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Butler-Turner to challenge Minnis MP teams up with Duane Sands for FNM leadership bid

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and Senator Dr Duane Sands will run as a team in a leadership race against Killarney MP Dr Hubert Minnis and East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest at the Free National Movement’s convention at the end of next month, they confirmed to The Tribune yesterday.

The pair finalised the decision on Saturday and informed Dr Minnis and Mr Turnquest of their intentions yesterday.

The decision of Mrs Butler-Turner, who will run for leader, and Dr Sands, who will run for deputy leader,

has set the stage for one of the most anticipated political events of the year, to be held from July 27-29.

The pair ran for the same positions in 2014 and lost to the current leadership duo, though they did not run as a team on that occasion.

“It is not lost on either of us that we would’ve attempted (to win posts) at the November 2014 convention but all I can say is that in life, defeat is only final if you don’t get up and try again,” Dr Sands said when contacted

by The Tribune yesterday.

For her part, Mrs ButlerTurner said she endorsed all Dr Sands had to say about the matter. She declined further comment.

SEE PAGE SIX

PILOT AND MECHANIC KILLED AS PLANE EXPLODES AFTER TAKE-OFF

GOMEZ: MYSTERY OVER ROBERT SMITH COMPLEX IS A COMPLETE DISGRACE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunmedia.net

THE ten years it took for the Child & Adolescent and Robert Smith complex in Fox Hill to open and the lack of clarity surrounding the delay is a “complete disgrace”, Central Eleuthera MP Damian Gomez said yesterday.

The former Cabinet minister’s comment came as he spoke to The Tribune about the lack of progress the government has made on issues relating to transparency and accountability, such as campaign finance laws and

a more open contract procurement system.

Prime Minister Perry Christie commissioned the Robert Smith complex – which opens to patients today – last week, ten years after construction on the facility began.

Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson told The Tribune yesterday that part of the reason for the delay is that the first two contractors of the facility were terminated, prompting sub-contractors to complete the project.

SEE PAGE THREE

THE SCENE at South Bimini airport yesterday after a small plane crashed, leaving two occupants dead.

By RASHAD ROLLE The Tribune understands Police are also investigating Tribune Staff Reporter that the men who died in- the crash. rrolle@tribunmedia.net “At 4.15pm (on) June 19, cluded the pilot, Terrance “Tango” Gibson, and an aviation officials at South BiTWO men are dead after airplane mechanic, An- mini Airport received a rea private plane exploded thony Smith, nicknamed port of smoke in bushes near shortly after take off at the “Scrubby”. the airport. Investigations South Bimini Airport yesA statement released by revealed that an aircraft had terday. the Department of Civil crashed in the bushes adjaThe Piper Aztec plane Aviation said officials will cent to the runway.” crashed in bushes just off travel to Bimini this mornSEE PAGES TWO & THREE the runway at 4.15pm. ing to begin investigations.

PILOT Terrance Gibson.

KILLER JAILED FOR 55 YEARS FOR REFERENDUM TURNOUT UNDER 50% RASHAD ROLLE ed in the June 7 constitutionMURDER OF 15-YEAR-OLD GIRLFRIEND By Tribune Staff Reporter al referendum, according CONVICTED murderer Basil Black was sentenced to 55 years in prison for the murder of 15-year-old Alexis Smith.

Black, 35, of Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, was found guilty on March 8 of the shooting death of Smith, his girlfriend.

Smith was at the Platinum Sports Bar in Eight Mile Rock with Black and some friends during the early morning of March 30, 2014, when she was shot

to death outside the nightclub.

During trial, Black told the Supreme Court that he was a “cocaine” pusher but not a killer and denied shooting Smith.

While giving testimony under oath in March, Black said that he and Alexis had lived together and were involved in an intimate relationship. He claimed that he never knew her age.

SEE PAGE EIGHT

rrolle@tribunmedia.net

A LITTLE fewer than half of eligible voters, 46.66 per cent of them, participat-

to official statistics released yesterday by Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall.

SEE PAGE SIX

QC: DAME ANITA RIGHT TO EXPRESS VIEWS

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

NOTED attorney Fred Smith, QC, yesterday said the expressed position of Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen on the

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

possible legality of same-sex marriages in The Bahamas is more than appropriate and chastised detractors who argued that she is unable to sit objectively on such cases that may arise in the future.

SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Monday, June 20, 2016

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PILOT AND MECHANIC ARE

SMOULDERING wreckage after the plane crash in South Bimini.

THE REAR of the plane with insignia showing.

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KILLED AS PLANE EXPLODES AFTER TAKE-OFF from page one

“The aircraft’s registration number is N63ZZ, a PA 27, which departed Bimini minutes earlier.

“Two fatalities are confirmed.

Civil Aviation Department Accident Investigation representatives are scheduled to travel to Bimini tomorrow morning (Monday), to begin investigations into this matter,” the statement said.

Condolences for the victims poured out on social media yesterday, with one person writing on Facebook: “Tango was one of the few pilots who helped me out when I was learning to fly planes.

If he had an extra seat, he would always carry me, and when we (were) flying back to Freeport alone he would let me fly so I could get more practice and experience. I’m really sad right now.”

Another person who claimed to have known Mr Gibson said: “(I) am thankful that the last time I saw him, he was confessing Jesus Christ as his Lord. Praise be unto the Lord.”

Last September, four men escaped death after their small sixseat plane crashed in waters near Chub Cay in the Berry Islands.

The aircraft reported experiencing engine trouble and had to ditch in the water.

Not long after the ditch, a rescue team of police and civilians found the four men with life jackets in about 45 feet of water. An official confirmed that the plane was found upside down.

In June 2015, five people escaped a brush with death when their single engine Cessna 172

He said he did not know offhand how much the facility cost over the course of its construction or the precise details of why the contractors were fired.

Edward Penn, a prominent PLP financial backer, and Floyd Wilmott, a FNM supporter, were the terminated contractors, both of them having received their contracts under the administration of their respective political parties.

“It’s a complete disgrace,” Mr Gomez said when contacted yesterday. “It’s not as though it’s not affecting communities. I can’t get a hospital finished in my constituency but we could have buildings in New Providence bandying around for a decade and people don’t have to account for money they have received?”

The former state minister for legal affairs has waged a largely unsuccessful battle to prompt the government to embrace certain transparency and accountability reforms.

He said he tried getting his parliamentary colleagues for instance, to agree to a public registry in Parliament for donations they receive in aid of their constituencies.

“I asked but people don’t want that sort of information out,” he

DEBRIS at the scene of yesterday’s crash at South Bimini. found in a life raft and were taken by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to its base in Coral Harbour.

In late 2014, Dr Myles Munroe, pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International, and his wife Ruth were among the nine peo-

aircraft flying from Pittstown, Crooked Island, crashed into the sea 13 miles southeast of Nassau.

There were four adults and one child on the plane.

The pilot reported engine problems before he ditched the plane in the sea. The five survivors were

said yesterday.

“That might explain why certain people get contracts and some don’t,” he added, though not as a reference to the Robert Smith complex, which Mr Gibson said yesterday he is willing to divulge more details about when he receives them.

“Almost 200 years of behaviour is being challenged,” Mr Gomez said. “It’s not going to be stopped because one person says let’s change. When you look at the opposition, for instance, they have their people who, when they are in power they get contracts and they expect to get them and they do. So you’re not going to find them being particularly energetic in cutting off a source of profits for themselves.”

Mr Gomez’s willingness to highlight lack of transparency in general and to imply shady behaviour concerning contracts is unusual for a former Cabinet member under a sitting government.

He said yesterday that he would be in “complete shock” if the government were to pass campaign finance legislation before the next general election.

This comes despite the fact that Mr Christie has backed such legislation in the past, once describing campaign financing in the Bahamas as having sunk to “repugnant” and sometimes “criminal” levels.

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FINAL MEETING ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION HELD TONIGHT

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ple on board a Lear 36 executive jet that went down in a gruesome crash in bad weather in Grand Bahama. The plane had collided with a crane at the Grand Bahama Shipyard and crashed in a nearby junk pile. All on board were instantly killed.

GOMEZ: MYSTERY OVER ROBERT SMITH COMPLEX IS A COMPLETE DISGRACE from page one

Monday, June 20, 2016, PAGE 3

“In any administration here, a non-political guy who just started a company is going to be at a disadvantage,” Mr Gomez said.

He said greater transparency and accountability would not only improve the public’s trust in government, but would improve economic conditions in the country as well.

“There are economic benefits associated with being an honest jurisdiction, often enjoyed in several ways by the public,” he said.

“There are greater employment levels, generated by efficiency in the system. We are struggling with a 15 per cent unemployment rate and a high youth unemployment rate. Those sorts of problems are not going to be solved in a closed shop department where politicos are determining who gets what and who doesn’t.”

Ultimately, he said the government has been too content to stay in the “middle of the pack” on the global community when it comes to fighting corruption.

“There are countries who are worse than us so we are not going to see very much commentary about us on the world stage because it would come with a lot of other countries being criticised as well,” he said. “And, to be fair, we are more honest than many countries. Where we are falling down is in taking the attitude that being

in the middle of the pack is okay.

We should be in the number one, two or three position.”

In addition to campaign finance laws and a registry system to log constituency donations, Mr Gomez aligned himself yesterday with the business community and others in the country in calling for more transparency in contract procurement processes.

“What I don’t want to happen is to add new bureaucracy without results,” he said about growing calls for an Office of the Contractor General, as advocated for recently by former Attorney General Alfred Sears.

“If we’re going to have a new one and it’s business as usual, I’m not interested in that. My position is that we have a Tenders Board and their work should be done in the public. Bids should be open. Someone in the Ministry of Works concerned with construction should do reports on a quarterly basis as need be and make it available to the auditor general who would make the report available to the Speaker (of the House of Assembly) on a determined basis. When bids go to the Tenders Board, the board should give an account for why it selects who it selects. And the next question should be, ‘has the guy performed?’ And if he hasn’t, he should be sued.”

PUBLIC consultation on the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) draws to a close at the end of the month with the final town hall meeting in the capital being held tonight.

The meeting, at 7.30pm at the Church of God of Prophecy on East Street, Nassau, will be followed by one at the Exuma Foundation in George Town, Exuma, tomorrow night and at Governor’s Harbour Primary School, Eleuthera, on Thursday, June 30.

Public consultation began in April with town hall meetings held in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

In a statement last month, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald advised that public consultations will be held in Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma over the next six weeks with the final town hall meeting slated for New Providence.

The government has since come under fire from civil society organisations, who underscored “decided lack of interest” in passing and implementing a Freedom of Information Act. Citing the critical need for public education on the role of a FOIA, the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) criticised the government on the lack of meaningful engagement with civil society. The group hosted an independent forum last month, as a response to claims that the government’s efforts have not been effective or sufficient.

The government’s initial meeting in Nassau reportedly drew only 15 persons and the second in Grand Bahamas had only five.

According to ORG, its public education forum had some 100 attendees and was backed by Citizens for a Better Bahamas, The Nassau Institute, The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, The Bahamas Bar Association, Civil Society Bahamas and We the People. ORG is calling for greater public participation on the proposed legislation.

Mr Fitzgerald, who is responsible for the legislation, explained that notices will be published and also listed on the Ministry of Education’s website and Facebook page, and encouraged persons to review the legislation and provide feedback in person, on the website or by letter.

The government released a revamped draft version of the FOI legislation last year. Mr Fitzgerald has said that the Christie administration would seek to table the document once Parliament reconvened after the summer break, suggesting it would likely take place between October and November.

• See Insight

PAGE 4, Monday, June 20, 2016

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Could British EU exit be watershed for global economy?

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A British exit from the European Union could cause global market swings for a while. But that would soon pass.

If we’re lucky, that is.

Much darker scenarios for the global economy are also being discussed by economists as they try to gauge the risks of Thursday’s referendum for the wider world.

While economists say a British exit from the EU — or Brexit, as it is known — would be painful mainly for the country itself and to a lesser extent for the rest of Europe, the consequences for the global economy are harder to estimate.

In the gloomier narratives, a Brexit becomes a turning point, an event that snowballs and leads to much larger and nastier problems. It could deal a setback to free trade and globalization, which many disgruntled voters around the world are already cool on. And it could trigger more defections from the EU, destabilizing the region and unsettling companies and consumers.

So forecasts are ranging from the benign to the apocalyptic.

Some, like outgoing Finnish Finance Minister Alexander Stubb, compare Brexit to the 2008 collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers, which spread financial ruin across the globe. Or, it could be more like Y2K, in which computers worldwide were supposed to fail on Jan. 1, 2000, because software was written for years beginning with 19-. In the event, not much happened.

Here’s a quick run-through of the global risks from a Brexit.

FLIGHT TO SAFETY It’s reasonable to assume that a vote to leave would cause global financial market swings in the short term, with investors selling riskier assets such as stocks and seeking safety in government bonds, analysts say. The pound has already fallen in value against other currencies and would likely fall more. Gold, seen by some as a refuge in troubled times, might rise.

Markets seem to be betting that “remain” will win, so if they’re wrong, there could be some scrambling to adjust.

LOWER FOR LONGER Faced with churning markets, central banks could try to steady things with extra loans for banks or other ways of making credit more readily available. Market swings could help persuade the US Federal Reserve to postpone interest rate increases once thought likely this year and now in doubt. That could be good news for mortgage holders but could prolong savers’ agony over low rates and non-existent returns on deposits.

MANAGEABLE? The direct impact of a Brexit would likely not be too bad on growth — if you’re not British. A year after a vote to leave, Britain’s economy would be one per cent smaller than it would have been otherwise, while the 28-country EU would lose 0.25 per cent and the world 0.1 per cent, according to Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi.

“I think the immediate effect is modest,” he said. “It’s not cataclysmic in any way. It’s corrosive, certainly. It diminishes the UK economy going forward.”

Taking 0.1 percentage point off global growth might not seem like much, but the world economy, though not in crisis, is not in great shape right now. The International Monetary Fund predicts 3.2 per cent growth this year and 3.5 per cent next year.

IMF head Christine Lagarde says that’s not enough to lift living standards and get the globe’s 200 million unemployed back to work. “There is a risk that middle class families and the poor actually remain behind, which would embolden the voices of protectionism and fragmentation,” she said in April.

The World Trade Organization says international trade will remain sluggish this year, growing 2.8 per cent, well below the average of 5 per cent since 1990.

And the effects of a Brexit could be longlasting: permanently lower growth in Britain and Europe. After five years, Britain’s economy would be 4 per cent smaller than otherwise; the EU 1 per cent and the global economy 0.25 per cent, according to Zandi.

So it could add up.

UNCERTAINTY The “U-word” is prominent in most assessments of Brexit. That’s because it would take years for Britain to sort out new trade relationships if it leaves the EU, whose members trade freely with each other without charging tariffs. Businesses wouldn’t know where to locate production or how much it would cost to trade.

The EU and Canada, for instance, started negotiating a trade agreement seven years ago, but it still hasn’t been ratified.

And uncertainty can be very hard on growth. It makes executives hold off on building new plants or hiring permanent employees, while consumers might wait on buying a new car or kitchen.

Uncertainty is one reason investment is relatively weak in the developed world. A Brexit would only add another reason to wait.

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT Although the direct impact seems manageable outside Europe and the UK, economists can’t help painting darker scenarios.

If other countries decide to leave the EU or if a “leave” vote energises populist political forces and leads to a broader retrenchment in trade and globalization, a Brexit would be seen as a turning point with outsized influence on the globe.

Polls in France, for instance, show antiEU candidate Marine Le Pen of the National Front will almost surely make the final round of next year’s presidential election. In the United States, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and talked about imposing new tariffs.

Economist Zandi invoked the metaphor of the butterfly that flaps its wings and triggers a chain of events that builds into a hurricane.

“Nothing good comes out of Brexit,” he said. “It’s just different shades of grey. It has global implications under the greyest scenarios, where Brexit sets off, is a catalyst for, another existential event for the eurozone and the European Union more broadly, that it empowers all the political centrifugal forces that are at work in Europe and Europe starts to fracture.”

By David McHugh, AP Business Writer

Bullying a problem going too far

EDITOR, The Tribune

I CANNOT explain with words how terrible a person can feel if they happen to be a bullying victim. But what is bullying you may wonder.

Bullying is a devastating action in which a person abuses another who he thinks is weaker; sometimes the reasons behind are the family and school problems the stalker has, and then they try to alleviate his/her pain on their victim.

Another context where bullying takes place is when the typical “class clown” who tries to entertain or call the attention by mocking a classmate. They do not usually care if there is a teacher in front of them to scold them or to punish them.

They will do it anyway.

Sadly, I have been a victim of bullying myself. In fact some

sequels remain after that.

Sometimes I had to go away from people because I was pretty scared, that is to say, I isolated myself from the people who were around me, and who loved me; now I am very repentant about that, because I noticed that not all the people have the same bad feelings that the persons who used to tease me, and what is more, nowadays I am very proud to have met some persons that I love them and that they are very important in my life. I still do not know why they did it. I think they felt undervalued because I got better marks.

I must admit to you that I feel very lucky of being here in “good condition” after the long time I have been suffering from bullying. I have suffered from bullying from the age of six until I was sixteen

years old. What I mean is that a lot of people have died because they could not stand the strong pain they were suffering due to bullying, even younger than me – that is horrible!

Therefore, I would like to say to all those persons who are suffering from bullying: “Do not be headstrong. Speak up. Tell your parents and friends what is going on, or things could go wrong. Surely, they will help you, because a lot of teachers do not want to get into trouble and would not fail to do something. Believe me guys, I am saying this from experience.”

SERGIO de FUENTES GARRIDO. A-level student, soon to be an English philology student Alcorcón –Madrid, Spain.

June 17, 2016.

For an urgent national turnaround

EDITOR, The Tribune.

MY fellow Bahamians, our country stands at the precipice.

Last year was the deadliest in the history of our beautiful island nation, with 148 homicides.

Unemployment, which the Government argues peaked between 2007 and 2012, has reached new heights. 16 per cent of our citizens cannot find work.

Worst of all, 30 per cent of young Bahamians are deprived of basic opportunities to fulfil their purpose and potential.

Our national education system is stagnant, at best and ­at worse ­it is regressing. High school dropout rates remain unacceptably high, and the prospect of a career nurtured by a Bahamian education, unspeakably bleak.

Our governance is a mess.

Our government’s reputation at an all­time low. Our citizens’ confidence in our institutions, nonexistent.

How else can we explain the staggering June 7 referendum result? With turnout below 40 per cent, the result was not merely a rejection of the amendments to our constitution, but a repudiation of the Government.

Simply put, when I say that we are standing at the precipice, what I mean is this: we are already in the midst of a deep social crisis. In the middle of a crisis that could cost us our most promising generation and – with them – our future.

A crisis that is depriving us of the dignity of work and the hope of opportunity. A crisis, my friends, that has robbed us of our basis sense of safety, both real and perceived.

Let that sink in, for a moment... We are in a crisis.

Now, take a step back.

Take a step back and picture the kind of leader, the kind of government, and the kind of plan that would give you the confidence to see this crisis through – and to build a brighter future for the Bahamas? When we do this, here is what we should collectively be able to envisage.

We should imagine a composed, self­- disciplined, articulate, courageous, tough and decisive leader.

One who reflects the generations and the aspirations of the country they are here to serve. A leader who has the determination to overcome, and the energy to act, and the discipline to plan.

We should picture a Government that leads by example, exhibiting the highest ethical standards. That lets its results speak for themselves ­​not ​spinning imaginary results from failed programmes. A government focused on the priorities of the country: crime, job creation and education.

We should envision a

bankrupt, hopelessly ineffective response of this Government to the challenges we face. letters@tribunemedia.net We will – if we are not plan that is reflective of careful – sleep walk our way this focus. A renewal of our to the decay and destrucnational security establish- tion as a country. It is time ment to force a collabora- for leaders who can paint a tive approach, the office of different picture.

I have seen people outthe Attorney General, the police service, the defence side politics – people like forces, and the prison sys- Jeff Lloyd and the voluntem to fearlessly enforce all teers who followed him, people like young entreour laws – big and small.

We should foresee a na- preneurs investing in themtional employment plan, selves and their country, to accelerate private sector people like school teachers, recruitment by supporting a fishermen, nurses and docsingle portal through which tors, people like police ofto post all information on ficers who volunteer time job vacancies; and geared to work with young men in towards the renewal of our their communities – mobipublic service through the lize to address the problems recruitment of our best and that our Government can no longer fix. brightest youth.

So, what I envision is an We should aspire to an education system that em- opposition first and, evenbraces a mission to teach tually, a Government that academics to our youth, yes. speaks on behalf of these But mostly, that empowers people. That gives them a our youth by showing them voice not only in the comhow valuable each of their munities where they are lives are and, in doing so, working, but in the House provides learning streams of Assembly, the people’s adapted to the skills and in- house.

For them – and through terests of all students.

We should hope for them for the benefit of all democratic institutions ­our Bahamians – we must, inpublic service, our courts, stead of the patchwork our two houses of parlia- initiatives proposed by ment and our cabinet ­whose Government, focus single-­ work is supported by world­ mindedly on the problems -class governance systems that plague us most: How to enforce existing and policy development processes, as well as by a laws against criminals, and culture of ethics and radical take steps to prevent future crimes? transparency.

How to support those Instead, budget 2016 served as a painful remind- who wish to grow our er of where we actually are. economy and create jobs, Let us not imagine. Let us whether they do it in partsimply open our eyes, turn nership with Government on a TV or open a newspa- or through their own entrepreneurships? per.

How to work with teachWe will see a desperate, disorganized, confusing, ers, students and experts hesitant, soft, indecisive in education to reform a Prime Minister. One whose system which supports best years – for which we do learning, self­- confidence, indeed owe him our thanks self-discipline and self­ – are behind him. A Prime actualization for every Minister without a plan, child?

And finally, how to chalexhausted by the burdens of his office, who has lost lenge ourselves, as Parliathe nerve that once defined mentarians of all stripes, to lead more proactively, him.

We will lament a Cabinet to deliver better policy, to that has lost its way; favour- listen more carefully, to act ing its friends in the hard more transparently, and to wiring of procurement pro- obey rules of procedure, cesses for friends, or mis- disclosure and ethics more managing institutions such diligently than we have.

We must heed the call of as the Bank of the Bahamas of contracts. Forced to sell our people.

To earn their confidence, wishful thinking, in place of tangible action and real ac- we must change. To earn their respect, we must radicomplishments.

We will strain to see any cally transform. To encourshred of a plan – in this age their hope, we must budget – for turning around bring forward a plan to turn the Bahamas. Instead, we the country around.

On each of these meassee Government blindly throw money at the crime ures, the Government’s problem. An agreement budget fell short of the moto work on an agreement ment. The rest of us can no with China, on BahaMar. A longer afford to do so.

There is only one way proposal for pennies on the through this crisis: Fordollar on mortgage relief.

What will it take to de- ward, Together. mand better of ourselves, of LORETTA BUTLER each other and our GovernTURNER ment?

Nassau, We cannot accept the June 15, 2016. shambolic, intellectually

LETTERS

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 20, 2016, PAGE 5

FNM leader: Govt must show country it can offer solutions

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis is challenging the government to prove itself up to the task of offering realistic and concrete solutions to improve the country’s economy and security.

In a statement released yesterday, Dr Minnis said that the Christie administration did not address or indicate how it was going to solve the woes that have plagued the country since winning the May 2012 election.

“The PLP government failed to give any concrete plans on how they are going to solve the many problems that have come to light in the previous four years,” he said.

(Last) week’s budget communications were full of more empty rhetoric and broken promises. As we start to finish up the budget debate this week I challenge the government to offer real solutions for the Bahamian people. Hopefully they will offer a well thought out plan to address the growing debt. Will they finally have a plan that ends our country’s two straight years of negative economic growth?

Or will they finally address the massive unemployment created by the stalled Baha Mar debacle and deliver the 5,000 good paying jobs they promised?”

“We have seen the murder rate take a record breaking spike the past four years yet there is no solid plan to address it. The Bahamian

people are scared to leave their houses at night due to the ever increasing crime wave. Will this government finally take this week to offer the Bahamian people a real plan of action for the vexing crime epidemic that is plaguing this country?”

Last month Prime Minister Perry Christie, during his nearly four-hour presentation on the 2016-2017 Budget Communication, lauded his government’s ability to secure a “framework agreement” to resume construction efforts at the Baha Mar resort and cut the government’s fiscal borrowing over the course of the next budget cycle.

He also announced a revamped mortgage relief initiative, an apprenticeship programme aimed to re-

duce youth unemployment, adjustments to customs rates and even minor programmes aimed at spurring economic growth.

However, the communication revealed very little details of his administration’s plan to arrest violent crime.

Prior to the 2012 election, the PLP unveiled billboards drawing attention to the FNM’s then record of 490 plus murders during their five years in office. The PLP had surpassed that figure with more than a year to go to the next election.

There have been 514 homicides since May 7, 2012, according to The Tribune’s records.

Mr Christie also did not give definitive details with regards to a completion

date for Baha Mar, which was expected to stimulate the economy and produce thousands of jobs. Neither were details given on the issue of payment to unsecured Bahamian creditors, only saying they would be “considered” during the re-mobilisation process. He stressed that negotiations were underway to agree to appropriate timelines and a schedule for completion.

Dr Minnis added: “It is our hope that this government will finally rise to the challenge which they themselves have helped to create in our country. No more empty rhetoric or continued broken promises. This week will be a true test of whether the PLP has any meaningful plans to get The Bahamas back on track.”

TRAVIS ROBINSON, front, with supporters yesterday as he launched his campaign to run as an independent candidate in Bain and Grants Town.

Photo: Tim Clarke/ Tribune Staff

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE BIDS FOR BAIN AND GRANTS TOWN SEAT A 21-YEAR-OLD resident of Bain and Grants Town has launched a campaign to run as an independent candidate in the next general election.

In a statement, Travis Robinson said his campaign is about “providing solutions for all”.

“For years, Bain and Grants Town has been yearning for meaningful change,” he said. “A change so dynamic that it ensures the education of our residents, particularly our youth, combats crime within our community, creates job opportunities, sustains health, and expands the

development of Bain and Grants Town. My campaign seeks to bring this kind of change to fruition. And now is the time that we will do so.

“We’re doing this now to eradicate the trend of illiteracy in our youth, eliminating this idea that finishing high school and going to university is not an option.

We’re doing this now to create a safer environment for our residents, one where the next generation can be nurtured and brought up without worry. We’re doing this now to provide a better chance of employment for our well-deserving residents, giving them a chance

to provide a better way of life for their family. We’re doing this now to highlight the beauty and expose all the potential (Bain and Grants Town) has to offer.

“We’re doing this now to build the Bain and Grants Town our forefathers dreamt about – a thriving, unified community where hope is given to every man, woman, boy and girl, a BGT where

dreams are deferred no more. We’re doing this now because history demands it.”

Saturday’s launch was held at Bimini Avenue, off Market Street.

RECALL ISSUED FOR COMBOS PRODUCTS IN THE BAHAMAS

MARS Caribbean & Central America has announced a voluntary recall of two variants of COMBOS brand of products in The Bahamas.

The products being recalled are COMBOS Cheddar Cheese Pretzel and COMBOS Cheddar Cheese Cracker, which bear the code 614ABALB01. This can be found on the back of the package.

Mars has indicated that it initiated the recall after its supplier of flour, Grain Craft, recalled certain lots of wheat flour that have the potential to contain low levels of peanut residue. The COMBOS Brand products subject to the recall may have been produced using the recalled flour.

Although no peanut residue has been detected in this product to date, consumers with severe peanut allergies are advised to avoid the recalled products.

Mars advises that the US-based Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that the amount of peanut exposure from the flour is low and not expected to cause adverse health effects in the vast majority of peanut allergic consumers.

To date, Mars has received no reports of illness related to the products covered by this recall.

No other Mars products are affected by this recall.

Consumers with any of the products being recalled in The Bahamas are being advised to return the product to the point of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall may contact Lightbourn Trading Company Limited, #141 Tonique Williams Highway P O Box N-7124 or at 394 80 0 0.

PAGE 6, Monday, June 20, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

ROLLINS ‘WON’T SEEK NOMINATION’ IF MINNIS IS RE-ELECTED AS LEADER

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins has said he will not seek a constituency nomination from the Free National Movement if Dr Hubert Minnis is re-elected as leader at next month’s convention.

Dr Rollins explained that he could not expect to campaign alongside Dr Minnis given his critique of the FNM leader’s capacity for leadership and his role in the push for an early convention.

“I’ve told persons in the FNM,” he said, “let us be frank here. Clearly Dr Minnis, the leader of the FNM,

did not want there to be an early convention in the FNM. If Dr Minnis is reelected as leader it is untenable for me to seek to run for a nomination.”

He added: “I don’t believe that having expressed the views that I have that members of the FNM, whether frontline or supporters, ought to expect me to go on a platform and try to convince the Bahamian people that somehow I have changed my mind and had some view that he is now capable of doing a job that I have expressed some doubt in his capacity to do.”

In a series of statements last month, Dr Rollins openly criticised Dr Minnis and his sup-

porters, stating that the leader had no substance or vision for the country. He has said whether Dr Minnis has what it takes to be prime minister will depend on if he can convince the party that he is the “most fit” to lead at a convention.

His outspoken position on the FNM’s leadership struggles 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 – Loretta Butler-Turner, Hubert Chipman, Neko Grant, Richard Lightbourn, Theo Neilly and Dr Rollins – threatened to petition Governor General Dame

Marguerite Pindling to remove Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition unless the initial November date was brought forward.

In making their case against their leader, the MPs highlighted a myriad of inefficiencies in a memo to the party’s Central Council, including his failure to take command of the party “at almost every turn” despite their repeated efforts to support him.

The convention will now be held in late July.

The Fort Charlotte MP also railed against the government as a guest on radio talk show “The Revolution” with host Juan McCartney on Friday.

Referencing his scathing rebuke of the Christieled administration during his contribution to the 2016/2107 budget debate, Dr Rollins was of the opinion that Mr Christie’s aversion to criticism made him a weak leader who was incapable of making tough decisions.

His highly critical remarks on Wednesday led Mr Christie to apologise for putting the former PLP MP in a position to hold a seat in Parliament.

On Friday, Dr Rollins said: “Never mind the fact that this government owes a huge apology for disastrous four years of government.

What they have done is

thumb their nose at Bahamian people.”

“If anyone ought to apologise, seeing as the prime minister and his government don’t have the character to do that, I should be the one to apologise for putting the prime minister in the position to be back in the seat of power because clearly people would blame me for becoming a part of the PLP to campaign for a man in the party that I thought would never make the same mistakes after the disaster of 2002 to 2007.

“I never in a million years thought they would do the exact same thing between 2012 and 2017,” he added. “Clearly I was sadly mistaken.”

BUTLER-TURNER REFERENDUM TURNOUT UNDER 50% TO CHALLENGE LEADER MINNIS from page one

from page one

The leadership battle comes at a delicate time for the FNM, as Dr Minnis is believed to have only agreed for the early convention to take place after six parliamentarians, including Mrs Butler-Turner, threatened to seek his removal as leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly.

Dr Minnis’ tenure as leader has been defined by intra-party friction, creating fractures in the party.

Nonetheless, when he was challenged in 2014, he defeated Mrs Butler-Turner by more than double her number of votes, and many observers say it is difficult to successfully challenge incumbent leaders of political parities in the Bahamas.

“Certainly I think in both

political organisations it is very difficult to accomplish change of leadership,” Dr Sands said.

The former FNM deputy chairman was recently appointed to the Senate by Dr Minnis after Lanisha Rolle resigned.

“This is not personal,” Dr Sands said. “I have expressed my gratitude to my leader for appointing me as an FNM senator to go after the concerns of the Bahamian people even as we involve ourselves in this skirmish for the leadership of the FNM. While it is true that the worst FNM team is better than any PLP team on any day, we are in a situation right now, where we have to go with whomever and whatever will give the Bahamian people comfort and hope. I believe that Butler and Sands is the tonic we need.”

Prime Minister Perry Christie’s Centerville constituency had one of the lowest turnout rates in the country and the third lowest turnout in New Providence, with 37.99 per cent of eligible voters participating in the vote.

In New Providence this was eclipsed only by Bain and Grants Town, represented by Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage, where turnout was 34.01 per cent, and Englerston, represented

by Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, where turnout was 37.01 per cent.

Voter turnout in the Family Islands was generally lower than in New Providence. Only 26.92 per cent of eligible Long Island voters participated in the referendum, the lowest in the country. Loretta ButlerTurner represents this area.

Killarney, represented

by FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, had the highest turnout in the country, with 61.18 per cent of eligible

VOTERS waiting to cast their ballot on Referendum Day.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

voters participating in the vote.

Among parliamentarians, Mr Christie and Mrs Butler-Turner were among the most vocal backers of a “yes” vote whereas Dr Minnis did not urge voters to take a particular side on the matter.

Constituencies where more than 50 per cent of eligible voters voted included: Carmichael, Eliza-

beth, Golden Gates, Golden Isles, Marathon, Mount Moriah, Saint Anne’s, Seabreeze, Southern Shores, Tall Pines and Yamacraw in New Providence and East Grand Bahama and Marco City in Grand Bahama.

The constitutional referendum’s amendments were overwhelmingly rejected by Bahamians, with “no’ votes getting more than double the number of “yes” votes

in most constituencies.

The day after the vote, Mr Christie expressed disappointment over the results however he said the voice of the people would be respected.

It is still unclear how much money the Christie administration spent on the referendum through funding of the YES Bahamas campaign and the Constitutional Commission.

riage is between a man and a woman.

Mr Moss went further and said that she should recuse herself from potential cases involving same-sex marriage because she appeared prejudiced against the marriage status quo during the lecture at the Hilton.

Wayne Munroe, QC, has already stressed that it is not unusual for sitting judges to give lectures and disagreed with the position of Mr Moss, noting that the Constitution already gives people a right to family life and privacy, “which means a right to marry”.

Mr Smith, who has already stated his view on the constitutionality of samesex marriages in the past, said yesterday: “It is quite proper for sitting judges to express their views in the appropriate forum as was done by Dame Anita Allen in a public lecture.

“Judges don’t live in isolation from society or in a social vacuum. They are precious jewels with as much to contribute to debate as anyone else. It’s high time more judges express views in an objective manner to develop society’s discussion on topical issues. And I can’t see on what basis the sitting president of the Court of Appeal cannot sit on cases concerning the issue of same-sex marriage.”

He added: “It’s an insult to her professionalism and

the professionalism of judges in this country that she cannot rule objectively on a case. And what Mr Moss seemed to have forgotten is that each case is determined on its own facts. I think it’s an insult to try and muzzle the views of judges who can bring a balanced and logical perspective to the discussion.”

Mr Smith said his position, as indicated on April 27 prior to the gender equality referendum, remains the same.

“Article 15 of the Constitution already prohibits discrimination based on sex. Article 26 does not refer to sex and there’s been a continuing debate in different British Commonwealth countries as to the effect of Article 15,” he said.

In the recent case by Justice Indra Charles concerning use of parliamentary privilege to read and disclose private emails in the House of Assembly, the complainants had argued that Article 15 was a stand alone constitutional right.

“It is a declaration of broader rights unlike Article 23 and 26 (of the Constitution),” he added.

“This was decided by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in the Bahamas in 1996 in a case argued by myself and Maurice Glinton, QC, before Dame Joan Sawyer in Harbour Lobster and Fish Co

and Jeffrey Butler vs Attorney General, when the courts held that discrimination on the grounds of ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ were unconstitutional.

“I don’t know why successive FNM and PLP attorney generals have argued against the use of those rulings. The Constitution should not be static and Article 15 gives the Constitution room to grow and strengthen,” he stressed.

Dame Anita, in her lecture, argued the laws of the Bahamas do not discriminate on the basis of sex and facilitate not only marriages of every description but also consummation of the same.

Given the various challenges relating to the existing law, Dame Anita suggested that both the Marriage Act and the Matrimonial Causes Act require “reconstructing” to meet the needs of a changing society.

She said the Bahamas could amend its Constitution similar to the way Jamaica did in 2008, in declaring that no marriage other than between a man and a woman is recognised and of legal effect. But this, she said, may similarly be susceptible to a constitutional challenge.

She said the country must choose what it wants to do in deciding the definition of marriage.

QC: DAME ANITA RIGHT TO EXPRESS VIEWS

from page one

During a lecture last week, Dame Anita suggested that without a statutory provision clarifying that same-sex marriages would be unlawful in The Bahamas, one cannot conclusively say the law prohibits such unions.

However, she stressed that her views were not endorsed by the Court of Appeal and were personal.

Marco City MP Greg Moss and Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney, QC, disagreed with her, telling The Tribune last week that in the absence of a clear statute, the common law interpretation would prevail, and it would say that a mar-

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THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

insight@tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016

THE GROUNDBREAKING ceremony at The Pointe in 2015 attended

by Prime Minister Perry Christie, Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and officials from China Construction American (CCA) and The Pointe.

PHOTO: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

The Bahamas cannot be for sale

AN ARTIST’S impression of The Pointe development.

Malcolm J Strachan calls for a public hearing on the government’s dealing with Chinese interests

T

his is a time of difficulty and uncertainty for our nation.

The difficulty relates to our impaired economy, high unemployment, rising crime rate, and what is a growing loss of confidence by Bahamians in Prime Minister Perry Christie’s government.

When we think about the future, this loss of confidence is troubling - how will it affect our quality of life, job and educational opportunities. We have seen how it has impacted an attempt at gender equality.

So when our government does little to address this uncertainty, whose interests is our government really serving?

We today are a nation where major projects - such as Baha Mar and The Pointe - that could mean much for the social and economic welfare of this country are mired in controversy.

We do not understand why our Government has been both so solicitous of and defensive about China’s ever increasing presence in our capital, up and down Bay Street. Many of us question why the government continually has allowed Chinese private enterprise to usurp jobs for which the first call should be to qualified Bahamians rather than imported Chinese workers.

Many of us question why our government is more than willing to spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to send its officials on trip after trip to Beijing, only to return home to mouth to us false hopes which seem then to be followed by more twisting and turning to further Chinese economic and business interests.

Who is benefitting from this dance of our Prime Minister and his government with the Chinese? For sure, the main beneficiary is the Chinese private enterprise here in the Bahamas. They appear to have our Prime Minister and his government lying down in the same economic bed with them. As for the people of The Bahamas, we have been left out in the

proverbial cold.

Our government recently has been touting its excitement that, based on its relationship with China’s political leadership, its banks, including China Exim Bank, and enterprises such as China State Construction (CCA), China wants to make our country a major trading hub for Chinese currency. What would this mean for our country’s critical relationships with western nations like the United States, which has the most stable currency in the world and on which our

CCA’s behaviour at The Pointe.

We as a people owe a debt of gratitude to radio host Steve McKinney for exposing the outrageous demands that CCA has made for the restart of construction at Baha Mar. These demands included, among other giveaways by our government, 30-years tax exemption and the conveying of 500 Bahamian citizenships to Chinese citizens!

Moreover, it is well known and publicised that some relatives of members

THE BAHA Mar resort would mean much for the social and economic welfare of The Bahamas.

“Has our own government and the Progressive Liberal Party engaged with the Chinese in a way that it too has become tainted by the corruption that is plaguing China’s own institutions? Is the Christie administration acting in the best interests of the people of The Bahamas, or is it reaping ill begotten financial gains by “selling” our nation to China as an “economic colony” of that foreign power?” own currency is based?

Indeed, headlines have been screaming for well over a year about international concerns over the Chinese yuan and that currency’s weakness.

Headlines also have been highlighting corruption, both political and business, that has been permeating China, including concerns about how many Chinese business executives once abroad flout violations of legal business practices.

We know of such Chinese misconduct firsthand with recent court documents revealing sleazy business practices by CCA executives on the Baha Mar project, and our own media raising concerns about

of our government hold jobs with CCA while others have benefitted financially from the Chinese’s expanding business. This while thousands upon thousands of Bahamians go without work.

The Government’s siding with China Exim Bank and China State Construction to sabotage Baha Mar’s Chapter 11 reorganisation and to instead instigate a winding up/liquidation of this project has put one this country’s greatest potential business developments now completely in the ownership hands of a Chinese bank; left hundreds of unsecured creditors, mostly Bahamians, unpaid; and caused international rating

agencies to become even more pessimistic about our country’s ability to attract meaningful foreign investment.

It is sad that our government may very well have lost the confidence and respect of its people. We are at a point that we now need to know what is the true extent and nature of Prime Minister Christie and his government’s dealings with China. Has our own government and the Progressive Liberal Party engaged with the Chinese in a way that it too has become tainted by the corruption that is plaguing China’s own institutions? Is the Christie administration acting in the best interests of the people of The

Bahamas, or is it reaping ill begotten financial gains by “selling” our nation to China as an “economic colony” of that foreign power?

Our Government seems to have misled, double talked and failed to deliver on any number of situations and issues involving their new ‘strategic partners’.

There is no true transparency by the Government on what it is doing with China and what this will really mean to The Bahamas. We urge all our legislators, no matter their political party, to hold The Prime Minister and his government accountable. We are a nation with its general election now less than a year away and with a Prime Minister and government whose

moral authority to govern is now being questioned.

Last week, Dr Andre Rollins rose to his feet in Parliament and accused the Government of collusion with the Chinese.

Prime Minister Christie vehemently denied this. But then again, this is the same Prime Minister who Rollins described as the “dream seller” in chief. We have all had our fill of empty and broken promises from the Prime Minister. We, and the public, have lost faith in him.

We believe that Rollins was right when he said, “Tiger Wu (China State Construction’s executive vice president) is wooing this government”. We can not trust the Prime Minister, or his Government’s word that something is afoot. We have every right to ask the question and find out what the true relationship is between the Chinese and our Government.

Barring a Commission of Enquiry, we urge the Parliament to call for a Select Committee to investigate the exact nature of this Christie administration’s relationships with these Chinese interests. The Bahamian public has a right to know.

Are the best interests of the Bahamian people being served, or are the self- interests of a select few this administration’s priority?

One thing is for sure: the national sovereignty of The Bahamas cannot be for sale.

• Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net

PAGE 2 MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

The real point of Dame Anita’s lecture on marriage

By TONYA BASTIAN GALANIS

I

t has become apparent since the presentation last week of the 8th Annual Eugene Dupuch Distinguished Lecture, hosted by the Eugene Dupuch Law School and by Dupuch & Turnquest & Co Chambers, that much public debate has emerged, related to several aspects of the presentation.

As many Tribune readers will be aware, the featured speaker was Dame Anita Allen, President of the Court of Appeal of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and the topic she presented was “The Law in a Changing Society: Reconstructing Marriage”.

From my own awareness of some of the discussion in the public domain since the presentation of the lecture, its timing and the supposed “personal views” expressed

by Dame Anita seem to be the two most “debated” issues arising.

I begin by categorically and thoroughly rejecting as baseless and mischievous any suggestion that the lecture presented was an expose of any personal view

by Dame Anita, denoting a conclusion of what her judicial determination would be on any matter treating with same-sex marriage in The Bahamas that may arise before her as a sitting Judge. Similarly, I also comprehensively repudiate any attempt to infer that as a result of the lecture delivered, there were grounds for any apprehension of judicial bias on her part, relative to the issues raised in her lecture.

Respectfully, what was presented was an erudite,

thoughtful, cogent and immersed appraisal of certain aspects of family law in The Bahamas, with an emphasis on the legal institution of marriage. Indeed, in her presentation, Dame Anita dealt with several jurisprudential matters relating to marriage. Her juristic treatment of the nature of marriage in The Bahamas explored the recognition of non-traditional marriages, the law related to marriages celebrated by persons within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity or affinity, the issue of ancillary relief to an innocent party where a marriage is declared null and void under section 21(1) (a) of the Matrimonial Causes Act, divorce reform and the legal status of cohabiting couples, particularly in relation to property division upon the breakup of those relationships.

As with any lecture or speech, the core elements were presented in a wider context of social observations, realities, norms and perspectives. This was nothing novel, peculiar or avant-garde to Dame Anita’s lecture.

In the first instance, it is inconceivable that any reasonable person would think that a distinguished jurist of such superior judicial vintage and experience as Dame Anita would be so careless as to engage in “judicial decision-making”, not from the Bench, but rather from the lectern at such an esteemed and respectable forum as a distinguished lecture. Likewise, for anyone to claim that she did any such thing would have ignored her deliberate and considered approach of positing the various components of her analysis as “arguments”.

The thought that any

DAME Anita Allen at the British Colonial Hilton last Tuesday delivering the 8th Annual Eugene Dupuch Distinguished Lecture.

Photo: TIM CLARKE/The Tribune jurist is condemned to a life of retreat from public discourse and debate on matters of national importance by virtue of his or her appointment is wholly and incontrovertibly inconsistent with the fundamental right of all citizens to freedom of expression. As the ‘Bangalore Principles on Judicial Conduct, 2002’ at paragraph 4.6 states: “A judge, like any other citizen, is entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly...”, so long as the “dignity of the judicial office” is preserved and the “impartiality and independence of the judiciary” is maintained.

Some will recall that in his address at the opening of the legal year on January 13, 2016, the Chief Justice Sir Hartman Longley expressed the need for a conference on criminal

Funeral Service for

Sylvia Clara Pearce, 88 of San Souci, Nassau, The Bahamas, will be held at the Chapel of Love, Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited, Palmdale Avenue and Bradley Street, Nassau, on Tuesday, 21st June, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.

Pastor Jay Simms will officiate and interment will follow in Ebenezer Methodist Cemetery, East Shirley Street, Nassau.

Sylvia Clara was the youngest of four children born to Cecil and Lillian Roberts of Great Guana Cay, Abaco. She was born on June 3rd, 1928 and came to Nassau at age 13. Sylvia lived with her uncle Harry Roberts and his wife Trever until she met Vesper Russell, an electrician, whom she married just 2 years later.

Sylvia and Vesper Russell had seven children (Kathy, Jeannie, Joyce, Mercay, Kenneth, Agatha, and Mona) before she was widowed at 29 years of age.

Sylvia married Clyde Russell and they produced a son, Andrew, before she became widowed a second time.

Sylvia supported her family working as a sales clerk until she was forced to stop after suffering an aneurysm. Later in life she married widower Charles Kirkwood Pearce and they enjoyed a happy Union until his death in his old age. Sylvia was familiar with death having already lost her two sons, Andy and Ken. But she had to bear the loss of one more child leaving before her: Jeannie who died in 2009.

Sylvia’s health continued to decline over the past decade, and she took her last breath holding her eldest daughter Kathy’s hand, on Wednesday morning, June 15, 2016.

May she rest in peace.

Sylvia Pearce is survived by her daughters, Kathy Pearce, Joyce Green, Mercay Houghton and Mona Russell; granddaughters, Gia Greene, Melanie Bethel, Quinn Childers and Kara Russell; grandsons, Troy Pearce, Colin Green, Christopher Houghton and Gavin Bethel; great granddaughters, Lauren Villi, Alexis Roderick, Jordan Green, Kaitlin Childers and Emma Houghton; great grandsons, Justin and Nicholas Pearce, Joshua Greene, Ethan Green and Hunter Bethel; great great grandson, Jude Roderick; nieces, Sherrie Sawyer and Lisa Roberts; nephew, Cecil Roberts; sons-in-law, Godfrey Pearce, Timothy Houghton and Godfrey Harding.

Other relatives and friends who are left to cherish her memory include Lindy Munnings, Ann and Eugene Higgs, and Rhondi Taylor.

The family wishes to express a debt of gratitude to Sylvia’s wonderful caregivers, especially Pearlene Pinnock, Pat Patterson, Pat Munnings, Carlene Russell and Dr. Ian Kelly.

Arrangements Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.

law to “review and make substantial changes to both practice procedure and evidence” and in that regard called for the abolition of the voir dire, the abolition of Preliminary Inquiries and for either the abolition of the jury or limitation of its application to cases where the death penalty might be sought.

I

ndeed, as the commentary to Rule 3.1 of the American Bar Association Model Code of Judicial Conduct (2011 ed), indicates “…judges are encouraged to engage in appropriate extrajudicial activities. Judges are uniquely qualified to engage in extrajudicial activities that concern the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice, such as by speaking, writing, teaching, or participating in scholarly research projects.”

I respectfully submit that that is a universal tenet of proper judicial public conduct.

A practical application of this was also articulated by Lord Carnwath, of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, seven months ago while delivering a speech on climate change and the courts, where he said the following in relation to a controversy sur-

was not to “align” herself with any particular position on the legal issues raised, but rather to comment on a set of apposite legal issues as judges “live in the real world” too .

I would urge all to bear in mind that the occasion was a distinguished lecture in honour and celebration of a national treasure, Eugene Dupuch QC. As Dame Anita commented in her introduction at the lecture, he was a “fearless advocate for change, who bejeweled our national life”. In this regard, the distinguished lecture was a most appropriate forum to treat with matters of such national legal importance.

The whole purpose of a distinguished lecture, in the context of an institution of higher learning in the law, is to stimulate and invigorate thought, discussion and analysis of some aspect of the law. This clearly does not contemplate a mere recital or tedious review of the law as it stands, but rather to challenge interpretations, deconstruct legal propositions, ventilate inadequacies and shortcomings in the law, and traverse and delineate trajectories for possible reform. All of this is not done with a view to coalescing public opinion towards any particular view or promoting any abiding

bears no consonance with the truth. In fact, in closing her lecture, Dame Anita expressly hoped that we were all now aware of “the difficulties inherent in our marriage law, and of the complex issues the courts are likely to face in determining: what is marriage in The Bahamas”. There is absolutely no reason why this would not be a meaningful and helpful thing for a most senior and experienced judge to discuss and state in a public forum.

Turning to the issue of the timing of the lecture, I see no moment in the discussion on this point but I will address it briefly nevertheless.

In late January of this year, the Law School invited Dame Anita to be the speaker at this year’s Eugene Dupuch distinguished lecture. She kindly agreed.

In February, the topic of the lecture was settled between the Law School and Dame Anita. A date of April 14 was also agreed in February for delivery of the lecture. Notably, this was prior to the announcement by the Government of The Bahamas that a Constitutional Referendum was to be held on June 7 on citizenship and gender equality. That announcement was made on April 10.

In light of that announcement and having regard to the topic of the lecture, the Law School thought it prudent to reschedule the lecture, particularly to avoid a sitting judge becoming embroiled in any controversy relating to the referendum issues and to avoid any charge of influencing the vote and potential outcome, either way. Owing to the scheduling of internal matters and obligations at the Law School, including the preparation for examinations by both the staff and students, the date that was convenient to both the Law School’s diary and that of Dame Anita was June 14 and was mutually agreed.

By then all examinations would have been completed and substantial progress would have been made in the marking of examination scripts and the processing

“The thought that any jurist is condemned to a life of retreat from public discourse and debate on matters of national importance by virtue of his or her appointment is wholly and incontrovertibly inconsistent with the fundamental right of all citizens to freedom of expression.” rounding his participation in an earlier conference also on climate change: “There are those who think that this whole debate [climate change] is too political and too controversial for us as judges to make any contribution … I mention [this] partly to underline how easy it is for any intervention by a judge in an area of potential controversy to be misinterpreted … The intention … was not to align ourselves as judges or individuals with any particular “establishment” position, or to “outlaw” any legitimate views one way or the other. Our personal views are of course irrelevant. But as judges we have to live in the real world. In that world it is the political establishment, whether we agree with it or not, which ultimately dictates the laws under which we as judges have to operate … However, whatever they decide, there will be disputes and challenges, which the courts will have to resolve.

Judges need to prepare themselves for the task …”

I endorse these views expressed by Lord Carnwath, and expressly deem them as acutely relevant to the controversy arising from Dame Anita’s lecture as her goal

agenda, but rather to spawn contemplation and discussion.

The fact therefore that a judge intellectualises on the law in a public forum is not a prima facie indication of bias, but rather a willingness to share with the public and to make a contribution to public discourse, as any other citizen can, under the Constitution. Judicial appointment is not an abrogation of individual liberty to the right of free speech, but rather, an opportunity to serve and build a nation as a guardian of the law.

Agreeably, this must be done without bringing the office into disrepute and without undermining the standing and integrity of the rule of law. As a nation however, we must be loathe to ascribe unfounded claims of bias against our judiciary, where the evidence of same is manifestly non-existent.

In the context of Dame Anita’s lecture, at every turn, in relation to the law, she posited potential arguments and never once did she use words of any configuration or permutation that indicated “this is my view if I were to decide”. To that extent, I respectfully submit that any such claim

of grades.

The suggestion that there was some hidden agenda in the scheduling of the distinguished lecture is entirely baseless and fallacious.

Indeed, I am unclear as to what such a fictional agenda would be. Before the holding of the Constitutional Referendum on June 7 and before this distinguished lecture, learned Counsel Frederick Smith, QC, and Wayne Munroe, QC, had pointed out publicly that it was arguable that same-sex marriage might be possible under Bahamian law.

The argument remains the same now that the referendum has passed. This is no different from what Dame Anita said on June 14.

In conclusion, I again take this opportunity to thank Dame Anita on behalf of the Council of Legal Education and the Eugene Dupuch Law School for an intellectually rich, rousing and stimulating distinguished lecture. It was a testament to the intellect and academic gravitas of our esteemed and venerable Bahamian Bench.

• Tonya Bastian Galanis is the Principal of the Eugene Dupuch Law School

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016 PAGE 3

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Public consultation key to the success of Freedom of Information reform

By MATTHEW AUBRY

DURING Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald’s comments on May 4 in Parliament, he spoke to the need for greater public consultation on the proposed Freedom of information Act (FOIA) 2015.

He referenced that there would be public consultative meetings on the revised bill over the following six weeks and that the bill and other pertinent information was available on the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s (MOEST) website and Facebook page.

While the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) applauds the MOEST and the Minister for their initiative on this matter, there was little sign of a schedule of upcoming meetings on either the MOEST website or Facebook page nor a copy of the draft bill available to the public on the Ministry’s website until recently. Further, notices on one MOEST website asks citizens to send their comments or questions on the proposed FOIA draft to a MOEST email and/or a call-in number.

Sadly, in at least three cases, the ORG had been unable to obtain a reply after submitting such enquiries. Additionally, calls made by the ORG to the listed phone number have gone to a generic voice mail and have not been returned.

The ORG implores the Ministry of Education and the Attorney General’s Office to ensure that the necessary revised draft FOIA legislation is provided to the public in advance of a suitable number of scheduled public education and consultation town hall meetings, to be held around the country as the deadline for submissions is the end of this month.

Tonight, the final meeting for the capital will be held at the Church of God

of Prophecy, East Street at 7.30pm and there are scheduled meetings at the Exuma Foundation, Georgetown, Exuma, tomorrow and on June 30 at Governors’ Harbour Primary School, Eleuthera.

A strong Freedom of Information Act will have long-reaching implications to the future of our nation, similar to those of the Gender Equality Referendum.

Freedom of information is the first critical step to the correction of a massive number of serious government ailments that are undermining the stability of the Bahamian government and The Bahamas. Both the public perception and/or reality of government corruption, cronyism, nepotism or extortion are significant problems for the socioeconomic wellbeing of the Bahamas, and these ills will only be combated by the enactment of a highly respected and effective freedom of information act.

The ORG has assembled a committee of local and international experts who will compare and contrast the Bahamas FOIA legislation, when released, with a number of other highly respected acts as recognised by the Centre for Law and Democracy’s Right to Information Rating as seen at http://www.rti-rating.org/.

We must ensure that the Bahamas Freedom of Information Act draws from international best practices and relevant benchmarks.

An example would be India, which has legislation that is written in English; is no.3 on the Right To Information Rating; and as a Commonwealth nation, shares a similar legislative system.

ORG’s committee remains ready and willing to work with the Government’s appointed FOIA committee to integrate these practices into their proposed legislation to ensure the strongest FOIA legislation possible for The Bahamas.

There are a number of is-

MINISTER of Education Jerome Fitzgerald at the press conference in April to announce the launch of town hall meetings to discuss the Freedom of Information Act. He is pictured with, from left, Shantel Taylor, Fern Bowleg, Janice Knowles, Shane Miller and Shari Moxey.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff sues in the 2015 Proposed highly respected FOIAs cial media chatter over the government must abide by Bill which should draw the and then to formulate a last seven months indicat- the public’s stated wishes concern of the Bahamian meaningful response to the ing that the poor attend- and demonstrate a comance being attained at the mitment to transparency public. For example, the Government.

In his comments to Parli- MOEST public meetings is and the rule of law, both 2015 draft gives the Minister of Information over- ment, Mr Fitzgerald noted: due to poor scheduling and cornerstones of good govwhelming power to with- “This bill is for the people inadequate marketing of ernance.

FOIA’s success is highly hold information from the and therefore the people the meetings.

To facilitate greater pub- dependent on an Independpublic as well as stipulates must have a forum by which that the “Independent” to voice their concerns and lic education and participa- ent Information Officer and Information Officer be se- give their feedback and tion, ORG, Citizens for a Regulatory Body free of lected by the Prime Minis- comments.” The irony is Better Bahamas, The Ba- government influence (exter. In ORG’s opinion, and that there seems to be no hamas Chamber of Com- cept on matters of National that of our experts, this is transparency surrounding merce, The Nassau Insti- Security), and freedom of most assuredly a case of the the very act that is to pro- tute, The Bahamas Bar the press and free speech fox guarding the hen house vide government transpar- Association, We the Peo- free of political victimisaple, HeadKnowles and Save tion or government reprisand is unacceptable. This is ency.

The Ministry of Educa- The Bays, partnered to ar- al. The media and press are why public input from citizens, local experts and civil tion must be aware of its fail- range a Public Education heavily encouraged to take society organizations, like ure to achieve the required Forum on May 10. There a proactive role in ensuring consultative objectives as the public could learn about that these pillars of freeORG is essential.

However, it is impossible only 15 people attended its the importance of freedom dom and democracy are for there to be any mean- public consultative meet- of information, the govern- upheld no matter the cost. ingful civil society consul- ing in Nassau in mid-April ment’s proposed legisla- Knowledge is power. tation without the issuance and only four attended the tion as well as express their Matthew Aubry is the of the revised FOIA draft Grand Bahama meeting the opinion. Over 100 people attended. executive director for the or some reference material. following week.

FOIA has generated a Once Bahamians make Organization for There must be sufficient Responsible Governance time for any number of tremendous amount of so- their concerns known, the civil society organisations to digest the revisions and properly compare and contrast the draft against other

Poaching is stealing, pure and simple I NOTED the statement by the head of the Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance calling for the sinking of unauthorised vessels caught fishing in Bahamian waters. The Alliance made some very valid points.

This got me thinking about why, what is in effect grand larceny of the nation’s assets, is not treated as such.

Then another question came to mind and it is this.

Why should we assume, when a vessel illegally fishing in our waters is caught, that it has been caught the first time they have done so?

Would it not be reasonable to assume that they have been doing so for some time and that they just now got caught. Who knows the value of the previous hauls that have been taken illegally?

Then more questions came to mind. Why do we still call it poaching? Is it

View from afar

By JOHN ISSA

not just theft? Is it not the same as if one just cut down trees on public land for lumber or one just removed lovely plants from public parks or roadsides?

What would removing sand from public beaches be called? How would these activities be punished?

Also just imagine the reaction if these activities were done by foreigners.

Fishing is an important part of the Bahamian economy and provides an honest living for many Bahamians.

Additionally the fresh seafood is delicious and part of our culture and heritage.

Let’s call poaching what it really is - stealing - and let’s severely punish those who steal. Maybe we should not sink the boats but seize them until a fine equal to the value of the boat and the catch is paid.

Consider how we treat foreigners who illegally enter The Bahamas, not to steal but to seek a better life and then compare it to how we treat those who illegally enter our waters to steal.

• John Issa is executive chairman of SuperClubs.

He writes regularly for The Tribune.

PAGE 4 MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016

Today

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

THIS WEEK IN The Tribune

Hartnell reports.

Insight - The Principal of the Eugene Dupuch Law School rallies to the defence of Dame Anita Allen after public debate about her lecture on marriage.

Sports - tennis success for young Bahamian Justin Roberts while boxing hopes for the Olympics this summer are dealt another blow.

Business - The Government’s new Treasury Note security will finish “pretty close” to its $250m first-year target, with the last 2015-2016 issue oversubscribed by at least 20 per cent. Neil

Plus the latest properties for sale and rent in the Home Buyers’ Guide.

your mind and body and women making waves in The Bahamas.

Plus comment from Nicole Burrows and sporting mischief and mayhem by Inigo “Naughty” Zenicazelaya.

Wednesday

Tuesday

Tribune Tech - a weekly look at what’s new in the world of technology.

Woman and Health - weekly advice on taking care of

Plus Larry Smith’s forthright Tough Call column.

Thursday

Obituaries and Religion, a weekly review.

Young Man’s View trenchant opinion from Adrian Gibson on the hot topics in the country.

‘On da Hook’, a weekly look at fishing in The Bahamas.

Friday Weekend - a 28-page sec-

tion devoted to the best in arts, music, fashion, food, books, entertainment, gardening, animal matters, fitness, history and interviews.

Sports - where will Buddy Hield start his professional NBA career? Renaldo Dorsett reports from the Draft in New York.

Plus A Comic’s View Naughty’s unique take on the week in The Bahamas.

Saturday The Tribune’s Top 5: a special video review of the week’s top stories by Khrisna Virgil on www. tribune242.com.

Every day in The Tribune, news, business, sports and Classifieds Trader.

Plus breaking news and updates on your mobile-friendly trib une2 42 .com.

Governments failed the OAS at its 46th Assembly World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

T

HE 46th General Assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS) was not a successful event.

This judgment is in no way related to the government of the Dominican Republic (DR), the organisers and hosts of the Assembly, that did a superb job. The DR deserves every credit for demonstrating that one of the smaller and less welloff countries in the Western Hemisphere has the capability to meet international standards in conference organisation, including simultaneous interpretation in the four official languages of the OAS. Satisfyingly, the failures of the Conference were not due to the 14 nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), whose representative showed a remarkable cohesion in standing up for the sub-region’s interests and in arguing for the strengthening of the OAS and the entire inter-

American system.

The theme of the conference was “Institutional Strengthening for Sustainable Development in the Americas”. The OAS is the primary institution of the Americas; it is the only organisation that represents all the sovereign nations of the Hemisphere, except Cuba. But it is broke and unable to carry out the many mandates entrusted to it by its 34 member governments. That situation has been so for some time, and has remained neglected.

During my period of Presidency of the Permanent Council of the Organisation from January to April this year, I made addressing the critical financial circumstances a priority of my work. Barbados’ Ambassador, John Beale, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, also did sterling work in trying to focus the attention of all governments on the urgency of rectifying the financial dif-

Thanks to Dr. Beverton Moxey M.D., F.A.C.P. & Staff I cannot help from putting pen to paper to thank a wonderful surgeon and his team for a job well done! I had surgery on the 31st of May 2016, and now I can now say that I am feeling 100% better.

It was a pleasure meeting Dr. Moxey my surgeon! He was most gracious and kind. I want to thank him kindly for all his skills and good administration. I just wanted you to know how great and courteous he and his staff were to me. I shall tell my friends and the community should they ever need him.

May god's special blessings be upon him, his family and upon his practice.

Yours truly Etienne Cox

SIR Ronald Sanders with Delsey Rodriguez, Venezuela Foreign Minister at the OAS General Assembly. ficulties.

In my statement on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda in the plenary session of the Assembly, I said: “We are at a defining moment in the history of the Organisation of American States. My delegation is aware that that statement has been made in the past in relation to other organisations. But, it is a compelling reality for this Organisation, and it has all the urgency of now. Were the OAS a company, it would be declared bankrupt and put into liquidation. The budget on which it currently exists is a fiction.

It needs $115m to operate properly, but its budget is only $84m. In effect, the budgetary shortfall between what the Organisation should have to fulfil its many mandates and its income on paper, is $31m this year alone. The situation is worsened by the arrears due by a few member states, totalling just over $27m.”

I concluded by saying: “If the OAS is to continue to deliver benefits for the peoples of its 34 member countries, its financial situation

has to be addressed mean- can absolve themselves of ingfully and seriously.” Re- any responsibility for the grettably, the majority of financial circumstances member states chose not of the Organisation. Not to treat “meanonly did they ingfully and ‘Two countries continuously seriously” with argue for the this vital issue; owe arrears of issue to be the Assembly contributions tackled urreturned the to the OAS gently, at the issue to the Assembly they totalling $27m Permanent also offered to Council, which almost the total increase their has no capac- of the present own quota ity to commit contributions the financial Budget shortfall. as a model for resources of Some countries others to folgovernments. low. won’t commit Therefore, this Why did dire situation to increasing CARICOM of the Organi- contributions countries go sation will conso far? This until those tinue until next was my exJune when the countries pay up.’ planation at General Asthe Assembly sembly will in the DR. convene in Mexico. What “The OAS is the only orwill be left of the OAS by ganisation in which all the then is anybody’s guess, remaining States of our since the Secretary-Gen- hemisphere are members as eral has to cut $14 million equals, and in which we are from the budget. As I stat- able to address the issues ed to the Assembly: “That that concern us individually draconian cut is in flagrant and collectively. For a small contrast to the theme of state, such as mine, that is this general assembly. We marginalised in the world are not strengthening the because of our size and institution; we are weaken- lack of military might and ing it.” economic clout, the forum CARICOM countries provided by the OAS is of immense value.

“Within the councils of the OAS, we can advance our interests through diplomacy and negotiation; by creating understanding; and by challenging misunderstandings and misconceptions. Again, for small states, such as mine, which are suffering from unfair trade practices by larger and more powerful countries, and whose economies are knocked by harmful actions towards our financial services, the development role of the OAS is extremely important. We would like to see that role expanded and strengthened”.

I concluded on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda by stating that contribution to development “is the basis on which the peoples of our countries judge this organisation and the ben-

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efits of their tax dollars that governments invest in it. The Organisation must make a difference to gaining knowledge; to growing crucial sectors of our economies; and ultimately to reducing poverty and increasing employment. If the OAS is to remain relevant to people; it must deliver for people.”

Inter-hemispheric politics and rivalries between some Latin American countries, mixed with the wider geopolitical interests of the US and Canada, contributed to the paralysis on this matter.

Two countries owe arrears of contributions totalling $27m - almost the total of the present Budget shortfall. Some countries won’t commit to increasing contributions until those countries pay up.

But it is clear that three things need to be put in place without further delay to allow the OAS to continue to play its essential role of promoting peace and development in the hemisphere.

Member states that owe arrears must make substantial payments; the contributions of each member state has to be increased; and the operations of the organisation have to be streamlined to make them more cost efficient and productive. There can be no cherry picking of elements of that is a single solution. Each is intertwined with the other, and together they configure the doorway to the continuation of the OAS as an instrument for good in our hemisphere.

At the DR General Assembly, CARICOM countries apart, the OAS was failed by its member states.

Sir Ronald Sanders is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States.

The views expressed are his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 20, 2016, PAGE 7

Probe into cause of BPL blackout

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

AN INVESTIGATION is underway to determine what caused an island wide outage in the capital on Friday, two days after Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) admitted the corporation was experiencing generation challenges.

According to BPL, a cable fault due to a generation issue caused the blackout shortly after 11am on Friday. Some parts of New Providence were without power for up to seven hours.

The Tribune understands the outage caused several government offices to close for the day, including the passport office and the

Road Traffic Department and also caused some banks to temporally suspend their services.

The Tribune also received reports that several planes were stuck on the tarmac unable to take off and planes were also circling the Lynden Pindling International Airport unable to land because of power issues at the Airport Control Tower.

BPL said it had hoped to restore full service by 3pm. However a statement at 4.30pm read: “Bahamas Power and Light Company Limited (BPL) has completed restoration in New Providence following an island wide outage just after 11am (Friday). Early indications show that a major cable fault was responsible

for the system failure; however, BPL will carry out a complete investigation once its system has stabilised.

“Crews began restoration just after 12 noon and systematically restored supply across the island throughout the afternoon. Supply was substantially restored before 2pm; however, BPL acknowledges that it is still carrying out repairs on some individual feeders.

As a result, small groups of customers (less than 2%) are still without supply.

BPL expects to complete most of these repairs by 6pm this evening.

“The company acknowledges that it has ongoing issues with its system in New Providence and, from time to time, customers may ex-

perience periods of supply interruption. The company apologises for these intermittent outages and advises that it is working on immediate and long term solutions to improve reliability.”

BPL advised customers to continue to check BPL’s Facebook page for timely updates on the outage and restoration efforts.

Angry customers, however, used the platform to vent their frustration on the frequent power outages.

One woman said: “How are we supposed to get anything done in this country when we can’t even count on having electricity? For goodness sakes, this is getting completely exasperating and we’ve barely started summer.”

Another customer

said:”You guys are seriously hindering the development of the nation - why can’t you get it right?It’s summer time. Children are out of school. It’s too hot for this foolishness. Get it together!

You all ain’t no better than the government.”

Further power outages on Saturday afternoon caused the temporary failure of traffic lights, with three major intersections on Prince Charles Drive gridlocked.

On Wednesday, BPL announced “outage rotations” throughout New Providence as the corporation continued to grapple with “generation challenges” at its power stations.

In one of several statements BPL said customers would experience power outages in two-hour inter-

APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME ‘SHOULD HAVE COME SOONER’

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

AN executive of the Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) stressed yesterday that the government’s proposed apprenticeship scheme should have have been implemented much sooner than a year before the next election.

Delano Munroe, YEP president and CEO, spoke to The Tribune about the government’s $22m apprenticeship programme aimed to reduce youth unemployment.

Prime Minister Christie announced during his 2016/2017 Budget Communication last month that the programme will be jointly managed by the Office of the Prime Minister and the National Training Agency.

At the time, he noted that the programme is unlike the 52-week jobs plan created by the former Ingraham administration in 2011 that was criticised by the PLP, then in opposition, as an attempt to sway votes ahead of the 2012 general election.

The $22m allocated for

DELANO MUNROE the apprenticeship programme was not included as a line item under the Office of the Prime Minister in the 2016-2017 budget.

It was also not included as a line item under the National Training Agency.

“The Bahamian electorate is a more intelligent group of people. They research, they investigate and they can see straight through smoke and mirrors,” Mr Munroe said.

“I tried to get additional information on the job

scheme programme and I was brushed off and told nothing was happening until November, but I’m told it’s supposed to start as early as this week.

“However, a 52-week job scheme or work apprenticeship programme is only a Band-Aid over a festering youth and unemployment problem that is contributing tremendously to our crime and social problems. A programme now being implemented doesn’t inspire hope. It will be merely viewed as an election tactic to try to gain support.”

“If the government was serious about such an initiative it should have been implemented about two or three years ago. High youth unemployment, and unemployment on the whole, has been an issue for years and we as a country really didn’t see any real effort to address it besides placing all of our eggs in the basket of Baha Mar that was to come on stream.

“The troubling thing is that some 6,000 young people were graduated this

month from high school.

They will now add to the thousands still out there in the job market searching for employment opportunities. I am very concerned and discouraged by the current outlook and opportunities for these job seekers.”

According to the latest Labour Force Survey, both New Providence and Grand Bahama experienced increases in their unemployment rates, pushing the figures to 15.9 per cent and 14.2 per cent respectively.

The youth unemployment rate was pegged at 30 per cent in November 2015, nearly five per cent more than the 25.3 per cent recorded in the May 2015 survey. The survey noted that young people between the ages of 15 to 24 continue to face a considerably higher rate of unemployment than any other group.

“A programme such as what is being proposed is too costly to the public purse to do annually but certainly the funds invested in Junkanoo Carnival and possibly a percentage of in-

come from value added tax (VAT) should have been earmarked for a scheme such as this. I think the Bahamian people could appreciate it and accept it for what it is,” Mr Munroe said.

The previous administration’s programme paid and placed Bahamians who were unsuccessful at finding jobs in various positions in both the private and government sector. The employers then had the option to permanently hire the workers if they so desired after 52 weeks.

In criticising the plan, the PLP said some people paid under the scheme did not show up for work.

Mr Christie said his government’s plan “is not strictly about job placement for the unemployed but rather training to ensure that persons are able to attract and retain long-term employment.”

Mr Christie said the programme is structured similarly to a scheme that already exists between the government and the Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd (GBSL).

vals “until further notice”.

Later that night one engine was returned to service but a severe thunderstorm which produced lightning strikes then damaged BPL’s transmission and distribution networks, causing further outages in several communities across the island.

The company said crews were working through the night to carry out repairs and restore power.

This failure to keep the lights on came months after American company PowerSecure was contracted to take over management at the government-owned utility provider. The new management deal was touted by the government as being the answer to sub-par electricity service and high electricity bills.

POLICE HUNT FOR SUSPECTS AFTER ARMED ROBBERY POLICE are searching for two suspects responsible for an armed robbery that occurred in New Providence on Saturday.

According to police, shortly after 11pm a man was standing outside of a club on Farrington Road when two men armed with a handgun approached him and robbed him of two cell phones before fleeing on foot.

Police in Abaco are also investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a business on Don McKay Boulevard.

Shortly after 1pm on Friday, a masked man entered the business armed with a shotgun and robbed it of a large sum of money. He then robbed the cashier of a silver Honda vehicle and escaped in the victim’s car.

Officers later recovered the stolen vehicle abandoned on a track road near Spring City, Abaco and later arrested two male suspects who are assisting police with their investigation into this matter.

Career Opportunity

Career Opportunity

Scotiabank (Bahamas) Limited – Freeport Branch is seeking the services of a

Scotiabank Caribbean Treasury Limited

Personal Banking Officer

Assistant Trader

is seeking the services of an

Position Summary:

Position Summary:

The Personal Banking Officer is a member of the branch team and is responsible for contributing to the overall success of the branch at which they are assigned by meeting negotiated goals through the identification and satisfaction of customer needs. Success will be achieved through meeting the goals negotiated with the branch manager. These assigned goals include specific personal sales goals, sales activity goals, along with other objectives relating to teamwork, customer service and personal development.

The Assistant Trader is a member of the Scotia Caribbean Treasury Front Office team and is responsible for assisting with the overall management of the cash book. This includes setting daily interest rates, managing the gap positions, writing deal tickets and checking all reports for accuracy.

Key Accountabilities for this role: • Identifying and satisfying the financial needs of potential customers; • Listening to and fully identifying the customer’s needs to link the identified need to appropriate solutions; • Using the Bank’s referral process when a referral opportunity is identified; • Initiating calls to a predetermined group of customers to retain and expand banking relationships, by offering customized solutions to customers; • Developing new customer opportunities through referrals from existing, satisfied clients and other sources; • Consistently delivering the desired customer experience during every customer interaction; • Applying the Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements including verifying and documenting Customer identity, source(s) of funds and the nature of the activity that is to be undertaken.

Educational Requirements: • Three years of related experience within the finance industry, in a Lending capacity; • Undergraduate Degree in Banking, Marketing or General Business

Functional Competencies: • • • • • • • •

Strong sales ability; Thorough knowledge of all Commercial Banking products and services; Excellent written and oral communication skills, negotiation and analytical skills; Good technical knowledge of Banking Systems and platforms; Strong Relationship Management Skills; Strong Customer Service Skills; Strong networking and interpersonal skills; Goal oriented and a self-starter

Qualified candidates should submit C.V. via email to: hrbahamas@scotiabank.com on or before June 22, 2016

Key Accountabilities for this role: • Ensure all treasury activity is conducted in accordance with prevailing Treasury Risk Management policies and practices; • Assist in managing the unit’s funding and liquidity activity to achieve an optimum funding position; • Monitoring daily positions to minimize the effect of adverse conditions and profitably to employ surplus funds; • Ensure adequate and accurate management information reports sufficient to satisfy the requirements of Senior Management are delivered in a timely fashion.

Educational Requirements: • Five years of related experience within the finance industry; • Undergraduate Degree in Finance or Economics.

Functional Competencies: • Thorough knowledge of the financial markets gained through formal training or on the job experience; • Excellent knowledge of money market products including swaps, futures, nondeliverable forwards and asset/liability management; • Well versed in economic indicators and the effect they have on the market; • Working knowledge of computers and spreadsheet programs; • Excellent written and oral communication skills, negotiation and analytical skills; • Strong networking and interpersonal skills; • Strong accounting and organizational skills; • Thorough understanding of banking operations and related accounting procedures; • Goal oriented and a self-starter.

This is a temporary assignment and the successful candidate will be placed on a 3 month contract. Qualified candidates should submit C.V. via email to: hrbahamas@scotiabank.com on or before June 22, 2016.

Only candidates short-listed for an interview will be contacted.

Only candidates short-listed for an interview will be contacted.

®Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence (where applicable).

®Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence (where applicable).

PAGE 8, Monday, June 20, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

ACTIVIST TO APOLOGISE AND PAY $200 FOR OBSCENE LANGUAGE AND DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

RADIO personality and community activist Louby Georges must return to Magistrate’s Court in a month’s time to provide a written letter of apology and proof of payment for a

fine stemming from a verbal altercation outside a bar.

Georges, 30, appeared before Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on Friday facing a charge each of obscene language and disorderly behavior stemming from an encounter with police on June 6.

It was alleged that he used profanity and misbe-

haved in the presence of/ and to the annoyance of Cpl 2358 Gibson who was the complainant in the case brought against Georges.

The officer and two others went to a restaurant and bar on the early morning in question where they encountered Georges and others in the establishment.

Georges is alleged to have been cursing as police carried out their inquiries, which led to his arrest.

The offences carry a combined fine of $200 to which Georges, unrepresented at the arraignment, pleaded guilty and agreed to pay as a part of a donation to the police dependency fund.

The court also ordered him to produce a written letter of apology for his conduct. He is to provide proof of both at a status hearing scheduled for July 22.

Georges, who is on bail, believes that the whole matter stemmed from a misunderstanding between himself and police.

He told The Tribune that the worst part of the entire ordeal was his time in custody in unsanitary conditions. He alleged that he was denied access to the telephone, food and water for the entire 12-hour detention, and was subject to xenophobic jeers over his Haitian ancestry.

Man accused of murder at ATM and a series of other offences

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A 27-YEAR-OLD man made his initial court appearance on Friday to be arraigned on 24 serious criminal charges ranging from murder, accessory to murder, attempted rape and armed robbery.

The attacks included the recent accosting and fatal shooting of a church minister at a bank automated teller machine (ATM).

Richard Bevans, of Bernard Road, stood before Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes facing a charge of murder and armed robbery stemming from the death of Ivan Cleare at Scotiabank’s branch at Wulff Road and Jerome Avenue on June 12. Cleare was a minister at New Bethlehem Baptist Church on Independence Drive.

Bevans was charged with armed robbery where it is alleged that he robbed Cleare of a Scotiabank card and murder under Section 291 (1)(B) of the Penal Code.

A charge under this section does not attract the discretionary death penalty if a conviction is reached at the end of the trial.

The 2011 amendment to the Penal Code, which followed the Privy Council’s decision in the Maxo Tido decision, notes that only certain types of aggravated murder are currently punishable by death. These include murder of a law en-

RICHARD Bevans outside court. forcement officer; murder of a judicial officer, including judges, registrars and prosecutors; murder of a witness or juror; murder of more than one person; murder committed by an accused who has a prior murder conviction; and murder in exchange for value.

The amendment further provides that any murder committed in the course

of/or in furtherance of a robbery, rape, kidnapping, terrorist act, or any other felony is punishable by death, with no explicit requirement of intent to cause death.

Mr Cleare’s lifeless body was discovered shortly after 8am on June 12 when police responded to a tip they received. Investigators were unsure of when the shoot-

ing took place or how long the victim had been lying on the ground.

Hours after the shooting, police issued two images taken from video surveillance footage which showed the alleged shooter and a silver coloured vehicle believed to be the gunman’s getaway car.

The image released by police showed a darkskinned man wearing a white t-shirt, dark coloured hoodie and a cap.

It is alleged that on the same day, Bevans robbed a woman at gunpoint of a Blu cellphone and other personal items.

Also on June 12, a 36-year-old woman was abducted and nearly raped.

Bevans was charged with abduction and attempted rape in connection with this attack.

Two days earlier, in two separate incidents, a man and woman were robbed of their Samsung cellphones at gunpoint.

On June 6, a woman was carjacked at gunpoint in her Honda Civic worth $18,000 and robbed of other personal identification items.

On June 4, a woman was accosted for her LG Phone (value $700), RBC bank card and other identification items at the time of the armed robbery.

Bevans was further accused of being an accomplice to the murder and armed robbery of ZNS radio broadcaster Scott Richards on May 26.

Like his co-accused

30-year-old Raquel Johnson, Bevans is alleged to have robbed Richards of a $300 iPhone 3G, killing him in the process.

The charge of murder also came under section 291 (1) (b).

According to initial police reports, officers from the Carmichael Road Police Station were on routine patrol near Bonefish Pond that day when they found Richards’ body about 100 feet away from a grey Durango vehicle.

Richards was a radio announcer for ZNS Inspiration 107.9 FM. Bevans was also arraigned on kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted murder charges concerning the attack of a banker, Angelo Black, on May 17.

Mr Black was sitting in his Ford Ranger truck on Yamacraw Beach having lunch shortly after noon when he was approached by a man with a handgun who demanded cash. According to reports, Mr Black was then ordered by the suspect to drive to an ATM on Wulff Road and then ordered Mr Black to drive to his home, where he had hoped he could collect more money.

According to police, Mr Black deliberately bumped the car in front of him in order to attract attention to his life-threatening situation, jumped out of his truck and tried to escape.

Mr Black was shot several times, the most critical shot

hitting him in the neck during his escape attempt.

On May 12, a man was accosted of $1,050 cash, a $2,800 Rolex, and a cellular phone. Bevans was accused of committing this armed robbery as well.

Days prior to that incident, on May 7, two men were robbed of Samsung cellphones.

On April 2, a man was carjacked on his 2010 Honda Civic and other personal items including his clothing and Nike shoes and a woman was robbed of a Samsung cellphone.

On that same night, a 24-year-old woman was abducted and sexually assaulted. Bevans was also charged in connection with this incident.

Bevans is also accused of robbing a woman of $20 cash on February 21.

Bevans last charge of armed robbery concerned the November 17, 2015 accosting of a man for his $900 Samsung cellphone.

The accused was told that the case concerning the murder of Scott Richards would be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court on June 27 at her next Magistrate’s Court appearance.

The remaining cases will be forwarded on July 18.

He was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services without bail, but was informed of his legal right to make an application to the higher court for pre-trial release.

Bevans was unrepresented in Friday’s arraignment.

KILLER JAILED FOR 55 YEARS FOR MURDER OF 15-YEAR-OLD GIRLFRIEND from page one

He claimed that the day Smith was killed, they were at a sports bar when, at one point, the victim told him she was drunk and walked outside. After she did not return, he said that he went outside and saw her on the ground in a pool of blood.

He said that he felt her stomach and for a pulse.

“I asked Alexis what happened, and I was over her body,” he recalled during the trial. “I saw police lights flashing and I remembered I had drugs on me; I sell powder cocaine in little packets

BASIL BLACK in the club and that’s how I make money.

“I ran to the basketball court and then I went home to sleep,” he said.

He was arrested the next day at his home.

However, Prosecutor Er-

ica Kemp maintained that Black shot Smith because he got jealous after seeing her dancing with other men at the bar. During the trial, it was noted that Black tested positive for gunpowder residue on his hands.

Black had claimed that when police officers arrested him at his residence in Pinedale, they took him in bushes in Holmes Rock where they gun butted him in the back and the gun accidentally discharged and that’s how he got gun residue on his hands.

However, there was also evidence that while in prison Black had contacted a

friend, Joshua Demeritte, and told him where he had hidden the gun and asked him to retrieve it and sell it.

While attempting to sell the gun, police arrested Demeritte. The gun was sent to a forensic lab where it was tested. The projectile removed from Smith’s skull was compared to the one that police had fired from the gun. It had been determined that the gun was used to kill the teen.

Black represented himself at trial and Justice Estelle Gray Evans presided over the case. He was sentenced on Friday.

BAIL DENIED FOR ACCUSED IN FOX HILL DOUBLE MURDER CASE

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN was remanded to prison on Friday afternoon following his arraign-

ment in connection with a double murder in Fox Hill.

Calvin Jolly, 52, stood before Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes facing two murder charges under section 291 (1)(b) of the Pe-

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nal Code, which does not attract the discretionary death penalty if a conviction is reached at trial.

It is alleged that he intentionally caused the deaths of Chavaz Hepburn and Samuel Rolle on June 12.

According to reports, both men were were standing outside on Adderley Street shortly after 9pm when they were approached and shot by a gunman.

Chief Magistrate Forbes informed the accused that he would not be allowed to enter a plea to the allegations because his case would be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court where a formal arraignment would take place.

This would occur through service of a voluntary bill of indictment, scheduled for July 18 when he returns to Magistrates Court.

He was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services in the interim.

However, he was advised of

CALVIN JOLLY his right to apply for bail to the Supreme Court.

Jolly was unrepresented in Friday’s arraignment.

SUSPECT HELD FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION POLICE in Grand Bahama arrested a 21-year-old man for alleged possession of marijuana on Saturday.

According to police reports, shortly after 1am officers of Operation Turf

Sweep arrested the resident of Wellington Drive after they discovered suspected marijuana at his home. He was arrested for possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to supply.

PAGE 10, Monday, June 20, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

How to use ATMs safely I

N The Bahamas, more and more we are becoming accustomed to using ATM machines rather than the bank’s teller line. Mainly because they are readily available, easy to use, and can be a real time saver as we pursue busy, active lives of work and play.

Not only are ATMs available near banks and lending institutions, but we can find them in some grocery stores, and, of course, gambling houses are a favourite location. However, ATM machines can put you at risk of becoming a victim of robbery or some other crimes.

These six tips from Royal Bahamas Police Force Na-

Police advice

By CORPORAL MAKELLE PINDER

tional Crime Prevention Office can help to prevent this from happening to you or your family and friends.

Certainly, during the holiday season, there may be some increase in ATM crimes; nevertheless it is a year-round problem.

The most important key to using your ATM card safely is to be observant and

look around for any suspicious persons or activity near the ATM machine. If you see anything that looks suspicious, go to another machine or return later.

1 Have your card in your hand It is a good idea to have your ATM card in your hand and ready to use as you approach the machine. By

doing this, you do not have to take extra time at the machine to take the card out of your wallet or purse.

2 Shield your transaction Use your body or hand or an object to shield the ATM keyboard when you enter your PIN. Do not give someone else the opportunity to see the number that you are entering.

3 Don’t leave your receipt Be sure to take your receipt or transaction records with you when you leave.

4 Put away your cash Put your cash away immediately in your pocket, wallet or purse. Do not display or count it at the machine. You can always count

it later.

5 Keep your car secured Lock your car if you have to get out to use the ATM machine. If you use a driveup ATM machine, lock all doors and be sure the passenger-side windows are rolled up.

6 Using an ATM at night • If possible, take another person with you.

• Park in a well-lighted area as close to the machine as possible.

• Do not use the machine if the lights on it are not working.

• If the view of the ATM machine is blocked by overgrown shrubbery or trees or other objects, use another machine. Notify the bank

about the visibility problem.

If applied, these safety tips can minimise your chances of becoming a victim. Nevertheless, should you fall prey to any criminal act while using the ATM, please do not resist but take note of the description of the culprit e.g. his appearance, clothing, height, physical details and the direction or mode of escape.

Call the Police as soon as it is safe to do so.

If you come across any suspicious person(s) or have any information pertaining to any crime, please call the police emergency at ‘919’ or Crime Stoppers at 328-tips (New Providence), 1-3008476 (Family Islands).

Referendum A GRILL-OFF FOR FATHER’S DAY failure ‘due to missteps by the government’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE failure of the June 7 constitutional referendum on gender equality was the result of the numerous missteps on the part of the Christie administration, according to Pastor Lyall Bethel.

In a presentation to the members of the Rotary Club of West Nassau, the Grace Community Church senior pastor said the government’s refusal to apologise for its actions during the 2002 gender equality referendum and overwhelming distrust in government proved to be the undoing of the Christie administration’s quest for a “yes” vote.

Pastor Bethel on Thursday presented a detailed, 10-point document on why he felt the referendum failed.

First, he said the government oversold the status of gender discrimination in the country.

“The reality of the status of women in the Bahamas came flooding back to your mind and you could see the card hidden in the magician’s sleeve. Two women have been governor generals, a (deputy prime minister), the majority of the permanent secretaries, (heads of) most of the major banks and financial institutions, school principals and teachers.”

“Many, many professional women approached me before and after to say that they did not buy this argument as they have never felt discriminated against.”

Secondly, Pastor Bethel said the elitist nature of the vote “yes” campaign proved to be too off putting.

The YES Bahamas campaign was spearheaded by current Senate President Sharon Wilson and former Senate President Lynn Holowesko.

“Their public relations team figured that if we can get both FNM and PLP women, successful, gifted, eloquent speakers, that would settle the issue of the truth of gender discrimination. I am sure it looked

good on paper and sounded pleasing to the ear, but what the general public saw was pampered, privileged women who could not relate to their day-to-day struggle talking about issues far removed from their day-today experience.”

Thirdly, he said the government’s attempt to divide the church based on the “haves and have nots” played a crucial role in spurning potential Christian voters.

“Sadly one or two of the ‘graces’ chosen to use that occasion to question the Christianity of anyone who would oppose the bills. As they later would find out most of their congregations did not accept their evaluation of the matter and certainly did not believe that they could speak for them in this matter,” he added.

Pastor Bethel’s fourth point was built around the growing distrust the public had for the government due to its “double speak” and previous handling of gender equality matters.

He noted that the prime minister had at one point shared a view that the Bahamas had to “co-exist” with global views on homosexuality and then on a later date, seemingly backtracked.

This, along with the government’s treatment of those who opposed the referendum, the PLP’s stance on the referendum in 2002, and even the symbols used on the ballots during the referendum all contributed to the vote’s failure.

“God hates dishonest scales; you’ve been weighted in the scales and found wanting,” he said.

He said the public commentary by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community also did “grave damage” to the fourth Constitutional Amendment Bill.

He also said insults levelled at members of the electorate who were planning to vote “no”’ almost guaranteed the failure of the referendum.

The four referendum questions were overwhelming rejected during last week’s referendum.

SOME of those attending the CBS Bahamas Annual Grill Master competition for Father’s Day. Students who participated in CBS Bahamas’ essay competition had to bring their fathers to battle it out in a grill competition. Each dad was gifted with a free grill from CBS and the winner received a huge brand new grill set.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

AMBASSADOR WELCOMED BY CHINA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT of The Bahamas China Friendship Association Anthony Capron welcomed Huang Qinguo, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to The Bahamas and his wife, Zheng Chuncao, during a reception at the British Colonial Hilton last Wednesday.

Mr Capron pointed out how far the relations between the two countries have come since establishing diplomatic ties.

“Since our two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1997, the

bonds have strengthened considerably and over the course of the past 19 years, some genuine friendships have been formed,” Mr Capron said. “In that time, hundreds and perhaps thousands of Bahamians have travelled to China.”

He added: “As we look around today, the Chinese have sizeable investments in The Bahamas, including this very hotel. It is quite conceivable that the day could come when the Bahamian people will also have investment opportunities in the many provinces

of the People’s Republic of China.”

Mr Capron explained that to build trust in trade relationships, Bahamas China Friendship Association (BCFA) serves as a doorway, to further solidify friendships on a people-topeople basis, since it was established in September 2004.

“The objectives of the association then and now are the same, which is to promote friendship, goodwill and people-topeople contact between both countries; to promote

understanding of both countries through cultural exchanges and the study of language, culture, and history; to promote economic and trade opportunities and entrepreneurial development through participation in trade fairs and investment tours; to provide mutual relief and assistance to the people of both countries in times of emergency and for social enhancement; and to assist in the improvement of the social, economic and spiritual welfare of the peoples of both countries.”

HUANG QINGUO, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Bahamas and his wife, Madam Zheng Chuncao, pose with members of The Bahamas China Friendship Association. Standing from left: Kay Kay Tong; Gena Gibbs; Anthony Capron; Ambassador Huang Qinguo; Madam Zheng Chuncao and John Bostwick.

Photo: Lloyd Wong/BCFA

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 20, 2016, PAGE 11

A GLIMPSE INSIDE LUXURY YACHTS

LUXURY yachts were on show at the Bay Street Marina on Saturday - with visitors to the Bahamas Yacht and Travel Show able to tour some of the vessels on show.

The event included a number of side stalls, showing off fashion, other water-bound activities and more, plus a bouncy castle for younger visitors.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff