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PM: Sears bid is no problem Christie is not threatened by leadership test By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Perry Christie said he does not feel threatened by former Attorney General Alfred Sears’ bid to challenge him for the leadership of the Progressive Liberal Party, despite rumblings within the organisation that young supporters and Bahamians want a new direction. “It’s not a problem,” Mr Christie exclusively told The Tribune yesterday following the morning sitting of the House of Assembly when he was questioned regarding Mr Sears’ intention to bring to an end to
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts said the PLP’s leadership race would not be “nasty like the FNM’s” because both Prime Minister Perry Christie and former Attorney General Alfred Sears are “intellectuals” and “professionals”. In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Roberts said as far as he knew Mr Sears was “contemplating” running for leader of the PLP
By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net FOX Hill MP Fred Mitchell railed against Justice Indra Charles’ Supreme Court ruling on parliamentary privilege in the House of Assembly last night, suggesting that it was outrageous that parliamentarians could not respond to “rich foreigners” funneling millions of dollars into a law firm “to get a judge” to “agree” with their arguments. SEE PAGE FIVE
A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING
his nearly 20-year run at the helm of the governing party. Mr Christie was first elected as leader of the PLP in 1997. “There is no problem at all,” Mr Christie added. “We are a wonderful party, a big tent with strong traditions of democratic functions. All is well.” Pressed further, Mr Christie suggested that he was not concerned about a leadership race at the PLP convention, saying the rules of the party will take precedence over everything else. The event is expected to take place in November. SEE PAGE SIX
ROBERTS: PLP RACE WILL NOT BE NASTY LIKE FNM’S By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net
MITCHELL SLAMS JUSTICE’S RULING ON PRIVILEGE IN PARLIAMENT
and had not made a “definitive decision”. However, he said the party is “democratic” and Mr Sears has the right to run for “whatever position” he wishes. On Sunday, Mr Sears announced his intention to challenge Mr Christie for leadership of the PLP at the governing party’s national convention in November. Mr Sears is the first to make such an intention known, ensuring that Mr Christie will face the first challenge to his post since SEE PAGE SIX
ASTRONAUT Scott Kelly with tourism minister Obie Wilchcombe at Graycliff restaurant in Nassau on Sunday. See page two for more on the astronaut’s visit to The Bahamas - which he described during his time on the International Space Station as “the most beautiful place from space”. Photo: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS
WELLS NAMED LEADER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells @tribunemedia.net
BAMBOO Town MP Renward Wells has been appointed leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly, replacing Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant who resigned from the post last week in the aftermath of the Free National Movement’s divisive convention. House Speaker Dr Kendal Major made the announcement in Parliament yesterday morning.
When asked about the appointment, Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Deputy Leader K Peter Turnquest said the move was made following internal party consultation and in the best interest of the FNM. While Dr Minnis refused to go into detail on the scope of those internal discussions when asked by The Tribune, Mr Turnquest said the party considered all of its options to replace Mr Grant and concluded that Mr Wells would best serve the party
in the capacity. “He is a bright young man who has a future in our party and in politics and he’s certainly capable of handling this assignment,” Mr Turnquest said. The party did not have many options to fill the post. Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner was first offered the position as a way to soothe tension after her very public spat with the party’s leadership team, but she rejected the offer. SEE PAGE SIX
BUTLER-TURNER ‘WILL LOSE LONG ISLAND’ FOR FNM By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net FORMER Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells said yesterday that the Free National Movement “will lose” the Long Island seat
in the 2017 general election if it presents area MP Loretta Butler-Turner as its candidate, as many supporters have been angered by her recent actions. Mrs Butler-Turner strongly criticised FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis in the
lead up to and after the party’s contentious convention in late July. Dr Minnis has said Mrs Butler-Turner has his “full support” to be the party’s standard-bearer for Long Island once again.
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SEE PAGE FIVE
$2,000 REWARD IN HUNT FOR BAHAMIAN’S KILLER IN US
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net AUTHORITIES in Atlanta, Georgia, offered a $2,000 reward yesterday for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for fatally shooting a 24-year-old Bahamian mother in the head last Thursday. According to Fox News 5, Atlanta SHANNA Smith police still have very little information about Shanna Smith’s death. Smith was shot at least twice in the head while driving a dark green BMW near Hadlock Street and SEE PAGE THREE
PAGE 2, Tuesday, August 9, 2016
A spaceman came travelling RETIRED NASA astronaut Scott Kelly touched down on the beautiful shores of The Bahamas last weekend to experience firsthand the beauty and culture of the islands he gazed on from space during his time orbiting Earth. The famous American astronaut accepted the Ministry of Tourism’s invitation to visit the Bahamas after he returned to Earth in March following a yearlong mission in space. Mr Kelly, his daughter, and significant other had dinner with Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe on Sunday at the historic Graycliff restaurant before departing for Exuma on Monday. “We made contact with him and soon after he arrived on Earth, he accepted our invitation. It is our pleasure to treat him to this much-needed vacation. We wanted him to spend time in The Bahamas so that he can enjoy all of the things that are important to us, and see why we say ‘It’s Better In The Bahamas,’” Mr Wilchcombe said. Mr Wilchcombe presented Mr Kelly with a framed
coin from The Central Bank of The Bahamas featuring the Bahamas from space. Mr Kelly also met with science and technology students from local high schools and The College of The Bahamas and answered their many questions after dinner. When asked by one of the excited students why he continued to post about The Bahamas during his mission, Mr Kelly’s answer was simple – there is nothing like it. “There are other places where the water is blue and clear, but there is nothing like it is (in The Bahamas.) It is so expansive and so absolutely beautiful,” he told the group. “I think one of the reasons why we know that aliens have never come to Earth is because they would’ve all been here in the Bahamas. If you’re going to land somewhere on Earth, you would land in the most appealing place from space,” he joked. During his mission, Mr Kelly shared dozens of stunning photos he took of the country, especially the
Exuma chain. He tweeted to his more than 421,000 followers, and mainly to his daughter, that the Bahamas is “the most beautiful place from space”. His tweets attracted international attention. In Exuma, Mr Kelly will have the opportunity to see the beauty of the islands up close. He will be treated to snorkelling, fishing, feeding the iguanas, swimming with the pigs and some much needed rest and relaxation. He described the islands as “a refreshing sight” during his time in space. Director General in the Ministry of Tourism Joy Jibrilu spoke of Mr Kelly’s impact on the Bahamas as a brand. “Kelly’s Bahamas tweets from space, about the beauty of The Bahamas was a true highlight,” she said. “Over 251,000 stories were written globally about this. He helped us tell the world just how beautiful our destination is.” Mr Kelly is expected to document his trip to Exuma and share it with his hundreds of thousands of social media followers.
THE TRIBUNE
FORMER astronaut Scott Kelly with his family, Ministry of Tourism staff, and the staff of Graycliff and, below, his tweet from the International Space Station describing The Bahamas as the most beautiful place from space.
STAY ON TRACK WITH THE GAMES ASTRONAUT Scott Kelly with his family in Exuma yesterday.
TEN CUBAN MIGRANTS DETAINED By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
TEN Cuban migrants discovered on Anguilla Cay over the weekend were picked up by the US Coast Guard and brought to Grand Bahama on Sunday. The crew of the USCG Cutter Paul Charles spotted
the migrants – eight men and two women – at the cay on Friday and took them aboard. The Coast Guard officials arrived at Lucayan Harbour around 8am Sunday and turned over the Cubans to Bahamian immigration authorities. The migrants had left Cuba and were attempting
to reach the United States. They were taken to the Department of Immigration headquarters, where they were processed and examined by a medical team. On Monday, the group was flown to New Providence where they will be detained at the Detention Centre to await repatriation.
Follow the Rio Olympics in The Tribune in words and pictures as ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ runs for 17 days in Brazil. Senior Sports Reporter Brent Stubbs – a veteran of six Olympic Games - will follow the fortunes of the Bahamian team on the track and in the field, in the swimming pool and on the rowing lake. Plus a daily guide to what events to watch and when, how the medals table is shaping up and the global highlights of each Olympic day. Get regular updates on the Tribune’s website – tribune242.com – as the world’s best sportsmen and women create golden moments in Brazil.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 9, 2016, PAGE 3
Anger at police as family search for missing father By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE daughter of a missing 89-year-old man suffering from dementia yesterday expressed disappointment in the lack of “police support” in locating her elderly father. Laurel Lundy, the daughter of Charles Lightbourne, said her family has not heard anything from police since concerned relatives reported Mr Lightbourne missing on Saturday evening. According to Mrs Lundy, Mr Lightbourne was last seen between noon to 5pm on Saturday “in the fields” of the family’s expansive property on Carmichael Road west, which she estimated to be about 20 acres in size. She said her father was last seen in a light-blue, long-sleeved shirt with short blue jeans and a “blue sailor hat.” Family members said Mr Lightbourne is 5’10”.
Mrs Lundy said when family members did not hear from Mr Lightbourne on Saturday evening, they called police for help. Mrs Lundy said she and her older sister both went to the Carmichael Road police station as well as the Central Detective Unit (CDU) on Saturday and Sunday to report the matter. “Now this is Monday, mid-Monday evening, and I don’t see any police support,” Mrs Lundy said. “Nobody has been here. And this is a big property. And I told (the officers) I thought we needed the (search) dogs because this is a big property.” Making matters worse, Mrs Lundy said, is the fact that her father suffers from dementia, a condition he was diagnosed with after suffering severe injuries from a brutal beating he received from an unknown assailant earlier this year. The attack was so gruesome that Mr Lightbourne lost his left eye and suffered
$2,000 REWARD IN HUNT FOR BAHAMIAN’S KILLER IN US from page one
CHARLES LIGHTBOURNE, who suffers from dementia and has gone missing. huge gashes on his head and now two nights he slept posting on the street and nose from being repeatedly out.” in businesses in addition hit with a shovel and a piece Mrs Lundy said family to digital media,” she said. of wood. members have visited the “It’s on Whatsapp, it’s on “Since the incident in morgue, as well as the Ac- Facebook, Instagram – so February, he’s been diag- cident and Emergency sec- we’re getting it around. It’s nosed with dementia, and tion at the Princess Marga- just that I don’t feel the pohe’s not been himself since ret Hospital(PMH) since lice support.” then,” she added. “You Saturday, but their efforts In early March, The Tribknow he lost his eye in yielded no results. une reported that Mr Lightthat attack. He hasn’t reStill, Mrs Lundy said bourne had been beaten ally accepted it because he relatives, friends and con- near his home by a suspectbelieves he’s going to see cerned church members are ed thief. At the time, his again. And so he holds on helping in the search, and family claimed police had when he moves, because he will continue to dissemi- not been proactive in their doesn’t really see that well. nate Mr Lightbourne’s in- investigation and alleged “But when he’s having formation on social media they were told by officers to episodes of delusion, he and on flyers in hopes of take their own pictures bedoesn’t know who he is. locating the elderly man as cause crime scene person“Daddy doesn’t sleep soon as possible. nel were “not available at out,” she added. “This is “We’re in the process of the time.”
TRAVEL WARNING ISSUED OVER ZIKA VIRUS By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration has issued a travel advisory connected to the global Zika epidemic, warning Bahamian travellers of a scourge in cases in Brazil and the Wynwood area of Miami, Florida. The advisory came a week after US health agencies warned against travel to the Florida neighbourhood and months after warning against travel to Brazil. In a comprehensive statement to the press, the ministry insisted that Bahamians travelling to both Miami and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the Summer Olympics take “appropriate precautions” to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. The statement also urged that similar precautions be taken by travellers heading to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration wishes to advise Bahamians travelling to Brazil and to the United States in Florida, in the city of Miami in particular, of reports of the Zika virus in those places. In Miami, the virus has been discovered to be most prevalent in the Wynwood area of the city,” the advisory indicated. “There have also been cases of local transmission reported in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The virus is mosquito-borne. The ministry wishes to offer guidance to people travelling to those places or anywhere that the Zika virus has been reported. “Bahamians travelling to both cities, Miami and to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the Summer Olympics, August 5-21, are reminded to take proper precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Those precautions would also arise in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
The ministry’s statement continued: “Bahamians travelling to Florida should be aware that while the number of reported cases in Florida is small, anyone travelling there should also take appropriate precautions. The disease is more prevalent in Brazil. The number of cases in the Turks and Caicos is small. “The symptoms of the disease include headaches, fever and pain around the eyes. Pregnant women should be especially careful, as cases affecting the health of unborn children have been reported. There are also rare cases of paralysis associated with Zika infections.” Officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration further adopted the systems and
procedures offered by the Ministry of Health, warning all residents travelling to these areas to wear clothing that covers all areas of the body, wear mosquito repellent, and avoid areas where mosquitoes are likely to congregate, like large pools of water. According to health officials, Zika is a mosquitoborne disease and may also be sexually transmitted. International health officials have long warned women who are pregnant or intend to get pregnant that they should guard
against Zika. The World Health Organisation has advised that persons wait at least six months to try for a pregnancy if the male partner had symptoms of Zika. To date, there have been five confirmed cases in Turks and Caicos, 15 in Florida and an estimated 170,000 in Brazil.
Leslie Avenue around 5am last Thursday, according to Atlanta police. Officers initially thought the shooting was a fire, after receiving a call about a BMW on fire near Leslie Avenue. Authorities instead found Smith shot behind the steering wheel of a BMW wedged between trees and shrubbery. The wheels were still spinning causing smoke, probably because her foot was pressing on the accelerator, according to reports. Meanwhile, Smith’s relatives have set up a GoFundMe account to assist in funeral expenses. Wendy Bond, who organised the page, said the family is still “in shock and coming to terms with the murder.” “On August 4, 2016, a beautiful life was cut short due to gun violence,” Ms Bond wrote on the fundraising website. “Shanna Smith was only 24 years old and a single mother of a four-year-old son. She was a kind and loving young lady and on Thursday morning Shanna was caught in a crossfire that left her dead with two bullets to the head. As we are still in shock and coming to terms with what took place, we are in need of help for burial preparation. All your help will be greatly appreciated and we the family would just like to extend our gratitude in advance.” Up to press time, the page received $1,805 of its $10,000 goal. Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the Bahamas Consulate General in Atlanta was in close contact with Smith’s mother, who was in Atlanta, and the chief of police of Atlanta. Investigators don’t know if Smith was targeted or just a victim of a random shooting. They believe she was on her way home from work at Amazon. They also found nearly 30 shell casings on the scene but police aren’t sure if some of those casings are from an earlier incident on the street. Police currently do not have any suspects in custody.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, August 9, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
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In fight against doping, disabled lead the way RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Maybe it’s time we started paying more attention to the Paralympics. Not only are their athletes courageous, so are their leaders. They did what Olympics officials wouldn’t Sunday, kicking the Russians out of their games next month for operating a state-sponsored doping system that helped both Olympians and Paralympians top the medal charts in Sochi two years ago. And they did it without mincing words. “Their medals over morals mentality disgusts me,” said Philip Craven, head of the International Paralympic Committee. That it came to this is not only unfortunate, but sad. There are Russians who have laboured their lives to overcome disabilities — including, surely, some who are clean — who now won’t be able to compete in the biggest sports event in the world open to people with handicaps. Look at it that way, and it seems almost mean spirited to keep them out. But the Paralympic ideals they compete under are much the same as the Olympic ideals their able-bodied countrymen are supposed to observe. The sports they compete in are as hotly contested as the sports Olympians are in, and the battle for medals just as spirited. There’s really no difference between an Olympian doping to gain a few extra seconds on the track or the pool, and a Paralympian trying to do the same. Cheating is cheating, and it has no part in any games. That doesn’t come as news to Olympic officials, though they have chosen to conveniently ignore it. They backed down last month when presented the opportunity to make a statement on behalf of clean sport ban the entire Russian Olympic team from Rio despite clear evidence of a doping scheme that for years has defrauded other athletes. And now there are athletes in Rio who simply don’t know whether they’re competing on a level playing field or not. Given the same chance to act decisively — and with even more evidence — the IPC showed it had the backbone that its bigger brother doesn’t. “The complete corruption of the antidoping system is contrary to the rules and strikes at the very heart of the spirit of Paralympic sport,” Craven said. “It shows a blatant disregard for the health and well-being of athletes and, quite simply, has no place in Paralympic sport.” The rare stand on behalf of clean athletes everywhere came on the same day Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova in the 100-meter breaststroke as a late entry from the Russian team. The reigning world champion who served a 16-month suspension for doping and tested positive this year for meldonium had been initially banned along with six other Russian swimmers. But swimming officials let her in, just as officials in other federations have allowed 277 other Russians to try for gold in Rio. That despite the release of a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency last month that detailed a system that included switching out urine samples for athletes who had been doping. Craven said Richard McLaren, who was commissioned by the World AntiDoping Agency to conduct an investigation of Russian doping, initially found 35 samples altered by a Moscow testing lab.
Details on another 10 altered tests were provided this week, and the Craven said the IPC now has evidence that the sample swapping that existed in the 2014 Sochi games was also in operation weeks later at the Sochi Paralympic Winter Games. Russian officials reacted in a typically angry fashion, but the facts seem clear. Not only were Russian Olympians doping, but their Paralympians were, too. Just why the Paralympics were so important to high Russian officials that they felt they had to cheat to win is a bit hard to understand. While more than 4,000 athletes will compete in the Rio Paralympics next month, they are little noticed by most and get only a few hours airtime on NBC. But cheat they did, and now they will pay a price. By Tim Dahlberg, AP Sports Columnist
Ruenroeng’s fight from prison to Olympics RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Amnat Ruenroeng speaks openly, even eagerly, about his years in a Thai prison. His path out of poverty, crime and drug addiction began in a cell. He wants it to end in an Olympic ring with a medal around his neck, and he was willing to return from the pro ranks to try for that storybook ending again. “There are some good parts of being in prison,” Ruenroeng said through a translator. “You get discipline. You learn how to know what’s right and what’s wrong. In the prison, they provide education, and they have boxing, football and martial arts. I’m good at boxing.” Eight years after Ruenroeng fell just short of a medal in Beijing, the 36-year-old former IBF flyweight champion got his second Olympics off to another winning start Sunday night. Fighting 11 kilograms above his professional weight after qualifying for the games just one month earlier, he still beat Argentina’s Ignacio Perrin by decision. “I felt good, but I must do better because this is my chance,” he said. When AIBA invited professional boxers to attempt to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Games earlier this year, no big international names accepted the offer, and only three pros are in the Rio field. But Ruenroeng eagerly seized the chance just a few weeks after losing his professional title, and he earned qualification last month. He is hardly a man among boys in the amateur game, however: Ruenroeng decided to fight at the 60-kilogram lightweight limit, a whopping 11 kilograms above his flyweight professional limit. He was stopped during the qualifying tournament in Venezuela last month, and he will have to beat two more veteran Olympicstyle fighters to get a medal in Rio. “It’s difficult, because my opponents have an advantage,” Ruenroeng said. “They’re bigger, but I have the will.” The risk was negligible to Ruenroeng, who still feels he owes a debt to boxing. He also shares many Thai athletes’ devotion to the King of Thailand, who pardoned him from a 15-year sentence after he showed boxing talent. “That’s why I came here for a second time, to prove myself,” he said. “I have to find out whether I can get the Olympic medal or not.” By Greg Beacham, AP Sports Writer
Sears brings a glimmer of light EDITOR, The Tribune FOLLOWING the shambolic Free National Movement Convention one thing was pellucidly clear: neither the present leader or the aspirant has the wherewithal to lead this country. Indeed the fire is no longer burning in many souls and the once mighty torch now has the sizzle of a damp firecracker. Because of all the missteps of the Progressive Liberal Party the 2017 election seemed to be the FNM’s to lose. Unfortunately they seem to have achieved this before the first vote is cast. To my mind, despite the utterings of the political
pundits, Dr Rollins was the only parliamentarian who emerged with any credibility. Perhaps after the next election Dr Minnis will find out that his seeming objective to fashion the FNM in the image of Perry Christie’s PLP was a dismal failure, especially when the seats show that the only ones won would be those bequeathed by that section of the party he chose to diss. And, if he has any discernment he will recognise that the country already has a dancer and is now seeking a visionary. Happily, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the despondent, with the
announcement by Alfred Sears that he will challenge the present Leader of the PLP at Convention. Should he win, I can envisage the party attracting many independents and despondent FNMs. JEANNE I THOMPSON Nassau August 8, 2016 PS: in a country with a high degree of lawlessness, it is frightening to hear members (I refuse to use the word Honourable) stating loudly that they will not obey a court order. How does that encourage the ordinary citizen to follow the laws of the land?
Support for Richard Lightbourn EDITOR, The Tribune. REF: Recent Statement by MP Richard Lightbourn regarding single mothers giving birth to more than two children. I would be much obliged if you would kindly publish the below in one of your daily editions of your news media. Firstly, I was appalled to see how certain members of the public came against Mr Lightbourn’s statement with such a biased approach. It appears that their sole purpose was to sanction the behaviour of unwed mothers. Whilst I do not wish to condemn anyone for their behaviour, I do have first-
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net hand experience from what I thought the Honourable Member of Parliament was attempting to say. One of my sisters, unwedded, now deceased, had nine children for four different men. I saw her anguish, disappointment and pain in attempting to provide for her children. Of course, most of the men never assisted her in providing for them. At that time, I had a very young family, but seeing her distress I tried to assist where possible. The end result of it was that closest
to fifty years of age, she suffered a massive heart attack and died. The children suffered greatly after her demise, however, through the help of Almighty God some of them did very well for themselves. As a mentor to young ladies, this is just one of my many experiences. My recommendation is that rather than demonize Mr Lightbourn for his statement, it would be good if those concerned review the pros and cons to determine if something good can come out of it for the betterment of all. Thank you. CONSCIENCE Nassau, August 4, 2016
Thank you for tribute to Cindy Re: Ministry of Tourism Independence Awards Cindy Williams EDITOR, The Tribune. I WISH to thank the Ministry of Tourism for recognising the contributions of the late Cindy Williams, during her employment at ZNS. This is especially fitting as ZNS is celebrating its 70th anniversary. For the benefit of those who do not know my late wife, Cindy Williams, after having spent a number of years at Princess Margaret Hospital as a licensed radiographer, commenced work at ZNS in the autumn of 1967, when H.R. “Rusty” Bethell was the General
Manager. She was the first Bahamian woman broadcaster. In 1971, she hosted her first show called “International Zone”, This show spotlighted foreigners working in The Bahamas. It was popular and successful. In the same year, she represented the Bahamas Broadcasting Corporation on a two-week stint at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation. Cindy also hosted the long-running show “Housewives Choice”, and “Medical Line”. In 1982, she was appointed Programme Director and in 1995, Production Director. Her involvement in the community was well
known: Director of The Bahamas Association for the Mentally Retarded, Cub Scout Leader of the 3rd Bahamas Troup, member of the Red Cross Ball Committee, President of Tiny Tots Day Care Centre; and Director of Bahamas Cancer Society. May I also add that the Cancer Society honoured Mrs. Williams on May 20, 1993, with the Cindy Williams Memorial Examination Room in the Oncology Unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital. Peace and Love. FRANKLYN S.M. WILLIAMS, Nassau, July 23, 2016.
Cash and his ridiculous claim EDITOR, The Tribune. DARRON Cash’s suggestion that Dr Minnis ran a campaign based on race is ridiculous and the media, which has been very biased, should make Mr Cash substantiate any such claim. Mr Cash and his cohorts are doing a terrible, terrible disservice to this country
and turning off a lot of people in the process. Some years ago, before its sale, I seem to recall Mr. Cash advocating for a group of black Bahamians to team up to buy BTC. If my memory serves me correctly, he was specific that the group should comprise only black people. Now, if this is correct,
who is the racist? Perhaps Mr Cash can address this issue? I don’t think I’ve ever seen such poor losers in my life. Are they deliberately trying to sink the FNM? Shame! WHITE BAHAMIAN Nassau, August 3, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 9, 2016, PAGE 5
Turnquest supports email ruling By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
ALTHOUGH his party has not released an official position, Free National Movement Deputy Leader K Peter Turnquest yesterday expressed support for the court ruling that Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald could not be protected by parliamentary privilege when he tabled the personal emails of members of Save the Bays. Mr Turnquest noted that while the court may not have jurisdiction in the matter, he believes that Parliament must do a better job at policing itself. “I certainly support the principle of parliamentary privilege,” he said. “Parliament ought to be free to speak with regard to issues that come up with re-
spect to their constituency or matters that affect the government or legislation, and to be able to point out areas of wrong doing and corruption, etc. “I draw the line, however, when persons’ private conversations are dragged into Parliament for no connected purpose other than to cast aspersions on the reputation of persons who don’t have the same right to defend themselves. In this particular instance the issues go way beyond reputation damage to the individual but potential damage to the country’s financial services industry. “In as much as the court may not have jurisdiction in this matter,” he said, “I believe the Parliament itself must do a better job in policing itself in terms of what is allowed.” When pressed for his
party’s official position on the matter yesterday, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis told reporters outside the House of Assembly that he had not yet been able to consider the matter. In her landmark ruling earlier this month, Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles declared that Mr Fitzgerald was not legally justified when he tabled the private emails of environmental action group Save The Bays in Parliament, and therefore could not be protected by parliamentary privilege. Justice Charles ruled that the Marathon MP’s actions were an infringement of the constitutional rights of the applicants and ordered Mr Fitzgerald to pay $150,000 in damages for the breach. Mr Fitzgerald was permanently banned from disclosure and publication of any further material belonging
to Save The Bays and was ordered to delete all electronic and hard copy material within 14 days of the ruling. The Office of the Attorney General said that it would appeal the ruling and was granted a stay pending the appeal. The following day, MPs reacted with outrage in the House of Assembly, with Mr Fitzgerald calling the ruling a “ridiculous conclusion.” But the most severe rebuke came from Marco City MP Greg Moss, who suggested that without Parliament’s “restraint” in addressing the matter, the ruling could lead to a constitutional crisis. Mr Moss questioned whether Save the Bays was “forum shopping” given that it has had several of its cases before Justice Charles.
“Why are all these controversial cases coming before the same judge?” he asked, prompting parliamentarians to beat their desks in approval. “I’m not able to answer that. That should not be an issue I have to speak to in this House because the Supreme Court is supposed to conduct itself with judicial decorum not to create a constitutional crisis with the Parliament in this country.” The comments were branded as an egregious insult by Save the Bays’ Legal Director Fred Smith, who pledged to make a formal complaint to the Office of the Attorney General and the Bar Association in an effort to get Mr Moss disbarred. Bahamas Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson has said the matter shows that parliamentarians must not abuse parlia-
mentary privilege, and cautioned parliamentarians to be responsible. Outside parliament yesterday, House Speaker Dr Kendal Major said he did not take issue with Mr Moss’ comments but would have to review the transcript to make any further determination. “The Parliament has its jurisdiction and exclusive cognisance, meaning that we are self-regulating,” Dr Major said. “So Parliament is minding its business and functioning as parliament should.” When asked for his opinion on Mr Moss’ assertion, Mr Turnquest said: “I thought the comments were on the edge, but he (Mr Moss) being an officer of the court I thought he knew what he was doing. I was little uncomfortable with that.”
MITCHELL SLAMS JUSTICE’S RULING ON PRIVILEGE IN PARLIAMENT from page one
He rose in Parliament to respond to statements Save the Bays’ Legal Director Fred Smith, QC, made to The Tribune. In an article published on Monday, Mr Smith said he would make a formal complaint to the Office of the Attorney General and the Bar Association about Marco City MP Greg Moss in reference to his suggestion in the House of Assembly last week that Save the Bays engaged in “forum shopping” in the Supreme Court. Mr Moss’ comments came as he reacted in the House of Assembly last Wednesday to Justice Charles’ historic ruling that Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald infringed on the constitutional rights of members of Save the Bays when he tabled their personal emails in Parliament in March. Justice Charles ordered Mr Fitzgerald to pay $150,000 in damages. Referring to Justice Charles’ more than 90-page long ruling, Mr Mitchell
FRED Mitchell in the House of Assembly last week. quipped: “I have a friend Parliament in defence of . . . who is a lawyer who freedom of speech in this says anytime you see a long place.” judgment, you can bet that He said it was important there’s an error of law on for House Speaker Dr Kenevery page, so I just start dal Major to “constantly with that. reaffirm the point on be“But the more serious half of this House that this point, Mr Speaker, is this matter is not about saving . . . there has been a lot of the financial services sector public discussion, most of … this is about the right of it managed by the press, members of Parliament to that appears to be hostile speak freely in this Parliato the position which has ment.” been taken by members of He said the law has al-
ways been clear on this point, adding that anything said in Parliament “has no sanction, whether criminal or civil.” He stressed that parliamentary privilege was essential so that members of Parliament could speak freely on behalf of their constituents. “That’s what it is meant to do, so that every constituent who votes for one of us knows that if they bring some case to us, that we can bring the case in here and that there is no sanction for what we say. “Imagine, sir, that some private citizen discovered what we discovered, and the burden is then put on them to bring a legal action by originating summons - you know the prices Fred Smith charges to go to court? Can you imagine if some small private citizen in Fox Hill had to bring the matter which threatened, we say, which looked on the face of it to threaten the stability of our country where rich foreigners put millions of dollars through a law firm to destabilise the country – to bring that action in
the court? How much that would cost? “That’s why we have the privilege. It’s the cheap method. They can come to us and say we have discovered something wrong and we think you need to go to Parliament and make this complaint on our behalf. “And now you have rich foreigners using millions of dollars funnelled through a law firm to actually get a judge in a court to agree to do that, and we mustn’t say anything in response to that?” Mr Mitchell said this was a serious matter that went to the heart of the country’s democracy, which should be dealt with in court and by the House Committee on Privilege. He added: “ . . .Parliament at the end of the day could define the privilege to vacate the very judgment which exists, it has that power, and that’s a constitutional power.” In response, Dr Major said he is also concerned about the ruling. “I would only say this much in closing honourable member, that the chair
concurs with and joins you in your concern as I am in the process of reading the judgment,” Dr Major said. “I have noted a couple of things, that the weight of levity the honourable judge has applied seems to be promulgating the idea that this is the executive overreaching. “And I take great issue with that, each member in here when they speak, speaks as an individual member of Parliament, so that’s one of the first things. Secondly for me, this is no political matter and I believe every member of this place ought to be outraged by what has been attempted,” Dr Major said, as parliamentarians banged on their desks in support. “Thirdly, I must add that this is becoming extremely vexatious and an irritant that this is continuing on . . . fourthly, the Committee on Privilege and the chairman ought to be appointed and start its work.” Dr Major also said he would support the committee’s findings and in the meantime, Parliament will do its work unfettered.
PLP chairman doubts Butler-Turner call By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts has questioned Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner’s recent call for her supporters to back Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, calling on Mrs ButlerTurner to reveal what led her to “remain quiet and shamelessly sing Dr Minnis’ praises”. Mr Roberts claimed that her sudden turnaround from her previous accusations against Dr Minnis and the FNM’s top brass suggests that Dr Minnis made Mrs Butler-Turner “an offer she could not refuse”. Mr Roberts also called on the Long Island MP to “come clean with full, frank and honest disclosures” over the alleged
LORETTA Butler-Turner at the Free National Movement Convention. “corruption” she previously claimed is rampant in the FNM under Dr Minnis’ leadership, questioning if her statements were true or if she was misrepresenting Dr Minnis “because (she) could not win the leadership race” at the FNM’s convention two weeks ago. Mr Roberts’ statement on Sunday came hours after Mrs Butler-Turner released a statement in which she urged her supporters
to back Dr Minnis and his leadership, her strongest move since the party’s controversial convention to help heal the wounds in the party. Just days after saying she “can’t be bought” by the FNM, Mrs ButlerTurner appealed for the party and the wider public to be patient with her as she continues to “grow and change.” She also said she would accept the party’s nomination to run in the Long Island constituency in the next general election if her constituents wanted her to do so. However, last Tuesday, Mrs Butler-Turner revealed that the FNM had presented several offers to her, including a promotion to leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly, in an effort to “buy her off” to step away from the
plethora of issues she has with the organisation. At the time, she also confirmed that the FNM has also offered a ratification for her constituency, a prominent role on the party’s general election campaign team and a senior Cabinet post should the party defeat the governing Progressive Liberal Party in 2017. Mr Roberts also called on Mrs Butler-Turner to clarify whether her claims of corruption in the FNM under Dr Minnis’ leadership were true or if she merely made them because she saw “the agony of defeat” before her in the party’s convention. Mr Roberts referred to statements Mrs ButlerTurner made on Facebook late last month, in which she accused Dr Minnis of doing everything possible to “silence” her voice and “steal” the party’s convention.
BUTLER-TURNER ‘WILL LOSE LONG ISLAND’ FOR FNM from page one
However, Mr Wells predicted that should another candidate emerge who resonates with Long Islanders, Mrs Butler-Turner would struggle to secure a maximum of 200 votes. And despite her “wrongdoings,” Mr Wells said the former FNM deputy leader “did the right thing” when she issued her statement on Sunday calling for unity and urging her supporters to back Dr Minnis. He said the party should welcome this and continue to work with Mrs ButlerTurner to unify the party and ultimately defeat the Progressive Liberal Party. “They should find another constituency for her because the damage is already done,” Mr Wells said yesterday when he was contacted. “She brought this on herself. The thing to do would be for Dr Minnis and the FNM to find her another constituency, as I understand the
government will likely cut up the boundaries. “But she will not be able to salvage a relationship with voters in Long Island.” He continued: “I don’t think that the people will nominate her and I think they are looking at other possibilities for representation. “What people have to understand is that when she was elected she had a certain team backing her. However, because she ‘dissed’ certain people, they are no longer with her. They complained about her representation and there were a number of promises and commitments she made that she didn’t fulfil. “When you do that and other wrongdoings in a small constituency like Long Island you will get jammed.” Just days after insisting that she “can’t be bought” by the FNM, Mrs ButlerTurner on Sunday made a drastic change in position and urged supporters to
back Dr Minnis’ team. Taking a markedly different tone from previous statements, she appealed for the party and the wider public to be patient with her as she continues to “grow and change.” She also said she would accept the party’s nomination for the Long Island constituency if voters there wanted her to do so. “It is my fervent hope that unity will be achieved through a spirit of collegiality, dialogue and mutual respect from all within the party,” her statement read. It marked an astounding turnaround for her and could prove crucial for the party’s efforts to reverse the impact of highly publicised and caustic infighting that has raised questions about its ability to successfully challenge the PLP next year. As recently as last Tuesday, Mrs Butler-Turner seemed unprepared to fall in line under Dr Minnis’ leadership.
After Dr Minnis extended an olive branch to her during his closing speech at the party’s convention two weeks ago, on Tuesday she said “I am not for sale” in response to reports that Dr Minnis and his team made offers to her, including one to be made leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly. Given her new pledge to work towards party unity, it is unclear if Bahamians will get a response from the party to accusations from her that its convention election process was rigged. She accused the party’s leadership of engaging in criminal and corrupt behaviour when she dramatically withdrew from the leadership race on July 29, hours before votes for executive positions were to be cast. On Sunday night, Dr Minnis said the party welcomed her call for unity. He said it confirmed the “longstanding belief” that the FMN would unite after the convention.
Mr Roberts also referred to statements made by former FNM Chairman Darron Cash, one of Mrs Butler-Turner’s supporters, that Dr Minnis ran a racially-divisive campaign during the convention. He questioned which narrative was correct and urged Mrs Butler-Turner to “clarify this double-talk as your credibility is on the line.” He added: “In all my years in politics, I have never heard of a politician throwing him or herself under the bus. I have heard about politicians being thrown under the bus, but (Mrs Butler-Turner takes) the cake - she threw herself under the bus along
with her dignity, integrity and self respect in one fell swoop.” On Sunday night, Dr Minnis said in a statement that the party welcomed Mrs Butler-Turner’s call for unity and said it confirmed the “longstanding belief” that the FNM would unite after the convention. Dr Minnis said with Mrs Butler-Turner’s pledge for unity, the party stands “unified and ready to take the fight to the inept PLP.”
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PAGE 6, Tuesday, August 9, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
PM: Sears bid is no problem from page one “I am leader of the party and I am focused on developmental issues in the country. People expect me to be able to deal with mortgage relief (and) Baha Mar. That’s what we are doing now and so our convention goes by rules and once people comply with the rules we are okay.” On Sunday, Mr Sears announced his intent to challenge Mr Christie for the PLP’s top post, meaning that Mr Christie will face the first challenge to his leadership since National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage and attorney Paul Moss faced off against him in 2009. For months, Mr Sears has been laying the groundwork for a leadership run, having recently released a list of proposals he intends to champion if he becomes leader of the PLP. He spent recent months canvassing the country to make an assessment about whether it would be wise to run for leader. Mr Sears, recently ratified as the PLP’s election candidate for Ft Charlotte, pledged to run a “clean”
race, one without personal attacks. Mr Christie stirred controversy recently when he said he seeks to remain leader of the PLP to provide stability to the party and because young members in government have urged him to continue on. The comments, which were made while he was a guest on the “Ed Fields Live” show on Kiss FM, sparked an immense backlash. While Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis rejected Mr Christie’s assertions that the party would be unstable without him as leader, former PLP MP Philip Galanis issued a more forceful rebuke saying the prime minister’s comments were the “height of nonsense” and bordered on “delusional”. In a frank interview, Mr Galanis said there are many persons within the party who are capable of bringing a breath of fresh air into the country, ridding it of the “Christie fatigue” it now experiences. He insisted that if it was Mr Christie’s desire to remain on as prime minister, he should just be intellectually honest and say so.
He went on to explain that despite Mr Christie’s constant mantra that his team was a “bridge to the future,” his declaration on Monday was an admission that he failed to appoint persons who could actually succeed him. Former PLP Chairman Raynard Rigby has also chastised the prime minister, pointing to growing frustration among young PLPs with his leadership. He recently suggested that this current administration lacked ideas and vision, which has stagnated the country’s growth and fed frustration among young Bahamians that there are limited opportunities available of which to take advantage. Mr Rigby was critical of the Christie-led government, insisting that it failed to push progressive policies. The former party executive added that if Bahamians want to change the course of the country, the electorate must move away from correlating personalities with the ability to govern as this has not served the needs of the country over the last several decades.
PRIME Minister Perry Christie in the House of Assembly last week.
ROBERTS: PLP RACE WILL NOT BE NASTY LIKE FNM’S from page one
National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage and attorney Paul Moss faced him in 2009 at the party’s last convention. Mr Sears pledged to run a “clean” race, one without personal attacks. “We are a democratic organisation and all persons in good standing have a right to nominate for any position,” Mr Roberts said
on Monday. “He has been the only person so far to announce their intention to run against Mr Christie to me, but I do not expect the race to be nasty because Mr Sears is not like Loretta Butler-Turner. They have different personalities. Mr Sears and Mr Christie are intellectuals and Mrs Butler-Turner is a disaster.” Mrs Butler-Turner, the Free National Movement’s MP for Long Island, waged
a bitter campaign against Killarney MP Dr Hubert Minnis for the party’s top post, however she withdrew from the race on July 29, just hours before delegates voted at the FNM’s convention. “I am not concerned about low politics with these men, this will be a clean campaign,” Mr Roberts added. “Mr Sears said he is contemplating running, as far I know, I think he is testing the waters and will make a determination
once he knows whether he has the support or not. Running is one thing but winning is another.” The PLP’s five-day convention is scheduled for the last week in November at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort. Mr Sears is a respected figure in the PLP and within the legal community. He was encouraged by the PLP constituency branch of Fort Charlotte to return to frontline politics last year after
members grew frustrated with their representative, Dr Andre Rollins, who has since left the PLP. If not for the prodding of the party, it is unclear if Mr Sears would have returned to frontline politics in 2017 and therefore challenge Mr Christie. Mr Sears was attorney general from 2002 to 2006 and minister of education from 2002 to 2007 during the first Christie administration. He also served as
chairman of the Council of the College of the Bahamas between 2012 and 2016. Mr Sears is currently the managing partner of Sears & Co, the law firm he established in 1992. He told The Tribune on Sunday that he anticipates receiving notable endorsements in the coming months. The PLP has not held a convention since 2009, despite the party’s constitutional mandate to hold one every year.
WELLS NAMED LEADER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS from page one
South Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly currently serves in the capacity of FNM party whip and St Anne’s MP Hubert Chip-
man serves as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. Fort Charlotte MP Andre Rollins last week announced that he would not be seeking a nomination by the FNM ahead of the 2017
general election and had asked Dr Minnis to rescind his appointment as shadow minister of national security. It is unclear if Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn and South Abaco MP Edison Key had been consid-
ered for the post. Mr Wells could not be reached for comment on the appointment. The first-time MP, who with Dr Rollins, joined the FNM last November, nearly a year after he was fired
from his parliamentary secretary post in the Ministry of Works for signing a letter of intent to have a waste-to-energy facility built at the city dump without Cabinet approval. He quit the Progressive Lib-
eral Party the same day he announced he was joining the FNM. Mr Grant last Wednesday told Parliament that recent events demonstrated that Dr Minnis was “uncomfortable” with him and “not satisfied” with his performance; all of which he said prompted him to make the decision to resign. Mr Grant is the longest-serving current member of Parliament of the FNM, having first been elected under the party in 1992. Back in June, Mr Grant lambasted Dr Minnis in an email over his performance in Parliament during the wrap up of the 2016/2017 budget debate. In that email, Mr Grant criticised Dr Minnis specifically for “abandoning” his colleagues at 2.30am,leaving MPs to finish the work of the House and suggested that the Killarney MP feigned sickness to leave early. In the days following his resignation, unsubstantiated reports surfaced claiming that Mr Grant was pressured to step down from the post by party executives; assertions that Mr Grant shot down last Thursday. “There was absolutely no pressure whatsoever. It was a decision that I made on my own, of my own accord,” Mr Grant told The Tribune at the time. Mr Grant was not present for Monday’s parliamentary sitting.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 9, 2016, PAGE 7
Andros has $1bn potential, says former data commissioner By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net FORMER Data Commissioner Sharmie Farrington-Austin is calling on Andros to elect her in order to help realise the $1 billion dollar potential that exists for that island. Speaking to scores of supporters during her independent campaign launch on Sunday, Mrs FarringtonAustin outlined a campaign platform that focuses on economic diversification, scholarship investments, and community development. On the subject of economic diversification, she stressed the need to maximise on the strategic location and natural resources that exist on the island. “Andros has all the natural resources it needs to make it a successful and thriving island,” she said. “Ecotourism remains a viable form of potential revenue particularly for South Androsians. Research shows that South Andros remains largely preserved in its natural state. Bird watching is also an attractive way of attracting visitors and income to South Andros. “Institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank continue to show economic potential of Andros in this regard.” In 2014, a $600,000 InterAmerican Development Bank project entitled “Ecosystem-based development for Andros island” was engaged by the government to incorporate the island’s natural attractions and resources into a “masterplan”’ that would guide its development. The project aimed to determine the economic value to the Bahamas of Andros’s various ecosystems, which
a previous study by V Hargreaves-Allen, conducted for The Nature Conservancy, estimated at $260 million per year. The IDB described Andros, with its 2,300 square mile land mass and 10,000-strong population, as “largely undeveloped” with the main economic activities centred on agriculture, tourism, fishing and the government. The island also possesses the world’s third largest natural barrier reef, “some of the most extensive wetlands in the Caribbean”, and supplied between 25-40 per cent of Nassau’s freshwater needs until the capital switched to reverse osmosis plants. The IDB noted that its project would help to “plan and guide” the government’s development plans for Andros that would include the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI); a deep water port for commercial and cruise shipping; and efforts to revive farming, ecotourism and sports fishing. Last May, a non-IDB related venture broke ground that was expected to pump $3.5m into South Andros’s economy within six months and create around 180 jobs. However, the five-phase Solar Verde Bahamas project - which was to include a marina, retail outlets at Kemp’s Bay and an extension of the Congo Town airport - had stalled into February of this year, causing frustration among local residents and the business community. Mrs Farrington-Austin on Sunday said that the economy “cannot subsist on a tourism model alone.” “We must, as Dr Myles Munroe would say, ‘maximise our potential.’ We can diversify our economy by tapping into our billion dollar
SHARMIE Farrington-Austin at the launch of her independent campaign for the 2017 general election. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Do we need a republic? Or ing under a constitutional fishing industry and expand- women. She also pledged to work do we need a combination monarchy system. ing our agricultural capacity. We can also take ownership with the responsible author- of both? I sincerely believe Mrs Farrington-Austin of our airspace and we can ities to ensure that Andros at this juncture that we said Bahamians “must betake dominion of our natu- residents take possession should take a look at some gin this conversation in a of the land they live on that form of republic model. It is serious way.” ral resources,” she stressed. time that we consider votShe also said she pledged they have already paid for. “Under our present sysAs she unveiled her cam- ing for our prime minister tem, the prime minister and $10,000 requested to Captain Shawn Leadon and paign for South Andros, separate and apart from the leader of the opposition Simon ‘Bonefish’ Bain to Mrs Farrington-Austin also voting our members of Par- must always be cognisant of create an education course called for the serious con- liament.” the fact that at any moment, As it stands now, Cuba, the level of confidence they for teaching youth about sideration of the Bahamas fly-fishing and the honour- operating under a different Dominica, the Dominican enjoy can shift. system of government other Republic, Guyana, Haiti, ing of bone fishing legends. “There is no recall system Concerning community than the current Westmin- Suriname and Trinidad in place. In my humble view, and Tobago are the only this leads to insecure and development, having al- ster system. “We need to collectively countries in the Caribbean ineffective governance.” ready established a centre in Cargill Creek, Mrs look at our system of gov- region operated under a re“It is time we change to Farrington-Austin wants ernance. We need to ask public system. a system that will work for Jamaica and Barbados the people of this country to create one in Smith’s ourselves whether the WestHill, South Andros and minster system is working have recently considered including the great people an at-risk centre for young for a 21st century Bahamas. moving away from operat- of Andros.”
TWO CHARGED WITH RAPE OVER SEPARATE INCIDENTS By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were separately charged with rape – one in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court and the other in the Eight Mile Rock Magistrate’s Court – on Monday. Demrie Charlton, aka Ricardo Rickett, 29, of Spoonbill Loop, Arden Forrest, appeared before Magistrate Charlton Smith in court two in Freeport. He was charged with rape in connection with an incident that was reported to police on August 2. Charlton was not required to enter a plea to the charge. He was denied bail and remanded to the Department of Correctional Services until September 27. David Davino Missick, 30, of Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock (EMR), appeared before Magistrate Gwen Claude in the EMR Magistrate’s Court, where he was also charged with rape. The matter is in connection with an incident that was reported to police on June 2. Missick was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services until November 17.
DEMRIE CHARLTON, aka Ricardo Rickett, and David Davino Missick, above and below, are both charged in separate race cases. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
JURY READY TO HEAR MURDER TRIAL By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A JURY was empanelled yesterday in the Supreme Court for the trial of a man accused of being the culprit behind a fatal drive-by shooting on East Street five years ago. However, the 12-member panel hearing evidence in Robert Ryan Smith’s trial only heard testimony from one prosecution witness yesterday morning. Smith, 29, has denied the murder charge he faces con-
cerning the June 2011 murder of Winfield Kino Smith. Sgt Paul Lewis was called to the witness stand where he testified that he had responded to the scene of a fatal shooting on East Street South on June 17, 2011. When he arrived in the area of Porky’s Gas Station, he saw a bleeding man on the ground suffering from apparent gunshot wounds about the body. While paramedics attended to the man, Sgt Lewis said he saw some ten projectiles on the ground. The officer said he then
received information from a civilian that led him to alert the patrol room to put out an all-points bulletin (APB) for a vehicle. Crown prosecutors Cephia Pinder-Moss and Algernon Allen II asked Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs for a 24-hour adjournment of the trial due to unforeseen circumstances “beyond their control.” The request was granted and the matter was adjourned to today at 10am. Smith, who is on bail, is defended by lawyer Murrio Ducille.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, August 9, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
FNM fiasco betrays the sham of dancing partners W
HO in their right mind is listening to Loretta Butler-Turner? I stood back from the post-Free National Movement (FNM) convention slaying last week, hoping that within the following week of that occurring something meaningful would transpire and I could have something sensible, maybe even encouraging to write about. But it seems the passage of time has only led to the uncovering of more insanity. I was also hoping, after Hillary Clinton’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, I could follow the next morning with some type of positive comparison between Clinton and Butler-Turner. The very next morning, it was more than apparent that I could not. This breakdown-showdown in the FNM ... it really could not have gone any other way than this. In her own words, Butler-Turner said not so long ago before the convention that she intended to be “a leader who will stay on the battlefield”. And doggone it, if she didn’t leave the next minute; she didn’t even reach the battleground. She didn’t even climb the crest of the mountain to get to the battleground to wage the war. Who on earth wages war from a valley one mountain removed? The FNM leaders’ dancing on convention night was a sham. The level of artifice on display was nauseating. It reminded me of the very fake relationships some women have with one another, as depicted on equally nauseating reality TV, pretending they get along so well and seething at the thought of having to communicate at all with one another. The whole thing was and continues to be a sham. The entire show put on by Hubert Minnis and ButlerTurner was like the show staged by unhappily married people. You live in the Bahamas - you’ve seen it. We’re together, just not together. We live in the same house, but we stay in different rooms. He sleeps on the couch, I sleep in the bed. We really can’t stand each other and so much has gone wrong between us but for the sake of our children, family, and friends, we’ll keep performing until the music stops, or the curtain drops, whichever
DR Hubert Minnis dancing on stage with Loretta Butler-Turner during the FNM Convention, by the end of which he remained leader and Mrs Butler-Turner had pulled out of the leadership race. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By NICOLE BURROWS
comes first. After all that has transpired between ButlerTurner and Minnis, who with a functioning brain is going to back Minnis as leader of the FNM, at Butler-Turner’s request, when she didn’t, and probably, secretly, still does not back him herself? It’s done, FNM leaders and want-to-be leaders. Butler-Turner, Sands, Turnquest, Minnis … just pack it all in. Go back to your day jobs. This politics business is not working out for you. Politics is not your game. More importantly, the governance of our country is not for you.
Unless the F N M f lushes all the tired, inept souls from their ranks and begins with a clean slate, they could easily be no more. Bahamians like to vote, don’t mind them saying they ain’t gonna vote in 2017; they like to feel a part of something big and important. A ‘no’-vote for the F N M, and a ‘no’vote for the PLP only leaves a few viable alternatives. And the FNM leaders ask, if not them (FNM), then who? The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)? No. Absolutely not. The only thing anyone can agree with
the FNM about at this point is that the next government of the Bahamas cannot be a PLP government. So that makes the two of them good for nothing. Bahamian people, do your country a favour; take your one good vote like it was your one good child and put it anywhere else it might have a hope of surviving. Whether the place you put your vote lies with the largest of the political party contenders - the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) - or another smaller party, or your independent representatives, put that vote with whomever among them makes the most sense and relieves us of this recycled foolery that is FNM and PLP. All non-PLP, non-FNM groups or persons seeking to lead or represent Bahamians, you should be focused on all disenfranchised Bahamians within your earshot. And at this given moment, that number is large and ever-increasing.
L
Funeral Service For
MR. WILLARD “ Dr. Lutz” EVAN LEWIS, 69
of Hopkins Drive, Coral Harbour, will be held on Thursday, August 11th, 2016, 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church, Lyford Cay, Nassau. Officiating will be Rev. Fr Kendrick J. Forbes, assisted by other ministers of the Clergy. Cremation will Follow. Lutz is survived by: His wife: Yvonne Lewis; Children: Natalie Lewis, Lutz Julian Lewis, Gershan Johnson; Granddaughter: Abbigail Major; Stepdaughters: Kathrina Darling, Renee Thomas, Dilette Thompson, Carol Moss, Andrea Rolle; Stepsons: Ian Thompson and Pierre Simmons, Gary Rolle; Brother: Vincent Patrick; Sister-in-law: Elen Patrick and Violet Patrick; Nephews & Nieces: Ian and Ralph Patrick, Oshea Swain, Vance, Vito Patrick, Vinzanna Patrick Leysath; Step granddaughters and step grandsons: Veba Khan Thomas, Shehzad Thomas, Sharanette Deveaux, Devin and Latoya Rolle; Step great granddaughter: Londyn Mortimer; Cousins; Joan Saunders, Marily Bonaby, Emily Missick, Olive Smith, Jenny Seymour, May Smith, Margaret Smith and Ivy Williams, Odette, Patsy and Verdell; Other relatives and friends including: Adam and Maxine Monroe, Alfreda Burrows, Freeman Miller, Doyle Burrows and family, Stephanie Rolle, Albury and Johnny Tucker and family, Henry and Arlene Newbold, Sedia Newbold, Fabienne Bailey-Brown, Gizelle Bailey, Reginald Wells, Ruth Collie, Charles Collie, David and Ruby Knowles, Beatrice and Ethel Collie and family, Veronica and Rodrick Pratt, Linda Williams and family, Peter and Lavern Bridgewater, Charles and Sherrilyn Murphy, Willandale Bain, John and Princess Blyden. Special thanks to: Dr. Roland Hamilton, Dr. Gloria Ageeb and the entire St. Paul’s Church family. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC VIEWING. Relatives and friends who wish to sign the book of condolences may do so at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Cancer Society Of the Bahamas C/O P.O Box SS 6539 in memory of Willard “Dr Lutz” Lewis. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Cedar Crest Funeral Home & Crematorium, Robison and Baillou Hill Roads.
oretta ButlerTurner has shown us that she is either too temperamental, too wishy-washy or too backstabbing. And frankly none of those things are helpful for us, whether or not she seeks renomination in Long Island, whether or not she stays with the FNM on a special agreement and under special terms. As a leader, she has proven her lack of worth. And as a woman, I wish I could speak better of what she presents and represents. I, for one, am seriously disappointed, and I’m not even remotely interested in supporting the FNM. Some folks are debating … was it the plan, if unable to oust Minnis as FNM leader by established procedure, that Butler-Turner and the other five MPs of the ‘Subversive Six’ find another way to make Minnis look foolish, by making the party look foolish and divide it even more? By creating even more disunity, you make the party as a whole look incompetent and Minnis becomes the obvious failure as its leader? But that makes absolutely no sense and would be a very expensive and risky route to take; expensive because of the ridiculous amount of ‘convention
money’ spent (which now job is to tell me what the keeps Butler-Turner bound solutions are. But the PLP to the party), but also be- as a whole has no solutions, cause such a route is a gi- or else we’d be well on gantic political sacrifice, not our way to improvement. to mention Duane Sands’ Though, I’m sure Bernard carriage being tied to But- Nottage thinks we’re imler-Turner’s horse and now proving ... still gloating in they both suffer the con- the ‘no murders in July’ sequences. limelight, And in the when the end they “Loretta Butler-Turner BEC/ BPL look as fool- has shown us that power outish as they she is either too ages probmade or ably have hoped to temperamental, too more to do have made wishy-washy or too with a reMinnis look? backstabbing. And duction in None of that murders makes sense. frankly none of those than any Maybe we’re things are helpful for measures just trying us. As a leader, she taken by lotoo hard to cal law enmake sense has proven her lack of forcement of something worth.” (should that carries that murder none. number inWherever you try to in- crease, again, I hope they sert logic into the fiasco will also take credit for that is now the FNM, you that). simply can’t, particularly With Sears as a member as it relates to the leader- of the no-solutions PLP, it ship race. So you’re left will be interesting to see with two sad possibilities: how far he will take his Butler-Turner is a hopeless leadership bid. I’m sure case, very weak and inap- he’ll run a good show. Bepropriately in leadership cause the most charming and governance, or she’s thing he may have on offer a loose cannon waiting to is his affiliation with the blow at any moment, obvi- numbers bosses. I am inously with no place in lead- deed being facetious. ership and governance. Bahamians of the PLP The end result is, wheth- variety don’t like too much er she intended to or not, nice behaviour. They like whether she likes it or not, dirt. They want to know whether she wants to hear you can keep their stait or not, she has failed as tus quo … keep the crony a leader and needs to re- pipelines flowing and keep vert to a quiet corner with rolling dirty. If Sears mansealed lips like all the rest ages to shake off some of of the parliamentarians, the dirt of PLP politics and or ‘exit stage left’ or right, appeals enough to voters whichever direction gets of a bit more discerning her off the stage faster. variety, ie won’t go for the And then, on the other same old nonsense, will he side, in walks Alfred Sears, then be electable enough? a man who, on the surface, Can you support him as seems like he might have a lone ranger member of what a Bahamian leader a party that has been inshould, in the way of intelli- strumental in inculcating gence, experience, demean- ignorance and hazardous our, some attractiveness, behaviours in our people and dare I say a little cha- … for decades? risma? As unprepared as you But Sears has been in and might think the DNA is with the PLP for some time right now, consider that now, with nothing memora- the only preparation the ble to show. If he can’t do PLP and FNM have is that anything of consequence they’ve led you to the vapwhile in there with the rest id life you now lead. They of them now, how will he do have all been there since it after now? the beginning, such that I don’t hear him saying being there for a long time anything different so far. becomes the foundation His most recent statement for their platforms. But bejust reiterates the prob- ing around for a long time, lems we have. But we know in and of itself, is no good the problems we have. We reason to be encouraged to know the issues. What are stay around. the solutions? My job is to write about the issues; if Send email to nburrows you want to lead me, your @tribunemedia.net
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 9, 2016, PAGE 9
Youth group to host free summer camp for kids By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net REACH Out Youth Organisation is hosting a free summer camp for kids at its community centre on Banyan Lane for the next three weeks. Dudley Seide, of ROYO, held registration and orientation for over 100 children on Monday and expects the number to increase when the camp starts on Wednesday. With most of the summer camps now closed on the island, ROYO provides parents a place to drop their kids off at 8.30am. There will be lots of fun and
learning activities, and free meals provided daily. Mr Seide said a person from the community will also come in and speak with participants, and there will be a visit and tour of Central police station and a day at the caves in East Grand Bahama. “It is also important to have a listening session with our kids where we listen to what’s on their minds and we will be hearing from our participants about various topics, such as bullying in school, crime, and the economy, etc,” he said. Mr Seide was pleased with the turnout and said that more volunteers are needed. He said that retired
teachers, police officers, and bankers are welcome to stop by and volunteer their time. The organisation’s annual Scared Straight Prison Trip continues to make a difference in the lives of young men in the community. Mr Seide, his wife Katie, and 30 boys returned home on Sunday after a week in New Providence, where they also competed in the “Peace in Da Streets” basketball tournament. They took three teams over to compete in the under 13, 16 and 19 categories. The under 16 boys team won its consecutive championship title. “We were very excited to
have won in Nassau for the past three years because it shows that our (basketball) programme is working,” said Mr Seide, a former star high school basketball player. But most important, he said, was their visit to the prison where the young men were able to see what the institution is like. Keshaun Rolle said it was a real eye opener for the group. “Prison is not a place we want to go; it’s hot and it smells bad. It really opened our eyes so that we don’t do things to go there,” he said. Keshaun, a 14-year-old student of Jack Hayward High School, said he wants
to be a professional basketball player like Grand Bahamian Buddy Hield, who was recently drafted by the NBA. Carlton Pratt, 12, of Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High, said it was a good experience. “It was my first time travelling with the group to Nassau and at the prison I saw some people there I knew, and it was heartbreaking, but they encouraged us not to be like them and to stay out of trouble.” Mr Seide, whose first son is serving time in prison for murder, said he wants to stop other young men from going there. He thanked Minister of
PASTOR Simeon Outten and Patricia Moore announce the commemoration service for Jamaican Independence.
National Security Dr Bernard Nottage for assisting them with accommodations in Nassau. “I want to thank Minister Nottage, who often takes a lot of flack from the media about crime, for his assistance to us. I had 30 young men and he helped pay for their rooms. I also want to thank Mr R H Culmer (of Chances web shop chain), and all those persons who sponsored a plane ticket for a child, and who helped us with our cookout to raise money,” Mr Seide said. This year’s trip was very costly and if we can stop one young man from going to prison, it’s worth it.”
Photo: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS
JAMAICAN-STYLE PARTY CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AS their country celebrated 54 years of Independence on Saturday, Jamaicans residing in Grand Bahama commemorated the anniversary with a “Jamaican style” worship service yesterday morning at the New Life Worship Centre on Coral Road. Dudley Francis, a Jamaican engineer and associate pastor of Calvary Temple Church, officiated. Members of the Jamaican Association celebrated, worshipped and fellowshipped together and a taste of authentic Jamaican cuisine followed during a meet and greet after the service. There are some 5,000
Jamaicans living in Grand Bahama according to the representative/assistant for the Jamaican consulate on the island, Lenworth Smith, who is a retired accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Freeport. “We invite all Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica on Grand Bahama and Sweeting’s Cay to come and celebrate with us on this 54 year of independence,” Mr Smith told The Tribune. “As one who was there (in Jamaica) in 1962, and I am sure there are others here who were there in ‘62, it does mean a lot to us.” Mr Smith commended Patricia Moore, chairman of the Jamaican Association in Grand Bahama, for organising this year’s event. Ms Moore said invita-
tions had been extended to Jamaican National Security Minister Robert Montague and Jamaican Consul General in the Bahamas, Patrick Hanlan, in New Providence. She said Jamaicans work in all areas of the Grand Bahama community as teachers, nurses, domestic helpers, engineers and mechanics. “A lot of us are here and we want to invite the GB community to come and worship with us,” she said. “We have some dynamic dancers and it is going to be a celebration as we will worship in our Jamaican reggae style.” Mr Smith said he has lived in the Bahamas since the early 1970s as a chartered accountant with Pricewater houseCoopers for many
READERS REACT TO SEARS LEADERSHIP BID AFTER former Attorney General Alfred Sears’ announced his intention to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for the leadership of the PLP, readers gave their reaction on tribune242.com. Sickened said: “Finally a man is stepping up to challenge for leadership. What happened to Phillip ‘Soft’ Davis? We can’t call him ‘Brave’ anymore - that title has now been handed over to Sears.” But Alfalfa thought Mr Davis could also step up as a challenger: “It is too early in the day to rule out other challengers for the leadership, and maybe Brave will do so. Mr. Sears is one of the better candidates the party has for leader. As an old schoolmate of his, I wish him well.” Victor likes the idea of Mr Sears as party leader, but didn’t think it would happen: “The PLP would be a better party under Sears. They would have
been a better party under Nottage. But it’s not happening - those ‘stale’ wart counsellors were trained by King Ping to be blindly loyal to their leader. Sears could win the vote of every elected delegate and not come close to winning the leadership race.” SP said: “Nobody with sense will trust Alfred Sears anymore than we trust Christie, Davis, Wilchcombe, Fitzgerald, Gray or anyone else in the PLP circle of friends, family and lovers. The country desperately needs a forensic audit starting with the office of prime minister, down to ministry of environmental health.” Stapedius offered this: “I agree Sears is dry as toast.
But we have to get rid of the current leadership. Plus, who says every leader has to be a bombastic, long winded speaker anyway. I don’t give a rats how slow he speaks, as long as he’s getting the job done. We have to get beyond the personality cults and elect people who can move us forward. I don’t know Sears well enough to make a fair assessment but you must agree Perry needs to be relieved of duty. If Sears can hastily facilitate this then more power to him.” Emac said: “This man couldn’t even manage his own constituency and now he wants to manage the country? The biggest joke of the year! Sears, please go back to doing nothing and leave the country’s business to new, younger leaders with valid and bright ideas!” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
years before retiring. He assists the Jamaican consular office with all passport and diplomatic matters on Grand Bahama. He reported that since new immigration rules came into effect in November, 2014, requiring all nonBahamians to have a passport of their birth country, the children born to Jamaican mothers who are not married to their Bahamian
fathers are considered Jamaicans under Bahamian law, and 380 applications of certificate of citizenship by descent have been received to date in Grand Bahama. Mr Smith said that there are also Bahamians with Jamaican roots in Grand Bahama. “The patriarch of the Garvey family in West End is a first cousin of our first national hero, the Right Honourable Marcus Mosia
Garvey,” he said. Senior Pastor Simeon Outten, of New Life Worship Centre, said he was pleased to be hosting their Jamaican friends for this special independence service. “As you know we celebrated our Independence last month and so want persons to come and support our Jamaicans brothers and sisters on Sunday,” he said.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, August 9, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Scandal brewing over Baroness Scotland’s work
Your Say By YOURI KEMP
THE Bahamas has always been a country with a good record of support and standing with the Commonwealth Secretariat. Our first Prime Minister, Sir Lynden Pindling, was a staunch supporter of using the Secretariat to help developing nations to have access and voice in larger global affairs and decision making. However, the current reports of abuse of the public’s trust and Commonwealth Secretariat have come to the attention of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA). While this may seem like an external matter to some extent and should be handled by our British counterparts and other larger Commonwealth countries who have a greater percentage of the donor spending, we find it a part of our business because not only are we an active member of the Commonwealth realm, but the Bahamas supports the Commonwealth Secretariat through various ways and means as do all of the other Commonwealth countries. Over 53 countries comprise the Secretariat; some of them are large donors and others are recipients or assist in kind. However, the issue is not just donorrecipient related outright, but it is with regard to how the Secretariat’s funds are spent and resources managed along with the lack of transparency and accountability in office of the current Commonwealth Secretariat Secretary General, Baroness Scotland of Asthal. The Baroness is embroiled in a gigantic financial and corruption scandal that has rocked her administration. Calls for her resignation have been made outright, and considering that her appointment to the post last year was controversial to begin with, the least of which is her offering bogus knighthoods along with reports of cash for votes,
BARONESS Scotland speaking at a Women Leaders’ summit. However, questions are being asked about her administration. it seems like her stepping aside would be the best case scenario for all parties involved. The most recent of these scandals is with regard to her now known personal connection to and friendship with Lord Patel of Bradford, a supposedly “independent contractor” to the Commonwealth Secretariat, who has been procured by the Secretariat to perform independent reviews of it and to manage the initial transition of Baroness Scotland. He has been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do so. Where the Bahamas stands with this is unknown. From what we in the DNA understand was that the Bahamas supported the candidacy of Sir Ronald Sanders for the post of Commonwealth Secretariat
but that was either changed, or the announcement of his endorsement was made in error and hence we are officially on record in having supported Baroness Scotland to the post. The politics of this seems trite at a cursory glance, because Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, has gone on record defending the Baroness and supporting her candidacy throughout. However, what the DNA wants to know now is what is our status with the Commonwealth Secretariat and have these revelations of profligate spending, gross abuse of power and apparent corruption seeped into the Bahamas and been endorsed by the government of the day? The DNA understands that the Bahamas has undertaken several projects within the last 12 months
that were paid for by the Secretariat through donors, or co-funded with Bahamian dollars, for which the Commonwealth Secretariat provided technical assistance. For example, we undertook diagnostic studies for structural reform in the public services; hosted and co-funded conferences in the Bahamas for the education sector, social sector and the financial services sector via the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force; launched an Education Hub at the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers meeting in the Bahamas; launched projects on bond market diversification, strengthening the judicial system for the better administration of justice; and last, but not least, various projects that dealt with the
mining and management of our natural resources, from aragonite to ocean management. The Bahamian public is not aware of the status of any of these projects, the details of the reports produced or the efficacy and soundness of the progeny of such scopes of work. The Bahamian people do not know who was involved, where they came from, were they part of the Baroness’s network of special friends and contractors and whether our officials are involved with them to any great extent now that we have gone on record for having endorsed her when we seemingly pulled back from her main challenger. Also, the public wishes to know a full break down of the activities that we have been involved with the Secretariat, the level of
spending and whether we are still spending money to be a part of the Secretariat. Considering the fact that the Bahamas is in a deep financial mess, we find it disturbing that we would in any way, shape or form, endorse such wasteful and disgusting behaviour in the Secretariat when we have our own challenges. We also wish for the current administration to call out the behaviour of the Commonwealth Secretariat – and promptly. This is not just a matter of us alone any more, but we are a part of a global community and our name, reputation and good standing should be upheld at all times. Youri Kemp is the Democratic National Alliance candidate for Garden Hills and spokesperson for the Economy and Finance.
CANADA ISSUES REMINDER OVER TRAVEL AUTHORISATION THE High Commission for the Bahamas in Canada wishes to remind Bahamians that as of September 30, 2016, the electronic travel authorisation (eTA) will be mandatory. The eTA is a new electronic document requirement for visa exempt
travellers from countries like the Bahamas seeking to enter Canada by air. Therefore, all Bahamian nationals travelling to Canada are expected to possess an eTA. The purpose of the eTA is to improve screening of visa exempt foreign nation-
als outside of Canada in order to identify and interdict inadmissible persons flying to Canada prior to departure through the Interactive Advance Passenger Information system (IAPI). Bahamians are required to apply for an eTA online before entering Canada at
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp. The vast majority of eTA applications are auto-granted by an electronic system within minutes of submission. The processing fee for the eTA is $7 Canadian and will be valid for five years after issuance or sooner, if your passport expires; is cancelled by an officer; or a new eTA is issued. All Bahamian nationals with Canadian study and work permits issued before
August 1, 2015 must apply for an eTA. Persons exempt from the eTA requirement include: Canadian citizens; Her Majesty the Queen of Canada and any member of the Royal Family; nationals of the United States; holders of a valid Canadian temporary resident visa (study and work permits issued on or after August 1, 2015); holders of Canadian permanent residency; diplomats accredited to Canada;
civil aviation considerations (crew members, flight safety, accident investigators) and Bahamian nationals who are also Canadian citizens (dual citizens). Please note that dual citizens must travel with their Canadian passports when entering Canada by air. Bahamians living in Canada were also advised to register with the Bahamas High Commission in Ottawa to receive updates and important information.
Lanes for Learning
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, August 9, 2016, PAGE 11
CHILDREN and adults enjoyed a day with the Lanes for Learning team bowling competition that took place at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Place at the weekend. Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
PAGE 12, Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Young stars in the making
ACTION from the Star Mania girls gymnastics camp. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE