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PM: China’s call to seal records L! ADS SEL PHOTO 351 002 / 502-2
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Christie defends Baha Mar secrecy By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie gave his most extensive defense yet of the sealing of Baha Mar documents in the Supreme Court yesterday, telling parliamentarians such a process was standard and that global businesses cannot be expected to conduct their “sensitive negotiations� in the media. He told the House of Assembly that the documents were sealed at the request of the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM). On the controversial issue of concessions, he said China Construction America (CCA) will be given the same concessions by his government that were given under the Hotel Encouragement Act by the former Ingraham administration. He said advisers have instructed him that so long as the documents are sealed, he should refrain from revealing details about the deal struck between the government and CEXIM. “Much has been made of the fact that the arrangements are currently under seal in the Supreme Court of the Bahamas,� he said in the House of Assembly. “The application to have the documents sealed was made by the China ExportImport Bank. This kind of seal is standard, especially SEE PAGE THREE
200 WEB SHOPS HAVE CLOSED, SAYS WILCHCOMBE
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  THE government’s “keen eye� on zoning has to date resulted in the closure of around 200 web shops across the country, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday. He stressed that officials were keeping watch on where web shops were being built as the government aims to discourage the proliferation of gaming houses near communities, schools and churches. He added that the Gaming Board is expected to submit a report within the next several days recommending the gaming house operators who should be awarded licences to run web shops. SEE PAGE SIX
GEORGE SMITH WANTS TO RUN IN NORTH EXUMA SEAT
SOME of the DNA protestors in Rawson Square yesterday.
Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
DNA PROTESTORS DEMAND ‘UNSEAL THE DEAL’ By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net  MORE than 50 Democratic National Alliance supporters, led by party leader Branville McCartney, protested in Rawson Square yesterday as they demanded that Prime Minister Perry
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Christie “unseal the deal� with the Chinese over the stalled Baha Mar resort. Donned in green DNA shirts, armed with placards and chanting “enough is enough� and “we want answers and we want it now�, protesters marched from the General Post Office building on East Hill Street
to Rawson Square agitating for the prime minister to reveal the particulars of the deal he announced has been reached with Chinese officials to remobilise the Cable Beach resort. The protestors also called for the entire Christie administration to demit office, as they rallied behind
their leader in his criticism of the government over several controversial matters that have transpired under its current term, which Mr McCartney said shows how “untruthful� the government has been with Bahamians. SEE PAGE THREE
FURTHER UPDATE EXPECTED TODAY ON CONFIRMED ZIKA VIRUS CASES By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH officials are expected to update the nation on the latest confirmed Zika cases today. Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez on Tuesday told The Tribune that the Ministry of Health was monitoring four new cases of the virus, pushing the na-
tion’s total to eight. The Tribune understands that officials will offer up some insight today into the new cases in an effort to quell public fears over the virus. In the wake of Tuesday’s announcement, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said his ministry intends to hold a major conference early next week for industry stakeholders.
Mr Wilchcombe said he was concerned over the current trajectory of the virus, and as a result, recognised a need for stakeholders to come together and ensure that they were doing all possible to guard devaluation of the country’s tourism product. “We are obviously very concerned because the SEE PAGE 13
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  FORMER member of Parliament for Exuma George Smith has officially requested to be the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for a proposed North Exuma seat in the upcoming general election, The Tribune has learned. In a letter dated August 24, 2016 addressed to Prime Minister Perry Christie, Mr Smith said after being “encouraged� by Exuma residents he is prepared to offer himself for a “portion of a single term� in order to build a “cordial� relationship between the government and the people of Exuma. SEE PAGE SIX
TEEN MURDER SUSPECT SAYS VICTIM HAD PUNCHED HIM
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A TEEN accused of murder told police that 16-yearold Adonai Wilson accosted and punched him while armed with brass knuckles on the day he was killed. But the accused teen alleged that he defended himself then ran away from the fight and did not see who fatally stabbed Wilson. The teenager opted out of giving testimony under oath yesterday concerning the events that led to the death of his schoolmate. SEE PAGE TEN
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LEADER of the DNA party Branville McCartney in Rawson Square.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 1, 2016, PAGE 3
PM: China’s call to seal records from page one in transactions of this complexity, scale and international market-sensitivity. Remember, the bank already has billions of dollars invested in the project.” The Christie administration has been criticised for announcing that a Baha Mar deal has been struck without being prepared to give details about the agreement. Mr Christie’s comments yesterday were therefore a call for Bahamians to “trust him.” “Putting the documents under seal enables the bank to finalise these sensitive negotiations with the normal business confidences that one would expect,” he said. “Despite the wishes of some, it is simply unrealistic to expect global businesses to conduct their negotiations in the media. “This is not unprecedented as I have said, very normal. The court approved the sealing of the documents to help the parties secure the best outcome for the property, and the court will lift the seal if and when it deems it right.” Mr Christie also addressed another source of controversy: the concessions given to the foreign parties connected to the Baha Mar deal. To this, he said: “My advisors instructed me to be cautious about what I say given the court order. I can say that CCA was given Hotel Encouragement Act concessions (for construction) by the FNM and will be given the same conces-
sions to complete the construction by my government.” It was unclear, from Mr Christie’s statements, whether these concessions are a continuation of what was previously offered to CCA by the former Ingraham administration or in addition to the previous concessions. Under the Hotel Encouragement Act, investors are eligible to receive an exemption from customs duties on all materials necessary for the “construction, equipping, furnishing and completing” of a hotel for a specified time period. Investors are also eligible to receive a 10-year exemption from payment of real property taxes with a minimum taxation per bedroom of $20.00 beginning in the 11th year until a 20-year period occurs from the date that the hotel opens. Investors are further eligible for a 20-year exemption from direct taxation on hotel earnings. Moreover, under the law, investors are eligible to admit, for the purposes of work, personnel and special workmen during the construction period and during the operation of the hotel, so long as 75 per cent of the total number of people employed are Bahamians. The Hotel Encouragement Act also allows the government to offer other concessions as it deems fit. The subject of concessions has become topical at a time when the National Development Plan (NDP) is urging the government to be more circumspect in how it offers such inducements to investors.
Concerns have been expressed by leading stakeholders like Gowon Bowe, chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, that past heads of agreements featured deals that did not maximise the country’s earning potential. The deal struck between the government and the relevant parties on Baha Mar could therefore be an early test of the government’s ability to adhere to the NDP. “I have no doubt that history and the Bahamian people will judge us kindly,” Mr Christie said yesterday. During his nearly halfhour communication, he did not discuss the process of selecting a buyer for Baha Mar, except to say it is being negotiated by CEXIM. “We have made it clear that (the) casino, convention centre and their respective hotels must be operated by world class specialists who must either have equity in the project or make significant capital contributions to the project,” he said. Yesterday, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said until the court documents are unsealed, Bahamians are left to wonder what the prime minister is hiding. “This entire debacle would be over if he just released the full set of documents to his secret deal since he claims he is not hiding anything,” Dr Minnis said in a statement. “Until such time as the prime minister and the PLP government release them, the FNM will continue to be the voice of the people and demand accountability from this government.”
Thursday, 1st September 2016Clarke/Tribune Staff PRIME Minister Perry Christie in the House of Assembly yesterday. Photo: Tim
DNA PROTESTORS DEMAND ‘UNSEAL THE DEAL’ from page one
The protest came more than a week after Mr Christie announced that a deal had been reached between the government and the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) to remobilise the stalled resort. However, his address did not provide any clarity on a definitive buyer or sale price, or details on how unsecured creditors will be paid. Additionally, it was subsequently revealed that the court documents related to the deal have been sealed. “Firstly, they knew that Moody’s was coming out with their report, they knew that Moody’s was going to downgrade us, and that was something to overshadow the downgrade, their third downgrade or fourth downgrade within four and a half years,” Mr McCartney said in Rawson Square. “That was a farce. Secondly the prime minister said himself that this was an agreement for an agreement, so it wasn’t any agreement. That’s what that means legally. There was no agreement. Again,
the prime minister has admitted and shown that there is no buyer or operator for this property. “What impression they wanted to leave at that conference last week regarding Baha Mar was that ‘jobs coming.’ That’s the impression, because election coming - election right round the corner. They want to say ‘jobs coming, the PLP working hard, we getting this for you.’ “Don’t be fooled by that,” Mr McCartney added. “I want to see jobs, I want to see Baha Mar succeed, but that is not going to be the reality right now, because if you don’t have an owner of that property, if you don’t have an operator of that property, as the prime minister has reluctantly acknowledged, who is going to hire you? Not the construction company, and not the bank. Period. So don’t be fooled.” Mr McCartney also hit out at the Christie administration for its record of governance, pointing to several controversies that have occurred under the PLP that he said warrants its members demitting office. At
the top of his list were the recent redundancies of over 600 employees from the Sandals Royal Bahamian resort. Other issues Mr McCartney lamented were Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells’ signing of a $600m letter of intent (LOI) with Stellar Waste To Energy while a member of the PLP. However, Mr McCartney lambasted both the PLP and the FNM for contributing to the LOI debacle, accusing the two parties for contributing to the “Mickey Mouse” style of governance that exists today. “At the end of the day we as Bahamians we put up with too much,” he said. “We put up with the foolishness that this government has put on us. We need to get angry man, we cannot sit back passively and allow this government to continue doing what they’re doing. We are in a mess because of this government. I blame them. I blame them
for where we are as a country, who we are internationally as a country. They have been lying to the Bahamian left right and centre, and not only have they disappointed the Bahamas, they have disappointed the PLPs, the PLPs are disappointed in this government. “Enough is enough, we are fed up. And this cannot continue and we as Bahamian people cannot allow it to continue. Are we so insecure with ourselves that we going to allow a government to just beat up on us all the time? It cannot happen. We need change and we need it now. This government must go. Any other place in the world they would have been gone a long time ago.”
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THE TRIBUNE
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Historic commercial flight from US lands in Cuba SANTA CLARA, Cuba (AP) — The first commercial flight between the United States and Cuba in more than a half century landed in the central city of Santa Clara on Wednesday morning, re-establishing regular air service severed at the height of the Cold War. Cheers broke out in the cabin of JetBlue flight 387 as the plane touched down. Passengers — mostly airline executives, US government officials and journalists, with a sprinkling of Cuban-American families and US travellers — were given gift bags with Cuban cookbooks, commemorative luggage tags and Cuban flags, which they were encouraged to wave. The arrival of the flight out of Fort Lauderdale opens a new era of US-Cuba travel with about 300 flights a week connecting the US with an island cut off from most Americans by the 55-year-old trade embargo on Cuba and formal ban on US citizens engaging in tourism on the island. “Seeing the American airlines landing routinely around the island will drive a sense of openness, integration and normality. That has a huge psychological impact,” said Richard Feinberg, author of the new book “Open for Business: Building the New Cuban Economy.” Also Wednesday, the US Department of Transportation announced the carriers selected to operate routes to Havana: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines. The department said in a statement that carriers will serve the Cuban capital from Atlanta, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York City, Orlando and Tampa. Airlines are obligated to begin flights within 90 days — right after Thanksgiving — but may begin earlier. Delta said it would launch daily service Dec 1 from Atlanta, Miami and New York’s John F Kennedy Airport, “subject to Cuban regulatory approval,” with flights going on sale September 10. Spirit also said it aims to run twice-aday flights to Havana beginning December 1, from Fort Lauderdale. The restart of commercial travel between the two countries is one of the most important steps in President Barack Obama’s two-year-old policy of normalising relations with the island. Historians disagree on the exact date of the last commercial flight but it appears to have been after Cuba banned incoming flights during the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Twitter that the last commercial flight was in 1961. US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes both addressed passengers on board the 150-seat Airbus A320, which was staffed by a specially selected five-member crew of Cuban-Americans. Airline executives
changed from American business attire into loose-fitting Cuban-style guayabera shirts before landing. “This is one of the most visible examples of the president’s activities to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba,” Foxx said. “It’s a positive step and a concrete contribution to the process of improving relations between the two countries,” Cuba’s vice minister of transportation Eduardo Rodriguez told journalists Monday. Neta Rodriguez, a 62-year-old Havanaborn South Florida homemaker, checked in Wednesday morning with her daughter, son-in-law and three grandsons for a visit to family in Santa Clara and Havana. More than the historic nature of the flight, she said she appreciated the $200 price and the ability to book online instead of visiting a charter office. US travel to Cuba is on track to triple this year to more than 300,000 visitors in the wake of the 2014 declaration of detente. Cuba’s cash-starved centrally planned economy has been bolstered by the boom in US visitors, along with hundreds of thousands of travellers from other nations hoping to see Cuba before more Americans arrive. Commercial flights are expected to significantly increase the number of American visitors, although it’s not clear by how much. Many of the air routes are currently used by expensive charter flights that are largely expected to go out of business with the advent of regularly scheduled service from the US. Hundreds of thousands of Cuban-born Americans fly to the island each year with the chaotic, understaffed charter companies, which require four-hour check-in waits and charge high rates for any luggage in excess of restrictive baggage allowances. Americans without ties to Cuba have found it hard to negotiate the charters, most of which don’t accept online bookings or help travellers navigate the federal affidavit still required for US travellers to Cuba. Cuban officials insist the continuing US ban on tourism will limit the impact of commercial flights to Cuba, but some experts believe the drastic reduction in the difficulty of flying to Cuba could turn the surge in US visitors into a tidal wave. Americans are allowed to visit the island on “people-to-people” cultural and educational visits, among other reasons. Americans who fit one of 12 categories will now be able to fill out a federal affidavit by clicking a box on an online form and, in many cases, buy their Cuban tourist visa near the check-in counters of US airports. Within weeks, Americans will be able to fly direct from cities including Chicago, Philadelphia and Minneapolis, Miami and Fort Lauderdale to eight Cuban cities and two beach resorts. By Michael Weissenstein, Associated Press
It’s reaping time for government EDITOR, The Tribune. THERE are members in the Government of the past and present who have done wrong to God’s people by the stroke of a pen or by giving directives not to assist certain individuals or members of their family. Unknown to them, God has been watching their acts and because He is long suffering, they have continued in their wicked ways, thinking they are free of God’s judgment when indeed,
God’s Recording Angels continue to take note. In the process, they have hurt many, causing families to suffer – a father to be out of a job and not able to take care of his family, a mother to sorrow and ponder where the next meal is coming from, and children to be short-changed and subject to a substandard lifestyle. Furthermore, there are in some instances, individuals who have gone to them to plead their case and were either ignored or refused.
These dear souls have had no other recourse, but to cry out to God to intervene on their behalf because they have suffered long, under the hands of Pharaoh. God has answered their cry, and as He reveals all that has been hidden, He has laid the axe at the root of the tree which is about to result in Judgment. IMANUEL FERGUSON Nassau, August 31, 2016.
Billions of dollars EDITOR, The Tribune. I HEARD on the BBC news today that Apple has $181bn in cash parked in tax havens.
I was wondering how much of that money has been parked in The Bahamas - any? And if not why not? Perhaps the Government has a
figure. PATRICK H THOMSON Nassau, August 31, 2016.
It’s the gamble of a lifetime EDITOR, The Tribune. WHILE the details are grossly lacking about the “deal” declared by the Prime Minister relative to Baha Mar, right thinking Bahamians must give him the benefit of the doubt. I am legally trained and was privileged to practise for many years at both the criminal and civil bars. There will always be judicial and quasi-commercial matters which require sealing on a short or appropriate term basis due to the sensitivity of the complex issues involved. Nothing sinister should be read into such a legitimate and valid Order by a court of competent jurisdiction. It is curious, however, that no representatives for the Chinese or Sarkis were present. The announced deal would have been more credible and convincing had they been there, in my submission. Be that as it may, the Prime Minister is on a focused quest for legacy and it is highly unlikely that he would endanger the same by not ensuring the best deal on behalf of a glasseyed Bahamian nation. It is a sad phenomenon that a majority of our people have been indoctrinated to simply want and/or look for a job and not the actual financial empowering themselves through entrepreneurship. We have developed a physiological culture of governmental dependence and expectation for everything. It is the self-assumed task of our beloved Prime Minister, however, at political risks, to wean our people, collectively, from this long debilitation syndrome. The PM, God bless his soul, must immediately task a committee or some other body to conceptualise; organise and roll out a comprehensive and totally non partisan public/private sector merchant bank by whatever name wished. It is crucial and critical that Bahamians who have a realistic business and/or commercial visions are almost totally devoid of reasonable access to capital. The web shop operators, I am sure, could be
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net persuaded to pool 50 million dollars or so to partially fund such a venture. The government could sell savings bonds to ordinary Bahamians in multiples of B$100.00 to generate another 50 or more millions of dollars. This is where real job creation and economic growth, above the anaemic 1 per cent or less that we have been witnessing this past term in office. The central government, despite its best intentions, is no longer able to continue to finance, at taxpayers’ expense, a grossly bloated civil service coupled with real or perceived allegations of slackness; corruption and sleazily behaviour with absolutely no accountability or transparency. It is to be conceded that the roll out of the announcement of “the deal which is best for Bahamians” could have and should have been differently. In fact, for maximum photo ops I would have hosted the press conference at the convention site at Baha Mar surrounded by all cabinet ministers; Bahamian and foreign stakeholders, especially representatives from the Chinese owned bank and construction consortium. No one wishes to rain on the parade of the Prime Minister and I wish him all the best as negotiations continue. The process to arriving at the same is very important and must, at the earliest opportunity, be explained to our people in a broad but genuine sense. It can be no other way if the Prime Minister is to lay yet another corner stone concrete block in his legacy platform. The timely mobilisation and completion of Baha Mar is not to be trivialise by the opposition forces, such as they are. I expect an issueless and leaderless FNM to automatically publicly shoot off at the hip with a pair of loose lips. That is a given. I would counsel my friends and supporters within the rapidly emerg-
ing Democratic National Alliance (DNA), however, to allow the PM; the administration and the courts the proverbial benefit of the doubt for the immediate future. The PM will take the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), God willing, into the 2017 general elections. Many of us PLPs do not like this at all but there is too much important work to be done and completed under his watch that we MUST, at all cost, extend him a few more definable years as he seeks to cement his legacy, as is his absolute right. This, to put in a wagering term is ‘the gamble of a lifetime’ for the PM. He can roll his dices with the Chinese or bring in Bahamian players to the table. In conclusion of the whole matter, now that the press conference has been, mercifully rolled out, however one sided, let us get on with the actual fleshing out of the manifestation and opening of Baha Mar. In the meantime, however, they’ve asked for our trust, let us give it to them for now. If it were only the PM that we had to factor in it might be more simplistic. We are looking at a flux and dynamic fluid situation where many wish to succeed the PM whenever he steps down or is forced to demit office by an act of God. I make no secret of my very public and dedicated political support for the Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, MP (PLP-Cat Island; Rum Cay & San Salvador). There are others, but, in my view, Brave is the logical successor who brings, more than anyone else, save the PM, to the table. He has our collective best interests at heart and is determined to take this wonderful nation to the next level. The gamble of a lifetime is not just about our beloved, even if sometimes vilified Prime Minister, but about all Bahamians. The throw of the dice is a very serious matter and we had better not throw a “snake eye”’! To God then, in all things, be the glory. ORTLAND H BODIE Jr Nassau, August 28, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 1, 2016, PAGE 5
STATE OF EMERGENCY IN FLORIDA AHEAD OF TROPICAL STORM
DR Hubert Chipman said he intended to table the PAC yesterday but delayed as Shane Gibson
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE REPORT TO BE TABLED SOON By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
ST ANNE’S MP Hubert Chipman said yesterday that he would finally table the long-awaited Urban Renewal report completed by the Public Accounts Committee at the next sitting of the House of Assembly. He had intended to table the report yesterday. “It was our intention this morning, Mr Speaker, to present the majority Urban Renewal Commission report from the PAC,” he said. “However, in speaking with the member for Golden Gates this morning, it is his intention to do a minority report which the committee has not had sight of. We’ve all agreed that at the next sitting, probably next week, once we have sight of the minority report (we will move) to make a presentation.” However, last evening
the House of Assembly adjourned until October 5. Mr Chipman previously said he would make the findings of the PAC public by mid-March. The timeline, however, frequently got postponed. In April 2015, a copy of Auditor General Terrance Bastian’s critical report into Urban Renewal’s Small Homes Repair programme was leaked to the press and sparked a debate over the management of Urban Renewal. The PAC has used the report for its investigation. Mr Bastian highlighted a litany of concerns and weaknesses related to the Small Home Repairs project’s management and expenditure. The audit revealed, for instance, that 11 contractors were paid more than $170,000 for small home repairs that were “not completed or done”. The report also noted
that there was no competitive bidding for the home repair contracts and the contractors were not required to have proof of allrisk insurance. The Christie administration rejected the findings of the report and subsequently commissioned its own independent report into the project, citing “discrepancies” in Mr Bastian’s report. Mr Chipman’s announcement yesterday comes days after former Cabinet minister George Smith criticised the PAC for the low volume of work it has performed this term. Branding it the “worst” PAC in the country’s history, he said there is no excuse for its “impotence”. The committee has three members from the Official Opposition and two representatives from the governing Progressive Liberal Party. They include Mr Chipman, the committee’s chair-
HUNT FOR SUSPECTS AFTER SHOOTING POLICE are seeking the public’s help in locating the suspects responsible for a shooting incident that left a man in hospital on Tuesday. According to initial reports given to police, shortly after 7am, a man was driving his Nissan vehicle
on Faith Avenue South, when two men in a white Infiniti vehicle pulled alongside him. The men shot the victim before speeding off. He was taken to hospital where he is detained in stable condition.
Investigations are continuing.
man, FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn and PLP members Elizabeth MP Ryan Pinder and Golden Gates MP Shane Gibson.
FLORIDA Governor Rick Scott yesterday declared a state of emergency to help 51 counties prepare and NFL officials moved the pre-season game at Tampa Bay to last night instead of today to avoid severe weather threatened by Tropical Storm Hermine. The centre of the storm, which formed yesterday in the Gulf of Mexico, was about 450 miles southwest of Apalachee Bay at 2.30pm and forecasters expect it to curve to the northeast, making landfall north of Tampa and perhaps close to Apalachicola, in the Big Bend of Florida tonight. “Only if the storm remains weak and poorly organised will the track shift farther to the west along the Gulf coast,” AccuWeather meteorologist Evan Duffey said. Hermine is expected to unload four to eight inches of rain with locally 12 inches possible. This is enough to cause urban and low-lying area flooding. Onshore winds will push Gulf of Mexico water landward and are likely to cause coastal flooding. Major cities that can be affected by coastal flooding include Tampa and
St Petersburg, even if the storm makes landfall 100 miles or more to the north. In addition to the risk of flooding, locally severe thunderstorms will have the potential to bring damaging wind gusts. Near and shortly after the storm makes landfall, there will be a significant risk of waterspouts and tornadoes being spawned in central and northern Florida. People in the central and northern part of the Florida Peninsula and the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle have been advised to prepare for tropical storm to minimal hurricane conditions with power outages, flooded roads and airline disruptions. Sea and surf conditions will become dangerous along the upper east coast of Florida today. After traversing the Florida Peninsula tonight, the storm is forecast to emerge from northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia tomorrow morning. In this position, rough surf, gusty winds and heavy rains will lash coastal areas. The storm will move roughly parallel with the Carolina coast on Friday afternoon and into Saturday morning.
PAGE 6, Thursday, September 1, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
‘200 web shops have closed’ from page one Last October, Mr Wilchcombe, who has responsibility for gaming, said in a statement that eight companies were awarded
conditional gaming house licenses. The eight companies are: FML Web Shop; Chances Games; Paradise Games; Island Luck; Percy’s at The Island Game; Asue Draw + Spin; and Bahama Dreams.
“The Gaming Board is expected to provide for me a document within the next several days and there will be recommendations insofar as to who should get licenses that we will review and then issue,” Mr Wilchcombe said following the morning session of the House of Assembly yesterday. “The zoning regulations will be accorded with the licenses because to get a license you have to agree to certain things and once those things are in place and we are very mindful of the fact that we don’t want the proliferation of gaming houses. “We don’t want gaming houses all over the place, particularly near communities, near schools and churches and playgrounds. So we are watching that every day and we are monitoring that every day. “We have been able to re-
duce the number of houses from 600 to 400 and so we are constantly working to see how many more we can take off the streets of the Bahamas. We have a regulated system right now and more regulations are being considered to ensure that we properly manage the gaming business.” Asked pointedly about concerns that new web shops continue to emerge in neighbourhoods, particularly in inner city communities, the minister said this was not necessarily the case. “What you might see is a building that is being replaced by another building and that would have been submitted before because in the work that we started they had to submit those things before. So when we got to this point we are allowed to do it because before we gave the provisional licenses they had to state where they had entered
into any arrangements with rents or leases. “So we had to make sure and of course we had to live up to our side of the responsibility as well and so they shared with us and we told them we gave permission for the relocations, but you would see that they move out of areas and that will stop and you will see more of that too because if we move more of the houses out from around the residential areas, from around the schools and from around the churches you are going to see movement. “You will see the houses shut in those areas but you will see them put somewhere else.” Last year, Mr Wilchcombe announced that of the nine applicants for the conditional web shop gaming licence, only one, Bet Vegas was denied. At the time he said the conditional licenses would
be issued on November 2, 2015, marking the end of the review period. Mr Wilchcombe said that the annual license and monitoring fees would be $250,000 per operator, $2,000 per premises and $1,000 per agent. Ahead of the licensing phase, nine operators were approved to operate during the transitional period. To remain open, web shops were required to pay their tax arrears for the period July 1 to November 24, 2014, no later than December 1, 2014. They were then given until December 8, 2014 to lodge sworn affidavits with the secretary of the Gaming Board, in which they disclosed whether they wished to operate their businesses during the transitional period. The government previously projected that it would collect $20m in web shop taxes annually.
GEORGE SMITH WANTS TO RUN IN NORTH EXUMA SEAT from page one Mr Christie is chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party’s Candidates Committee. The former Cabinet minister has been hinting for some time that he would return to front line politics before the next general election. In May, Mr Smith told this newspaper that his mind, body and heart were all in agreement that he “can again serve the will of the people.” He added that successive politicians representing Exuma have failed in their attempts to end the social and financial “upheaval” that has crippled the once great community. Anthony Moss is the current representative for Exuma. He has not yet been ratified by the PLP and has shied away from directly answering if he intends to offer himself for a fourth time. “Mindful of the issues affecting the well being of the people of Exuma and the neglect which they have endured, I wish to contest the proposed North Exuma seat in a two constituency Exuma and the Jumento Cays as the party’s standard bearer in the next general election,” the Mr Smith said in the letter, which The Tribune has obtained. On Monday, during an appearance on “Darold Miller Live,” Mr Christie suggested that Exuma and Andros are two islands for which the establishment of additional House of Assembly seats should be considered. However he said this would be something for the Constituencies Commission to decide. “I respectfully offer at this time, encouraged by suggestions from Exumians who wish to restore the high quality of pride in the representation of the people those beautiful isles so deserve,” Mr Smith’s letter continued. “The people of Exuma have earned the right to be treated with great respect. My candidacy will signal the party’s concurrence of this sentiment. “I am committed to serving a portion of a single term, during which time I
GEORGE SMITH shall work to encourage and empower Exumians to realise their potential through innovative entrepreneurial endeavours. I would work to build a cordial relationship between the government, the people of Exuma and foreign investors for the benefit of the communities throughout Exuma. “I believe that with a combined and focused campaign with defined objectives as well as a plan for further infrastructural improvements, we can secure both seats.” In April, nearly 60 Exuma residents expressed “overwhelming support” for a new PLP candidate in the 2017 general election. According to official minutes of a meeting of leaders of the PLP Exuma constituency obtained by The Tribune, 56 PLPs expressed the desire to have a new
candidate, one person did not vote and another failed to indicate clearly whether they would still support the three-time current MP. Questions were also raised during the meeting over whether the branch could soon begin the groundwork to gather support for Chester Cooper, a banking executive, as a potential candidate. In response, Mr Moss has said the outcry to replace him is a road he has travelled many times before, insisting that for the last 14 years he has worked to the best of his ability on behalf of all constituents. He admitted earlier this year that there are people in Exuma who “never wanted me” since the election in 2002 and others who simply want him to do things he did not think he should be doing as an MP. Mr Smith, a native of Exuma, was first elected to Parliament in 1968 and served in the Pindling Cabinet. The Tribune understands that BAF Financial Bahamas CEO Chester Cooper has also launched a campaign in Exuma.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 1, 2016, PAGE 7
WILCHOMBE: NO PLAN TO RUN FOR DEPUTY LEADER By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net WEST End and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe said he has no plans to contest the deputy leader’s post at the Progressive Liberal Party’s November convention, saying he “remains on task” with returning the PLP’s current leadership team to their posts this November. Mr Wilchcombe, who described himself as the “consummate team member,” told The Tribune that his plan heading into the convention was to help the party improve its footing ahead of the 2017 general election. “There is no indication that (Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis) is going anywhere at the moment, and because there is no indication, there is no reason to plan,” Mr Wilchcombe told The Tribune. “At the moment we are thinking Perry Christie and Philip ‘Brave’ Davis will take us into the next election and we are prepared to work with that team. “We want to serve the Bahamian people as an organised, unified body and
not a group that is snipping at each other and fighting with each other, because self-interest could be destructive,” he said. “We are more interested in the Bahamian people and the Bahamian people want to have a unified organisation.” He added: “I am surprised to hear that there is speculation because we have made it clear that the leader and deputy leader are in place and the deputy hasn’t indicated that he is going anywhere. “And so we are going to stand with the leader and deputy at this time and we are going to take them into the convention, we are going to make sure that they win. “So we are going to stick with the two that we have, go into the general election and again show this country a unified party; a party that understands its constitution, that understands its philosophy. “The Progressive Liberal Party is preparing for the next general election now, that is our focus. Our focus is to organise ourselves and get us ready to, first and foremost respond to the Bahamian people on the issues that have come up in
the past five years. Did we meet our promises of the things that we were going to do prior to the general election, where we brought the country from 2012 to now, that is what we are focusing on.” Some have speculated that in a move to strengthen Mr Christie’s leadership bid, campaign organisers were considering a promotion to deputy leader for either Mr Wilchcombe or Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald. PLP sources have suggested that Mr Wilchcombe holds sway over a large percentage of the party’s stalwart councillors and is viewed as a potential prime minister. Mr Wilchcombe contested the deputy leader post in 2009, but lost to Mr Davis. He has said he has ambitions to become prime minister, but would never challenge Mr Christie for the position. So far, only Alfred Sears, the PLP’s candidate for Fort Charlotte and a former attorney general, has announced plans to contest the PLP’s top post. The PLP’s convention is scheduled for the last week in November at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort.
TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchcombe.
READERS NO MORE POSITIVE ABOUT BAHA MAR READERS on tribune242.com have been debating the stories making the news this week. After Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald said he was surprised at the “level of unhappiness” some Bahamians have expressed about the Baha Mar deal, Proudloudandfnm said: “Jerome really needs to just hush up. Every time this man opens his mouth stupid things come out. Jerome, NOBODY IN THE PLP HAS ANY CREDIBILITY... So stop all the press releases, concentrate on your job and maybe, just maybe, your results can speak for themselves. I know you’re PLP so you don’t really care about results but maybe it’s time to start a new dynamic?” Alfalfa said: “Mr. Fitzgerald needs to pay attention to his ministry, the D- national grade average, and the disrepair of the schools he is responsible for. There are already enough ‘financial geniuses’ in the PLP helping the PM to concoct the latest Baha Mar fiasco.” Prime Minister Perry
Christie’s hint that the government does not yet know who the prospective buyer for the Baha Mar resort is, prompted Quietone to ask: “Is it only me or what? Somehow I get the impression that God Himself does not want Baha Ma to open!” And the news that FNM member Leonard Sands has ended his candidacy for the Bain and Grants Town constituency prompted Sickened to say: “At this rate, the FNM may not be able to present a full slate of candidates at the next election.” To which sheeprunner12 responded with: “You are right . . . the DNA may offer better candidates . . . Minnis may not even get three sitting MPs to re-nominate at this rate . . . no confidence in his leadership.” The Tribune’s latest online poll is asking readers:
“Has the government’s recent announcements on Baha Mar made you more positive about the resort’s future?” At the time of going to press, 83 per cent of those voting said they were NOT more positive about Baha Mar’s future. The poll is still open, so don’t miss your chance to vote and join the debate on tribune242.com.
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PAGE 8, Thursday, September 1, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Wherever you look with Baha Mar, conflict of interest abounds A Young Man’s View
By ADRIAN GIBSON
A
STOUNDWu to the committee - a INGLY, it supervisor for the general seems that cer- contractor (CCA) - now tain members makes him judge and jury of the governing Progres- in determining the scope of sive Liberal Party (PLP) work done by local contracappear to be mired in in ap- tors and amount of money parent and actual instances they would be paid. The of conflicts of interest. conflict surrounding Wu’s The recent so-called an- appointment is only deepnouncement about Baha ened when one considers Mar, the re-starting of con- the fact that CCA is a party struction, employee payouts to a conflict with Baha Mar and so on smacks of conflict. developer Sarkis Izmirlian. What is most glaring is the The government has composition of the commit- clearly jumped on one side tee purportedly established of the conflict and has now “to administer doubled down the claims of their posi‘There have been on Bahamian and tion by, in the other creditors tremendous first instance, of the Baha innuendos about sanctioning Mar group of CCA to build key members companies.” another hotel Surprisingly of the Christie while at an - or perhaps government. A impasse with not so surprisIzmirlian and, ing - the mem- call has been in the second bers of the made for the instance, not committee are government to objecting to former Minthe appointister of State be transparent ment of Wu to James Smith, if any member the oversight Grant Lyon in its ranks has committee. (Liquidation What’s more, Claims Advi- any contractual there remains sor to the Gov- interests in no clarificaernment), Ms Baha Mar - from tion - on the Yanping Mo part of the (representative construction to government of the Export- stores to pool and/or the Import Bank maintenance to Ministry of of China), Works - about Norbert Chan landscaping and the accusa(representative so on.’ tions of subof Deloitte) par and shodand Tiger Wu dy work by CCA. (representative of the China Nothing has been done Construction Company of to dispel speculation that America). CCA allegedly caused deNotably, the appointment lays so that the developer of CCA executive Tiger could be so adversely im-
ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, who has been a key part of discussions over Baha Mar. pacted that the bank would comes to conflicts of inter- tive to the appearance of a obtain ownership of Baha est, one could fall into one conflict of interest, it states: Mar. of two categories. The on“The appearance of a Even more, Committee line legal dictionary states: conflict of interest is preChairman James Smith “In certain relationships, sent if there is a potential told another daily that he individuals or the general for the personal interests learned of his appointment public place their trust and of an individual to clash to the committee on Sun- confidence in someone to with fiduciary duties, such day, the day the govern- act in their best interests. as when a client has his or ment made the announce- When an individual has the her attorney commence an ment. At the time, he said responsibility to represent action against a company he had not spoken to any- another person - whether in which the attorney is the one from the government as administrator, attorney, majority stockholder.” officially about his ap- executor, government offipointment. What a shame! cial, or trustee - a clash beind-bogglingly, This demonstrates that the tween professional obligacertain members government is making up tions and personal interests of government the rules as they go and this arises if the individual tries are brazen in what can only committee is nothing short to perform that duty while be deemed the most glaring of a sham. at the same time trying to instances of apparent conAccording to an online achieve personal gain.” flict of interest. Leader of legal dictionary, when it On the other hand, rela- the Opposition Dr Hubert
M
Minnis is on record as having accused Allyson Maynard-Gibson, the Attorney General, of an “overt conflict of interest”. Last year, Mrs MaynardGibson affirmed what many in the press, political circles and general public were murmuring: that her family had interests in retail at Baha Mar. However, though this was the case, the Attorney General led two government delegations to Beijing, China, for negotiations about the resort since the property filed for bankruptcy on June 29. She admitted that her two daughters had leases to operate stores in Baha Mar
THE TRIBUNE before flip-flopping and asserting that her husband, Maxwell Gibson, owned the retail jewellery store chain that has been granted storefront leases at Baha Mar. What’s worse, Mrs Maynard-Gibson has stated that the Prime Minister was aware of her family’s involvement with the resort.
A
nd then there is my discovery this week of a company known as TCC Bahamas Ltd, which lists its corporate address as PO Box GT2737 Thompson Blvd, Nassau. TCC was the main contractor for the construction of the convention centre at Baha Mar. Now, here’s the kicker. The President of TCC - as is also evident by his LinkedIn account - is purportedly one David Maynard, who happens to be the brother of Allyson Maynard-Gibson. Wow. On March 21, 2011, The Tribune reported that then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said, at a Free National Movement mass rally, that while the PLP decried Chinese labour on the Airport Gateway Project, then Opposition Senator Allyson MaynardGibson was benefiting from the deal in her capacity as a lawyer. Clearly, the PLP’s aboutface on Chinese labour is demonstrative of the political hypocrisy that so hinders our political and socioeconomic evolution. The former Prime Minister said: “The PLP in the House voted against the Airport Gateway Road Project, they said they didn’t want the Chinese working on it. What they didn’t tell you is that the China State Construction Company has a lawyer, the lawyer is the lead PLP in the Senate - Allyson Maynard-Gibson.” Interestingly, Mrs. Maynard-Gibson was the lead government negotiator, on the opposite side of the table, to purported clients that she had whilst practising at her law firm. What’s more, Mr Ingra-
Thursday, September 1, 2016, PAGE 9 ham said that whilst Mrs Maynard-Gibson was accusing the government of selling the country’s birthright through the controversial development of Bell Island, she was allegedly paid $650,000 by an LNG company that sought to lay gas pipelines in Grand Bahama. In response to Mr Ingraham’s charges, Mrs Maynard-Gibson did not deny that CCA were her clients or that she had been paid $650,000 by an LNG company. She attempted to deflect, saying: “The attack is a smoke screen to distract from the issues of possible illegality, impropriety and conflict of interest in the Ingraham government.” Hmm. Rather than sending Mrs Maynard-Gibson to negotiate with the Chinese, Prime Minister Perry Christie ought to have erred on the side of caution. Why did the AG and the Office of the Attorney General have to be the principal negotiator? The public has a right to be cynical. Was Mr Christie’s son, Steffan, one of the foremost realtors who helped to facilitate the sale of the British Colonial Hilton to CCA for the $250m Pointe development? The public wants to know. There have been tremendous innuendos about key members of the Christie government. A call has been made for the government to be transparent if any member in its ranks has any contractual interests in Baha Mar - from construction to stores to pool maintenance to landscaping and so on. One of the biggest conflicts concerns the controversial ‘letter of intent’ scandal. The sub-plot appears to be much bigger than the current narrative. When one looks at what has happened with garbage collection on New Providence, there appears to be an engineered takeover starting with collection, then solid waste management at the dump site and now on to waste to energy generation. This raises the question as to
THE WEBSITE of Stellar Energy listed Algernon Allen’s law firm as a professional partner. whether the public is truly a major revenue stream for cognisant of what has tak- waste management. Who en place right underneath controls the static garbage at the landfill? Where are our noses. What happened to all the sanitation workers the garbage trucks that that once rode the government garbage were owned by the govern- ‘Clearly, the PLP’s trucks? The final ment? Weren’t about-face on piece of the many of them puzzle conpurchased be- Chinese labour cerns the tween 2007 is demonstrative conversion of and 2012? of the political garbage to enWhy has the ergy. That has solid waste hypocrisy that led to an inmanagement so hinders our teresting piece contract, given political and of political to Renew Batheatre given hamas, not socio-economic the previous been revealed? evolution.’ exchanges The public between the dump is now managed by this entity and Prime Minister and the no one knows what’s in the Deputy Prime Minister and the firing of Renward Wells, contract. And then there is the sor- who actually signed the letdid affair with Stellar Waste ter of intent between the government and Stellar. We to Energy. On the face of it, all of have had repeated promises this appears to be an organ- of an explanation and yet ised power play to control there is none.
And, what about cochair of the Urban Renewal Commission Algernon Allen? Wasn’t he/his firm listed in the original Stellar Waste to Energy website as their attorney? We took a screen shot of that original website. And then there is BAMSI. I would need an entire column for the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute as that project is the hallmark for conflicts of interest. How were contracts allocated? Has contractor Audley Hanna - who built the original male dormitory but did not have insurance - repaid the government since it was burnt down? What about former PLP minister Darrel Rolle and pastor Sam Greene who were given the contract to construct the female dormitory at BAMSI but are now the subject of major litigation?
And, of course, there is Peter Nygard who allegedly funded the PLP’s 2012 campaign by donating more than $5m. Here, we see a humungous conflict. Recently, although Nygard was filmed making disparaging remarks about the Prime Minister, we all observed as PLP members circled the wagons, enveloping Nygard in a protective political cocoon and brutally vilifying others. Conflict of interest is a deep rooted challenge in local politics. We don’t seem to have a robust “conflict of interest standard”. Sadly, governance has been based, in large part, on political favours, greed, cronyism, nepotism, tribalism and a favourability for friends, family and lovers. We must do better. • Comments and responses to ajbahama@ hotmail.com
PAGE 10, Thursday, September 1, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Teen murder suspect says victim had punched him from page one The 18-year-old, whose identity has been withheld because he was charged as a juvenile, was asked by Justice Bernard Turner if he will remain silent in the face of the prosecution’s case or take the witness stand to give sworn testimony and be subjected to cross-examination. “I’ll rely on the statement I gave police,” the accused said. “In other words you’ll remain silent?” the judge said for clarification. The teen said yes. “Are you calling any witnesses in your defence?” the judge then asked. “He has no witnesses,” said defence attorney Murrio Ducille. Last Thursday, two teens – aged 17 and 15 – who were also on trial for the murder of
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MURDER victim Adonai Wilson, aged 16. Wilson, changed their pleas. The 17-year-old pleaded not guilty to murder, but admitted guilt to the lesser charge of manslaughter. He received a sentence of nine years after the judge took into account his time spent on remand and the fact that he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Meanwhile, the 15-yearold pleaded not guilty to murder, but admitted attempting to cause harm. He was given a sentence of six months to be
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served at the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys. Mr Ducille’s client, however, denies that he intentionally and unlawfully caused Wilson’s death on December 9, 2015. Mr Ducille, in his opening address to the jury yesterday, stressed to that panel “the burden of proof on the prosecution is that they should satisfy you that he is guilty of anything and you must feel sure.” “This young man has nothing to prove and his innocence has been exhibited to you already,” the lawyer said. Mr Ducille was referring to the caution statement the 18-year-old gave when interviewed by police a day after the fatal stabbing. The teen had told police of a confrontation he and Wilson had on December 8, 2015 but said they had resolved their differences amicably and he thought the incident was over. The following day, after finishing exams, he and his friends were walking on Prince Charles Drive and noticed that Wilson and others were walking in the same direction he was on the opposite side of the street. At some point, he said he was struck in the back of the head and the hood of his jacket was pulled. When he came face to face with his assailant, he said he saw Wilson armed with brass knuckles. He alleged that Wilson proceeded to punch him and he defended himself before running away to escape the fight. He denied stabbing Wilson or witnessing Wilson being stabbed. Mr Ducille yesterday asked the jurors to be objective in their assessment
of the evidence. “This young man was walking from school. He didn’t know he would find himself here and young Adonai didn’t know he’d find himself elsewhere,” Mr Ducille said. “If you objectively examine the facts, he’s a victim and shouldn’t be here.” The teen’s defence lawyer also told the jury that they should not forget the evidence of the “sole independent eye witness.” “When the first witness came and gave her evidence, she stated this young man was walking and that the deceased came and punched him in the back of the head,” Mr Ducille added. “He was alone when the fight started. The other two ran and came by and the deceased got injured. The law says we all have a right to defend ourselves or others. And if you’re walking on a road and see a fight going on, you can either walk by, call the police, or you can go yourself and assist.” Mr Ducille said that the prosecution’s very first witness’ testimony corroborates his client’s statement to police which the prosecution themselves entered into evidence. “No one has come to court to say otherwise,” Mr Ducille stressed. “This thing started from his defending himself.” The lawyer also told jurors that his client could have been where Wilson is because brass knuckles have the capacity to kill as well. The case is expected to resume on Monday, September 5, when Crown and defence counsel will make closing arguments. Kristan Stubbs and Bradford McKenzie are prosecuting for the Crown.
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THE TRIBUNE
JUDGE ORDERS REMOVAL OF MONITOR ON MAN CLEARED OF TRAFFICKING By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A JUDGE yesterday ordered the removal of the electronic monitoring device of a man whose acquittal on human trafficking charges is being challenged by the Crown. Terrance Williams appeared before Justice Bernard Turner for a variation of the bail conditions that had been imposed last year while he awaited the conclusion of trial concerning the alleged trafficking and harbouring of five women for sexual exploitation in January 2015. Williams, Michael Parilla, and Mariska Williams were cleared of nearly a dozen human trafficking related charges in Magistrate’s Court in May when Magistrate Constance Delancy read the decision of then trial magistrate Joyann
Ferguson-Pratt. The prosecution had asked for a stay of the decision pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal. Williams had filed an application to the Supreme Court for a variation of his bail conditions that would make it easier for him to travel. In yesterday’s hearing, prosecutor Viola Barnett had no objection to the removal of the electronic monitoring device but asked that the other conditions remain in place. Justice Turner granted the application to remove the ankle bracelet and told Williams that if he wished to travel, he would have to seek the court’s permission. At trial, the five complainants did not appear to give evidence concerning the allegations against the three accused. However, their statements to police were allowed into the re-
cord through Section 66 of the Evidence Act, which gives the court the discretion to allow the statements of witnesses who are dead, cannot be found, or are too sick to testify into evidence. The statements revealed that the five women knowingly came to the Bahamas to engage in exotic dancing but were not brought to the capital by the accused. Though they claimed that they were not allowed to leave the apartment where they stayed unaccompanied, there were no claims of their passports being taken from them or being forced to have sex with anyone against their will. The presiding trial magistrate had found that the Crown had not made out a sufficient case to warrant a conviction. The three accused were represented by Tonique Lewis and Keith Seymour.
Thursday, September 1, 2016, PAGE 11
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he Ranfurly Homes for Children has been a safe haven for thousands of Bahamian children since 1956. The Home provides a safe, structured environment for children who have been orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned. YOU can make a difference in the lives of the children at Ranfurly. With your support children can have nutritious food, warm beds and a safe environment where they can discover the joy of being children. For years the children living and learning at Ranfurly have made great social and academic strides. Their further development requires additional support in the form of a Transitional Home, planned for construction on the Ranfurly property. This residence will cater to teenagers and young adults who are beyond school age, but need accommodation while they find work and gain independence from the Home. We look forward to your continued support in this worthwhile endeavour.
MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES Individuals, Families & Corporate Sponsors Children Helping Children - $5 (Individual children from ages 6 - 18) Individuals Helping Children - $50 (Individual adults 18 years and over) Families Helping Children - $100
CIRCLE of FRIENDS Silver: $1,500 - $2,499 Gold: $2,500 - $4,999 Platinum: $5,000 plus
OPPORTUNITIES • • • •
Invitations to Ranfurly events Assist with fundraising events Involvement with special activities Adults are eligible to join the Board after three months • Stay in touch with Ranfurly through website and newsletters
BENEFITS
• Personal fulfillment in knowing you are impacting lives • Ranfurly children’s appreciation and positive response • Continued support provides stability and constant care
For more information visit: www.ranfurlyhome.org Please “Like” us on Facebook Ranfurly Home for Children, Mackey Street P.O. Box 1413 Nassau, Bahamas 242-393-3115
PAGE 12, Thursday, September 1, 2016
ANITA DOHERTY, GBAAA secretariat co-chairman; Iram D Lewis, GBAAA president, and Jay Philippe, assistant manager of sports tourism for the Ministry of Tourism, at the launch of the X-Treme Challenge yesterday. Photo: Mario Duncanson/Ministry of Tourism
EXTENDED WORK NOTICE NEW PROVIDENCE
Gibbs Corner
The Water and Sewerage Corporation advises the public, its customers and the residents of Gibbs Corner that the Corporation will be commencing Water Main Improvement Work, starting on Thursday August 25th, 2016 for a period of thirteen (13) days. During this period there may be an interruption in the water supply, road closures and detours around the work area. The Corporation apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused and appreciates your support as we work to improve our service.
Tel: (242) 302-5599 or Toll Free (242) 300-0150 Find out more on
or our website www.wsc.com.bs
THE TRIBUNE
CALL TO RUNNERS FOR X-TREME CHALLENGE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Grand Bahama Amateur Athletic Association, along with the Ministry of Tourism, has announced plans for the first Grand Bahama X-Treme Challenge, a 13.2-mile long intracoastal event for both international and local runners. The event is expected to attract over 200 runners from the Bahamas, the US and Canada, according to organisers in Grand Bahama yesterday. GBAAA President Iram Lewis, and Jay Philippe, assistant manager of sports tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, made the announcement at Pirate’s Cove on Taino Beach. They hope the challenge, which is set for December 3, becomes a yearly signature event for the island. “We are very excited about this and we believe it would be a signature event that will bring exposure to the island of Grand Bahama,” said Mr Lewis,
who noted that the island’s beaches will be highlighted in the course. Mr Lewis believes that December is ideal because the X-Treme Challenge will serve as a “warm up” event for both international and local competitors. “There are a lot of marathons coming up in the month of January, which includes the marathon in Nassau, and so the challenge could be used as a warm up for competitors vying for those events,” he explained. In addition to attracting international athletes, Mr Lewis extended an invitation to high school students, as well as persons in New Providence and the Family Islands. He said the high school students would compete as relay teams of four runners. Mr Philippe said officials will be promoting the event over the next three months in the US and Canada through advertising, and while attending various health and fitness expositions. “This is intended to be a signature event for Grand
Bahama, and we expect a number of athletes, as well as persons who are not athletes to participate,” he said. Mr Philippe said that the Ministry of Tourism is excited to partner with GBAAA. “This gives us an excellent opportunity to showcase what we have to offer and we are a proud partner of this event and hope it can be something long term that we can continue to build as the years go on.” He also thanked the Grand Bahama Port Authority, City of Freeport Council, Insurance Management, and Pirates Cove for hosting the event at their location. Anita Doherty, past president GBAAA, endorsed the event. “Many years ago we had many marathons, and we want our corporate citizens and schools to support this wonderful event,” she said. Tyrone Thurston, a semiretired international marathoner who competed in the Iron Man in Hawaii, helped to co-ordinate the race.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 1, 2016, PAGE 13
Further update expected today on confirmed Zika virus cases from page one view is, the more you have these (travel) warnings and if it goes from country to country, warning about the Bahamas, then that can escalate and that could cause problems for us,” he said. Mr Wilchcombe said his ministry is working very closely with health officials, sometimes receiving daily updates on the status of the virus. “We are a part of a committee, Geneva Copper Lee is in our ministry and she is very much a part of what the Ministry of Health is doing and what the Ministry of Environment is doing. “The new cases, we have been made aware of that. We are being made aware of the cases. The testing that is continuing, individuals who are reporting symptoms; we are aware of what is going on there and that is why we have arranged a conference for Monday with all the stakeholders to get the message out to (them) that we understand what we are dealing with.
To understand the general environment that they are working in. “And that is all the vendors, that is vendors on the dockside, vendors who are on the beach; we have to get the message out. Because what you don’t want is a situation developing where the stakeholders in tourism are unaware of the magnitude of the problem,” he added. The Bahamas, similar to other territories and countries where the Zika virus has been reported, has experienced quick and sharp rise in the amount of cases in the weeks following initial confirmation. Officials reported the first case of the virus on August 10, and then confirmed three more cases on August 23. Subsequently on Tuesday, roughly a week later, officials confirmed four more cases. Addressing this trend, Mr Wilchcombe said: “The Zika virus is one where we have seen growth very rapidly. “So what we have to do
is ensure that our country manages the situation, and that is by monitoring, that is by reporting the cases
RED CROSS OFFERS ADVICE TO PUBLIC AS reported cases of the Zika virus continue to increase in New Providence, the Bahamas Red Cross - under its mandate of alleviating human suffering wherever it may be found has taken steps to provide the public with information about the transmission and prevention of the virus. Prior to the first officially reported case of the virus in the Bahamas, the Bahamas Red Cross, through the Resilience in The Americas Project (RITA), conducted a series of mitigation workshops on water and sanitation. The Bahamas Red Cross
also partnered with IMPAC, a local waste disposal company, and held community clean ups in the areas of Bacardi and Carmichael Roads. Park clean ups and beautification activities were undertaken in the Bain Town and Centreville areas, a press release from the Bahamas Red Cross said. In the coming weeks, the organisation will continue revisiting these densely populated communities, including Pinewood Gardens, to reiterate proper sanitation practices with an emphasis on the importance of identifying, eliminating and/or reducing mosquito
breeding grounds. During the outreach, the Bahamas Red Cross will share information on how to prevent Zika infections, and will also conduct walkabouts to identify potential mosquito breeding sites in the mentioned communities. These walkabouts will be complimented with a creative and colourful teaching session. Residents will use their artistic abilities to identify mosquito breeding sites, proper waste disposal techniques, learn of the transmission, recognise the symptoms and prevention of this virus.
that exist, that is by ensuring that we have the fogging going on continuously and that is by ensuring the world
community that every step is being made in the interest of their security and that of the people.”
A FEMALE Aedes aegypti mosquito acquires a blood meal on the arm of a researcher.
CALL FOR INCREASE IN RESOURCES TO TACKLE FIGHT AGAINST VIRUS REV C B Moss, President of the Bain and Grants Town Advancement Association (BGTAA), is calling on the Government to greatly increase financial, human and information resources in the fight against the Zika virus. “The threat to individual and national health, as well as the threat to the tourism industry, is too severe for the low key, almost casual response by the authorities,” Rev Moss told a commuity meeting this week.
Before the confirmation of the Zika virus in New Providence, Rev Moss had established the Bain and Grants Town Anti-Zika Task Force and an intensive street-by-street campaign was launched in the community to address the danger. On Monday, a community town meeting was held at Mt Olive Baptist Church, at which representatives from the Department of Public Health, other health officials as well as the College of the
Bahamas participated. Rev Moss thanked the officials for their involvement but insisted that the government must mobilise stakeholders at the national and community level to wage this “war”. This month, eight cases of Zika have been confirmed in New Providence, and there are fears a great many more will occur. The time has come to “reduce the talk and increase the action”, Rev Moss said in a statement.
PAGE 14, Thursday, September 1, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
COMMONWEALTH Union Hotel Services and Allied Workers at the school giveaway launch.
UNION HELPS KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE Commonwealth Union Hotel Services and Allied Workers launched its back to school giveaway on Wednesday distributing backpacks, cases of juice, and bags of assorted snacks to its 400 members in Grand Bahama. CUHSAW represents workers at the Grand Lucayan Resort, which is up for sale by way of a sealed bid auction. The 409acre property, owned by the Hutchison Whampoa Group, has been on the market since January. President Michelle Dorsett is optimistic about the sale and encouraged workers to remain focused and dedicated on the job while they await news of a buyer. She said the union is very appreciative to its members for their support, even during these slow economic times in Grand Bahama. “We wanted to assist them and show our appreciation to them with a back to school giveaway, “ Ms Dorsett said. “The economy now is slow and we want to give something back to our members who pay union dues.” Ms Dorsett said that they also wanted to support lo-
cal stores by purchasing the items from vendors in the Bahamas. “We shopped at home and bought quality items from various local vendors in the country,” she said. Anthony Nairn, general secretary, said the union is pleased to assist its members at this time when parents are preparing for the opening of school. “Today is a good day for the union and for our members…and we want to let them know that we will help them as best we can, when we can,” he said. The CUHSAW has been in negotiations with management for a new industrial contract, and there have been some challenges along the way. Ms Dorsett said: “With all the ups and downs with the union and with what’s going on with the (sale of the) hotel, I just want members to go to work and be focused as we are doing our job by representing them.” Ms Dorsett said the union, along with its legal advisor Trade Union Congress President Obie Ferguson, met with Prime Minister Perry Christie on August 17 concerning the sale of the Grand Lucayan Resort. “Once the prime minister has done his part, an an-
nouncement will be made in short order. He spoke about Grand Bahama…and I am optimistic about it,” she said. When asked whether a buyer has been identified, she declined to answer. “I will leave that in the prime minister’s hands, and once Obie Ferguson receives word or confirmation of a buyer he will inform our members.” Edris Lightbourne, room attendant, commended the union for what it is doing for the members. “I think they are doing an excellent job; the economy is so bad right now and everyone will be thankful and appreciative for what they are doing.” Silas Williams said he thought it was great that the union is giving back to the members. “We have been supporting the union and right now everyone needs some assistance, and this back to school giveaway will really help us,” he said. Inga Dean, chief shop steward, said this is the second consecutive year for the event. She thanked all the vendors, including Bahamas Office and School Supplies and Kelly’s in Nassau; and Best Variety Goods and Cost Right in Grand Bahama.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 1, 2016, PAGE 15
Reputable growing private company, accepting resumes for
Manager of Outlets
Essential Duties & Functions: (Include but not limited to) • • • • LYFORD Cay Foundations donated $80,000 of technology to public schools affected by Hurricane Joaquin. Lyford Cay Foundations chairman Basil Goulandris with Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald along with Lyford Cay Foundations managing director Maureen French (far left) and vice-chair Sarah Farrington (far right).
$80,000 given to help schools hit by Joaquin HONOURING its commitment to assist with rebuilding the lives of children, their education and the normalisation of schools in the areas affected by Hurricane Joaquin, the Lyford Cay Foundations have donated $80,000 of technology and supplies to all affected public schools on Long Island, San Salvador, Crooked Island and Acklins. Following the devastating news of the storm last October, representatives from the Lyford Cay Foundations visited Long Island and San Salvador to tour the schools that were damaged, and assess potential areas of need. Representatives worked closely with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to decide how best to support these students and schools, ultimately choosing to assist with providing much
needed technology and school supplies. Fifteen schools and approximately 1,000 students will receive projectors, laptop and desktop computers, printers, laminators and photocopiers. Additionally, 1,000 packs of school supplies were distributed so that each student would have the necessary supplies for the opening of the school year. All items were purchased locally from Custom Computers, John Bull, The Amoury Company and Wong’s Bookworld. The schools that received support are: San Salvador High School and United Estates Primary School (San Salvador); Morrisville Primary, Mangrove Bush Primary, Lower Deadman’s Cay Primary, NGM Major High, Simms Primary, Glinton’s Primary, North Long Island High (Long
Island); Ulric H Ferguson Primary, Crooked Island High, Lovely Bay Primary, Salina Point Primary, Snug Corner Primary, and Acklins Central High (Crooked Island and Acklins). Equipment and supplies will be shipped to the islands for the beginning of this school year. “Rebuilding from a disaster such as this, is no easy task. We wanted to ensure that our students are equipped to continue their education in the wake of such devastation,” said Basil Goulandris, chairman of Lyford Cay Foundations. “The foundations are especially proud of our longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and recognise the importance of supporting the ministry’s efforts during times of crises.”
• • • •
• • • • •
Assigns and directs all work performed in outlets and supervises all areas of operations Manages/Oversees staff of over 150 and promotes and fosters a positive environment Provides reports and analyses on operations and recommends system/process improvements Monitors and tracks, call-ins, sick, etc. Analyzes trends and takes necessary steps to reduce same Produces and manages schedules including changes due to sick, call-ins, vacation, shift changes, etc. Works along with payroll to track and edit time as needed Assist with investigations as needed regarding shortages, internal/external complaints/disputes Has a hands-on approach and will be committed to the expansion and success of the business by implementing strategies that increase productivity and enable achievement of sales targets Assess competing market conditions and identify current and prospective sales opportunities Provides training, coaching, development and motivation Develops and executes incentive initiatives and rewards/recognition programs Ensures that all outlets operate with consistency and drives company brand Addresses customer and employee satisfaction issues promptly
Interested candidates are required to possess the following managerial skills and qualifications: • • • • • • • •
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent/higher level of education Highly skilled with working with large schedules as well as scheduling systems Knowledge of modern management techniques and best practices Results driven, customer focused and excellent organizations skills Strong leadership and human resources management skills Excellent command of Microsoft Office suite and communication skills Able to work flexible hours and strong ability to multi-task and perform and deliver under pressure Experience in process improvement and strategic planning Interested qualified candidates may submit their resume via email to info@242careers.com. Deadline for submissions – September 6,2016 Only successful candidates will be contacted.
PAGE 16, Thursday, September 1, 2016
Four more added to list of award winners THE R E Cooper Sr National Meritorious Awards have announced four more outstanding people to be recognised for their service to their fellow Bahamians and to be honoured at the gala event on October 29 at the Atlantis Ballroom, Paradise Island.
Noted businessman and former top hotelier George Myers; Insurance executive and Community Relations co-ordinator Stephanie Hanna; Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade; and top educator and Middle Tennessee State University President, Dr Sidney
ALPHONSO ELLIOTT
GEORGE MYERS
SIDNEY MCPHEE
STEPHANIE HANNA
McPhee have been added to the names announced last week. They join businessman and benefactor Alphonso “Boogaloo” Elliott; longtime pharmacist Clinton McCartney; veteran journalist Steve Mckinney; cultural icons and activists Raphael Munnings and his brother Fred Munnings Jr; and Bahamian American Chamber of Commerce President and Financier James Schaeffer III among those to be recognised. The R E Cooper Sr National Meritorious Awards were founded more than three decades ago to recognise and honour outstanding people who have made a contribution of service, but rarely receive recognition for what they do. This was the legacy of R E Cooper Sr, who gained notoriety for his delivering the message at the first ecumenical service during Independence in 1973, but paved the way for thousands of Bahamians to receive a college education. Although he led the way with Prince William High School, his focus was on the full continuum of education. And right up to his death R E Cooper was still helping people to get a tertiary education both at home and abroad. His contributions were without fanfare and his satisfaction
Reputable growing private company, accepting resumes for
Customer Services Manager
Essential Duties & Functions: (Include but not limited to) • Achieves customer service objectives by; recommending strategic plans and reviews; preparing and executing action plans; implementing mechanisms and processes to resolve problems timely; identifying customer service trends; determining system improvements; implementing change • Determines customer service requirements by maintaining contact with customers; visiting operational environments; conducting surveys; forming focus groups; benchmarking best practices. • Improves customer service quality results by studying, evaluating, and re-designing processes; establishing and communicating service metrics; monitoring and analyzing results; and initiate corrective actions. • Maximizes customer operations performance by providing help desk resources and technical advice; disseminating information and new techniques; detecting and diagnosing network inefficiencies, to resolve problems timely • Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations • Accomplishes customer service human resource objectives by orienting, training, scheduling, coaching, and disciplining employees; communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising, and reviewing strategies and enforcing and developing policies/procedures
Interested candidates are required to possess the following managerial skills and qualifications: • • • • •
5+ years overall work experience in this specific field Bachelor’s or equivalent/higher level of education Exceptional command of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint Flexible with work hours and able to travel Proven ability to handle multiple deliverables with tight deadlines, manage competing priorities, and consistently perform in high pressure environments • Experience in process improvement and strategic planning • Strong analytical and organizational skills with ability to multi task and manage time efficiently Interested qualified candidates may submit their resume via email to info@242careers.com. Deadline for submissions – September 6,2016 Only successful candidates will be contacted.
THE TRIBUNE
COMMISSIONER Ellison Greenslade. was knowing that the new Bahamas would have educated Bahamians. The 2016 celebrations will include a number of activities leading up to the gala event. The following day there will also be a National Service at Mission Baptist Church, where the Family of R E Cooper Sr will give thanks and unveil a bust of their father in a special ceremony after church. The Awards Committee said George Myers has quietly contributed to the welfare of the Bahamas through his many donations to and support of the various charities. He started in the hotel business in the 1960s and helped turn the hotel industry into one of the best in the Caribbean, winning many industry awards, including the Cacique Award in 2006 for his contributions to tourism and in 2009 for his business accomplishments. But rarely has he been recognised for his charitable and outreach contributions. Sidney McPhee is originally from the Bahamas and has helped many Bahamians. Dozens of Bahamians have received scholarships to Middle Tennessee State University, but he has also contributed to the developments of several programmes through his associations that have benefited people here in the Bahamas
as well as the US, the Caribbean, South and Central America and Europe, especially Turkey. “His example of what you can become is an inspiration to many young Bahamians who now believe they can achieve,” the Awards Committee said. Stephanie Hanna is the Manager in charge of Public Relations and Administration at J S Johnson Insurance Company, the oldest and largest general insurance company in the Bahamas. Mrs Hanna has helped many charities, schools and other organisations with their development and is active in her church, especially in the dance ministries and outreach. She is described as “one of those quiet individuals who shun the limelight but her work speaks for her compassion and dedication to helping and offering service to her fellow man”. Ellison Edroy Greenslade was appointed the sixth Commissioner of Police in an independent Bahamas in January, 2010. He attended primary schools in Cedar Harbour, Abaco, Lovely Bay, Acklins, Kemp’s Bay, Andros, Knowles, Cat Island, and Stephen Dillett, Nassau. He went on to S C McPherson Junior High and the Government High School in Nassau and also obtained an Associate’s
Degree in Business Administration from The College of The Bahamas. He has completed a number of executive level courses in professional studies in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. “Commissioner Greenslade has been selected by the R E Cooper Sr National Meritorious Award for Service because of just that,” the Awards Committee said. “His service to mankind and specifically to the Bahamas is outstanding. He loves his country and demonstrates that in his passion to his high end job of Commissioner daily. His commitment to helping the Bahamas to be a safe place despite the turbulent times is exemplary and worthy of recognition.” The R E Cooper Sr National Meritorious Awards will also honour and respect posthumously Bismark Coakley, King Eric Gibson and H W Brown. International speakers are also expected to attend the gala event and be honoured for their accomplishments, among them Dr Xernona Clayton, founder of the Trumpet Awards in the US, and the world famous priest Fr George Clements. • For more information visit www.recooperaward. org.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 1, 2016, PAGE 17
URBAN RENEWAL HELPS AS KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL
CHANCES Games presented the Urban Renewal Commission with backpacks for students going back to school. Pictured is, from left, Anishka Bowe, accounts clerk at Chances Games; Wilton Russell, Urban Renewal Sporting League co-ordinator; Algernon Allen, Urban Renewal co-chair; Denise Jimenez, office administrator at Chances Games; Bernadette Cartwright, island manager at Chances Games; Sherwin Johnson, marketing manager at Chances Games; Patricia Francis, deputy permanent secretary and Shackara Harris, accounts clerk at Chances Games. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
CHANCES Games presented the Urban Renewal Commission with backpacks for students going back to school. Pictured are some of the backpacks for youngsters.
PAGE 18, Thursday, September 1, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
ALEXANDRO Mullings with two nice Groupers near Nassau. THE lobster season is promising to be the best in 20 years according to local fishermen and there were plenty of crawfish in evidence this week, despite the storms, according to the Bahamas Sport Fishing Network (BSFN). Keep checking the BSFN expert page for fishing reports throughout the Bahamas: this will be helpful in tracking the “hot spots” and providing advice on
gear and fishing methods being used. For a sample of the spectacular fishing to be had in The Bahamas, expert advice, tournament dates and results, informative features and photo galleries visit the BSFN page at tribune242. com or www.bsfn.biz. BSFN slideshows can be found on USA Today’s website in the Travel section at experience.usatoday.com. BSFN expert Chang Chin succceeded with some pre-storm spearfishing near Nassau.
CHRIS Rees with the deep drop Snapper in Abaco with Gusto Charters and, left, A bucket of ‘bugs’ by local boy Charlton Roberts.
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