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Volume: 112 No.142

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

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20 years of making music Shaback celebrates anniversary - inside Weekend

Minnis ‘failed’ to reach the voters

Lightbourn backs Butler-Turner and Sands in FNM race

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

MONTAGU MP Richard Lightbourn yesterday said that FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has failed to connect with the Bahamian electorate as he endorsed Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and Senator Dr Duane Sands as his choices for the party’s two top posts.

Mr Lightbourn said it did not appear to him that Dr Minnis had sufficient support to lead the organisation to victory in the 2017 general election.

With that, he branded Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr

Sands as “the best team” to lead the party into next year’s election, saying they will bring a new dimension to the organisation and Bahamian politics.

His statement came the day after another parliamentarian, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, said it was no secret that he “absolutely” supports Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands as the two move to challenge the Killarney MP and his Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest.

The two teams will go head to head during the party’s convention on July 27 to 29.

GOLD for Arianna

SEE PAGE SIX

PROM DREAMS Pages 14&15

Loud and proud 20 years

Shaback cel ebrates

Entertainment , page 11

MILLER: OPEN BAHA MAR OR BE SEEN AS LAME DUCKS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday implored senior PLP members “to do all they can” to jumpstart the stalled Baha Mar project, suggesting that without it the party could be entering the 2017 general election as “lame ducks”.

Mr Miller characterised Baha Mar as the “rope that might end it all for us”.

He told The Tribune that “every negative factor known to this county has merged into one zenith” and as a result, the PLP has to prove to voters that it has the necessary plans to “right the ship”.

SEE PAGE SIX

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were charged in court yesterday in connection with the shooting death of a father of two outside a nightclub on Elizabeth Avenue last Saturday morning.

Prosecutors also charged the nightclub’s two owners, who are brothers, with several offences yesterday.

Ice Davis, 23, of Churchill Avenue, Chippingham, and Anfernee Jenoure, 20, of Sir Lynden Pindling Estates were charged with murder and accessory after the fact to murder, respectively.

SEE PAGE THREE

SEE PAGE FIVE

while he did not want to delve into speculation, the delay of the festival’s accounting raised concerns over whether some of its funding might have been misappropriated.

Meanwhile Bahamas National Festival Commission Chairman Paul Major insisted that officials were working on the report, ensuring that all of the accounting and numbers were correct. He said it was his hope that a report would be finished and made public by sometime next week.

Weekend

TWO CHARGED WITH MURDER OUTSIDE NIGHTCLUB

‘WHY IS THERE STILL NO REPORT FOR CARNIVAL?’

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY two months after the highly controversial Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival was held in the country, FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest questioned why the government had yet to produce the festival’s financial performance report.

The East Grand Bahama MP said this was the height of “negligence, incompetence and lack of transparency.”

He told The Tribune that

art pagean ts film fash ion music Friday, July food relation 1, 2016 ships anim als

ARIANNA Vanderpool-Wallace won gold in the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships held at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Centre last night. See Sports for more.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

DEADLINE PASSES FOR APPEAL OF $16M POLICE OVERTIME RULING

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunmedia.net

THE deadline has passed for the government to appeal a landmark ruling in an overtime case that could result in as much as $16m being paid to police officers, Wayne Munroe, attorney representing the Police Staff Association in the case, said yesterday.

Mr Munroe told The Tribune that he will soon send a letter to Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson seeking a meeting so the matter can be resolved.

He said he will likely give her between 10 to 14 days to respond to the letter, something he doesn’t envision being problematic because she is responsive to such matters.

When contacted, Mrs Maynard-Gibson told The Tribune she has to discuss the matter with the lawyers in her office.

This comes after the Court of Appeal upheld a Supreme Court ruling that said a force order by former Police Commissioner Paul Farquharson in 2003 mandated that public officers be paid when they work for more than 40

hours in a normal work week.

Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade has previously said that talk about compensation in such a matter was “moot”.

The government had reasoned that the force order was not applicable because of its references to the Employment Act, which does not apply to police officers.

The ruling means that police officials cannot mandate that officers work overtime without providing some kind of incentive.

SEE PAGE SIX

BAHAMAS MEETS STANDARDS OVER HUMAN TRAFFICKING

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunmedia.net

THE US State Department released its global report on human trafficking yesterday, saying the Bahamas “fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.”

The report said migrant workers from Haiti, Jamaica, Colombia and Venezuela are among the vulnerable populations, and although they arrive voluntarily to this country, they could be “recruited or deceived by traffickers who lure” them with “fraudulent recruitment practices, such as false promises of employment”.

SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Friday, July 1, 2016

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PRIME Minister Perry Christie with Cynthia Gibbs at her appreciation luncheon.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

HONOURING THE 21 YEARS OF SERVICE BY CYNTHIA GIBBS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday commended the outgoing permanent secretary in the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Cynthia Gibbs, who leaves office after 21 years of exemplary service in various public departments.

Mr Christie, in his remarks during a ceremony held in honour of Mrs Gibbs’ years of service, said the success of the public sector relies on the hard work and dedication of employees such as Mrs Gibbs – persons who have dedicated their careers to improve the public sector.

Mrs Gibbs, while at the Office of the Attorney General, played a critical role in several of that department’s most recent milestones, including the establishment of new courts to aid with the backlog of criminal cases, the establishment of a wage scale for new attorneys and the relocation of the department from the East Hill Street Post Office building.

Mr Christie, in his reflection of Mrs Gibbs’ career, said she perfectly encapsulated what it means to be a civil servant.

Speaking directly to the colleagues of Mrs Gibbs in attendance, he said public

CYNTHIA E Gibbs with a retirement gift. officials have the “heavy responsibility” of providing continuity to governance.

He said they ought to assure that the administration of governance continues unabated, insisting that “even in the most difficult political times, (governance) can go from strength to strength.”

“That is the beauty of the privilege that you have, to serve the offices that you have,” he added.

Moreover, Mr Christie indicated that his administration would look into providing an outlet for qualified retirees who can still make meaningful contributions to have the chance to do so away from public office.

Mrs Gibbs began her career in public service in 1969 at the age of 17. Her career spanned 11 departments throughout the public sector, most notably the Departments of Labour,

Education and Social Services.

Many of her former colleagues described her as an innovative mind that saw what needed to be fixed and worked to fix it.

Mrs Gibbs told reporters that Thursday’s ceremony marked only the closure of one chapter of her life as she now shifts her focus to life after service.

Mrs Gibbs said she dedicated her years of service to disproving the myth that public sector employees were lazy and didn’t care for their jobs.

“Don’t mind those naysayers that say the public service doesn’t work,” she said. “…. That is a myth; I don’t subscribe to that at all.”

“You know, as the public service we need to break that negative response to our clients because it is them who we were appointed to serve. It is all about service, it’s about love for what you are doing and it’s about giving to the Bahamian what they rightfully deserve – good service.”

Mrs Gibbs moved from the Department of Social Services to the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs in 2005.

She was named acting permanent secretary after the retirement of Archie Nairn in 2014 after 43 years of service.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 1, 2016, PAGE 3

Poll workers still waiting for pay after referendum

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net PROCESSING delays in payments for poll workers in the gender equality referendum have renewed calls for the disclosure of the government’s funding of the YES Bahamas campaign.

Workers in several constituencies across New Providence have not been paid for their service in preparing and administering the June 7 vote, The Tribune understands.

However, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall refused to confirm or deny reports yesterday, stating

only that his department’s accounting section was dealing with the matter.

One unpaid worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration at a seemingly disorganised process in comparison to the experience of staffers at the YES Bahamas campaign.

“I went to five meetings before the referendum,” said the poll worker, who worked in the Bain and Grants Town constituency, “and we were told that we would be paid $50 for each meeting. Then I worked the polls from 6am to 11pm, they didn’t specify how much we would be paid for that.”

“We worked so hard in those hot conditions, we didn’t have no A/C, it was terrible conditions. How is it that we can’t get paid, and you look and see all of the YES (Bahamas) people have gotten paid, all of the Urban Renewal people that they had working for them.”

The worker continued: “I’m thankful for the opportunity but I haven’t gotten a dime and I have bills to pay. What’s taking so long? It’s so disturbing that they could pay the YES (Bahamas) campaign so quickly, then turn around and take so long to pay us.”

An official within the

Parliamentary Registration Department explained yesterday that delays were due to the extensive process related to the release of government funds.

“The documentation has been submitted to the parliamentary commissioner, it’s at National Security who will then forward it on to the Treasury,” the official said.

“In the smaller constituencies, there are less people and their own processed faster. We had to verify sign in sheets, a lot of people who attended the meetings didn’t sign in like they should have, or persons had others sign in for them and didn’t show up.

“So we’re verifying our records, this is the people’s money so we have to be thorough.”

The June 7 constitutional referendum was overwhelmingly rejected by voters, with many pointing to the government’s financial backing of the YES Bahamas campaign as a major misstep.

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.

The YES Bahamas’ campaign’s radio and television advertising saturated local

media, leading opposition camps and politicians to accuse the government of attempting to railroad voters into a ‘yes’ vote.

Earlier this month, former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette said: “We have to find out the cost.

Every time you turned on the TV there were ads. How much did this cost the Bahamian people?”

Yesterday, Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis did not respond to questions on the government’s spending, while YES Bahamas Co-chair and Senate President Sharon Wilson did not return messages left up to press time.

BID TO REINSTATE FORMER PRESIDENT IN BUT RACE FAILS

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Satff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

AN officer of the Bahamas Union of Teachers brought a motion during the union’s annual general meeting to reinstate suspended BUT President Belinda Wilson after a forensic audit revealed that more than $100,000 was overpaid to a contractor under her watch.

However, this motion was later overruled.

In a press release, the BUT said following the

conclusion of the 69th annual general meeting, an elected officer moved to reinstate the suspended president. However, the motion was ruled out of order by the chair and taken to the delegates for a vote. The delegates ruled the motion out of order and “therefore the suspended president was not reinstated.”

There was also a vote to expel Mrs Wilson for two years, but that motion was defeated.

“The forensic audit on the construction of the Grand Bahama building

was presented to the (annual general meeting) and the company Baker Tilly International presented the audit report as factual findings. The factual findings confirmed that numerous double payments were made to the contractor totalling more than $140,000.

Overpayment of more than $64,000 was made to the architect/project supervisor,” the release said.

“The executive committee discovered the overpayments, retrieved most of the money from the contractor but overpayment

to the architect has not yet been retrieved.

“At the first meeting of the newly installed executive committee, a vote was taken and passed by the newly installed officers for Acting President Zane Lightbourne and Acting Treasurer Terez Conliffe to continue in their positions until the results of the court matter on July 13, 2016.”

Mrs Wilson was suspended indefinitely with half pay last year pending that investigation. She and with another individual were both

originally suspended amid allegations that more than $1.1m from the union’s pension and savings account was wrongfully spent.

In a statement released last week, however, Mrs Wilson claimed the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s investigation into the matter has been “conducted and completed” and has “determined that there will be no charges levied against anyone and the case is now closed”.

Mrs Wilson also claimed that the two auditing firms hired by the union, HLB

Galanis & Co and Baker Tilly Gomez, which conducted three forensic audits covering the period 20082015, found that no money was missing, stolen, or spent for personal reasons, but instead spent “for and on behalf of the BUT and all monies were accessed in accordance with the union’s procedure.”

Mrs Wilson ended the statement by saying she looks “forward to returning to work to continue to serve the teachers throughout the Bahamas from Grand Bahama to Inagua.”

BTC chief executive Leon Williams arrives at the company’s celebration of 50 years of telecommunications in The Bahamas.

BTC CELEBRATES

50 YEARS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

BTC held a celebration last night of 50 years of telecommunications in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

The gala reception and dinner was held at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, and was hosted by BTC chief executive officer Leon Williams.

Among the guests were Miss World Bahamas Chantel O’Brian and Miss Earth Bahamas Daronique Young, as well as staff from years gone by and MISS World Bahamas Chantel O’Brian and Miss Earth Bathose working at BTC today. hamas Daronique Young. Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

TWO CHARGED WITH MURDER OUTSIDE NIGHTCLUB from page one

They were brought before Magistrate Andrew Forbes in connection with the June 25 murder of Rozario Palacious at Club Crazy Moon.

It is alleged that subsequent to Davis murdering Palacious, Jenoure, knowing that Davis committed the offence, helped him avoid the due process of the law.

Neither Davis nor Jenoure were required to enter a plea for their respective

charges. They were both remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS).

Meanwhile the nightclub’s owners, Craig Wells, 38, and Carlos Wells, 43, both entered not guilty pleas to four separate charges before Magistrate Forbes. The brothers were charged with perverting the course of justice, keeping a brothel, opening beyond business license requirements and not having a business license in a conspicuous place.

Both matters were ad-

journed to July 29 at 10am for the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

The Wells brothers were denied bail for all four charges and remanded to the BDCS. They return to court for summary trial on September 8 at 10am.

According to initial reports, police received a call shortly before 7am about a body of a man lying in the parking lot near a nightclub on Elizabeth Avenue. Police first reported that officers found

a man who had apparent stab wounds.

However, according to Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander in a later interview, the victim’s injuries appeared to be more consistent with gunshot wounds.

The man’s body was discovered sprawled in the

parking lot next to a vehicle. Officials have said that they believe the body had been there for two to three

hours.

That death pushed the country’s murder toll to 61 for the year.

PAGE 4, Friday, July 1, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

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UK in shock as Boris bows out LONDON (AP) — In a real-life political drama mixing Shakespearean tragedy with “House of Cards”, Britain’s victorious anti-EU campaigner Boris Johnson saw his chances of leading his country evaporate Thursday after the defection of a key ally.

The former London mayor dropped his campaign to become Conservative Party leader and prime minister after Justice Secretary Michael Gove abruptly withdrew his support for Johnson and announced he would run himself.

Johnson, a prominent campaigner for Britain’s withdrawal from the 28-nation European Union, told a news conference where he was expected to announce his candidacy that the next Conservative leader would need to unite the party and ensure Britain’s standing in the world.

“Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in Parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me,” he said to the astonishment of gathered journalists and supporters.

Johnson paraphrased Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” saying it was “a time not to fight against the tide of history but to take that tide at the flood and sail on to fortune.” It appeared to be a dig at Gove — the reference is to a line spoken by Brutus, the Roman leader’s ally turned assassin.

Others drew a more contemporary parallel. “It makes ‘House of Cards’ look like ‘Teletubbies,’” Conservative lawmaker Nigel Evans told the BBC. Johnson’s departure makes Gove and Home Secretary Theresa May the favourites among five contenders to lead the Conservatives.

Johnson’s decision to break with longtime ally Prime Minister David Cameron and back the “leave” side in Britain’s EU referendum seemed to have paid off when Cameron announced he would resign after last week’s vote in favour of exiting the bloc.

Cameron’s announcement triggered a Conservative leadership race in which Johnson was expected be a front-runner, with Gove as his campaign manager.

The two men had campaigned together to yank Britain from the EU. But since their unexpected victory, they have been accused of failing to lay out concrete plans for Britain’s divorce from the EU. Johnson addressed the issue in a Daily Telegraph column that seemed to say Britain would continue to enjoy most of the benefits of EU membership — a claim dismissed by European leaders as wildly unrealistic. That fuelled concern among Conservatives who felt Johnson lacks the attention to detail to be a leader.

Gove, a former journalist on the Rupert Murdoch-owned Times newspaper, had long disclaimed any ambition to be Britain’s leader. Asked earlier this month if he would run, he said: “Count me out.”

Gove tried to explain the 180-degree turn Thursday, saying the country “needed someone who would be able to build a team, lead and unite”. “Boris is an amazing and an impressive person, but I’ve realised in the last few days that Boris isn’t capable of building that team and providing that unity,” he said.

The first public signs of a split between Johnson and Gove came in an email from Gove’s wife, newspaper columnist Sarah Vine, obtained by Sky News on Wednesday. It suggested that Gove should ensure he had specific guarantees from Johnson before backing the latter’s bid. Vine added that influential media barons Murdoch and Paul Dacre, editor of the right-wing Daily Mail, “instinctively dislike” Johnson.

Steven Fielding, professor of politics at the University of Nottingham, said Johnson “wasn’t trusted enough by the people who really wield power in British politics — Rupert Murdoch and Paul Dacre.”

“Gove, as Rupert Murdoch’s representative in politics, basically knifed him,” Fielding said.

Britain’s main opposition Labour Party is also in turmoil, but is finding it harder to change its leadership. Party chief Jeremy Corbyn is under intense pressure to resign after losing a confidence vote among his lawmakers. He says he still has the support of the party rank-and-file and of several influential trade unions.

By Thursday, the situation had reached a stalemate: Corbyn would not resign and no Labour legislator had yet come forward to challenge him.

Apart from Gove and May, contenders for the Conservative leadership are Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb, Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom and former Defence Secretary Liam Fox. Conservative lawmakers will choose two finalists before more than 100,000 party members select the winner in a postal ballot. The result will be announced on Sept. 9.

The bookies’ early favourite is 59-yearold May, who is seen by many in the party as a safe pair of hands as the country struggles to disentangle itself from the EU. Although May supported remaining in the EU during the referendum campaign, she said she would respect the result of the vote.

“The United Kingdom will leave the EU,” she said, pledging to create a new government department devoted to negotiating Britain’s “sensible and orderly” departure from the bloc.

The new prime minister will also have to deal with an economy weakened by the EU vote. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said Thursday that the economy had suffered a “large, negative shock.”

“The economic outlook has deteriorated and some monetary policy easing will likely be required over the summer,” he said — but cautioned there was only so much the central bank can do to ease the pain.

What, if any, role Johnson will play in a new government is unclear. Johnson has bounced back before, dismissing gaffes — from suggesting people in Papua New Guinea were cannibals to insulting the entire population of Liverpool — with a shrug or an apology.

His latest move infuriated pro-EU Conservatives including former Cabinet minister Michael Heseltine, who said Johnson had “ripped the party apart.

He’s created the greatest constitutional crisis of modern times, he’s knocked billions off the value of the nation’s savings” — and then fled the scene.

“I have never seen so contemptible and irresponsible a situation,” Heseltine told the BBC. But Johnson remains a member of Parliament, and few would rule out an eventual return to front-line politics by one of Britain’s great political survivors.

“Knowing Boris Johnson, he probably doesn’t think this is the last chance for him,” said Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London.

“This is Boris! He’s going to leave his colleagues to clear up the mess he himself helped create, and in a few years he might have another crack at it.”

By Jill Lawless of the Associated Press

A lack of leadership EDITOR, The Tribune.

I COULD not believe my ears when I heard the Minister of Education suggest we seemingly are doing him an enormous favour as he is making a large financial sacrifice for being an MP and a Minister. Well blow me down!

I suggest this Minister needs to collect his bundle and resign forthwith because we don’t need to be doing him a favour.

We saw in the past Minister Gray lose a ministerial

portfolio, Local Government because he breached the rules, but why didn’t PM Christie require him to resign as a Minister and show leadership?

The Minister of Works gave misinformation to Parliament on the BAMSI dorm construction - is there anyone who thinks like me? Davis should not have been required to resign? No leadership.

The Baha Mar mess which whether PM Christie likes it or not is his baby from conception in 2005 until now owing to what has

occurred and just for that failure he should resign.

The new FNM Senator Dr Sands - Dr Minnis should fire him now because if Dr Minnis doesn’t understand his head is closer to the block for execution than he imagines – Minnis might win the leadership but the last laugh will be from the Merry six - MPs .... Minnis has few weeks left as Leader of her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.

W THOMPSON Nassau, June 30, 2016.

Ease of doing business?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

RE: Tribune Business report June 30, 2016.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of State for Investments have given candid assessments of the (lack of) ease of doing business in the Bahamas and the lack of a (functioning) National Development Plan. They have committed to turn these situations around.

These intentions are good.

Integral to both those aspects of governance is the difficulty in completing land transactions in The Bahamas. The World Bank Group compiled data in June 2014 on the ease of Registering Property in 189 small to medium economies.

The study “examines the steps, time and cost involved in registering property assuming a standardised case of an entrepreneur

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net who wants to purchase land and a building that is already registered and free of title dispute”.

The results of the 2014 survey showed that The Bahamas ranked 179 out of the 189 economies surveyed: behind countries such as Antigua and Barbuda (118) Barbados (144), Dominica (165), Grenada (128) Haiti (175), Jamaica (126), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (155), Trinidad and Tobago (159) and Suriname (178) to name a few.

According to this survey, the average time to complete the property transaction in The Bahamas is 122 days, and the cost is 12.2 % of the value of the property.

The 2015 survey shows that The Bahamas now ranks

as no. 183 in ease of registering property transfers. Haiti also slipped a few places to no. 179. Barbados moved up the scale to no. 134, and Jamaica is now no. 122.

In the interests of the Bahamian citizens, as well as Foreign Direct Investment, I urge the Government to consider best practices in other jurisdictions on land transfers and registration, and commit also to improving this aspect of our economic base.

In 2011, we ranked 82 out of 189 in the Ease of Doing Business index. After 5 years of an overall decline to position 106, the Prime Minister’s and Cabinet Minister’s promises will be more credible when they offer specifics on how they will turn the tide.

LEANDRA ESFAKIS Nassau, June 30, 2016.

Loretta’s poster boy EDITOR, The Tribune.

Brent Symonette, a multimillionaire has now become the poster boy for Loretta Butler-Turner. It is a power play move and a last ditch effort by some Free National Movement members who want Dr Minnis ousted as FNM leader.

Mr Symonette is a former deputy prime minister of the Ccommonwealth of the Bahamas, but he has sneaked back into the limelight as the public relations side kick for Butler-Turner.

He is all over the media making questionable statements.

Recently, he said that a survey was done that showed Butler-Turner was now more popular than Minnis. When pressed for the source of this survey, he was very evasive.

I have watched with utter disbelief as Mr Symonette’s public relations campaign has been unfolding. But

what caused me to write this article was when Symonette made some disingenuous remarks.

He said that if Minnis is elected leader in July at the next FNM convention, he should not cause the dissident six Members of Parliament (MPs) not to be ratified as FNM candidates in the next general elections.

Remember that these are the same MPs who have publicly expressed no confidence in Minnis’ leadership.

In fact, the six MPs even drafted a letter to the Governor General to ask for the removal of Minnis as leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition. They wanted an early convention date and they succeeded.

Symonette served as deputy prime minister under the leadership of the Rt Honorable Hubert Ingraham and he should know that in politics you have to

be “cut throat” when you have to.

I wish the reporter would have asked him what he thought Ingraham would have done if placed in a similar situation.

I wonder if Symonette would support the ratification of members who had no faith in his leadership.

Politically, this would be viewed as utter madness. I liken this to someone who has a gun to your head.

They shoot but you are not mortally wounded.

You then get a box of bullets and tell the shooter to reload. This is insanity and Symonette knows it.

All the poster boys and girls are coming out now against Dr Minnis, but to date Symonette has proven to be Loretta’s brightest poster boy of them all.

DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau, June 27, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 1, 2016, PAGE 5

Butler-Turner heads to Grand Bahama for support

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner said she is actively seeking the support of the 400 plus delegates who will be voting at the FNM’s upcoming convention.

“I am looking for the endorsement of the 410 delegates that are voting at that convention,” she told reporters in Grand Bahama on Thursday.

“The best endorsement I can get is from the majority of those votes, it doesn’t matter who physically or verbally endorses me; the best endorsement I can get is from those votes going in the box.”

Her comments came after she was asked if she would be lobbying former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham for an endorsement.

Mrs Butler-Turner – who was in Freeport speaking at the Rotary of Club of Freeport’s installation luncheon on Thursday – was bombarded by persons wanting to take photographs with her.

During an interview with reporters, the MP stressed that the country is in crisis and is looking for strong leadership to turn it around.

“I think it is most important that this challenge I am going after is really for the turning around of our country,” she said.

“I believe while there will be differences and choice for leadership in the FNM, I think the important question on the minds of the del-

egates should really be what is the best and strongest team that would be able to take out this inept government.”

“At the end of the day there is nobody in the FNM that I have an issue with… my issue and my fight goes to the electorate. I would love for the delegates to support me because I believe that I would be the person who would be able to wage the strongest battle to get rid of Perry Christie and this inept government.”

Despite her failed leadership bid at the 2014 FNM convention, Mrs ButlerTurner said she was able to look at it not as a loss, but as a lesson and an opportunity to become “the better person” that she is now.

“When I travelled to South Africa last year, I was able to walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela. I was able to grab a lot of the strong important sayings that he used, and as I was evolving and transforming myself, I looked at what (he) was; I sat in his cell and I looked at some of the strong words of wisdom, and one of them I took away that I thought was important to my life, was what he said: ‘I never lose, I either win or I learn.’ And so for me, having lost once before, the lesson, the more important thing is that I was able to introspect, look at my criticisms, look at my critics and determined I needed to transform, I needed to renew my spirit, I needed to become more spiritual, more fitter, a better MP and a better servant

LORETTA Butler-Turner and Leader of the Opposition Hubert Minnis. of the people.

“And so for me today, I feel like the winner I am; you can see it; it is a different me, but it’s also a better me.”

When asked about comments from DNA Leader Branville McCartney that the FNM will not recover from its infighting in time

for the next election, she said his remarks have no merit. “… The difference between them (the DNA) and the FNM is that we actually have seats in Parliament. (Based) on his judgment and his past in performance I think that clearly what he has to say

with regard to the FNM bears little merit.”

Mrs Butler-Turner said it is never too late for the party to unite and come together.

“The six MPs that have lost confidence in Dr Minnis are standing very strongly and very firmly behind the hopes that we can work to-

gether to become a stronger opposition, and that we can march into the battle field against the PLP… to take PLP out and turn this country around and get it back on the right track.”

Mrs Butler-Turner also said that Bahamians have lost their trust in the Christie administration.

MINNIS ‘FAILED’ TO REACH THE VOTERS

from page one

“I think they will be the best team to lead the party into the next election,” Mr Lightbourn said when contacted yesterday. “On the positive side, from my discussions with Mrs Turner and Dr Sands I think they will garner support.

“Dr Minnis is a fine person and is a good representative of his constituency.

However, unfortunately he does not appear to connect with the general electorate and the electorate who will choose the next government of The Bahamas. And so it doesn’t appear to me that he has sufficient support in the country to carry the party to victory.”

Regarding reported issues with funding for the convention, Mr Lightbourn said he was of the position that this should fall at the feet of the leader of the party.

“I am not directly involved with the funding, (but) I would’ve thought that it’s the primary responsibility of the leader to arrange the funding for convention whether there was one in November or July, it shouldn’t change the position.

“So presumably if he was intent on funding one in November he should fund one in July. I trust the party is able to raise the requisite funds for the convention.”

On Monday, insiders told The Tribune that the party was struggling to find the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to host the convention amid debate over who is responsible for finding the funds.

Sources told The Tribune that the FNM’s big financial backers have refrained from providing money because of discontent with Dr Minnis.

Some, like former FNM

TO ADVERTISE IN THE TRIBUNE, CONTACT 502-2394

Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells, have argued that those who fought for an early convention should find the funds to host it.

While others, like former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, said that the responsibility lies with the party’s leader. A convention was estimated to cost around $300,000.

On Wednesday, Mrs Butler-Turner confirmed her intent to challenge the leadership position of the FNM. While formally announcing this, Mrs Butler-Turner said the party, now more than ever, needs to be driven by leaders and doers.

She appeared confident and measured in her responses, maintaining that for the FNM, which is fractured and wrought with infighting, she and Dr Sands are “healers” with the ability to unify the opposition party.

She said it is important that as the party comes out of a convention that the two are able to embrace fellow FNMs who might be hurting over the results and to stress that the matter is bigger than the election of party officials, but it is one

for this country.

To celebrate the official launch of this campaign and make public their plan for national development, she and Dr Sands called on all Bahamians to join them at Rawson Square on Wednesday, July 6.

For his part, Dr Sands said given his 22 years of experience in healthcare, he would be a very capable complement to Mrs ButlerTurner.

Asked if the two had received the endorsement of former Prime Minister and party Leader Hubert Ingraham, Mrs Butler-Turner responded that they had not.

However, she added that they planned to work over the next four weeks to get the endorsement of every FNM. Dr Minnis has told reporters that he will enter the convention as leader and emerge as the FNM chief.

PAGE 6, Friday, July 1, 2016

WENDI LEWIS, of the Visage Band, in action during this year’s carnival.

THE TRIBUNE

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

‘WHY IS THERE STILL NO REPORT FOR CARNIVAL?’ from page one

“It was a great time and there were lots of tourists here,” Mr Major said when he was contacted yesterday.

“But they are working on the report, but it is all about the numbers as you would know.”

Despite this, Mr Turnquest said someone should still be made to answer Bahamians regarding how the millions invested in the

2014 and 2015 festivals were spent.

“We haven’t gotten any numbers this year,” he said.

“I see it as the height of negligence, incompetence and lack of transparency.

“I am sure given the professionals that are involved it would have enabled them to produce the reports by now. There is really no reason why we shouldn’t have gotten it. This is something that the government invested (millions) of the Baha-

mian people’s money. We deserve a response.”

He continued: “A reasonable question is and while I don’t want to speculate that monies were misappropriated, the fact remains that monies have been spent and someone should be made to answer the question over what was done with it.

“We know what we spent but here we are having no idea what was generated.”

“We are approaching a third one and as the people

elected to Parliament we should know about the supposed break even and what the yield was.”

Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival was held in Nassau from May 7 to 9 and in Grand Bahama from April 15 to 16.

While it was dubbed a “fusion of global sounds” with a combination of local and international performers, the festival attracted backlash over the taxpayer dollars used to fund it and

the use of international singers instead of all local performers.

In April, Mr Major said the government would spend about $7m to host the festival.

The performance lineup for the Nassau leg included Trinidadian soca queen Destra, Grammy award winning Haitian hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean and Jamaican reggae star Tarrus Riley.

Mr Major said the artists

would be paid at their international market rate: about $30,000 for Destra and about $70,000 for Wyclef.

The month before, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe told The Tribune the government’s carnival budget would be “around $3m”; however he did add that “work on the final number is still being done.”

Last year, the government spent $11.3m on the inaugural festival, going over its initial budget of $9m.

MILLER: OPEN BAHA MAR OR BE SEEN AS LAME DUCKS from page one

“It is not easy to run a country,” Mr Miller said.

“Hell! It isn’t easy to run a single, straight-forward business. The small details make the difference and at this time Bahamians throughout the length and breath of the country are hurting and looking for answers and if we aren’t ready or able to supply those answers there is a big chance that we lose this upcoming election.”

“The spotlight shines bright and hot when you are in government. A lot of

these things that have gone wrong haven’t been because of the PLP, but when you are in this position it is your job to fix things. No, it is not an indictment of (Prime Minister) Perry Christie. God knows he is trying his damn hardest, but when people are hurting they don’t want to hear that someone is trying, they want you to fix it and if you can’t, you better believe they will elect someone to do it.

“No matter where I go, there is always someone who needed that job. How then am I supposed to look at that person and have the guts to ask them to support

me in an election? They see us as the reason it is so bad, the reason they can’t pay their bills; no way in hell do they see us as the answer.”

When asked if it would be best for Prime Minister Perry Christie to step down as leader of the PLP to prove to voters that the party was serious about making changes, Mr Miller said the only person that could make such a call was Mr Christie himself.

Mr Miller said he wasn’t bold enough to do so. He said Mr Christie is the leader of the party and would remain in the post until defeated at a convention.

“He is our leader. We deal with our matters behind closed doors. Not out in the street. I believe a lot of people want to see some changes because they are hurting, but that is a matter that will be resolved at our next convention. Not in the press, not in the gossip circles,” he said.

Asked his level of confidence heading into the upcoming general election, Mr Miller said he was “somewhat uneasy.”

Mr Miller predicted that the 2017 election would be the “toughest” in the history of the country.

“Bahamians will punish

you. They will vote you out in a heartbeat and not think twice about it. That is the nature of the beast in this country,” asserted the Water and Sewerage chairman.

Mr Miller said there is even a possibility that he could lose his seat in next year’s general election.

“I am confident that I could win, but I wouldn’t bet my life on it. We are in Tall Pines everyday talking with the residents and they are brutally honest with me.

But they know they have their ‘Potcake’ that will go above and beyond the call of duty for them. That is the key for me in Tall Pines, the

love my people have for me and my work.”

Last Wednesday in the House of Assembly, Mr Christie revealed that two firms were shortlisted as options to acquire the West Bay Street resort, but didn’t name the groups.

Mr Christie would only say the final decision would be up to the receiver managers, confirming they were in Beijing, China last week negotiating a contract to remobilise and complete the project as soon as possible.

Baha Mar was first expected to open in December 2014 but has faced numerous setbacks.

BAHAMAS MEETS STANDARDS OVER HUMAN TRAFFICKING from page one

Along with people involved in prostitution and exotic dancing, the report said stateless children who are born in the country to foreign parents but do not automatically receive citizenship, are also vulnerable.

“Traffickers confiscate

victims’ passports and restrict their movements,” the report says.

Nonetheless, the State Department noted that five people in the last year have been arrested and prosecuted as alleged traffickers.

“During the reporting period,” the State Department said, “the government screened 49 potential trafficking victims – 41 adult

females and seven adult males – and one potential child victim. Authorities identified three sex trafficking victims – all foreign nationals, one child and two adults – and referred them for appropriate care and assistance, including housing and medical, psychological, legal, immigration, and reintegration assistance.”

The cost of trafficking victims’ care was $42,000.

The State Department recommended that the Bahamas increase its efforts to “prosecute, convict and appropriately punish traffickers.”

It recommended that the Bahamas “use independent interpreters when conducting inspections of migrant worker labour sites, and

continue to interview workers privately.”

It also recommended that the country “continue to implement a nationwide public awareness campaign to educate the public and officials about human trafficking and its manifestations in the Bahamas, including the distinction between trafficking and smuggling.”

Regarding laws mandating punishment for those convicted of involvement in human trafficking, the State Department said: “These penalties are sufficiently stringent and commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape.”

Such penalties range from three years’ to life imprisonment.

DEADLINE PASSES FOR APPEAL OF $16M POLICE OVERTIME RULING from page one Although the PSA determined that the overtime police worked between separate periods in 2013 and 2014 would amount to payment of about $16.4m, Mr Munroe said the govern-

ment has various options in responding to the matter.

Commissioner Greenslade could, for instance, decide to give the officers time back rather than pay for overtime.

Dwight Smith, chairman of the PSA, has expressed a preference for financial

compensation.

In September 2013, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) introduced 12-hour work shifts for officers in an attempt to get crime under control.

Mr Smith had previously said that the shifts led to police burnout.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 1, 2016, PAGE 7

IT’S TIME TO SHOW OUR PRIDE TODAY is National Pride Day, the start of the 43rd anniversary of independence celebrations in the Bahamas.

Bahamas National Independence Commission Artistic Director, Ian Poitier, announced this week at the launch of anniversary events that National Pride Day festivities will be taking place in Rawson Square from 10am.

Mr Poitier asked people to wear at least one of the Bahamas flag colours or carry a flag at the event.

The Independence Commission announced a programme of events to include Beat Retreat on Sunday at 5.30pm in Rawson Square, an Ecumenical Service, the People’s Love and Unity Rush at midnight to usher in Independence Day on July 11 and a State Reception.

IAN POITIER, the Bahamas National Independence Commission Artistic Director, announces the programme of events to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of independence this week.

Photo: Letisha Henderson/BIS

Fitzgerald: Election will be test of voter’s view on PLP

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald admitted yesterday that some Bahamians are “angry” and “unhappy” with the performance of the Christie administration but said he believes the true test of the PLP’s effectiveness will be at the polls next year.

During an appearance on the 96.9 FM radio show, “The Revolution”, with host Juan McCartney, Mr Fitzgerald said that while some persons may not support Prime Minister Perry Christie in his bid for re-

election, he has nothing but respect for the nation’s leader, who gave him a chance and the tools needed to “fulfil his mandate” in the Ministry of Education.

Mr Fitzgerald said the test for him and other members of the PLP is whether or not they will be re-elected.

“Perry Christie is the prime minster and the leader of the party and I tell people all the time that I look at life pretty simply, I focus on the things I can control. I can control the Ministry of Education and my record as minster speaks for itself,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“The support I have

in education, the things I have been able to do, I would not have done without the support of the prime minister and the minister of finance. I fervently believe education is the answer to some of the root challenges we have in this country and when I am appointed by a prime minster, who gives me his undivided support for me to do what I think, with Cabinet approval, is in the best interest of this country and the best interest of the country moving forward, I am able to do my job, which I love doing.

“For many of us, this will be the test for us, all of us to

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald yesterday criticised FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ “careless and reckless” statements about the government’s educational investments, claiming that Dr Minnis is “ignorant to the facts of the progress made in education”.

In a statement, Mr Fitzgerald accused the opposition leader of using education as a “political football,” saying that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s accomplishments have “been recognised and celebrated locally by members of his own party, regionally and in the global education arena”.

Mr Fitzgerald said Dr Minnis is “misinformed” about the government’s progress in education, and as such has created a “public perception of education that is far from the truth”.

Mr Fitzgerald also said Dr Minnis’ statements earlier this week were a byproduct of political “silly season”, and cautioned him not to adopt the “persona of the season and portray himself in such a silly manner”.

The Marathon MP also cautioned Dr Minnis to consult former Education Minister Carl Bethel and shadow Education Minister Hubert Chipman - both of whom sit on the bipartisan National Education Political Committee - before “he makes any statement regarding education”.

On Tuesday, Dr Minnis criticised the government for its “failed” investments

in education, further slamming the Christie administration for failing to build “one single high school” during its two nonconsecutive terms in office.

Dr Minnis also questioned the government’s adding of $1.6bn to the Bahamas’ national debt over the past three years, as well as the dramatic increase in the Office of the Prime Minister’s contingency provision from $29,000 the previous fiscal year to $2m, all while “we still do not have a much needed new high school.”

Dr Minnis also lamented the current modus operandi of the public school system, charging that it graduates “far too many students with a D grade average”.

“It is clear to me now as it was on Friday, June 17, when the leader of the opposition stood in the House of Assembly to make these same assertions that he is ignorant to the facts of the progress made in education,” Mr Fitzgerald said in response. “It is rather irresponsible of Dr Minnis to create a public perception of education that is far from the truth.

“We have worked extremely hard in education; including two members of his party, to allow Dr Minnis to diminish what we have accomplished. He is misinformed and I suggest that before he makes any statement regarding education, he consult with former Minister of Education Carl Bethel and/or Hubert Chipman, shadow minister of education, who both sit on the Bipartisan National Education Political Committee.”

Mr Fitzgerald also countered Dr Minnis’ criticisms of the Christie administration not building one high school in its two terms in office, saying that the idea of building more schools is “futile” without the necessary foundation which is “not a physical structure but data-driven decisions and programmes based on research”.

Mr Fitzgerald also denied that The Bahamas has a challenge of overcrowding in its public schools.

“As we enter the ‘silly season’ where politics seem to overrule logic, common sense and intelligent dialogue, I encourage Dr Minnis not to take on the persona of the season and portray himself in such a silly manner,” Mr Fitzgerald added. “I would appreciate that Dr Minnis refrain from using education as a political football after all the work that we have done that has been recognised and celebrated locally by members of his own party, regionally and in the global education arena.

“As we focus on student achievement and ensuring that our students are provided with continued opportunities for academic, athletic and social success, I will not be distracted by Dr Minnis,” Mr Fitzgerald added. “We are data-driven and goal focused and we will continue to work assiduously to ensure that we meet our widely important goal; which is to increase the rate of graduation from 50 per cent to 85 per cent by 2030 as outlined in A Shared Vision for Education 2030.”

MINNIS ‘IGNORANT’ OF EDUCATION IMPROVEMENTS

see if we can be re-elected because one thing we know for sure, whether you like it or not, Perry Christie or not, he will be re-elected if he runs.”

When asked by the show’s host whether he thought Mr Christie should offer himself for re-election or retire, Mr Fitzgerald said: “I am so focused on what I am doing and the huge elephant, which is education, it is such a massive issue, I don’t have the luxury to be concerned about other things. Those are things that will take care of themselves, if we go to a convention and some-

one wants to challenge Mr Christie, so be it.

“The prime minister will put himself up, he said it.

At the convention he will win at the convention and so we will move into the next election with him as prime minister, now what happens when we go to the country, that will be another issue.”

Mr Fitzgerald also criticised Fort Charlotte MP Andre Rollins, who recently said Mr Fitzgerald will need “adult sized diapers” when he loses his Marathon seat.

“I don’t take anything

Andre Rollins says seriously, I know you all like him for headlines, but here is a guy who cannot run in any constituency in the Bahamas, nobody wants him. He can’t go in the seat that he represented for four years, he can’t even go back there and he can’t go in any other seat,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“I could see him trying to comprehend why I can get 500 people out of Marathon to come and support me without me lifting a finger, he can’t comprehend that because he can’t get that.

Rollins only cares about himself.”

PAGE 8, Friday, July 1, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Fitzgerald’s failed teachings and the FNM Game of Thrones

A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA

JEROME’S IN THE HOUSE, WATCH YOUR MOUTH

O

NCE again it pains me to have to make fun of my St Andrew’s schoolmate and former prefect, Minister of Education and Marathon MP the honourable Mr Jerome Fitzgerald.

However, when you give certain nuggets to the world you make my job far too easy as a comedian!

Recently Minister Fitzgerald gave us this nugget: “Furthermore, I wish to make it abundantly clear to Dr Minnis that the idea of building more schools is

futile without the necessary foundation which is not a physical structure but the Bahamas does not have a challenge of overcrowding in our schools.”

Seriously? Really? Wait a minute, based on research?

The same “research” that tries to makeover the annual D and E average results?

The same horrid national GPA that has haunted Mr Fitzgerald since day one in his capacity as Minister of Education? The same abysmal National GPA that has not improved without the use of semantics over the same four-year period?

Mr Fitzgerald needs to stop talking and breathe.

Maybe, with a clear head, Mr Fitzgerald may realise before we get to those ever important data-driven de-

The Tribune apologize for the error made on the Obituary for

Craig Davis

which appeared in Thursday, June 30th Obituary Section. The corrected advertisement is below.

Funeral Service For Craig “Head O” Davis, 26 of Miami Street (North) will be held at 2:30 pm. on Saturday, 2nd July, 2016 at Evangelistic Assembly Church of God in Christ on Blue Hill Road and Fleming Street. Officiating will be Reverend Nelson Brown assisted by Elder Stephen Sands. Internment will follow at Southern Cemetery, Cowpen and Spiknard Roads. Nassau, N. P., The Bahamas.

He is survived by his Father: Craig Davis Sr.; Mother: Catheann Marshall; Step Mother: Bonnie Solomon; Grandfathers: Claudius Curtis, James Davis Sr.; Grandmothers: Elizabeth Albury, Persis Marshall; Brothers: Quintin Marshall, Alexander Goodman, Regino Goodman,Tio Thurston, Shaquille, Jaron and Tiffon; Sisters: Dria Thurston, Joyce, Craigann and Kanika Marshall; Uncles: Shayne Deveaux, Mario Williams, David Moss Sr., Godfrey Albury, James Davis Jr., Wilfred Bastian, Floyd Russel Sr, Delroy Wright, Dino, Stephen, Kendal, Kenrick and Keno Curtis; Aunts: Yoshibell Marshall (Ft. Lauderdale), Odia Rolle, Charlyss Sweeting, Ann, Beverly, Michelle Davis, Nicole Moss, Elious Albury-Ferguson, Denise Albury, Debra Bain; Nephew: Alex;. Grand Uncles: Lorenzo Knowles and family, Marvin Davis (Deborah) and Oral Davis (Altemae); Grand Aunt: Edith Marshall and family; Cousins: Okell, Delroy Jr., Connor, Dellerese Simms, Dorothy Bain, Dennis and Don McKenzie, Sheena and Shanette, Shayne Deveaux Jr., Savannah Davidson, Floyd Russel Jr., Charles Rolle, Chardanae Williams, David Moss Jr., Tajh, Davonya and Cameron Moss, Dashonique and Darius Sealey, Nikya and Juliette Francis, Daciano and Ayden Williams; God Sister: Tyeasha Knowles; Friends and other relatives: Kelsey and Marissa Lundy and family, Sylvia Bain and family, Terry Ferguson and family, Sean and Tanya Stephens and family, Carol Young and family, D12 family, C.R.Walker Sr. High School family, Solomon family, Sands family, Michael Sawyer and family, Michael Baptiste and family, Bain and Grants town family, Laird Street West family, Strachan’s Corner family, Thompson Lane family, Miami Street family, Englerston friends and families, and the Johnson family.

Friends may pay their last respects at Last Mile Of The Way Funeral Chapel Ltd., Market Street and Oxford Avenue on Friday, 1st July, 2016 at 11:00am until 6pm again at the church from 1:30pm until service time.

‘I’m not saying the FNM party is completely broke, but there is a high probability someone may be washing dishes at the end of convention night at Melia.’

THE IRON throne from Game of Thrones - but who will sit on the FNM’s leadership chair at the end of the race? cisions and programmes based on research.

Shouldn’t Johnny have been able to read and write first?

Sadly, one glimpse at any government school campus and the only thing the schoolgrounds indicate are that we are training the students for prison rather than tertiary education.

On another note, it doesn’t surprise me in the least that Mr Fitzgerald resorts to hypocrisy or has spells of temporary amnesia conveniently while making the rounds on the talk show circuit. His continued jabs at former FNM senator John Bostwick, referring to the young ‘Born Free Nationalist’ as ‘convict’ led me to believe that Fitzgerald also suffers from short term memory loss obviously, seeing how his alleged campaign general was convicted and served a sentence for drug possession.

How quickly we forget, Mr Fitzgerald.

PAY THE COST TO BE THE BOSS

The leadership contest for the Free National Movement is starting to shape up. So far, FNM delegates have been presented with a choice to keep Dr Hubert Minnis and his deputy Peter Turnquest or give the recently announced Loretta Butler-Turner and Dr Duane Sands’ ticket a chance.

To the politically uninitiated, the upcoming FNM convention looks, on the surface, to be a re-run of the leadership struggle of 2014. But dig a little deeper and you can already see the makings of a great tragicomedy on the horizon.

For starters, we have FNM MP Andre Rollins, who just got invited into the party about two weeks ago, already tapping out. If Minnis wins, Rollins says he will pack up his georgie bundle and not seek a nomination.

Apparently he would rather kick rocks than ‘Roc wit Doc’.

And, as if realising his own threatened political departure barely registered as a blip on the radar, Rol-

lins decided that should become available (again); the Butler and Sands ticket there will be an outstandfail, the other members of ing massive banquet bill the the so-called ‘gang of six’ party can ill afford apparshould all go down with ently. Plus there’s been no him. They, too, should be word yet on whether former denied nominations, ac- PM Hubert Ingraham will cording to unofficial group enter the fray. spokesman Rollins (that’s I can spend time wondercomical in its own right, ing about how the FNM anybody allowing Rollins got into such dire straights to speak for them). financially or why they To cement the all-or- haven’t printed up a few nothing theme building up thousand “please sponsor in the FNM me” sheets pre-conand hit the vention, Dr ‘I hate to break the streets as yet.

Sands also news but many But I won’t. said he will Bahamians want All I can resign from say is thank the Senate if to ghost you Mr you, FNM. he and But- Christie. They don’t Thank ler-Turner you people want to talk or are unsucwho “Roc cessful. Even debate anymore, they wit Doc” or though he just want this season “Roll with was sworn of discontent (aka Butler and in all of two Sands”. minutes ago. your current term in Thank Yes, it’s that office) to be over.’ you Rollserious in ins, and the the FNM. other mealy Frankly, the build up to mouthed MP he speaks for this convention is a source (that’s you, Theo Neilly.) of endless jokes.

Thank you Edison Key, Have you ever been invit- for reminding us of the slap ed to a group dinner party at heard around the world. a high-end restaurant where Thank you Brent Symoneveryone is eating, singing, ette for reminding us your drinking and dancing and “dollars long” but your fists having a good time without tight. Thank you, Papa, for a care in the world? Well, keeping the drama going. the FNM doesn’t throw Now that Game of those kinds of parties.

Thrones is over, I have no The FNM throws parties doubt where to look for my where everyone eats, sings, weekly entertainment. orders Ace of Spades and has a good old time right up until the cheque comes.

Speaking of entertainThat’s when the some of the revellers either start ment, now that Prime Minis“playing crazy”, sneak out ter Christie has been roundthe side door, look to the ly and soundly shamed for “rich person” at the table to not resigning after the last “cover erryting” or pull out failed referendum, he wants pocket calculators to tabu- to debate someone.

I could only imagine the late their exact portion. I’m not saying the FNM party is PM watching UK Prime completely broke, but there Minister David Cameron’s is a high probability some- resignation speech and one may be washing dishes “sucking his teet” at Camat the end of convention eron for making him “look shame”. Yes, Cameron did night at Melia.

So to summarise, if Min- the honourable thing by nis wins at convention, resigning after his side lost there will be a very awk- the vote. Perry Christie has ward scenario in the House lost two votes during this of Assembly on the op- term and is still “post up” in position side as the major- the prime minister’s office.

And now, as a distraction, ity of MPs will basically be free agents for the next 10 he is advocating that those months; a senate seat will who offer as candidates in

THAT’S DEBATABLE

the next general election should be open to debate as he now seems. According to Christie, we otherwise uncultured Bahamians have finally “reached the level of sophistication” that warrants public debates.

Nice try, Mr PM, but respectfully, Bahamians “ain’t on your run”.

You are right that Bahamians will be demanding debates in the upcoming electoral season but are wrong if you think the public specifically wants to hear from you. You see, Mr Christie, in cultivating our newfound worldliness (via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) we realised that certain politicians like yourself (and say, Donald Trump) have a way with words that will help you skate through a debate unscathed even if you’re obfuscating and making no sense whatsoever.

Allow me to introduce you to another new, “sophisticated”, worldly trend. It’s called “ghosting”. That’s when a relationship is so worthless, so broken, so “over” that one party gives up on it without even saying goodbye. No words. No text. No “see you later” emoji. The “sick-ofyou” party just simply walks away. Disappears. Vanishes.

Like a ghost.

And I hate to break the news but many Bahamians want to ghost you. They don’t want to talk or debate anymore, they just want this season of discontent (aka your current term in office) to be over. The writing is on the wall, Mr PM. And you don’t have to be sophisticated to read it.

Until next week I’m ‘Swayze.’

• Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident standup comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net

Death Notice For

Pastor James Alphonso Knowles, 80 Death Notice

REMILDA GERTRUDE WILLIAMSON, 94 of Domingo Heights and formerly of Pine Field, Acklins died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Saturday, June 25th, 2016.

She is survived by her Sons: Harrison, Neville Sr., Aldon and Fred Williamson; Daughters: Lillian Williamson and Euna Mae Smith; Sisters: Elva Smith and Clarisa Williams and other relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

of #29 Carib Road and formerly of the 5 Pound lot, died at his residence on Monday, 27th June, 2016.

He is survived by his wife: retired teacher Aileen Knowles; 2 sons: Kent Knowles and Edison Somner; 2 daughters: Delvera Knowles and Darleen Somner; 1 brother: Cecil Knowles; 1 Sister: Rhoda Lloyd; 4 grandchildren, & numerous other relatives & friends.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 1, 2016, PAGE 9

Larger plane for direct flights to Heathrow ‘very significant’

By ALEXANDER HAWKINS THE MINISTRY of Tourism has told The Tribune that the introduction of a larger plane on British Airways’ direct route between London Heathrow and Nassau will be “very significant” for the Bahamian economy.

Today, the airline has scheduled a Boeing 777 to make its inaugural flight to New Providence, replacing the older and smaller 767 on the route. The larger aircraft will offer additional seats, especially in the premium cabins, and will operate four times per week rather than five previously, flying on Monday, Wednes-

day, Friday and Sunday.

British Airways say the 777 service will bring a 16 per cent annual increase in passenger numbers.

Tyrone Sawyer, head of the Ministry of Tourism’s “Airlift Department”, said he expected “growth potential” in tourism from the both the United Kingdom and Europe due to the change of plane. With 1.3 million visitors entering The Bahamas via airports and approximately 10 per cent of these coming from the United Kingdom, the Department of Tourism thinks the new service could be invaluable for the economy. Mr Sawyer said that more seats on the di-

rect flight from Heathrow will “help overall growth prospects” for the Bahamian economy within the European market. Currently, many European visitors transit through Miami International with American airlines.

Mr Sawyer says that the new British Airways flight will make it more convenient for many people from continental Europe to visit The Bahamas.

The change in plane by British Airways comes after an expansion of the Owen Roberts International Airport in the Cayman Islands, to where the flight continues from Nassau. This threeyear $55m development in-

cludes a larger terminal to accommodate the higher volume of passengers and a reinforced runway to accommodate the 777.

Diane Corrie, British Airways’ commercial manager, Caribbean, said in January when the plane upgrade was announced: “The larger aircraft will be welcomed by the business communities on both islands including executives of the banking and finance sector, insurance companies and law firms and residents of The Bahamas who travel frequently to London and beyond on British Airways.

The additional seats available in the premium cabins will also help to boost

visitor arrivals from the UK and Europe to the island.”

Marcia Erskine, the Public Relations Consultant for British Airways in the Caribbean, told The Tribune this week that this increased service will provide “overall 16 per cent more weekly seats versus last year with significant increase in premium cabin”. With a seating capacity of 275 and four flights per week, British Airways will be able to fly 1,100 tourists direct to The Bahamas on a weekly basis. Additionally, the 777 “will offer 62 per cent more premium seats per week and 15 per cent more World Traveller” seats. This will potentially help to attract

a wealthier demographic to visit The Bahamas.

British Airways’ 767 has seating for 189 passengers overall, with 141 in world traveller, 24 in world traveller plus and 24 in club class.

The 777 has room for 275, with 203 in world traveller, 24 in world traveller plus and 48 in club class.

It is likely that other airlines will be monitoring the expansion of British Airways’ service to New Providence. Mr Sawyer told The Tribune that “Virgin have an interest” in resuming their flights from the UK to The Bahamas but have no immediate plan and are yet contacted the Airlift department.

ELECTRONIC PASSPORTS ALLOW USE OF AUTOMATIC KIOSKS FROM TODAY

TRAVELLERS with electronic passports can use the automatic passport control kiosks if bound for the US, starting from today.

FROM today, US-bound passengers travelling on B1 or B2 visas with electronic passports (e-passports) will be able to use the automated passport control (APC) kiosks at Lynden Pindling International Airport.

This expanded clearance now allows many Bahamian passengers to use the selfservice kiosks in the United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) hall.

A growing number of airports are incorporating APC technology to expedite the border clearance process. Instead of filling out a paper customs declaration form, eligible travellers can proceed directly to APC kiosks in the passport control area.

Travellers are prompted to scan their passports, taking a photograph using the kiosk, and answer a series of biographic and customs declaration questions. Travellers then bring their passport and printed-receipt to a USCBP officer to finalise their inspection.

To facilitate the process,

APC ambassadors are in the hall to guide passengers and answer questions.

Twenty APC kiosks are currently in operation in the US pre-clearance facility in Nassau.

Only travellers with machine-readable passports are able to use the APC kiosks, which will only accept visas in electronic passports. People in possession of visas in older passports that are not electronic will continue to be processed

by USCBP officers in the hall. Local travellers using police records will also continue to be screened and processed by USCBP personnel.

An estimated 208,000 passengers will move through the USCBP hall during the remaining summer months.

Vernice Walkine, president and CEO at Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), credits the technology with reducing waiting times for USbound passengers by as much as 80 per cent.

THE KIOSKS in situ at Lynden Pindling International Airport.

“Since we introduced the self-service kiosks in February 2015, processing times have been dramatically reduced. We are pleased to have this benefit extended to persons with B1 and B2 visas and that includes many members of our local

community who have been asking for the ability to use the new technology,” Ms Walkine said.

“Our operations and IT teams have worked closely with manufacturer BorderXpress to test the machines for additional

users. We anticipate an immediate positive impact on our operations, particularly during this busy travel season. Bahamians meeting the requirements will now have the added convenience of processing through US Customs with-

in minutes.”

Up to this point, only US and Canadian passport holders, US lawful permanent residents and travellers with an approved electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA) were eligible to use the kiosks at LPIA.

HEALTH AND SAFETY SCHEME TO HELP LOCALS AND VISITORS

THE Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Caribbean Integrated Public Health Agency are excited to launch the Tourism Health and Safety Programme to protect the health and well-being of visitors and locals.

This is part of a regional tourism and health project, jointly funded by a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), aimed at protecting and enhancing the health and well-being of visitors and locals, thereby promoting sustainable and profitable tourism in the Caribbean.

The Bahamas is one of six participating countries

involved in the initiative, which aims to provide costeffective and quality health, food safety and environmental sanitation solutions to health, safety and environmental sanitation threats impacting sustainable tourism in the Caribbean.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said the ministry fully supports the initiative.

“I believe that we only stand to benefit from ensuring that our guests are healthy and protected,” he said.

“With tourists being much more conscious about their health when they travel it is important that we take steps to ensure that

they not only feel safe, but have health facts readily available about our country.

“We’re excited about participating in any health based programme. It shows that we take our guests’ needs seriously.”

The workshop and training for the programme began at the British Colonial Hilton on Monday.

The genesis of the project lies in the fact that the health of Caribbean economies, including The Bahamas, are closely related to the health of its tourism industry given that the Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world.

Enhancing sustainable tourism will promote eco-

nomic development, poverty eradication and improvement of quality of life in the Bahamas.

Up to July 2015, The Bahamas recorded 512,215 air and sea arrivals.

For the 2014/2015 cruise year, which encompassed the period May 2014 to April 2015, 3.93 million cruise passengers and crew members visited The Bahamas, according to a study conducted by the Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA).

As a result, over 7,000 jobs paying $138m in wages were added to the Bahamian economy, the report stated.

The key benefit of this

project will be fewer outbreaks and other negative public health events occurring in the tourism industry.

This will promote a healthier, safer, more reputable tourism product on the global stage and for both visitors and locals.

This proposal will also strengthen human resource capacity and skills in health, food safety, and environmental management and promote public-private sector inter-sectoral partnerships at national and regional levels.

CARPHA is the Caribbean Integrated Public Health Agency, serving 24-member Caribbean countries and territories.

CARPHA is mandated by heads of government to prevent disease, promote health and respond to public health emergencies.

CARPHA, in partnership with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), established Regional THP in January 2014. The goal of the regional Tourism Health and Safety Programme (THP) is to enhance the health and safety of visitors and locals and the quality and sustainability of the Caribbean tourism industry, thereby contributing to the industry being more competitive, resilient and sustainable.

PAGE 10, Friday, July 1, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Increasing opportunities through edukarting

By ALEXANDER HAWKINS THIS year’s Edukarting summer camp, underway this week at Doris Johnson Senior High School, is focusing on gender inclusivity and making motorsport accessible to individuals of all backgrounds.

Valerie Lightbourne, an organiser of the summer camp and subject co-ordinator for automechanics at Doris Johnson, told The Tribune yesterday that one of her main goals was to promote equal opportunities for gender in motorsport.

She was quick to highlight that last year’s time trial champions were the “all girls team” and said that this year’s crop of students were doing “exceptionally” well already. Ms Lightbourne’s ultimate goal is to take a group of her edukarting colleagues to the “Women in Motorsport Conference” in Lisbon in October.

The group of young Bahamian instructors at the camp is made up of former students of the Edukart-

Cycling Club Bahamas Cycling Club Bahamas. July 2, 2016 Nationals - TT start 8am Mount Pleasant.

July 3, 2016 Nationals - Road Race start 7:am Goodman’s Bay. Registration: 1hr before the event or at Cycles, Mackey St. Weekday rides, East: Morning, Tuesday & Thursday leaving 5am sharp from Sea Grapes Shopping Centre, East Prince Charles Drive. This ride is a 17 mile loop to the Northbound Paradise Island Bridge and back again (Both bridges are sometimes incorporated depending on available time). Open to riders capable of 18mph + for 1 hour.

Lights are essential.

Weekday rides, West: Morning, Wednesdays & Fridays leaving 4:45am sharp from Fidelity Bank Parking Lot (opposite Cable Beach Police Station), West Bay St. This ride is a 20 mile loop. The route is varied. Open to riders capable of 18mph + for 1 hr.

Lights are essential. Contact Shantell to confirm your attendance.

Afternoon: Tuesdays & Thursdays leaving 5:30pm sharp from Old Fort Shopping Center east of Solomon’s Fresh Market. This ride is 18-20 miles depending on whether you choose to do a second loop. Recommended for strong riders capable of 20mph+ for 1-1.5hrs. Intermediate riders 18-22mph, see Spyda.

Weekend rides: Saturdays leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbuck’s) 30-40 miles headed West. In order to complete this ride it is recommended that you have done some recent cycling! Leaving P/I Bridges optional at the end.

The pace will range from 18–20+mph, 2.5 hour duration.

Sundays leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbuck’s) 40-50 miles headed East. This ride is not recommended if you have not cycled recently or first timers! P/I Bridges optional at the end, The pace will

JOIN THE CLUB OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers.

To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@ tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line.

For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 5022373 or 447-3565.

CRAIG Camilleri is pictured assisting the students with riding the karts during the Edukarting Summer Camp held at Doris Johnson High School.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff ing programme, now in its fourth year and a fixture on the Bahamian summer camp schedule.

Mya Curry, 19, is one of this year’s instructors. She was introduced to the programme by Ms Lightbourne during her automechanics course at Doris Johnson. She told The Tribune that she was “hesitant” to join edukarting because of the “male range from 18–20+mph, 3 -3.5 hour duration (cyclists are invited to join in anywhere along the route).

Upcoming events: Youth cycling developmental programme, each Saturday at the tracks, contact Barron on 552-5128.

July 16 Seagillian Cycling Fest, Spanish Wells, Eleuthera.

July 22-25 Team GearedUp to NYC “Tour of Hilltown”.

August 13 & 14 VIVA! Bahamas Invitational T/T & Road Race Nassau, Bahamas.

September 11-18 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Cozumel, Mexico http://cozumel.triathlon. org/event/schedule.

September 24 Potcakeman main event triathlon, Nassau, Bahamas.

November 5 & 6 Conchman Triathlon 30th Anniversary Race & Party, Grand Bahama.

February 4 - 2nd Annual Bahamas Medical Center Dri Tri. February 18 - Ride for Hope, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera.

Kiwanis Aktion Club Kiwanis Aktion Club.

- The Kiwanis TLC in Toronto from June 23-25 had an amazing turnout with representation from eight districts and 15 clubs, including the Kiwanis Aktion Club of Fort Montagu Nassau Bahamas.

Aktion club members assisted Circle K and Ronald McDonald House Toronto packing 150 breakfast bags and 150 welcome home personal items and basic necessities bags.

There were guest appearances by Sleeping Children Around the World executive director, Dave Dryden and cartoonist Mark S from Cruelty-free Cartoons. A great time was had by all.

Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM. - This global organisation of members is dedicated to serving the children of the world. Kiwanis and its family of clubs — more than 660,000 members strong— annually raise more than US$100m and dedicate more than 18.5 million volunteer hours to strengthen communities and serve children. Members of every age attend regular meetings, experience fellowship, raise funds for various causes and participate in service pro-jects that help their communities.

Fellowship and fun: Kiwanis members don’t just do service — they have fun.

Members make new friends

dominance” of motorsport but that Ms Lightbourne encouraged her to pursue her interests. Ms Curry said the programme had helped her “make friends”, “understand different personalities” and develop her interpersonal skills.

When asked why she decided to return to be an instructor she responded enthusiastically, saying that

seeing children getting involved with “something different” was reward in itself. Although she plans to compete in regional karting championships in the future, she added that the skills she developed during her karting experience “could help” in her ultimate career goal of working in the hospitality industry.

Antonio Taylor, 15, a

student at the Edukarting camp, plans on pursuing a career in mechanics. A student at C V Bethel Senior High, he said he enjoys the racing but also thinks that his experiences at the edukarting summer camp could help him become a mechanic. He recommended the camp to his friends and family.

The head instructor Craig Camilleri, an experienced karter, said that his former students had now “gained enough knowledge to teach” and that the organisers were “really pleased to have our first Bahamian instructors” this year. He said that the summer camp sought to improve the student’s “mechanics, art and design, public speaking, financial planning, discipline and of course, driving.”

Bringing together students from differing schools and backgrounds, the course makes students “responsible for everything, from the team name and logo to their budget, [and] timekeeping.”

The students’ performance is judged on their planning and teamwork as well as

their driving ability, with the final day culminating in a “team time trial” to crown the winner of the competition.

Mr Camilleri told The Tribune that there was an emphasis on taking the children out of their comfort zone, saying that, “we do not let anyone shy away from something they have never done before”. This, he says, pays dividends in the future as “past graduates use the skills they have learned in Edukarting to help them in job interview situations as they have knowledge of how to present themselves and speak in public.” In this way, the students will learn to “act professionally and conduct themselves in a mature manner”.

Edukarting features two one-week programmes taught by industry professionals to encourage a love of motorsport, team building and an introduction to associated disciplines with future marketable skills.

The camp is limited to 30 students between 11 and 16 per week at a cost of $25 per student.

KIWANIS Aktion club members, front, Andrea McSweeney, Jervisian Stuart; second row: parent Cyprianna Stuart, Aktion member Alvia Pen, advisor Garnell Kemp, support member Curlene Burrows, parent Francis Rolle, Aktion member Christopher Rolle; third row: Aktion Club president Kevin Archer, Aktion member Lynden Rahming and parent Marjorie Archer. by being part of a club where they attend meetings and participate in social events. Kiwanis clubs also provide excellent networking opportunities for professionals. Members meet new people from all over their region and the world through service projects, fundraising and by attending district and Kiwanis International conventions.

We meet every Monday at Holy Cross Activity Centre at 7pm.

The objectives of the club are: • To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.

• To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

• To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business and profes-sional standards.

• To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship.

• To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service and to build better communities.

• To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.

Women’s Corona Society of Nassau Women’s Corona Society of Nassau. - A great time was had by all at the Elegant White Night Cocktail Party held at the gorgeous home of Julie Fellay. Corona members provided a variety of dishes to taste, as

ABOVE and below, attendees at the white night cocktail party held by the Women’s Corona Society. the wine and conversation flowed. A lovely memory as the group breaks for summer!

Corona is a non-profit women’s club formed to promote friendship between women of all nations.

We organise regular events to encourage networking among members and raise funds for local charities.

For more information or to join the club, please contact coronanassau@yahoo. com.

Some of the regular activities of our club include: West-End Coffee Morning: Each Friday at News Café Sandyport 10am.

East-End Coffee Morning: Each Friday morning at Harbor Bay Plaza Starbucks 10am.

Mahjong: Each Wednesday 10am to 2pm at Zio Gigi’s Cave’s Plaza Gardening: Contact Susie DiGuili (degiulisusy8@ gmail.com) or Annabelle Book Club: If interestHammond (annabelham- Contact Carolyn Wardle (carolyn.w.bahamas@ ed in joining, contact Ana mond@hotmail.com) Rosa Phillips 601-8036.

Tennis: By arrangement. gmail.com)