Providence.

Citizen science, or science that incorporates the participation of citizens to collect scientific data, is growing in popularity because of the many benefits to this approach for science and conservation efforts.

“Conch is such an important resource for The Bahamas, so it’s important that everyone becomes more aware and educated about the species and the fishery,” Catherine Booker, of Community Conch, said.

“In this programme, we teach participants to look at conch the same way scientists do, so they can appreciate the information that we are able to gather in our

scientific studies of conch.

The main focus is to show people how we estimate the age of the conch. This is really good information for the Department of Marine Resources to have about conch stocks on different fishing grounds and for decision makers who will decide what management options will lead to a more sustainable conch fishery.”

Twenty-six students and their teachers participated in My Science! My Conch! in New Providence. The team spent the morning learning about conch biology and threats to the fishery, while the afternoon session involved data collection from a conch midden (or pile of conch shells) on the south-western side of the island.

Rickell, an 11th grade student from C R Walker, said: “I like the workshop because my dream is to become a marine biologist and this is expanding my knowledge.”

Raheem, an 11th grade student from St John’s, said: “It was a fun process getting a hands-on experience measuring and learning about the queen conch.”

Teams of students focused on measuring the thickness of the lip of the conch shells, which is a technique used by scientists to estimate the maturity of a conch at the time it was harvested. They also had a chance to review the results of their surveys at the end of the programme.

“During the workshop I developed a better understanding about conch lip thickness. Scientists have found that when the lip of the queen conch has reached a measurement of 15mm, it is an indicator that the conch is not only legal to be harvested, but it is also mature enough to reproduce,” said Andrieka Burrows, a BREEF intern who is part of the Bahamas Environmental Stewards Scholars (BESS) programme.