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NO MURDERS IN JULY - AND POLICE CREDIT TEAM EFFORT
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THERE have been no reported murders for the entire month of July, with a senior police officer attributing it to a “consistent” policing effort by members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Police Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander, SEE PAGE TEN
MP stands by GOVERNOR GENERAL JOINS EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION pledge as Minnis retains leadership By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins confirmed yesterday that he will not be seeking a Free National Movement constituency nomination in the next general election now that Dr Hubert Minnis has retained the leadership of the party. Dr Rollins also announced that he has “invited Dr Minnis to rescind” his appointment as Shadow Minister of National Security. In June in a series of press statements, Dr Rollins openly criticised Dr Minnis and his supporters, stating that the leader had no substance or vision
for the country. It was then that he originally made the pledge to step aside if Dr Minnis was re-elected leader, explaining that he could not expect to campaign alongside him given his critique of Dr Minnis and his role in the push for an early convention. Six of the Opposition’s ten MPs – Loretta ButlerTurner, Hubert Chipman, Neko Grant, Richard Lightbourn, Theo Neilly and Dr Rollins – threatened to petition Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to remove Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition unless the initial November date was brought forward. SEE PAGE SIX
FNM CHAIRMAN: BUTLER-TURNER KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO LOSE By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net PARTY Chairman Sidney Collie said Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner did not withdraw from the Free National Movement’s leadership race because the process was “corrupt” but because she knew “the tide was against her” and she could not win. Mr Collie told The Tribune that Mrs Butler-Turner put on the “best show that she could” but she knew after giving her speech on the second night of the FNM’s
convention last week “her leadership race was over”. Mrs Butler-Turner’s hour-long speech on Thursday night ended with angry Dr Hubert Minnis supporters chanting “Roc wit Doc” in an attempt to force her from the podium. At one point during her speech, Mrs Butler-Turner also called for FNM parliamentarians, senators and candidates to join her on stage in a show of solidarity. However, only her running mate for deputy leader, Dr Duane Sands, stood by her side. SEE PAGE EIGHT
EMANCIPATION Day celebrations were held in Fox Hill yesterday, with Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling attending the annual ecumenical service. For more photographs, see page two. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
LIGHTBOURN UNDER FIRE FOR ‘TUBE TYING’ COMMENTS By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net TWO local advocacy groups have condemned Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn’s proposal for the state-sponsored sterilisation of women as “archaic, barbaric and dangerous”, charging that the suggestion is “frighteningly
reminiscent” of sterilisation policies used against black people internationally in the 1960s. Citizens for Constitutional Equality (CCE), in a statement, said Mr Lightbourn’s proposal to “target young, black, poor women” in order to reduce the number of children being born is akin to “policies used against black South Afri-
cans under apartheid and African-Americans in Mississippi and Alabama” at the height of racial tensions in the 1960s. The group also said Mr Lightbourn’s proposed policy is “state enforced violence against women,” which the group said is a “perverse violation of human rights” that demonstrates Mr Lightbourn’s
TURNQUEST ASKS WHY CARNIVAL REPORT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest yesterday questioned why the Christie administration has not yet released this year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival financial performance report. Mr Turnquest, the shadow minister for finance,
said the Bahamian people “are due a full and transparent explanation of how that money was spent, and what the returns were on that money.” Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival was held in Nassau from May 7-9 and in Grand Bahama from April 15-16. However, more than two months after the festival was held, many, including members of the Official Opposi-
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MINISTRY DELAY FORCES HOLD-UP IN SCHOOL REPAIRS
tion, have questioned why the Government has yet to produce figures on the festival’s financial performance and economic impact. Last week, Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) Chairman Paul Major said the report is complete, but could not confirm when it would be released publicly. SEE PAGE TEN
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
“utter lack of understanding and awareness of what gender equality, women’s empowerment, agency and human rights really means”. Meanwhile, non-profit organisation Bahamas Women’s Watch (BWW) said Mr Lightbourn’s proposed policy “highlights an absolute disrespect and contempt for SEE PAGE FIVE
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
WITH little over a month before the start of the 20162017 academic year, repairs to schools across the country face major setbacks due to an unexplained halt in submitting the Ministry of Works’ annual “scope of repairs report”. SEE PAGE TEN
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CELEBRATIONS HELD TO MARK EMANCIPATION DAY
THE TRIBUNE
YOUNGSTERS among those attending Emancipation Day events in Fox Hill, which included an annual ecumenical service, attended by Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell and Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling. A cookout was also among events held to mark the occasion. Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
SUSPECT SHOT BY POLICE OFFICERS A SUSPECT was shot by police last night in an incident near Montagu Beach. Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander last night told The Tribune that officers on routine patrol in the area, where celebrations were going on as part of holiday weekend activities, spotted what he described as a prolific offender nearby. The officers approached the suspect who then fled. The officers gave chase
and caught up with the suspect, but he reportedly then reached for a weapon. Chief Supt Fernander said: “There was a struggle. The individual produced a weapon. The officers then, being in fear of their life, fired upon the suspect.� The suspect was then taken to hospital where he remained last night under heavy police guard. His condition was not clear at the time of going to press.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 2, 2016, PAGE 3
EIGHT CUBAN MIGRANTS DETAINED BY RBDF EIGHT Cuban migrants have been turned over to Immigration officials after they were apprehended in Bahamian waters by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force on Thursday night, taking the total captured to 34 during July. While on routine patrol, HMBS Lignum Vitae under the command of Acting Senior Lieutenant Valentino Rolle spotted a 20-foot makeshift aluminum motor driven vessel 45 nautical miles west of Ragged Island around 8pm. A further search of the vessel revealed the six men and two women, who were then taken aboard the Defence Force craft. The migrants were brought into the Coral Harbour Base shortly after 3pm on Saturday.
RBDF Marines conducting a thorough search of the Cuban migrants and their personal items aboard HMBS Lignum Vitae. Photo: Able Seaman Drissen Brennen/RBDF
Zika virus alert in Miami MIAMI (AP) - Government health officials warned pregnant women yesterday to avoid a Zikastricken section of Miami and arrange to be tested for the virus if they have visited the Wynwood neighbourhood since mid-June after the number of people feared infected through mosquito bites in the United States climbed to 14. In a highly unusual and perhaps unprecedented travel warning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also said men and women who have recently been to the affected area should wait at least eight weeks before trying to conceive a child. All 14 cases are thought to have occurred in Miami’s Wynwood arts district, a trendy, fast-gentrifying neighbourhood of warehouses, art galleries, restaurants and boutiques. Florida Governor Rick Scott asked for a CDC emergency response team to help the state combat Zika, which after sweeping Latin America and the Caribbean is beginning to spread in the US. The White House said a team will be sent quickly. On Friday, health officials announced four cases of Zika that they believe are the first ones contracted from mosquitoes on the US mainland. Ten more cases were announced yesterday. Zika infections in pregnant women can cause severe brain-related birth defects. The outbreak has led to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly, in which a baby is born with an extremely small head. US health officials have said all along that while isolated clusters of Zika may occur in this country, they do not expect major outbreaks like those seen in Latin America, because
of better sanitation and mosquito control and widespread use of air conditioners and window screens. CDC officials said they could not remember another time in the 70-year history of the agency when it told members of the public not to travel to a certain place within the United States. The travel warning covers an area of about one square mile in Wynwood to the east of Interstate 95 and south of I-195. It’s large enough, health officials said, to provide a buffer around the suspected hot zone. The tropical mosquito that spreads Zika travels less than 200 yards in its lifetime. Some experts said that is far too small a radius. Dr Peter Hotez, a tropical medicine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, said the CDC should be more cautious and expand the travel advisory to all of Miami-Dade County. “If you’re pregnant or think you might be pregnant, avoid travel to Miami, and possible elsewhere in South Florida,” he said. “I’m guessing most women who are pregnant are doing that. I don’t think they’re sitting around for the CDC to split hairs and fine-tune it to a specific area.” CDC director Dr Tom Frieden said the narrowly drawn warning was dictated by science and not by any concern for Florida’s crucial tourism industry. He said it was based on the nation’s ability to contain outbreaks of other diseases carried by the same mosquito. “There wouldn’t be a technical or scientific basis to give a broader recommendation,” he said. Florida health officials said they have tested more than 200 people in MiamiDade and Broward Counties since early July. The CDC emergency team will help Florida officials inves-
tigate the outbreak, collect samples and control mosquitoes. Of the 14 people infected, two are women and 12 are men. Eight patients showed symptoms of Zika, which can include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. The others had no symptoms. The disease is often so mild that most people do not know they are infected. “We will continue to keep our residents and visitors safe utilising constant surveillance and aggressive strategies, such as increased mosquito spraying, that have allowed our state to fight similar viruses,” the governor said in a statement. More than 1,650 cases of Zika have been reported in US states, nearly all the result of travel to a Zikastricken country or sex with someone who was infected abroad. Last week Bahamas health officials reinforced their efforts to combat the potential spread of the Zika virus to the country, again issuing notices that residents have the biggest role to play in prevention. Officials confirmed that their screening and prevention activities have, up to July 9, already addressed 56 potential Zika cases, all resulting in negative readings. “As it stands, local health officials have implemented a special clinic for persons
travelling to and returning transmission from infected ed carriers to refrain from from areas affected by the partners. Cases of blood participating in sexual acZika virus. Additionally, transfusion and laboratory tivities with a woman who source reduction and ac- worker infections have also is or can become pregnant. tivities to decrease the mos- been documented.” “The best thing to do would quito population such as He warned that people be to abstain from sex while treatment of water sources who suspect that they are infected,” he added. and fogging are ongoing,” infected, if they do engage Ten days ago, five cases a statement read by Chief in sexual activities, to use of Zika infection were conMedical Officer Glen Ben- condoms from start to finfirmed in Turks and Caicos Tuesday, 2nd August 2016 eby said. ish. He also urged suspect- Islands. “Zika is transmitted primarily by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same mosquito that transmit dengue, "CRAWFISH SEASON IS chikungunya and yellow feHERE! Be sure to get ver viruses. This mosquito your 'Castrol Super is present in the Bahamas. Outboard Plus' and These mosquitos are commonly found around the diesel lubes before you home and breed in any set sail!" standing water sources.” Dr Dowdeswell Street Beneby described the Aedes aegypti as an aggressive “day biter” with increased biting activity “two hours af#239 ter sunrise and several hours before sunset. Other modes of transmission have been identified, including passing the Zika infection from 1colx2.5"_Wanted Ad_GraphicDesigners_ mother to baby and sexual
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‘Bahamianisation’ more a curse than a blessing, says QC IN AN interview with our business editor last week an outspoken QC declared that “Bahamianisation has been more of a curse to The Bahamas than a blessing”. It, and the dictatorial and unfair manner in which it has been administered over the years, has been the greatest hindrance to the growth of this small island nation. We are little fish in a big pond trying to out swim the big fish, which swish past drowning most of us in their wake. And yet some of us, although we keep flapping, are getting nowhere. Fred Smith, QC, told our Business Editor, that the “Bahamianisation concept had helped foster a sense of entitlement and professionalism at the expense of maintaining high performance standards”. He said it had also helped create a political and economic elite who had been able to profit at the expense of the rest of Bahamian society. “It dumbs down the quality of service to simply benefit nationalism,” he said. “It decreases opportunities for competition, the provision of cutting edge products to the consumer, and ultimately only benefits a select few.” Mr Smith, as would many other successful lawyers, wants to see a liberalisation of the legal profession. However, there are lawyers, such as Paul Moss, principal of a Bahamas-based financial services business, who rejects the idea of opening the Bahamas Bar to specialist practitioners and law firms. “As a senior practitioner,” Mr Smith told our editor, “I very much support the liberalisation of the Bar. It is certainly in keeping with our international obligations, in particular to CARICOM, and the free movement of people between Caribbean nations. “Given that The Bahamas promotes itself as a safe, and competitive jurisdiction in which to do business, expanding and liberalising our Bar, and allowing foreign practitioners to appear in the country will expand the jurisdiction and legal services industry,” he said. In the mid-nineties, there was much talk in Nassau in legal circles about setting up an international arbitration centre for commercial conciliation. Dubai was mushrooming into a region to be watched at the time — it had enticed Sir Sol Kerzner to duplicate Atlantis on a specially built palm-shaped island there. In 1994, it had set up the Centre for Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration, and created Emirate Airlines, the largest airline operating at its modern airport. Today it is the largest arbitration centre in the Middle East. It is a nonprofit institution that is independent in its operations from the Dubai government and Dubai Chamber of Commerce. It
provides international business communities with commercial arbitration services, including modern and well equipped meeting/hearing rooms. It has also developed a pool of experienced arbitrators from different nationalities and legal backgrounds. And, more importantly, it is not hamstrung by immigration — it can attract the world’s best and, therefore, offer the best that the world has to offer in expertise. Not so in The Bahamas. Here we are hamstrung by an island complex and a myopic immigration department. While Dubai has its Arbitration Centre (CIArb), Bahamians are still talking. In May, 2014, speaking at a conference hosted by the Bahamas branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, another Queen’s Counsel, Brian Moree warned that the idea of barring international clients from having foreign lawyers in dispute resolutions is an “absurdity”. “To merely state that we want to be a regional international arbitration centre, but we don’t want to allow any foreign lawyers reveals the absurdity of that position – it cannot happen,” he said at that time. “If foreign lawyers cannot have free ingress and egress in and out of our country, there will be no chance that our centre will be used,” he warned. Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution that seeks to settle disputes outside of court. The Bahamian branch of CIArb and other organizations have long sought to establish the Bahamas as a regional centre for arbitration, leveraging its strategic geographic location to attract business from the Americas. Mr Moree, warned that The Bahamas stood “no chance” of establishing itself as a regional centre for international arbitration if it does not revamp its immigration policy on foreign lawyers. He said that parties utilising a future arbitration centre in The Bahamas needed the freedom to bring in whomever they chose with their legal and litigation support team. The project would not succeed if future clients and support staff have to go through the current work permit process. “It cannot be overly bureaucratic, and it must not take too long, Why? Because they’ll go elsewhere.” Now more than two years later Mr Fred Smith, QC, is arguing the same point. But as Mr Moree had said earlier: “If we’re not able to do it, let’s not waste our time talking about an arbitration centre, because it isn’t going to happen.” Unless the immigration problem can be removed, 20 years from now another generation of Bahamian will be swimming aimlessly around in the same fish pond and getting nowhere. Is that to be the future of The Bahamas?
The end game EDITOR, The Tribune.,
MERCIFULLY, the debacle of the FNM Convention and the parade of political clowns and grotesque dancers are over and Bahamians are now able to get on with the very serious business and issues at hand. Good governance in a socalled democracy requires a strong opposition and a cadre of civil society partners to keep the government in focus; transparent and, more elusively, transparent. Since the defeat of the FNM in 2012 and the ignoble, but expected, resignation of former PM Ingraham, the PLP administration and its leadership cadre have had a free ride on all of the major issues and public policy initiatives. The government has gone unchallenged on any number of matters which, had a vibrant opposition been in place, could have led to a successful Motion of No Confidence. The FNMs convention is now history and the team of Minnis and Turnquest has been retained to lead the party into the general elections. It has been reported that the axe has been buried between the two then competing teams. It remains to
be seen if the bad blood and overt bitterness displayed, large and in charge, during the campaign leading up to the convention or was it the debacle? The FNM is no longer the party of Ingraham. It has been remade into the party of Minnis. Truly, the Ingraham era, may be over. As a pragmatic person, however, I rule nothing out in politics in our wonderful nation. Minnis now has a final opportunity to remake himself and to present himself to FNMs but more importantly to the average Bahamian voter that he has what it takes to beat the PLP in 2017. The PLP is challenged with having a leader who is seemingly out of touch but, at this juncture, he may well be all that we’ve got as we get battle ready. I am not and have never been a partisan of Christie. He has served the Bahamian people for more than forty years in politics. When is enough, enough? Unlike the FNM, however, we PLPs will not engage in fratricidal warfare in public. If Butler-Turner and Sands had held their ground straight into the actual voting by delegates, they would have, in my view, emerged
victorious. They decided, however, to abandon their quest in the latter stages and denied hundreds of their supporters an opportunity to vote for them. There will not be a chance for them to regroup until after the FNM is defeated, again, next year at the polls. The brutal leadership campaign and the alleged “hijacked” convention do not speak well for the viability or credibility of the FNM much less its leadership cadre. This is so sad and tantamount to a grave disappointment to genuine FNMs and independent swing voters. How this will play out in the months ahead and in the general elections is anyone’s guess. However, it does, the scenario and comedy of errors are not, I submit, conducive for the way forward for the FNM under the continued leadership of the good doctor. The patient called and well known as the FNM is sick unto death, politically, and the doctor has failed to offer hope and help. To God then, The Great Physician , in all things, be the glory. ORTLAND H. BODIE JR. Nassau, July 31, 2016
Are KMPG government puppets? EDITOR, The Tribune. KPMG appears to be pandering to the government’s wishes at every corner. They say what they mean but don’t actually mean what they say. All of their reports, including their Review of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas 2014-2015 Mid-Year National Budget, give opinions that are meagre at best and stated in a way not to upset the government. Their predecessors Pricewaterhouse, when asked to give their opinion on the controversial NHI Scheme, seem to be cast aside and threatened when giving their honest opinion which was not in keeping with that of the government and their plans. KPMG themselves admit in their review of the 2014-2015 budget that the “elephant in the room” was and remains Government expenditure and questioned whether the measures being taken were sufficiently aggressive.” To date the elephant has not yet left the room, but all of a sudden the government can miraculously afford and sustain a National Health programme. KPMG states that “While it appears that total employment has increased somewhat, overall unemployment has worsened to 15.7 per cent in November 2014 from 14.3 per cent in May, and 15.4 oer cent in November 2013.” There has been no improvement since then. The Minister of Health, Dr Perry Gomez, made it very clear back in 2013 that the “NHI is a contributory scheme and the level of
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net unemployment is very important because the more unemployed there are then the greater the burden on the government to finance it.” Dr Gomez went on to say that “when we did the report 10 years ago the level of unemployment was just under eight per cent. When we came into office (2012) the unemployment rate was 15 per cent, hence their reservation of going forward at that time.” The IMF projected the unemployment rate for 2016 to be 15.6 per cent but the unemployment rates Nationwide according to a recent release from the Department of Statistics is 16.2 per cent, so even higher than projected. KPMG went on to say that “there are much larger gains to be made in reducing expenses and increasing transparency and accountability. It is pleasing to note that the Government has embarked or is embarking on various initiatives to reign in expenditure and achieve more value for money from what it spends money on.” This statement was made in the 2014-2015 report. There has clearly been no reduction in expenses, transparency nor accountability. KPMG says they “agree with expectations that with the opening of Baha Mar, and a number of other projects around the country, the next 6 months (after their 2104-2015 report) will see a meaningful reduction in unemployment levels.
However, it will take significantly more economic growth and diversification, as well as targeted training, to bring unemployment levels down to truly acceptable levels.” As mentioned earlier none of this has ever come to fruition; it has only become worse. KPMG concluded that the country was on the right track and taking many of the right steps, yet nothing they had foreseen has actually happened. KPMG openly admits again in their 2015 island infrastructure summit that “Infrastructure is critical to the growth of island economies. However, most island markets struggle to bridge the gap between the demand for infrastructure and the available supply of funding, capacity and capability.” All of which our government has failed to provide. KPMG must realize our economy and unemployment among other things have not improved but yet they continue to pander to the government’s wishes and push through NHI, knowing that our small island nation is in no position to do so at this time. The government and KPMG alike should heed the words of Winston Churchill who said – “To build may be a slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day”. Please don’t destroy our country on a political promise and your pride. Take the time and “get it right”. NHI INSIDER Nassau, August 1, 2016.
Damage from web shops EDITOR, The Tribune
I AM strongly opposed to web shops (gambling), not so much from a Christian point of view as from a social perspective. And so I was not surprised to read the story on page 5 of The Tribune on Thursday, July 14 entitled: “Bank Governor concern over web shop funds”. It would be interesting to know how many members of parliament and senators, read the article? I suggest very few. The article is very dis-
turbing, but not surprising. I wish to share with your readers the fourth paragraph of the story: “According to Mr Rolle, speculation surrounding the sources of the large financial gains of the web shop operations, could lead international financial institutions to question all financial institutions in the Bahamas, and as a result hasten their derisking.” Yes, I am against web shops because of the damage they do to the social fibre of our country. Thou-
sands of children in our Bahamaland are hurting while a few web shop operators get filthy rich and the Treasury gets a few million. Another serious concern of mine is to do with the power of the web shop operators. My readers would agree that money is power and so I find it frightening the large amounts of money in the hands of a few. Think my fellow Bahamainas. For what it is worth, PATRICK BETHEL Abaco, July 26, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 2, 2016, PAGE 5
Lightbourn ‘must resign’ after sterilisation proposal By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party women MPs have called for the resignation of Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn over his contentious proposal for statesponsored sterilisation of women as an anti-crime initiative. Mr Lightbourn’s controversial comments were made on the second night of the Free National Movement’s national convention at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, and have since gone viral on social media with many vilifying the parliamentarian. The FNM immediately distanced the party from the Montagu MP’s proposal, stating that the party did not believe in restricting the reproductive rights of anyone. Mr Lighbourn has since apologised publicly for his comments. In a joint statement issued on Friday morning, Yamacraw MP Melanie Griffin, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin, and Seabreeze MP Hope Strachan branded his remarks as “despicable”. “We were shocked and disgusted to hear the offensive suggestion of Mr. Richard
RICHARD LIGHTBOURN, MP for Montagu, whose comments about tying the tubes of unwed mothers saw the FNM issue a statement distancing themselves from his comments. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Lightbourn, MP for Mon- nation from Parliament.” “adopting the lead of sevtagu, that the State should It continued: “We con- eral countries in the world cause for Bahamian wom- demn Mr Lightbourn out- which result in unwed en to be sterilised after giv- rightly on behalf of every mother having her tubes ing birth to two (2) children Bahamian woman.” tied after having more than to prohibit them from having During his convention two children”. Mr Lightany more children thereaf- speech, Mr Lightbourn set bourn said the result would ter,” the statement read. out initiatives that he felt be less children, essentially “While these kinds of could form part of his par- reducing the burden of the outrageous comments have ty’s crime plan if they be- state in terms of social care, come to typify the position- come the next government. education and employment. ings of Mr Lightbourn, his Making his case, he pointed He also suggested that an comments last night show out that children born in FNM government would that he is unfit for public unstable family environ- introduce legislation that office and he should im- ments were high-risk to be- would enable a court to mediately apologise to all come involved in crime. deduct child support from Bahamian women. In fact, He furthered that it a father’s pay to be paid dihe should tender his resig- was necessary to consider rectly to the unwed mother
LIGHTBOURN UNDER FIRE FOR ‘TUBE TYING’ COMMENTS from page one
women’s rights” and serves “to explain the lack of advancement on core women’s empowerment issues” in the country. The group said instead of “scapegoating poor women as the reason for the social ills in The Bahamas,” Mr Lightbourn should “consider the unequal power relations and the exploitation of women in the inner city” as well as the fact that “many women are left to raise children and care for children on their own.” CCE also said Mr Lightbourn’s proposal “suggests that he absolves men of any burden in this” and said it is “obscene to blame the most vulnerable of our society for its problems”. The strongly-worded statements by the two groups came days after Mr Lightbourn proposed at the Free National Movement’s convention that the country adopt legislation that mandates unwed mothers with more than two children have their “tubes tied” in an effort to curtail the country’s social ills. Mr Lightbourn indicated that children born in unstable family situations often grow up to participate in criminal activities. To offset that occurrence, the shadow attorney general posited that it was necessary to consider “adopting the lead of several countries in the world,” the result of which he said would be less children, essentially reducing the burden of the state in terms of social care, education and employment. “Implicit in Mr Lightbourn’s proposal is a policy to target young, black, poor woman in order to reduce the number of children being born; reduce the number of children in the schools and reduce the number of people seeking unemployment,” CCE said. “This policy proposal of sterilisation is frighteningly reminiscent of the policies used against black South Africans in Mississippi and Alabama, as recently as the 1960s. This is not who we are as a people.” CCE added: “To execute such a policy requires a coercive and discriminatory approach against a certain set of women in our society by the state.
This compounds the reality that many women in the Bahamas become pregnant because of coercion, rape, inclusive of marital rape, incest and other forms of violations of their human rights, such as poverty. “Mr Lightbourn’s proposal displays an utter lack of understanding and awareness of what gender equality, women’s empowerment, agency and human rights really means.” BWW, meanwhile, said Mr Lightbourn’s proposal “must be strongly condemned and outrightly rejected by everyone.” The group said as a political leader, Mr Lightbourn should be informed and aware of the “critical need for the state to play a significant role in public education and socialization around issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights.” BWW added: “Instead of scapegoating poor women as the reason for the social ills in The Bahamas, he should consider the unequal power relations and the exploitation of women in the inner city and the fact that many women are
left to raise children and care for children on their own. It suggests that he absolves men of any burden in this and it is obscene to blame the most vulnerable of our society for its problems.” Mr Lightbourn’s controversial comments were made on the second night of the convention at the Melia resort, and have since gone viral on social media with many vilifying the parliamentarian. His comments, as well as the subsequent criticisms, have made headlines in regional media outlets, such as the Jamaica Observer. Mr Lightbourn offered a public apology for his statements the following day, stating that making them was “an extremely poor decision on my part”. “It was never my intention to offend anyone but to speak to the need for effective parenting and the support for a strong family structure which will go a long way toward solving many of our country’s social ills,” he said in his written apology. “It is a woman’s right to decide what to do with her body.”
of his child. Shortly following his speech on Thursday night, Mr Lightbourn admitted to The Tribune that it had been a “poor statement”, and sought to clarify his position. He explained that he had intended to use the position adopted by several countries in a bid to illustrate that the country needed “to develop a position to address the number of children born to teenage women”. On Friday he apologised publicly. In a statement, Mr Lighbourn said: “I would like to sincerely apologise to the Bahamian public and women in particular for my comments made last night at the Free National Movement convention. “It was never my intention to offend anyone but to speak to the need for effective parenting and the support for a strong family structure which will go a long way toward solving many of our country’s social ills. “It is a woman’s right to decide what to do with her body. “I received immediate and justified criticism for my comments. It was an extremely poor decision on my part.
“My comments in no way shape or form reflect the position of the FNM.” The FNM’s Torchbearers Youth Association described the comments as “not only careless but insensitive”. Women candidates of the Democratic National Alliance also released a joint statement to condemn the Montagu MP and called for both him and his party to issue an apology to Bahamian women. “The idea that sterilising Bahamian women is the answer to classroom overcrowding, the DNA statement read, “and high unemployment is beyond offensive. “Rather than attempting to intervene in matters which he clearly knows nothing about, Mr Lightbourn and the FNM should instead be creating the kind of legislation that empowers young Bahamian mothers in a way that allows them to take care of themselves and their children. It added: “If this is truly the spineless, visionless and misogynistic approach to governance that the FNM is bringing to the table, then they can keep it! Bahamian mother want no part of the FNM’s sexist and anti-feminist mentality.”
PAGE 6 , Tuesday, August 2, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Minnis ‘certain’ Butler-Turner will be Long Island candidate By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net AFTER surviving a second attempt in two years to thwart his leadership, Free National Movement (FNM) leader Dr Hubert Minnis signalled on Friday evening that he will not purge the party of the high-profile members who have publicly criticised his leadership and help expose the party’s bitter divisions. His speech came during the final session of the FNM’s three-day convention. They were his first public remarks since Loretta Butler-Turner and Dr Duane Sands withdrew from the leadership race early on Friday morning, citing failures in the delegate selection process and other perceived slights. As it had done all week, the crowd of hundreds clad in red gave Dr Minnis a hero’s welcome as he entered the ballroom with loud music resounding. Displaying an increasingly comfortable and confident speaking style, Dr Minnis delivered a sometimes self-deprecating speech in which he said he has offered significant concessions to Mrs ButlerTurner and Dr Sands. “Tonight we offer the olive branch once again to our sister Loretta ButlerTuner, who I’m certain will be our candidate in Long Island with my full support,” he said. “We have undergone a lot over the last few years,” he
added. “Our internal politics have been laid bare for all the world to see and it’s not been pretty, but through it all we have maintained our integrity and focused on the points that unite us.” Dr Minnis’s reference to Mrs Butler-Turner drew a fair, if tepid response from the crowd. Regarding Dr Sands, he said: “My medical colleague and political colleague, we work close together in the hospital and I must say that on many occasions when I ran into surgical difficulties in areas that are outside my domain, Sands was there for me. Each of these worthy leaders are qualified and possess the experience to rescue this nation and to contribute mightily to its future success. It is our hope that they will accept our offer to continue being a valuable part of this leadership team. We have made significant offers to both to demonstrate our commitment to them and we earnestly hope they accept.” Earlier on Friday, Mrs Butler-Turner also expressed a desire to work with Dr Minnis for unity. Dr Minnis’ speech hit familiar FNM themes of a country on its way to ruin because of what it perceives to be the Progressive Liberal Party’s incompetence and ineffectiveness. Days after former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham expressed distress at the state of the FNM, Dr Minnis alluded to him in his speech. “My mentor and political teacher,” he called
FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis at the FNM convention last week. Mr Ingraham. “Sometimes people, black and white, he say ‘you hard-headed rich and poor, young and and don’t listen’. We had old and all genders. This many rows but we always at victory is yours because the end agree to disagree.” you matter.” Speaking of his leadDr Sands was in the ballership battle, Dr Minnis room for Dr Minnis’ speech said: “This isn’t my vic- on Friday night but Mrs tory. It belongs to all the Butler-Turner was absent.
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Of the various policy ecutions independent. notes struck during the He also drew heavy apnight, Dr Minnis received plause for promising to his biggest applause for tackle the country’s cronypledging to rid the country ism culture. of official corruption by “I don’t need to know creating laws and making your last name,” he said. essential bodies like the “I don’t need to know your Department of Public Pros- parent’s name.”
ROLLINS: I WON’T RUN FOR THE FNM from page one
In making their case against their leader, the MPs highlighted a myriad
of inefficiencies in a letter to the party’s Central Council, including his fail-
ure to take command of the party “at almost every turn” despite their repeated efforts to support him. In a statement yesterday, Dr Rollins said he “stands by” his decision to join some of his parliamentary colleagues in calling for an early convention and he takes full responsibility for his actions. However, Dr Rollins said he would not take responsibility for the “decision of others to undermine the party’s leader, and by extension the party, by releasing a blistering letter to the Council, enumerating the perceived de-
ficiencies and failings of Dr Minnis”. In fact, Dr Rollins contends that he was never consulted about the letter, never signed the letter and did not know about it until he heard the letter being read on a local talk show. The Fort Charlotte MP said it was then he decided that if Mrs Butler-Turner, who he blames for the letter, was going to be unethical that he would “allow her to suffer her own political demise”. “I proceeded to make inquiries to others about why my name was included on
a letter that I knew nothing about and had not made any contribution to. I subsequently received an apology - written and verbal - from Mrs Loretta Butler-Turner, whom I suspected was intending to once again run for the party’s leadership,” Dr Rollins said. “However, still privately upset by the lack of respect shown to me, I decided that the best way to respond to her unethical act was to allow her to suffer her own political demise. If she wanted to make her bed hard, then I would get out of her way so that she could lie down in it. “Those who assisted Mrs Butler-Turner in drafting the letter were clearly executing a scorched earth strategy intended to benefit her ensuing campaign, by wreaking so much havoc that it would be highly unlikely the delegates of the convention would re-elect Dr Minnis as the party’s leader. “Clearly, it had the exact opposite effect, because the only beneficiary of this misguided political strategy is the PLP, who have been generously supplied with an unlimited amount of ammunition to use against the FNM during the upcoming campaign.” Dr Rollins also questioned why the five MPs who had no confidence in Dr Minnis would insist on receiving a nomination to run for the party under that same leader “knowing that their presence during the campaign will serve as a constant reminder of the damning contents of the scathing letter that they authored”. “This recklessness was compounded on Friday past when Mrs Butler-Turner boldly accused Dr Minnis of spearheading a convention filled with corruption and criminality,” Dr Rollins said. “To my mind, her pursuit of a nomination under Dr Minnis, following such egregious actions, is both illogical and unacceptable. Endorsing them would amount to political malpractice of the worst kind.” Dr Rollins said the party will now have to “work a miracle” to convince the electorate that the FNM is unified and worthy of their confidence.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 2, 2016, PAGE 7
PLP chairman blasts Sands, Butler-Turner as cowards By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts declared yesterday that the Free National Movement was not ready to govern, branding Long Island MP Loretta Butler Turner and Senator Dr Duane Sands as “cowards” for quitting the convention leadership race hours before delegates cast their votes. In an address to the PLP’s women’s branch, Mr Roberts called the FNM’s convention “one big joke” and said the opposition party is delusional if they think it was anything other than a circus. “Bombastic Loretta Butler Turner and serial loser Dr Duane Sands cowardly surrendered and admitted defeat at 2 am before the first ballot was cast. Butler-Turner accused (Dr Hubert) Minnis of criminal behaviour and organized corruption that she would
not ‘validate’,” Mr Roberts said. “Hours later she would hold a press conference to say that notwithstanding the fact that Dr Minnis rigged the entire electoral process, she will work with him in the future for the sake of party unity. Really? Where is Loretta Butler Turner’s sense of self respect, honour and integrity? There is no unity in the FNM. “ The Free National Movement held its highly-anticipated national convention last week. The event was expected to put an end to bitter-infighting and kick start the party’s general election campaign with a united image. However, the unity theme was marred by accusations of criminal behaviour and corruption lodged by leadership contender Mrs Butler-Turner against incumbent leader Dr Hubert Minnis. Notwithstanding Mrs Butler-Turner’s sudden withdrawal from the race, the convention was mired in controversy
following contentious comments made by Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn who supported the sterilization of unwed mothers of two children. Mr Lightbourn’s comments have since gone viral and were picked up by regional and international news agencies. His remarks incited strong rebuke both from his own party, women’s rights activists and parliamentarians. Mr Roberts said the only thing the people saw when they watched the “show” was a “poorly organized and executed convention” with accusations of organized corruption and criminal conduct, which “caused a bitter row among delegates.” “Peter Turnquest cussed out Butler-Turner from the podium while Ingraham was lurking in the shadows seeking to use his minions to selfishly break up the entire party so he could emerge and appear to be the party’s saviour,” Mr
PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts. Roberts claimed.. “Mr Lighbourn proposed violating women’s reproductive rights, a proposal no one agreed with. Renward Wells failed to mention the good people of Bamboo Town in his address and many of the FNM members of parliament refused to at-
tend the final night of convention. He said: “If this is the way the FNM organize themselves as a party with all of this infighting and distrust, how can Bahamians trust them to organize a government and chart the way forward for an entire country?
Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff “The FNM is not ready for primetime and not ready to govern.” Mr Roberts called all PLP’s to be disciplined and focused on the task ahead. He said the FNM’s convention was indeed “a teachable moment in leadership”.
ROBERTS FIRES OFF SERIES OF FNM CRITICISMS By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
AMIDST the high drama at the Free National Movement (FNM) national convention, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts released a series of missives on Friday tackling claims made by the previous night’s speakers. Defending his party’s governance, Mr Roberts charged that Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner’s speech was mediocre at best and surmised that East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest was “chasing his own shadow”. “It is clear that ButlerTurner’s blind ambition to become prime minister eclipses her ability and capacity to get things done,” he said. “Her record of undermining leadership, sowing seeds of discord and a lacklustre record as a Cabinet executive are all transparent testaments to mediocrity and are sure to hold her accountable in the court of public opinion. “Her attacks on the PLP are laughable as the PLP can show workable and
working strategic plans to address the myriads of complex challenges facing the Bahamas. Loretta ButlerTurner’s FNM cannot do the same. She can deflect … she is good at political bluster, misleading the public, stealing PLP policies and vitriol, but she has not articulated viable plans.” Mr Roberts went on to assert that the Long Island MP was ineffective in her Cabinet post as the Minister of Social Development under the former Ingraham administration. Regarding Mr Turnquest, Mr Roberts advised that the East Grand Bahama MP and the FNM must not re-write history because of their failure to “generate messaging to capture the attention of the Bahamian people”. “They should instead apologise to the Bahamian people for the dismal state they left this country in, not just in 2012, but also in 2002,” he said. “This is the same wrecking crew who opposed national youth service, and who two decades later cancelled Urban Renewal as a testament to their crime-fighting legacy. “This is the same crew
who butchered the original plans for Baha Mar, spitefully scared away investors, putting the country in the dilemma of faulty deals on the eve of the worst recession since the great depression because they lacked a coherent investment policy. The result was a disaster with record debt, record unemployment and an economy in a ‘wheelchair’ where the misery index was off the charts.” Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald also released a statement on Friday night, challenging FNM candidate for Carmichael Desmond Bannister on his party’s record on education. “I listened with amusement as my predecessor Minister of Education Desmond Bannister spoke about the FNM’s record in education,” Mr Fitzgerald said. “He bragged of the FNM building 17 schools. I would like to help Mr Bannister because it would seem that his short hiatus from public life has taken his recollection of the facts. There are 172 government schools throughout The Bahamas. A simple mathematical calculation will confirm that the PLP built 155 or 91 per cent of these schools,”
said Mr Fitzgerald. “Education is the key that will unlock that door of success for our children and grandchildren. It should not
be taken lightly; I do not take it lightly. This administration has demonstrated its commitment to education. I am disappointed that in-
stead of being a part of the solution, Mr Bannister has decided to use education as a political football. How unfortunate and sad!”
PAGE 8 , Tuesday, August 2, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Turnquest rebuke was ‘last straw’ By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PETER Turnquest’s public rebuke of Loretta Butler-Turner on Thursday night was the final straw that prompted she and Dr Duane Sands to withdraw from the leadership race they had been vying for, the Long Island MP said on Friday evening. “After seven weeks of campaigning and trying to ensure a level and fair playing field,” Mrs Butler-Turner, flanked by supporters in a room at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, said, “we came to the realisation that the process was in fact full of some irregularities and deep structural problems. This included - but was not limited to - irregularities with the delegate list and the election of delegates. We concluded after consultation and deep reflection, prayer and discernment that we could not go forward in good conscience with a process that proved undemocratic on a number of levels.” The pair believed they would never be able to resolve the problems if they allowed the process to continue, hence their decision to drop out, she said. She did not elaborate on the irregularities with the delegate list and the delegate selection process, but she described a series of perceived slights against herself and Dr Sands from Dr Hubert Minnis’s team that seemed to play a large role in her decision to quit the race.
PETER Turnquest speaking at the Free National Movement Convention on Thursday. His speech was described as the “worst treatment” received by Loretta Butler-Turner during the event. Chief among these was Mr Turnquest’s criticism of her for extending beyond her allotted 25 minutes time during her speech on Thursday night. “I think the worst treatment was probably when we had the incumbent deputy get on stage to rebuke me for something that we had already started to discuss,” she said, referring to the time-limit for her speech. “There has never been a time when the FNM has held a convention that they have not gone beyond 11 at night and, because of the fact, we had a disruption. “We have the man who wants to be deputy leader of this party just talk about unification, getting up and rebuking me so publicly? Where is the unification? That was the tipping point.”
Mrs Butler-Turner and her supporters were also upset when Dr Minnis made his grand entrance into the ballroom moments before she was scheduled to speak, at which point chants of “Roc Wit Doc” erupted, suspending the schedule. “When I was about to ascend the stage the incumbent leader (came in and took) 15 minutes of our time,” she said, prompting Darron Cash, the party’s former chairman and a supporter of hers, to twice repeat the words “most disrespectful” in response to her statement. She said: “15 minutes of our time and then they’re going to get mad with me because I speak for five or 10 minutes longer?” They also felt slighted when they did not receive a copy of the convention programme until late at night before the first day of the convention, after which she learned she would have only ten minutes to speak, a fact organisers later said was an error. She also said that people she selected to sit on the convention committee never received their notifications. “I believe that when (the leadership) positions became vacant as they all did, there was no longer a leader of the party,” she said. “That means we were all supposed to be on an even playing field. At the end of the day the playing field was tilted. There was one set of rules for one set of people and another set of rules for the others. I don’t mind en-
gaging in a game, as long as I know the field is levelled. “There should’ve been some free, fair and balance to this process. Yet the convention was agreed to but it could not just be hijacked by one side.” Mrs Butler-Turner said she had never been comfortable with the integrity of the process in the leadup to the convention. “I stopped the process about two weeks ago when I withheld $50,000 (to help pay for the convention),” she said. “It was a series of steps that, in my opinion, did not represent the Free National Movement and all of the tenets we have in terms of the process. When I did turn in the final deposit of our funding, many of those questions remained unanswered.” Supporters gathered on Friday evening for the convention’s final session to fire-up the base for one last night, but the drama that consumed the party during the previous 48 hours was still in the air. On Friday, hours of discussions took place between Mrs Butler-Turner, Dr Sands, Dr Minnis’ team and other senior FNMs concerning the way forward for the party. It was unclear if they had reached any concrete resolutions. Insiders fear that supporters of Mrs Butler-Turner may leave the party if she is not mollified. Nonetheless, Mrs ButlerTurner denied that discussions throughout the day involved efforts to make her deputy leader of the party,
as sources told The Tribune. “I’m not sure that was ever on the table,” she said. She indicated she has no plans to leave the party. “The FNM is not a party that chose me, I’ve said that on numerous occasions,” she said. “This is a party I chose. I chose it because I believe in the ideals and the philosophies of it. My decision is to make this party better. I have no desire to leave the Free National Movement at this time or anytime in the future.” On social media, some Bahamians said Mrs ButlerTurner showed poor character when she decided to quit the race. Others said she quit once she realised she would lose. To this, she said: “There is not a chicken bone in this body. Everyone who knows me knows that. I’m all courage. I am a person that stands on conviction even when my party does not stand the way I stand. I believe in the fundamentals of being able to have free and fair elections.” Mrs Butler-Turner also said she wasn’t turned off by the “Roc Wit Doc” chants that nearly drowned her out as she spoke on Thursday night. However, she said the “animosity” showed to her at that point contributed to the mindset that led her to drop out. The party “can’t move forward in that confused state,” she said. In what was an embarrassing moment for her, she urged parliamentarians to join her on stage on Thursday night, but only Dr Sands responded to the re-
quest. Asked about this, she said the chaotic environment caused the parliamentarians who are supportive of her not to join her on stage. She also seemed to express frustration that she had reacted differently to Dr Minnis’ similar call to her the night before. “We had the leader call me up on stage to dance and prance and the next night we had a group of goons screaming at me while I’m trying to give my speech,” she said. “That did not demonstrate unity. My leader called me. it was not natural but to show that I am a team player and that we need to take this party forward I would do anything within reason that the leader requested and that was a reasonable request.” Mrs Butler-Turner said she does not know if she will be given a nomination for the Long Island constituency, but she said discussions with Dr Minnis’ team throughout Friday addressed this. For his part, Dr Sands once said he would offer his resignation from the Senate if he lost the Deputy Leadership race. However, he said Friday that given the “peculiar circumstances” of the convention, he will rethink that. Mrs Butler-Turner expressed hope that the party can still move forward in unity. “The FNM has been through a lot of challenges before,” she said. “This is about making sure that the FNM brand is the brand that we all support and it remains the way it needs to be.”
FNM CHAIRMAN: BUTLER-TURNER KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO LOSE from page one
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In his address to FNM supporters minutes after Mrs Butler-Turner, FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest publicly criticised her for being “disrespectful” for running beyond her allotted 25 minutes for her speech. In a surprise turn of events hours later, around 2am, Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands withdrew from the leadership race. In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Mrs Butler-Turner said her decision to quit was based on two reasons - “a process full of irregularities and deep structural issues” and Mr Turnquest’s public rebuke of her. However, Mr Collie said there was no corruption of the process and “every one” of Mrs Butler-Turner’s concerns were addressed before the convention. “The tide was against her. She put on the best show she could but it was not enough. I understand what she went through. I ran twice, won once and lost once,” Mr Collie said. “It was clear when she called her own members and others to join her on the platform and no one showed up that it was over. That was the moment of truth for her. I must say, she did well to finish her speech regardless of what she was feeling. “The hall erupted into ‘Roc wit Doc’ and no one told them to do that; the tide was just against her. Her people gave her advice and she ran with it. It had nothing to do with the process. She knew it was over the minute she started her speech.” Despite the “bad blood” before and during the convention, Mr Collie said he fully supports Mrs ButlerTurner and is advocating for her to have a leadership role in the party. “Mrs Butler-Turner has become an integral part of this team and the full force of the party is behind her. There is a leadership role for her to play,” Mr Collie said. “Not as leader or deputy but she has a strong voice in the party and we embrace her 110 per cent. Whatever bad blood we had going into the party convention it is done and now we are in a place of forgiveness.” Mr Collie said “a unified FNM will stand together with Dr Hubert Minnis as our leader as the party positions itself to win the general elections and form the next government of The Bahamas”.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 2, 2016, PAGE 9
Lightbourn raises knotty problems with ‘tubes tied’ comments By NICOLE BURROWS
to minimise it being misunderstood. For many of you who are infuriated, it is false, to say the least, because you know when you get home, behind closed doors, you say the same thing to your family and friends, even about your I say tie up, tie up, tie up Man your tubes gettin’ tie own family and friends. You just didn’t write it in up Look at what Bahamian a speech and deliver it on live television. woman facin’ To the women’s rights Tubes get tie lie shoe laproponents, whose causes cin’” I mostly understand and HILE plan- identify with, please take ning what your pick; at what stage I’d write to- would it be ideal to nip this baby-making day, I got a proliferate WhatsApp message with an ‘problem’ in the bud? You audio file of a very catchy know it’s a problem, so let’s new tune (I’m still bent over skip past that part. Should laughing), so swiftly created the state give out free conin response to MP Richard doms? Should the state perLightbourn’s unfortunate form free abortions? Free comments made at the Free tubal ligations? Free vasecNational Movement (FNM) tomies? All of the above? convention last week, words And under what circumI’m sure he will be made to stances? You know there’s a real regret for all time. Clearly, Bahamians have problem here, so rather boundless creativity, just than slaughter the clumsy waiting for the right outlet; messenger, send out your if only they could harness it 10-point plan for how best so quickly all the time, and to deal with this problem for things that mattered on so that the burden doesn’t a more significant level. If rest with every other Bahaonly we could be so inven- mian, impregnated or not, tive when it comes to solving unwed or not, to pay for the our very real, sizeable prob- upbringing of unplanned lems. That’s not to suggest for and sometimes, by the that the young people who evidence of their treatment, created this ‘Operation Tie unwanted children. We know the root of Up’ tune did something inthought. significant, because the role Lightbourn’s of a creative artist involves Many others (browner or taking social issues of the paler than him) think the day and building awareness same thing, of something about them through artis- equally as drastic as a remedy, but they tic expression, dare not say and that’s ‘Any solution to it aloud. Mr pretty importhis ‘problem’ Lightbourn tant. should know Whether of fierce and by now that you would la- relentless, the FNM conbel the makers vention wasn’t of this tune - irresponsible the place to Solo Made - procreation reveal that artists or per- is the man’s thought. I’m formers, I’ll not sure his leave that for concern as well word choice you to decide, as the woman’s, in any public as there’s sure simultaneously. forum would to be disagreehave been acment, but you Any action to ceptable. Peohave to give be taken on ple ‘successthem credit, the problem ful’ in public full marks in or political fact, for being must be taken life don’t ever imaginative simultaneously.’ say what they and imprompreally think … tu in just a matter of days … they earn do they? By the way, “having her a perfect score for casting light on the question, for tubes tied” is a different statement than “tying the better or worse. But let’s get into the text tubes of unwed mothers”, of Lightbourn’s presenta- the latter being used in tion and see what the upset news reports and the foris all about. Is it really what mer being the words that people are calling it? Peo- Lightbourn actually said. As a Bahamian woman, ple are declaring him racist for his remarks, and you was I offended by Lightknow that word is used and bourn’s remarks? I thought abused these days, so much about it in several ways and so that I doubt half the peo- still come up with ‘no’ as ple using it know what it’s my answer. I live responsibly with supposed to mean. According to Light- respect to reproduction, so bourn, “It is also necessary I take no offence. But then for us as a nation to consid- again, I’m not looking to er adopting the lead of sev- get my feelings hurt. Richeral countries in the world, ard Lightbourn’s comments which result in ... unwed - or those of any other mother having her tubes politician - could never oftied after having more than fend me. From the break, two children, which would whoever it is, whatever is in the end result in fewer said, I could care less. But I recognise I’m not typical. children being born.” He continued, “By adopt- Add to the fact that I don’t ing such measures there’ll care much at all for politibe less classrooms needed cians’ remarks, I have no in the future, less persons children, never have had coming out of school every any, have never been pregyear seeking employment nant, I am not married, and and would also result in the I have never been married. mother of these children I’m as single and unwed as being able to live a better they come. So I’m almost life not having to bring up immune to being offended on all counts. so many children.” But, okay. If this were I don’t know Mr Lightbourn from Adam. But, I going to be a real policy, am told that ‘quirky’ is an this tube-tying business, understatement when de- should it only apply to unscribing his personality. wed mothers? What about That aside, he really should the wedded mothers? Some have had someone vet this of them also have more presentation, though not for than two children and can’t the reason everyone seems take care of them. Some married Bahamian women to be upset about. As angry as you want to have too many children, as be, as vehemently opposed in more than they can reato Lightbourn’s comments sonably afford to care for as you want to be, don’t without slipping into poverpretend that you don’t un- ty. And don’t pretend again derstand the basic idea of like you also don’t see or what he was trying to say hear what happens in the and, really, should have Princess Margaret Hospital said completely differently (PMH) public ward with
M
unmarried and married, immigrant mothers, which I suspect is another offshoot of the point Richard Lightbourn tried awkwardly to make.
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Is
“Tie up, tie up, tie up Yeah your tubes gettin’ tie up Look at what Bahamian woman facin’ Tubes get tie like shoe lacin’
he bulk of the ‘too many children and too little resources and education’ problem is with unmarried women, yes, but if you introduce a measure like the one Lightbourn suggested, it should apply across the board, should it not? Not because you’re married means you can afford more than two children in the Bahamas. Because, frankly speaking, fathers married to mothers are often not caring for their offspring either. And while we’re on the topic of fathers, what about snipping their bits? You do realise the unwed/ single mothers birthing children make them with men? Any solution to this ‘problem’ of fierce and relentless, irresponsible procreation is the man’s concern as well as the woman’s, simultaneously. Any action to be taken on the problem must be taken simultaneously. Why would the burden rest with the woman, vis a vis, birth control? Would that be for the same reason that the burden for the caretaking of children lies with the woman, too? That’s right; it’s primarily and often solely a woman’s job to care for children in the Bahamas. I forgot. Listen, if I, married or unmarried, had to be sterilised after two children, for population control, then for damn sure my counterpart was going to have to endure the same. But his procedure is reversible isn’t it? Which brings us right back to the unlevel playing field for women. So, really, if we’re going to argue about anything here it should be the treatment of Bahamian women as compared to Bahamian men. To me, the most idiotic part of Lightbourn’s presentation was that tubal ligation will lead to less classrooms needed in the future. Again, you can guess what he was perhaps trying to say, but that’s not what was said. Can you ever have too many classrooms, or, by extension, too much education? As for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) women in Parliament, who released a statement about Lightbourn’s comments, obviously they also interpreted it the way they wanted to. Besides, where were they when Leslie ‘Punching Bag’ Miller made his comments in their very presence, right under their sniffing noses, on the floor of Parliament, no less. But they all politely ignored him and the backlash. Furthermore, if you want to be technical, PLP women in Parliament,
Lightbourn didn’t say ‘all’ Bahamian women, he said the ‘unwed’ women. But I suppose you would dismiss that as semantics, which reinforces my point - poor word choice all around. Atop which, even if you think you’ve chosen the best words, people always find a way to make it about themselves and get their feelings hurt by it, or use it as a jump off point to argue something else totally unrelated … like racism. And some folks, like the astute radio host Jeff Lloyd, have compared
Lightbourn’s comments to the practices of the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. Come on, man. It’s not the same. You know it’s not the same. Stop fanning the flame. The Nazis and Hitler, first of all, were all about the extermination of a race of people, not the mere minimising of unwanted pregnancies. Big difference there. Moreover, what Hitler and the Nazis did was done solely because of race. Are you really suggesting that Lightbourn’s horribly misguided comments and his delivery of
them means he wants to extinguish the Bahamian race, of which he is a part? And, by the way, what race would that be exactly? How do you get ‘racism’ from Lightbourn’s words? Are all women in the Bahamas of one race? Are all unwed women in the Bahamas of one race? If so, which one is that? Come on, speak. Let’s see who the real separatists are among you. You are the people who divide us. Send email to nburrows @tribunemedia.net
PAGE 10 , Tuesday, August 2, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
No murders in July - and police credit team effort from page one the officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit (CDU), told The Tribune that the lack of murders in July--a rarity given the usual crime trends, was due to “collective teamwork across the board from law enforcement” on a “daily basis,” as well as officers taking Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade’s 2016 policing plan “to another level”. And to cap off the “excellent work” by both police officers and members of the community, Chief Supt Fernander said police have also been “locking up some people” and “getting some good convictions in court.” Chief Supt Fernander said the RBPF is not “blowing our horns” just yet; however he said the organi-
zation remains committed to making “this Bahamas a safe place for everybody to live, play and work at the same time.” According to The Tribune’s records, the last murder recorded was that of Demario Smith aka “Fat Cat” on June 30, which pushed the murder count to 62 for the year. After the first six months of 2015, the total was 74 on the way to a record year of 146 homicides. When contacted yesterday, Chief Supt Fernander said the lack of murders last month is largely due to consistent and efficient policing from members of the RBPF, as well as assistance from members of the public. “Consistency is the name of the game,” the Chief Supt said yesterday when contacted. “Not just do it
today and everything goes quiet and you lay off--consistency. We’ve found a way to sustain the pressure out there and try to remove that fear of crime. The fear of crime is out there in the community and we are trying to remove that. And the only way we could remove that is if we are out there, present in the community, responding to people’s complaints, and following up and being able to communicate with the people.” “So I want to commend on behalf of the commissioner, commend all of the officers for excellent work, and then members of the community, who continue to be our eyes and ears out there.” Chief Supt Fernander also said police have made a concerted effort to reduce gang related conflicts
and subsequent murders-particularly those that transpire in night clubs, as well as putting “pressure” on various hot spots in the capital and elsewhere. “If you look at the commissioner’s policing plan, we talk about targeting prolific offenders, hot spots, we are doing just that,” he said. “When you see all of the shootings to those night clubs. We see the trend what was happening, where two gang rivals buck and then somebody is dead. “We are constantly checking the clubs and putting the onus on the club owners to make sure that they are working within the law. “We continue to go after (drug) peddlers within the community,” he added. “(Individuals) continue to sell drugs and it’s a war in
the community. We always talk about drug turfs causing some of the murders. So we are going at that. We are disrupting those things from happening. And if you notice we are locking up some people and we are charging and we’re getting some good convictions in court.” “So we are not blowing our horns. We are going to continue to be consistent to try to make this Bahamas a safe place for everybody to live, play and work at the same time. We have found a way to sustain some things, and you will see that continue.” During the budget debate in the House of Assembly in June, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said crime was down 29 per cent compared to the same period last year.
The Bain Town & Grants Town MP stressed that the government will not be satisfied until a much more dramatic reduction in violent crime occurs even as he released statistics that indicate crime is trending downward. As part of its crime detection efforts, the RBPF will further develop and properly staff an Anti-Gang Unit; aggressively target active criminals, and monitor prolific offenders. It also plans to acquire a helicopter for “rapid response” to serious crimes and patrol of hotspots, according to the commissioner’s 2016 policing plan. The RBPF also plans to continue saturation patrols in areas of high crime and extend the use of closed circuit television (CCTV) to help prevent crime.
TURNQUEST ASKS WHY CARNIVAL REPORT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED from page one
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe also told The Tribune last week that the report was completed, but that he did not know why the report had not yet been released. At the time, Mr Wilchcombe said the BNFC was meeting with Prime Minister Perry Christie, who is also the Minister of Finance on the report and “then they can release it because his Ministry is responsible for that.” “As far as I’m concerned the ministry would have very little to do with that report,” Mr Turnquest said yesterday. “The carnival commission would have been the ones who would have had the information to compile the information in the report, it would have gone to the Ministry of Finance for their information, but other than that it ought to be presented. He added: “…The Bahamian people are due a full and transparent explanation of how that money was spent, and
what the returns were on that money.” In April, Mr Major said the government would spend about $7m to host the festival. The month before, Mr 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.” The government budgeted $9m for the inaugural Junkanoo Carnival, but due to cost overruns and other failures on the part of the commission, that spending ballooned to $11.3m. Last year, the government reaped $8.3m in combined direct and tax revenues, with the latter providing $6.7m of that sum. The direct revenue, which totalled $1.6m, largely came from ticket sales and cash sponsorships, organizers said. The commission subsequently faced strong criticism for going over budget, lack of proper planning, not enough international marketing and not announcing a headliner for the festival’s THIS year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival road fever parade. concert sooner.
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
MINISTRY DELAY FORCES HOLD-UP IN SCHOOL REPAIRS from page one
Although several major contracts have been mobilised, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald told the press that repairs could very well be continuing up to the September 5 start date for classes – a fact he
called disappointing. “I think it is going to be very close, very, very, very close. And, like I said, it is going to take a co-ordinated effort and again I am not sure what the reason for the delay was at Ministry of Works,” Mr Fitzgerald said. “For the last four years we have had no challenge
and we have been able to open schools relatively smoothly for four years and it is just unfortunate that we are in this position. We will work through it together.” According to the Marathon MP, operational procedures mandate that the Ministry of Education receive the “scope of repairs
report” by May, allowing officials to award contracts by the middle of June. However, this year, officials were not made informed of the scope of repairs until July. Mr Fitzgerald contended that his Ministry, in an effort to offset any further delay, was forced to hand out
contracts without having a chance to evaluate their need - “to see what was a want as oppose to a need,” he said. The Tribune understands that education officials are prepared to spend between $9m and $10m on repairs, a price point the Minister himself labelled as “pretty
expensive”. The idea that contracts were awarded prior to scale of works being “evaluated” has left many questions, especially once juxtaposed with the large sum allocated for school repairs. When pressed for clarification, Mr Fitzgerald said his office was working as quickly as it could to coordinate efforts between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Finance, all of which are integral in ensuring that repairs are carried out in a manner of best practices. He said: “We were able to increase the amount of mobilisation this year with the approval of the Ministry of Finance so that we can decrease any further delay. Undoubtedly there will be major works this summer. For the most part you are talking about ripping cabinets, you are talking about re-tiling, you are talking about painting, replacing of roofs and so it is major construction that normally takes four to six weeks with nobody around. “So we are accessing and meeting every single week and we have been doing so the last two weeks to watch the progress of it and so, it is a bit early now to say what the outcome will be, but we have made significant progress in the last two weeks and we will continue to assess it every week between now and the beginning of school.” Preceding these various repairs, scores of additional contracts are expected to be awarded for minor repairs which includes painting and landscaping efforts. Additionally, Education officials carry out a range of repairs throughout the school year. The 2016-2017 academic year would, for the first time ever, have an allocation of $1 million to oversee this level of repairs. Teachers are expected to report to institutions later this month, with classes officially getting underway on September 5.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 2, 2016, PAGE 11
MOURNERS PAY TRIBUTE TO PASTOR SILAS NAPOLEON McKINNEY AT SERVICE
GOVERNOR General Dame Marguerite Pindling greets the family of Pastor Silas Napoleon McKinney at his state-recognised funeral on Sunday. THE Governor General and the Prime Minister were among mourners at a state-recognised funeral for Pastor Silas Napoleon McKinney, former President of the Bahamas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, on Sunday at Hillview Seventh Day Adventist Church, Tonique Williams Darling Highway. Dame Marguerite Pindling and Perry Christie were joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Immigration Fred Mitchell at the service for Pastor McKinney, who was also the former president of the West Indies Union Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, Mandeville, Jamaica. Formerly of Landrail Point, Crooked Island, Pastor McKinney died on July 16 aged 89. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruth, his five children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
THE COFFIN of Pastor Silas Napoleon McKinney draped in the Bahamas flag is brought out at his state-recognised funeral on Sunday. Photos: Derek Smith/BIS
Sentencing for men guilty in kidnap-murder plot delayed By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net THE sentencing of four men convicted of having a role in the in the disappearance and murder of an Immigration Department officer and his girlfriend in Andros had been adjourned by another eight weeks. Zintworn Duncombe,
28, James Johnson, 22, Daniel Coakley, 28, and Cordero Saunders, 26, were expected to appear before Justice Indra Charles on Thursday to be sentenced for their respective roles in the murder and kidnapping of Shane Gardiner and his girlfriend, Tishka Braynen. Though the probation officers and psychiatrist were present to give an
account for their reports that had been ordered to be produced by the judge, the subjects of the reports were absent from the proceedings. It was revealed to the court that the men had not been sent for. As a result, the matter was further adjourned to September 30. Gardiner and Braynen were allegedly killed after
FIVE HELD AND THREE HANDGUNS SEIZED POLICE in New Providence have arrested five men and seized three handguns in three separate incidents in a 20-hour period from Friday evening, including foiling an armed robbery. According to reports around 1.30am on Saturday an armed robbery took place at St Albans Drive, Chippingham, in which a man was robbed at gun-
point of a watch, cell phone and a gold chain. The culprit drove off in a blue Chevrolet Blazer but shortly after the vehicle was intercepted by officers from the Selective Enforcement Team and three adult males were arrested. A pistol was seized and the stolen properties were recovered. In an earlier incident around 5pm on Friday, of-
ficers from the firearms unit arrested two adult males who were found in possession of a pistol. Around 1.45pm on Saturday, officers from the Selective Enforcement Team acting on information went to an abandoned building in western New Providence and recovered a handgun. No arrests have been made and investigations continue.
a failed plot to take $8,000 in gambling winnings from the immigration officer. Braynen, of Cargill Creek, and Gardiner, who lived in Love Hill, both in Central Andros, were reported missing around 1.45pm on November 24, 2013. Gardiner had recently been assigned to the island. On December 21, 2013, police in Andros discovered the remains of a man
with “items related to a female�. All four men were unanimously convicted of double kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and attempted armed robbery. The Crown is seeking the death penalty for Duncombe and Johnson who were unanimously convicted of murder. Because of the request for the death penalty, the court ordered
the production of a psychiatric report and social inquiry report with respect to the two convicts. Duncombe, Saunders, Johnson and Coakley, who all denied the allegations, were respectively represented by lawyers Ian Cargill, Moses Bain, Donna Major and Terrel Butler. Darnell Dorsett and Patrick Sweeting prosecuted the case.
PAGE 12 , Tuesday, August 2, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Donald Trump and the lie of ‘truthful hyperbole’ F
OR anyone following the US Presidential campaigns, it has been a volatile voyage with great uncertainty about whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will eventually emerge triumphant. We are still not into the season of direct debates between the two and the unleashing of their denigra-
World View
By SIR RONALD SANDERS tion of each other, although throughout the primaries
we had a good sense of just how nasty it will become,
mostly from Trump who has verbally assaulted just about everybody except himself and his family. But this week the tide began to surge away from Donald Trump. The Republican Party Convention was a spectacle of division, pettiness, racism and lynchmobbing when it wasn’t Trump trotting out his tiresome one-liners. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party Convention was sizzling with ideas; vibrant with new directions (fashioned by Bernie Sanders and now integral to the Party’s platform); and energised by powerful argument, analysis and values spoken with conviction and magnetism by Sanders, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. No one listening to Trump declaring himself ‘the greatest’; claiming that he knows just about everything better than everyone else; and that he will fix everything that he alleges REPUBLICAN presidential candidate Donald Trump. is wrong with America, can determined - to expose the paid acolytes at the help to wonder, as Bernie Trump as an ill-informed Trump Altar. It was seen Sanders did, whether he is braggart who posed a real for what it was: a trumpedrunning ‘to be President of danger to the ethos of the up and foolish tit-for-tat atthe United States or to be a American nation. tempt to whitewash Meladictator’. There is no doubt, Here is the passage from nia Trump’s plagiarising given the personalities he Obama’s speech at the and wooden presentation admires, such as Saddam Democratic of passages from a dynamic Hussein and Party Con- speech made by Michelle ‘Ronald Reagan Kim Jong-un, vention that Obama at the Democratic that the dicta- called America pigeon-holes Party Convention in 2008. tor style ap- ‘a shining city Trump and She deserves some sympapeals to him. It lays him intel- thy. In all this, she is apalso seems to on a hill’. Donald lectually and parently a reluctant particicome very easy Trump calls it morally bare: pant, made to perform by a to him to at- ‘a divided crime “America is man that can most charitatach demeaning already great. bly be described as heavyterms to his op- scene’ that America is al- handed. ponents. Thus, only he can fix. ready strong. It is on Trump himself ‘little Marco’ He’s selling the And I prom- that focus should be placed, (Rubio); ‘lyise you, our as Barack Obama has done, ing Ted’ (Cruz) American people strength, our clearly driven by the deep and ‘corrupt short. We are not greatness does concerns for America in Hillary’ (Clina fragile people, not depend the hands of a novice whose ton). on Donald self-importance could imFor some we’re not a Trump. In fact, peril the nation and the time, there frightful people.’ it doesn’t de- world. As Obama said: “We seemed to be pend on any are in serious times and this President Barack a reluctance to one person. is a really serious job. This call him out by Obama And that, in is not entertainment. This is his political opthe end, may not a reality show.” ponents, especially those be the biggest difference in And, if anyone needed he beat for the Republican this election, the meaning cause to join President Party nomination. The one of our democracy. Ronald Obama’s concerns, instant exception to that general Reagan called America ‘a motivation should come pattern has been President shining city on a hill’. Don- from Tony Schwartz, the Obama, who, even before ald Trump calls it ‘a divided man who ghost-wrote the he took to the hustings in crime scene’ that only he book that Trump so often support of Hillary Clinton, can fix. It doesn’t matter to conjures as a testament to had been unhesitant - even him that illegal immigration his ability as a deal-maker and the crime rate are as “The Art of the Deal”. In an low as they’ve been in dec- interview in the magazine, ades, because he’s not actu- ‘The New Yorker’, Schwartz ally offering any real solu- says: “I put lipstick on a pig. tions to those issues. He’s I feel a deep sense of rejust offering slogans, and morse that I contributed to he’s offering fear. He’s bet- presenting Trump in a way ting that if he scares enough that brought him wider atpeople, he might score just tention and made him more enough votes to win this appealing than he is. I genelection. And that’s another uinely believe that if Trump bet that Donald Trump will wins and gets the nuclear lose. And the reason he’ll codes there is an excellent lose it is because he’s selling possibility it will lead to the American people short. the end of civilisation.” He We are not a fragile people, added that if he were writwe’re not a frightful people. ing the book today it would Our power doesn’t come be called “The Sociopath”. from some self-declared To be certain, I looked up saviour promising that he the dictionary definition of alone can restore order as sociopath - “a person with long as we do things his way. a psychopathic personalWe don’t look to be ruled.” ity whose behaviour is antiAnd those remarks came social, often criminal, and from a man who had all who lacks a sense of moral the gravitas and all the responsibility or social concommanding authority of science”. a respected and admired And here’s the kicker. leader. Schwartz said that in ghostAmazingly, Trump’s writing the book, he wrote rookie son, Donald Trump the following assertion for Jr, who is nothing in the Trump: “I play to people’s campaign but part of his fantasies. People want to father’s background scen- believe that something is ery, actually claimed that the biggest and the greatest Barack Obama - arguably and the most spectacular. one of the best orators in I call it truthful hyperbole. the world - plagiarised his It’s an innocent form of exspeech at the Republican aggeration - and it’s a very Party Convention. And effective form of promowhat was the alleged plagia- tion.” Schwartz now regrets risation? One line used sev- inventing the term, ‘truthful eral times by Obama, since hyperbole’, which, he says, as early as 2010 - “That is is a contradiction in terms. not the America I know”. He admitted that it’s a way The truth is that Trump of saying: ‘It’s a lie, but Jr’s speechwriters simply who cares?’ But, according lifted the line from previous to him, Trump, loved the Obama speeches; pity they phrase. And, so it is. didn’t tell him. But, then again, they also did not apSir Ronald Sanders is pear to have told him that a Antigua and Barbuda’s part of his speech, on edu- Ambassador to the United cation reform, was taken States and the Organisation wholesale from an article of American States. He is written by F H Buckley, a also a senior fellow at the professor at George Mason Institute of Commonwealth Law School, in the May edi- Studies, University of Lontion of ‘The American Con- don and Massey College in servative’ magazine. the University of Toronto. The entire tasteless epi- The views expressed are his sode was rightly ridiculed own. Responses and previby every pundit, columnist ous commentaries: www. and political figure except sirronaldsanders.com.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 2, 2016, PAGE 13
Nation hailed as weather ready ambassadors by NOAAA THE Bahamas has been named the first “Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors” by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for its “readiness, responsiveness and resiliency to handle all weather conditions it faces, especially in extreme weather cases, and to its safety and protection program of its people and communities”. “This recognition bestowed on The Bahamas is monumental,” said Gregory F Romano, Director of Communications for the National Weather Service, at the 2016 EAA AirVen-
ture Conference, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. As recipient of the award, The Bahamas will receive even greater support and resources from NOAA to aide in educating, training and the provision of tools, necessary to further protect its citizenry, visitors and communities. NOAA, which has a membership of 3,300 weather professionals, started the ‘Weather Ready Nation Ambassador” initiative three years ago to educate its citizens on the importance of preparedness and protection in weather conditions.
TROPICAL WAVE MAY BECOME STORM, CENTRE WARNS THUNDERSTORM activity associated with a strong tropical wave over the central Caribbean Sea about 275 miles eastsoutheast of Kingston, Jamaica, was threatening to develop into a tropical storm last night according to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami. The system was reported to be producing winds of 40mph to 45mph and satellite and ship observations early yesterday suggest that it was becoming more organised. “If this development trend continues, a tropical storm is likely to form later today or tonight as the system moves westward over the west-central Caribbean sea at 20 to 25
mph,” the NHC reported yesterday. “Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds, perhaps to tropical storm force, are likely along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti today. Tropical storm conditions are likely to occur over Jamaica by this afternoon or evening, and could reach the Cayman Islands overnight.” The NHC forecasts the chances of the system developing into a tropical storm as 80 per cent over the next 24 hours and 90 per cent over the next four days. It is forecast to track across the Yucatan peninsula and southern Mexico.
Funeral Service For Daphne Ann Moree, 66
of The Bight, Long Island formerly of Nassau, will be held on Thursday August 4, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. George’s Anglican Church, Montrose Avenue. Officiating will be Rev’d Fr. Scott Brennen. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.
Predeceased by her parents: Thomas and Deloris Moree; sister and spouse: Deloris and Robert Sands; brother: Samuel Moree. She is survived by her husband of forty six years: Floyd Moree; two daughters: Rochelle Knowles and Natasha Moree; two sons-in-law: Kevan Knowles Jr. and Anthony Wells; one granddaughter: Brooke Knowles; two grandsons: Kevan Knowles III and Dorian Wells; one sister and her spouse: Peggy and Mitchell Knowles; two sisters-in-law: Rosemary Moree of Canada and Shawn Moree; four nieces: Sherrie Knowles-Wells, Sabrina Knowles (Robert), Samantha Adderley (Ricardo) and Stacey Clarke (Chris); two nephews: Shawn Knowles Sr. (Nicole), and Alex Moree (Debbie); grandnieces and nephews: Brett and Brittany Wells, Shawn Jr. and Chris Knowles, Gavin and Gabrielle Knowles, Kai, Soleil and Zaley Clarke, and Sarah and Ricardo Adderley Jr.; cousins: Delton, Vernal, Eldon, Eugene, Rene, Ellabe, Barbara, Louis, Jeanette, Jack, Harry and Adie; her two best friends: Kathleen Cartwright and Inell Adderley; and a host of other relatives and friends including: Irene and Shirley Moree, Mag Perez, Betty and Leslie Smith, Racquel, Alec and Tyler Prabhu, Alan and Michelle Burrows and family, Alphonso and Bonnie Moree and family, Kitty Moree, Richard Moree and family, Rosanna Moss, Angela Eldon, Rosemary Knowles, John Brown, Alfred Vilson and Jared, Gary and Carissa Fox; the former staff of G.R. Sweeting and City Markets Ltd; the entire Long Island Community; staff of Midway Mini Mart: Nora Cartwright and Nicki Cartwright; the entire neighborhood of Stevenson Sub Division including: Preston Burrows, Mr. and Mrs. John Philpot, Mr. and Mrs. Neilly and family, Pauline and Rosie Lunn, the Symonette family, the management and staff of Tropix Air Ltd; the management and staff of Import Export Ltd, the former and current tenants of Moree Apartments and the former staff of Prime Bahamas Ltd.; Special thank you to: all of the doctors who played a vital role in Daphne’s health care over the past 17 years: Dr. Judson Eneas and staff, Dr. Patti Symonette and staff of The Wellness Center, Dr. Patrick Cargill and staff, and Rochelle Bastian at Family Pharmacy. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to The Church of God Building Fund, in Memory of Daphne Moree. Royal Bank of Canada, Gray’s Long Island Branch account # 1005693. There will be NO VIEWING at the Church. Friends may pay their last respects at Butlers’ Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Ernest and York Streets, on Wednesday August 3, 2016 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“We commend The Bahamas and its Government on its readiness, responsiveness and resiliency to handle all weather conditions it faces, especially in extreme weather cases and to its safety and protection program of its people and communities,” Mr Romano said. Representatives of the Bahamas Department of Civil Aviation, Royal Bahamas Police Force and Bahamas Ministry of Tourism accepted the award this week. The Government has a comprehensive Disaster Management Committee composed of representatives from relevant ministries and departments as well as stakeholders in the private sector. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is dedicated to ensuring that The Bahamas, its inhabitants and visitors, is prepared ahead of any disasters. The agency also co-ordinates and responds to any crisis or emergency matters quickly so as to reduce the loss of life and property and simultaneously, counteract the impact of any natural,
FROM left: Gregory F. Romano, Director of Communications, National Weather Service; Clinton Wallace, Deputy Director, Aviation Weather Center (AWC); Trevor Rolle, Senior Customs Officer; Bradley Strachan, commercial pilot, Department of Civil Aviation; Greg Rolle, pilot and Senior Director Sales, Marketing and Sports, Ministry of Tourism; Mike Bettwy, AWC Warning Coordination Meteorologist; Ed Molicky, NOAA Representative for the International Federal Partnership; and Dennis Rolle, pilot and superintendent, Royal Bahamas Police Force. Photo: Larry Grace Photography man-made and technologi- tions at the conference and cal hazards. is headquarters for US CusThe EAA AirVenture toms and Border Protection Conference, which is the agencies including its air and largest aviation show in the marine operations, field operworld, features more than ations, border protection (im10,000 aircraft and 800,000 migration) as well as NOAA. attendees. “The partnership beThe Bahamas is the only tween the Bahamas Govforeign country to serve ernment agencies and that alongside the United States of the United States Federal in the exclusive Federal Pa- Government including the vilion, one of the main attrac- US Customs and Border
Protection agencies continues to strengthen, heighten in success and reap mutually rewarding dividends for the two nations,” said Greg Rolle, Senior Director of Sales, Marketing and Sports at the Ministry of Tourism. Captain Rolle, a pilot, said “the relationship and partnership that The Bahamas enjoys with the US has been a long and fruitful one. Year after year, we have seen great synergy and improvements in our relationships and a deeper trust and respect for our agencies and each other which has unquestionably resulted in mutual growth and success for our nations.” Kris Grogan, Public Affairs Officer, Department of Homeland Security, said the countries are committed to the safety and protection of borders and people. “We serve as each other’s eyes and ears, and support each other on so many fronts, from humanitarian needs to border protection that it is impossible for us to obtain and maintain the success we have, without a strong partnership with each other,” he said.
PAGE 14 , Tuesday, August 2, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
EARTHCARE volunteers at work at Discovery Beach.
Earthcare clean-up at Freeport EARTHCARE members and Bahamas Immigration Department volunteers took part in an underwater cleanup at Discovery Beach, Freeport, at the weekend, the second in a series of such events this summer. The environmentally conscious citizens and volunteers cleaned a quarter mile stretch at Discovery Beach, ridding the seafloor of marine debris. They snorkelled to pick up trash and get it ashore, where it was bagged. Gail Woon, founder of Earthcare and a director of Save The Bays, said she was “elated” by the cleanup efforts. “The sea was calm, 25 volunteers collected trash just off the beach underwater up to eight feet deep. We filled six large trash bags. A huge thanks goes out to all that showed up to help.” Ryan Carroll, a concerned yacht captain and former commercial fisherman who initiated the idea of underwater cleanups in 2013, said that there were lots of plastic bags and remnants and a few bottles that
had accumulated since the last clean up there about three years ago. Plastics of all sorts, especially bags such as potable water bags used by sailboats and garbage bags, fishing gear, rope, nets, hooks, lines, and metal sheets were also removed. “The area under the surface of the water is a place that most people don’t see, so it often is ignored,” he said. “We must stop the abuse of our oceans now. Our healthy oceans are crucial to protecting us from the harmful effects of climate change because they can store large amounts of carbon dioxide. Marine wildlife are dying from plastic ingestion and entanglement.” Ms Woon suggested several ways in which people could help alleviate the issue: Eliminate or minimise your use of disposable plastics; Purchase products with a minimum of plastic packaging; Do not buy beauty products that contain microbe-
ads which are being found in many marine creatures now causing the death of the organisms; Minimise or eliminate the need for takeout containers; Purchase items secondhand to reduce waste; Recycle; Support a plastic bag tax or ban; Purchase items in bulk. Volunteers who helped with the underwater clean up included Ryan Carroll, Angelina Rahming, Havana Gibson, Savanna Gibson, Justin Snisky, Justin Snisky II, James Snisky, Jason Snisky, Terence Nixon, AnaAlicia Carroll, Gail Woon, Peyton Douglas, Jack Nash, Michael Marshall, Kenya Stubbs, LeChea Charles, Keitron Meadows, Jamaal Seymour, Antonio Forde, Tristan Major, Deana Simmons, Anique Murphy, Tramyne Preupel, Letitia Parker, Shontes Hall, Erin Cordes and Robbie Cordes. Earthcare said it plans another underwater cleanup for mid-August. For details contact earthcare. bahamas@yahoo.com.
HAVANA Gibson shows plastic marine debris picked up during the clean-up.
JACKIE Carroll and Letitia Parker sort through some of the debris.
EARTHCARE volunteers at work at Discovery Beach.
DEPUTY PM’S TRIBUTE TO CAT ISLANDER CAT ISLANDER Adlean Armbrister, who has died aged 94, was praised for her bravery and her role in the march to Majority Rule in a tribute by Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis on Friday. Mr Davis, the MP for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador, described Mrs Armbister as “a national treasure and a brave Bahamian mother”. In a statement express-
ing his and his wife Anne’s sadness at the news, Mr Davis said: “Adlean made her name in the annals of our country when she, along with other strong women of Old Bight, stood against the roadblocks of injustices in 1964. They were arrested after the powerful oligarchs choose to strip their access to land that they had farmed for many generations. “Her bravery won the right to have her matter heard before the Privy
Council and energised the march toward Majority Rule that changed the course of our nation forever. On her passing, I celebrate her contribution to building a better Bahamas for generations of Bahamians. “To her daughters, Lauren Dawkins, Zarier Munrow and Mazile Deveaux and son Remos Deveaux, I extend our deepest condolences. May she rest in peace.”