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BPL blasted for ‘worst hurricane recovery ever’

A CAR navigates its way past a precariously balanced pole amid downed power lines through Tayoo End off Marshall Road yesterday, as BPL came under fire for the slow pace of recovery efforts.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net  BAHAMAS Electrical Workers Union President Paul Maynard yesterday blasted the “coordinators� at Bahamas Power and Light for being “inefficient� and organising the “worst hurricane recovery effort� he has ever seen.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Maynard said if certain BPL officials had “listened to advice from the union� more areas of New Providence would have been restored and BPL’s restoration timeline would be significantly shorter.

In a statement on Monday, BPL said it could not give an exact time for full restoration, but the company expects most customers to be back on supply by the end of the week. However, Mr Maynard said “two to three weeks� is more realistic. “They have these people up there, these coordinators, who do not know what they are doing,� Mr Maynard said. “We should have been working from day one instead of doing assessment.

The people should have been working and we wasted that entire day. We have a bunch of people that are

now retired who are linesmen that could assist and we have people who have equipment who could have helped. “We should have engaged all of them and coordinated it properly. If we did, we would have been further than this. This is the worst coordination I have ever seen. Those coordinators are off base and a lot of it is arrogance. They don’t want to listen to anyone and they believe they know everything.�

Mr Maynard said going forward, “once the coordinators are changed�

SEE PAGE SIX

MILLER: NEW PROVIDENCE REPAIRS BEING DONE WITH SKELETON CREW

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday criticised Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd saying the electricity provider has failed to properly coordinate efforts in a timely manner to restore the supply to residents in New Providence, pointing to the use of a “skeleton crew�

to tackle the wide range of needed repairs in the capital.

Mr Miller said BPL should have been able to reconnect customers in about two to three days after Hurricane Matthew’s passing.

However some residents in New Providence have been left without power for about a week, beginning when Matthew first touched down on the island last Wednesday.

He attributed this lengthy and “unacceptable� time period to BPL’s decision to veer away from the model to remedy issues caused by hurricanes, which was adopted by the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) before it transitioned to BPL. The former BEC executive chairman said this involved employing the work SEE PAGE SIX

THOUSANDS OF GRAND BAHAMIANS FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE four settlements along the southern coast of Grand Bahama from Mack Town to Pinder’s Point were devastated by Hurricane Matthew, which has displaced thousands of residents whose homes were destroyed and flooded by water.

Described as the “worst� storm to hit Grand Bahama in the last 12 years, residents returned after the storm to battered, flattened, and roofless homes and structures.

After going through storms like Frances, Jeanne and Wilma, Hunters resident Kirkland Russell said that Matthew was the worst by far. “That was something I have

never seen before in all my years here in this community and on Grand Bahama,� he said. “In the communities of Mack Town, Hunters, Lewis Yard, and Pinder’s Point, there is untold property and home damage - a lot of roofs have been torn to belt course and homes flooded,� Mr Russell said.

Mr Russell’s roof was severely damaged and his home was

flooded with about two-anda-half feet of seawater by tidal surge. All furnishings, appliances and clothes were ruined. “The house is mashed up,� he said. “I lost a lot of my roof, and the interior had about two plus feet of ocean water that came inside. We did our best to batten up the place and secured furniture in high places because we have been through this three

times before. But, unfortunately, the roof was teared up by the strong winds, and the rain and the water from the ocean came in and destroyed everything – furniture, appliances, and all our clothing.�

Prior to the storm, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issued an evacuation SEE PAGE THREE

SCHOOLS STAY CLOSED AS RELIEF IS ON THE WAY TO OFFICIALS ASSESS DAMAGE BADLY-DAMAGED ANDROS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

PUBLIC schools in the northwest Bahamas will remain closed for the reminder of the week, with officials aiming to reassess repair efforts by Friday to decide a suitable return date for students.

The announcement came during a press conference held at the Ministry of Edu-

cation, Science and Technology on Tuesday, where Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald presented his ministry’s plan of action in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

Mr Fitzgerald said teams from the ministry’s Physical Plan Unit have spent much of the last few days assessing public school campuses throughout New SEE PAGE 11

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

IN hard-hit North Andros, disaster management officials are in the recovery stage, distributing relief aid and building materials to hurricane victims.

Senior Deputy Administrator Ivan Ferguson told The Tribune yesterday that cell service in his district was intermittent, with only “little

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

pockets� of connectivity.

When he spoke to The Tribune on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Ferguson was on the road distributing food supplies - which he said were sufficiently stocked to meet the needs of his district. Based on preliminary information, he estimated that some 40 persons had been displaced by the category four hurricane.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2 , “Today”

DAMAGE to the Windsor Apartment Complex, on the Mall Drive in Freeport.

THE TRIBUNE

Photo: Denise Maycock

SOME of the damage in Grand Bahama as posted to Instagram by Clarisse Pelanne, above and below.

ARNOLD LEWIS, whose roof was ripped off by the storm.

Photo: Denise Maycock

INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE AMID RISE IN LOOTING IN GRAND BAHAMA

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

SENIOR Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour said yesterday that the Royal Bahamas Police Force in Grand Bahama has had to intensify its presence on the streets of that island as more thefts and even one report of looting have been reported to authorities.

Speaking to The Tribune, Senior ACP Seymour attributed this uptick in stealing to the loss of power on the island due to the devastation left by Hurricane Matthew, leaving businesses vulnerable to criminal activity.

The lack of electricity means these businesses don’t have the protection of security systems and criminals are able to easily commit crimes shrouded by darkness, he said.

“We have intensified our presence on the streets (of Grand Bahama) to mitigate against these sorts of things,” he said. “There was one report of looting of an auto parts store in Freeport city.

“Also the night after the storm a business establishment was broken into. The loss of power lends to these instances.”

Last Friday, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell condemned those responsible for the break in and robbery of Sandilands Primary School

on the day Hurricane Matthew hit New Providence.

“How can someone be so morally bankrupt as to use a storm to rob little children of a chance at a decent future? Thus is reprehensible and disgusting,” Mr Mitchell said in a statement.

According to him, when the hurricane hit New Providence last week, thieves broke into the schools, stole computers and ransacked the principal’s office.

The storm barrelled through the country from Wednesday, before officials gave the all clear on Friday morning.

Grand Bahama, Andros, New Providence and parts of the Berry Islands were the most affected.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 12, 2016 PAGE 3

Roofs ripped off amid devastation across island

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net HURRICANE Matthew left widespread destruction throughout the island of Grand Bahama from East End to West End, ripping off roofs, uprooting trees, toppling utility poles, and damaging homes and property.

The eye of the category four storm passed just off West End on Thursday evening, packing winds of 130 mph, rain, thunder, and causing massive damage and flooding to structures.

Electricity poles are down throughout the entire island, and some 18,000 residents and businesses are left without electricity and water.

There was reported flooding in some areas of the island up to five to six feet, and road access into the eastern part of the island was blocked as a result of trees and utility poles that had fallen in the street.

Fortunately, there was no loss of life on Grand Bahama. The settlements on the southern coast, including Eight Mile Rock, Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, Hunters and Mack Town were also devastated.

Teams are out conducting assessments of the various communities, including the Grand Bahama Power Company which has dispatched emergency teams throughout the island in an effort to restore power as quickly as possible.

In the Freeport area, businesses also suffered tremendous damage, including Castaways Resort, which lost a portion of its roof, and the once iconic International Bazaar is in shambles.

In downtown Freeport, huge trees and branches littered the thoroughfares.

Business owners were out inspecting and cleaning up the damage to their businesses yesterday. Esquire’s Men Fashion lost its roof which had collapsed during the storm.

The island began experiencing the harsh effects of hurricane Matthew around 4pm on Thursday when power was lost. Soon afterwards, ZNS’s radio AM 810 band was knocked out, but

ONE of the damaged properties in Grand Bahama following the passage of Hurricane Matthew.

Pastor Baillou of High Rock reported that East Grand Bahama did not fare well.

“We had a lot of damage, church roofs and windows were blown out, and poles are down and streets are impassable,” he said.

He said nothing was spared the wrath of Matthew and that even the church in High Rock had lost its roof.

In Heritage Subdivision, many residents were A PROPERTY with its roof ripped off in Grand Bahama. out and about cleaning up its 104.5 FM band remained dent. Trees were shredded, debris from their yards for collection. operational throughout the mangled and uprooted.

“We had rain coming in storm.

In the Port Lucaya area, a The shelter for the disa- lot of trees and power lines through the roof, but I can live with that; my family bled at the Foster Pestaina had fallen across the road.

Centre in Freeport had to “The amount of down is alive and safe, material be abandoned after the roof power lines is incredible, things can be replaced and was torn off. and the landscape of Grand repaired,” said one resiRoof shingles and ce- Bahama has been changed dent.

Heritage resident Gorment roof tiles had blown forever, it will never be off many homes and were the same again,” is how don Higgs said he fared strewn about the area. ZNS broadcaster Ricardo well, but suffered damWhile most metal roofs Lightbourne described the age to his vehicle when the held up well, some of the devastation. “There is cata- neighbours’ shingles were metal sheathing of others strophic damage and it is blown off during the storm.

Minister for Grand Bahad peeled off like the tops devastating at this point.” of sardine cans in the storm.

Gladstone Russell re- hama Dr Michael Darville And the roof of a home ported that all residents said the Rand Memorial on Westminster Drive had who had stayed on Sweet- Hospital suffered minor blown off and landed in the ing’s Cay, despite an evacu- damage, but is up and running. backyard of another resi- ation order, were safe.

He also noted that all essential government services are up and Urban Renewal received calls from persons in distress who were in need of being moved to higher ground.

“It has been severe damage to the island of Grand Bahama. And for us who went through two storms and I am concerned for our economy,” he said.

Michelle Reckley, assistant director of Urban Renewal, said that a lot of families are in need of psychological counselling and help in relocating.

“Looking in the faces of these families is not easy.

Some people have lost every single thing. Some parts of Sea Horse Village and South Bahamia are devastated,” she reported.

“The recovery process is not going to be easy but we will do as best we can.

There are some families we have to move because they literally looking in the sky

Photos: Denise Maycock and they have small children and we are looking for places to relocate those persons,” she said.

Mrs Reckley appealed to anyone with a building to house families to contact Urban Renewal.

Dr Darville also urged businesses to cease from the illegal practice of price gouging.

“We have received information that the price of water and wood went up. We plead to the business community to be fair during this time and display compassion. We understand you are in business to make money but there is a realistic price for items.”

“Prices gouging is a crime, and our inspectors will be on the road at this time to verify that these prices are around the original prices. And I am pleading for businesses to be fair with residents who are now presently in distress,” he said.

THOUSANDS OF GRAND BAHAMIANS ARE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES from page one

order for residents in the southern settlements. Many of the residents heeded the warning and went to designated shelters.

Mr Russell and his family did not stay at home because of the threat of storm surge. With Hurricane Wilma, he had 12ft of flooding in his home up to belt course.

“Thanks be to God we had no life lost in these communities and every single resident evacuated and sought shelter at higher ground,” he said.

Mr Russell - who has lived in the community since birth and lived on generation land of his father, was busy installing tarp on his roof and had removed all the ruined furnishings and appliances to the roadside for collection.

He is determined to rebuild.

“The damage is extensive and persons down here are struggling and need assistance and help to rebuild,” he said.

While moving through the settlements, many residents were busy cleaning up and trying to salvage what they could. The area, like most, looked like a war zone. The landscape was littered with down and uprooted trees, and damaged structures.”

Not too far away, the Lewis Yard Primary School, which was relocated

to Hunters, also sustained severe roof damage.

Just across the street, Hunters resident Arnold Lewis was busy salvaging what little he could. A large portion of his roof was blown off during the storm.

“I went to a shelter and got the message around 7pm that the roof to my house was blown off,” he said.

On his return, Mr Lewis said the front portion of his house which is made of rock was intact, but the back portion of his house which was made of wood and the roof was no longer intact.

“The back part (of the house) is all gone with the roof,” he said. “I lost all my belongings, but I thank God I have life and my family is all alive. The damage is really bad, but I can’t feel bad because things happen and I know one day it will be fixed, but I need help to rebuild.

“This storm was worse than Wilma. I didn’t have this much damage then, only a lot of leaks. But Matthew is the worst – I lost everything, my roof is gone and I have nowhere to stay,” Mr Lewis said.

Mr Lewis said he grew up in the house, which was left to him by his father.

He commended the government for what it is doing to assist.

“We are in dire need of assistance to rebuild, and I think government will do its part to assist us again,” Mr Lewis said.

Meanwhile Mr Russell, who was at work at the Grand Lucayan Resort, watched as the storm came in from the south and witnessed multiple tornadoes.

“Matthew was fierce; he did not spare anyone. I watched the storm from in its entirety from the window in the hotel and I could not believe what I was seeing. I saw tornado after tornado - it was a sight to behold. It was unbelievable,” he said.

Further west, many of the wooden homes, particularly in Haitian community of Pinder’s Point, were flattened to the ground. Mr Russell noted that they had heard reports of a tragedy in the Pinder’s Point area during the storm, but so far there has been no confirmation of it.

Mr Russell, who had previously served on the Disaster Management Team in Grand Bahama during the three last hurricanes to hit the island, said rescuing persons during the storm was not possible in Matthew.

“As a part of the Disaster Management Team for GB during Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma, I spent 90 per cent of those storms, especially during Frances, on the streets rescuing and collecting and evacuating people in the middle of the storm. I can say unequivocally without fear of contradiction, that there was no way humanely possible that a vehicle could have been on the streets during the

impact of hurricane Matthew.

“Those winds must have been by my estimate at least 150 to 170mph. Grand Bahama experienced a category five hurricane for at least five sold hours,” he said.

“And widespread damage is a result of what we see throughout the length and breadth of this island.

“I don’t want people to believe that damage they see in these communities is the result of poor construction. These homes were built by some of the best carpenters and construction men that this country has ever had. These communities were devastated

by Frances, Jeanne and by Wilma. And so…a lot of the buildings were compromised as the result of beating took during in the previous storms,” he said.

According to Mr Russell, most of the homes damaged in Mack Town, Hunters, Lewis Yard, and Pinder’s Point are owned by widows and persons over the age 65.

“We have serious issues as far as the rebuild process for those persons. It is rough for a lot of senior citizens and widows down here who lost everything and they must receive proper attention,” he said.

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Nice guys don’t always finish first NO MATTER what political party individuals identify with, it’s pretty hard to find anyone who doesn’t think that the current Prime Minister Perry Christie is a nice guy.

He has a smile, handshake or warm hug for nearly everyone. He shows up to open nearly every conference, institution and event he is invited to and he is always gracious and attentive.

In person-to-person meetings, he is most personable and demonstrates a remarkable memory for members of your family or a place where he met up with you last.

In the recent debacle over the song that personally attacked his family, deriding their challenged son, the Prime Minister took the high road and when the song writer and the Christie family finally met in person at Mr Christie’s invitation, the young man who penned the toxic words cried and apologised. Yes, it is hard to find a nicer guy than the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry Christie.

But the next election is not going to be based on nice. It is going to be based on the greatest demands, we believe, that any government of the Bahamas has ever been called on to answer to.

Why? Because the Bahamian people are tired.

They are tired of being kept in the dark.

They are tired of not seeing a brighter future ahead either for themselves or for their children.

They are tired of not feeling safe sitting out in front of their own homes in the evening.

They are tired of electricity that costs four times what it costs an hour’s flight away in Florida and is neither reliable nor consistent.

They are tired of back door deals that impact communities without the community being consulted until after the fact.

They are tired of living in a land where the breathtaking beauty of the environment and its waters makes some of the other struggles digestible and yet there is no environmental protection act to en-

sure that those land and marine resources will be preserved and protected for future generations of Bahamians.

They are tired of being taxed and not knowing where the money is going or why they are not seeing improvements in their schools, clinics, public buildings until the government goes and borrows more money leaving their children with even more debt.

They will soon be tired of worrying about what their dollar is worth.

And never have they been more tired of not feeling connected with government than in the past week since Hurricane Matthew blew through the Bahamas, tearing off roofs, uprooting giant trees, wiping out power for days on end, destroying homes and businesses in Andros and Grand Bahama, disrupting lives nearly everywhere. Where were the plans that were supposed to be in place after Hurricane Joaquin’s “teachable moment” last year?

Where was the leadership? Where is the accountability?

The Bahamian people are tired and they have a right to be.

They are tired of arrogance. They have had enough of the style of a Cabinet minister who says that he will do as he pleases regardless of a court ruling that ordered him not to read any further e-mails in the House of Assembly. The same Cabinet minister who, according to reports in the media last week, has not acknowledged receipt of consolidated recommendations for the draft Freedom of Information Act 2015, nor agreed to meet with the organisations who support principles that make a lot of sense, including a non-political appointment of a Freedom of Information Commissioner.

We recommend that the Prime Minister pay very close attention to examples of arrogance exhibited by those around him if he wants to be remembered as a leader and not just as a nice guy. Maybe he needs to be reminded of that old adage that nice guys don’t always finish first.

PM out of tune EDITOR, The Tribune

LAST month, the Prime Minister opened up and expressed his hurt and pain caused by the nasty, vile song that was written about him and his family. I join with him and all right thinking Bahamians in condemning the song and gutter politics.

I must admit though that I was amazed that the Prime Minister would say, “We in our country don’t have to engage in ugly politics.

We don’t have to be violent with our words for political gain. And the tragedy is that right thinking people sit and say nothing.”

For the past few weeks on social media, I have wit-

nessed the political hacks who support and promote Prime Minister engaging in the same ugly politics that he decries. They have said very nasty and disparaging things about Alfred Sears, who has announced that he will challenge Mr Christie for the leadership of the party, yet not one rebuke from Mr Christie.

In fact, one Ricardo Smith, who is widely known as someone close to Mr Christie and a promoter of Mr Christie and his leadership, has led the way in making the most vulgar and disgusting public comments on social media against Mr Sears. As a right-thinking person, Mr Christie is called on to

condemn Mr Smith and his nastiness.

We should not sit by idly as persons go to new lows in the name of political gain.

The irony is that the same Ricardo Smith was previously a big Free National Movement supporter spouting awful and disparaging things about Mr Christie. If it was wrong then, it must be wrong now.

Mr Christie, the majority of Bahamian voters are watching and we are turned off. Please demonstrate leadership and let’s put an end to dirty politics, regardless of who is the victim.

DISGUSTED Nassau, September 28, 2016.

Learning lessons of Joaquin EDITOR, The Tribune THE Organization for Responsible Governance extends every hope that everyone affected by Hurricane Matthew is safe.

As we shift our focus to recovery as a nation, we encourage the Government to heed the lessons gained from last year’s disaster relief.

We are pleased to hear that the necessary exemptions for duty and Value Added Tax for supplies will soon be passed. However, efforts to help those in need must be well co-ordinated across the public and private sectors to ensure that any available funds and supplies are used effectively and efficiently. All processes must be transparent, fair and clearly explained to the public.

The damage inflicted by Hurricane Matthew is further magnified given that it comes at a time when the Bahamas has an increasingly challenged economy. The use of public funds must be strategic and for the great-

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net est benefit of the Bahamian public.

As we move forward, The Bahamas can draw from well documented international relief practices which can benefit both our peoples and our economy.

Amassing large amounts of supplies and goods for general distributions, as was done last year in the wake of Hurricane Joaquin, not only requires a tremendous amount of manpower and logistics but also leads to significant wastage and theft.

Instead, donations can be used to give economic empowerment to those affected. Donations of goods and supplies can be fairly distributed to local Bahamian businesses to bolster their inventory. Concurrently, monetary donations can support financial grants or no interest loans to individuals who can then purchase necessary supplies

and services from the local businesses. This will serve to circulate money into the communities of the affected islands and help to rebuild the self sufficiency of both individuals and businesses.

Where available, these funds can be accessed electronically or through debit cards so that they may be tracked, accounted for and analysed to better prepare for future relief efforts.

The Government, which has the necessary infrastructure, can partner with the depth and experience of the private sector to create a system that ensures that The Bahamas not only recovers but improves.

We recommend that as The Bahamas rebuilds from this national disaster, the long term recovery of the Bahamas and the sustainability of our economy remain in focus.

ORGANIZATION OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE Nassau October 11, 2016

Making a hash of communication in the heart of the hurricane EDITOR, The Tribune FOR a moment, I thought that NEMA was going to be much more organised in its communications this time around.

Ahead of Hurricane Matthew’s arrival, a message was sent out announcing a hashtag for use on Twitter to help spread the essential word.

“Learn what to do before, during, and after a hurricane if you search for #PrepMatthewBah on Twitter and you will get a list of precautionary alerts and other related information about Hurricane Matthew issued by

NEMA,” the statement trumpeted.

The only problem is ... they seem to have largely forgotten to bother using it themselves.

Nothing has gone out at all on that hashtag since October 6. Ahead of the storm, the Prime Minister’s office put out a few graphics with prepara-

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tion warnings - which is a good thing - but beyond that, all we’ve had from official sources has been pictures of Perry Christie looking concerned. A few other Twitter users hopped aboard the hashtag to give updates, but seem to have given up as it was clear that there was no official support.

This is the sort of outlet that could be used to notify people of airport re-openings, power updates, water connection updates, details on charity efforts such as what relief supplies are needed and where they should be going, information about

hospitals being back up to full functionality and more. And yet ... the very means that NEMA told people they would use to alert people is one they haven’t bothered with.

In fact, check out the NEMA Twitter account (Or is it? It hasn’t been verified), and you’ll see hardly any tweeting at all, and not a single use of the hashtag they said they would use to keep people up to date.

It may seem like a simple thing, but communication through the storm is crucial, and to not keep people updated

through the channels you’ve told them to watch out for is the most basic failure.

That same announcement

by NEMA ahead of the storm added: “This is part of the ongoing education of comprehensive disaster mitgation by NEMA as the agency seeks to build disaster resilient communities.”

It seems to me that NEMA needs a little more education itself.

STORM WATCHER Nassau October 11, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 12, 2016 PAGE 5

Southern New Providence said to be ‘like a war zone’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@trubunemedia.net

RESIDENTS in southern New Providence yesterday compared the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew to living in a “war zone,” saying the storm’s winds were so intense it sounded like a train coming as it bore down on the island.

The residents, speaking with The Tribune just five days after the category four storm wreaked havoc on New Providence, said the destruction brought on

by Matthew was “totally unexpected” and similar to images of international disasters most Bahamians typically doubt “will ever happen here.”

One resident, a 53-yearold who said he had never experienced such a powerful storm, described Matthew as “one of those things that I don’t think I need to live and see again.”

For South Beach residents near the coast, the damage was extensive, bringing floodwaters as high as four feet into some homes, destroying appliances and furniture. Trying to clean up the endless amounts of debris has thus proven to be a challenge, as restoration efforts “feels like you’re just working with very little progress,” one resident said.

South Beach resident Simeon Hall Jr, son of Bishop Simeon Hall, pastor emeritus of New Covenant Baptist Church, said the family’s more than 40-yearold home was unrecognisable when they returned from the place where they had sought shelter before the storm’s arrival. He said upon their return to the house on Halls’ Way, “three mattresses and a box spring” were found in the house’s driveway, along with “debris from everybody else.”

He also said the interior of the Halls’ residence sustained extensive damage due to flooding from the strong storm surges.

“The lower level got pretty much destroyed,” he said.

“We were told that this area had about six feet (of water), so this area had maybe about five feet plus water outside, and then on the inside we have a water mark along our entire downstairs at four feet.

“We’re still without power, but even if we got power we aren’t allowed to turn the power on because we still have to have somebody assess, because all of the outlets and all of the electrical work has been compromised. So that is what we’re waiting on. So having or not having power to us doesn’t really matter at this point, because we still wouldn’t be able to access it.”

He added: “The neighbourhood as you can see has been grey ever since the storm left, so even when the sun is out it’s still kind of gloomy down here. It’s the best way to describe the aftermath, is pretty gloomy, pretty brown and dull.

South Beach has always been kind of green, and you could always smell the salt water in this area. Very fresh and crisp. Now it’s totally different.”

A woman who lives just across the street from the Halls’ residence, said she too had evacuated the area before the storm’s arrival.

However, she said when she returned, she could hardly recognise her own home.

SIMEON Hall Jr using his outside grill in the South Beach community yesterday.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff “This was totally unex- breeze and storm I’ve ever pected,” she said. “I have seen.

“If anybody heard a train never experienced anything at all like this. Did not ex- wreck coming, that was that pect what I found. My first storm,” he added. “You response was to just put my can’t see the wind, but for hands to my face and say, sure damn know you could ‘Whoa, I don’t believe what hear it.”

Pastor Andrew Brown, a I’m seeing here.’”

She said when her family resident of Tayoo End off dared to venture inside the Marshall Road, lamented house, most of the water not just the storm’s destruchad subsided, but a water- tion, but also the response mark over a foot high was by Bahamas Power and visible on the walls. She Light (BPL) to restoring also said there was about an electricity.

He pointed to a downed inch of “dark sludge” lining power pole in that parthe floors of her home.

“The furniture, we had ticular corner that is now to get rid of them,” she ex- literally leaning across the plained. “The fridge, of street--wires still attachedcourse with the water being -that residents are afraid that high it would have tak- may fall soon if not righten out all of the motors be- ed.

“I am totally disappointcause you know the motors were down low, the same ed with (Bahamas Power thing with the washer. We and Light) and their rehave an electric stove here- sponse to this,” said Pastor -we don’t even know what’s Brown. “The MP, anybody going to happen with the who is responsible. Because stove because we haven’t the problem is there’s a lot had power from last week of females that live through here and they have to drive.

Wednesday.

“The whole place is a Many of them won’t even mess,” she added. “It looks drive their cars from their like a doggone war-zone. homes. They’re literally You know like the pictures leaving their cars and walkyou see in devastated areas, ing out because they’re you just never expect that it afraid to drive underneath this. Little by little, some will ever happen here.”

Headed further north of the children are coming and onto Marshall Road, out.

“But we don’t know residents there told The Tribune that the wind got whether this thing will fall, the better of them as op- because it is here, and it is posed to the rain, destroy- a very bad response to this, ing and/or damaging roofs leaning across the street. It should not, five days after and power lines.

“I think for us, everybody the storm, for this pole to was talking about storm still be leaning here? By no surges and everything,” means. That’s unacceptaDavida Knowles said. “No- ble to any people that pays body talked about the wind taxes in any country.”

Pastor Brown, a store capacity and what it would have done because that’s owner, said for him personwhat we experienced. It ally, the aftermath of the wasn’t too much rain - it was storm has been “horrible,” the wind force that we got as he has had to scrounge that caused all of that. Eve- up $250 worth of fuel each rybody was saying evacuate day to keep his store runfor storm surges, I haven’t ning with a generator in the absence of electricity. seen it yet.”

However, he said he is “I thought my door was going to blow in,” another coping with the challenge. “…Because it appears male resident said. “Because that was like a whis- to be a once in a lifetime tle, you could’ve heard that thing--it isn’t something like a train come whistling that I expect to happen down. And my door was next month, so I am dealing shaking because my door with it,” he said. “But I am shifted. I don’t know how 53 and this is the first time it got like that but the wind I have experienced a storm kept beating on the door. like this. So it is kind of one And I tried to (fix) the door of those things that I don’t and all I heard was ‘bam’ think I need to live and see and the door shifted. I be- again, and I pray to God I lieve even the foundation don’t have to live and see it shifted. That’s the heaviest again.”

$50 VOUCHER FOR FORT CHARLOTTE RESIDENTS RESIDENTS of the Fort Charlotte constituency are eligible to receive a posthurricane food voucher from Xtra Value Food Store on Thompson Boulevard as of noon today, according to area MP Dr Andre Rollins.

“The food voucher will entitle constituents of Fort Charlotte to receive $50 worth of grocery essentials from Xtra Value in an effort to assist constituents during the recovery period,” Dr Rollins said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

“Fort Charlotte constituents are advised that they must present both their 2012 Fort Charlotte voter ID and a second form of government-issued ID, either their passport or driver’s license, to be eligible to receive the voucher benefit.

“Senior citizens or persons with disabilities, who are unable to come to the store themselves, will be permitted to have trusted persons or proxies act on their behalf, on the condition that those proxies

bring that Fort Charlotte resident’s two forms of ID and their own duplicate IDs for accounting and security purposes.”

Dr Rollins said the effort is non-partisan, but it is not limitless and “will be discontinued by the store’s management once the allocated sums are exhausted.”

A RESIDENT speaking to The Tribune about her Hurricane Matthew experience yesterday.

PASTOR Andrew Brown speaking to The Tribune yesterday.

PAGE 6 , Wednesday, October 12, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

BPL blasted for ‘worst hurricane recovery ever’ from page one and “protocol is followed,” power should be restore in about two or three weeks. He said he is meeting with management at BPL today, to see if any “adjustments” will be made.

On Monday, BPL said electricity was restored to just over 50 per cent of its customers in New Providence and restoration in the Family Islands was “substantially” complete.

BPL also said it expects restoration efforts to ramp up significantly when assistance from international partners arrives on the island. BPL has sourced help from the Caribbean Association of Electric Utilities, which is sending at least three teams to the island.

The first team will arrive on Wednesday, BPL said.

Many residents in New Providence have been without power supply for a week, as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

BPL has said its teams are working 16-hour shifts and will not stop until power is fully restored.

REPAIR work under way at the Rubis Gas Station, on East Bay Street, yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

MILLER: NEW PROVIDENCE REPAIRS BEING DONE WITH SKELETON CREW from page one

of local subcontractors to assist permanent BEC staff in making the needed repairs. However, he said in the aftermath of Matthew, BPL has refused to do this.

On Saturday, BPL’s CEO Pamela Hill said 150 BPL workers were conducting the restoration efforts and were working 16-hour shifts to complete the work.

This week, BPL said it expected to ramp up restoration efforts significantly, explaining that it had sought assistance from international and local partners. The foreign body sourced for help, a BPL press statement said, is the Caribbean As-

sociation of Electric Utilities (CARILEC). BPL said CARILEC was expected to send at least three teams to the island. The first team will arrive today, BPL said.

“It’s just a matter of coordination and getting it right,” Mr Miller said yesterday when he was contacted. “This would be their first time dealing with this and they have failed to coordinate. But you know, they are running the show.

“Many of BPL’s staff have called me who are normally on the team so they are obviously dealing with a skeleton staff. I am also told that they are offering subcontractors $50 an hour, take it or leave it. The fellas are not going to work for no $50 an hour so

that’s also part of the problem I am told.

“But you know they are there (and) it is their responsibility, but it’s time for them to get it right. If we bring in foreigners that’s going to be prohibitively expensive and I hope it is not their goal to try to rip off the Bahamian people and do as much as they can to take money outside the country with these exorbitant fees by trying to bring in their people to fix lines that we can do ourselves easy with no problems at all.”

“The last hurricane we had was much more severe than this,” Mr Miller added. “There were less than 150 BEC poles down (so) this should have been rec-

WATER SUPPLY EXPECTED TO RETURN TO NORMAL TODAY, SAYS MILLER

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

WATER and Sewerage Corporation Chairman Leslie Miller yesterday said he expects New Providence’s water supply to be back to normal today following reports that sections of the island experienced disruptions to service in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

Mr Miller told The Tribune that WSC experienced challenges with its standby generators, which powers the water provider’s substations.

As a result, customers scattered across the island complained of having no water when they turned their faucets on to carry out essential activities.

However, Mr Miller said crews were working around

the clock and in many instances well into the night to rectify the issues.

“We had some problems with some of our substations where the generators went bad and we were just trying to get everything rectified now, between now and tomorrow (Wednesday),” the Tall Pines MP said yesterday when he was contacted. “(We had issues) because with the lack of electricity we had to use stand by generators and they were giving us some problems.

“The substation on Thompson Boulevard that was giving us some problems – we just got that rectified yesterday evening (Monday) and some of the other ones were giving some problems so we are just trying to rectify them now.

“I would say within the

next 24 hours everyone should be back up to normal. Of course we also sent a massive crew to Andros where they really had problems where they really had no water at all. Most of Andros or 90 per cent of it has water now especially in North Andros so we are just trying.”

He added: “The problems in Nassau were just in certain areas for example in Stapleton Gardens they had a problem and it was rectified in about six hours and it’s just in scattered areas where we have a problem with the pumps because of the lack of electricity.”

On Friday, WSC said while it was generally able to maintain supplies wherever standby power facilities were present, numerous communities in the Family Islands were disrupted.

tified in two or three days, but they haven’t called out the manpower and haven’t given out contracts to the local contractors that we normally deal with.”

“Obviously there is some confusion as to who the hell is in charge, but that’s their headache not mine so whatever the hell they do is fine.”

Mr Miller’s rebuke of BPL came as the company said it was making steady progress in New Providence, estimating that “just over 50,000 of its 80,000” residential customer connections had been restored.

In a press statement, BPL said they not only appreciate, but understands the frustration of local residents who have been with-

out power supply in some cases for a week.

The press statement read: “Bahamas Power and Light Company Limited (BPL) is making steady progress in New Providence following Hurricane Matthew.

“So far, BPL has restored supply to more than half of its residential customers on the island and supply has also been restored to the majority of the company’s commercial customers.

BPL estimates that just over 50,000 of its 80,000 residential connections have been restored and the company is moving aggressively to have the vast majority of customers back on supply by the end of the week.”

It went on: “Company

officials say they not only appreciate but fully understand the frustration of local residents who have been without supply, in some cases, for a week. Efforts are underway to ramp up the restoration progress by using local support as well as assistance from other Caribbean utilities and BPL’s management companyPowerSecure. International help arrives on the island on Wednesday.”

In the meantime, BPL continues to encourage customers who may experience supply issues once their service has been restored to turn off their main breaker switch and contact BPL’s emergency numbers 3235561 or 302-1800.

40% OF CABLE BAHAMAS CUSTOMERS HAVE SERVICES BACK UP AND RUNNING

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FORTY per cent of Cable Bahamas Ltd customers in New Providence have had their cable services restored in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, CBL Vice President of Marketing David Burrows said yesterday.

Mr Burrows also said Cable Bahamas Ltd (CBL) technical teams are on the ground in Grand Bahama, Andros and the Berry Islands ready to restore services once power becomes available in those areas. He said the company is working “right behind” Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) in that regard.

As of 3pm yesterday, Mr Burrows said Abaco, Bimini and Exuma had all services “up and running.”

However, he said, there are

about 16 channels down in Exuma due to damage sustained by the main transport dish.

Additionally, some 97 per cent of CBL customers on Eleuthera have their REV services “up and running,” Mr Burrows said.

He also said Long Island is showing that 92 per cent of customers are “active,” but although the system is up, there are 10 channels currently down also due to damage to the main transport dish.

Mr Burrows said while CBL’s various “free to air” systems in the Family Islands fared well throughout the storm, only the systems in Red Bays, Andros and Farmer’s Cay, Exuma are down. CBL “never lost” any of its customers in San Salvador, Mr Burrows said.

Last week, CBL officials said customers throughout

the country were experiencing service outages that were primarily related to power interruptions and downed distribution lines that were impacted by falling trees. Officials said at the time that Matthew’s “gusting winds,” which blew rain, salt, sand and debris around, would have “varying degrees of effect on the company’s systems.”

Nonetheless, CBL Chief Operating Officer (COO) John Gomez reportedly said the company initiated its emergency plan “when the track of Hurricane Matthew approached the southern islands of the Bahamas.”

At the time, Mr Gomez said preparations were being made for deployment of repair crews to the southern islands pending the reopening of airports and when access became available.

READERS HAVE THEIR SAY ON POWER RESTORATION EFFORT AS Bahamas Power and Light worked to restore power in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, readers on tribune242.com had their say on the situation.

ThisIsOurs asked: “Do the PM and DPM have power? Because I don’t want to hear another person talk about magnificent leadership based on one press conference if they do. That’s just more of the same.”

Observer had this to say: “Some recommendations to BPL/BEC based on how Florida Power and Light operates. Please insert detailed power outage and hurricane information on your website.

Hire 20 to 30 customer service agents to answer your phone. It is deplorable in this day and age for a monopoly never to answer the phone.

“Hire more linesmen to fix the overhead lines faster. It is not acceptable that 48 hours after the hurricane that there are wires in the MAIN roads. I hardly see any BEC trucks on the road. In years gone

by they were up and down the streets. Please pay your staff overtime so they will get the country up and running faster.

“Bring in a contingent of linesmen from the US to get the distribution up faster. As a Bahamian I feel terrible that after paying $600 million in VAT, $100 million in webs shop taxes, higher national insurance rates and higher business licence fees that we can’t get

the lights on faster.”

Sheeprunner12 said: “BPL/BEC is the most critical essential service in our country . . . tread lightly . . . and do not forget that the BEC workers look forward to these crises to make their big overtime checks . . . and the same will happen in GB with the other private company.”

The Prime Minister’s plan for legislation to force people to evacuate their

homes during major hurricanes also prompted a lively reaction.

B_I_D_ was sceptical: “Another damn law that won’t be enforced or followed . . . you’d think they’d give up making laws . . .”

DDK said: “Looks like PM wants Bahamas to become little USA! Sounds like his power trip is getting way out of control.”

And there was this from Alfalfa: “I won’t rely on the ‘experts and planners’ in NEMA to direct me to the food store. All talk, showmanship after the storm, and no action. How could relief goods from Cayman be rejected by Customs

and almost sent back. You would think that NEMA would have placed Customs on notice of how to handle disaster donations. How ignorant is Customs and the Officers who almost sent these items back? Does anyone out there have a clue?”

In The Tribune’s latest online poll, we asked readers if they thought Carnival was a useful investment for the nation - even if it doesn’t turn a profit.

A huge majority - 91 per cent of those voting - did NOT think Carnival was a useful investment.

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

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 12, 2016 PAGE 7

Minnis: Repair efforts will involve cronyism

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government’s Hurricane Matthew recovery and restoration efforts will involve cronyism and victimisation, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said during a press conference yesterday when he attacked the Christie administration just days after the storm departed the Bahamas, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Despite his public rebuke, the FNM leader did not disclose evidence of corrupt behaviour from the government in this regard.

Dr Minnis was also critical of the performance of Bahamas Power & Light in the aftermath of the storm, saying the “old

BEC” would have restored power to more Bahamians by now.

He also criticised the government’s response before and after the storm.

“We know the PLP has a history of cronyism, a history of dishonesty and a history of corruption and a history of victimisation,” he said. “I am not really listening to what they say about transparency and how they are going to not look at the political landscape. An election is coming. If they have demonstrated overt victimisation and cronyism immediately after the last election, God help what they can do with the coming election just to ensure they have the advantage to win.

“The FNM will closely monitor how this government spends the people’s

money. We will monitor the involvement of Shane Gibson to ensure that all of the PLP generals, as we’ve seen with Hurricane Joaquin, are not given their orders as to whom and who they have to look after. The PLP has a history of that.

A leopard does not change its colours overnight. They will continue, and I urge the Bahamian populace that when they see overt victimisation and discrimination, which is inevitable with this government because they can’t help themselves, they must report it to the FNM and we will be vigilant about this and we will be on top of the PLP like white on rice.”

Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson, the government’s czar for hurricane restoration efforts, said in response

to Dr Minnis: “We have a Bahamas to rebuild and restore. We welcome the monitoring of this transparent process.”

As for the government’s performance in preparing Bahamians for Hurricane Matthew, Dr Minnis said: “I was not impressed.”

“I thought the government dropped the ball in dealing with the storm,” he said. “The government knew such a storm was coming. How can you afterward be asking for trucks, volunteers, etc? All of that should’ve been done in advance. You knew the storm was coming. You knew the strength of the storm and the potential damage. You knew what was going to happen to the south. Therefore you should’ve already had trucks, chainsaws, garbage bins, dumpsters all

lined up to deal with it appropriately.”

Following the storm, Dr Minnis visited North Andros and Grand Bahama, two areas hardest hit by Matthew, with Prime Minister Perry Christie.

However, he said yesterday that he did not discuss during the trip with Mr Christie his concerns with the government’s response to Matthew.

“We would’ve entered no overt conversation as to what needs to be done,” he said.

On the issue of BPL, Dr Minnis said: “I don’t know whether BPL is profit driven or humanitarian driven.

“BEC in its original sense was humanitarian driven, not profit driven and some private sectors look more at dollar and cents.”

Dr Minnis also said Mr

Christie should have been more active in dispelling rumours that the island was running out of gas in the wake of the storm.

“The prime minister had a right to inform the Bahamian people that it was rumours and you should not be very concerned and you should not carry on in the manner that we had seen,” he said.

“What could’ve happened, is we could’ve had a disaster. We could’ve had riots, people getting killed and the prime minister sat idly by and had not come early to the nation and informed the nation that there was not a problem with gas in the country and advise all to remain calm. They were very irresponsible in dealing with that matter inappropriately. That’s nothing new with the PLP.”

ley Boys and $20,000 to the Saxons and he may even do more.

“I think as Bahamians we all must be more involved in the development of our culture and help to advance Junkanoo and I would hope that other civic leaders and organisations in the Bahamas will make similar donations.”

Brian Adderley, chairman of the Valley Boys, said while some will likely criticise Dr Minnis for donating to Junkanoo groups following a destructive storm, such a donation is valuable and important.

“I’m sure some people will criticise him for (this donation) because some people don’t see Junkanoo as being important to the Bahamian psyche but it is,” he said. “Those of you familiar with Junkanoo will know the people with a lot of stress, with a lot of personal and social issues, that get involved to get away from those things. We will play our role in the days ahead by providing entertainment and providing a space for persons who have stress to come and get that

FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis donating money yesterday to the Shells Saxons Super Stars, represented by leader Percy Vola Francis, left, and Valley Junkanoo Group chairman Brain Adderley. of their main shacks. to Dr Minnis for his kind will invest in Junkanoo this stress off.”

He said it looked “like a gesture in his contribution year like it did Bahamas Mr Adderley said his group received structural bulldozer passed through of this $7,000 that a will go Junkanoo Carnival. damage to their shacks and Mason’s Addition,” when a long way to help us try to “That same kind of consome of their costumes he visited the shack after resurrect ourselves from tribution should be directed the storm. the ills we have found our- to Junkanoo because Junwere damaged by water.

“You’re talking about selves in recently.”

For his part, Percy “Vola” kanoo is the soul and the Mr Francis also expressed heart of the Bahamas,” he Francis said the Saxons suf- everything looking flat and fered severe damage to four smooth. So we are grateful hope that the government said.

FNM LEADER DONATES $9,000 TO JUNKANOO GROUPS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis donated $7,000 to the Shell Saxons Superstars and $2,000 to the Valley Boys yesterday in the wake of Hurricane Matthew after the storm damaged many Junkanoo shacks and destroyed costumes.

During a press conference at his office on Parliament Street yesterday, Dr Minnis said: “It’s essential that our culture is maintained and essential that our Junkanoo groups still come out during the Christmas week as strong as they would’ve before the hurricane.”

The money was a personal contribution by the Killarney MP. Dr Minnis also suggested that Prime Minister Perry Christie follow his lead and make a similar donation.

“I’m absolutely certain that the prime minister, who is a known Valley Boy, by tomorrow he will be doing the same thing and he will be giving $5,000 or more or $7,000 to the Val-

RELIEF IS ON THE WAY TO MINISTRY OF WORKS: ALL ROADS BADLY-DAMAGED ANDROS IN NEW PROVIDENCE PASSABLE from page one

Food supplies are running low in Central Andros; however, as officials await the arrival of relief from the National Emergency Management Agency.

Deputy Administrator Cleola Pinder told The Tribune on Tuesday that water, food, and cleaning supplies topped the list of priority needs for residents in her district. She noted that the island had received fuel but no food supplies.

The island gets weekly supply shipments on Friday, and having missed last week, Mrs Pinder said store shelves are scanty. Notwithstanding the shortage in stores, Mrs Pinder pointed out that some residents would not be able to purchase food after so many days without work.

“We still haven’t gotten any food supplies,” Mrs Pinder said. “[Food] It’s low, we’re just waiting to get supplies from NEMA. We need water, food items, because we have cosmetic damage here mainly. You had a few persons where they really lost the total roof, but for us the issue is the food supplies, water, cleaning supplies.

“Before the storm, everybody would have purchased items so all the shelves are scanty. No boats have come in on the island, and our boats come in on Friday so you would be out of the necessities very quickly by Tuesday even if there wasn’t a storm.”

“Some people just don’t

have anything,” she said.

“The base AUTEC employs some 200 locals. This will be their second week they haven’t worked. They evacuated Sunday (October 2), they still haven’t brought staff back because they’re not fully operational. They’re not getting salary so with no income even if foods come in on the island, there is no money to purchase.”

When Mrs Pinder spoke to The Tribune at 1.30pm on Tuesday, she said that she had already made requests to NEMA concerning the food shortage and was awaiting a response.

She said that BTC brought in some food supplies and had been distributing it at their headquarters that morning.

On the matter of electricity, Mrs Pinder said Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) expected to have the district fully online by next week.

“Love Hill got power [Monday] around 10.30, 11pm. So residents on the main road up to Love Hill have power. Portions of Fresh Creek, Calabash Bay, they’re working to restore as far as Behring Point but they have two poles that they need to deal with that’s hindering them coming on.

“Hopefully by this evening they should have that sorted out and they should have light. Staniel Creek has quite a bit of poles down so that is going to take a bit longer,” she added.

As for Stafford Creek and Blanket Town, Mrs Pinder said that an effort was being made to tie those

settlements into the grid in North Andros.

In South Andros and Mangrove Cay, Senior Deputy Administrator Gregory Knowles said damage from the storm was very minimal.

“We didn’t have any serious damage,” Mr Knowles said. “We only had some trees fell down in the road, and the Ministry of Works has already cleared them.

We’re really gracious.

“I wouldn’t say we have a food issue, it’s just because the (mail) boat ain’t come so the stores don’t have a lot of things that you really need.

“People were preparing for the storm, when they heard the hurricane was coming they stock up but that’s been two weeks since the boat hasn’t come, so the cupboard getting empty now. So we really need the boat.”

In North Andros, the farms at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI) sustained most of the damage.

“Especially the banana crops,” said Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister V Alfred Gray.

“The school itself suffered no damage at all. The animal shed lost some sheeting to the roof that will hopefully be replaced [Tuesday].

We lost all the banana crop.

We have to almost stop production and start over again.”

Mr Gray said that an assessment will be done within the next few days to determine the monetary value of the losses.

THE Ministry of Works and Urban Development has announced that, as of 6pm on Monday, all roads in New Providence have been made passable.

A statement from Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, the minister responsible, said his ministry had prepared for the onslaught of Hurricane Matthew by trimming overhanging branches, clearing drains and strategically placing heavy equipment to allow immediate post-hurricane clearing operations.

“This measures resulted in the floodwaters receding quickly,” he said.

“Even before the “All Clear” was given, my officers began carrying out inspections and clearing obstructions. Within 24 hours, the Ministry of Works was able to ensure that all major routes in New Providence were passable.

As far as we are aware, apart from a few exceptions where the trees are entangled with power lines, there are no blockages in New Providence roads. In those cases, my Ministry is work-

A WATER pipe sticking vertically up out of the road on Shirley Street yesterday, forcing motorists to veer around it. ing with Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) to remove these as well.

“The cut trees have been placed on the sides of the roads. These will be removed over the next week or so to be mulched. At the same time, drains will be cleared to minimise flooding in the case of rainfall.”

He commended his staff for their enthusiasm in rising to the challenge of disaster response, “many of them working outside of the realm of terms of their employment. It is because

of their commitment to our recovery that we have attained this milestone achievement within four days.”

He acknowledged the contribution of ordinary citizens, many men and women, who initiated selfhelp activities to clear roads, and contractors who stood ready and took action as directed.

Residents who have been missed can contact the ministry via Facebook or on 302-9700 or through NEMA on 322-6081.

FIVE MEN RECOVERING AFTER SHOOTINGS

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FIVE men are recovering in hospital after they were shot in two separate incidents on Monday.

The first incident took place shortly after 6pm in Fox Hill.

According to police reports, four men were walking on Cox Street when

the occupants of a silver coloured Honda Accord, armed with firearms, approached and shot the men before speeding off. The men were rushed to hospital where they are listed in serious but stable condition.

In the second incident, shortly before 9pm, police said a man was standing on the corner of Hospital Lane and John Road when a man armed with a handgun ap-

proached and shot him multiple times before fleeing the area on foot.

The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in serious condition.

Police are actively investigating both incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

PAGE 8 , Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Putting politics aside is essential in a time of crisis

THE TRIBUNE

W

HY it that in this time of turmoil, inequality, political dysfunction and apparent decline, a few countries are nonetheless thriving?

That’s the question Jonathan Tepperman asks - and answers - in his new book, ‘The Fix’. It should be required post-hurricane reading for Bahamian leaders of spair and a realisation that all stripes.

Tepperman is a Canadian we must do something to journalist and scholar who change our trajectory or we currently edits the prestig- may end up as a failed state. ious journal of international But no-one seems to be providing the right leadership. affairs, ‘Foreign Policy’.

Tepperman says he has Most writing about global issues focuses on diag- always craved more explicit nosing problems - which is details on how such changes important. But Tepperman occur. In other words, how says that when pundits try leaders around the world to prescribe what should be have solved similar existendone, they often come up tial problems.

So he began a short. multi-year inves“There are the ‘In all of these tigation, travelhonourable but ling the world in vague exhorta- episodes the search of solutions (something extremity of tions to the great must be done!). the moment problems of our And there are the recommen- played a similar day - and talking to the leaddations deliv- role, pushing ers who figured ered in such an those in them out. abstract way (citFollowing meizens must rise charge to set ticulous research up and demand aside ordinary and more than change) that it’s politics and 100 interviews hard to know with the people what to do with conventional the polithem.” policymaking behind cies, Tepperman This is the and think big.’ wrote a book position Bahathat provides mians find our- - Jonathan “practical adselves in today. Tepperman vice for probThe handful of lem solvers and leaders we have had since independence stands as a necessary corhave produced or tolerated rective to the handwringing economic stagnation, politi- and grim prognostication cal dysfunction, spreading that dominates the news”.

And the good news is corruption and inequality.

There is widespread de- that the tools and methods

he describes can work for many other sorts of problems and in many other places.

“The answers are never easy,” he says, “but they’re also never impossible, not if you are willing to work hard enough and in the right ways.”

He describes 10 fascinating examples from around the world. They range from Singapore’s elimination of corruption, to the current Mexican president’s historic reform pact with opposition parties, to South Korea’s prosperity miracle, to Rwanda’s painful coming to terms with genocide, to Brazil’s successful attack on inequality and poverty.

And all this information is boiled down to five powerful lessons.

F

oremost is the application of pragmatism. As Tepperman puts it, “the dogged refusal to let party, tribe, philosophy or custom stand in the way of the search for solutions” links all of the examples in his book.

Embracing a crisis is another common theme. Necessity proved the mother of invention and made room for the solutions that followed, Tepperman says.

STANDING in a damaged home in Lowe Sound, North Andros, on Saturday, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Prime Minister Perry Christie share concerns over the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew.

Photo: NEMA ble in the past.”

The crises he describes in the wisdom and intestinal Tepperman says idealists fortitude to do what’s necvarious countries include cataclysmic civil war, the in government are ineffec- essary, he suggests. Doing threat of national disinte- tive and dangerous because so can involve considerable gration, spiralling violence, they believe we can be political risk and personal runaway economic decline trusted to do the right thing sacrifice, both of which remost of the time. Realists quire strength of character. and political gridlock.

“In all of these episodes accept the truth, and thereBut that is what leaders the extremity of the mo- fore support checks and are meant to provide, he ment played a similar role, limits on the use of power. concludes. It’s what we hire Tepperman’s central them for, and it’s what we pushing those in charge to set aside ordinary politics rule is to make revolution need them to deliver. and conventional policy- through evolution. In other In short, if you are a leadwords, to promote progres- er in this country, the Commaking and think big.”

But successful policy- sive change by taking the monwealth of the Bahamas, makers also need to be high road while avoiding you should read this book, careful in the way that they past mistakes. get off your butt and do Although he doesn’t buy something worthwhile. wield power, Tepperman says. Effective leadership the Great Man theory of ‘The Fix: How Nations requires restraint as well as history, Tepperman thinks Survive and Thrive in a successful leaders are made World in Decline’ is pubboldness.

In the success stories he and not born. And he won- lished by Tim Duggan tells, “Compromises were ders why so many countries Books, an imprint of Penbroadly accepted, deals still struggle with the terri- guin Random House LLC, stuck, and the countries fi- ble problems highlighted in in 2016. 307 pages. nally started to transcend his book.

What do you think?

Perhaps the leaders in the fractures that had Send comments to lsmith@ caused them so much trou- question haven’t yet found tribunemedia.net.

BAHAMIANS ABROAD REACH OUT TO LOVED ONES AT HOME

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

HURRICANE Matthew’s devastation to the Bahamas has been as mentally and emotionally taxing on affected residents as it has been on their loved ones living abroad.

Kachelle Knowles, a Bahamian artist enrolled at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, British Columbia said she was glad that precautions were taken this year so that there were no casualties from the storm.

When she first learned of Matthew’s projected path towards the Bahamas, she immediately made contact with her relatives in Nassau who were thousands of miles away from her in Canada.

“My mom updated me telling me who was staying with whom,” she said.

“After the storm, I knew power was out for a lot of people so getting in contact with my family and friends was difficult. Our house in Nassau made it okay but I have family members living in Andros that apparently suffered more than Nassau did. It’s extremely stressful not being able to confirm if anyone is okay and being rendered so helpless because I’m so far away.

“It’s also difficult not knowing what news to believe on social media but I had no other way of updating myself. And being in school, it’s unfortunate seeing all of that because you must find a balance between focusing on your studies and not becoming overwhelmed with matters back at home.”

Matthew pummelled New Providence on Thursday, damaging homes and businesses, uprooting trees and snapping power lines.

Many have been without power and running water

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since last Wednesday, as utility providers work to restore normalcy.

North Andros “took the brunt” of the eye of Hurricane Matthew on Thursday evening, residents said, causing extensive flooding from Morgan’s Bluff Marina all the way into Pineville, and from Lowe Sound Harbour into Fire Road.

The BTC tower was completely destroyed in the storm, cutting off all telephone communications. On Friday afternoon, volunteers in heavy trucks were out trying to clear large trees that were blocking the roads. Potable water and electrical infrastructure were also affected.

Reports were much better from the southern and central parts of the island.

Meanwhile in Grand Bahama, the storm damaged more than 90 per cent of the buildings in the Eight Mile Rock and Holmes Rock areas.

A senior police officer told The Tribune on Friday that more than 72 homes reported experiencing significant roof damage from Matthew although that did not include the western area of the island, which also experienced severe destruction.

Ms Knowles said she hasn’t been “fully updated with my family recently, especially those in Andros, so I cannot say how optimistic they are about recovering from this.”

“Most of my friends in Nassau seem to have braved the storm fine so I’m hoping. 2016 has not been the best year so I’m hoping Bahamians will truly support one another to get through these difficult times.”

Rogert Wright, a recent graduate from Northern Caribbean University who then moved to Lyon, France to learn French, said it took nearly two days to make contact with relatives in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

“It was nerve-wracking wondering if my folks were okay,” Mr Wright said.

“It brought back past memories because I remembered the conditions of Freeport after Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances devastated Grand Bahama in September 2004. I felt

nervous because of all the media coverage about the storm and all the posts on social media.”

“The news said Matthew was going to be worse and the fact that it was so unpredictable really frightened me the most because the meteorologists were conflicted about its direction and Matthew was also transitioning from different categories quickly,” he said.

“My mom’s place was okay. There was no major damage I was told of other than a few trees being blown down. As for my stepfather’s mom, her entire house collapsed. It’s one of those old wooden houses and was located in one of those areas they requested the islanders to evacuate.

“We knew it wouldn’t be able to stand against a hurricane of that magnitude but it’s still sad,” Mr Wright said.

“I’ve heard people are coming together to fix things and begin the rebuilding process so I believe that with time, we will do more than just recover from this,” he said.

Patrick Touissant, who was recruited as an English teaching assistant by the French Ministry of Education to work in Dijon, France, said he felt “helpless” being several thousand miles away from home while his family braved the storm in the capital.

“It took me about three days to finally get in contact with my family,” Mr Touissant told The Tribune.

“They sustained a lot of damage to the roof. The ceiling came down and so that will have to be redone.

It felt horrible being away and a part of me wish I was there to help out. I felt helpless and often found myself neglecting what I needed to do here in Dijon thinking about them,” he added.

“But they’re safe and grateful to be alive. To them, it could’ve been worse and so I feel much better now knowing they are safe,” the teaching aide said.

While not giving an exact figure, Prime Minister Perry Christie has suggested that it will cost the country hundreds of millions to repair the storm damage.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 12th, 2016, PAGE A9

TECHTALK

Q&A

What next for Note 7 consumers?

I have one of the replacement phones. Do I really need to stop using it?

A DAMAGED Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on a table after it caught fire.

LAST CALL: SAMSUNG STOPS GALAXY NOTE 7 PRODUCTION SAMSUNG Electronics announced yesterday that it is stopping production of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones permanently, a day after stopping global sales of the ill-fated devices amid reports that batteries were catching fire.

The South Korean company said in a regulatory filing that it decided to stop manufacturing Note 7s for the sake of consumer safety.

Samsung and United States authorities are investigating multiple reports of new Note 7 replacement smartphones catching fire, including a Samsung phone that emitted smoke and forced a Southwest Airlines flight in Kentucky to evacuate passengers.

Commission is investigating the incident.

Samsung is struggling to regain consumer trust after a first round of recalls of 2.5 million devices that prompted criticism both for the faulty devices and for the company’s handling of the problem. Airlines banned the usage and charging of the Note 7 on flights.

After the earlier recall, the company said it had identified a manufacturing defect in the lithium-ion batteries of its top-of-theline smartphone.

It started shipping new Note 7 phones that were supposed to be safer.

But reports that even the replacements were catching fire led Samsung to announce it was stopping sales of the devices.

Authorities in the United States and South Korea are still investigating why even the replacement Note 7 phones that Samsung

equipped with a safer battery are catching fire.

An official at the South Korean safety agency said the replacement phones may have a defect that is different from the problem with the original Note 7s.

Samsung’s shares plunged eight per cent in Seoul, their biggest fall since the 2008 financial crisis, yesterday, before it announced it was discontinuing the Note 7.

Also yesterday, China’s product safety regulator said Samsung will recall all Galaxy Note 7 smartphones sold in mainland China, amounting to around 191,000 units.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said it was investigating for defects in the devices Samsung will either provide a full refund at the original price or replace Note 7 units with any other model of Samsung phone, and give refunds of the difference in prices, along with a 300 yuan ($45) voucher.

Samsung’s brand has already been battered by complaints it is doing too little to reassure Chinese owners their handsets are safe.

Initially, Samsung had said in September that the Note 7s sold in China would not be affected because their batteries came from a different supplier, ATL. Samsung recalled 1,858 Note 7 phones in China in September, saying they were distributed for testing before sales to the public began on September 1.

Absolutely. The multiple investigations into replacement units catching fire and the fact Samsung has pulled the plug on the model should tell you something.

In addition, South Korean safety authorities said yesterday that they may have found a new defect that may not be related to the batteries.

If you insist on using a Note 7 until obtaining a replacement, don’t plug it in at night at your bedside, and don’t give it to your kids. Use it at your own risk.

How bad have the fires been?

Social media are filled with pictures of smouldering phones.

While dramatic, these occurrences are far from common. But you don’t want to become the next headline.

Michael Klering, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, says his replacement Note 7 caught fire while he was sleeping last week. The fire scorched a nightstand and filled his house with smoke that he says has caused his family to suffer breathing problems.

And when US regulators announced their recall of the original Note 7s last month, they cited 92 reports of the batteries overheating in the US, including 26 reports of burns and 55 of property damage. The property damage included fires in cars and a garage.

Did I just waste nearly $1,000 on the Note 7?

Samsung has been slow to release specific information on the replacement phones. Its initial recall offered owners a refund, a replacement Note 7 or another Samsung phone such as the Galaxy S7 with a refund of any difference in price.

While the replacement phone isn’t an option anymore, the offer of a refund or another model of Samsung phone still stands. All major US carriers are also letting customers switch to another manufacturer’s phone.

Customers who exchange a Note 7 for another Samsung product also get a $25 in the form of a gift card, in-store credit or bill credit from select carriers or retailers.

What about accessories?

It depends on the carrier. T-Mobile and AT&T, for instance, are giving full refunds on accessories.

Some Samsung gadgets, such as its Gear Fit2 fitness tracker, will work with other Android phones. The Gear VR virtual reality headset requires a recent Samsung phone, though.

I would like to stick with Samsung. What’s available?

The Galaxy S7, which came out in March, doesn’t offer the same huge screen as the Note 7, but it has many of the same features.

Notable exceptions are the Note 7’s iris scanner and pen.

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 is expected in February or March, making the S7 feel old already. Even older is last year’s Note 5 (there was no Note 6).

It’s unlikely that Samsung will try to push out the S8 earlier to fill the gap, as the company is dependent on parts that might not be ready until next year.

Could other phones catch fire?

Given consumer demand for batteries that are more powerful, last longer and charge faster, it’s a little surprising that Note 7 is the only phone catching fire these days.

Not that long ago, some laptop batteries were going up in flames too.

The Note 7 is still being dissected by tech experts for Samsung and the government. They may find that the problem isn’t with the battery at all.

BREE FOWLER Associated Press

YOUKYUNG LEE Associated Press

SONY’S VR HEADSET GOOD FOR GAMERS SONY’S new virtual-reality system coming out tomorrow, PlayStation VR, is more focused on games than its competitors.

The company says there will be 30 titles at launch and 50 by year’s end - impressive for a new technology.

The headset’s visor hangs down from a halo-like ring worn around the top of the head and it offers more evenly distributed weight and less pressure around the eyes.

What you see inside is replicated on a TV screen, so others in the same room can follow along. It preserves the social aspect of gaming so here are six notable games: “Batman: Arkham VR”

(Warner Bros) is the marquee title in the PlayStation VR lineup, and it’s dazzling.

From Batman’s rooftop perspective, the decadent glamour of Gotham City has never looked more vivid; just don’t look down, or you might get vertigo. The gameplay isn’t as satisfying as in Warner Bros’ non-VR Batman titles, but fans of the Caped Crusader will relish the chance to try on the Batsuit.

“Battlezone” (Rebellion) harkens back to the early days of video arcades, reviving Atari’s classic monochrome, pseudo-3-D tank battle in full-colour, 360-degree glory.

Like the old game, “Battlezone” is fairly simple -

SONY’S PlayStation VR headgear device. (AP) shoot everything that moves - but it gets frantic when you find yourself dodging incoming fire from every direction.

“Until Dawn: Rush of Blood” (Sony) has nothing to do with last year’s hor-

ror gem “Until Dawn” other than the twisted imaginations of its developers. It’s a roller-coaster ride through a demented theme park in which you’re allowed to shoot at the monsters, zombies and clowns that burst

through the scenery. It’s a sick little Halloween treat.

“SuperHyperCube” (Polytron) and “Tumble VR” (Sony) are elegant brainteasers. “Cube” asks you to rotate geometric shapes to fit into holes; “Tumble” is a Jenga-like tower-building exercise.

“Job Simulator” (Owlchemy Labs) is the silliest use of VR so far.

It puts you in the shoes of a short-order cook, an auto mechanic, an office worker and a convenience store clerk. But because the simulations were designed by robots from 2050, they have peculiar ideas about how we get things done in 2016.

It’s nowhere near lifelike, but there’s something drolly meta about using such highpowered tech to simulate such mundane activities.

LOU KESTEN Associated Press

• FACEBOOK is creating a separate version aimed at helping people do actual work instead of catching up on baby photos and campaign chatter.

On Monday, Facebook launched Workplace, a communications tool for businesses, non-profits and other organisations. The platform is advertisement-free and not connected to users’ existing Facebook accounts. Instead, businesses sign up as an organisation and pay a monthly fee based on the number of users. It’s free for non-profits and educational institutions.

Besides group chats and video calls, Workplace has live video and a news feed, much like the regular Facebook, but the background is grey, not blue. Users can build profiles and see updates from co-workers on their news feed. As with the regular Facebook, the company will display posts that are more relevant based on its own formula. The idea is that because more than 1.7 billion people already know how to use Facebook, Workplace, which works much in the same way, will be easy to learn and use.

• YAHOO has overhauled its main app for smartphones and tablets by emphasising “social” features aimed at people who like to share and chat about news topics online.

The revamped Yahoo app, now called Yahoo Newsroom, will augment its general news feed with more than 200 specialised channels that users can choose to follow on particular topics such as a favourite celebrity, a political issue of interest or a breaking news event. The format encourages users to post comments on news items Yahoo displays for each topic, as well as on links that users find and re-post from other news sites.

The new app will give prominence to stories that attract more comments from users, among other factors.

• THREE scientists won the Nobel Prize in chemistry last week for developing the world’s smallest machines, 1,000 times thinner than a human hair but with the potential to revolutionise computer and energy systems.

Frenchman Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Scottish-born Fraser Stoddart and Dutch scientist Bernard “Ben” Feringa share the $930,000 prize for the “design and synthesis of molecular machines,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

Machines at the molecular level have taken chemistry to a new dimension and “will most likely be used in the development of things such as new materials, sensors and energy storage systems,” the academy said.

• FACEBOOK says it’s working to make virtual reality more social as the industry gets more crowded.

With a host of leading tech companies now selling VR products, Facebook’s Oculus division is hoping to distinguish its offerings with more interactive and social experiences. Last week, the company announced a longawaited shipping date - December 6 - for its Oculus Touch hand controllers, designed to let users make gestures and grasp virtual objects within the simulated worlds projected by Oculus Rift headsets.

But they won’t be cheap. Oculus will sell a pair of controllers, with a sensor device, for $199.

Oculus says they’re designed to be more comfortable and intuitive than traditional video game controllers, which can be purchased for less than $50.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, October 12, 2016

FNM eyes Bar Association President for Yamacraw

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement has its eyes on Bahamas Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson as the frontrunner to represent the Yamacraw constituency in the 2017 general election, according to well-placed sources.

The Tribune understands that the organisation has been courting Mr Johnson in recent months but has not yet cemented plans for the candidacy.

Mr Johnson declined comment when contacted

by The Tribune yesterday.

Last month, he told The Tribune that while he has been approached by a political organisation, he was not considering a bid in front-line politics “at this time”.

He denied reports that he was seeking a nomination from the FNM, underscoring the critical need for him

to be independent and objective as head of the regulatory body that governs the country’s legal professionals.

“The only thing I’m trying to ratify myself into now is heaven,” he told the Tribune last month.

“Being Bar president requires me to be independent and objective and when I decide that I am going to run, or place myself to run and accept a nomination, one of the first things I will do is resign. Until then, no, I haven’t accepted anything.”

Mr Johnson added: “If I decide that I’m going to run for the Free National Movement or Progressive Liberal Party, if they make that approach and today I decide I’m going to take it, then once I make that decision the next thing I have to do is bring that to the attention of the Bahamas Bar Association and Bar Council and say farewell, and then I make my announcement.”

Former FNM Chairman Dion Foulkes announced

his desire to run in the 2017 election last year, and was recommended for a nomination by the party’s Yamacraw Constituency Association (YCA). Recommendations from constituency associations go on to the Candidates Committee and then the party’s Central Council for final approval.

In 2012, Mr Foulkes lost to Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP Melanie Griffin by a little over 400 votes. The eastern New Providence constituency has long been considered a PLP stronghold as Mrs Griffin has held the seat since 2002. According to the source, the party is not inclined to run Mr Foulkes this election cycle because of his consecutive losses in the area.

The FNM was expected to have completed its candidate ratification process by mid-October; however, it is unclear when the roll out will be complete.

THE TRIBUNE

ELSWORTH JOHNSON

SEARS TO RESUME CAMPAIGN AND VISIT HURRICANE-HIT AREAS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Attorney General Alfred Sears said he plans to resume his leadership campaign for the Progressive Liberal Party in the coming weeks, with initial plans calling for visits to those areas hardest hit by Hurricane Matthew.

In a recent interview with The Tribune, Mr Sears, a former Fort Charlotte MP, said his campaign team has opted to rearrange stops on his campaign trail, with the earliest visit scheduled for North Andros instead of Exuma as originally planned.

Mr Sears said his team made the decision in view of Hurricane Matthew, the massive category four storm that ripped through The Bahamas last week.

“We have made some adjustments,” Mr Sears said. “(Those adjustments are) to visit some of those areas such as North Andros where we have been before, but in light of damage and the devastation we will go back and express solidarity and see what concerns (are) and be of assistance to our brothers and sisters in North Andros.”

Mr Sears continued: “We will also, at some point, visit the Berry Islands and, of course we will go

back to Grand Bahama, a place which has unfortunately gone through a lot of storms, both economic and hurricanes - Frances, Jeanne and now Matthew.”

In August, Mr Sears announced his plans to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for the PLP’s leadership post.

The move presented the first challenge to Mr Christie’s leadership since 2009, when Bain and Grants Town MP Dr Bernard Nottage and attorney Paul Moss faced him at the PLP’s last convention.

Addressing the issue, Mr Sears said when he initially began his current quest, he had the view that com-

mitment and loyalty to Mr Christie “was set.”

However, Mr Sears said that the notion has now been dispelled and he could not have imagined his campaign going any better.

“But as I have gone into the home of stalwarts, I must say, the majority of people who I have spoken appreciate a need for change, they have encouraged me and its been very inspiring,” he added.

Mr Sears said he has built a base among PLP supporters who see the need for a paradigm shift in terms of transparent and accountable governance, as well as a diversified economy, strengthened local govern-

ment, more effective safety nets and security for the citizens of The Bahamas.

Mr Sears also revealed plans to publish a comprehensive platform that will promote, provoke and encourage public discussion, debate and reflection in terms of how the country should move toward a preferred future.

Addressing Hurricane Matthew directly, Mr Sears said he was proud to see the level of civility shared among Bahamians.

He said as he travelled through the community of Fort Charlotte and around New Providence in the days since the passage of Matthew, he has seen the

extraordinary resilience of Bahamians facing what was a harrowing experience.

Mr Sears stated that Bahamians, despite the horrific situation endured, preserved and maintained a sense of humour and gratitude.

“I think we tend to see the crime, we tend to see the lack of civility in everyday life, but during periods of crisis such as this hurricane and my past recollection, we see some beautiful characteristics of the Bahamian people – resiliency, community solidarity and I saw it this time and I have a recollection of seeing it in Frances and Jeanne,” he said.

HURRICANE FORCES DELAY IN TRIAL OF MEN ACCUSED OF KILLING PRESS SECRETARY

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO men scheduled to stand trial for the murder of Prime Minister Perry Christie’s press secretary, Latore Mackey, face another delay in the start of their case.

Kelvin Deveaux, 20, and 24-year-old Dereck Neily were set to appear before Justice Bernard Turner yesterday for the expected start of their case.

They were initially to stand trial in November 2015 but the court was presiding over another matter and the case was rescheduled to October 2016.

However, Hurricane Matthew and its devastating aftermath were among a number of complications explained in court yesterday that would affect the commencement of the trial.

Crown prosecutor Darrell Taylor asked the judge for an adjournment.

“There are four witnesses who contacted me and indicated that they don’t have power or water which is due to the passing of Hurricane Matthew,” she said, adding that she also has not heard from the remaining police witnesses listed on the docket.

The prosecutor also noted that the 48-member jury pool was not present, nor were the accused men and one of their lawyers, Geoffrey Farquharson.

Michael Kemp, who represents Neely, was present.

Justice Turner said an order of attendance was not placed for the defendants due to the storm, which bar-

reled through New Providence on Thursday.

“We also do not have a court reporter as yet and the trial we empanelled a jury for last week has not yet started,” the judge added.

As for Mr Farquharson’s absence, the judge said his court was notified by the lawyer that he was in Freeport, Grand Bahama trying to get back to Nassau.

Justice Turner proposed to adjourn the matter to Wednesday, October 12, for a status hearing to determine the way forward.

Mackey, 37, was deputy director of Bahamas Information Services, and owner of the Blue Reef Sports Bar and Lounge on West Bay Street.

According to initial reports, he was shot in the neck around 4.30am off Market Street on August 25, 2014.

Deveaux, of Market Street, and Neily, of Young Close, face a charge of murder under Section 291 (1B) of the Penal Code, Chapter 84. A charge under this section does not attract the court’s discretionary death penalty but carries a sentencing range of 30 to 60 years imprisonment if convicted by a Supreme Court jury.

Deveaux and Neily have retained attorneys Mr Farquharson and Mr Kemp to represent them against the charge.

Both accused men have been on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services since their arraignment in 2014.

David Cash is assisting Ms Taylor in prosecuting the case.

THE TRIBUNE

“Today”, PAGE 11

Troops in action after the hurricane

OFFICERS and Marines from the West Indian GuardShip, normally stationed in our region, in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) reached out to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew to loan assistance. Airmen helo-transported a contingent of Defence Force Marines and generators to Andros on Saturday. Another group representing the Royal Navy Commando Engineering Regiment (​Royal Engineers) and US Coast Guard helped Defence Force Marines to clear trees in the Coral Harbour community. Another team helped a 79-year-old lady clean up her garden. Yet another group were assisting at Coral Harbour Base.

CAPTAIN Tellis Bethel and Lieutenant Alexis Brown, of HMBS Lawrence Major, watch one of the Defence Force’s 17-piece mobile bases being loaded onto the ship.

SCHOOLS STAY CLOSED AS OFFICIALS ASSESS DAMAGE from page one

Providence, Grand Bahama, North Andros and the Berry Islands - the areas hardest hit during the passage of the massive category four storm last week.

The Marathon MP indicated that those teams have been asked to provide a “detailed inspection” that would be used to help the ministry with its efforts to return students to the classroom.

Mr Fitzgerald said while the majority of schools

“held up well,” some suffered extensive damage.

Referring to those in the latter category, Mr Fitzgerald said: “Realistically, the clean up will require days to complete. We will therefore use the remainder of this week to aggressively address the clean up and restoration efforts in all of New Providence, Grand Bahama and North Andros schools, along with the school at Lowe Sound.

This is a mammoth task but our number one priority.”

According to education

ST ANDREW’S OPEN TODAY ST ANDREW’S School will re-open today after clearing downed trees and making essential repairs following the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew.

Robert Stitch, the principal, praised the “amazing effort” by the school’s maintenance and cleaning crews.

He said that the cleaning staff was in on Monday to prepare classrooms, with staff returning yesterday

and school opening at the usual time to students this morning.

“The maintenance crew under the direction of Mike Brindle-Selle have been doing an amazing job since early Friday morning,” Mr Stitch said in a Facebook post. “Many members of the St Andrew’s community have been badly hit by the hurricane. We will rally together in order to help those in need. We are a strong and caring commu-

officials, those schools extensively damaged include C I Gibson High School in New Providence, Bartlett Hill and Lewis Yard Primary in Grand Bahama and the Lowe Sound Primary School in Andros.

“The extent of the damage at these schools will require medium to long term (work) and we are now in the process of making alternate arrangements for the administrators, staff and students of those schools to identify a suitable place to accommodate them in the interim,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

The Tribune understands that there was extensive damage to the roof of the C I Gibson School. At the two campuses in Grand Bahama, major flooding and exterior structural damage have rendered those properties unusable.

Additionally, the Lowe Sound Primary property has also sustained extensive structural and roofing damage.

Over in the Berry Islands, resumption of school has been pushed back due to the communication failure across that island, with

officials expressing hope that all matters there could be resolved by this weekend.

Mr Fitzgerald said his ministry has no idea how much it is going to cost the government to carry out all the needed repairs. However, he said he would be in a better position to give a figure by Friday.

Education officials spent roughly $13m on repairs throughout the country ahead of the start of the 2016 - 2017 academic school year.

During his address on Tuesday, Mr Fitzgerald implored building supply stores across the Bahamas to give priority to contractors being engaged by his office.

He said: “We will be mobilising contracts as soon as possible. The companies that we will engage for school repairs will be issued a letter with an official stamp by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to be presented to building suppliers. We are making a special appeal to building suppliers to give preference to those in possession of one of these

letters and that companies work with them to minimise long waits so that works can commence as quickly as possible.

“We also ask the general public to exercise patience and to be understanding of this process.”

Education officials have also announced plans to forgo the public school system’s scheduled mid-term break.

Mr Fitzgerald said his office made the decision after holding extensive discussions with the executives of the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Bahamas Education Managerial Union (BEMU).

Mr Fitzgerald said students have missed valuable instructional time due to the hurricane. He added that officials have moved to ensure that those missed days are made up.

“A decision has been made to forgo this month’s mid-term break and professional development days in the best interest of our students. I wish to repeat that there will be no mid-term break as was scheduled for the end of October,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

The Ministry of Education has mandated that all custodial staff return to work immediately to assist with repair efforts while teachers are due back at school on Thursday.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Education announced that schools in Abaco, Acklins, South Andros, Mangrove Cay, Bimini, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Inagua, Long Island, Mayaguana, Ragged Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador would have reopened yesterday.

In a statement released by officials at the time, the ministry urged students and teachers in the northwest Bahamas to remain at home until schools are ready for normal operation.

Further to that, officials emphasised that private and independent schools would decide when they were in the best position to resume operations and would give the public notice.

In a statement released yesterday, private school Queen’s College said its Village Road campus would not reopen for classes until Monday, October 17.

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APP

Take us with you Everywhere you go!

Butch Kerzner Bahamian at heart

PAGE 12, Wednesday, October 12, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

1964 - 2006

Gone but never forgotten.

From: The Atlantis & Tribune Family

From left: Butch Kerzner, Vanessa Kerzner, Harry McPike and Joann McPike in South Africa.

“We will miss you”