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BY THE TRIBUN

INSIDE TODAY

TEENAGER JAILED FOR 25 YEARS OVER KILLING

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A TEEN was handed a 25-year prison sentence yesterday because a Supreme Court judge believed his tragic childhood influenced his conduct and subsequent involvement in the fatal shooting of a 19-yearold boy.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

Party reportedly ALL SMILES FOR POLICE SUMMER CAMP short of money to stage event

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Free National Movement is said to be struggling to find the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to host next month’s convention as a debate has erupted over who is responsible for finding the funds.

Former FNM Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells is among those who have sided with party leader Dr Hubert Minnis. He told The Tribune that those who fought for an early convention should find the funds to host it.

Others, like former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, said that the responsibility lies with the party’s leader. It’s not clear how much next month’s convention will cost.

However, in an interview

with The Tribune yesterday former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson placed the cost at no less than $300,000.

Meanwhile, Mr Symonette said the hotel rooms will cost about $100,000 and additional money will be required for paraphernalia, advertising and media, among other things.

“The leader of the party is responsible for all aspects of the party,” the former St Anne’s MP said when contacted. “If the leader was going to have a convention in November, he went to council and things happened so he moved it forward, so obviously he must’ve had in place plans to fund the convention in November so those plans should come forward to fund the convention four months earlier.

SEE PAGE THREE

FREEPORT CHIEF COUNCILLOR OUSTED IN MISCONDUCT ROW BIMINI CRASH CAUSED WHEN PILOT TRIED COURT REJECTS

SOME of the youngsters taking part in this year’s Royal Bahamas Defence Force summer camp. See page three for more from the launch of this year’s camp.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

CHERVITA Campbell has been ousted from her post as chief councillor of the City of Freeport Council following a recent no confidence vote taken by council members amid allegations of gross misconduct involving a local government contract.

Ms Campbell, who claimed the allegations are false, has more than a week

left to file an appeal to the administrator, who will then forward it to the minister of local government for a final decision.

When contacted on Monday, Administrator Preston Cunningham told The Tribune that Ms Campbell was served an official notice of the outcome of the no confidence vote taken on June 21 to remove her as chief councillor.

SEE PAGE SIX

TO AVOID ANOTHER PLANE ON RUNWAY

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE CRASH that killed two men last week in Bimini was caused after the pilot lost control of the aircraft while attempting to avoid hitting another plane that was taxiing on the runway, Civil Aviation officials revealed yesterday.

Delvin Major, lead investigator at the Department of Civil Aviation, told The Tribune that based on their investigations the Piper Aztec 27 did not crash be-

cause of engine failure, as was originally reported, but rather was caused “after the pilot turned too deep and as was unable to come out of a nose dive”.

Last Monday, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said the small plane crash at the South Bimini Airport was likely to have been caused by engine failure.

She said preliminary investigations revealed the PA-27 plane experienced problems with its right engine moments after take off, forcing the pilot to turn

around and head back to the South Bimini Airport.

Unfortunately, she said, the pilot “fell short of the runway”.

The victims were the pilot, Terrance “Tango” Gibson, and an airplane mechanic, Anthony Smith, nicknamed “Scrubby”.

Mr Major told The Tribune on Monday that the aircraft’s radios were “most likely not working” and the pilot would not have been warned about the other plane.

SEE PAGE SIX

US EMBASSY BUYS LAND OFF SHIRLEY STREET FOR RELOCATION

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE US Embassy in Nassau has purchased approximately five acres of land in the “Nassau city centre” for the relocation of its downtown outpost.

The new embassy site will be located off Shirley

Street, East Street and Sands Road, according to a statement yesterday from the American embassy, which added that the land purchase was finalised by the US Department of State on June 15.

However, the American embassy said construction of the new “multi-building campus” will not com-

mence for a “few years”.

Last year, it was rumoured that the American embassy was searching for a new property after China Construction America (CCA) purchased the British Colonial Hilton and broke ground on a neighbouring luxury development, The Pointe.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SIX

NYGARD CALL FOR RECUSAL OF JUDGE

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net COMMITTAL proceedings concerning Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard are set to continue in the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal yesterday rejected the Lyford Cay resident’s application to have a judge recuse herself from a contempt of court hearing.

Justice Rhonda Bain was asked to recuse herself from committal proceedings involving Mr Nygard through a notice of motion filed in the Supreme Court by his lawyer, Elliot Lockhart, QC, on the grounds of bias.

The motion also showed that Mr Nygard was seeking an order to stay all further proceedings against him pending the hearing of the motion.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2, Tuesday, June 28, 2016

ATTENDEES at the opening of the Royal Bahamas Police Force summer camp.

THE TRIBUNE

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

Police summer camp an opportunity for youngsters

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THE Royal Bahamas Police Force yesterday launched its 23rd annual Youth Summer Camp under the theme: “Children are gifts from God, so let’s guard our heritage.”

Acknowledging the need for the camp, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage encouraged the students to take advantage of the programmes offered.

He spoke during yesterday’s opening ceremony at the Bethel Baptist Church.

The Bain and Grants Town MP implored both students and facilitators to be mindful of the roles they

play within society, contending that those roles, if nurtured, can spark the transformation of The Bahamas.

The camp is designed to create positive environments in which youth are able to interact and foster positive relationships with police officers and youth leaders.

Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade, in his address, said the sweeping generalisation often put forward that youth are the main sources of crime is a fallacy.

“You look at the people that are murdering people in this country, people who are committing egregious crime and they are not these people assembled

in this church,” said Mr Greenslade.

“They are not. So we have to be very careful when we are emotional, we start to just throw around this term young people.”

He suggested that society often took all young people and placed them in a generalised lot of troubled youth.

“Yes, young people throw stones, yes, young people break bottles in the streets, yes, we have issues in our schools; we are not discounting that. But I am telling you, the serious crimes that lead to loss of life and serious injury are not in this Commonwealth of the Bahamas, since I became commissioner, are not being committed by our young people.”

“They are being committed by adults. You may say young adults, male or female, but they are not youth,” insisted Mr Greenslade.

“There are lots of young people involved in sporting activities, arts and drama, lots of them are doing things that are very positive across the sphere of this country,” he furthered. “It is unfair, and again I say emphatically, to continue to pigeon-hole them and them all in one box.”

The six-week camp is expected to accommodate thousands of children be-

SOME of those taking part in the summer camp. tween the ages of eight and 17 daily from 9am to 1pm at various sites throughout New Providence, with youth facilitators guiding them through activities, including speech competitions, basketball, swimming, music and etiquette classes.

The camp has in recent years become one of the most sought after summer programmes for inner-city youth.

Commissioner Greenslade indicated that consideration is underway to extend the programme’s operation schedule beyond the six-week stretch.

The camp will end August 5.

EASTERN Division summer campers.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 28, 2016, PAGE 3

Eleuthera delegate backing for Minnis over Butler-Turner

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A FREE National Movement insider said he recently polled Eleuthera’s delegates and found that all seven said they would support Killarney MP Dr Hubert Minnis over Long Island MP Loretta ButlerTurner in a leadership battle.

But he said at least four of the seven delegates said they would vote for former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham if he were to return and challenge for the party’s leadership.

The member, who spoke

to The Tribune on the condition of anonymity, can’t vote in next month’s convention because the party’s constituencies have not held party elections at which hundreds of new delegates, including potentially himself, could be elected.

The lack of such elections being held, seen as Dr Minnis’ doing, is a frustration for some in the FNM’s grassroots.

Moreover, the supporter’s concerns about whether the country is ready for a female leader have been reflected by many Bahamians as the FNM’s July convention gets closer.

“Most of the party’s del-

egates are older men,” he said, “and for them it’s about pride. They don’t want a female prime minister.”

Although he said he would support Mrs ButlerTurner if he could, he expressed concern with the Long Island MP’s dance around the question of whether she will challenge Dr Minnis next month.

Although she indirectly confirmed to The Tribune two weeks ago that she would run for leader, over the weekend she was tightlipped on the issue when asked by the host of Guardian Radio’s ‘Q & A: The Political Week in Review’.

“I never said I haven’t made up my mind,” she said as a call in guest on the show on Sunday. “I said I have not yet made a formal announcement.”

“Why is she so silent?” the FNM member from Eleuthera asked yesterday.

“It’s strange. How does she expect to excite people and unify her supporters?”

Another FNM member, a delegate, told The Tribune she favours no particular person for leadership of the party but would vote for “anyone besides Dr Hubert Minnis.”

“He doesn’t care about the inner cities,” the delegate, who did not want to be

named, said. “All this man does is cry about ‘they hit me, they didn’t defend me.’”

“I was one of his biggest supporters in 2014. I knew he was not a political leader but I wanted to give him an opportunity to grow, to learn, to unite the party.

Over the years, he has not done any of it but divide and conquer.”

It is expected that defeating Dr Minnis and Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest will be difficult.

Some have said only an endorsement by Mr Ingraham of the Butler-Sands ticket could turn the tide in their direction.

But Mr Ingraham has

been evasive about whether he will endorse a team in the leadership race or return to front-line politics.

“Why didn’t he tell the Guardian he’s retired and won’t come back?” the FNM member from Eleuthera asked, referring to Mr Ingraham’s non-definitive response to a question last week about whether he’s making a comeback.

“I know his mind is already made up but maybe he’s putting the pieces together,” he said.

Mr Ingraham resigned as party leader and North Abaco MP shortly after the FNM lost the 2012 general election.

with where you provide the money and the treasury and convention committee deal with the planning and spending for the event,” Mr Wells said.

Mr Symonette denied this yesterday, saying Mr Wells may have been referring to an earlier event.

“He may be confusing different finance committees,” he said. “There’s no question in the previous one day convention (in 2014) when we were talking about healing the party, I personally got up and said we will find the money to hold the one day convention provided you don’t go over $300,000. I

don’t know who said we will find the money to pay for this one.”

When contacted yesterday, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie declined to directly respond to questions about the party’s financial preparedness for next month’s convention.

“I don’t know where their information is coming from,” he said. “I am following my mandate straight

through. I have appointed 12 subcommittees and a national convention committee. All are working feverishly to put on a convention for July 27-29.”

THE NEWLY re-elected FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Loretta Butler-Turner at the previous FNM rally. The two are set to battle again for the leadership.

FNM STRUGGLE TO FUND CONVENTION from page one

“We’ve been talking about a convention for six months. When the difficult times hit the fan, you can’t pass the buck,” Mr Symonette added. “If the leader of the FNM can’t raise money for the convention how the hell is he going to raise money for the general election in less than a year?”

Mr Symonette dismissed grumbles from some in the party that the FNM has not yet made a down payment at the Melià Resort, saying a determination is still being made on how many rooms will be needed.

“I don’t know if a down payment is due up to now,” he said.

The Tribune was told by sources that the party’s payment of utility bills such as light and cable, as well as real property taxes and staff salaries has been inconsistent in recent years as the party struggles to raise money.

Sources told The Tribune that the FNM’s big financial backers have refrained from to wage a successful general providing money because of election,” Mr Cash said.

“It is a matter of grave disdiscontent with Dr Minnis.

It is not unusual for oppo- appointment that the FNM sition parties to have finan- is not in that position today.

It is for a variety of reasons cial problems.

After the Progressive and one of them is certainly Liberal Party lost the 2007 the fact that the leadership election, it owed the Broad- of the party at present does casting Corporation of the not inspire confidence in Bahamas nearly a quarter the people who are committed to good governance and of a million dollars.

In late 2011, the gov- have the financial resources ernment-run broadcaster to put their money where secured a Supreme Court their mouth is.”

Mr Wells, however, aljudgment against the PLP, then leader of the opposi- leged that those who have tion Perry Christie, and prompted Dr Minnis to call PLP Chairman Bradley an early convention said Roberts for the payment of they would find the funds necessary to host it. He $247,974.16. also said those Nonetheless, persons are apMr Symonette ‘We’ve been pearing to backsaid it is prob- talking about track on that oflematic that Dr fer because they Minnis has also a convention failed to pay for six months. do not think Dr Minnis will be off substantial When the defeated next amounts of the month. $1m debt the difficult times “I was told party inherited hit the fan, you that members following the can’t pass the of the finance last general electeam got up and tion and bye- buck. If the said during a election. leader of the Regarding the FNM can’t raise meeting that all the back-biting initial convenwould stop if tion date, he said money for the Dr Minnis “had convention how they moved the convention forno money in the the hell is he ward,” Mr Wells bank for the Nosaid. vember conven- going to raise “That’s why tion.” money for the Minnis moved “There are general election the convention substantial sums forward, not of money out- in less than a because he was standing since year?’ - Former concerned about the last election them fighting in that Dr Minnis Deputy Prime the back. And has failed to pay, Minister Brent now my undernotwithstanding Symonette. standing is the comments to the results the team effect that it has been paid,” Mr Symonette was looking for, they don’t said. “Those (untrue re- believe they are going to get ports) have been spread by it so I see Brent (Symonhis side. They are unfound- ette) in the paper saying ed and I’ll swear on a stack Dr Minnis should accommodate the six parliamenof bibles that they are.”

Former FNM Chairman tarians who oppose him if Darron Cash said yesterday he wins at the convention. that the party should be in a The leader don’t usually more healthy financial posi- get up in that stuff. The fition than it is now with less nance committee should than a year to the next gen- find the money. They said they would. Now that they eral election.

“Given the present dismal see a defeat is assured, they state of the failed Christie don’t want to pay for their government, any opposition defeat.”

“They also want to conworth its salt that’s seen as a credible alternative to trol how the convention the government would be is dealt with, rather than awash in financial resources the way it is usually dealt

PAGE 4, Tuesday, June 28, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

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Why Brexit endangers global unions that helped West prosper WASHINGTON (AP) — Britain’s decision to bolt the European Union means economic pain for the United Kingdom above all. But it also threatens the economic alliances that helped drive decades of prosperity in the West after World War II. And it could imperil an already wobbly global economy.

The Brexit vote “is just one chapter in a much bigger global story” in which Europe, the United States and other Western nations cooperate less, endure economic gloom and see their role in the world diminish, Megan Greene, chief economist with Manulife Asset Management, wrote in a research note Monday.

Greene and other analysts warn that the messy aftermath to the Brexit vote may splinter the EU, which has promoted postwar cooperation and the free flow of trade, job opportunities and immigration across Europe.

Already, there have been calls for a referendum on EU membership in France and the Netherlands. Discontent with the EU is also running high in Italy, Sweden and Hungary.

Britain is facing breakup pressures of its own. Voters in Scotland and Northern Ireland, both part of the U.K., overwhelmingly favoured staying in the EU. Nationalist leaders in both countries have vowed to leave the kingdom if necessary to stay in the EU. Many voters in Scotland and Northern Ireland valued the economic benefits of EU membership. In Northern Ireland, some also feared that the loss of EU membership would mean the re-establishment of security checkpoints at the border with neighbouring Ireland.

The EU and other postwar institutions were meant to promote a European identity that would replace the toxic nationalism that led to war in 1914 and 1939. And through the mid-2000s, they appeared to succeed, said Carmen Reinhart, an economist at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Barriers to trade and immigration inside Europe were torn down.

Nineteen countries adopted a common currency, the euro.

Then came the 2008 global financial crisis, which revealed that countries like Greece on the European periphery had borrowed recklessly. Creditor countries, led by Germany, took a harsh stance in dealing with what they saw as profligate neighbours. Old frictions re-emerged.

The EU’s fumbling response to the debt showdown — and to a refugee crisis involving migrants from Syria and elsewhere — undermined confidence in Europe’s institutions. That loss of faith came just as millions of British and European workers were left behind in the lackluster recovery from the financial crisis. Average pay in the UK remains 7 per cent below 2008 levels when adjusted for inflation, according to Dartmouth College economist David Blanchflower.

Cornell University sociologist Mabel Berezin, who has studied European politics, sees Brexit as “the harbinger of more dissolution to come. Europe as we have known it is on its way out.”

Most immediately, tremors from the Brexit vote are destined to diminish economic growth in the region and well beyond.

The global economy has little room for error. Even before the Brexit vote, the global economy was forecast by the World Bank to grow a lackluster 2.4 per cent this year. It was the latest in a series of downgrades by institutions that monitor the international economy.

“It’s a dangerous time because you’re already flying low to the ground,” Reinhart says. “It doesn’t take a major catastrophic shock to put you in a really bad place.”

Manulife’s Greene added, “A splintering of the EU could tip the global economy back into recession.”

In part, that’s because Brexit seems likely to intensify troubles already plaguing the global economy — from weak investment to faltering world trade. Businesses in rich countries were already hoarding cash and were reluctant to invest in new products, machines and factories.

The paralysis will likely grow as Britain and the EU begin to wrangle over the terms of their divorce and other EU countries consider abandoning the alliance.

The International Monetary Fund says world trade will likely grow 3.1 per cent this year after expanding 2.8 per cent in 2015. In the years leading to the financial crisis, trade routinely grew faster than 7 per cent a year.

The EU and other postwar institutions encouraged freer trade within Europe.

The Brexit vote reflects, in part, growing sympathy in the US and UK for protectionist policies, like the 45 per cent tariffs that Donald Trump has vowed to slap on Chinese imports if he wins the US presidency.

Direct economic damage of the Brexit vote will fall most heavily, of course, on the United Kingdom and Europe. As an EU member, Britain enjoys tariff-free access to member countries’ markets and can lure skilled workers from across the bloc. The Brexit vote jeopardizes all that.

Now the UK must negotiate new trade and immigration deals with the EU. Businesses will hesitate to invest in Britain until they know what the rules will be.

The EU has called for speedy negotiations. But British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced his resignation and wants to leave the bargaining to his successor, who must be chosen by October.

On the face of it, Britain’s economic troubles shouldn’t deliver a major direct hit on the US economy. Britain is America’s seventh-biggest trading partner, accounting for just 3.1 per cent of exports and imports this year through April.

But the Brexit vote has shaken investors. The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 610 points Friday and 285 more points by mid-afternoon Monday. When Americans see the value of their investments suddenly shrink, they’re less likely to feel confident enough to spend.

Brexit has also sent frightened investors rushing for the safety of the US dollar, driving an already high-priced currency to new heights. A stronger dollar makes US goods costlier in foreign markets, thereby squeezing American exports and economic growth.

By Paul Wiseman, AP Economics Writer

Neko Grant’s Minnis vendetta EDITOR, The Tribune.

NEKO Grant is one of the more fortunate MPs, due to him being in a very safe FNM constituency in Freeport. The Central Grand Bahama constituency is home to many highly accomplished Bahamian families who would not sell their votes for a mess of porridge like many lower income individuals from the ghetto areas of New Providence. Grant is one of the six renegade FNM MPs trying to destroy the leadership of Dr Hubert Minnis.

He is apparently a surrogate of Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, the obvious ringleader. Grant has been a thorn in the side of Minnis over the past several months. We understand that his FNM generals from Lucaya have informed him that he will not be getting another nomination. We thought Hubert Ingraham, former FNM leader, was going to dump Grant in 2012, but for some unknown reason decided to keep him on the FNM ticket. Based on his antics in recent times, more especially a scathing letter that was printed in The Tribune in which he had a few choice words for Minnis in the most condescending fashion, Grant appears to be harbouring some deep-seated vendetta against Minnis over him not receiving another FNM nod for Lucaya.

By publicly humiliating Minnis, this is his way of getting back at the FNM and its leader for rejecting his candidacy. He would have never dared to treat Ingraham in this manner.

Grant, along with the re-

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net maining members of the gang of six, are on a campaign to derail the Minnis for PM Campaign, even if it means causing the FNM to lose the election next year.

They would rather see Mr Perry Christie sworn in as PM for a third time. We believe that it was Grant who emailed that letter to The Tribune with the aim of bringing further embarrassment to his leader. Grant could have dealt with whatever matters he had with Minnis internally, rather than air the FNM’s dirty laundry out in the public.

It’s FNMs like Grant and Butler-Turner who have brought the FNM down to its knees. We believe Grant, by sending that letter to the newspaper, was emulating Butler-Turner, who is believed to have also done the same, albeit under monikers. PM Perry Christie is inept, yet not one of his MPs would dare to castigate him in a public forum. If Minnis was tardy in his 2016/17 budget contribution, Grant should have pulled him aside and told him so. After all, that is what seasoned professionals do. Grant also crossed a line by insinuating that Minnis was not being forthright when he left the House in the wee hours of June 23 during the wrap up of the 2016/17 budget debate due to an ailment. It was borderline treason for Grant to rail at his leader in such a disrespectful fashion. Even the accusation that Minnis was ignorant of what

was being discussed in the House was below the belt.

Grant talks as if his contributions during House debates have been stellar. He is clearly taking his cue from the ringleader of the gang of six. His tirade against Minnis is downright irrational and unfair. We Minnisites believe Grant is nursing a grudge against the FNM executive team because his days in the House are numbered under Minnis. He has aligned himself with Butler-Turner and is singing hard for his supper. If the team of Dr Duane Sands and Loretta Butler-Turner prevails at convention, Grant will receive another nomination.

That is why he has thrown down the gauntlet and is determined to wreck the team of Minnis and Peter Turnquest. As FNM delegates prepare to cast their ballots at convention, they must keep in mind that one of the main reasons that our party has been woefully ineffective in opposing the scandal ridden PLP government is because Grant and members of the gang of six have caused endless distractions for Minnis.

They have given far more opposition to Minnis than to the PLP. If Minnis wins at convention, Grant, Butler-Turner and the remaining FNM rebels should all do the honourable thing.

THE MINNISITES June 26, 2016.

(Mr Neko Grant did not send a copy of the letter that he wrote to Dr Minnis to The Tribune. However, the letter had been circulated among other members of the party. — Ed).

Fear of crime is up in the nation EDITOR, The Tribune.

DR Bernard Nottage, the Minister of National Security, in his contribution to the budget debate stated that crime is down 29 per cent. He said that the government’s crime initiatives are working and that we should see a further reduction in overall crime during the second half of this year.

This remains to be seen.

No right-thinking Bahamian believes that Dr Nottage has been effective in his role as the National Security Minister.

In fact, Dr Nottage has

been wanting.

He can crunch all the numbers he wants about the crime statistics but there is no denying that the fear of crime is at an alltime high.

I frequent the Fox Hill area because this is where I grew up. Many persons in this area have seen enough tragedies for several lifetimes.

I can tell you that because of all the murders over the last several years that “bad boys” are trying to be more careful in their movements.

Even they are now afraid of crime.

So imagine if the bad

boys are afraid of crime, then where does that leave the average citizen?

The average citizenry always have their eyes opened because of the fear of crime.

We drive past our homes when we feel that someone might be following us. We no longer stay out late at nights because of the fear of being robbed or killed.

I was exercising on a beach the other morning and then I decided to cool down before I took a swim.

A man who I had seen earlier was walking past me and he decided to make

conversation.

While we were talking, I became alarmed because I saw that he had a nine inch kitchen knife halfway concealed in his hand.

We talked for a few minutes and it became evident to me that he carried this knife for protection.

Just over two weeks ago I was in the Bernard Road area in a social setting when two men that I knew were murdered.

One of the victims had just passed by the social setting where I was at and less than an hour later he was dead. You can imagine the fear and shock that fol-

lowed.

Bahamians are living in fear, sir. A few years ago even you, sir, started carrying a hand gun, albeit that you have an assigned armed guard for your personal protection.

This shows that you may have some inclination of the serious times that we are living in.

So before we start selling fake dreams to Bahamians, sir, know that we are a fearful society and for good reason.

DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau, June 27, 2016.

Crime down?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Re: Nottage: Crime down by 29%.

The Tribune, June 23, 2016.

THE progress in official statistics is most encouraging.

All that remains now is to persuade the bad guys to match the statistics by kindly reducing their criminal activities by 29%.

KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau, June 23, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 28, 2016, PAGE 5

THE PLANS for the upcoming Bahamas 43rd Independence anniversary celebrations are announced.

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

Lower budget this year for independence celebrations

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THIS country’s 43rd independence anniversary celebrations will be executed within a budget that is less than last year’s total cost, Independence Committee officials said yesterday.

The government spent $1.1m on last year’s events.

The year before that, government officials had expressed their intent to spend under $1m for the festivities.

Ian Poitier, director of the Independence Committee, could not say how much the government intends to spend for this year’s celebration, but stressed that it will be “less than before, because I’m getting the pressure to spend less.”

Notwithstanding the budget restraints, Mr Poitier said this year’s celebrations, under the theme “Honouring our people’s excellence”, will remain a positive “chance for us to reassert our national iden-

DIRECTOR of Independence Celebrations Ian Poitier. tity and chance for us to tell our national story.”

Mr Poitier also said this year’s celebrations at Clifford Park will see special appearances by “some of the outstanding Bahamians who have achieved excellence on the international stage.”

“In line with the developing strategy, we want to make sure that independence becomes ever more inclusive, that there are many more chances for people to participate, and reasons

for people to show up,” he said during a press conference at the Cabinet Office.

“These events are not just landmarks on the calendar.

They’re a chance for us to reassert our national identity and chance for us to tell our national story.

“And we’re very mindful of that, particularly at independence, which is effectively our country’s birthday.”

According to Mr Poitier, the festivities will get underway on Friday, July 1, with the National Pride Day celebration scheduled to take place in Rawson Square at 10am.

The traditional Clifford Park events will begin on Saturday, July 9, at 8pm, with an ecumenical service, and culminates with the flag raising at midnight.

On Sunday is the State Reception at Government House from 6-8pm, and at midnight heading into Monday, July 11, the day the holiday will be observed, is The People’s Love and Unity Rush on Bay Street.

PLP CHAIRMAN HINTS INGRAHAM BEHIND CAMPAIGN AGAINST MINNIS

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

PLP CHAIRMAN Bradley Roberts has questioned whether former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham “orchestrated” the coup against Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis in a bid to return to front line politics.

In a statement released Sunday night, Mr Roberts called Mr Ingraham an “Abaco Dragon and resident coward” who pretended to retire from front line politics only to “undermine Dr Minnis at every turn for four years.”

Mr Roberts said there is no way the FNM, which is “unable to lead itself,” can be trusted to lead this country.

“There continues to be cries and a cynical campaign of subterfuge from a particular tribe or faction within the FNM to facilitate the return of the Abaco Dragon, the very man who said he only wanted two terms but returned in 2007 like a thief in the night to selfishly seize power despite assuring Tommy Turnquest the night before that he had no interest in the leadership of the FNM,” Mr Roberts said.

“The reasonable expectation of many in that party was that Mr Ingraham would have offered

wise counsel, mentoring and guidance to the FNM’s relatively inexperienced parliamentary team. It appears now that all along, Ingraham orchestrated the organisational weaknesses within the FNM party from behind the scenes,” he alleged.

“The toxic product was constant infighting, the intentional washing of their dirty laundry in public and the open vilification of its duly elected leader.”

Mr Roberts said the latest blunders by Dr Minnis combined with the repeated criticisms by many of his colleagues proves that the FNM “is deeply divided and cannot stand on its on.”

“Take for instance the latest salvo – the scathing public attack (Central) Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant launched into Dr Minnis essentially accusing him of being disrespectful and failing to lead,” he said, referring to The Tribune’s exclusive report last week about a critical email Mr Grant wrote to the FNM leader.

“Apparently Dr Minnis left Parliament during the committal stage of the budget, blaming his departure on illness of some sort,” Mr Roberts said.

“Party Meritorious Councillors Tennyson Wells and Maurice Moore have defended Minnis while former Deputy Prime Ministers

Brent Symonette and Frank Watson openly oppose his leadership. When this clear division and tribalism is coupled with (six) current FNM parliamentarians openly voicing their dissatisfaction with an opposition to Minnis’ leadership, it becomes crystal clear that the house of the FNM is deeply divided and cannot stand.”

Last month, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Mr Grant, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, and Fort Charlotte MP Andre Rollins threatened to have Dr Minnis removed as leader of the opposition in Parliament by way of a petition to Governor General Dame Marguerite if he did not convene a conclave to decide the date of an early convention.

Mr Grant’s attack on Dr Minnis also comes weeks after the six MPs wrote a letter to the party’s Central Council outlining Dr Minnis’ weaknesses as a leader.

The memo, dated May 31, was used to outline their case to the council as they underscored the need for an early convention, which was later set for July 27 to 29.

Mrs Butler-Turner, the party’s former deputy leader, is expected to challenge Dr Minnis for the FNM’s top post at that time.

Other events on the calendar include the Beat Retreat on Sunday, July 3, at 5.30pm in Rawson Square, as well as separate ceremonies to celebrate the country’s cultural and sporting legends on July 5 and 14, respectively.

The celebrations come to an end on Saturday, July 30, following the conclusion of the Junkanoo Summer Festival at midnight.

Assistant Commissioner

of Police Stephen Dean, present at yesterday’s press conference, said the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) has taken “preparatory steps” towards implementing a “strategic plan” for spectator safety during the celebrations.

“We do not take anything lightly . . . we live in a global world, so we’re prepared for any eventualities, so that’s why we have been taking preparatory steps to ensure

we have a sound security plan,” ACP Dean said. “We have devised an operation order to ensure Bahamians and visitors alike that you can come and enjoy these celebrations.”

PAGE 6, Tuesday, June 28, 2016

SUSPECT WHO ESCAPED POLICE CUSTODY HANDS HIMSELF IN

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A SUSPECT who was at the centre of an island-wide manhunt by New Providence police handed himself in last night.

20-year-old Ramon Selva, who was being held at the Wulff Road police station prior to his escape, was being questioned in reference to alleged possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Details of how he escaped, however, were not disclosed. In fact, police did not reveal that the suspect had escaped until 6.21pm on Monday in a press release.

In a further update at 10.27pm, Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean advised that the suspect had handed himself in to the Central Detective Unit at about 8pm last night.

Selva’s is the latest escape from police custody this year. In May, a 21-year-old man got away from a police transport vehicle on Wulff Road near Claridge Road around 4pm.

Police reported immediately that a search was being conducted for an “armed and dangerous” convict.

The escapee, within five hours, was arrested off Farrington Road by officers from the Selective Enforcement Team that involved officers and dogs.

Jason Rolle pleaded not guilty to the charge when arraigned and will stand trial on July 13. He could face up to two years imprisonment if convicted at trial.

In February, police searched for two weeks before recapturing convicted murderer Ormand Leon, who had escaped from a police bus that was taking prisoners from the courts to the BDCS on February 2.

Leon escaped from the bus on York Street, off East Bay Street, after leaving a Supreme Court hearing at which he was told he would be sentenced for murder in two weeks. He was captured by officers at a home in bushes on Fire Trail Road in southwest New Providence after being on the run for two weeks. On February 17, Leon was sentenced to 41 years, six months, two weeks and one day.

When arraigned on an escape charge, he pleaded guilty and was also sentenced to 24 months in prison to run concurrently with his other sentence.

The results of a police investigation into how the 26-year-old convict escaped have yet to be released.

PROBE INTO GRAND BAHAMA SHOOTING

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama police are continuing their investigations into an incident that resulted in a man being shot and hospitalised over the weekend.

According to a report issued by police on Friday, the victim was walking through a track road in the area of Murchinson Drive around 10pm on June 23 when he heard gunshots and discovered that he was shot in the leg.

He was taken by private vehicle to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for a non life-threatening injury.

Anyone with information concerning this matter is asked to call the Central Detective Unit at 242-3503107 through 12, 911, 919, or call the nearest police station.

BIMINI MAN SHOT IN LEG A MAN was taken to a clinic in Bimini yesterday after he was shot in the leg.

According to police, shortly after 11am a man was brought to the public clinic in Bimini with gunshot wounds.

He reported that while in the Bailey Town area he was shot by a male who is known to him.

At last report, he was listed in stable condition and was scheduled to be airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention.

THE TRIBUNE

Freeport chief councillor ousted in misconduct row from page one

Ms Campbell, according to the administrator, left the meeting before the vote was taken.

“I would have written her to advise her what transpired in the meeting…. and informed her that she is no longer chief councillor until such time as the matter is resolved,” he said.

Mr Cunningham noted he has not yet received a letter of appeal from Ms Campbell.

“She has not sent a letter appealing the decision, but she has another eight days left in which to do so. The law requires a period of 15 days where she is given an opportunity to appeal the decision of the council, if she chooses to,” he ex-

plained.

When contacted for comment, Ms Campbell said she was in the process of drafting her appeal as she stressed that the allegations against her were false.

“The same councillors who have conspired and falsely accused me (are) at it again,” she said in a statement to The Tribune.

“I am in receipt of a communication from the administrator which indicates that the City of Freeport Council exercised a vote of no confidence in me.

Therefore I have served notice to the administrator of my intention to appeal the decision. The allegations that are being levied against me are undoubtedly unfounded, untrue and frivolous.”

She added: “My legal

advisors are awaiting certain documents and I can assure the Grand Bahama community that I will continue to work relentlessly in my position to better serve the City of Freeport, a duty which I have been elected to do.”

This is the second time that she has been removed temporarily from her position as chief councillor concerning allegations of misconduct involving local government contracts.

Mr Cunningham explained that the Local Government Act provides for two conditions with respect to council members bringing a vote of no confidence against the chief councillor: gross misconduct and being charged and convicted of a criminal act.

Council members are

accusing Ms Campbell of allegedly trying to put forward a contract for works without the consent of the body. They alleged that she had issued a letter of commitment for work to a contractor without first going through the proper channels.

“You must get the consent of the majority of council members in a duly constituted meeting in order for a contract to be awarded, and you also have to tender it and when that exercise is completed the council must convene a meeting to go over the tenders and decide who is best to award the contract to, and then a contract is executed. She did none of those things,” alleged the administrator.

He noted that council

members had requested several times for Ms Campbell to table the commitment letter, but she allegedly refused.

Mr Cunningham said Deputy Chief Councillor Nevar Smith is acting as chief councillor in the meantime and will conduct the affairs of the council until the matter is resolved.

He explained that once an appeal is made and the minister of local government makes a decision, it is final.

“If she files an appeal and wins she will be reinstated in her position, but if she loses the appeal or does not appeal, a special meeting will be called so that council members can decide who they want as their permanent chief councillor,” he said.

THE WRECKAGE of the plane that crashed in South Bimini.

BIMINI CRASH CAUSED WHEN PILOT TRIED TO AVOID ANOTHER PLANE ON RUNWAY

from page one

“We did our investigations and based on what we saw; the plane did not crash because of engine failure.

They were returning to land because the plane was experiencing some problems. When they saw the plane, they attempted to go around the plane but lost control and crashed,” Mr Major said.

“From what we were told the radios in the aircraft were not working, so there was no way for them to hear the communication. If they had communication they would have been able to coordinate with the other aircraft and that plane would have most likely taxied off and given them the runway but because of the lack of communication the information was not transmitted.”

A witness to the crash who wished to remain anonymous said he saw the plane take a nosedive and was not

THE SCENE of the crash in Bimini. able to “pull out of it”.

“They took off and then came back around dropping low to the runway but another plane was on the runway and the pilot panicked,” the witness said.

“The plane took a 40 degree turn, which is too much for an Aztec and so the plane stalled and went into a nosedive. I saw the plane: it was a Cherokee 6 and I don’t think the guys

on the plane had a headset and they were not able to communicate.”

At 4.15pm on June 19, aviation officials at South Bimini Airport received a report of smoke in bushes

near the airport. Officials previously reported that the crashed plane had departed Bimini’s airport minutes before the tragedy.

Last week, Mrs Hanna Martin said “there was no previous radio communication from the aircraft” before the crash.

“The crash and fire rescue team and the Civil Aviation Department along with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and other airport personnel immediately responded to the area in question and traversed along a dirt road until the area became impassable.

The crash fire and rescue team, along with the equipment, continued through the thick bushes on foot and after an extensive trek, a fatal crash scene was discovered with two bodies.

Ultimately, a tractor was used to effect a removal of the bodies,” she told Parliament last week.

The bodies were brought to the capital. Investigations continue.

US EMBASSY BUYS LAND OFF SHIRLEY STREET FOR RELOCATION from page one

However, a well-placed source refuted the speculation and explained that the embassy’s operations had outgrown its current location.

At the time, embassy officials confirmed to The Tribune that the mission was searching for a new property to relocate, but did not confirm the reason for the planned relocation. Nonetheless, embassy spokesperson Neda Brown

told The Tribune that the mission would remain at its Queen Street location until a new property was secured and a new embassy built.

Yesterday, the American embassy’s statement said its relocation will “accommo-

date our growing US mission to The Bahamas”.

“The new multi-building campus will allow us to better achieve US foreign policy objectives as well as better serve both American and Bahamian citizens,” the statement said.

“While construction of the new facility will not commence for a few years, this site acquisition symbolises the US commitment to the Bahamas and to a US presence in downtown Nassau for decades to come.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 28, 2016, PAGE 7

Court rejects call

by Nygard for recusal of judge from page one However, in January, Justice Bain said Mr Nygard had not proved there was evidence of bias or apparent bias towards him and found the accusations to be “scandalous”.

The appellate court yesterday affirmed Justice Bain’s rejection of the application in an appeal of the decision by the Lyford Cay resident. A published decision is expected to follow.

On June 18, 2015, Justice Bain had ordered that Mr Nygard be present in court the next day for the committal hearing against him regarding the alleged October 2014 dredging at his Lyford Cay property and to determine whether he was in breach of an injunction against him.

Mr Nygard was served with the second motion outside the courtroom.

In a previous affidavit in support of Justice Bain recusing herself from Mr Nygard’s committal hear-

ings on the grounds of bias, the Canadian’s former attorney Keod Smith stated that both he and his client took the position that Mr Nygard was ordered to remain in court that day “for the sole purpose of affording and/or facilitating” Fred Smith, QC, in serving the fashion designer with the legal notice, notwithstanding Save The Bay’s (STB) alleged numerous failed attempts to previously serve Mr Nygard with the documents.

In that affidavit, dated September 17, 2015, Keod Smith also claimed that neither Justice Bain or Fred Smith indicated to Mr Nygard or his lawyer that STB “had or was about to commence another contempt application.”

STB, formerly known as the Coalition to Save Clifton Bay, refuted Mr Nygard’s recusal application, arguing that it was “transparently calculated to delay the progress of the first committal application” against Mr Nygard.

STB’s battle with Mr

Nygard over the construction/development activities at his Lyford Cay home stem from allegations that the activities have led to substantial growth of the property.

The group claims that the Lyford Cay resident has almost doubled his property’s size, from 3.25 acres to 6.1 acres, since he acquired it in 1984, by allegedly reclaiming Crown Land from the sea. The advocacy group has alleged that Mr Nygard achieved this without the necessary permits and approvals, claims that have been denied by the fashion designer.

That comes against the backdrop of Justice Bain’s ruling in 2013 that until the conclusion of judicial review proceedings challenging the legality of the construction of a groyne and the dredging of the seabed off Nygard Cay, neither activity could continue. However, since then, STB has submitted photographic evidence in court purporting that the opposite has happened.

PETER NYGARD, whose call for a judge to be recused has been rejected.

WITNESS TELLS HOW HER ‘FULL OF LIFE’ COUSIN BLED TO DEATH IN THE STREET

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN told a Supreme Court jury yesterday that her young cousin appeared to be “full of life” just moments before she saw him bleeding to death in the middle of the street.

Nioshi Fox was giving evidence concerning her identification of Delano Brice at the Rand Morgue of Princess Margaret Hospital on August 27, 2014.

Brice, 29, was shot during a drive-by shooting at Quakoo Street where a repast was held on August 23,

2014. He died in hospital four days later.

The jury previously heard from forensic pathologist Dr Caryn Sands, who said the two gunshot wounds the victim sustained to his head and back caused swelling in the brain, breathing complications and significant internal bleeding.

Dr Sands said that there was an entrance wound to the left-rear side of the victim’s head and the bullet for the wound exited to the left side of the face.

She also noted an entrance wound to the back that fractured the cervical and thoracic spine.

Ms Fox, who testified by video-link yesterday, was asked when she had last seen Brice alive. She told prosecutor Anthony Delaney he was at home around 3pm in the afternoon that Saturday when she saw him.

“How’d he appear to you?” the prosecutor asked.

“He appeared full of life,” the witness said.

“When did you see him again?” the prosecutor then asked.

She said it was not long afterwards in that same afternoon “that I saw him laying down in the road”.

“He was bleeding from his neck,” the witness added.

She said that, four days later, she had to go to the morgue to formally identify her cousin.

Garvin Pratt, 21, and Eduardo Carey, 36, are on trial before Justice Bernard Turner in connection with the shooting death of Brice.

Pratt and Carey pleaded not guilty to the murder charge they face when they were formally arraigned in the Supreme Court on January 16, 2015.

They have retained Romona Farquharson-Seymour and Tonique Lewis to represent them against the allegation.

Timothy Bailey will assist

TEENAGER JAILED FOR 25 YEARS OVER KILLING from page one

The 17 year old and 24-year-old Deangelo Johnson appeared before Justice Gregory Hilton facing 30 to 60 years at the Department of Correctional Services stemming from the March 8, 2014. killing of James Farrington.

Farrington was attacked as he rode his bicycle on Milton Street on the night in question.

Johnson, the teen and two others, had been spotted pursuing Farrington with Johnson, armed with a handgun, firing in his direction. Farrington was shot multiple times.

The prosecution did not seek the death penalty in this matter when the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts last October.

In giving his ruling on sentencing, Justice Hilton said he was aware of the Court of Appeal’s decision of Larry Raymond Jones

that provided the 30-60 year sentencing range for cases that did not warrant the death penalty. The court also said it was aware of Section 291(4) of the Penal Code, Chapter 84 which notes the court’s discretion to impose any sentence it saw fit on a minor – someone under 18 – who was convicted of murder if there were extenuating circumstances.

“There are extenuating circumstances,” the judge said yesterday referring to the teen convict.

“He was only 15 at the time of the offence and was in the ninth grade, rendering him unable to comprehend the full extent of his actions,” Justice Hilton noted.

The judge, referring to a probation report produced for the court’s consideration, noted that the teen “experienced a dramatic upbringing with the death of his father at eight and the death of his grandmother a

year later.”

“He’s had no meaningful relationship with his mother who was a drugs abuser and he had a predisposition to negative peer pressure as his need to belong succumbed to appreciation for right and wrong,” the court also noted.

Justice Hilton said that a sentence of 25 years in prison was sufficient to balance the circumstances of the convict with the offence to express society’s abhorrence for such crimes.

As for Johnson, Justice Hilton acknowledged that his probation report noted he had no prior run-ins with the law but used marijuana.

Though Johnson did not complete high school due to expulsion in the 12th grade, he obtained work as a plumber’s helper up until the time of his detention in connection with the murder.

His family believes in his innocence and stressed that

he had no involvement in the murder of someone he called a friend.

Justice Hilton said it could not be ignored that a firearm was used in the commission of the offence and that the killing was done in a public street in the vicinity of the victim’s home.

The judge also noted a lack of remorse for the killing.

Johnson was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for his part in the incident.

The sentences of Johnson and the teen were reduced by two years and three months spent on remand awaiting trial.

Johnson and the teen, who maintain they had no involvement in the murder, have a right to appeal the conviction and sentences to the Court of Appeal.

They were represented

by Glendon Rolle and Ian Cargill.

Raquel Whymms prosecuted the case.

Mr Delaney in prosecuting the case.

The trial resumes tomorrow.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, June 28, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

The people have spoken - now deal with it

By NICOLE BURROWS

C

ALM down.

There’s no impending doom for Britain. They are self-sufficient. They will rise again if they should fall at all, because they make sure they can do that.

So a ‘Brexit’ from the European Union (EU) will shave off a little from the sweet life, the near-term value of the British pound, some investments held in sterling, maybe even national productivity because of the pause-and-reset, but it doesn’t mean the value of the currency will be in free fall, nor does it mean that everyone considers the British economy so wildly unstable to pull out all their investments, nor does it mean that British citizens will turn into lazy slackers and make nothing, like the nothing made in The Bahamas.

Sometimes I forget why I studied economics, and then a moment like this arises. Economics is not a perfect science; that’s probably our best reason for disliking it. In some ways, it may be more art and fate than scientific. Everything that affects an economy does so over time, obviously with some things being more impactful than others and with the clairvoyant benefit of retrospect.

But when you have a well-established economy like Great Britain’s, living on the skeleton of a superlubed first world machine, it is not as easy to break it.

So you renegotiate trade agreements, so what? That’s not unusual. So things get a little more expensive for England, go take that vacation you’ve been wanting to take there.

Maybe English tourists will visit The Bahamas less often or for shorter periods of time for a while, but that has happened before.

People are ‘hurt’ by the ‘gender equality’ vote in The Bahamas. People are ‘sickened’ by the UK ‘Brexit’ vote. Get over it.

I thought you all said you wanted or welcomed change. Whether it changes for the perceived good or bad, you can’t expect things to always be the way you want them to be. If you do, the results of these referendums will not be your doom, you will be your own doom. Roll with the punches and stop overdramatising because the worst thing you could actually do, particularly with the economic overtones of the ‘Brexit’ vote, is create public or media hysteria about the potential fallout. In reality, if your concern is for The Bahamas, the current politics of The Bahamas has more of an impact on the stability of The Bahamas than the economy of Britain or the United Kingdom.

From the Bahamian perspective, there probably are greater implications simply based on the fact that The Bahamas is independent in name but wholly dependent in function on the economies of such countries as the United Kingdom, or the United States. But that only re-emphasises the fact that The Bahamas has put its own self in a hole after years of depending on offshore banking and finance and tourism. Yes, we’re back to that argument again.

WHO DO you think should get the award for the cheesiest posters in Parliament? Bernard Nottage and his rudimentary crime math and line graphs, or Hubert Minnis with his selfserving ‘Roc Wit Doc’ slogan?

DEMONSTRATORS opposing Britain’s exit from the European Union in Parliament Square following the EU referendum result holding a protest in London on Saturday.

If The Bahamas had a diversified economy, at least to the extent of its own many natural resources (including some innovative people), it wouldn’t have to worry as much about catching economic flu from its developed country business partners. That’s where this discussion needs to point, not to how stupid old English or Bahamian people vote in a referendum, or how uneducated young English or Bahamian people vote in a referendum.

More people recognise they have voices and, whether right or wrong, smart or not, they will use them.

You want democracy?

Well, this is a part of that.

You have to be prepared for what follows the events you don’t like.

The only reason people vote the way they do or the way you think they shouldn’t is because they’ve been made to believe certain things about life that are learned from what they see around them. And whose fault is that, really?

WHAT’S UP WITH HUBERT? There’s a lot of whispering going on about Hubert Ingraham’s return to the Free National Movement (FNM) leadership and frontline politics. I hardly think the whispers are worth the air expelled for them, but I do believe something is amiss. The most telling thing about Ingraham’s recent flash appearance is not his mere appearance, or his dancing around the question of returning to politics, or his support of Monique Gomez (really, another Gomez?), or his support of Duane Sands. The most telling thing was his statement

about having asked Hubert Minnis to appoint Sands to the Senate for the last four years.

Ingraham blew it off with his wicked chuckle, and as an indication of his weak influence, but I think it says a lot more than that. It says, “I asked you four years ago, Minnis, you took this long, you finally did it, now look I was right all along, and maybe you should be listening to me.” And really, that says more about the dull political acumen of Minnis than it does about the return of Ingraham.

With or without Ingraham, in next month’s FNM convention, the delegates are on track to cost the party the 2017 general election, if they’re the reason why Hubert Minnis is so confident that he’ll enter the general election as FNM leader. But, if he once again emerges leader in the upcoming convention, having had the majority of support from the FNM delegates, Minnis certainly won’t be leading the country after the 2017 election. How can you lead a country of people, when you can’t lead a party of people … when all your confidence lies with the delegates who’ve promised their loyalty, but who are either bought-andpaid-for or wholly dissected from reality with respect to where FNM supporters really stand or how many FNM supporters there really will be come 2017?

AFFORDABLE HOUSING Mortgage relief. Why are we still talking about this?

The

PRIME Minister Christie says stop being prejudiced against the Chinese because they are giving us things. I’m sure those were famous last words said also by Chief Hatawala when Columbus and his men landed in The Bahamas. And we all know how that turned out. An entire people annihilated. How history repeats itself …

Why can’t we learn from our - or any - history? These accounts are not folklore. They’re not for entertainment. They should teach us some important things, like how not to be swept up by a jeering crowd screaming about your prejudice when you have foresight more than they to see what follows your ‘tolerance’ of ultimatums and your ‘acceptance’ of gifts by external entities whose first priority is to make money, not uphold your ownership rights in your land.

AS REGARDS BEC’s debt forgiveness of 3,000 customers - I’m sorry, this is going to be like Harold Road and the Nassau International airport, I can’t call it BPL yet - we the public require that BEC publish the names of the account holders whose debts are written off, the constituencies in which they reside or where the accounts are held, and the total amounts forgiven. We the Bahamian public want this information published in detail in all newspapers. You have a real commitment to accountability and transparency? That is accountable and transparent. Though I know it is likely lost on the existing powers, I would be remiss if I didn’t say again that it is a very good place to begin shoring up trust that has been lost in any form of government in The Bahamas.

Chairman of the Ba- hamas Mortgage Corporation (BMC) himself, Alex Storr, recently told a news reporter that individual mortgage payment arrears exist more because of borrower delinquency and misplaced priorities (ie, irresponsibility), than actual economic hardship.

So why are we still entertaining this mortgage relief nonsense? Because it’s pre-election talk the year before a general election.

There are lots of desperate people which amounts to lots of votes for whoever can ease their desperation quickest.

In any year, mortgage relief is a foolish idea. Why should the majority of people who go without wants and needs to ensure they can pay their debts pay for those who don’t?

Unless you are elderly, ill, or disabled, mortgage relief, as your friendly neighborhood politician presents it, should not be your right or your benefit.

I’m guilty of repeating myself here, but I’ll say it again. Most people cannot afford to buy houses. That means most people who want to buy houses and borrow money to buy houses are living beyond their means. And when they live beyond their means, and buy houses, and they are unable to pay the bank that still owns the houses until the borrower pays the last cent on the mortgage, said banks will have every right to take those houses which are owned by said banks. You can argue about the ridiculous bank spreads and equity restructuring, but this concept remains the same.

When did Bahamians get so ignorant to believe that a mortgage was equivalent to ownership? Mortgage does not equate to ownership, it equates to in-

debtedness. It might be your home for 25 plus years, but it is not your house. More people should understand this before they sit in front of a banker to get an ego boost.

But they don’t. Moreover, we have been sold a lie that houses always appreciate in value. The Great Recession of 2008 should have made us wiser. In reality, when you purchase a mortgage debt, which is really what you’re buying, not a house, the sale value of that house in any given year should be reduced by the cost of any upkeep required for that house until the time that upkeep is complete enough to increase the value of the house. And if you have to buy another loan to pay for upkeep, well that should definitely reduce the value of any improvements made.

Save what you can, and rent or lease ... at least until you can outright afford to own the debt they have you craving, or until you are ready, able and willing to pay to borrow a bank’s house for several decades.

How anyone wants to be obligated to pay a bank a chunk of their life earnings every month for 30 years is beyond me, especially when there is no absolute guarantee that a house will only ever increase in value over that time span.

In short, PM Christie needs to come up with another plan to shelter his people. But I guess that is expecting too much from a man whose only conviction is to remain where he is.

The Cameron rationale: where I tried to take you was not where you wanted to go, because I believe strongly in something else.

And since I can’t take you where you want to go, I must go.

The Christie rationale: where I keep trying to take you is not where you want to go, but I believe I am the best person to take you anywhere, so therefore you must go where I go.

Send email to nburrows@tribunemedia.net

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 28, 2016, PAGE 9

College of The Bahamas links up with museum corporation

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THE College of the Bahamas signed a memorandum of understanding with the Antiques, Monuments and Museum Corporation of the Bahamas yesterday to exchange various training opportunities and foster greater academic collaboration between the two entities.

During a press conference at the Harry C Moore Library, COB President Dr Rodney Smith hailed the historic agreement as the first of many for the tertiary institution as it continues its transition to university

status.

Dr Smith contended that national institutions can no longer operate in silos, and must now work together to foster the national development desperately needed in society.

“We are extremely pleased to partner with the Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Corporation of the Bahamas, to exchange training opportunities with AMMC staff and our faculty and students, and to foster greater academic collaboration,” he said.

Through various programme structures, students at COB have been

able to take advantage of the academic platforms fostered by the AMMC. Through the MoU signed on Monday, staff, faculty and students of COB would now be able to gain access to these resources directly through the college.

Dr Smith said the exchange of academic information and materials, publications, research databases and coursework would be the primary result of this partnership.

Further, the agreement will allow shared library resources such as research papers, indices, books and magazines on relevant subjects where possible and ap-

propriate.

Additionally, the two entities will sponsor and conduct joint conferences, seminars, training programmes, workshops and other academic meetings on matters of mutual interest; while providing lectures within classroom, colloquia, seminars, conferences and other academic forums.

Chairman of the AMMC Board of Directors Courtney Strachan said the MoU provides an opportunity for the AMMC to collaborate with the highest territory institution in the country on matters related to the advancement of Bahamian heritage.

He revealed that a similar MoU between the University of Florida and the AMMC allowed students to take advantage of scholarship opportunities at the institution.

Mr Strachan proposed that similar opportunities would now be available to students registered at COB. In 2014, the Christie administration moved a resolution in the House of Assembly for the government to borrow $16.1m from the Caribbean Development Bank that was expected to cover 70 per cent of the $23.2m in costs to cover the first phase of COB’s transition to university status.

The investment was expected to cover land acquisition and external works.

However, poor auditing practices first reported by this daily prevented COB from using the funds from the $16.1m loan.

The Tribune reported at the time how the college was at least four years behind in audits when the Christie administration moved to borrow the funds.

Last week, this newspaper revealed that the loan had been cancelled.

COB was initially expected to transition into a university in July 2015. A new transition date has not been set.

IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION STRESSED DURING RADIO TALK SHOW LEADING authorities on Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation were guests on radio talk show ‘Voice of the Bays’ last week to stress the role the law plays in the democratic process as the clock winds down to the July 15 deadline for public consultation.

As one of the main tenets in its platform, Save the Bays has pushed for Freedom of Information legislation since its inception, organising the very first FOI Act rally in Rawson Square in downtown Nassau in June, 2014. Since then, the environmental advocacy group has worked tirelessly to make sure the issue remains on the public’s radar, most notably gathering more than 7,000 signatures on a petition calling for the government to pass an FOI bill.

“The people must have a voice to speak, they must have an avenue through which to be heard and they must be honoured with respect to their opinion,” said Mr Darville on Thursday as he opened ‘Voice of the Bays: The Environment Speaks,’ a weekly radio show that airs in Freeport and Nassau on Love 97.5 FM. Talk show guest Lisa Benjamin, an associate law professor at College of the Bahamas, augmented Mr Darville’s statement by adding that any society that does not offer its citizens an FOI Act is not a true democracy.

“The FOI Act is really the hallmark of any democracy,” Ms Benjamin said.

“Freedom of Information is part of freedom of speech.

The right to access information is an extension of freedom of speech.”

Ms Benjamin has spent the past year and a half studying legislation around the world, with particular emphasis on Commonwealth countries such as England, Jamaica, Trinidad, New Zealand and Canada, as part of a Freedom of Information consultation committee formed to solicit public consultation regarding appropriately revising inconsistent and nebulous language that ultimately prevented the 2012 FOIA from being enacted.

She joined Mr Darville on Thursday along with fellow FOIA experts Lemarque Campbell, a representative of Citizens for a Better Bahamas (CBB) and Matt Aubry, executive director for the Organization for Responsible Government (ORG), to urge the Bahamian public to offer input on the Freedom of Information Act before the public consultation deadline expires on July 15.

“We need to boil it down and convert people to get on board with this act. We need to make them realise they need this act, that they will be using this act going forward,” Mr Aubry said.

“Right now the process is being driven by folks who already understand the value of the Freedom of Information Act - activists, lawyers and the media. We have to get people to understand how critical this is to day-to-day life. People’s concerns about the safety in their neighbourhood, the health issues in their community, how monies are being spent … this [FOIA] is our pathway, this is our door in. This starts participatory democracy.”

After all, Mr Campbell added, at the end of the

FROM left - Lemarque Campbell, Citizens for a Better Bahamas, Lisa Benjamin, associate law professor at College of The Bahamas, Joseph Darville, Save the Bays chairman, and Matt Aubry, executive director for the Organization for Responsible Government, gathered on air on Thursday to speak out on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). day, it’s the people’s money that’s being spent, so the public should have the right to know how fiscal decisions are being made and why. To address the issues of transparency and accountability, the CBB formed a committee last August to make its own recommendations for changes. After reviewing the most recent FOIA draft released in May 2015, CBB members were particularly concerned over the definition of public authority (ie: how public authority is defined when it comes to who is required to release information to the public). Cur-

rently the bill defines public authority strictly as government ministry and statutory bodies.

Additionally, Mr Campbell and members of the CBB stress that the person overseeing implementation of the FOIA and responsible for upholding its tenants - the information commissioner - needs to be completely independent of political affiliation.

Current language mandates this individual be a political appointee, but the CBB recommends this position be appointed by an independent body that includes

KIDZ RADIO CLUB TO GIVE GLIMPSE INSIDE INDUSTRY

By ALEXANDER HAWKINS

THE Ministry of Education will launch its second annual Kidz Radio Club on Mackey and Madeira Street on July 4.

Last year’s pilot programme brought high school students from around the country an immersion course in the rigours of media production.

Having stayed in contact via social media, many of last year’s participants are returning to experience the new and improved Kidz Radio Club.

Twenty-five students from schools including St Augustine’s College, Queen’s College, Mount Carmel and C V Bethel will take part in the summer programme at the beginning of next month. Antoinette GibsonSands, the Co-ordinator of the programme, said that this was a chance for the students to “grow as individuals” and has set herself the challenge of “igniting the passion” for radio and media production within the students. In this vein, Ms Gibson-Sands and her fellow organisers have improved the programme to

better give young Bahamians experience in the media production industry.

There have been a number of additions, which the Ministry of Education hopes will produce more well-rounded radio trainees. Specialists in media production will this year be meeting with students on a regular basis throughout their time with Kidz Radio Club, giving inside, expert information on the workings of the industry.

Additionally, there will be a greater emphasis on the technology of recording and mixing, giving participants a superior grounding in the hardware and software critical in modern media production.

Interpersonal communication skills will also be developed as the participants in the club will conduct “Vox Pop” interviews. This project requires the collection of interviews from people on the street, as the students will be charged with gathering the views and opinions of Bahamians.

The programme will no longer be limited to Nassau as a field trip is planned to visit media production specialists in Abaco. Heavier

weight will be put on video production this year than last, although radio remains the most important part of Kidz Radio Club 2016.

The people in charge of the programme are Melvern

YOUR

Davis, Antoinette GibsonSands, Laverne Cooper, Keno Burrows and Dorothy Rolle. For information email timeforeducation@ hotmail.com or telephone 393-5381.

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

members of the government as well as opposition members.

Funding for the bill is another major concern that should be formally outlined, according to Mr Campbell.

“This is a very important piece of legislation that will help our democracy and it needs to be funded properly,” he said. “This bill will

encourage citizen participation, giving them the tools to request and demand accountability.”

For more information on the Freedom of Information Act, please visit www.savethebays.bs, www. orgbahamas.com or www. citizensforabetterbahamas. org. Written recommendations should be emailed to foibahamas@gmail.com.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, June 28, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Why energy reform can fuel poverty alleviation

By ROCHELLE DEAN ONE of the biggest issues facing The Bahamas is the reform of its energy industry.

The Bahamas’ energy saving woes are a direct consequence of the country’s incapacity to finance the industry. The country’s problems are 100 per cent administrative, while its energy saving inefficiencies are because it has yet to adopt proper energy saving policies while moving on to renewable ones.

According to the World Bank data report on energy, The Bahamas is last as it relates to energy policies.

In his article “Reforming the Bahamian Energy Sector”, The Tribune columnist Larry Smith also states that a report by the International Energy Agency, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Develop-

ROCHELLE Dean ment and the World Bank subsidies impose an unsupportable fiscal burden on government budgets, encourage wasteful consumption, exacerbate price volatility by blurring market signals and undermine the competitiveness of renewables and more efficient energy technologies.

The country must ask itself how it can engage in

renewable energy without first addressing its present energy inconsistencies.

That will give a clear, concise understanding of how the Bahamas can promote and implement proper renewable energy practices and other sources of energy.

The Bahamas must now seek to upgrade its machinery, reform its administrative policies and aggressively seek donors who are willing to finance the improvement of the industry before seeking to outsource its energy resource.

The country must also seek partnerships with countries which can aid and fund new forms of energy supply.

The Bahamas must recognise that its inability to provide a robust energy resource for its citizens places the country in a debilitated state of poverty.

In the past, The Bahamas has placed the man-

agement of its energy supply in the hands of foreign companies, which has been a disservice not only to new management but the country collectively.

The Bahamas government plays the biggest role in presenting research beyond the financial bottom line and must also work against the culture of entitlement that makes it hard for the country to attract the right foreign investors who appreciate the development of the country and sustainable development.

The Bahamas must seek foreign entities to revive the domestic market, partner with them and seek to make proper decisions that affect the energy industry and will further enhance growth.

The state of the country’s energy industry and its reform comes with The Bahamas recognising that it

must shift from being master players in the game of blame. Stakeholders must seek to invest in new machinery that will upgrade the energy industry and make staff accountable.

The government must bridge the gap between the need for upgraded equipment and a lacklustre ‘anything goes’ mentality toward the industry and the inability to offer exemplary service to the people.

The Bahamas must engage in energy reform which will give the country a navigated course towards newer energy saving policies and green forms of energy for the country - not just for a significant few. This will allow The Bahamas to take into consideration low emission energy strategies (LEDS) and further promote climate change practices that will

impact the country significantly.

The country must begin to make the right energyrelated decisions and move away from making decisions of convenience. The Bahamas is at a milestone where it must address its ability to access new equipment, properly maintain the equipment, new administrative policies and accountability to all stakeholders and actors within the industry.

Poverty alleviation begins with a proper analysis of energy reform.

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

MINISTER of Education Jerome Fitzgerald presenting one of the Templeton World Foundation awards to Ameir Taylor, of Queen’s College.

TEMPLETON PRIZE FOR STUDENTS WHO SHINE THE Templeton World Foundation recently held its annual “Laws of Life” essay competition awards ceremony at the Melià Nassau Beach Resort.

This year’s winners were Denisha Demeritte, of Kingsway Academy, Ameir Taylor, of Queen’s

College, and Rodnika François, of Columbus Primary. All three recipients won a $1,000 tuition scholarship. Kingsway Academy took home the floating trophy as the top scoring essay winner and the English department of the winners’ schools took home a cash

prize of $1,000.

This year’s judges were Pastor Allen Lee, the chief judge, Fr Michael Gittens, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, Pastor Lyall Bethel and Harriet Pratt.

Principal speaker at the event, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald, told

the students: “You are going to learn as you get older that you really have to persevere and be very determined and focused because there will be a lot of distractions, there will be a lot of persons who are trying to discourage from achieving your objectives in life or

solving some of the problems facing our country and the world.”

Launched in December 2015, the 2016 “Laws of Life” Competition included four divisions: upper primary, junior, senior and college level. In total there were 2,058 entries,

with 71 students achieving top honours. Participants came from throughout the archipelago, representing New Providence, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, Eleuthera, Andros, Exuma, San Salvador, Long Island, Ragged Island, Inagua and Acklins. Out of many entries 350 essays scored 90 per cent and above. Students who received top awards hail from 27 public and private schools located on the islands of New Providence, Grand Bahama, Andros, Abaco and Eleuthera.

The Templeton World Charity Foundation continues to fund this venture for the eighth consecutive year, with a donation of over $60,000 to defray the cost of the competition.

The “Laws of Life” competition continues to reign as the largest essay competition in the country, based upon size and funding provided. The foundation continues its growth through wider participation of students throughout the Bahamas. The quality of essays produced each year also demonstrates the capabilities of Bahamian students from upper primary school through college to express themselves adequately regarding life’s laws.

THE TRIBUNE

DNA deputy leader Chris Mortimer at an event hosted by the party for the Golden Isles and Carmichael communities at the weekend. Right and below, scenes from the rally.

DNA hosts rally event

Tuesday, June 28, 2016, PAGE 11

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