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SEARS: IT’S DELEGATES THAT COUNT, NOT PM’S VIEW
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader hopeful Alfred Sears, QC, said yesterday he is not concerned about Prime Minister Perry Christie’s recent dismissal of him as a potential threat. “It’s not what the prime minister says, it’s what the delegates determine, and how they vote,” he calmly stated. SEE PAGE SIX
MP says managers picked because they were white and foreign By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday blamed the government for the failures at Bahamas Power and Light and questioned why management at the corporation have not offered a solution to the public for the frequent power outages. In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Miller said it is obvious that the government “does not believe in Bahamians” because if the Christie administration did, PowerSecure would have never got the approval to manage the former Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC).
Mr Miller said “with all due respect” he believes that PowerSecure was chosen over Bahamians because the investors are “white and foreign.” The Progressive Liberal Party MP said PowerSecure does not care about the Bahamian people and are only concerned with “collecting money and turning people off”. “We (the former BEC board) presented our plan to the government and our plan meant that by June 2016 we would have new engines and would have brought the cost of electricity down for all customers, regardless of the price of SEE PAGE SIX
NYGARD MURDER-FOR HIRE LAWSUIT IN COURT NEXT WEEK By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE contentious murder-for-hire lawsuit against Lyford Cay fashion designer Peter Nygard and lawyer Keod Smith is expected to start in the Supreme Court next week. After months of controversy, the claims filed by several Save The Bays (STB) directors and a pastor will be heard by Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles for a default judgment as the defendants
failed to enter a defense. Yesterday, attorney Fred Smith, a STB director and plaintiff in the suit, said plaintiffs continue to receive threats of harm with no response from law enforcement. “Despite our continuing complaints to police about harassment and threats of harm that were the focus of this action, police have never progressed any of the investigations that we ask them to,” he said. “We remain anxious about our wellbeing.” SEE PAGE SEVEN
PRIME Minister Perry Christie helps to dig the first shovel full of dirt at the ground breaking ceremony for a new junior high school in Holmes Rock, Grand Bahama.
DEALS SIGNED FOR BUILDING OF $12M HOLMES ROCK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TWO government contracts - worth $12m - were signed for construction of a new junior high school in Holmes Rock on Thursday, fulfilling a ten-year promise to residents in West Grand Bahama.
The school is expected to be finished in 18 months and will cater to students graduating from the West End Primary and Holmes Rock Primary Schools. Prime Minister Perry Christie attended the groundbreaking ceremony on the land, which was acquired by government from the Waugh family.
Also attending were Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Tourism and MP for West Grand Bahama Obie Wilchcombe, Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville and Glenys Hanna Martin, minister of transport and aviation. Two contracts were
signed with two contractors - Brickhouse Construction and RCL Construction – to build the school. Mr Christie noted that Mr Wilchcombe had envisioned a school a long time ago and promised residents that one would be built there. SEE PAGE FIVE
ROBERTS SLAMS FNM OVER POSITIONS ON BAHA MAR By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has branded the Free National Movement a deeply divided party as the organisation is perceived to have taken two contrasting positions over the unsealing of documents related to the new deal to open $3.5 billion Baha Mar resort. On Sunday, the FNM announced that it is collecting signatures for an online petition to demonstrate the level of public displeasure with the sealed deal. However, on Tuesday, FNM Senator Carl Bethel told The Tribune that
legally there is nothing the party can do to force the judiciary to unseal the records. He explained that there is no legal basis for the political organisation to assert a right to know in court in connection with this matter. These differing positions, Mr Roberts said, was the latest clear example of the “woefully deficient” decision making process and overall judgment of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis. Last month Mr Roberts called on Mr Bethel to petition the Supreme Court to unseal the documents and to argue his reasons for having it done, if the FNM was serious about its argument. SEE PAGE SIX
PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts.
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DON’T miss breaking news throughout the weekend and a video review of the week’s top news stories with The Tribune’s Top Five. And, on Monday, The Tribune returns to newsstands with a round-up of all the weekend news, business and sport.
A summer stepping stone
GRADUATES of the College of The Bahamas Summer Bridging Programme at last night’s recognition ceremony. The programme provides high school graduates and young adults the chance to take part in a six-week experience in order to gain direct admission to the college. Students take five courses - reading, math, English, history and biology, as well as the first year freshman seminar course. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
COB president Dr Rodney Smith, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald and Prime Minister Perry Christie at the college’s Summer Bridging Programme Recognition Ceremony.
AMANDA STRACHAN, Summer Bridging student talks about the highlights of the course.
DR RODNEY SMITH, president of the College of the Bahamas, speaking last night.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 9, 2016, PAGE 3
Pintard ready to fight for Grand Bahama seat By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Free National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard has come out in support of the embattled party, insisting yesterday that the recent decisions of several ratified candidates not to run in the next election does not signal disarray within the organisation’s ranks. “There is no concern,” Mr Pintard told The Tribune on Thursday. He has been relatively quiet on both national and FNM matters since announcing his resignation as party chairman and senator on March 21 over questions stemming from his involvement in a controversy that involved fashion mogul Peter Nygard. Many political observers have speculated that the fiasco spelled the end for Mr Pintard’s career, with some in the FNM reportedly recommending that he remain on the sidelines to avoid further hampering the party’s chances of winning the 2017 general election. However, Mr Pintard said that during his time away from front-line politics he had not given up his efforts to be elected as the FNM’s standard-bearer for one of the Grand Bahama constituencies. Mr Pintard said he remains committed to strengthening both FNM and the nation. “There is no reason I would not offer myself,” he said. “As I said before, and will continue to say, there is no concern, I am very clear on why I have been active in national life
since I have been a teenager. The decisions of others doesn’t affect mine, I think the FNM is a prime place, the best place if you ask me.” Mr Pintard’s sentiments come as the FNM continues to grapple with the loss of several candidates and rumblings of even more departures. On Tuesday, the party’s South Beach candidate Howard Johnson cited “personal and private family matters” as he dropped out of the race. That move came less than week after Bain and Grants Town’s candidate Leonard Sands announced that he was officially ending his candidacy for the constituency and after North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly announced that he wasn’t seeking re-election. In addition to these moves, there is uncertainty over Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn’s future with the party and rumours that St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman may not be renominated as well. Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner has also been the subject of a critical petition by some of her constituents who want the FNM to choose another candidate for the area. Mrs Butler-Turner, Mr Lightbourn and Mr Chipman were among six FNM MPs who pushed FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis to have an early convention. They also criticised him in a strongly worded letter to the FNM’s Central Council earlier this year. Expressing some level of apprehension over discussing the current turmoil in the FNM, Mr Pintard maintained that a unified and fo-
cused party is what would be needed to succeed moving forward. “I am confident that if we work as a team and if we are responsive to the voices of the people we will be a strong force in the upcoming general election,” he said. Mr Pintard argued that the PLP has failed the Bahamian electorate and as a result, needed to be voted out of office. Shifting the focus to the incompetence of the government, he pointed to the PLP’s failures with the 2016-2017 budget, the establishment of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) without a legal framework and Baha Mar’s problems as the reasons voters are weary of the government. “The government lacks transparency and has proven on several occasions that they must not be trusted. The people of the Bahamas can’t sustain the mishaps of the Progressive Liberal Party any longer,” he said. “This government is one all for theatrics. The government had no reason to pat itself on the back for the Baha Mar action announced recently by the prime minster. The matter was exacerbated by them. Their action is what brought the entire Baha Mar matter to this point. How does one want credit for addressing a problem they have caused? “Politicians tend to be the stumbling block for improvement,” Mr Pintard said. “And that proves to be the case in this matter. While most of the elements of this agreement are still up in the air, myself, like every other Bahamian is waiting patiently to see how
this all plays out.” The claims process for the stalled resort’s long list of creditors is underway with officials expecting reconstruction efforts to reconvene later this month.
DAMIAN GOMEZ NOT RULED OUT FOR CANDIDACY IN NEXT ELECTION By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Progressive Liberal Party has not ruled out making Central Eleuthera MP Damian Gomez a nominee for the party in the next general election, Chairman Bradley Roberts suggested yesterday. It is not clear if Mr Gomez is being considered for renomination in his current constituency, but Mr Roberts said Mr Gomez “has appeared before the Candidates Committee and will appear again.” “I can’t say more,” he added. His comments came after Mr Gomez told The Nassau Guardian that Prime Minister Perry Christie asked him TO step aside as the PLP’s candidate in the Cen-
tral Eleuthera constituency. Mr Gomez had previously told The Tribune that it was unclear if he would be renominated in that constituency as the PLP was considering where he could be placed to benefit the party most. His revelation about Mr Christie’s request of him and the suggestion that he was being asked to leave the political scene caught some by surprise given his desire to run and his status as a respected lawyer in the country, one who was appointed a Queen’s Counsel by the government last year. A decision to remove him from the frontline of PLP politics would raise eyebrows. However, he said yesterday that there’s “nothing unusual” about the process the PLP is now taking with
POLICE HOLD TWO MEN OVER DRUGS DISCOVERIES
ROBBERY SENTENCING DELAYED FOR A WEEK
POLICE arrested two men for possession of dangerous drugs in separate incidents in Gregory Town, Eleuthera on Wednesday. The two men were arrested by officers conducting an anti-crime operation in Central Eleuthera that targeted persons involved in criminal activities, persons wanted for outstanding court warrants and drivers operating in breach of the Road Traffic laws. Police said the two men were arrested after a search of their vehicles allegedly revealed marijuana. Police also arrested 12 people during an operation by the Southeastern Division. They were arrested for a number criminal offences including house breaking, stealing, threats of death and causing harm.
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A WOMAN must wait another week before she has a sentencing hearing for her role in the robbery of a web shop manager in Long Island. Daphne Knowles of Cartwright’s, Long Island, was due to appear before Justice Bernard Turner yesterday for the penalty phase of her trial relating to the events leading up to the death of Andrea Carroll in 2014. However, a probation report requested by the court was not ready and the matter was further adjourned to September 15. Knowles initially stood trial before Justice Turner charged with murder, robbery and conspiracy to
respect to his future in the organisation. As for his next appearance before the PLP’s Candidates Committee, which is headed by Mr Christie, he said he is waiting for the party to get back to him on that matter. As a PLP parliamentarian, Mr Gomez has been unique in his advocacy for greater transparency and accountability. Since the resignation of Dr Andre Rollins and Greg Moss from the governing party, he is one of the few people willing to criticise what he perceives to be lack of progress the government has made on those issues. He has repeatedly urged the government, for instance, to enact a campaign finance law and to establish a registry system requiring
commit robbery. Knowles was alleged to have killed Carroll between November 28 and 29, 2014. It was further alleged that Knowles conspired with others to commit robbery and actually robbed Carroll of cash belonging to Bowe’s Web Games Ltd. Caroll was found dead with cuts, bruises, a broken neck and a broken spinal cord. The prosecution produced witnesses who alleged that Knowles, a fired employee of Carroll, approached them about a plan to rob the web shop manager. Knowles, when interviewed by police after Carroll’s death, denied that $14,000 found in her possession had belonged to the web shop. She said that
parliamentarians to publicly register the identity of donors giving to their constituencies and the amount they give. He told The Tribune earlier this year that he received a poor response from other parliamentarians to his request when he asked them. “I asked, but people don’t want that sort of information out,” he had said earlier. “That might explain why certain people get contracts and some don’t. Almost 200 years of behaviour is being challenged.” Mr Gomez was appointed state minister for legal affairs by Mr Christie in 2012, but resigned last year, citing the need to take care of a legal issue involving financial issues connected with a commercial loan from the Bank of the Bahamas.
as a drug trafficker she did not need to rob and murder a web shop manager for money. Her defence, however, was not completely sold on a jury. While the jury returned a hung verdict of 7-5 on the murder charge, which is not acceptable in law, Knowles was unanimously convicted on charges of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Knowles would have faced the death penalty if convicted of the murder. The 12-member panel returned the verdicts within an hour after being excused to deliberate on three weeks of evidence. Knowles was represented by attorney Sonia Timothy. Cephia Pinder-Moss and Basil Cumberbatch prosecuted the case.
FORMER FNM Chairman Michael Pintard, who yesterday spoke out in support of the FNM and said he may yet run in the next election. Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff
PAGE 4, Friday, September 9, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
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Obama puts South China Sea back on agenda VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — President Barack Obama put the long-simmering dispute in the South China Sea front and centre on the agenda at a regional summit Thursday as it became clear that most of the other leaders gathered in the Laotian capital were going to let China off with a mild rebuke over its territorial expansion in the resource-rich waters. “We will continue to work to ensure that disputes are resolved peacefully including in the South China Sea,” Obama said in his opening remarks at a meeting with leaders of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. He said an international arbitration ruling on July 12 against China was “binding” and “helped to clarify maritime rights in the region”. ASEAN will hold a separate summit later Thursday with other world powers, including China and the US. The summit is expected to let China off with a muted reprimand over its expansionist activities in South China Sea, according to a draft of their joint statement to be released Thursday. The mild language in the statement, despite growing frustrations in the region over China’s claims, is a reflection of Beijing’s diplomatic, economic and military clout within ASEAN, which forms the core of the East Asia Summit that also includes the US, China, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The US has repeatedly expressed concern over Beijing’s actions in the resource-rich sea. Obama brought that up again. Referring to the arbitration panel’s ruling that invalidated China’s claims, Obama said: “I realise this raises tensions but I also look forward to discussing how we can constructively move forward together to lower tensions and promote diplomacy and regional stability.” China went to great lengths to block any references in the statement to land reclamation, militarisation or loss of trust, lobbying for the document to avoid mention of recent activities or the need to respect legal processes, said a senior Obama administration official. Though Beijing recently announced a $600m aid package to ally Cambodia, China was unable to get it to block the statement, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss diplomatic discussions. Instead, Cambodia opposed including an explicit mention of the UN tribunal’s ruling, the official said. “We reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security and freedom of navigation in and over-flight in the South China Sea,” said the draft. “Several Leaders remained seriously concerned over recent developments in the South China Sea ... We stressed the importance for the parties concerned to
resolve their disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international laws,” it said. The statement also made no reference to the land reclamation activities by China, which has turned shoals and coral reefs into seven man-made islands and built airstrips capable of handling military aircraft on three of them. ASEAN leaders at their earlier summit on Tuesday expressed concern over China’s island-building. The ASEAN leaders had also said that their summit “took note of the concerns expressed by some leaders on the land reclamations and escalation of activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region.” The use of the phrase “some leaders” in the two statements underscores the fundamental problem ASEAN and the wider East Asia Summit has in dealing with China — not all its members are willing to scold Beijing. Cambodia, for example, remains firmly in China’s camp, as is Laos to a large extent, preventing any robust statement from the consensusbound ASEAN group. The issue of ownership of territories in the South China Sea has come to dominate ASEAN summits in recent years. China claims virtually the entire sea as its own, citing historical reasons. That has pitted it against the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, all members of ASEAN, which have overlapping claims. On Wednesday, the Philippines released what it says are surveillance pictures of Chinese coast guard ships and barges at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, an apparent attempt to publicize its concerns before ASEAN leaders met with Chinese Premier Li Kequiang in Vientiane. The Philippines is concerned that China may plan to turn the shoal into another man-made island. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China has not done anything to alter the circumstances surrounding the shoal. “What I can tell you is that the situation in waters near Huangyan Island remains unchanged and China hasn’t made any new moves,” Hua said in Beijing, using the shoal’s Chinese name. “We should be highly alert against the mischief-making intentions of people who spread such groundless information in such situations.” New Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has taken a more conciliatory approach to China than his predecessor, and has said he would not raise the dispute in an adversarial manner that might upset Beijing. By Vijay JoshiI and Jim Gomez of the Associated Press
Changed for wrong reasons EDITOR, The Tribune. IT is so sad to see the careful destruction of the FNM, a party that many of us sacrificed our families to keep relevant. Many of us worked behind the scene and even without any fanfare, but for a genuine concern for the country. The FNM today is now a shell of itself. It has seen former members of parliament who have been relegated to the dustbins of time, re-emerged with a vengeance to selfishly disrupt the party from without and within. Has-been like Maurice Moore has returned to insert himself because he knows that he had great bargaining power with the present leadership. He, after seeing the vulnerability in the leader, imposed his will and applied all of his “street skills” to relevancy. He injected his will and orchestrated the two events where the leadership was at stake. Now that “his man” is safe and secure, he will
now move to carve out his piece of the action, especially if the FNM becomes the government. Enter Tennyson Wells! Mr Wells, who attempted to dismantle the FNM before but was prevented by Hubert Ingraham, is still on his mission. He will not stop at anything to make sure the FNM is at its weakest state when the election is called. He has worked assiduously to wreak havoc on the party. Today he has shown his full hand and has thrown caution to the wind to oust Loretta Butler Turner. He has, without shame decided to “break up” the party at all cost. But Hubert Minnis appears like he is not knowledgeable of the Wells move. The denial of Loretta being nominated by Minnis was nothing more than a big joke. Minnis’ supporters said along and bragged that she will never see another nomination. Moore’s behaviour, Wells’ shenanigans and Minnis’ denial are all re-
lated. The present leadership had a bullseye on Loretta’s forehead from the first leadership. Now does honest Bahamians believe that Wells is operating in a vacuum? Maurice Moore and Tennyson don’t mean the FNM any good. They are only looking out for themselves. They need to simply GET LOST! The million dollar question is Wells doing the biddings of Hubert Minnis with trying to oust Loretta? Enquiring minds want to know. This will only cause damage to the FNM, nothing more, nothing less. Before this election is called, more people would publicly disassociate themselves from the FNM. I am sick to my stomach to see the once great party decreased to a group of rabble-rousers. God helps us. IVOINE W. INGRAHAM Nassau, September 7, 2016.
Carnival fables and fairy tales EDITOR, The Tribune. THERE is a recently released movie, a true story entitled, “Florence Foster Jenkins”. This film aptly describes the state of leadership in our country today to a tee. Just like Aesop’s fables, and many of the fairy tales we grew up on, those tales seem to be manifesting right before our eyes. From “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”, to “The Tortoise and the Hare”, to “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, all the way to “The Dog and His Bone”. With that being said it all brings me to my main point, we seem to have a certain section of the media that is simply regurgitating misinformation given by our elected so-called leaders, especially when it comes to this Carnival debacle. They seem to not be digging deeper and asking the relevant questions. Firstly, there has never been a forensic report done for the first Junkanoo Carnival in 2015. To a lesser degree, not even a breakdown in payments, where monies were disbursed, at least for us to know what was spent, how it was spent, where it was spent. Carnival might be ambiguous, but what should not be ambiguous is how the people’s money is spent. That needs to be straight forward, accountability of
Who to run for office? EDITOR, The Tribune. I THINK Ed Fields would be an outstanding contributor and/ or possible candidate to help us ‘save’ this Bahamaland. I had spoken with him a few months ago and he never said yes but he ALSO never said no. MY FIVE CENTS Nassau, September 8, 2016.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net every nickel and dime of the people’s money should be shown. So how can we say we’re moving onto the second year financial report when we’ve not even completed the first? The Bahamas National Festival Commission, presented a book of colourful debauchery, nothing to do with accounting or accountability. Yet the media accepted this farce under the guise of a financial report. If the members of the BNFC were honest, they would let us see how much money went to the entertainers, let us see how much money went into staging, let us see how much went and to which radio stations, let us see how much went and to which newspaper outlets and on and on. Let us see who all got paid to make a failed Junkanoo Carnival event appear to have been successful. Who made the underpaid and undervalued Bahamian artisans and musicians accept the pittance they were offered, while the talentless and politically affiliated in our society got the majority of the spoils. Yet we wonder why it failed? It is a disgrace. We have turned our nation into a place of less transparency, less freedom, less informa-
tion and more deflection from the truth. Most of us know who does what and where in this country. We tolerate some of the most disgusting things and people and would rather stick to the anti-moral and swear that the emperor has on clothes. There is a saying that goes, “If they like you, they’ll lie for you, but if they hate you, they’ll lie on you.” We will have to wake up from our selfish mirages and face the facts sooner than later, or find that our country has been turned over completely to foreigners, yes, foreigners. I can say that, this is my country too. I would rather see a broke Bahamas with Bahamian leadership that truly believes in uplifting its own, to grow our nation from strengthto-strength into prosperity, than a prosperous, quick fix Bahamas under the control of foreigners who only want to disregard our people and rape our country of its natural resources. I will never apologise for putting Bahamian culture first. Everything and everyone else, five steps behind. Let’s make that a law if we are serious. Like the fable of the “Wolf and His Shadow”, never get so caught up in your fancies that you forget your reality. KIRKLAND “KB” BODIE Nassau, September 7, 2016.
Donation for favours? EDITOR, The Tribune. US Air Ambulance firm donates computers to Centerville Urban Renewal, Farm Road one and the same and confirm they are very interested in bidding for the franchise to provide Air Ambulance Services to NHI, announced annual cost some $1,000,000. Surely the MP for that constituency needs to explain, no must explain - at least guarantee that that
US-based Air Ambulance Service will be unable to bid for that service as to all this donation seems to be as obvious as anything by its apparent intent. Everyone knows who is the MP for Centerville... conclude what you like, in my opinion this fish head stinks, even the flies won’t land on it! P SIMMS Nassau, September 8, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 9, 2016, PAGE 5
THE DEALS being signed for the school’s construction.
PRIME Minister Perry Christie with schoolchildren in Holmes Rock.
ATTENDEES at the ground breaking ceremony.
DEALS SIGNED FOR BUILDING OF $12M HOLMES ROCK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL from page one
“I heard Obie Wilchcombe for two elections standing on a platform promising this school,” Mr Christie said. “And when I started the beginning of our term in 2012 I reminded him and the Cabinet of… listening to him promise this school. “With government it is never easy in a country where we are a chain of islands spread over 100,000 square miles of ocean.” The prime minister said every child in every part of The Bahamas deserves an opportunity to be the best they can be by getting an education in good schools provided by central government.
Mr Davis said the new school would be built identical to the Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High School in Freeport. He said that after careful consideration of the tendered amount, a decision was taken to divide the project into two equal components. “The contracts have been costed at VAT-inclusive base sums of $5,761,735 each,” Mr Davis, minister of works, said. “Combined, therefore, the base project cost is $11,523,470. We have also set aside a provisional sum of $400,000 for statutory utilities for each contract.” Brickhouse Construction will build a two-story, 28,108 sq ft structure in the
main building area, comprising an administration block, staff room and support spaces, student sick bay, computer classroom, library, 16 classrooms, covered walkways, four fire stairwells, and electrical rooms. RCL will build a twostory, 10,095 sq ft structure in the main building area, which will comprise eight classrooms, four student restroom blocks, covered walkways and breezeways adjacent to classrooms, in addition to other works. Mr Davis said six construction companies were invited to tender bids for the project. He said three did not respond to the invitations and tenders were opened at the Tenders
Sandals ‘acted correctly’ over termination of employees By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PETER Goudie, cochairman of the National Tripartite Council, has defended the way Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort terminated more than 600 employees last month, saying the resort followed the law and acted correctly. Mr Goudie is a respected voice in the business community because of his post on the National Tripartite Council (NTC) and his toplevel position in the Chamber of Commerce. His statement gives insight into how the business community may react to the government’s efforts to make the kind of actions Sandals engaged in last month illegal. While Sandals has insisted that it made the employees redundant because it had to close the property to conduct necessary renovations, Mr Goudie seemed to acknowledge yesterday that other motives could have been involved in the resort’s decision. “Sandals did not break the law,” he said. “They did nothing illegal. They did what they needed to do because they were having some problems with some employees and they felt the need to change some I guess. “They have a business to run,” he continued before insisting that contrary to reports, the employees were terminated, not made redundant.
“The important thing is, everyone keeps using redundant,” he said. “Sandals did not make anyone redundant. Everybody had their employment terminated and they were paid out. The distinction is important because they will hire 592 people back.” Minister of Labour Shane Gibson has frequently said Sandals made the employees redundant. Sandals’ behaviour has been called an attempt at “union busting” since the hotel has had a long-running feud with the Bahamas Hotel & Allied Workers Union (BHAWU) over its unwillingness to recognise the union as the bargaining agent for workers and to negotiate an industrial agreement with it. “I can see it looking like a shot at the union,” Mr Goudie said. “Every business anywhere in the world has a right to try and survive and people will do what they can for their business. Businesses are not a social safety net, period.” Although the government insists Sandals could have laid off employees for the short period during which renovations are being conducted, the resort has insisted that it reacted the only legal way possible. Mr Goudie yesterday agreed. “What they did was totally correct under the Employment Act,” he said. “People think what they did is an example of union busting. That’s not what I think.
They did what they did to make the business good.” Sandals’ actions prompted Director of Labour Robert Farquharson to urge the NTC, which he co-chairs, to agree to his department’s recommendations seeking to change the country’s laws by making it illegal for an employer to terminate more than ten employees without notifying and consulting the government at least 60 days before its proposed action takes effect. The Department of Labour also wants the NTC to agree to recommendations that would lift the cap on how many years severance pay employees will be entitled to from 12 to 30. Mr Goudie said while he is not yet ready to state a position on the recommendations, he has met with various groups and their “reaction is negative.” “We have met with the hotel groups,” he said. “We had a board of directors meeting. We had a meeting with my employment and labour committee meeting this afternoon (Thursday). There is another meeting of the Tripartite Council next Thursday which will be the first time we’ll sit down since we have seen the document.” Asked yesterday about this matter, Mr Gibson stressed that the recommendations from Mr Farquharson did not come from Cabinet and that it is up to the Tripartite Council to make recommendations to the government.
Board in July 2015. “This school represents another plank in the robust package of capital investment projects delivered to Grand Bahama,” he said, also recalling contracts executed for Fishing Hole Road, and a seawall at Smith’s Point. Mr Christie said the government is considering naming the school after a resident in the area. He stressed that while it is good to build a new school, the quality of education that takes place within the institution is more important. “You judge the school on how it influences the mind of the children,” he said. Mr Christie said the Progressive Liberal Party has
delivered on its promises to Grand Bahama. “To citizens you have to make the determination when you look at people like me and them, and decide whether or not we are good for you: Did we promise this school? The answer is yes. Are we delivering this school? The answer is yes. Did we promise better health facilities? The answer is yes. Are we delivering the better health facilities? The answer is yes.” Referring to the Fishing Hole Road, he said: “Government after government (were) looking at it, knowing it has to be changed and improved, knowing it could cause loss of life, and just watching it. We promised we would do something
about it, and, yes, we did.” Mr Christie also said that the government has extended duty-free privileges in east and west Grand Bahama. “We said we will somehow equalise the difference that existed between people who live in Freeport and in the east and the west. We have given the people in the east and west an opportunity to build a home and expand a business with duty free provisions in place. There is still much more to be done,” he said.
PAGE 6, Friday, September 9, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Miller blames govt over BPL issues from page one
oil,” Mr Miller, BEC’s former executive chairman, said. “They say they believe in Bahamians, are you serious? They think God only puts brains in the heads of foreigners? They don’t believe Bahamians could do this? We had a plan, a solid plan. I resent this, this is a slap in the face and there is nothing we can do but bear with it and sweat. They are good at nothing but getting people to pay. It is amazing that nothing has happened since they took over, we did not need foreigners, we could have done this ourselves. Everyday is a damn blackout. “With the greatest respect we showed the prime
minister the plan, it is just a ion, to speak on behalf of pity they didn’t have faith in an important entity,” Mr us to allow us to do some- Miller said. thing meaningful for the “The management does people.” not want to talk so they are Mr Miller also using him. That’s questioned why ‘They say why I had to talk Bahamas Electri- they believe all the time - Mr cal Workers Union Maynard speak(BEWU) Presi- in Bahamians, ing is insulting. He dent Paul Maynard are you should be having a has been speaking serious? They field day, now that on behalf of BPL his boys are makand why the man- think God ing overtime tryagement has “been only puts ing to fix all these so quiet.” outages.” brains in “How the hell is On Monday, the union president the heads of nearly one month speaking for the foreigners?’ after the first set of company? Where rental generators and how does that happen? secured for BPL arrived in I don’t understand how the country, Mr Maynard Maynard became the chief said the site for the engines spokesman and it is insult- had not been prepared and ing that the government al- the generators will “problows this man, whose only ably not be installed for anjob is to speak for the un- other couple weeks.”
Then on Wednesday, BPL’s Corporate Communications Manager Arnette Ingraham said the company is “hoping” to have the generators installed by the end of “next week.” Mrs Ingraham also said BPL has been “temporarily patching” its troubled equipment but until its rent-
al generators are installed there is “no way to tell” when frequent power outages will end. And one week after BPL began daily outage rotations throughout New Providence, she said the corporation is finally in a “safe zone.” However, there were
reports of power outages in New Providence on Wednesday night. This comes after a summer plagued with frequent blackouts as BPL struggled to keep power supplied. PowerSecure took over management of BEC earlier this year, which was later renamed BPL.
SEARS: IT’S DELEGATES THAT COUNT, NOT PM’S VIEW from page one
Mr Sears, the PLP’s candidate for the Fort Charlotte constituency, told The Tribune that he’s “not really” concerned with Mr Christie’s perception of him
as a leadership contender, stressing that such a decision rests with the party’s delegates, all of whom he said are his primary focus as the PLP’s November convention draws near. Mr Sears also said the response he has received from
sitting PLP parliamentarians and the party’s stalwart councillors has been “better than I even anticipated.” He added that he is “confident” that his appeals to delegates “are going well.” Mr Sears was asked to comment on statements
made by Mr Christie in response to the former’s early-August announcement of his intent to challenge the prime minister for the PLP’s leadership post. Last month, while a guest on radio talk show “Darold Miller Live” with host Darold Miller, Mr Christie brushed off speculation that he may be ousted as leader of the PLP by Mr Sears because of voter frustration with the current administration. In fact, Mr Christie said his record and his value would ensure his re-election at the party’s convention in November. “No, I am not concerned,” Mr Christie said at the time. “What I have done for the people of The Bahamas and what I have done for the Progressive Liberal Party and its supporters, will enable them to see the value, my value as prime minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.” When contacted yesterday on whether or not he was concerned with Mr Christie’s statements, Mr Sears said: “Not really. I’m focusing on the delegates. It’s going well . . .I’m going to all of the islands, all of them, to speak with delegates and make the case. It’s not what the prime min-
ister says it’s what the delegates determine, and how they vote.” Mr Sears also laughed off questions over whether or not he was concerned with the public’s view of him as PLP leadership material, stating: “Why should I be worried? I haven’t even published my platform yet. Of course not. Of course not.” And when asked how his campaign efforts have been received by sitting PLP parliamentarians and the party’s stalwart councillors, Mr Sears said: “It’s been going well. I’m confident with the response I’m getting, and in fact it’s better than I even anticipated.” 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 as to whether it would be wise to run for leader. Mr Sears, a former attorney general, has pledged to run a “clean” race, one without personal attacks. Mr Christie, meanwhile, who was first elected as leader of the PLP in 1997, has had no challenge to his
leadership since National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage and attorney Paul Moss faced him in 2009, the last time the party held a convention. Mr Christie stirred controversy 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 in July, sparked an immense backlash. While Mr Christie did not name the government members who had endorsed him, only a few sitting MPs have expressed public support for his continued leadership: Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Dion Smith and Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe. They have all suggested that Mr Sears would find it difficult to rally support among sitting PLP parliamentarians. In response, Mr Sears has said there is no barrier for him to be elected as leader of the PLP and argued that his leadership bid was the most practical and stable choice for the party.
ROBERTS SLAMS FNM OVER POSITIONS ON BAHA MAR from page one
“Senator Carl Bethel finally woke up from his Rip Van Wrinklesque cryogenic slumber, ostensibly after Dr Minnis and Sidney Collie launched a signature petition to have the documents unsealed by the Supreme Court, to set the record straight that the Free National Movement has no legal basis for such a court challenge,” Mr Roberts said in a press statement on Wednesday. “There is deep division in the FNM on this important and straightforward issue of national import when there should be national unity on the way forward for Baha Mar and our national economy. “Also, thinking and discerning Bahamians are wondering who is serving as legal advisor to (the) leader of the opposition as his national chairman a few days earlier urged Bahamians
to endorse the petition reiterating his party’s stance that Prime Minister Perry Christie was duty-bound to make the Baha Mar agreement public, which was sealed by the Supreme Court at the request of the China EXIM Bank.” He added: “This is just the latest clear example of the woefully deficient decision making process and overall judgment of Dr Minnis as opposition leader; it is a sad culture of confusion and directionless. Minnis never denies himself an opportunity to fumble, bumble and trip over himself on issue after issue. He is one big ball of confusion.” Mr Roberts went on to defend the Christie administration, saying it maintained its policy to have the development completed, opened and for unsecured Bahamian creditors to be paid what they are owed. “This was the position on June 29, 2015 and that is the government’s position to-
day. The prime minister has demonstrated strong and focused leadership, great command of the substantive issues, tenacity, optimism and the requisite confidence befitting the leader of a nation. “Dr Minnis will do well to abandon his futile fool’s errand and political posturing and just publicly admit that Prime Minister Christie designed and executed the right policy on Baha Mar in the interest of all Bahamians as there is finally a silver lining in this ongoing saga,” Mr Roberts said. The government has been heavily criticised over the fact that the deal is hidden from public view. It has led Mr Christie several times to defend the government in an attempt to free it from any blame in this issue. He has said that the court documents were sealed at the request of the ExportImport Bank of China. However, the backlash persists.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 9, 2016, PAGE 7
DONATION TO PRIMARY SCHOOL MINISTER of Financial Services Hope Strachan visited Sadie Curits Primary School yesterday. During the visit, she also presented a donation
to the school, including 105 tablets for pupils. She is pictured below in the school’s computer lab. Photos: Tim Clarke/ Tribune Staff
MINISTER of Financial Services Hope Strachan presents a cheque to Sadie Curtis primary school along with 105 tablets.
Nygard murder-for hire lawsuit in court next week from page one “I have been extremely anxious about threats of harm to myself and family. I continue to live in fear as well as the other plaintiffs over the lack of official response from the police. The entire case was dramatically politicised by politicians in Parliament. “Instead of appreciating that (the plaintiffs) were the victims, the government seemed to conflate itself with Mr Nygard’s position,” Mr Smith added. The Supreme Court writ was filed against Mr Nygard and his former lawyer Keod Smith by STB Directors Joseph Darville, Romauld Ferreira, Fred Smith, Louis Bacon, and Reverend CB Moss, who is not a part of the STB. They allege that the defendants orchestrated a two-and-a-half-year campaign of fear and violence to “kill or scare off” activists who Mr Nygard saw as opponents to development plans for his Lyford Cay property known as Nygard Cay. Affidavits detail a yearlong investigation into claims that Mr Nygard contracted two criminals to allegedly harass, intimidate and cause physical harm and property damage to the four STB directors, Rev Moss, a government official and several others. The two self-proclaimed criminals Livingston “Toggie” Bullard and Wisler “Bobo” Davilma were tracked down with the help of former FNM Chairman Michael Pintard, who resigned shortly after the court filing amid criticism from government parliamentarians that the claims were politically motivated in an attempt to destabilise the government. The explosive allegations
further rocked the nation in March when Prime Minister Perry Christie and Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis’ names were mentioned in secret recordings between Mr Nygard, Bullard and Davilma that were filed in support of the lawsuit. Controversy heightened when it was further revealed that Leader of the Official Opposition Dr Hubert Minnis had met with Bullard three times; however, Dr Minnis has maintained that he did not hear of the alleged murder-forhire plot until The Tribune published the claims. The plaintiffs are seeking damages and a permanent injunction against Mr Nygard and Keod Smith restraining them from arranging any further tactics against them. Both defendants filed an appearance on March 17, and were required to serve a defence on the plaintiffs within 14 days. The application for interlocutory judgment in default of defence was filed on April 28. The Tribune tried to contact Mr Nygard’s legal counsel Elliot Lockhart, QC, for comment but did not get a response up to press time. On March 29, Mr Nygard sued The Tribune, STB, as well as Dr Minnis and Mr Pintard, and others, for libel as well as “abuse” of the Supreme Court and Parliament. Mr Nygard was seeking an injunction restraining 16 defendants from committing “further acts intended to harm or likely to harm” his economic or other legal interests and an injunction restraining the defendants from committing “further libel or slander” against him. However, no statement of claim has been filed in that matter.
COB THEFT CASE ADJOURNED By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A WOMAN accused of theft and laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars during her tenure at The College of The Bahamas will not have her matter transferred to the Supreme Court until next week. Chimeka Gibbs, 39, returned to Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday before Magistrate Constance Delancy for the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). However, the documents were not ready and the Crown requested an adjournment to September 14. The request was granted. Gibbs is facing 20 counts of falsification of accounts, 16 counts of stealing by reason of employment, and four counts of laundering the proceeds of criminal conduct for her alleged actions between March 2008
and October 2015 as an employee at COB. It is alleged that Gibbs stole over $500,000 from COB by reason of her employment at the institution. It is also alleged that she falsified numerous COB direct deposit files, the result of which purported to show that she was entitled to over $200,000 in salary payments. It is also alleged that she laundered over $800,000 worth of funds to various local bank accounts – FirstCaribbean, Commonwealth Bank, RBC Finco and Scotiabank – between 2008 and 2015. According to court documents, Gibbs served as both a senior clerk and a human resources assistant at the institution. Gibbs will not be allowed to enter a plea to the charges until she is formally arraigned before a judge of the Supreme Court. She has retained lawyer Roberto Reckley to represent her.
PAGE 8, Friday, September 9, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Political landscape in chaos A Comic’s View
By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA AFTER another week of glaring headlines, I’m beginning to think an opposition coalition would be a very bad idea. Sure, the Free National Movement, Democratic National Alliance, United Democratic Party and People’s Movement group have a million good reasons to join forces in an attempt to oust the ineffective Progressive Liberal Party government, but there’s one good reason they should all go their separate ways: Chaos.
ALL FOR ONE Last year this time, if you asked five Bahamians what chance the Progressive Liberal Party had of winning the next general election six of them would have said none. After all, you can’t go against the people on a gambling referendum, waste the VAT money, watch over the highest murder rate in the history of a nation and cause Baha Mar to be “up on blocks” without serious repercussions right? Wrong. As much as it astounds me, there is indeed a chance the PLP will be returned to government because of this little clause in our democratic elections that says the party with the most seats wins. They don’t have to get a lot of votes, they don’t even have to get half of all votes cast; in 2012, the PLP formed the government having won only 49 per cent of the popular vote. When the dust cleared, the Free National Movement had garnered 42 per cent of the vote while the Democratic National Alliance managed to peel away 8 per cent of the vote. 1 per cent went to the winds, by
way of smaller parties and independents. Why the history lesson? Well because history does indeed repeat itself, and 2017 is looking like a replay of history “on fleek.” The past two weeks, various leaders of offshoot parties have slowly been making their way to microphones and television cameras to remind distraught Bahamians that there are ARE the PLP marching back to office in the face of disorganised opposition? alternatives to the uninspirthat the point of the meet- is Bran McCartney. ing PLP. Unfortunately, consider them. Surely something is ing was to see if an alliFor his part, Mr. Moss, after listening to group leaders like Greg Moss, wrong when a whole fi- ance between the FNM and appeared as a guest on SteBranville McCartney and nance team packs up and “other third parties” could ve McKinney’s radio talk show Hard Copy last week John Bostwick, it’s painful- skips out like Brent Symon- be had. In a word, “No.” and seemed to “diss” those ly obvious that not only are ette and company did this week. Surely Why these private citi- “other groupings” like the the opposition something zens and “financial per- fledgling Gatekeepers and forces in this ‘There is a real is very, very sons” wasted their time is People’s Movement who country not on uneasiness in wrong when a beyond me. It should be have recently formed and the same page, they’re not even Bahamians now. card carrying obvious to everyone by now have gained momentum on regular mem- that anytime Mr McCa- the ground. On that front, reading the Yes, the PLP is (who holds rtney sees the light of the he and McCartney agree as same book. inept. Yes, they ber no official posi- camera or hears his voice the DNA leader also took For its part, tion within the in stereo he can only do two a potshot at “these other the Official Op- need to go. But organisation) things: promote Bran Mc- associations,” whom he position Free if the FNM and National Move- other opposition writes up a res- Cartney and bash anyone doubts are a party. ignation let- who isn’t a loyal DNA serf. Not to be outdone by anment continues ter telling the He reminded us that the yone, Gatekeeper and Peoto look feckless. forces cannot party to kick FNM is a broke, broken, ple’s Movement member (as After a conven- get it together rocks. Some- sinking ship. Which is prob- well as former FNM senation that prom- to fight the PLP how, the letter ably true. But the smarmy tor) John Bostwick wasted ised “unity” made its way to and gloating way McCart- no time taking to the airand brought what would a chaos instead, country under a Facebook and ney delivered the message is ways to remind Bahamians we have since divided coalition promptly went proof enough that any gov- of just who Mr. McCartney viral. ernment coalition that in- was in his eyes: a lighthouse been treated to By any stand- cluded Minnis and McCart- logo lifting, low down louse! rounds of ru- government ard, it’s obvious ney working together would All this “friendly fire” in mours of finan- look like?’ the FNM will be doomed to failure. the public domain must be cial ruin and need to search Could a union between like manna from Heaven to the very real fact of named candidates abandoning the for a lot of help to win the the DNA and United Dem- the PLP. I can picture PLP ocratic Party work, you Chairman Bradley RobSS FNM like rats scurrying next general election. If that help hinges on ask? Again, it’s unlikely. erts quietly closing his lapfrom a sinking ship. According to McCartney, top and leaning back in his So far, sitting MPs Neko Bran Mccartney and the Grant, Theo Neilly and Democratic National Alli- UDP leader Greg Moss had chair with a big grin. Why get in the fray, when Andre Rollins have all ance, then they have found the nerve to request that he be appointed leader of the the opposition is doing the indicated they will not fool’s gold. After meeting with the DNA, “foregoing the party work for you? seek re-election under an There is a real uneasiness FNM banner. Then there certain “private citizens” process.” And if there’s one persons” thing we know about the in Bahamians now. Yes, the are candidates like Lionel and “financial Sands and Howard John- that presumably included DNA, it’s that there’s only PLP is inept. Yes, they need son who have removed the leadership of the FNM, room in that party for one to go. But if the FNM and their names from consider- Mr. McCartney proceeded man to forego the party other opposition forces canation before we could even to broadcast to the press process, and that one man not get it together to fight
the PLP what would a country under a divided coalition government look like? “It seems to be a lot of unfortunate circumstances surrounding (the FNM) and we have a maximum of eight months to campaign, that may not be enough time for them to get it together,” Bran McCartney said, missing the irony. “Greg Moss is Greg Moss...I don’t know if that is a party,” he said, playing the part of the pot attacking the kettle. My sincere hope is that these parties can pick the best of the best from among them, turn their attention to the real business at hand, and consider the people before they completely destroy each other. Can they work together? Could they govern together? We shall see. But if not, God help us all. • Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident standup comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 9, 2016, PAGE 9
RECIPIENTS of the Rebuild scholarship initiative to BTVI pose with officials from Rotary Bahamas, The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, and The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institution. Photo: Shantique Longley
Scholarships for students hit by Hurricane Joaquin FIFTEEN students from Family Islands impacted by Hurricane Joaquin have been granted scholarships to attend the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institution (BTVI), courtesy of the Rebuild Bahamas Hurricane Relief Programme. The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) in partnership with Rotary clubs of the Bahamas recently awarded each of the 15 students with $1,000 scholarships.
The recipients represent Long Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Inagua and San Salvador, with eight hailing from Long Island alone. Peter Goudie, chairman of the Disaster Relief Committee of Rotary Bahamas, encouraged the recipients to take the skills they will learn and contribute to their respective islands. “We want you to go back, establish your own businesses and help your own people,” said Mr Goudie. This was reiterated by the
chamber’s Chief Executive Officer Edison Sumner, who said it is expected that the students would return to their islands and help build the economies. One year ago, the category four hurricane unleashed its fury upon the central and southern Bahamas, destroying homes, toppling buildings and leaving severe flooding in its wake. Jasmine Pyfrom, a 2016 graduate of the Inagua All Age School, considers herself to be one of the “fortunate students” to be award-
ed the scholarships. “I am grateful because many of us may not have been able to continue our education beyond high school,” she said. On behalf of fellow recipients, Jasmine committed to using the skills they will attain, to assist their hometowns. “Thanks for not just giving us a fish, but making it possible for us to learn how to fish,” she said. Meanwhile, BTVI’s chairman and Rotary’s immediate past district 7020
governor, Felix Stubbs, encouraged the students to take full advantage of the opportunity presented to them. “You have an obligation to share your success, particularly in the islands you represent. You are ambassadors of what good collaboration can be,” he said. BTVI’s President Dr Robert Robertson thanked Rotary and the chamber, stating that the effort is a shining example of their strong commitment to education, as the students’
continuation of higher education was threatened by Joaquin. “We recognise that the devastation caused by Hurricane Joaquin has had serious financial implications for thousands of citizens, resulting in monies having to be redirected for rebuilding purposes. Therefore, this collaboration will alleviate some of the financial hardship incurred. Truly, today is a shining example that beauty can rise from the ashes,” said Dr Robertson.
PAGE 10, Friday, September 9, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
PENNY RECHKEMMER, left, at the reception to welcome her as the new US Embassy Public Relations Officer, hosted by Chargé d’Affaires Lisa Johnson, right.
EMBASSY WELCOMES NEW PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER US Charge d’Affaires Lisa Johnson hosted a welcome reception for the embassy’s new Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Penny Rechkemmer at the US Ambassador’s Residence on Wednesday. The event attracted a cross-section of key embassy contacts representing government, civil society, the arts, education, NGOs, State Department alumni and the media. Ms Rechkemmer began her career at the State Department through an
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Diplomacy Fellowship. Her experiences in the Office of International Women’s Issues and Bureau of International Organisations led her to join the Foreign Service where she’s served in Mumbai, India and Lima, Peru. Prior to coming to the State Department, she worked as a research fellow at Johns Hopkins University with at risk youth in one of Baltimore’s toughest neighbourhoods. Born and raised in Iowa,
she received a MA and BA in anthropology from Iowa State University, where she conducted field research with women farmers in Ara, Nigeria. She then moved across the border to Minnesota where received a MPH and PhD both from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. Ms Rechkemmer conducted her PhD research in environmental health, investigating the health effects of cooking fuels on women’s respiratory health in Mysore, India.
PENNY RECHKEMMER, left, chatting to a guest at the reception.
ABOVE and below, scenes from the Party Planner Club event in the summer.
The Party Planner Club Party Planner Club. Over the summer, the “Party Planner Club” (PPC) founded by Mia Cooper had its first charity event at The park in Treasure Cove. The members performed songs, poetry and dance routines they they choreographed themselves. The event also featured the world famous Bahamas All Star Band. The event raised $1000, all of which was donated to the Ranfurly Home for Children. The PPC club is based at Kingsway Academy and its members range from 8-10. The event was planned solely by the PPC club (with
minimal parental involvement I might add) and was truly a success.
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Women’s Corona Society
OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers. To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@ tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line. For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 5022373 or 447-3565.
Women’s Corona Society. - The Women’s Corona Society of Nassau Fall Welcome Back Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 20, starting at noon at Luciano’s of Chicago on East Bay Street in Nassau. Tickets are $40 and include three courses with cash bar. The luncheon is open to members and women who have interest in learning more about Corona. For tickets, contact: • East: Jane Evans (3242132) jevans@yahoo.com
• West: Ella Davis (3276774) bellabreezes51@ gmail.com All ticket purchase must be finalised by October 12th.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 9, 2016, PAGE 11
ACTION from the Goombay Summer Festival - which has come to a close after a series of summer events.
Goombay ends with spectacular flyboarding sight AS the sun set on the Western Esplanade Saturday night during the close of the Goombay Summer Festival, dozens of onlookers flocked to the beach as three flyboarders took to the sky over the water, donned in neon lit gear. Flyboarding is a sport where a jetpack or hover board is supplied with propulsion allowing an individual to fly through the air and perform various tricks. The three performers lit up the night sky doing backflips, summersaults, 360-degree spins and other feats on the water, which drew applause from hundreds of onlookers. “I liked the show,” said Thomas Smith, a resident. “It was awesome. It was entertaining. It got my attention from way on the other side. You couldn’t miss it. It was unexpected.”
Masion Jones, of Boston, said it was “absolutely fantastic”. “I came to visit family and they brought me out here and I’m enjoying it,” he said. “It’s beautiful.” Kristian Smoyer, one of the flyboarders, said she had a great time in The Bahamas. She was greeted by dozens of visitors and locals who were clamouring for a picture. “Our company, Powerfly Products, did a boat show in Florida and I believe the Ministry of Tourism came out and saw us and then we got the opportunity to come out here,” she said. Asked about performing in The Bahamas she said: “It’s amazing. Where I live we don’t have the crystal clear waters. Everyone here is amazing. It’s so much fun.”
Director of events Charity Armbrister said the flyboard spectacle was the perfect way to end the summer of Goombay. She said the response to Goombay Summer Festival has been amazing. “This is a great way to end the summer officially. There are a lot of kids out here with their parents and it is a great way to have a good time,” she said. “The response from the tourists I must say is overwhelming. As you might be aware we have shuttle buses that come from Paradise Island and Cable Beach as well as from the port. So, I think, the last week we must have had at least about 500 tourists taking the shuttle back and forth.” Ms Armbrister praised the staff at the Ministry of Tourism for a successful festival noting that it was hard but exciting work.
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