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Staff left short in Baha Mar pay L! ADS SEL PHOTO 351 002 / 502-2

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Feelings are mixed on salary settlement

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net  WHILE some former employees of Baha Mar yesterday expressed no disappointment in receiving their settlement sums from the beleaguered resort, others complained of the low amount offered as part of the resort’s Claims Committee payout process.

A number of former employees suggested to reporters that they were satisfied with the amounts they had received during the first day of the Claims Committee’s payout exercise at the Crystal Palace Hotel Casino yesterday.

None of the employees questioned by reporters at the site gave any signs of discontent over a potential discrepancy with the amount they received and the amount listed on their termination letters.

However, one former employee who spoke to The Tribune later said while the process “went pretty smooth,� he felt that former employees “should have been paid more�.

The former worker,

THE SCENE at the Crystal Palace Hotel Casino yesterday as former Baha Mar workers arrived to collect salary they were owed.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff speaking on condition of anonymity, also said it wasn’t clear what the payout represented, and also that nothing was mentioned about pension payments.

The employee was also angered by a release document employees had to sign to receive their cheques, which said upon

receipt of the payout, they would not make a claim against Baha Mar or Perfect Luck Ltd, the special purpose vehicle set up for this exercise.

The employee, who first worked for Baha Mar’s Leadership Development Institute (LDI) and later for the Grand Hyatt Hotel, also said when he sent an email

to the Claims Committee about his concerns, he said he was informed that he “should be happy with what I got and that it is on a take it or leave it basis�.

That, he claimed, came after he was told by the Claims Committee last Thursday that he could review his payout letter with a lawyer, but thought

it was too short notice to do so. “How can somebody find a lawyer in that space of time and see if it’s accurate and then you have to go and pick up your cheque?� he said. “(They gave me) about four to five days to find a lawyer.�

SEE PAGES TWO & THREE

PM TOLD TO CHECK HIS FACTS OVER HOSPITAL ACCUSATIONS

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net  FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis suggested yesterday that Prime Minister Perry Christie “check his facts�

before making “untrue, reckless comments� about the Killarney MP’s tenure as minister of health.

In an interview with The Tribune, Dr Minnis denied leaving the Maternity Ward at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) in a bad

state and questioned why the prime minister waited four and half years to fix the ward, if Mr Christie thought it was “so terrible�.

In fact, Dr Minnis said the only reason the prime minister is renovating the hospital now, is because

“elections are right around the corner.�

His comments came one day after Mr Christie said that when the PLP won the election in 2012, and when Dr Minnis demitted office as minister of health, the latter left the Maternity

Ward “in a state not fit for women to go and have babies.�

He also said that one of the operating theatres was “so bad� it was only used in an emergency.

SEE PAGE SIX

CARNIVAL ‘WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE PROFITABLE’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Junkanoo Carnival was never designed to work as a “profit exercise�, according to Bahamas National Festival Commission Chairman Paul Major.

Responding to questions yesterday at a press conference in which the BNFC revealed its economic impact assessment of the event’s second year, Mr Major condemned opponents of the festival who continue to look at country’s annual investment, instead of the carnival’s “economic impact�.

He said the festival has never been and will never be about turning a profit on investment, contending that no variation of the event hosted around the world has generated a profit for the host nation. “Nowhere in the world is a carnival a profit venture.

In Trinidad they spend, I think we estimated somewhere around, based on the conversion, $40m a year,� said Mr Major.

SEE PAGE FIVE

COLLIE SAYS CARNIVAL WAS COMPLETELY MISMANAGED

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie yesterday condemned this year’s Junkanoo Carnival as a “completely mismanaged event� after it was revealed that the annual festival was again over budget for the second time.

Highlighting the stalled release of the economic impact report, Mr Collie underscored the critical need for increased transparency from government officials.

He said the Christie administration’s widespread failures were crippling the tourism industry and chasing tourists away.

SEE PAGE FIVE

TWO JAILED FOR TAKING PART IN MURDER PLOT

35 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING GIRLFRIEND

TWO men were sentenced to 30 years in prison yesterday after a Supreme Court judge condemned their “casual� acceptance to involve themselves in a murder plot.

Rashad Sullivan and Patrickedo Rose, both 26, appeared before Justice

A MAN was sentenced to 35 years in prison yesterday in the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend that occurred two years ago.

Reuben Baker, 32, appeared before Justice Deborah Fraser for the court’s decision on a punishment for the November 16, 2014

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

Bernard Turner to learn what punishment would be handed to them concerning the November 2012 murder of Dario “China� Knowles, 25, at Lincoln Boulevard.

Last December, a jury returned 10-2 guilty verdicts on conspiracy to commit murder and murder. The latter verdict was not accepted by the court.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

murder of Carmine Jean.

Jean was involved in an argument with her boyfriend at their home on Alfred Way off Winders Terrace. She was stabbed twice in the upper back, once in both shoulders and once in the abdomen.

At a previous hearing, probation officer Sagina Pratt testified about SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2, Wednesday, September 28, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

BAHA Mar workers were at the Crystal Palace Hotel Casino yesterday to collect the money they were owed.

FNM HAPPY WORKERS RECEIVING PAY, WARY ABOUT PROCESS WHILE expressing happiness that former workers of Baha Mar started receiving payouts for money owed to them yesterday, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said his party is still concerned about the lack of transparency regarding the deal to remobilise the resort.

“The Free National Movement is happy that the long ordeal for thousands of Bahamians is finally over and they have started to re-

ceive their wages for completed work that are long past due,” Dr Minnis said in a statement. “The FNM stood with the people for over a year as we carried this fight forward, holding the PLP government’s feet to the fire over this matter forcing them to face the voices they so often ignore or silence.

“Last week, when The Bahamas found out that the PLP’s secret deal did not include the payment of CCA

contractors for work done at Baha Mar, we once again stood with the people and let our voices be heard, calling on the embattled prime minister to address this injustice.

“We are pleased to learn that the Chinese will also be paying these contractors now. It is always a good day for The Bahamas when the PLP finally decides to take the side of the Bahamian people over their Chinese allies.”

Dr Minnis said that regardless of what the party’s opponents say, the FNM “always welcomed the news that an agreement had been reached” to complete the project.

“However, the Free National Movement is still concerned and troubled by the lack of transparency and details, shrouded in secrecy and then sealed by the courts on behalf of this government.

“This incident cries out

for more transparency because that’s the only way we can have true accountability. It’s time for the PLP and the embattled prime minister to finally unseal the deal.

“Until they do, the FNM will stay vigilant to hold them accountable and seek out more details. The PLP has made promises before – but have failed to follow through and it’s the Bahamian people that suffer. We will work eve-

ry day to see that doesn’t happen.”

Prime Minister Perry Christie has said that the Supreme Court documents relating to the deal were sealed at the request of the Export-Import Bank of China due to the sensitive nature of the matter.

Critics have urged the government to reveal what concessions were granted to the Chinese to remobilise the property.

BAHA Mar workers at the Crystal Palace Hotel Casino yesterday to collect their salary.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 28, 2016, PAGE 3

BAHA Mar pictured this week during a tour by Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Staff left short in Baha Mar pay from page one “I was distraught by it,” he added. “I (had) been working under a company for the past year or so and I am not obligated to get what is owed to me. One of my aunt’s friends said she heard someone only got $500. Some were expecting more to be able to get a car or go on vacation.”

The former employee added: “I heard the prime minister say this is a gift from the (China EXIM Bank). My whole issue is, it’s like he is saying to us if you don’t take it that’s your business, we are giving you a gift, it’s his way of saying take it or leave it. Election is coming up, so he will say ‘I’ve paid you guys back and created jobs, construction has restarted, now pay me back with another five years.’ I for one will not have it.”

Another former Baha Mar employee, in a Facebook post, criticised the payout process, charging that former employees may be setting themselves up for “most disappointed and unfulfilled promises” by Mr

Christie.

Meanwhile, Darren Brown, a former butler for the departed Rosewood Hotel brand, said he had no hiccups during yesterday’s payout process.

“It was very, very smooth and I didn’t expect it to be like this,” he said. “The moment I arrived at the entrance I was directed where to go, and everything flowed really, really smooth. They explained the procedures to you very, very clear, and it was quite easy.”

When asked if he was satisfied with the amount he received, Mr Brown said: “I’m totally comfortable. This was something that didn’t have to happen, you know. And it did. So there is no way you can be disgruntled over getting a gift. All good gifts are from the Creator, and so you receive with graciousness.”

Gavin Cartwright, who was previously engaged in bartending at the resort, also heralded the process.

“It was good, it was quick - quicker than I expected,” he said. “I expected a long line or so, but it was quick.

(I was) in and out actually.

I was only in there for five minutes.”

Regarding his feelings towards the cheque he received, Mr Cartwright said: “I’m satisfied, I’m not going to lie, I’m satisfied.”

On Sunday, Claims Committee Chairman James Smith advised employees not to worry if payments did not match the amount listed on their redundancy letters. He urged workers with discrepancies to bring in the letter they received from the resort’s human resources department upon their termination as the committee was prepared to deal with any dispute.

However, the Claims Committee has previously responded to queries from Baha Mar’s former Bahamian staff by reminding them that they have little choice but to accept what is on offer this week.

The committee has said that while it is “happy” to discuss their issues, the former employees have “no legal entitlement” to any of the funds the committee is administering. Thus, it said, the offers that are made to them are on “a take it or leave it basis”.

JAMES SMITH, left, with Baha Mar’s senior vice-president, Sandy Sands.

UNION LEADERS SPEAKING TO MEMBERS ABOUT POSSIBLE NATIONAL ACTION OVER NOLLE PROSEQUI

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

UNION leaders have started galvanising their memberships for a collective call-to-action in response to the contentious Sandals “nolle prosequi”, a move that could lead to a national strike or, at the very least, a mass demonstration.

John Pinder, president of the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU), confirmed to The Tribune yesterday that union leaders across the various sectors have been advised to sensitise their members to the challenges faced by fellow unions under the tagline of the “Joint Labour Movement (JLM)”.

A copy of a draft document, obtained by The Tribune, outlines issues affecting some 18 unions, and calls for all social partners “who truly believe in Bahamians” to join their cause.

“Join with us in ensuring fair and equitable treatment of labourers who are the backbone of our country,” the document read.

“Help us to end discrimination against all workers.

Help us to convince the government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to be a good social partner and act as a role model for

the private sector.”

It continued: “Help us to end the mentality of slavery and truly ensure the emancipation of the masses through just and equitable treatment of all of our brothers and sisters and to fulfil the biblical mandate of being ‘thy brother’s keeper…’ for ‘…the least of these.’’

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Pinder chastised the government led

by Prime Minister Perry Christie for neglecting long standing labour issues instead of appeasing the business community.

He called Mr Christie “guilty by association” due to his continued silence on the Sandals matter.

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas Trade Union Congress (CBTUC) and the National Congress of Trade Union Bahamas (NCTUB) have called a joint press conference today to make a statement “with respect to the Bahamian workforce”.

The JLM draft document details challenges, and union recommendations for resolution for matters affecting workers in the public and private sectors. “[Today] is to bring information to the general public and the membership,” Mr Pinder said, “and hope they understand why it is that we have to do what we may

have to do.

“The PM isn’t really responding to the cry of the general public and the unions so he is guilty by association.”

The press conference is the latest development amid a string of trade union allegations that Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson “misled” the Bahamian people over her decision to issue the ‘nolle prosequi’ - no prosecution in a case against Sandals.

Obie Ferguson, TUC president, told Tribune Business on Monday that Mrs Maynard-Gibson and her officials had suggested there was “no obstacle” to a private prosecution of Sandals Royal Bahamian and its top executives when he met with them in late July.

He implied that the attorney general performed a complete ‘u-turn’ on this position within 18 days by directing the Magistrate’s Court to discontinue the action.

Much of the public outcry over the “nolle” has hinged on the fact that it was signed on August 15, the same day the hotel terminated more than 600 employees.

The Office of the Attorney General has maintained that the order did not come into effect until it was entered in the Magistrate’s Court on September 19.

In his interview with Tribune Business, Mr Ferguson took issue with Mrs Maynard-Gibson’s inference that the two ongoing Supreme Court cases, involving Sandals Royal Bahamian and the Bahamas Hotel, Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU), played a key role in her decision.

The TUC president told Tribune Business that the union’s “unfair dismissal” action was only filed with the Supreme Court on August 19, some four days after the attorney general signed the ‘nolle prosequi’, making it impossible for this to be a factor in her decision-making.

The nolle order halted the action launched against the resort, its general manager, Gary Williams, and financial controller, Fitzroy Walker, by five officers of the BHMAWU who had alleged that Sandals Royal Bahamian was in breach of the Industrial Relations Act by failing/refusing to “treat or enter into negotiations” with the union.

The action was filed in the Magistrate’s Court.

When asked to consider the AG’s defence, Mr Pinder said yesterday: “If you get on bail for bank robbery, then you go back to court for stealing my car, will the robbery charges be dropped

because you’re now being charged for stealing the car? Will the car charges be dropped because you’re already facing the robbery charge? That just doesn’t make any sense to me, no that’s not going to work.

“I don’t buy it. I think they’re trying to appease Sandals.”

“If it was a bad time,” Mr Pinder said, when asked to consider concerns that industrial action would be ill-timed given the state of the country’s economy, “ she (Mrs Maynard-Gibson) should have thought about it before she did what she did. We are only responding to what takes place. “(The AG) picked the time, we didn’t pick the time. The government allowed too many things to linger on for too long. Why did they allow these things to be out there? You can’t neglect these things and

then at the end of your term you think it’s just going to go away.”

Mr Pinder, a member of the Gatekeepers organisation, has announced that he plans to contest the Fox Hill constituency in the 2017 general election.

When asked whether he felt his political bid would create a conflict given his union leadership, Mr Pinder said the precedent had already been set with South Beach MP Cleola Hamilton. Mrs Hamilton served as president of the Bahamas Nurses Union from 1999 to 2013, just under a year after she was elected to Parliament.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, September 28, 2016

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

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THE TRIBUNE

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Disgraceful refusal to co-operate with Public Accounts Committee COME hell or high water, the longawaited and fought over Urban Renewal Report, completed at last by the Public Accounts Committee, will be presented to the House of Assembly next Wednesday — October 5.

The October 5 date was yet another delay for the report that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had promised would be ready by March. Despite all the political roadblocks thrown in the committee’s path to guard its report from public scrutiny, August 31 was the day set

by PAC Chairman Hubert Chipman for its presentation to the House.

“It was our intention this morning, Mr Speaker, to present the majority Urban Renewal Commission report from the PAC,” began Mr Chipman that Wednesday morning.

“However, in speaking with the member for Golden Gates (Shane Gibson) 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, at the end of that day’s sitting the House was adjourned to October 5.

It is presumed that Mr Gibson’s minority report will be attached to the committee’s main report by that time.

The PAC’s investigation was the result of Auditor General Terrance Bastian’s critical report on Urban Renewal’s small homes programme. According to Mr Bastian’s report, 11 contractors were paid more than $170,000 for small home repairs that were either “not complete or not done”.

The Christie government rejected the Auditor’s report and commissioned its own report. At this point the PAC took over. However, the PAC has had an uphill battle to get answers to its questions.

Meanwhile, such PLP politicians – as former Cabinet Minister George Smith – criticised the committee for its low volume of work. Instead, Mr Smith should have been criticising uncooperative civil servants and certain members of government who had either lost their memory or gone mute. Whatever their ailment, they have failed to cooperate.

The PAC still has much work to do. For example, there is still BAMSI – the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute – and the way that programme was handled, especially the discovery after fire destroyed one of the new dormitories that the building was not insured by the contractor. Almost two years have passed and the committee has had no reply from its questions put to Deputy Prime Minister “Brave” Davis, who is also Minister of Works, and Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray. Yet George Smith has the nerve to question the lack of production by this committee when the information needed to do its work is hidden behind closed government doors. Maybe, Mr Smith should spend some time lecturing his political buddies on the importance of a Public Accounts Committee in a Westminster system of government.

There are those who have said that they

want to change our Westminster system, because it is not suited to The Bahamas.

Of course it is not suited to The Bahamas, because leaders of this country, lacking the traditions of the system, have bastardised it.

There are many more matters before the PAC that the committee will probably not be able to investigate before the end of this session of the House.

For example, yet to be examined by this committee are the millions allegedly stolen at the Post Office bank. The missing funds at Road Traffic, both in Nassau and Abaco, and the cost of a side trip that the Prime Minister and his delegation took to Rome when on a mission to Europe.

However, there is nothing new in this behaviour. This system was honed to perfection under the late Sir Lynden Pindling. On My 11, 2005, the first paragraph in this column started: “The government of the late Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling took every opportunity to assure Bahamians that it was accountable to them - except, it seems, when it came to the Public Accounts Committee.

“In those days, Bahamians saw politics in the raw when the time came to hide, disguise or hobble the only committee over which the Opposition was appointed to be the ‘pubic watchdog.’”

In the 1980s, the PAC was so frustrated by the Pindling government that it ceased to function from 1982 to 1987.

On discovery of this, the late Paul Adderley scoffed it into action.

“If the Opposition ignores the most important standing committee which it controls, I have to draw to their attention that they are delinquent in that respect.

That is the parliamentary watch dog of public expenditure,” he said. He pointed out that the Opposition had no control over what government spent its money on, but “the how” was in the hands of the all powerful committee – which was at that time not doing its job.

Mr Adderley claimed that he wanted the committee’s system to work. But he failed to point out that he and his own government were the chief contributors to the system having stalled.

In fact, the failure was so bad at that time that The Bahamas went into the 1992 general election without having the committee’s report on how the PLP government had used and abused public funds during that period.

However, this nonsense has to stop. In our opinion the Speaker is failing in his duties if he does not discipline his members to enable this Committee to function.

As so many House members believe they can breach the separation of powers rule by demanding that a Supreme Court judge be called before a House Committee, maybe the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee should test the waters by inviting the courts to discover what penalties can be exacted against those who refuse to cooperate with this important House committee when called upon to do so.

That’s certainly when we shall see some much needed fireworks.

Union blight on nation EDITOR, The Tribune

LETTERS

ABOUT a month ago at the heights of the Sandals fiasco, Tall Pines Member of Parliament Leslie Miller asserted that the stronghanded approach of the unions was to be blamed for Sandals’ decision to close its Cable Beach property and dismiss more than 600 workers.

Describing the union’s demands as outrageous and vehemently, Miller declared that unions are killing the country and I tend to agree with him.

It is quite disturbing how union leaders like Obie Ferguson have been allowed to operate like rogue agents, running wild throughout the country, wreaking havoc and jeopardising the future of the working class, especially those employed in the hotel industry.

As an active member of the Bahamian electorate, I do not recall seeing Obie Ferguson listed among the candidates to be elected to Government. It is therefore beyond me as to how he has amassed the power to be causing so much damage to the lives of so many Bahamians. Who elected him leader of our country? And when did this happen?

In an island where the unemployment rate is climbing it is important for the rights of workers to be protected but it is equally important for the jobs of these workers to also be protected. Through its draconian demands and aggressive approach to negotiating, the BHMAWU has contributed significantly to the current state of affairs where Sandals is concerned.

letters@tribunemedia.net While it can be argued that Obie Ferguson and all other union executives are working to secure the rights of employees, does it make sense to do this by being disrespectful towards employers? What does this achieve? By riling up workers and inciting them to strike and launch lawsuits and attacks against their employer – the same employer who puts food on their tables and clothes on their backs – what has the union actually achieved?

The answer to that is clear and quite sad. The union, with all its clamoring, loud posturing and threats has done nothing but contribute to the unemployment of thousands of Bahamians over the years.

What is obvious and downright distressing is the fact that the unions do not care about workers. They care only about being in the spotlight, causing ruckus and giving the illusion that they are for the people. Unions care only about themselves and their pockets.

It is clear that as long as these unions are allowed to operate the way they do Bahamian workers do not stand a chance. The tourism sector is built on the premise of service and the spirit of hospitality – neither of which our unions seem to comprehend. History has shown nothing positive coming from the interference of unions in matters relating to the hospitality industry and Bahamian workers.

want to see our party persuade some high ranking or perceived so to be members of the “opposition scarp gang” join to our ranks. It is not that we in the PLP need them but we have a big tent and would wish all right thinking Bahamians to come with us as we are poised to, finally, enter The Promised Land.

The PM, like all of us, is a flawed character I am sure, in many areas. None of us, however, as far as I am aware, has ever walked on water much less raised a single dead person. Yes, he and this administration

have made a ton of mistakes; missteps and outright bull of the highest order.

When you look around, however, what is the alternative?

We will go with PGC one more time. We will allow him to preside over the comprehensive roll out of National Health Insurance (NHI) and the grand opening of the long delayed Baha Mar project. The establishment of an embryonic National youth Service and the unshackling of Freeport from the GBPA, in my view, would serve to rationalize nation building

In fact, all we have seen is joblessness!

While the unions were busy making noise, Sandals was busy rehiring over 600 workers and busy working on completing renovations to reopen its doors in the very near future.

Are the unions trying to say the lives of those hired

by Sandals do not matter?

Are those employees subhuman? Are they less Bahamian because they have sought employment with Sandals? Should they have chosen unemployment?

At the end of the day, Sandals is a business – a business which depends on profits in order to operate efficiently. It is the company’s right and duty to upgrade its product as it sees fit and also to put in place all measures which will facilitate said upgrade.

Sandals has been good to Bahamians and to The Bahamas. The company has invested millions in the Sandals Corporate University to provide training and educational opportunities for its team members and the Sandals Foundation has done extensive work on the island, partnering with local charities to impact thousands of lives.

What opportunities have the Unions provided? How have they sought to address the rising unemployment levels in the country? How have the unions helped The Bahamas?

I patiently await the answers to these and other very important questions.

RUPERT LIGHTBOURNE Nassau, September 27, 2016.

Flip-flopper or pragmatist?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT IS no state secret how I feel about the benign leadership style of the Prime Minister. It is also not hidden that I, at the appropriate juncture, will move for the elevation of the DPM to the level. Those who are unwilling or unable to wrap their collective heads around either of these positions must do what they consider to be best for them. Sears is one of “my boys” too, but we don’t play leap frog.

I will also say to those who accuse me, without

merit, of being a flipflopper, vis-a-vis, my support for the leadership of the PLP, like it or lump it. Over the course of the past several months, I have been in intense discussions with assorted political personalities and financial heavy weights about the way forward for the nation. The vast majority of them, along with tens of thousands of “ordinary” Bahamians are prepared, however reluctantly, to allow the PLP and the PM one more chance to get it “right”. I reserve the right, however, to support other

candidates, like Stephen Greenslade, et al.

It is remarkable that seeing that I am not in public life or have yet to offer for a constituency that some of these misguided and venomous fellow Bahamians and fellow so-called Christians have cussed me out for declaring my continued support for the PM and the PLP. The PM needs some radical makeovers and a drastic realignment of public policy initiatives if we are to recapture the imagination and on the ground support of the unwashed masses. I would

and the economy.

I will support the PM for re-election as Leader of the PLP and my beloved DPM to continue to lead this wonderful nation. This time around, however, we want no more fatutous and shaggy promises mixed with a handy dose of pie in the sky. This is, PGC and PBD, your last chance to get it right or we will force you to leave it alone. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H. BODIE JR Nassau, September 25, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 28, 2016, PAGE 5

DATE CHANGE LIKELY FOR FUTURE FESTIVALS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE 2017 instalment of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is expected to be the final year the event is held in May, as Bahamas National Festival Commission officials view a perennial clash with the Mother’s Day weekend as an unsustainable formula.

The potential date change was one of several observations presented by the Bahamas National Fes-

tival Commission (BNFC) as a recommendation being considered as event organisers shift their collective focus to the planning and preparation of the third annual festival.

Additionally, organisers said they are considering the implementation of a deadline for the hiring of international artists - hopefully roughly two months ahead of the actual festival date.

In April, a month ahead of this year’s event, officials revealed that Trinidadian

soca queen Destra, Grammy award winning Haitian hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean and Jamaican reggae star Tarrus Riley would perform during the festival’s concert in New Providence.

BNFC Chairman Paul Major said the move could provide organisers a better chance to promote and market the event, which could yield a major increase in the number of persons travelling to the Bahamas to experience carnival.

Officials are also considering incorporating more

of Nassau’s coastline and shortening the distance of the Road Fever event to ensure that it finishes on time and doesn’t delay the start of the festival’s concert series as it did in May. According to the parade’s organisers, the first of the 26 groups due at the Cultural Village was set to arrive at 5pm, however, the Bahamas Masqueraders did not reach the stage-gate until 7.05pm, 35 minutes after the arrival of the BTC title sponsor pace group.

Officials blamed a mark-

edly longer parade route for those delays.

There are also preliminary discussions to redesign the Cultural Village; the establishment of preliminary round for the ‘Junkamania’ concert series; introduce incentives to local recording studios to encourage the production of more Bahamian music year-round and the launch of a year-round programme with buy-in from cruise lines.

Lastly, officials said they also intend to press forward with plans for more private-

public partnerships, with the ultimate view being a fully privatised Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival event.

BNFC indicated that professional musicians, caterers, dancers, media houses, production companies, printing companies, security services, sanitation services and other service providers all benefited from the activity spurred this year’s festival.

The total cost of this year’s event was estimated to be $9.8m, with a government subsidy of $8.1m.

Carnival ‘was never meant to be profitable’ from page one He said the success of the festival must be measured by the thousands of persons that benefit from the event indirectly.

“It is about the tens of thousands of people that fill their hotel rooms; it is about the thousands of people that rent every available vehicle on the island; it is the thousands of people, one band alone that I participated in, they had 15,000 people in it (in another country) - our total parade hasn’t reached there as yet, but we will,” he said.

“So those 15,000 people that buy costumes that average prices between $500 and $1,500, that is what it is about. So the GDP impact in that is in the hundreds of millions dollars, and that is the big picture we need to see.”

He continued: “We keep talking about what we spend, but you are not looking at the economic impact of what this thing does.

It is powerful. And you have got scores of countries that are using this carnival model to be able to draw people to their shores and to be able to expand their GDP.” On Monday, officials released key financial details surrounding the 2016 event, revealing the total cost was $9.8m with a government subsidy of $8.1m.

In April, Mr Major said the government would spend about $7m to host the festival, after Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe weeks earlier had said that the government would only inject around $3m into the event.

However, at the time Mr Wilchcombe said the final figures were still being worked on.

Last year, the government spent $11.3m on the inaugural festival, going over its initial budget of $9m, with the total cost of the first carnival coming in at $12.9m, with the rest covered by sponsors.

When contacted for reaction on Mr Major’s comments yesterday, Free National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest erupted with anger, calling the entire festival scheme “unreasonable,” “unbelievable” and “dumb”. He insisted that the Bahamian economy could not sustain another year of this sort of “reckless spending”.

He stated: “That is absolutely ridiculous, they need to show the people where and how these figures were determined. Show me the money. You’re telling me you spurred business, you boosted the economy - all of this is insane. It is curious that minister of tourism initially presented a $3m budget.

Weeks later, that figure jumped to (nearly) $8m. That proves that there is no planning being done, they are working with a blank cheque and the taxpayers are footing that final bill.

“I think an investigation needs to be had to determine what exactly is going on with carnival and the BNFC. Absolutely, I think we have to look at last year and this year and determine how the government worked out these numbers because these figures come across as a design to lead the public to a pre-set conclusion,” Mr Turnquest said.

“The Bahamian people go in to this festival with expectations, and now, it is clear that our expectations and theirs don’t hold up. Now they are saying $8.1 million was the final spend (from the government). Well I’m saying that

all of that or part of it could have gone to alleviate many of these problems we are facing in this country,” he stated.

“It could have been used to fix the air condition issues at the hospital where lives are at risk. How the hell does it take two weeks to fix a damn air-conditioner? This whole situation is ridiculous.”

“His claims that this event was never designed to turn a profit, that is just an incredible statement and it proves that they think the Bahamian people are just going to spend money without any indication on how it is benefiting the overall society. We can’t continue to do this, we are going broke and underwater.

This entire whole situation is unreasonable, unbelievable and dumb,” the East Grand Bahama MP said.

According to the BNFC, the festival in its second year, continued to succeed in its mandate of stimulating economic opportunities for businesses in the creative sector and positively impacting the national GDP. Officials estimated that some 278 small and medium businesses and 696 individuals benefited directly from the expenditures related to the annual festival, 85 per cent of which was spent locally with suppliers across a myriad of sectors.

The committee indicated that it was able to “realise significant cost savings” in year two of the festival by bringing a more strategic focus to the event and implementing several key recommendations made after the inaugural festival.

These moves are said to have reduced government subsidies by an estimated $5m - about 38 per cent less than 2015.

VANDIA Sands among carnivalgoers during the Road Fever parade this year.

COLLIE SAYS CARNIVAL WAS COMPLETELY MISMANAGED from page one

“It has taken months for this government to release the 2016 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival’s Economic Impact Report to the public, and the findings are just one more example of why we need more transparency from our government,” he said.

“The 2016 Junkanoo Carnival was a prime example of a completely mismanaged event . . . over budget and short of the promised economic benefits. Sadly it is what Bahamians have come to expect from this government – lots of empty rhetoric and broken promises.”

He continued: “Their continuing failures are hurting our economy - failure to root out corruption, failure to offer concrete solutions to fix the economy, failure to address the growing crime epidemic. This madness is chasing tourists away and crippling our tourism industry.”

The total spend on the 2016 event was $9.8m, with a government subsidy of $8.1m, Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) officials said.

Ahead of the event, it was estimated by BNFC Chairman Paul Major that the government would spend about $7m to host the festival.

The event attracted $1.2m

in sponsorship while ticket sales and “other revenue” accounted for $578,342.

The FNM chairman took aim at Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, whom he accused of publicly stating his confidence that the festival would stay on budget this year.

He claimed that the revelation was magnified by the fact that the national gross domestic product dropped by $10m this year compared to 2015.

“The failure of this government has resulted in a 7 per cent year-over-year decline in peak winter room revenues,” he said.

“All this contributed to our current economic struggles that are plaguing our

READERS REACT TO $10M COST OF ANNUAL EVENT READERS on Tribune242.com had plenty to say after the Bahamas National Festival Commission revealed that the total cost of the 2016 Carnival was close to $10m.

Bandit asked: “Where in the world a government spend 10 million dollars on a carnival? Most carnivals are financed with private sponsors. Only in the Bahamas.”

BoopaDoop said: “In the frequently used words of Jerome Fitzgerald, ‘I am not surprised’. Junkanoo Carnival 2017 will be funded by the government again to disguise the PLP election campaign with international acts paid to plug the PLP.” Proudloudandfnm had this to say: “Wow. Over 20 million wasted on carnival to date. And the PLP talk about FNM spending?!?!?!”

Well_mudda_take_sic

thought the money could have been better spent in schools: “Meanwhile students in our public education system have no text books and other essential school supplies . . . not to mention that many of the schools are in desperate need of repairs and frequently lack water fountains for the children and proper running water to keep restroom facilities in a sanitary state.”

Honestman had a question for the government: “Can the government explain to us exactly what benefit the country has received from the $20m

spent on these two carnival events?”

BoopaDoop said: “I think the strategy is to keep about 30-40 thousand people drunk and hungry for the next party to secure votes.”

And there was this comment from Sheeprunner12: “How much did the PLP government spend on Bahamian regattas and Junkanoo since they launched the Carnival?? I am sure it will not add up to $20m and which events have more intrinsic and cultural value to Bahamians? God help us!!!!!!!

“There is NO reasonable cultural, moral or practical justification for the PLP government to continue funding this foreign festival concept (except for PLP political expediency).”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com/

country and all coming in the wake of a rating agency downgrading our credit, as well as the continuing debacle of the Baha Mar saga.

“We should see this report as another clear exam-

ple of why we need to have transparency – because only when the people have access to the information about their government can they hold them accountable.”

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PAGE 6, Wednesday, September 28, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Minister’s pledge on health services in Grand Bahama

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville stressed that the government is committed to the future development of medical infrastructure and quality medical services in Grand Bahama.

“Indeed, as we look to the future the forecast for Grand Bahama remains bright,” he said on Monday

as the government signed two contracts worth nearly $4m for major improvements at the Rand Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Freeport.

The minister also pledged that a series of official announcements will be made shortly with respect to the construction of a new stateof-the-art, 61,000 sq ft Freeport Community Clinic, the first phase of the new hospital promised for residents in Grand Bahama.

He noted that the expansion of RMH will result in improved layout of the main physical plant to increase clinical area and improve workflow and efficiency.

“We will be able to provide better care to the public today and for years to come. These initiatives highlight the Bahamianfirst philosophy of this administration and the patient-first philosophy at Public Hospitals Authority,” Dr Darville said.

He added that RMH has made significant impact as a result of the many infrastructural upgrades, including the upgrading and expansion of surgical suites, the trauma bay at the emergency department, as well as services offered to the public.

He noted that the project falls under the umbrella of the national health system strengthening initiative, which is a part of the comprehensive plan put in place

by consultants prior to the launch of National Health Insurance.

Dr Darville also said he is pleased with the progress of expansion work underway at the West End Clinic.

“I toured the site on Saturday, and I am pleased about the progress being made,” he reported.

The expansion of the West End Clinic, he said, follows refurbishment of High Rock Clinic, Sweetings Cay Clin-

ic, and McLeans Town Clinic in East Grand Bahama, as well as full renovation of the Hawksbill Clinic.

Dr Darville added that patient load was reduced at the Rand’s Accident and Emergency Department due to the extension of operating hours at Eight Mile Rock Clinic, the RMH Outpatient Clinic, the Specialty Clinic, and Non-communicable Disease Clinic at Pearce Plaza.

PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, which has been the centre of debate over the state of the maternity unit and the air-conditioning in the Critical Care Block.

PM TOLD TO CHECK HIS FACTS OVER HOSPITAL ACCUSATIONS from page one

Mr Christie spoke about the problems facing PMH while in Grand Bahama for the signing of contracts worth about $4m on Monday for major improvements at the Rand Memorial Hospital (RMH).

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“Mr Christie saying I left the hospital in a state not fit for people to go to have babies is the most outlandish, reckless, irresponsible untrue statement ever made by a prime minister,” Dr Minnis said.

“Mr Christie has no facts and this demonstrates that he is unfit for leadership and carrying this country

any further. I really now have to question whether it is true when people say he is delusional. I ask the question, if he said I left the hospital in such a terrible state, why did he do nothing for four and half years? Why is he just now signing a contract for renovation?

“It clearly demonstrates

that he has no care for the people or for patients and all he wants to do is win an election. My life has been all about caring for people and for patients and improving the quality of their life. My life was about delivering babies to ensure they too can go on and live a viable, healthy life.”

Dr Minnis said Mr Chris-

tie should “check his facts” or “stick to the script” before he embarrasses himself any further.

Mr Christie also said on Monday that compressors needed to fix a malfunctioning an air-conditioning unit in the $100m Critical Care Block at PMH should be in the country by the end

of the week.

He said the air-conditioning unit failed when four of six compressors were hit by surges after a power outage, and questioned why the necessary equipment to counteract this was not installed by the Ingraham administration and Dr Minnis.

MAN IN RAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AFTER BEING ‘STABBED BY CO-WORKER’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A MAN is in hospital

in serious condition following a stabbing incident on Monday evening in the Bottle Bay area, police reported.

T he victi m was at work at a busi ness shor tly a f ter 7pm when it is repor ted that a co -worker stabbed h i m

w ith a k n i fe i n h is up per body.

He was taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he is listed in serious condi-

tion.

A man is in police custody assisting police with their investigations.

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THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 28, 2016, PAGE 7

MAN FOUND GUILTY OF ABUSING MINOR TO APPEAL IN NOVEMBER

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN contesting his convictions for sexual assault and abetment to sexual assault of a minor will return to the Court of Appeal in November for his substantive appeal hearing.

Stephen Serrette, 54, leader of fringe party the Christian People’s Move-

ment, appeared in the Claughton House appellate courtroom for the expected substantive hearing concerning the molestation and abetted molestation of a boy.

However, Crown respondent Terry Archer asked for an adjournment of the appeal, explaining that the Office of the Attorney General was served late with the appellant’s submissions, only receiving them

on Monday.

The matter was adjourned to November 10 to allow Mr Archer time to file responding submissions to Serrette’s appeal.

When he stood trial in Supreme Court last November, the jury heard from the timid complainant who said he was six years old when the sexual abuse occurred in December 2010. At the time he, his mother and his

then ten-year-old brother, and the accused were at home.

His mother, he said, was in her bathroom taking a bath. He and his brother were taking a shower in their bathroom when the accused allegedly instructed the brother to penetrate him with his “private”.

The child was asked if he was assaulted more than once. The boy said

he was, as often as “seven to ten times” between December 2009 and December 2010.

He also claimed that he was assaulted “three to five times” between December 2010 and December 2011.

Serrette waived his right hand to remain silent and opted to give sworn testimony.

He denied sexually assaulting the boy entrusted to his care while the mother

had been in detention.

Serrette said he was devastated to learn what happened to the boy, however.

The jury asked the accused if he ever bathed the boys.

Serrette said he did but never bathed with them.

He was unanimously convicted of both charges and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

Halson Moultrie will argue his appeal.

Two jailed for taking part in murder plot from page one Justice Turner yesterday said that the jury’s verdict on the conspiracy charge was an indication that the panel accepted the evidence that they entered into a plan to kill the deceased.

The judge acknowledged that both convicts had mitigating factors in their favour, including their age, lack of antecedents and “similar histories.”

He said that notwithstanding that there was no evidence of educational achievement, “they were each gainfully employed prior to the commission of the offence.”

“They each expressed remorse for the loss of life notwithstanding they maintain their innocence.

“I do, however, consider both to be a danger to society considering their casual approach to accept and enter a plan to commit murder,” the judge stressed, noting that this was the most aggravating factor against them.

“The sentence imposed must act as a deterrence to anyone willing to act in a similar fashion.”

Keeping in mind the Court of Appeal decision of Larry Raymond Jones, which outlines a 30 to 60 year sentence range for murders undeserving of the death penalty, and that conspiracy to commit mur-

der is treated as the actual offence, Justice Turner said there was “nothing mitigating to take them below the lower range nor are there any aggravating circumstances to put them at the higher end of the scale.”

While noting that they should each be sentenced separately according to their respective role in the case, the judge said that “there is nothing about the culpability to sentence them to a different term of imprisonment.”

Both were sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.

Because they spent four calendar years up to yesterday’s date behind bars, which the judge rounded to six prison years, Rose and Sullivan will serve 24 years at the Department of Correctional Services after taking into account time served.

They were advised of their right to lodge an appeal to the appellate court.

Glendon Rolle, lawyer for Rose, told The Tribune yesterday that his client intends to do just that.

“We will appeal given on the non-unanimous decision by the jury with regards to conspiracy to commit murder,” Mr Rolle said.

“The normal trend with regards to the law is that a unanimous decision must be reached. In this case, that did not happen and on that premise we are going to appeal the decision. Murder has still not been estab-

PATRICKEDO Rose (centre, left), and Rashad Sullivan (right), outside court.

Photo: Lamech Johnson/Tribune Staff Sugar Hill Road, were alstreet, shortly after several lished nor has conspiracy the abuse allegations when to commit murder which leged to have conspired to gunshots were heard in the cross-examined after tesmy client stood before the commit murder between area. The elder Knowles tifying that Sullivan allegNovember 1 and November was killed in 2011. court for.” edly admitted he was preArtus was acquitted on sent when his co-accused “So we will wait and take 25, 2012.

Sullivan and Rose were direction of the judge at the committed the crime. Rose it up to the higher court,” further accused of the ac- close of the prosecution’s also allegedly assigned the the lawyer added. case. The two other men blame of the killing to SulWhen asked if he thought tual murder.

Knowles, the son of ac- claimed they were induced livan. the sentence was reasonable, he said “indeed it was.” cused murderer and drug into making statements Rose was represented by “Mercy and grace met it- trafficker Dion “Emperor” to police through physical Mr Rolle, while Sullivan self with regard to the sen- Knowles, was shot and mistreatment and threats. was represented by Lennox killed on Lincoln Boule- They maintained their in- Coleby. Darell Taylor and tence,” Mr Rolle added.

Sullivan and Rose, with vard off Cordeaux Avenue. nocence.

Aaron Johnson prosecuted Investigators had denied the case.

29-year-old Eddie Artus of He was found lying in the

35 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING GIRLFRIEND from page one

Baker’s recollection to her of the events that led up to the stabbing.

After the probation officer disclosed that Baker had returned after stabbing his still alive girlfriend to tell her he loved her, Justice Fraser asked the probation officer if he told her why he didn’t get help.

He told the probation officer he didn’t know why as he was scared and frantic.

When handing down her sentence yesterday, Justice Fraser acknowledged defence lawyer Michael Hanna’s submission that Baker was still a young man when he com-

mitted the offence and that he had had no prior run-in with the law.

However, she agreed with prosecutor Randolph Dames that the aggravating factors in his case heavily outweighed the mitigating factors.

She noted that murder is a serious offence and that the manner of the killing was brutal.

The judge also said that Baker wasted the court’s time by denying guilt and allowing an entire trial to proceed only for him to admit guilt during an interview for a probation report that was being prepared on his behalf.

Justice Fraser said that Baker faced between 30 and 60 years imprisonment

based on the guidelines set out in the Court of Appeal decision of Larry Raymond Jones.

While she found that the killing was brutal, she determined that the circumstances of his case when considering his youth and lack of antecedents did not warrant a sentence at the higher end of the scale.

Baker was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment, which was further reduced by the time spent in custody since his arrest in December 2014.

The judge ordered that Baker receive anger management classes while imprisoned at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

HEARING FOR WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN awaiting trial in the death of a female friend appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday.

Katriona Gilbert appeared before Justice Bernard Turner for a status hearing in her case concerning murder and arson charges stemming from the February 23 discovery of the body of Ariel Lowe of Miller’s Heights.

According to initial reports, Lowe’s partially burned body was found with a “black cord” wrapped around her neck inside the home of Karen Stubbs.

Gilbert, who was not allowed to enter a plea to the indictable offences when arraigned in Magistrate’s Court in March, was formally arraigned before Justice Turner two months later when she pleaded not guilty to the crimes.

She was scheduled to stand trial in June 2016, however

the case did not commence and was further adjourned for a status hearing.

In yesterday’s proceedings, Crown prosecutor Kendra Kelly requested a further adjournment to October 6 as the Office of the Attorney General was still in ongoing discussions with the defence counsel Tonique Lewis.

The request was granted.

Gilbert remains in custody at the Department of Correctional Services until then.

US COUPLE FACE COURT ON FIREARMS CHARGES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AN American husband and wife were arraigned on unlicensed firearm and ammunition possession charges on Tuesday in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court.

Francis Peter Benoit, 65, and his wife, Sharon Turner Benoit, 62, of Hangman Close in Fortune Bay, ap-

peared in Court One before Magistrate Debbye Ferguson. Kwasi Thompson represented the couple.

Francis Benoit pleaded guilty to the charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition with intent to supply.

He was convicted and fined $10,000 or two years imprisonment at the Bahamas Department of Cor-

rectional Services in New Providence.

As a result of his guilty plea, charges were dismissed against his wife.

According to reports, the couple was arrested last Thursday after police discovered a 7.62 rifle with 75 rounds of ammunition and a black and chrome Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun with 21 shotgun shells during a search of their residence.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, September 28, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

THE FARM at BAMSI and, right, V Alfred Gray inspecting plants at the site.

Gray goes bananas over BAMSI’s food production figures

A

GRICULTURE Minister V Alfred Gray recently proclaimed the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) on Andros a huge success.

Food imports will be halved within years, he suggested (which must mean we will be eating half as much). But his more factcheckable point was that BAMSI had already produced $100m worth of food - mostly bananas.

A visit to the BAMSI produce centre in the Levy building on East Bay Street verified that it was indeed stocked with good-looking

bananas - although not much else.

Gray said BAMSI sold 200 40lb boxes of bananas a week, which works out to 8,000lbs, or 416,000lbs per year. And since BAMSI sells bananas for 49 cents a

pound, the yearly revenue would be about $204,000 - a far cry from $100m.

This is the level of accountability we get from our government, despite the fact that we are throwing tens of millions in public

funds at BAMSI. It is just capital and breadbasket” like the non-existent official of the country. Well, it is reporting on the taxpayer certainly a breadbasket for millions spent on that other some. But beyond that, perpolitical project called Car- haps he could tell us what the actual return is on such nival.

None of the information a massive investment of about BAMSI (now more public funds.

The PLP claims that than two years old) has ever been properly compiled BAMSI is spearheading or presented to the public. agricultural development There is no business plan in order to achieve the holy in the public domain, and grail of economic diversithe so-called memorandum fication. This will happen, of understanding with the they say, by training BaCollege of the Bahamas re- hamians to become farmers and food mains unavailprocessors, able.

“If BAMSI is such and by subTwo years stituting local ago, the Prime a transformational products for Minister tout- project and imports. ed $23m in centrepiece of Meanwhile, construction as noted in contracts and the PLP’s legacy, this space said $100m it should be in recently, the would eventu- the government’s only two comally be investmercial food ed to produce interest to put processors in 40 food items. as much good the country He claimed information Sawyer’s and this would P W Albury lead to the out there as - have closed creation of a possible - both because they new city on were unable Andros, but to clear up any critics said it misunderstandings to compete in today’s glowas mostly a and to document marslush fund for the project’s value.” balised ket. And this Progressive was despite Liberal Party decades of experience and (PLP) cronies.

On the Institute’s web- brand recognition.

Most of the BAMSI milsite, a video shows Godfrey Eneas (the president) lions appear to have been garbed in pretentious aca- spent on the construction demic robes delivering a of buildings in the North graduation speech. His talk Andros pineland. In Januamounted to little more ary last year, one of these than fawning praise for PLP was destroyed by fire, and it leaders, Sir Lynden Pin- was later revealed that the contractor - Audley Hanna dling and Perry Christie.

In fact, Eneas told his did not have insurance, even audience that he had nom- though that is a requirement inated Christie for the for a government contract.

No explanation for this World Food Prize - a prestigious honour recognising was ever provided by the advances in human devel- Minister of Works. And opment through food pro- neither has he made any of duction. Unfortunately for the BAMSI contacts pubMr Christie, the prize went lic - as he promised to do, to some lowly crop scien- and in the face of numerous tists who had actually done requests from parliament’s fiscal watchdog, the Public something worthwhile.

Eneas characterised Accounts Committee.

Instead, the government BAMSI as the culmination of Sir Lynden’s vision for simply ponied up another Andros as the “political $2m for reconstruction.

There appears to be no consequences for Hanna - who also sits on the board of the Water & Sewerage Corporation. And there is also no information on the contract bidding process - whatever it may be.

Why should this be the case? If BAMSI is such a transformational project and centrepiece of the PLP’s legacy, it should be in the government’s interest to put as much good information out there as possible - both to clear up any misunderstandings and to document the project’s value.

Since this is not being done, the inescapable conclusion is that there are things to hide. The opposition Free National Movement has made occasional noises about this, but unfortunately, we have no idea what they would do about BAMSI once in office.

Government politicos like to say that the 9/11 terror attacks demonstrated our vulnerability to international crises and pointed to the need to be more selfsufficient. But food selfsufficiency for the Bahamas is an illusion, since we still have to import the fertiliser, the equipment, and even the labour. The fact is that ever since the failure of the Loyalist plantations, largescale agriculture has been unsustainable here. This is due mainly to competition from more efficient regional producers, combined with the limitations of our natural environment.

No doubt a range of familiar crops can be produced on Andros on a limited scale with the investment of millions of dollars. But what is the return on that investment compared to other options? Or, to put it another way, we can certainly grow bananas in our backyard. But do we need a $100m vanity project to do it?

What do you think? Send comments to lsmith@tribunemedia.net or visit www. bahamapundit.com.

COB violence study provides a base for research ‘VIOLENCE in The Bahamas: a monograph on research undertaken by the College of The Bahamas’, a compilation of original research, will be available in book form before Christmas.

It is edited by William Fielding, a grant writer at COB who has published several articles on violence in the Bahamas; Virginia Balance, a COB librarian who also edits the International Journal of Bahamian Studies; and English professor Ian Strachan.

There are 19 contribu-

tors, mostly current or former COB professors, whose work - the introduction says - provides “a snapshot of violence in the first decade of this century (and) a baseline by which future researchers can assess changes in violence in the country”.

The 16 essays include an overview of Bahamian crime, the affect of racial constructs on crime, violence towards children, corporal punishment, domestic violence, violence towards animals, violence in schools, gun ownership, homicides and suicides,

prison inmates and social re-entry, and the representation of violence in Bahamian newspapers.

According to former COB Chairman Alfred Sears, “These papers, while only covering aspects of the crime and violence problem in our country, will help to better inform the public debate and, I hope, shape national security policy.”

• Violence in The Bahamas: a monograph on research undertaken by the College of The Bahamas.

Published 2016 by the University of The Bahamas.

THE THETRIBUNE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2016, PAGE Wednesday, September 28th,28, 2016, PAGE A99

YAHOO’S MASSIVE

TECHTALK

PASSWORD

BREACH COULD HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS

AS INVESTORS and investigators weigh the damage of Yahoo’s massive breach to the internet icon, information security experts worry that the record-breaking haul of password data could be used to open locks up and down the web.

While it’s unknown to what extent the stolen data has been or will be circulating, giant breaches can send ripples of insecurity across the internet.

“Data breaches on the scale of Yahoo are the security equivalent of ecological disasters,” said Matt Blaze, a security researcher who directs the Distributed Systems Lab at the University of Pennsylvania.

A big worry is a cybercriminal technique known as “credential stuffing”, which works by throwing leaked username and password combinations at a series of websites in an effort to break in, a bit like a thief finding a ring of keys in an apartment lobby and trying them,

one after the other, in every door in the building. Software makes the trial-and-error process practically instantaneous.

Credential stuffing typically succeeds between 0.1 per cent and 2 per cent of the time, according to Shuman Ghosemajumder, the chief technology officer of Californiabased Shape Security.

That means cybercriminals wielding 500 million passwords could conceivably hijack tens of thousands of other accounts.

So will the big Yahoo breach, disclosed last Thursday, mean an explosion of smaller breaches elsewhere?

Mr Ghosemajumder said he didn’t see a surge in new breaches so much as a steady increase in attempts as cybercriminals replenish their stock of freshly hacked passwords.

It’s conceivable as well that Yahoo passwords have already been used to hack other services; the company said the theft occurred in late 2014,

meaning that the data has been compromised for as long as two years.

The first hint that something was wrong at Yahoo came when Motherboard journalist Joseph Cox started receiving supposed samples of credentials hacked from the company in early July.

Several weeks later, a cybercriminal using the handle “Peace” came forward with 5,000 samples - and the startling claim to be selling 200 million more.

On August 1 Mr Cox published a story on the sale but said he never established with any certainty where Peace’s credentials came from. He noted that Yahoo said most of its passwords were secured with one encryption protocol, while Peace’s sample used a second. Either Peace drew his sample from a minority of Yahoo data or - more likely - he was dealing with a different set of data altogether.

The darknet market where Peace

has been active in the past has been inaccessible for days, purportedly due to cyberattacks. At the moment it’s not known who holds the passwords or whether a ‘state-sponsored actor’, which Yahoo has blamed for the breach, would ever have an interest in passing its data to people like Peace.

Even if the hack was a straightforward espionage operation, spies can mine trivial-seeming data from apparently random citizens to tease out their real targets’ secrets.

Meanwhile Yahoo users who recycle the same password across the internet may still be at risk. While people can always change the passwords across all the sites they use, Yahoo’s announcement that some security questions were compromised too means that the risks associated with the breach are likely to linger.

RAPHAEL SATTER Associated Press

BAMSI UPGRADES TECHNOLOGICAL PLATFORM A WEB portfolio that supports online courses and distance learning and a more comprehensive library database have added to the technology platform at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) and strengthened the institution’s position as a centre for research.

Executive Director Dr Raveenia Roberts Hanna says the technology upgrade advances BAMSI’s mission to reach the furthest corners of the Bahamas, sharing knowledge, bridging the gap and building a community of educated farmers.

“The Flexi-Choice Program [the distance learning application] and EBSCO [the research database] together represent the future of learning - students are no longer tied to the classroom, physical books, even pens and paper - and also point to BAMSI’s ability to enlarge the wealth of knowledge students have access to.”

According to Dr Hanna, the Flexi-Choice Program has an online and on-campus component. Students complete the theoretical

AGRIBUSINESS and economics lecturer Jeri Kelly (right) shows agriculture student O’Kendo Armbrister how to use the online system at BAMSI.

portion of the course online and then visit the campus for a short period over the summer to complete the practical component. “This gives students the right amount of freedom, motivation and support to fit relevant BAMSI courses such as backyard farming, introduction to horticulture and introduction to aquaculture, into their schedules,” she said.

With EBSCO, an online reference system that gives students, faculty and ad-

ministration access to some 12,000 academic and scientific journals related to agriculture, marine science and aquaculture, coming onstream, it means that research completed by educators, scientists and professionals at the top of their field globally can now be accessed by students and staff.

BAMSI, in its third year of operation, also intends to share its new platform with communities where it has an office - Long Island,

PISTONS STAR HOPING FOR VIRTUAL REALITY BOOST DETROIT Pistons star Andre Drummond is hoping virtual reality can help him with his free throws this NBA season.

The centre has been using technology in an effort to improve his performance at the line.

Drummond has made a disappointing 38 per cent of his free throws in his career, and it’s an issue that’s sometimes caused coach Stan Van Gundy to take him out late in games.

“Andre’s been very open to trying to find everything possible to help him improve at the free throw line, and he has wanted to do that,” Van Gundy said.

“He’s been willing to do as

much as he possibly can.”

That includes turning to virtual reality, which Drummond said allows him to visualise himself making free throw after free throw.

“They recorded me shooting a ton of free throws, and obviously recorded the makes, and watching over and over again and just training my brain,” he said.

The exercise underscores the degree to which the Pistons feel Drummond’s struggles are mental and not physical.

He did not say how much he has improved during the off season and indicated he doesn’t have a specific idea of a percentage he should shoot this season.

Eleuthera, Andros and Grand Bahama.

Agribusiness and economics lecturer Jeri Kelly, who hosts the Institute’s first online course - agribusiness management and entrepreneurship - said the online portal broadens the scope of BAMSI’s reach. It will allow BAMSI to conduct online courses which, in practical terms, means “continued growth, continued expansion, gives the Institute the ability to reach out to new

markets, new islands, and it is our hope to see international students utilising our course offerings and the online programme allows that,” she noted.

The institute currently has two courses in session, post-harvest management and agribusiness management and entrepreneurship, with three students participating in the initial trial.

In future, the agribusiness course will be offered online exclusively. For the January term, BAMSI’s agrotourism course is also expected to be offered online, as well as a number of short courses for public consumption.

The new platform also allows BAMSI to bring the Institute’s resources to Family Island communities.

“Our location can be a challenge, persons may want additional information or to participate in one of our short courses, but may not be able to relocate.

“This allows them to receive the necessary information because it acts as an educational bridge for the Bahamas and for BAMSI,” Ms Kelly said.

SNAPCHAT LAUNCHES SPECTACLES

SOCIAL media app Snapchat is introducing video-recording glasses called Spectacles, which can record video 10 seconds at a time by tapping a button on the device.

The video is then uploaded to the popular image-messaging app via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The glasses are the first hardware from the Los Angeles-based company.

The glasses record so-called “circular video”, meaning it plays full-screen on any device in any

orientation. They will be available in the US in the fall on a limited basis and cost $130.

The Spectacles recall Google’s venture into eyewear, Google Glass, which took photos and video. But that device also had a screen that let you surf the web as well and cost $1,500.

Google closed that venture in early 2015 after it received a tepid response from users.

• THE Cuban government says it will make five miles of Havana’s iconic seafront boulevard, the Malecon, into the largest WiFi hotspot in one of the world’s least-connected nations.

State media announced that WiFi will be installed along the most popular stretch of the Malecon by the end of the year. The seafront is a favoured spot for Cubans to gather at night to talk, drink and listen to music.

Home internet remains illegal for most Cubans. Since last year, the government has installed dozens of WiFi spots in public areas, charging $2 an hour in a country where the average state salary remains about $25 a month.

Cuba said last year that it had 65 WiFi spots in service and expected 80 more to open in 2016.

• GERMAN data protection authorities yesterday ordered Facebook to delete data, such as phone numbers, it has received from its subsidiary WhatsApp. Facebook acquired the global messaging service two years ago and announced this summer that WhatsApp would begin sharing the phone numbers of its users with the social network as part of a program to synchronise the two businesses.

But Hamburg’s Commissioner for Data Protection ruled that Facebook “neither has obtained an effective approval from the WhatsApp users, nor does a legal basis for the data reception exist”.

“After the acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook two years ago, both parties have publicly assured that data will not be shared between them,” the agency said in a statement. “The fact that this is now happening is not only a misleading of their users and the public, but also constitutes an infringement of national data protection law.”

• THE popular navigation app Waze is putting a new twist on the phrase “tunnel vision”. It’s trying to ensure drivers relying on digital maps don’t lose their way when their GPS signal disappears in tunnels.

Waze plans to keep drivers connected in those GPS-less situations by installing low-cost, battery-powered beacons that will transmit to smartphones and tablets in tunnels that the company has in its database, covering about 7,500 miles around the world. The beacons can maintain map connections, as long as the drivers turn on their Bluetooth signal. The beacons were turned on last week in two Pittsburgh tunnels, Fort Pitt and Liberty, and another in Israel, where Waze was founded before Google bought it in 2013 for $969 million.

It costs about $1,200 for the 42 beacons required to provide coverage for every mile within a tunnel.

• THE “Pokemon Go” craze has cooled.

The mobile phone app was an instant hit when it debuted in July. Crowds stampeded after a Vaporeon in Central Park and people fell off cliffs playing it in California.

Earlier this month, Niantic CEO John Hanke said 500 million people had downloaded the game in just two months but last Tuesday, the game ended its reign as the top-grossing US iPhone app after 74 days on top, replaced by “Clash Royale”, a popular battling game, according to research firm Sensor Tower.

Twitter mentions of the game peaked at 1.7 million on July 11, five days after its launch, according to Adobe Digital Insights. That number had fallen to 131,000 by September 7.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, September 28, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Trump on the defensive RALEIGH, North Carolina Associated Press

A DEFENSIVE Donald Trump gave Hillary Clinton plenty of fresh material for the next phase of her presidential campaign on Tuesday, choosing to publicly reopen and relitigate some her most damaging attacks.

The day after his first general election debate, Trump blamed the moderator and a bad microphone and said he was holding back to avoid embarrassing Clinton. Next time, he threatened, he might get more personal and make a bigger political issue of former President Bill Clinton’s marital infidelities.

Things are already getting plenty personal. On Monday night, Trump brushed off Clinton’s debate claim that he’d once shamed a former Miss Universe winner for her weight.

But then he dug deeper the next day — extending the controversy over what was one of his most negative debate night moments.

“She gained a massive amount of weight. It was a

REPUBLICAN presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally in Melbourne, Florida, yesterday. real problem. We had a real and that he thought “someproblem,” Trump told “Fox thing was up”. and Friends” about Alicia In July, Trump assailed Machado, the 1996 win- the parents of Humayun ner of the pageant he once Khan, a Muslim US soldier owned. who was killed in Iraq in The comments were rem- 2004, after the young man’s iniscent of previous times father spoke out against the when Trump has attacked Republican at the Demoprivate citizens in deeply cratic National Convention. personal terms. Earlier this “I watched her very caremonth, he was interrupted fully and I was also holding by the pastor of a tradi- back,” Trump said of Clintionally African-American ton, reflecting on the debate church in Flint, Michigan, at an evening rally Tuesday after breaking his agree- in Melbourne, Florida. “I ment not to be political didn’t want to do anything in his remarks. Though to embarrass her.”

Trump abided by her wishIt’s unclear whether a es, he went after her the Trump attack on Bill Clinnext morning on TV saying ton’s infidelities may help or she was “a nervous mess” hurt his appeal.

TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE The Bahamas Country Office of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), wishes to contract the services of a temporary Administrative Associate. The IDB is a regional multilateral development Bank seeking to contribute to the social and economic development of 26 member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through lending and non-reimbursable grants.

The objective of the contract is to provide assistance to the Operations team in diverse corporate and operational areas, to assist with optimal resource utilization and the adaptation of administrative processes so as to meet program requirements in a highly complex working environment.

Duration: Four months.

Requirements: A certificate or Associates Degree in Business Administration or Management, Accounts, Human Resources, or a related field and a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Knowledge of Spanish would be an asset.

All candidates must be citizens of The Bahamas or of an IDB member country in possession of a valid work permit providing eligibility to work in The Bahamas.

For more information about this position and to apply, please refer to the following link before October 11th, 2016: https://iadbcareers.taleo.net/careersection/jobdetail.ftl?job=1600003523&lang=en

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But Trump’s latest comments about Machado were striking in that they came just as he was working to broaden his appeal among minority voters and women — key demographic groups he’s struggling to win.

Clinton aides on Tuesday acknowledged they’d laid a trap for Trump.

“He seemed unable to handle that big stage,” said Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. “By the end, with kind of snorting and the water gulping and leaning on the lectern that he just seemed really out of gas.”

Clinton interrupted a discussion of foreign policy in the final moments of the debate to remind viewers that Trump had called Machado “Miss Piggy” and “Miss Housekeeping.” A video featuring Machado, a Clinton supporter, was released less than two hours after the debate finished.

Aiming to capitalise on Trump’s renewed focus on a woman’s weight, Clinton’s campaign also dispatched Machado to tell reporters how she spent years struggling with eating disorders after being humiliated publicly by Trump.

“I never imagined then, 20 years later I would be in this position, I would be in this moment, like, watching

this guy again doing stupid things and stupid comments,” Machado said. “It’s really a bad dream for me.”

Both campaigns knew the first debate, watched by some 80 million people, could mark a turning point six weeks before Election Day with Trump and Clinton locked in an exceedingly close race.

Clinton moved quickly to capitalise on her performance, launching new attacks on Trump’s failure to release his tax returns and profiting from the subprime mortgage crisis.

As Trump courted Hispanic voters in Miami, Clinton hammered on an allegation she’d leveled the night before: that he is refusing to release his returns because he goes years without paying any federal taxes. “That makes me smart,” was Trump’s coy response in the debate, but on Tuesday, Clinton insisted it was nothing to brag about.

“If not paying taxes makes him smart, what does that make all the rest of us?”

Trump’s campaign aides had worked hard in recent weeks to keep him on message — and away from personal attacks — persuading him to use teleprompters and reach out to minority audiences.

Their moderate success in scripting Trump came to a halt Tuesday. Though he insisted he’d done “very well,” Trump accused moderator Lester Holt of going harder on him than Clinton.

He insisted he had “no sniffles” and no allergies despite the #snifflegate speculation that had exploded on social media. He suggested he’d been given a microphone with lower volume than Clinton’s.

Her cheerful reaction: “Anybody who complained about the microphone is not having a good night.”

The Trump campaign plans to spend $100m on television advertising before Election Day, spokesman Jason Miller told The Associated Press. Of the $20m in TV airtime his campaign had already scheduled, $13m is aimed at Florida voters, according to Kantar Media’s political ad tracker.

Clinton’s campaign announced Tuesday that she had gained the support of former Virginia Sen. John Warner, a Republican who also served as Navy secretary in the 1970s. Warner is scheduled to appear at an event Wednesday in Northern Virginia with Clinton running mate — and current Virginia senator — Tim Kaine.

DARVILLE SAYS BILL WILL OPEN WAY FOR INVESTMENT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE passing of Investment Incentive Bill has paved the way for an injection of half a billion dollars into the economy of Grand Bahama over the next decade, Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville said at the opening of the Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers (BACO) annual Northern Bahamas Conference at the Pelican Bay Resort on Friday.

Dr Darville said that as a result of the bill’s passage, Hutchison Whampoa - a leading investor in Freeport - will proceed with a $280m expansion of the container port. He added that the lifting of the exclusivity for the ports of entry will allow for the creation of a new cruise port in East Grand Bahama at a cost of $250m.

Commending BACO’s for its continuous commitment to enhancing the in-

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tegrity of The Bahamas’ financial services sector, he said the sector is constantly under attack from many international regulatory agencies, and that government recognises the importance of BACO. “We thank BACO for its role in strengthening the reputation of The Bahamas as a well-regulated jurisdiction and as a key player, both at home as well as in the international financial community,” he said.

The minister said that as the country evolves, one of the responsibilities of the government is to find new ways of diversifying and expanding the local economy, particularly in the area of local and foreign direct investments. He indicated that in order for the financial services and other important sectors to remain competitive, existing legislation is amended appropriately, which reflects advancements in the country.

“This essential principle was clearly demonstrated by this administration’s amendments to the FATCA Bill; the regularisation of the local gaming industry by way of the Gaming Bill; and the establishment of the Okyanos Heart Institute Stem Cell facility, which was made possible by the passing of the Stem Cell Bill,” Dr Darville said.

He told compliance officers that it is imperative that they are cognisant of new and old regulations, trade agreements, litigation trends, industry best practices and international standards. “We have surpassed the expectations of many in the region, as we have sought to shift the social and economic paradigm of our country; and over the years, the importance of active and modern regulatory bodies, and the way in which they positively affect policy has become evident,” said Dr Darville.

Turning his focus to Grand Bahama, he said that successive governments have employed a hands-off approach for years. He said the PLP administration made the decision to establish the first ministry outside the capital.

He explained that the primary purpose of his ministry is the transformation of the economy of Grand Bahama.

He said one of the priorities of the ministry was to strengthening ties with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), while at the same time addressing the concessions of the business community and real property taxes and business

licence taxes that were soon to expire under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.

He noted that through the establishment of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement Review Committee, and after months of negotiations with the relevant stakeholders, the principles of the GBPA and the Government, a mutual agreement was achieved over the expiring provisions, which resulted in a complex Memorandum of Understanding and ultimately led to the enactment of what is known as the Grand Bahama (Port Area) Investment Incentives Bill, 2016.

The minister said the draft regulations are near completion. “I am confident that we are well on the way to create a “One­Stop ­Shop” in collaboration with stakeholders on the island, which will allow for a true partnership and ensure accountability, execution of responsibilities, in accordance with international best practices,” he said.

“With the enactment of the Grand Bahama Investment Incentive Bill, 2016, and its associate regulations, we will create a new paradigm shift in the city of Freeport.” Under the new deal, the GBPA will still be responsible for the granting of business licences but the Government will be responsible for the granting of concessions.

“We are confident that this new approach in the governance structure in Freeport would not only reflect what is happening in the rest of the country, but will cause for the Government to play a more integral part in​the facilitation of new and existing developments on Grand Bahama, whether foreign or domestic; thus making the process more accountable and transparent,” he said.

He told compliance officers that their role is key to ensuring that the laws and regulations that the government has passed on behalf the people work in the best interest for all the people.

“It is my sincere belief, as Minister for Grand Bahama, that this administration’s policies for social development, health care reform, training and job creation, combined with the advancements to infrastructure on our island, have perfectly positioned this island for an economic comeback, which is becoming more and more evident,” he said.

This theme of this year’s BACO conference was ‘Traversing Industries, Transcending Risks’. Fareda Sands, the BACO president, also brought remarks.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 28, 2016, PAGE 11

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

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PAGE 12, Wednesday, September 28, 2016

LGBTQ festival off in Haiti PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti Associated Press ORGANISERS of a cultural festival in Haiti celebrating the AfroCaribbean LGBTQ community said Tuesday that it has been called off due to numerous threats of violence and a subsequent prohibition by a government commissioner.

The four-day Massimadi film, art and performance event was supposed to start Tuesday in the capital, Port-auPrince, but organisers said it had to be postponed after a prominent Haitian cultural institution known as FOKAL and other cohosts were threatened with arson and other attacks.

“FOKAL has been receiving threats of outrageous violence,” said Lorraine Mangones, executive director of the nonprofit Knowledge and Freedom Foundation.

Charlot Jeudy of the gay rights group Kouraj, the main organiser of the event, said he is determined that the arts festival by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Haitians and their supporters will be held at a later date.

“There are very homophobic people who are against it, and the government official who is responsible for the jurisdiction of Port-au-Prince has also taken a decision to prevent the festival for now,” said Jeudy. “But we still plan on holding Massimadi in the future.”

Capital Commissioner Jean Danton Leger confirmed that he issued an order to block the festival,

telling a local radio station it was in part to protect Haiti’s “moral and social” values.

Leger had received a complaint in recent days from Sen. Jean Renel Senatus, a lawmaker who considered the event an affront to traditional families.

Haiti’s LGBTQ community has long remained largely underground because of social stigma, although there are no laws criminalizing homosexual relations as there are in a number of English-speaking Caribbean islands. A 2015 human rights report on Haiti by the US State Department said that “local attitudes remained hostile to outward” LGBTQ identification and expression, especially in the capital.

The Massimadi festival was first put on in 2009 in Montreal by a group called African Rainbow.

It has also been held in Belgium. This was the first year it was scheduled to take place in Haiti.

“Unfortunately the situation is getting more and more dramatic,” said Anthony Manuel Plagnes Paya, festival spokesman in Montreal. “Kouraj members are threatened (with) death and are scared to go out.”

Staff and volunteers at Kouraj’s headquarters in Port-au-Prince said they were determined not to be intimidated and believe tolerance is gradually expanding in Haiti.

“LGBT people are coming out and accepting themselves more these days,” Jeudy said. “They walk on the streets very proud.”

Celebrating a legend

THE TRIBUNE

PRIME Minister Perry Christie taking a moment to recognise the contribution of Sir Durward Knowles to The Bahamas during the opening of the Accessible Tourism Symposium yesterday at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff