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VOTER CARDS CAN BE USED FOR ELECTION REGISTRATION By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PARLIAMENTARY Commissioner Sherlyn Hall has accepted legal advice that will allow Bahamians to use their voter’s cards from a previous election to register to vote for next year’s general election without requiring a passport or a birth certificate unless the commissioner speSEE PAGE SIX
FNM leader says TOWN AND GOWN START UNIVERSITY CELEBRATIONS $2.1bn proposal would be step closer to being ‘colonised’ by China By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net OPPOSITION Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday called on Bahamians to mobilise against the $2.1bn agriculture and fisheries proposal with Chinese investors for Andros that he believed would bring the country one step closer to “being colonised once again”. The Free National Movement (FNM) leader also called for the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries V Alfred Gray to resign from his Cabinet post. Additionally, Dr Minnis put the government of China
“on notice” that if elected, his party would review and reverse any “secret deal” that gives land or fishing rights to foreigners. He said that the Bahamian people “were hoodwinked” by the government into believing that the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) “would provide opportunity for local entrepreneurs to create a directto-market supply line that would stimulate the economy and benefit Bahamians, leading to the further development of the agricultural sector of our economy, and ultimately greater food security.”
MEMBERS of the academic community and government officials attended a service of thanksgiving at Christ Church Cathedral yesterday to start the week of charter events for the establishment of the University of the Bahamas. PHOTO: Tim Clarke
SEE PAGE SIX
BNT ‘ADVISED AGAINST’ AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES PARTNERSHIP THE Bahamas National Trust has spoken out against a $2.1 billion proposed agriculture and fisheries partnership with China, saying it has previously expressed its reservations for such an initiative to government officials. Bahamas Ambassador to China Paul “Andy” Gomez told the BNT in October that government had given him the task of developing a paper exploring the possibility of Chinese investment in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, the group said. According to the BNT, it was Mr Gomez’s intent to convince the Chinese government to commit to the investment. The BNT released a statement yesterday about the proposal after The Tribune reported comments Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries V Alfred Gray made on the radio last week, when he said Mr Gomez had discussed the controversial initiative with the BNT and other agencies. SEE PAGE SIX
FNM DEPUTY QUESTIONS NHI DELAY AFTER HURRICANE By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest
FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest questioned yesterday if the Christie administration will use Hurricane Matthew as an excuse to delay the roll out of National Health Insurance. Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez said Friday that due to the hurricane, it is likely the first phase of NHI will be delayed. SEE PAGE SIX
‘EVERY PENNY’ CARIBBEAN MUSIC FESTIVAL RECEIVED FROM GOVT CAN BE ACCOUNTED FOR By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net
THE attorney for Caribbean Music Festival Ltd has said it is regrettable that the internal affairs of his client’s dealings with the Ministry of Tourism have “contentiously” made it into the public domain, adding that “every penny” received from the government and spent can be accounted for and verified. A war of words between Minister of
Tourism Obie Wilchcombe and former company director Alfred Sears was reignited last week, after the former told a journalist that Mr Sears must be the one to answer for why the Caribbean Muzik Festival has been delayed. A press release issued by Obi Pindling, attorney for the company, sought to clear up lingering questions over the controversy. “It is with deep regret that the internal affairs of the company and the BaSEE PAGE 14
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
By RASHAD ROLLE and LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporters THE College of the Bahamas will mark its transition to university this week with numerous activities leading up to its charter day on Thursday. And while many are celebrating the impending change, Mark Humes, a lecturer at COB and former president of the Union of Tertiary Educators of the Bahamas (UTEB), said while he thinks the transition is a “good thing” he feels that the current move is a “political ploy.” “I don’t know if there’s any country anywhere that wouldn’t want to have a prestigious university as the centre of its educational system,” Mr Humes, current Free National Movement candidate for Fort Charlotte, said. “So, COB transitioning to a university is a good thing. Whether or not COB is adequately prepared to transition to university is another thing. “The unfortunate thing for me, in all of this, is that the transition at this time, I SEE PAGE 14
PAGE 2, Monday, November 7, 2016
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DEFENCE FORCE SEIZES TWO DOMINICAN VESSELS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net OFFICERS and marines of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force arrested two Dominican fishing vessels on the high seas last week, while several other vessels, believed also to be Dominican, escaped the Great Bahama Bank. More than 100 Dominicans were poaching in the area before Defence Force officers and marines, led by Lieutenant William Sturrup, apprehended 50 poachers on Wednesday, according to one Defence Force officer. Nonetheless, Acting Defence Force Commander Captain Tellis Bethel said the apprehension of the Dominicans signals the force’s increasing success in countering poachers. Their success is attributed in part to the government’s acquisition of several defence force vessels in recent years. “Our customers think (we are doing a better job responding to poaching),” Captain Bethel told The Tribune on Friday. “The Bahamian clientele, the local fishermen, they have been reporting huge catches on the Bahama Bank such as they have never seen before over the last ten, some say 20 years. There is some evidence that as a result of the Defence Force conducting its patrols with the recent acquisition of its patrol crafts, we are beginning to roll back the Dominican poachers. Years ago they were able to fish at will, but now because of the presence of the Defence Force they really have to exercise caution when they do what they do. We are in a position where we are able to respond quickly, whether during a regular patrol or responding to a report by fishermen. “Our success owes to greater resources. The acquisition programme under the government’s approved Sandy Bottom project entails acquisition of nine patrol
crafts. All nine have been constructed and delivered. The latest capture involved the most recent delivery of patrol craft, the Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship Madeira.” The Madeira sustained damage during the encounter as a Dominican vessel rammed it while attempting to escape, damaging the hull. “I think (the officers and marines) did extremely well with regard to the incident considering we had ten to 12 foot seas,” Commander Bethel said. “We had a relatively small crew but it was very well executed such that he could apprehend two vessels in one incident.” During the encounter officers captured a significant amount of fish that was on board the Dominican vessels. The Dominican poachers captured will now be taken to court and charged for illegally fishing in the Bahamas.
LEFT: Captain Tellis Bethel, Acting Commander, and Acting Senior Lieutenant William Sturrup, Commanding Officer, HMBS Madeira, are pictured after two Dominican vessels were seized and their crews taken into custody. PHOTOS: Shawn Hanna
SUPPORT GROWS FOR PETITION AGAINST PROPOSED $2.1BN ANDROS DEVELOPMENT
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
SUPPORT is quickly mounting for a petition against the consideration and granting of a $2.1 billion proposal for the development of agriculture and fisheries in Andros that was pitched to the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources by the government’s ambassador to China. The petition, titled “Bahamians Against Chinese Fishing” was created last Thursday by environmentalist and ReEarth Director Sam Duncombe amid revelations that the Bahamas Embassy in China was given the nod to discuss the deal with Chinese investors. Created with a target goal of 10,000 signatories, the request calls upon Prime Minister Christie “to cancel any and all negotiations on the proposed Chinese Fishing/Agriculture venture and to keep fishing 100 per cent for Bahamians.” “Additionally we urge that crown lands be granted to Bahamians for farming and that the back log of ap-
‘Bahamians against Chinese fishing’ has target goal of 10,000 signatories plications for crown lands be assessed as a matter of priority” the petitioners further demand. The petition had collected 3,860 supports up to press time yesterday where one of the supporters dubbed the proposal as a “scary prospect.” “The Chinese factory ships will make the Dominicans, and local poachers alike look like fair weather amateurs . They will leave barren sea beds, and fish out pelagic stocks. Think they would travel half way around the world, at great expense if they had any fish left in their own waters?” asked Mark K. “Bahamians have been fighting the Dominicans to secure and protect their livelihood and now the individuals in government are willing to sell their livelihood out to another nationality?” Suzette K, another signatory questioned. “We already have over
fishing issues with poachers from around us. Why would we allow China who has a proven tract record of poor fishing habits to come in and destroy our natural resources?” Kenville L asked. According to an earlier report, the proposed partnership will entail the incorporation of 100 companies, with the agricultural products and seafood to be used for local consumption, and exported to China and the United States for sale. The proposal also reportedly includes the option to lease 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister V Alfred Gray has since explained that Bahamas Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Paul “Andy” Gomez had submitted the proposal as an overview of items that he sought clearance from the government to discuss with investors in China. As the social media
FIVE PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR DRUG POSSESSION OVER THE WEEKEND POLICE arrested five people for drug possession in four separate incidents. According to a report from police, around 2.30pm on Saturday during an operation on Colebrooke Street, a man was arrested in Harbour Island after officers allegedly found seven pounds of marijuana and a quantity of cocaine in his possession. Officers also seized just over $11,000 in cash from the man, which they suspect to be the proceeds of crime. Police also arrested two residents of Nassau Village on Friday. The two men were picked up shortly after 2am, when officers from the Mobile Division, acting on a tip, executed a search warrant at a home located at Catherine Street, Nassau Village. Police said they allegedly uncovered just over 10 pounds of marijuana in the home. Then, shortly after
3.30pm Friday, officers in Harbour Island arrested a man who had a quantity of marijuana in his possession. Officers were on routine patrol when they observed a man sitting under a tent acting suspiciously. The man on seeing the officers fled on foot, police said. The officers gave chase and caught him after a short foot chase. Police also arrested a woman for possession of marijuana on Thursday. Shortly after noon, officers from the Southeastern Division acting on intelligence, executed a search warrant at a home located at Lexington Avenue off Wulff Road, Nassau Village, where they uncovered a quantity of marijuana. An adult female resident of the home was taken into custody. The suspects are all expected to be arraigned in court this week.
firestorm over the potential implications of such a deal continued, Mr Gray also took aim at The Nassau Guardian, which first published the proposal on Tuesday. He insisted that the newspaper was linked to an opposition candidate, and charged that he would not be a “scapegoat for their mission.” “This narrative as it relates to the Chinese is led by politics,” he said, “and if the Free National Movement, including The Nassau Guardian, wants to be honest, this Chinese involvement in our country came at the hands of (former Prime Minister) Hubert Ingraham.” Mr Gray underscored that it was the previous FNM administration that negotiated for Chinese workers in the Baha Mar deal and gave the Chinese licenses for the rerouting of the airport corridor, and to construct a dock in Abaco. Prime Minister Perry Christie, meanwhile, insisted that he is not “easy” when it comes to Crown land approvals when pressed about the controversial proposal. Mr Christie said while his
administration continues to be accused by critics, he would soon release every proposal that was submit-
ted to the government in relation to Andros, dating back to the very first administration.
PAGE 4, Monday, November 7, 2016
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Mr Christie, is the Bahamas going fishing with China? IT SEEMS that the Christie government is now playing hide-and-seek with the Bahamian people in a proposed China-Bahamas Agriculture and Fisheries Initiative. For some time now we have been asking that Bahamians be informed of all negotiations and/or proposed negotiations enabling China to get more entrenched in our country. This request has been met with stoney silence. The political attitude has been that it is none of the Bahamian people’s business. The matter exploded in the House of Assembly last week when FNM MP Loretta Butler-Turner demanded that Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Alfred Gray explain the permission he had given Bahamas Ambassador to China Paul Gomez to discuss with the Chinese government a proposed $2.1 billion agri-fishing project in Andros. The proposed partnership would entail the incorporation of 100 companies – each to be owned equally by a Bahamian and a citizen of the People’s Republic of China. The Bahamas government would then lease to all of the participating companies – with an option to renew the lease for an unspecified number of additional years – 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros. The agricultural products and seafood that would be produced would be used for local consumption, and exported to China and the United States for sale. In the letter of proposal, sent by Ambassador Gomez to Minister Gray for approval, it was provided that if certain of the benchmarks for the use of the land was not reached and it ended in litigation, the land leases would be cancelled by the Bahamas government. After admitting that he had in fact given the Bahamian Ambassador to China permission to enter into discussions with the Chinese – “I felt as minister, it was a good thing if we can get them to invest in agriculture because agriculture is one of the those industries in the Bahamas where Bahamians seem to lack interest generally speaking” — Minister Gray dismissed The Guardian’s report of the proposal as “utterly false.” “The government,” said Mr Gray, “is not considering the grant of Crown land nor any other matter as set out in the article.” Yet, printed in the same edition of the newspaper – and next to his denial statement – is Mr Gray’s letter in its entirety. And in that letter Mr Gray writes that also to be provided will be: “4 (a) One hundred acres of leased Andros farm land with an option to access one hundred additional acres, provided certain performance benchmarks are attained. Unprofitable entities that end in liquidation will have their land leases cancelled by the Bahamas government.” Mr Gray claimed that only the first page of his letter to Ambassador Gomez was printed by the newspaper. This is not true. The first page of the letter was printed
on the newspaper’s front page next to Mr Gray’s statement in which he dismissed the newspaper’s report as “utterly” false. It was clearly stated that the remainder of the letter was continued to another page inside the newspaper. If Mr Gray is this careless about detail, then he is a dangerous man to draft anything on behalf of the Bahamas government. Being a lawyer, he must have heard the saying – the “devil is in the detail.” Although, Ambassador Gomez said he did discuss the proposal with other interested parties, Deputy Prime Minister “Brave” Davis apparently was not one of them. Mr Davis’ observation was that such a project would conflict with the efforts of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), also on Andros. Prime Minister Christie’s answers were evasive, so it is not certain whether the matter was discussed with him before it went public. If not then it confirms our opinion that Mr Christie is not in control of his cabinet — some of them seem to be on missions of their own. This Chinese partnership should have been discussed around the Cabinet table before there was any thought of Minister Gray drafting any letter approving Ambassador Gomez entering into negotiations with his counterparts in Beijing. And, of course, there is the questionable “wisdom” of Bradley Roberts, who seems to be suggesting that maybe the deal with China would be acceptable, reminding us that there are few jurisdictions left in the world today from which capital can be obtained. He pointed out that the Bahamas is “cash starved” and China and the United Arab Emirates are today the only “two cash rich jurisdictions.” This was also the dilemma that Sarkis Izmirlian faced when his agreement with Harrah’s and Starwood fell through because the Christie government failed to sign the necessary government approvals in time for the agreement to be consummated. When Mr Izmirlian was left high and dry, he too found China to be the only country lending money at the time that he needed new partners. After the experience with Beijing in the Baha Mar catastrophe, it is surprising that Mr Roberts would suggest that the Bahamas walk into the same spider’s web. However, Mr Roberts “was confident that Bahamians will not make decisions that are harmful to their best interests.” We are certain that Bahamians – if they were forewarned of what their leaders were plotting — would be more cautious. However, after the Baha Mar stumble, we have no further confidence in our “leaders.” That is why Bahamians should insist on knowing what further business government is planning with Beijing so that they too can sit around the table to help make decisions in their own best interest.
Govt’s disastrous agricultural projects EDITOR, The Tribune. EVERY agricultural project the government has been involved in that I know of has been a disaster. The thriving Hatchet Bay Farm, which helped provide full employment in Eleuthera, collapsed under the PLP. The starving cows at BARTAD on Andros were a national disgrace under the PLP government. And we all know the story of BAMSI under the PLP. Well, some of it. Virtually every venture this government has touched using taxpayer’s
money has been a fiasco. Their foray into matters they know absolutely nothing about has added heavily to our national debt. It has contributed significantly to our financial downgrades and the precarious position we now find ourselves in. It is the government’s job to create a business and investment friendly environment – not to throw away public funds on flights of fancy. While on the subject of agriculture, perhaps Minister Alfred Gray can tell us what happened to the cascarilla plants that were
removed from his Acklins constituency for research at BAMSI? Did any of those plants survive? Did all the lime trees that we spent a fortune on end up in the ground at BAMSI and how many have survived? Was inventory taken? What has BAMSI cost the public to date? Is there a profit and loss statement? What exactly is going on at BAMSI? ATHENA DAMIANOS Nassau, November 4, 2016.
‘The Great Betrayal 2.0’ EDITOR, The Tribune. I hold no brief for Virginius Alfred Gray, Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries (PLP-Mical), and have never subscribed to his front role in national politics. This is one cabinet member who is totally out of his depth and does not, from long time, know what the hell he is doing or what it is that he is supposed to do. He has long proven to be an unmitigated disaster. Foot in mouth disease sits right up there in cabinet. We had the saga some years ago with Sidney Stubbs, et al, bringing in some South Korean fishing boats made out of concrete, to be deployed to “enhance” fishing in The Bahamas. None of the boats, stored in Andros, were ever operative and did not haul in a single sardine. The loose talk was all about “food security” and “food sustainability” even back then. Stubbs fell on his own political sword after all sorts of alleged scandals and righteous indignation. The boats are probably still in Andros or may have been crushed to make fill for BAMSI’s foundation. No one knows what the hell happened to those boats and Stubbs has not been seen in a long time anywhere here in The Bahamas. When the roll out and ground breaking of BAMSI were announced the conflicts and misstatements started. The PM estimated that BAMSI would cost somewhere in the region of 20-25 million dollars. “Foot in Mouth” quickly opined that it would be nearer to 50 million dollars! Today, years later, no one is talking about the “real” costs much less if and when the burned down male dormitory building will ever be reconstructed. So far, BAMSI has produced a few bananas and some papaya. We could buy these same items, at better quality and at a cheaper rate, from Super Value or Budget Consumer Meat Mart. All BAMSI has proven to be so far is a repository for the political hacks in the PLP who believe that they are real farmers with assorted degrees in agronomics and patently ineffectual diplomatic assignments with all of the perks and access to the fabled gravy train. Virginius promised Bahamian farmers, way back in 2012 that once the PLP would have been re-elected that he, if reappointed as Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries,
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net would make available a minimum of B$10,000; access to heavy farm equipment and, of course, ten acres of Crown Land. This, of course, was the flambay of the highest order. Gray is prune to shooting himself in the political foot. He now says that we “need the Chinese to farm” because Bahamians do not like farming!! Gray, merely by these patently stupid statements should resign or be fired. What the hell is he the Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries for if he is going to tell all of you unwashed masses, that he does not believe that you all are smart enough or have sufficient motivation to engage in farming? Agriculture and fisheries sent many of my generation, inclusive of the so-called leaders we have today, to high school and universities. Now, according to Moon Beam Gray, we are not interested? This man is useless and a gross political liability to the very survival of the Gold Rush legacy. This is part two of the Great Betrayal by this administration, which I 99 per cent support when it gets it right. When supposedly astute politicians like my leaders allow this obviously challenged member of the cabinet to shoot off with shaving cream, someone must pull him back in. He is a loose miniscule and irritating ‘mini-mi’. I now know why it is alleged that decades ago, a former PM could not stand the best bone in Gray and perceived him as a rank political opportunist who did not have an ounce of so-called Christianity, or so they say, in his smallest of bones. That might well be the case, but it leaves much to be desired. Successive administrations seem to love giving foreign elements 10,000 acres of Crown Land, but will not allocated a single acre to an indigenous Bahamian for any purpose. Yet, they say, “we believe in Bahamians”? I am sure that they do but this only applies to those who would have been long dead and gone. Gray, I submit, is a political snake oil salesman and an ice cream man of no mean order. The FNM , et al, did this same foolishness with the IGroup years ago. It was Gray, et al, who were caught up in the mix of this now dead in
the water project over in MICAL. In any event, it would be a great betrayal of the people of this nation to even consider such a stupid and pie-in-the-sky plan. The Chinese will not spend or invest a dime of their money unless they have full control of any project and import their complement of required labour. It is as simple as that. To farm 10,000 acres in Andros, the Chinese will have to bring in a minimum of 1,500 of their nationals. Place them in Andros, where the males will have to be “comforted” then you are able to appreciate and comprehend the societal and cultural possible dislocation. I predict that a large percentage of the live births a year after the arrival of the hordes of Chinese agricultural and fisheries experts are imported, will have distinctive features and walk. No, I am not xenophobic or anything of that sort. I am, however, a realistic person or I try my best to be. Money is important but at what cost and from whom? We do not need to inject any foreigners into our agriculture or fisheries industries and if the PLP were to do this, it will lose the next general elections, big time. The PM and the Deputy Prime Minister, must immediately disavow such a cock eyed scheme being hatched by Virginius Alfred Gray and the politically naïve and nebulous Ambassador to China. The PLP is already highly unpopular and perceived to be in the total embrace of the Chinese. We need to extract ourselves, gently but seriously, from what might well be a fatalistic hug. The great betrayal 2.0 has been, apparently, launched, without cabinet approval or knowledge by a rogue minister. No one minister is bigger than the people, not even the PM. If we must, let’s borrow some millions from the Chinese to invest in agriculture and fisheries. We could guaranteed that nation a 50 per cent of our catch or agricultural produce but they need not and must not be injected, wholesale, into those areas. To God then, in all things, even those church yard loving parliamentarians, be the glory. RTLAND H. BODIE O JR. Nassau, November 6, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 7, 2016, PAGE 5
FNM’S MARK HUMES CONFIDENT OF WIN IN FORT CHARLOTTE
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE Free National Movement’s candidate for Fort Charlotte Mark Humes is confident he can pull off a win in the next general election, saying his campaign has received a “tremendous reception” despite the seat being held by the Progressive Liberal Party PLP for the last three elections. He also said he would not get sidetracked by mudslinging and political tactics. One of his aims, he said, has always been to change the way politics is usually done. Mr Humes, the former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) chairman who unsuccessfully contested the seat for the third party in 2012, was ratified by the FNM in September to battle the PLP’s candidate, Alfred Sears, QC. Mr Humes, a native of the Chippingham community, is confident of his chances to score an upset over Mr Sears who, in many political circles, is favoured to win the contest. Mr Sears represented the area from 2002 to 2012, before stepping away from frontline politics. FNM MP Dr Andre Rollins, who ran on the PLP’s ticket in 2012, is the current representative for the area. “I’m excited about what’s taking place on the ground with us,” Mr Humes said. “I’m excited about the numbers of persons coming on the campaign team and I’m looking forward to a good race. We’ve started walking and showing our presence in the area and we’ve received tremendous reception. Everything is going tremendously well in Fort Charlotte.” He believes his chances of being elected are greater this time around as “the FNM has a solid base in Fort Charlotte.”
“If you look at the result in the past elections, Fort Charlotte is actually an FNM seat. I don’t want to rest on the fact that I’m from Fort Charlotte that it automatically gives me an advantage but coming from the area, I think people recognise that I have a vested interest in the area’s success. So it’s not like someone’s sending me there to be an MP. I’m from there and want to truly represent that community. “So I think the FNM base and with the support I was able to garner in the DNA, if we can maintain both of those, I think the chances are excellent. “I don’t want to come across as overconfident but I think if I continue to do what it is I’m doing on the ground, and continue to let people across the political spectrum to get to know me and meet me, I’m extremely confident that we could succeed.” Mr Humes, a lecturer in the School of English Studies at the College of the Bahamas, received 519 votes in the area in 2012. Mr Humes joined the FNM in April. He resigned from his post as DNA chairman in July 2013, saying the decision was personally motivated and in keeping with his principles and what he believes to be “right and true”. The FNM’s candidate was asked if he was concerned about the potential mudslinging during the campaign trail. Mr Humes said: “This is politics and when you get into it, you expect that people are going to try and level negativity towards you. “Once you understand that that’s what it is, you really don’t see it as anything more than politics and you move on. If you get side tracked by it, this would not be the life for you. I’ve watched politics over the
MARK Humes speaks at a recent FNM rally. years with my grandfather when he entered into politics in the 1970s. And I watched it in not just this country but in the United States as well and it’s just a part of the game. “It’s what has kept good people out of politics for a long time because most fear that once they get in, there will be the kinds of tactics, but for me, I know that I have to fight through anything anybody throws at me. “There are some unfortunate things about it and I don’t know if people really understand the magnitude of these actions, I think they just see it as politics, but when you look at it, the actions impact so many different people around you. It’s a serious thing and that’s why I got into politics initially, is to change the way we’ve been doing politics, to change these nasty tactics and get people and politicians to understand that we don’t have to be these things we’ve created over the years. “I’m here to stay because I think I have a purpose and part of that purpose is to change the way politics has been done over the years,” he concluded.
CALSEY JOHNSON TO RECEIVE SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD CALSEY Johnson, Bahamas High Commissioner to Canada, is the recipient of the Sir Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented at the Bahamas Press Club Media Awards on November 19, the club announced yesterday. The award, to be presented at the British Colonial Hilton, is named in honour of the long time Publisher and Editor of The Tribune. It is sponsored by the Bahamas Telecommunications Company and is one of a host of awards to be given out to media professionals. A veteran broadcaster, Mr Johnson got his start in July, 1959, when the late Eric Wilmott resigned from ZNS, the national station, creating a vacancy in the newsroom. He transferred from the Public Treasury’s Audit Department and became a news reporter. To add to his on the job training, Mr Johnson enrolled in and successfully completed a British Broadcasting Corporation correspondence course, broadening his knowledge of news writing, feature writing and broadcasting. Mr Johnson was appointed Acting News Editor in 1966 and after completion of a two-year in-service scholarship at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in
CALSEY JOHNSON, veteran broadcaster and Bahamas High Commissioner to Canada. Toronto, Canada, in 1971, he was appointed News Director. In 1972 Mr Johnson was chosen by the Broadcasting Corporation to launch ZNS’ Northern Service in Freeport, Grand Bahama, and stayed for two years as station manager. He returned to New Providence in 1974 and
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was subsequently appointed general manager of the Corporation after the resignation of the late Walter Wisdom. Failing his bid to win a seat as a Progressive Liberal Party candidate in the 1992 general election, he was appointed to the Senate by the late Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling and served until 1998. Mr Johnson was named the Bahamas’ High Commissioner to Canada in 2013 by the Prime Minister. “Calsey Johnson is unquestionably one who paved the way for many of today’s senior broadcasters, most of whom followed him at ZNS,” said Press Club President, Anthony Newbold. “It is therefore with great pride that we reward this pioneer and trailblazer who for many years set the pace in broadcasting in the Bahamas.” At the inaugural Press Club Awards in November, 2015, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Eileen Dupuch Carron, Editor and Publisher of the Tribune and daughter of the late Sir Etienne.
WILCHCOMBE TO SPEAK AT GLOBAL SUMMIT IN LONDON OBIE Wilchcombe, the said that “safety and security Tourism Minister, is among are key pillars of tourism dethe speakers at a global indusvelopment and we need to try summit in London involvstrengthen our common acing government officials and tion to build a safe, secure and private sector companies this seamless travel framework. I week. trust this Summit will help us Ministers of Tourism from move forward on this imporover 50 countries will convene tant common challenge as we at the Ministers Summit orwork to ensure that safety and ganised by the World Tourism security can go hand in hand Organisation (UNWTO) and with promoting a seamless the World Travel Market Lontravel experience.” don to discuss safe, secure and World Travel Market Lonseamless travel. don Senior Director, Simon The 10th edition of the MinPress, said: “Safe and seamister Summit, to be held on No- TOURISM Minister less travel is the key topic for vember 9 under the title ‘Tour- Obie Wilchcombe. all those involved in global ism and Security: Promoting travel and tourism. Safe and Seamless Travel,’ will address the “All the speakers at this year’s summit major safety and security challenges that have direct experience of the impact of terthe sector faces, ways of co-operation and rorism and the fight to keep nations, citieffective crisis preparedness and manage- zens and tourists safe. I look forward to a ment. thought-provoking and productive discusUNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai sion”.
PAGE 6, Monday, November 7, 2016
MINNIS CALLS FOR GRAY TO RESIGN FROM PAGE ONE
He stressed: “But if this under the table deal is allowed to stand, only the Chinese will benefit. We must not - under any circumstances - allow these negotiations to go on. “As leader of the Free National Movement, as leader of the (Official) Opposition, we call upon the Christie-led government to cease and desist in the underhanded deals that would give away our land, give away our heritage, give away our birthright, give away our fishing grounds and finally, give away our sovereignty. During his term in office, the Prime Minister and his PLP government have kow-towed, bowed and scraped to the Chinese overlords from time and time again. “But this time, this time, he and his minister have gone too far. And they know that they’ve gone too far to give away our peo-
ple’s rights, resources, land and birthright for a bowl of porridge is despicable and unacceptable. “Let me make this patently clear. The FNM will do everything in its power to stop Prime Minister Christie and his government from giving away the (thousands of) acres of Crown land and the rights to our Bahamian exclusive economic zone and fishing grounds to foreign states, the agents of foreign states, companies in anyway associated with citizens of foreign states, and any other foreigners. “And we call out all freedom loving Bahamians to join us in this righteous cause. This is a righteous cause and we must deal with it.” His comments came during a press conference at the FNM’s Mackey Street headquarters before a crowd of party supporters. Dr Minnis said he and his opposition team are unified
cifically demands that one be produced. His decision comes amid low voter registration and a concern that the process has been too burdensome for some Bahamians. Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson told The Tribune yesterday: “I understand that the parliamentary commissioner has accepted advice that when a person intends to register for a second or subsequent time, a voter’s card may be presented to enable that person to register to vote. “If the parliamentary commissioner is of the view that the person attempting to register for a second or subsequent time was improperly on the register he may ask questions and demand such documents to enable him to satisfy himself that the person was properly on the register. “To be clear, where the voter was properly on the previous register, the presentation of his/ her voter’s card is sufficient to enable him/her to register on the new register.” Mr Hall previously said the registration process is not too burdensome, and that the requirement to produce a passport or a birth certificate was consistent with practices since 1992. After meeting with members of the Constituencies Commission, he sought advice from the director of legal affairs in the Office of the Attorney General concerning whether Baha-
Mr Gray also said the idea was pitched to the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources by the government’s ambassador to China, and not the Chinese government or investors. Since news of the proposal broke last week, officials in the Christie administration have said that the proposal is not before the government or Cabinet for consideration. However, Mr Gray has said he gave Mr Gomez the go ahead to have discussions with Chinese investors about the proposal, which would entail the incorpora-
and opposed “to this giveaway”. “And we put the Chinese government on notice that upon election to office, the Free National Movement government will immediately and vigorously review and cancel any secret agreement or deal which proposes to give away our land, or rights to our fishing ground for years to any foreign government.” According to an earlier report the proposed partnership will entail the incorporation of 100 companies, with the agricultural products and seafood to be used for local consumption, and exported to China and the United States for sale.
The proposal also includes the option to lease 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros. Mr Gray has since explained that Bahamas Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Paul “Andy” Gomez had submitted the proposal as an overview of items that he sought clearance from the government to discuss with investors in China. As the firestorm over the potential implications of such a deal continued, Mr Gray also took aim at The Nassau Guardian, which first published the proposal on Tuesday. He insisted that the newspaper was linked to an opposition candidate,
VOTER CARDS CAN BE USED FOR ELECTION REGISTRATION
FROM PAGE ONE
FROM PAGE ONE
FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis
mians could use their voter’s card from the previous election when seeking to register for 2017. Some who attempted to re-register by producing their voter’s card had been denied the opportunity to do so as they were told to produce a passport to re-register. This, some argued, disenfranchised some Bahamians including those who can’t afford a passport. Up to yesterday, about 57,000 Bahamians had registered to vote. This is a considerably lower tally compared to the previous election cycle, when about 79,000 additional people were registered by this point, according to Mr Hall who mentioned the statistic on a radio show last month. Mr Hall nonetheless said he expects a massive surge in voter registration going forward. Last month, he indicated to The Tribune that he did not believe a voter’s card alone suffices during the registration process. “If they registered in 2012, what politicians want me to do, is accept the 2012 card for 2017,” he said. “My position is, some of those people didn’t get their cards by producing a birth certificate or passport. Suppose some of those voters got their cards by deception?”
tion of 100 companies, with the agricultural products and seafood to be used for local consumption, and exported to China and the United States for sale. The proposal also reportedly includes the option to lease 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros. According to the BNT, Mr Gomez spoke to the agency about the matter “unexpectedly” in October. “Ambassador Gomez spoke briefly with Eric Car-
ey, executive director of the BNT, and a representative of the Bahamas Reef Environment and Education Foundation (BREEF) about this matter. “We wish to confirm that the conversation took place unexpectedly at an event in mid-October at the Melia Hotel organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The executive director of the BNT and representatives from BREEF were presenters at an event focused on
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and charged that he would not be a “scapegoat for their mission.” Mr Gray underscored that it was the previous FNM administration that negotiated for Chinese workers in the Baha Mar deal and gave the Chinese licenses for the rerouting of the airport corridor, and to construct a dock in Abaco. Prime Minister Perry Christie, meanwhile, insisted on Friday that he is not “easy” when it comes to Crown land approvals when pressed about the controversial proposal. Mr Christie said while his administration continues to be accused by critics, he would soon release every proposal that was submitted to the government in relation to Andros, dating back to the very first administration. At yesterday’s press conference, Dr Minnis stressed that Bahamians have been waiting for years to be approved for their Crown land requests. “Yet the PLP’s Chinese allies just snapped their fingers and they are considered for (thousands of) acres of our land. Why is this so? This government owes the people a straight
FROM PAGE ONE Pressed on why, Dr Gomez said it “may be logical that there may be some slight delay because of the hurricane.” Asked about this on Friday, Prime Minister Perry Christie did not give a precise answer. It is unclear how the hurricane could cause the NHI to be delayed, as officials have not said if damage to public buildings could impact the roll out or if there is a financial problem. Mr Turnquest said: “The reality is the hurricane has nothing to do with NHI. “The government indicated from the outset that there’s going to be no taxes, no additional cost as it relates to NHI’s initial phase because they already had the money for it in the budget. “The consequence of the hurricane, for which we borrowed $150 million, should therefore have nothing to do with National (Health) Insurance. I think the prime minister is coming to the realisation that NHI is an expensive undertaking, that there’s no such thing as a free lunch and given all the circumstances that exists in the country today, in terms of current debt,
BNT ‘ADVISED AGAINST’ AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES PARTNERSHIP
V ALFRED GRAY the environmental impact of Hurricane Matthew. “During a question and answer session, Ambassador Gomez asked if the Bahamian fishing sector had ‘maxed out’ or whether there were still opportunities that could be explored. We replied that our fisheries were already under pressure, especially from poachers,” the BNT said. The BNT noted that last week the Royal Bahamas Defence Force intercepted and captured two vessels from the Dominican Repub-
THE TRIBUNE
FNM DEPUTY QUESTIONS NHI DELAY AFTER HURRICANE recurring debt and negative growth in GDP, NHI is just a bridge too far. “We really can’t afford that no matter how noble the cause. “Hopefully he will not scrap it because there is a desperate need for catastrophic coverage. But this could provide an opportunity to rethink the formula and the plans,” Mr Turnquest added. Mr Christie said in August that he hopes the primary healthcare phase of NHI is rolled out by January 2017. His timeline seemed optimistic in light of the fact that government consultants told the press that NHI cannot be implemented until the public insurer is up and running. While requests-for-proposals were submitted in August for this purpose, with two months to January, it’s unclear how far along the process of selecting a company is. Observers are also awaiting the release of regulations for NHI’s first phase.
lic with 50 illegal fishermen, who were poaching in the southern Bahamas, to underscore this point. “Ambassador Gomez said he had been charged by the government to develop a paper exploring the potential for Chinese investment in both the agricultural and fisheries sectors. “The ambassador stated that his intent was to seek to convince the Chinese government to commit to a $2.1 billion investment over a 10year period,” the BNT said. “The BNT and BREEF representatives both expressed deep concern about this proposal and immediately advised against such an idea. Later - at our insistence – the BNT’s executive director and director of science and policy met with Ambassador Gomez and Eugene Newry, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives from BREEF were also present. “At this meeting we reiterated our concerns, pointing out that the Chinese fishing fleets are considered one of the greatest threats to the
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answer as to why the prime minister and his ministers put the Chinese allies above the interest of the Bahamian people. “Does the prime minister and his PLP government realise the true scale of the Bahamian land they are proposing to give away? Allow me to put this in perspective so that they and the entire Bahamas can put into perspective what we are talking about. “Twenty thousand acres is almost four times the size of Bimini. “It is more acreage than on Rum Cay. It’s almost half the size of New Providence. “It is also half the acreage of San Salvador. “The people of the Bahamas were once colonised by a colonial power and 43 years later, we are at that very same fate of being colonised, once again, by a Communist nation. This is a wake up call for all Bahamians to become engaged in the democratic process by registering to vote. I’m asking all Bahamians who love their country, if you love your people, if you love your children, to register to vote,” the opposition leader warned.
sustainability of global fisheries. “During the discussion, Ambassador Gomez suggested that with the stated intent of the government to support the creation of more marine protected areas, it might seem unreasonable for environmental groups to oppose attempts by the government to encourage more fishing in Bahamian waters, outside of designated marine protected areas.” The BNT said it advised Mr Gomez that the country’s active fishery stocks are either at capacity or “are on the road to collapse.” “We have scientific evidence that the Nassau Grouper and, to a lesser degree, the Spiny Lobster must be carefully managed to avoid the very real possibility of commercial extinction, as has already happened in so many of our Caribbean neighbours,” the BNT added. “The BNT advised the ambassador that scientific assessments of our pelagic fish stocks would be necessary before any informed discussion about a possible expansion of the fishery sector can take place. “Ambassador Gomez said he planned to meet with Bahamian fishermen to see if there was any interest in joint ventures with Chinese capital to expand into areas that are not traditionally exploited. “We also advised that although we did not necessarily hold a strong opinion about possible investment in the agricultural sector on Andros, His Excellency’s proposal appeared to conflict with current government policy, which takes account of the fragile ecosystems that Andros supports. “We referenced specifically the Andros EcosystemBased Master Plan funded by the Inter-American Development Bank that is currently being formulated by technical experts in the Office of the Prime Minister.” The BNT said it has also written to Minister of Environment Kenred Dorsett about its concerns, recommending extreme care and caution in any advancement of this idea.
insight@tribunemedia.net
the stories behind the news
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2016
Is Christie closing the deal on a nation for sale?
“Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will recognise them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” – Matthew 7:15-16
For a party that supposedly believes in Bahamians, the PLP are choosing a dangerous suitor, Malcolm J Strachan says
T
his week has not been kind to the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and our dotting Prime Minister, nor the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources. We have had the revelation that under this administration, the PLP were actually contemplating giving the Chinese government 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros as part of some agricultural-fisheries deal. This proposal, on its face, would destroy the fishing and farming industries in this country. Bahamians were incensed. But did our government recognise that they were out of step with their people and correct course? Not for one second. They dug their heels in, and castigated their own people for daring to raise the alarm about the further intrusion of the Chinese in the Bahamian economy. This caused many around the country to continue to question why is this administration so hell bent on following behind the Chinese? Why is this PLP administration so beholden to Beijing? The irony that the PLP came into office preaching a message of nationalism (Believe in Bahamians) has not escaped the electorate either. The sheer audacity of them! Mind you, the concerns were already there with Baha Mar, the Hilton, the Pointe, and now only raised further when the possible purchaser of Baha Mar was named as another Chinese firm. But this new deal in Andros was the final straw. There was no excuse for it, and when it was finally made public, what did the government do? They lied. They lied, and fortunately for us, they were caught and called out for it. The Free National Movement has called for V Alfred Gray to resign, but that is not enough. The Prime Minister has had his party take another hit in the political polls, but that too is not enough. This PLP administration must go. They have proven to be an administration that does not govern with the Bahamian people’s best interest in mind. They have betrayed the Bahamian people on the Gaming Referendum. They failed yet again on the Gender Referendum, and in both instances, failed to do the honourable things and step aside. They have been poor stewards of the public’s finances, they have failed to keep us safe in our own homes, and even in the event of an act of God, they have failed to provide the necessary relief to residents as seen in Hurricanes Joaquin and Matthew. So who actually is the PLP looking out for? It can’t be the Bahamian people. No government that claims to love its citizenry would dare jeopardise their independ-
ence by placing the nation’s entire economy in the hands of a communist state. No administration that touts the refrain of “Believing in Bahamians” would say they are looking out for the poor and the downtrodden, then turn around and hand the hurricane restoration efforts over to someone like Shane Gibson. For the love of God, the man was forced out of the Ministry of Housing under Christie’s first term in office and then ultimately was made to resign from Cabinet in the wake of the Anna Nicole Smith scandal ... but this is the man you give carriage over $150 million of the people’s money? They must truly take the Bahamian people for idiots. We need real, radical change in this country, and maybe, just maybe, Bahamians have finally had enough to stand up and demand better. On Friday November 25, a nonpolitical protest has been organised calling for Bahamians across the length and breadth of this country to stand up against this corrupt PLP administration that has taken advantage of its people for far too long. This course of action is admirable and should be supported. We too often simply take to Facebook or the radio to complain about our woes without putting in the effort to do anything about it. We must demonstrate and force this government to come clean on all its dealings with the Chinese. They should put an immediate stop to all their negotiations until the Bahamian people are satisfied that this administration, or any future administration, is actually working for and proposing deals that are in the best interest of this country - not China. We have gone through our dark ages with the PLP in the past. We have endured the shame of being a ‘Nation for Sale’ under the Pindling regime. It looks like Christie is determined to take over where his predecessor left off, and finish the sale. It is up to all of us to ensure that this does not happen. We have to determine what type of nation we want to live in. What type of government we want representing us? One that listens to the people, or one that rules over us. The choice is ours.
V Alfred Gray
• Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net
Gray’s Chinese proposal smells fishy The headline in The Nassau Guardian on November 3 - “Gray Tells a Lie” - is a serious indictment on the character of the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, and if it does not produce a charge of defamation against the newspaper, then it should be incumbent upon the Prime Minister to call for his resignation. In most jurisdictions, it would considered a serious matter for a government minister to lie. When Minister V Alfred Gray in Parliament on Wednesday called upon The Guardian to print the whole letter from him to the Bahamas’ Ambassador in China, one could only wonder what he was referring to, as clearly what was
Allowing a foreign superpower to deplete Bahamian waters would be scandalous, Richard Lightbourn says in the newspaper appeared to comprise the entire letter. Each time that Minister Gray opened his mouth, he seemed to place his foot deeper in it! To suggest that he made it abundantly clear that “no foreigner will ever
“No administration that touts the refrain of ‘Believing in Bahamians’ would say they are looking out for the poor and the downtrodden, then turn around and hand the hurricane restoration efforts over to someone like Shane Gibson.”
get a licence to fish in the Bahamas. Full stop. That is a non-starter. Don’t even bring it up. Non-negotiable is the term I used,” was not supported by the contents of the letter or by the draft document setting out the points of reference.
If, as the Minister states, “No foreigner will ever get a licence,” then why on earth does the fishing industry even form a part of any discussion with the Chinese government? A company incorporated in the Bahamas with less than 60 per cent Bahamian ownership is not regarded as a Bahamian company for annual registration fee purposes but for fishing purposes, it is Bahamian? The proposal, however, makes reference to the establishment of 100 “Participating Companies” which will be granted “fishing licenses” and will be owned 50-50 by both the People’s Republic of China and the Bahamian partner. Does the Minister think that the Bahamian people are so gullible that they will believe that because no foreigners will be on the fishing boats, that the Chinese would not be benefitting from the fishing industry notwithstanding that they will own 50 per cent of each of the 100 Participating
“Is the government intending to replace the Dominican poachers with the surrogates of the Chinese?” Companies and accordingly will receive 50 per cent of the profit? Indeed, something stinks in the State of Denmark! The whole idea smells like a resurrection of the Korean fishing boat scandal several years ago when an influential supporter of the Progressive Liberal Party brought in a Korean fishing fleet to rape our waters. The scheme was, no doubt, intended to benefit a select few supporters. Fortunately, there was such an outcry from the public that the project was halted. In the draft of the Proposed Initiative with the Chinese, it even states that with the realisation that the investment in agriculture
will not produce a “reasonable return” for many years, the Participating Companies “will within months of commencement of operations, realise positive cash flow from the sale of seafood”. What part of that quote, Mr Minister, is the Bahamian public unable to understand? The Minister clearly speaks with forked tongue! When the Minister says “there was no proposal before the Government of the Bahamas or this Minister for any Chinese to enter into fishing in the Bahamas and that is true”, is he trying to suggest that he is not misleading the public because there is no proposal before this government from the Chinese, but we have placed one before them? Clearly on the basis of these discussions, the Chinese will be engaged in our fishing industry in the Bahamian vernacular, “up to their eyeballs”. Another serious aspect of the whole scandal is the See pg8
PAGE 8 MONDAY, november 7, 2016
Email: insight@tribunemedia.net
Would the Cheng family really IN THE be good for the Bahamas? THIS WEEK
TRIBUNE Today Insight - why the Chinese are so anxious to get their hands on Andros Business - a frustrated purchaser has accused Gulf Union Bank (Bahamas) of repeatedly stalling the $7m sale of its largest remaining asset. Sports - Brent Stubbs reports on the Bahamas national softball championships Plus the latest properties for sale and rent in the Home Buyers’ Guide
Tuesday Woman and Health weekly advice on taking care of your mind and body and women making waves in the Bahamas Plus comment from Nicole Burrows and sporting mischief and mayhem with Inigo “Naughty” Zenicazelaya
Wednesday Tribune Tech - a weekly look at what’s new in the world of technology Plus Larry Smith’s forthright Tough Call column
Thursday Obituaries and Religion, a weekly review Young Man’s View trenchant opinion from Adrian Gibson on the hot topics in the country ‘On da Hook’, a weekly look at fishing in the Bahamas
Friday Weekend - a 28-page section devoted to the best in arts, music, fashion, food, books, entertainment, gardening, animal matters, fitness, history and interviews Sports - The Finish Line, a look at the local sports scene, by Brent Stubbs Plus A Comic’s View - Naughty’s unique take on the week in the Bahamas
Saturday The Tribune’s Top 5: a special video review of the week’s top stories by Khrisna Virgil on www. tribune242.com Every day in The Tribune, news, business, sports, weather and Classifieds Trader - the best guide to cars for sale, real estate, help wanted and more. Plus breaking news and updates on your mobilefriendly tribune242.com
A
fter weeks of public questioning of opaque and confusing statements about Baha Mar by Prime Minister Christie and his government, a strange press release was issued by the Chinese company Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, of which the Cheng family of Hong Kong is the major shareholder. Late on a Thursday, nearly a year-to-the-day after the China ExportImport Bank (CEXIM) installed receivers to oversee the Cable Beach mega resort and an eventual sale, Chow Tai Fook felt it was important to inform all of us that it is negotiating with the rather mysterious Perfect Luck Assets Ltd, the CEXIM entity, to possibly buy the Baha Mar property. But who is the Cheng family? When the family patriarch Cheng Yu Tung died in September, his obituaries touted his status as the third wealthiest tycoon in Hong Kong. Yet what went unmentioned in these obituaries is the hardknuckled business that made Mr Cheng’s fortune, and the thugs that maintained order in his casinos, nor the politicians that protected his empire. One does not have to go further than public records to find at least 15 documented criminal connections to Mr Cheng’s businesses. Interestingly, Mr Cheng’s partnership with Stanley Ho in the gaming company Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau (STDM) would almost certainly disqualify him from casino licensure in the United States. His situation would not be dissimilar to when, in 2010, a US gambling regulator found Mr Ho’s daughter, Pansy, to be an unsuitable partner for a joint venture with MGM Resorts based on her father’s relationship to organised crime. Regulators around the world, including Australia, Canada and the Philippines, have rejected Mr Ho as “unsuitable” to a hold a gambling licence. Ho and Cheng, according to public commentary, have given free rein to China’s criminal groups, known as Triads, to run their casinos in Macau. In case you haven’t heard of the Triads, their group, numbering in the tens of thousands, have been linked to transnational crimes including drug smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering. In 2013, a major regulator from the US, testifying on Macau, said that it “is common knowledge, the operation of VIP Rooms in Macau casinos had long been dominated by Asian organised crime, commonly referred to as ‘Triads’.”
Malcolm J Strachan reveals a dark side to Baha Mar’s prospective buyers and a dangerous gamble on the resort’s future
Family patriarch Cheng Yu Tung ran businesses linked to organised crime and given free rein to Triad gangs. The criminals, often convicted of violence or human trafficking, that did business with Ho’s and Cheng’s casino company can all be found in the public record: • Wan Kuok Koi (aka, Broken Tooth Koi) - Head of the 14K Triad gang in Macau, Wan was arrested in 1998 in Macau in the wake of a Triad war that led to more than 42 killings over a period of three years. Wan was convicted of Triad-related violent crimes and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Court records show that Wan operated VIP gambling clubs in STDM casinos during the 1990s. Following his release from jail, Chineselanguage news outlets reported (with pictures) that Wan had re-established a VIP gambling operation at the Hotel L’Arc, developed and owned for many years by Mr Cheng. • Ng Man Sun – US Securities and Exchange Commission filings from 1996 disclosed that Ngcontrolled enterprises had a casino profit-sharing arrangement with STDM. Currently, Ng claims interest in the Greek Mythology casino under SJM’s casino licence. Ng has been identified in Congressional documents and several Englishlanguage news outlets as a Triad leader. • Lai Tong Sang - Identified by Canadian law enforcement as a leader of the Macau Wo On Lok Triad in Macau, Lai was deported from Canada in 2013. Mr Lai was also implicated by Canadian authorities as being involved in the 1990sera Macau street wars over control over VIP rooms at STDM. More recently, Lai’s children operate a VIP gambling company
Gray’s Chinese proposal smells fishy From pg7 apparent belief that we have an unlimited supply of fish in our waters. Our fishing industry is at a critical level at this stage, and it would
seem that in this government’s quest to appease its greatest investor, it will sell out the Bahamian people. Is the government intending to replace the Domini-
registered out of an SJM property. • Charles Heung Several members of the Heung family, including Charles Heung Wah Keung and Heung Wah Yim, were identified in a 1992 US Senate Subcommittee report as leaders of the Sun Yee On Triad in Hong Kong. Currently, a Charles Heung-controlled firm owns the Hotel Lan Kwai Fong casino, which has a gambling profit-sharing agreement with SJM. • Lau Wing Keung - Government reports, supplemented by extensive mainstream news reporting, reveals that Mr Lau was a top Triad leader, better known by the name “Lau Wing Kui”. A 1992 US Senate Subcommittee report disclosed that Lau at the time worked for STDM in Macau. • Albert Yeung Sau Shing - A twice-convicted felon in Hong Kong, once for attempting to “pervert the course of public justice”
and once for “illegal bookmaking”, Albert Yeung in 2009 was also identified by New Jersey gambling regulators as an alleged senior office bearer of the Sun Yee On Triad. Yeung today has a controlling interest in the Emperor Hotel, which has a gambling profit-sharing agreement with SJM. • Sonny Yeung Hoi Sing - The brother of Albert Yeung, Sonny Yeung was also named in a 2009 report by a New Jersey gambling regulator as a “reputed member of a Triad.” Sonny Yeung is named in 2015 Annual Report of SJM Holdings as a director of a company subsidiary. He has a hotel-casino joint venture with SJM. • Ng Lap Seng - In a 1996 US Senate report, Ng was identified as having collaborated in a scheme to contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreign funds to the Democratic National Committee. A year later the New York Times wrote that Ng was “tied to organised crime” in Macau. In 2015, Ng was arrested in the US for allegedly bribing a United Ntions official. Ng also has had a longstanding ownership interest in the Fortuna hotel-casino in Macau, which operates under SJM’s gambling licence. • Cheung Chi Tai - Identified as a leader of the Wo Hop To Triad in a 1992 US Senate Subcommittee report, Cheung was arrested in 2015 on money laundering charges. Hong Kong court filings, backed up by Macau corporate records, show that Cheung was an owner of the “Neptune” VIP-junket operation that started at SJM’s casino in 2004. • Chan Meng Kam - A
can poachers with the surrogates of the Chinese? By their reference to seafood, one would assume that this will not only involve fish, but also Crawfish, conch and perhaps the few remaining sea cucumbers. The crawfishing industry has had its ups and downs over the last 20 years but continues to be seriously challenged by the Dominican poachers. The Grouper aggregates have, in recent years, been reduced substantially, and unless this is monitored more closely, we stand to lose the most popular Bahamian fish. The conch beds continue to be depleted while government fiddles and continues to allow the export of half a million pounds of conch each and every year. In addition, the Minister fails to properly police the sale of conch so as to prevent the continued killing of juvenile conch. The Minister continues to receive surveys concerning the conch population which demonstrate the critical level which has been reached in many areas, but fails to act upon it. Let the Government be reminded, for perhaps the 100th time,
that the “removal” of conch from the Florida Cays was banned almost 30 years ago, and despite that, the conch have not returned in sufficient numbers so as to enable the authorities to lift the ban. Once they are gone, they are gone! Until relatively recently, the Grand Banks of Newfoundland were regarded as the greatest fishing grounds in the world, and with the arrival of trawlers from all over the world, the schools of fish were decimated. As a consequence the Canadian government imposed a 200-mile exclusive economic zone. In the 1990s, it was necessary for the government to close all major Cod and Flounder fisheries on the Banks altogether, and it is only recently that the Canadian government authorised a limited amount of fishing. Instead of taking heed of situations such as these, our government sits back and not only ignores the challenges faced by others, but is prepared to negotiate with the Chinese in participating with Bahamians to create a massive scheme to deplete and ultimately destroy our fragile fishing industry. Although experience has
“When the family patriarch Cheng Yu Tung died in September, what went unmentioned in his obituaries were the hardknuckled business that made Mr Cheng’s fortune, and the thugs that maintained order in his casinos, nor the politicians that protected his empire.”
2010 Secretary of State cable, made public by Wikileaks, disclosed that Chan is “thought to have major Triad connections”. Macau corporate record filings also show partnerships between Chan and convicted Triads. Chan is chairman of the Macau Golden Dragon Hotel, which includes a casino operating under SJM’s concession. Beyond his casino company STDM/SJM, it has been reported that Cheng has on multiple occasions partnered in other realms of his business dealings with associates who have criminal backgrounds or have widely reputed ties to organised crime: • A Cheng-family firm in 2015 entered into a joint venture with the Macau VIP/junket operator SunCity to develop a casino in Vietnam. SunCity is headed by Alvin Chau Cheok Wa, who has been linked in corporate documents and in mainstream reporting to reputed Triad figures. • Cheng has made substantial investments through the years with companies controlled by Albert Yeung Sau Shing. Yeung has a criminal record in Hong Kong and was named in a 2009 New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement report as the alleged leader of a Hong Kong Triad. • Cheng was partners until recently with Joseph Lau in Lifestyle International Holdings, which operates the SOGO department store in Hong Kong. Lau was convicted in Macau of bribery and money laundering. • Cheng, in 2005, became a substantial shareholder in Get Nice Holdings, a Hong Kong company financing the VIP rooms of Macau. The brother of the company’s chairman was convicted of drug trafficking and was connected in press reports to the Triads. • US officials in 2006 explicitly named Cheng’s Seng Heng Bank as a possible conduit for money laundering in support of North Korea’s nuclear programme. And Cheng was also an investor in a failed hotel venture with Donald Trump. So, the Chow Tai Fook press release is good reading about a lot of fluffy things, but what about all of Cheng’s questionable associations and activities it failed to disclose? What we do not know is whether, in fact, there will ever be a deal for Baha Mar by Chow Tai Fook. But, would the Cheng family really be good for The Bahamas?
• Comments and responses to insight@ tribunemedia.net shown that the Prime Minister is reluctant to remove any of his ministers, this latest debacle would clearly present an opportunity to demonstrate real leadership and remove the minister from the Cabinet. Failure to do so would only suggest that the government sanctions this outrageous proposal to deplete our waters instead of it being only the brainchild of the Minister or the Ambassador to China. If the scheme was not authorised by the government, it is incumbent upon the Prime Minister to say so. Do not let this fiasco replicate the embarrassment caused the government by the Minister’s interference with the judicial process in the MICAL constituency and the failure of the Attorney General’s office to prosecute the matter on the basis that there was conflicting evidence! Isn’t that always the case in matters before the court which were contested? Mr Prime Minister, please take the wheel! • Richard Lightbourn is the Free National Movement MP for Montagu
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 PAGE 9
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
Why public approval is vital for effective policing
Former Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Thompson explains the need for strong and trusting relations between the force and society
E
xperts have long known that the best deterrents to crime are sure detection, swift apprehension and appropriate punishment. Each is a necessary ingredient. To achieve deterrence, police and public must work together, with the latter providing the information and support that the police need. Both have a right to expect that the expertise and effort involved in the capture of criminals will be followed by speedy trials and realistic punishments. Police relations with the Bahamian public have improved immensely since the introduction of community policing by former Commissioner Paul Farqhuarson some years ago. This practice has been continued by subsequent commissioners. The upward-trending crime rate has caused us to realise that we are all exposed to the same dangers and this has
brought us closer to law ensafety are excellent testimoforcement in our search for nies which can only enhance safety and security. This impublic trust. proved community relationSometimes journalists will ship has led to a higher rate develop stories about abuse of of detection and arrests, as authority, dereliction of duty well as a fall in certain types or outright corruption by poof crime. lice officers. Both society and As part of his responsibilithe police benefit by the expoties, the Commissioner of Posure of such abuses. lice provides the government with a yearly plan, which in“A lawyer’s cludes measures to combat crime and secure the country POLICE giving a briefing to the media at a double murder scene commitment is to from criminals. This plan also in Grand Bahama last week. Paul Thompson says the key to defend his client. seeks to motivate police offic- meaningful co-operation between the police and the press is for ers to adhere to their oath of each to understand the role of the other. And many offenders office, which reads: PHOTO: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS caught red-handed “We shall perform our office and the statement of duties in a manner which common purpose, the Com- victims. It described police during a break-in or respects individual human missioner’s plan contains successes in the fight against with stolen property rights and fairness, sensitiv- matters pertaining to admin- crime, and helped to promote or illegal weapons ity and compassion. Yet we istration, personnel, train- public trust in the police. Police officers are professhall act in firm pursuit of all ing, accommodations, crime in their possession offenders of our laws, so as prevention education, finance sionally crippled if they cannot effectively communicate would plead not to ensure a just and safe soci- and budget, as well as crime the strengths and needs of guilty if represented ety where neither crime or the fighting strategies. the police service to the comfear of crime adversely affects I think most would agree munity through good public by a lawyer. This is the quality of life. that our police have been very “We shall accomplish these successful in the areas of de- relations - especially media their right, but they goals with a high degree of tection and prevention, as we relations. We are fortunate in the Ba- are often unduly professionalism, through have seen a reduction in crime hamas to still have a reason- influenced by their leadership and teams of indi- and our detection rate is high viduals who are competent, in comparison with other po- able relationship between law attorney.” ethical and dedicated. We lice forces in the region. But enforcement and journalism. shall discharge our duties with it could be even better if there And there have been signifiBut we should always recourage, integrity, loyalty were more avenues for effec- cant accomplishments arising from active co-operation member that the large majorand - being ever mindful of a tive public education. between the media and the ity of well-meaning, honest changing environment - with I recall the popular Love officers who are dedicated to a willingness to embrace justi- 97 radio show, Policing Today, police. The media provides invalu- the fair and effective adminfied criticism and the need for hosted by Assistant Commisable publicity that has often change.” istration of justice need to resioner Hulan Hanna, who is Also in the Commission- now retired. This programme resulted in the early appre- ceive the encouragement and er’s annual plan is the state- was a a great asset in terms hension of criminals and the support of the media. ment of common purpose, of police public relations. It success of investigations of The key to meaningful coE3SPORTS which asserts that the police, provided enlightening details wide public interest. And the operation between the popublication of life-saving inin partnership with residents on crime and policing issues lice and the press is for each emergency to understand the role of the and visitors, shall provide a including the identification of structions from Friday, September 30, 2016, PAGE 3 total quality law enforcement high crime areas, descriptions authorities has helped to avert other. Not only should the pothe loss of life and property. service, with emphasis on the of criminal methodologies, lice accept the public’s right to Accounts of police success- know, they must ensure that maintenance of law and order, and the kind of public support the preservation of the peace, needed by the police to help es can underscore the futility journalists receive full supof criminal activities. Photos port at every level. Over my the prevention and detection them be more effective. of police officers at work, 30-year police career, The of crime, the apprehension The show would often point of offenders and the enforce- out crimes that were caused helping people in need, con- Tribune always supported and trolling disorder, executing ment of all laws. by the sheer carelessness of an arrest or risking their own publicised my crime-solving In addition to the oath of efforts.
However, in my experience, relationships between police officers and lawyers are not nearly as cordial as those with the press. A lawyer’s commitment is to defend his client. And many offenders caught redhanded during a break-in or with stolen property or illegal weapons in their possession would plead not guilty if represented by a lawyer. This is their right, but they are often unduly influenced by their attorney. On top of this, long trial delays are often due to adjournments requested by lawyers for various reasons. Delays are an advantage to attorneys as witnesses can disappear, change their testimony or be intimidated; case files or exhibits may be lost. Very often this results in unwarranted acquittals. Police brutality is one of the ploys used by lawyers around the world to make a defence, especially in cases where the accused has already confessed. Lawyers will seek to have confessions thrown out by the court due to allegations of coercion. Investigations have often led to officers being charged and punished for such abuses, so it is not true to say that complaints are swept under the rug. However, it appears that in every case where there is a confession, a lawyer will claim police brutality even though the supporting evidence is inconclusive and in many instances untrue. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of their actions. And the test of police efficiency is the absence or reduction of crime and disorder. Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net
Why everyone can and should go to college GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
For every doubt and question about post-secondary education, Lyford Cay Foundations has a solution - and a successful scholar to prove it
W
hen you are at the top of your high school class and your parents are college graduates, college often seems like the next natural step after graduation. For many of us, education after high school is not even a thought. Or, if it is, it’s a dream that is quickly tossed away once we consider the challenge of applying to and paying for college. That may be why the Department of Statistics estimates that less than one-third of Bahamians have some form of post-secondary education. But the rewards are huge for those who choose college. Consider this: • College graduates can earn as much as 65 per cent more in their lifetime than their peers who only graduate from high school, according to a 2013 study done by US non-profit organisation, the College Board. • Education is widely regarded as the number one way out of poverty, and as per an Inter-American Development Bank study, 13 per cent of Bahamians live at or below the poverty line. • The benefits of a college education extend beyond finances. Generally, those with a college education are healthier, have lower rates of obesity, spend more quality time with their children and are more involved in their communities. It is easy to see why college is an option for everyone. There are those who feel that their situation is far from ideal for college. At the Lyford Cay Foundations, we hear this often. Usually, there are four particular scenarios that come up when talking to those who think college is not an option for them. For each scenario, we’ve encountered Lyford Cay Foundation Scholars with the determination to beat every challenge: No one in my immediate family went to college and
I don’t know anyone who went to college Candera Gilbert, a graduate of R M Bailey High School, can relate to this. She was raised without her father and her mother did not receive an education beyond middle school. Candera’s inner drive to achieve more helped her become a Religion Teacher with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Motivated to counsel students and one day create a girls’ mentoring programme, Candera is now earning her Master’s in Christian Counseling from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’m too old for college After high school, Erica Meus-Saunders went on to have a stellar career for 15 years as a croupier at Atlantis Casino. Even though Erica won many employee awards, she dreamed of the creative arts. Erica went on to study Film Production at Toronto Film School, and is earning a diploma in Screen Arts with Nova Scotia Community College. Soon, Erica will become one of just a handful of Bahamian film producers. I didn’t do well in high school Shawn Minnis left high school after grade 11 to help support his family. Four years later, he returned to school, receiving his high school diploma before completing certifications in maritime studies. Encouraged by the dream of becoming a Power Engineer, Shawn is now attending Holland College in Canada. “My advice to everyone is to seize the opportunity and do not let it go to waste,” shares Shawn. I don’t need college, I’m already doing well for myself! Cleopatra Armbrister had a fulfilling job at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) as a Mortuary Supervisor. After realising that she could make a difference in the lives of many patients,
GAIN AN EDGE
A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
CANDERA Gilbert - studying for a Master’s in Christian Counselling
ERICA Meus-Saunders - joining the ranks of Bahamian film producers
SHAWN Minnis - “seize the opportunity everyone”
Cleopatra decided to apply to Keiser University, Fort Lauderdale, to study histotechnology. She looks forward to returning to PMH to become a part of the team that diagnoses diseases.
So is college for you? If you want to make a difference for your life, your family and for the Bahamas, the answer is yes! NEXT WEEK: Profile of a COB student
“Gain An Edge” is a weekly collaboration of the Lyford Cay Foundations, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and the College of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on higher education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia.net
CLEOPATRA Armbrister hoping to help patients at Princess Margaret Hospital
PAGE 10 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2016
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
Trump, Hillary and the curse of living in interesting times AN EFFIGY depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump holding the head of his rival Hillary Clinton, is set on fire in Edenbridge, England, on Saturday during a Bonfire Night event commemorating Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the UK Parliament in 1605. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA
Voters in the United States and the Bahamas are facing a similar depressing choice between candidates they distrust the least, Richard Coulson says
I
REPEAT what every reader has already learned from every conceivable source: tomorrow’s US election will be the strangest the nation has ever known. Both major parties are losers. The Republican Party, founded by the Great Emancipator Abe Lincoln and continued by such popular moderates as Ike Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan, is being led by Donald Trump, who has lost - indeed spurned - the support of the traditional leadership of the ‘Grand Old Party’. Its core has been shattered beyond repair by a candidate, win or lose, whose bombast inspires the extremes of loathing or adulation. Meanwhile, the Democrats, heirs to the great traditions of Franklin D Roosevelt, Jack Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, march under the banner of Hillary Clinton, enjoying the most lukewarm support of any presidential candidate in recent history. Even for diehard party loyalists, the great potential of being the first female candidate, with unmatched practical experience, has been eroded by her obsessive habits of deception, concealment and financial avarice. Worse, as shown by a recent poll, eight of ten voters have lost faith in the electoral process and cast their ballots doubtful that any national unity will be achieved, and in some cases threatening to revolt against the official results as “rigged”. So who will emerge as the American victor tomorrow? Any columnist should make a clear distinction between what he would like to happen, and what he honestly believes will happen. In the early pre-Trump days of the Republican primaries, I was a firm Republican, supporting Jeb Bush or possibly Marco Rubio, congenitally negative towards Hillary’s brand of economic liberalism with its disdain for capitalist free enterprise. However, once Trump spurted to the nomination, I reversed field, with no great enthusiasm. I decided that Hillary, with all her baggage, was preferable to the incoher-
ent, often racist and sexist rantings of Trump, mouthing impractical policies capped by the meaningless platitude “Make America Great Again”. Surely he would be the loosest cannon ever ensconced in the White House, bringing incalculable risk and disrepute to America’s security and prestige. But will he win? I have consistently accepted the majority view
“The certain prospect of unappealing victory by either major US party sends messages to the Bahamas. Of course, conditions are not parallel - we have, thank the Lord, no politician to match the crude, unapologetic insults of Donald Trump. Whatever Mr Christie’s failings may be (and they are legion), he is a warm-hearted gentleman impossible to dislike at the personal level.” of polls and pundits: not likely. His millions of wildly enthusiastic fans will simply be outnumbered by even more millions of tepid Hillary backers, particularly in electoralheavy states like New York and California. Thirty-three million votes have already been cast; will the remaining estimated 90 million be swung towards ‘The Donald’ by the bizarre revelations (actually, nonrevelations) issued ten days ago by Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Comey? Probably not,
but in this peculiar climate of sudden change, I may be wrong. Yesterday afternoon, Mr Comey announced nothing serious had been found in the e-mails, lifting one cloud at least from over Hillary’s head. I can well understand - and even sympathise with - many of the Trump partisans. Blue-collar workers left behind by the hi-tech revolution, residents of decaying rust-belt towns in the coalfields of West Virginia or the oil-soaked coastal swamps of Louisiana, their interests and their aspirations have been long ignored by the smartypants Republican leadership, the elite “intelligentsia” housed in Congress and in the think-tanks, universities and corporate offices of elegant Washington, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The United States has become two nations, beer v wine, divided not mainly by race but by radically different levels of personal opportunity and life-style, sharing little in common. Unfortunately, the Republicans at the top of the heap could find nobody better than Trump to represent the downside of the economy, and are now reaping the consequences as they are reviled and rejected by his populist rhetoric, and his brash intolerance drives his followers ever deeper into bitter opposition. There is plenty of ignorance and bad judgment to share at both ends of the spectrum. The certain prospect of unappealing victory by either major US party sends messages to the Bahamas. Of course, conditions are not parallel - we have, thank the Lord, no politician to match the crude, unapologetic insults of Trump. Whatever Mr Christie’s failings may be (and they are legion), he is a warm-hearted gentleman impossible to dislike at the personal level.
PERRY CHRISTIE - the Maximum Leader
However, with our election now looming only six months away, voters here are beginning to face the same depressing dilemma as in the US: whom do you distrust the least? As must be admitted by all but Cabinet ministers, Bradley Roberts and party “stalwarts”, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is in deep trouble, despite its history as our dominant party with deep roots in the electorate. Perhaps the near unanimous views of editorial writers and columnists, and the predictable opposition of White (and some Black) Knights from Eastern Road, do not represent true national opinion, but this year the malaise runs much deeper. Conversations, short of a formal poll, with many Bahamian workers and residents of “Over the Hill” constituencies suggest a rolling wave of disillusionment with the PLP and its leadership by Mr Christie. Of course, the alternatives are hardly appealing. The Free National Movement has not recovered from its recent split between
competing leadership, and Dr Minnis, while a tactically successful victor, does not appear to have the gravitas and wise temperament of a national unifier. Many citizens admire the energy and imagination of Branville McCartney in creating the Democratic National Alliance, but do not find it, yet, with enough backing for more than a “spoiler” role. Maybe in a few years ... The PLP is still the party to beat, but its profound errors and deceptions since May, 2012, linked directly to Mr Christie as ‘Maximum Leader’, give it a heavy burden. Thanks to ever-improving media and telecommunications, our citizens are far more aware of public events and are alert to the following flops, among many others: • Rising cost of living caused by the unnecessary and regressive Value Added Tax, bringing no reduction in public debt, just the opposite. • Complete failure to improve our electric power supply after Mr Christie’s grandiose promises in August, 2013. • Total collapse of government’s chosen solution for managing our massive garbage dump on its eversmouldering landfill and its frequent Vesuvius bursts. • No visible evidence of any work to get Baha Mar open, despite Mr Christie’s boasts that a new operator has been found, after 18 months of closure. • National Health Insurance still talk and no results. As long as Mr Christie remains in office, his custom of grandiloquent words followed by careless execution will repeat these consequences of failure. Whether any of his present ministers would be more competent as leader is an open question, but clearly none of them has the nerve to openly contest him. The only change within the PLP comes from Alfred Sears, the personally respected lawyer who returns to the political fray after a few years’ absence. His direct challenge to his old friend Perry faces two major hurdles: first, persuading the official PLP delegates, many firmly entrenched, to vote for him as party leader at next year’s convention; second, assuming success, convincing voters at next May’s general election that he can truly create a “New PLP”. At least, he is the only politician so far to produce a manifesto giving a detailed road map of his policies. Observing the manoeuvres of him, Mr Christie, Dr Minnis and Mr McCartney over the next few months will provide a diverting spectacle, with more open and vigorous debate than in the past, and possibly creating new structures in our political scene. The apocryphal Chinese curse goes, “May you live in interesting times”. We are now in the midst of them. • Richard Coulson is a retired lawyer and investment banker born in Nassau and from a long line of Bahamians. He is a financial consultant and author of A Corkscrew Life - adventures of a travelling financier. Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net
US should not ignore right over might in internet gaming row
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OR over 12 years, the governments of Antigua and Barbuda and the United States have been involved in a contention over an award by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in favour of the Caribbean country over internet gaming. In March, 2004, an Arbitration Panel set up by the WTO found that the US had violated its commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) to allow cross-border access to its market for internet gaming. The adjudication by a WTO panel that Antigua and Barbuda has been deprived of trade revenues, was upheld three times by appeal tribunals. What now exists is a contention over a satisfactory compensatory proposal from the US that would cause Antigua and Barbuda not to implement the WTO award it has been granted. The award authorises Antigua and Barbuda to sell US copyrighted material without having to pay royalties/fees, up to a value of US$21 million a year until the US offers a proposal, acceptable to Antigua and Barbuda, either to settle the matter or to allow access to its market for internet gaming. At any time that the government of Antigua and Barbuda determines that the discussions it has been holding with the US Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) are fruitless, it can notify the WTO of its
World View
this money went to military training from the US Department of Defence, primarily to counter drug trafficking. When this sum is deducted from the US trade surplus with Antigua and Barbuda, the US still benefits by US$1.88 billion.
By SIR RONALD SANDERS intention to implement the judgment and to market US intellectual property without copyright up to US$21 million a year. Antigua and Barbuda has both a moral and a legal right to compensation from the US. It is the US that has violated its international treaty obligations; not Antigua and Barbuda. Indeed, in 2003, the Antigua and Barbuda government, under then Prime Minister Lester Bird, entered good faith consultations with the US to rectify the loss of trade revenues and the damage to the economy. Only after the US declined to provide compensation did Antigua and Barbuda reluctantly ask the WTO to arbitrate the matter. Successor governments, led by former Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and present Prime Minister Gaston Browne, have demonstrated great forbearance over the years since 2004. THE MORAL RIGHT With respect to the moral right, a tiny country with a population of less than 100,000 and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$1 billion has found it-
self at a trade disadvantage, damaging to its economy, because, for over 12 years, the US with a population of 350 million people and a GDP of US$17,947 billion has not found it possible either to reach an acceptable settlement or to allow market access. In addition to not compensating Antigua and Barbuda for its significant loss of revenues, jobs and economic growth, the US has collected the sum of US$1.2 billion in fines, forfeitures and seizures from persons and operators in Antigua and Barbuda up to 2015. The US has also benefitted from a surplus of trade in goods from Antigua and Barbuda over the period 2004 to 2014 in the sum of US$1.89 billion. Adding the trade surplus in goods to the sum the US gained from penalties, seizures and fines imposed on internet gaming persons and businesses that operated in Antigua, the US gain over the period of this controversy is US$3 billion. Over 11 years (20032014) of the internet gaming impasse, US aid to Antigua and Barbuda amounted to US$8.5 million or an annual average of US$776,669. More than 90 per cent of
THE LEGAL RIGHT Antigua and Barbuda is asserting a legal right awarded to it by the WTO, the competent legal authority, empowered by 164 nations of the world and recognised by treaty, to provide a legal and insti-
“In pursuing its right, Antigua and Barbuda, as the injured party, is doing nothing more than following the law and respecting the authority of the World Trade Organisation.” tutional framework for the implementation and monitoring of trade agreements (such as the GATS), as well as for settling disputes arising from their interpretation and application. In pursuing its right, Antigua and Barbuda, as the injured party, is doing nothing more than following the law and respecting the authority of the WTO. If Antigua and Barbuda is forced to implement the award of the WTO, it would be exercising a legal right
just as the US has done in relation to many other countries when arbitration decisions have been made in its favour. PROSPECTS FOR SETTLEMENT Antigua and Barbuda remains determined to reach a settlement that rectifies its loss of trade revenues. Every diplomatic effort is being made to show the US that US$21 million a year is the paltry sum of .000001 per cent of its GDP; indeed, the loss to the Antigua and Barbuda economy of U$$217 million from 2007 to now is a mere .0012 per cent of one year of the US GDP - in other words, it is nothing to the US but it is significant to Antigua and Barbuda. Discussions with the US government are ongoing. The US wants to withdraw its international commitments under the GATS and to restrict its market for internet gaming to its domestic operators only. But it cannot do so until Antigua and Barbuda agrees; there is no likelihood of such an agreement until a settlement is reached. The US has been trying to guard its intellectual property from predators and it would be troubled by Antigua and Barbuda exercising its legal right to sell US copyrighted material without paying fees. Antigua and Barbuda understands and sympathises with the US position. Therefore, if the government decides to implement
the WTO award and to market US intellectual property without the payment of copyright fees, it would only be because it is forced to do so by the absence of an acceptable settlement. There is a growing possibility of this happening as the level of frustration rises. The US utilises the WTO dispute settlement machinery more than any other country; it values the organisation and expects its decisions to be upheld. Therefore, given that the grave and serious loss to the Antigua and Barbuda economy since 2007 is .0012 per cent of one year of the GDP of the US, it is entirely within the capacity and interest of the US to settle the issue in a mutually satisfactory way. Equity, fairness and the law would suggest that the US should bring this protracted matter to an end, particularly as it has a vested interest in preserving the standing of WTO decisions. And, as President Barack Obama has pointed out at the United Nations on several occasions, right should not be ignored by might. Sir Ronald Sanders was Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation when the case against the United States was first won in 2004. He has been appointed by Prime Minister Gaston Browne and the Cabinet, since August, 2016, to lead negotiations with the US on the matter. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 7, 2016, PAGE 11
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT CALLS FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LEGISLATION TRANSPARENCY International, the global anti-corruption movement, and its partner organisations in the Caribbean, have called on the government of the Bahamas to introduce strong Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation. The organisation said an FOI Act is a powerful tool in the fight against corruption, empowering citizens by giving them a mechanism to gain answers to questions they have about how their country is governed. A FOI Act promotes government transparency and accountability, and mitigates any perception of corruption within the government. “More than 100 countries have implemented FOI laws but the Bahamas remains one of the few countries within the Caribbean region that has not,” a statement was released by Transparency International, Citizens for a Better Bahamas, National Integrity Action, Jamaica, and the Trinidad & Tobago Transparency Institute on Friday said. “The enactment of a FOI Act should be a high priority for the Bahamas and all governments that truly value democracy and the rights of its citizens,” said Alejandro Salas, Regional Director for the Americas at Transparency International, in support of the regional initiative. The organisation added that, since 2012, there have been multiple delays preventing the enactment and implementation of a viable FOI Act in the Bahamas. “While there has been limited progress on public consultation, it is evident that the enactment of a FOIA is not a high priority for the country’s legislative agenda. We, the undersigned, call on the Bahamian government to follow its democratic principles by providing its citizens with the fundamental human right of a Freedom of Information Act.”
ON the tour of the Public Hospitals Authority’s new Supply Chain Management Agency on Friday, Prime Minister Perry Christie (centre) was accompanied by Frank Smith, Chairman of the PHA Board of Directors; Herbert Brown, PHA Managing Director; Dr Perry Gomez, Minister of Health; and Dr Glenn Beneby, Chief Medical Officer. PHOTO: Peter Ramsay/BIS
PM: I’m not easy when it comes to Crown land approvals By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Perry Christie insisted on Friday that he is not “easy” when it comes to Crown land approvals amid revelations that the Bahamas Embassy in China was given the nod to discuss a $2.1bn agri-fisheries proposal with Chinese investors for Andros. He said any major development that takes place on that island would not be because the government “imported foreign labour”, but the result of Bahamian labour. The proposed partnership for Andros will apparently entail the incorporation of 100 companies, with the agricultural products and seafood to be used for local consumption, and exported to China and the United States for sale. It also reportedly includes the option to lease 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros. “At the end of the day there are these hands, these same hands here, that will be responsible for determining Andros. Don’t make no mis-
take about it,” an animated Prime Minister told reporters yesterday while motioning in response to critics who assert the government has been too accommodating to the Chinese. He was speaking during a tour of the Public Hospitals Authority’s new Supply Chain Management Agency facility on Shirley Street. Mr Christie continued: “I’m the minister responsible for lands. I am. And at the end of the day as I listen to debates and discussions in the country, I have been fighting to give 200 acres to some Bahamians who had wonderful proposals. I have had to bring in a calculated effort to say you’ll get it in installments of 50 acres. These are two Bahamians. One of whom is a prominent former FNM politician with a wonderful proposal. “I am not easy with respect to matters of that kind. You have to be proof positive and the Cabinet of the Bahamas makes those decisions after the Prime Minister has determined there is something worthy to present to them. Mr Christie said while
Funeral Service For David Austin Randall, 76
of Rainbow Bay, Eleuthera, will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anselm’s Catholic Church, Bernard Road. Officiating will be Fr. Noel Clarke assisted by Monsignor Preston A. Moss and Monsignor John Johnson. Interment will follow in St. Anselm’s Church Cemetery, Bernard Road. David passed away on November 1st, 2016. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him during his brief illness and ultimately gave him peace.
David was born to the late Herbert and Irene Randall, in Kemptville, Nova Scotia on October 31st, 1940. After high school, David worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia for over 30 years. Shortly after starting at the bank he was recruited to work in the branch in Nassau, Bahamas where he met his beloved wife of 50 years. David was blessed with a large and loving family. He married Stella (Darville) Randall on September 10th, 1966 in Nassau, Bahamas. He helped raise his 4 children with patience, discipline and humour. He taught his children to be independent while remaining close at heart. He was kind and generous to all, always willing to lend a hand, mentor, or support, those who needed it however he could. David was predeceased by his parents: Herbert and Irene Randall and his brother Burnley. David is survived by his devoted wife: Stella Randall; children: Patricia (Stephen) Daleman, Tara (Mark) Starzomski, Tony (Edel) Randall and Johnathan Randall; grandchildren: Sasha, Isaac, Austin and Samuel Daleman, Thomas and Eli Starzomski and Liam Randall; mother-in-law: Delores Treco Wells; sisters: Jean Goudey and Joyce Cottreau; brothers: Raymond, Freddie, Donnie, Erving, Neil and Curtis Randall; numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. The family would like to thank all of the staff at the Princess Margaret Hospital and The Hatchet Bay Clinic. Their hard work, genuine humanity, and sympathy were greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten. We would also like to thank all the family and friends who gave blood and those who helped us in countless other ways during our time of need. Your love and support are gratefully appreciated. The family gratefully declines flowers but those who would like to donate to Johnathan Randall’s education fund may do so at The Bank of Nova Scotia, Cable Beach Branch, Account number 5338-11. Prayers, condolences and memories are greatly appreciated. There will be NO VIEWING. Friends may pay their respects by signing the book of condolences between 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday November 8, 2016 at Butlers’ Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Ernest and York Streets.
his administration continues to be accused by critics, he would soon release every proposal that was submitted to the government in relation to Andros, dating back to the very first administration. “What is happening in Andros today I told them I was gonna do and this is essentially the greatest manifestation of support and commitment to the people of Andros. That is what I promised. And there is no possibility of my compromising on that. “And all the ups and downs I want BAMSI to be a campus or a college of the University of the Bahamas. I want them to add more disciplines to that campus. There is no doubt about that and that is in progress. “Andros (is) 104 miles long, 43 miles wide (and) as big as
Trinidad with assets that are wonders of the world. I want Andros integrated with all of its natural assets into the economy of the Bahamas in a more meaningful way and it will happen. “It will not happen because we have imported foreign labour to make it happen. I will put out for the Bahamian public all of these proposals that have come in to all governments of the Bahamas dating back to the first government of who wants to do what with Andros. Then I will show them what my government is doing, not talking about, (but) doing.” V Alfred Gray, the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, was at the centre of a public backlash last week over contradictory comments he made in regard
to this matter. However on radio talk show Off Air with Andrew Burrows on Thursday, Mr Gray said the proposal for the development of agriculture and fisheries in Andros was pitched to his ministry by the government’s ambassador to China, and not the Chinese government or investors. During the show he further insisted that he would not be a “scapegoat” as he took steps to further clear his ministry’s role in the proposal. Mr Gray explained that Bahamas Ambassador to China Paul “Andy” Gomez had submitted the proposal as an overview of items that he sought clearance from the government to discuss with investors in China.
PAGE 12, Monday, November 7, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
BAHAMAS HAS ‘GREAT STAKE’ IN CLIMATE CHANGE CONVERSATION By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net ENVIRONMENT and Housing Minister Kendred Dorsett has heralded the enactment of the Paris Agreement, charging that the international law gives Small Island Developing States (SIDS) the means by which to hold “developed countries” accountable for greenhouse gas emission. On Friday at the Ministry of Environment and Housing on Charlotte Street, Mr Dorsett said though the Bahamas is a “low emitter” of carbon on a global scale, it still has a “great stake” in the “global conversation about climate change, its effects, remediation, loss and damage and the course of action to address it.” As such, Mr Dorsett said the “landmark agreement” is key to protecting SIDS like the Bahamas, as well as simultaneously unifying “the global community in its fight to stop global warming.” “Climate change is real and for those of us who live in SIDS like the Bahamas we are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” he said. “Scientists unanimously agree that without immediate intervention, the continuing temperature rise endangers human life, threatening a wipeout of populations as sea levels rise.” Mr Dorsett pointed to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) over the correlation between intensity of Atlantic hurricanes and climate change. According to Mr Dor-
KENRED DORSETT, Minister of the Environment and Housing, with ministry colleagues Camille Johnson, Permanent Secretary, and Dr Rhianna Neely, Environmental Scientist, on Friday.
sett, the study concluded that climate change is causing hurricanes to “become more intense and to have higher rainfall amounts”. “This intensity was evidenced nearly a month ago when Hurricane Matthew hit the Bahamas leaving widespread devastation from winds and water surges that reached up to 15 feet in some areas. Undoubtedly, we have a great stake in the global conversation about climate change, its effects, remediation, loss and damage and the course of action to address it.” To that end, Mr Dorsett said the Christie administration has taken steps to better align its policies with the stipulations outlined in the Paris Agree-
“Climate change is real and for those of us who live in SIDS like the Bahamas we are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Scientists unanimously agree that without immediate intervention, the continuing temperature rise endangers human life, threatening a wipeout of populations as sea levels rise.” Environment and Housing Minister Kendred Dorsett ment. Those include the reduction and/or elimination of tariffs on solar systems, including panel inverters and light-emitting diode (LED) components and energy efficient appliances. Mr Dorsett also said the Bahamas has joined a number of international organisations that are focused on increasing renew-
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able energy usage, such as the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Carbon War Room. Mr Dorsett also said the government has formulated the Bahamas National Energy Policy, which he said serves as a “road map to a secure energy future by the year 2033”. He said the Residential Energy Self Generation (RESG) Programme and Renew-
MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER IN GRAND BAHAMA By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A FREEPORT man was charged with attempted murder on Friday in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court. Ianthon Cecil Demeritte, 25, of No 3 Drake Avenue, appeared before Magistrate Charlton Smith. It is alleged that on October 29, he at-
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“My ministry is proud to be at the forefront of this historic step forward that will positively improve the lives of generations of Bahamians. The Paris Agreement gives us a means to hold larger developing and developed countries, who are the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gas, accountable. “This begins a new era of action and results.” The Paris Agreement, signed in April and which came into effect on Friday, is a landmark deal that ultimately seeks to limit global warming to 2C (3.6F). Ninety six countries have formally joined the accord so far, with more countries expected to come aboard in the coming weeks and months, according to international reports.
tempted to murder a man at Deadman’s Reef, Grand Bahama. He was not required to enter a plea to the charge and the matter was adjourned to February 6, 2017, for preliminary inquiry. Demeritte was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in New Providence. He was represented by Ashley Evans Carroll.
22-YEAR-0LD CHARGED WITH HALLOWE’EN NIGHT KILLING
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able Energy Plans are now being reviewed by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) for “execution and implementation”. Mr Dorsett also said the Youth Environmental Corps was established last month, which he said not only trains young Bahamians in “the conservation of our natural resources” but also promotes individual environmental responsibility. “It is now up to the nations of the world to follow through on commitments made in this accord,” he said. “My ministry played an integral role in the Bahamas ratifying the Agreement on August 22 of this year and the Government of the Bahamas is steadfast in its commitment to taking definitive action to save the planet.
A 22-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court on Friday on murder charges concerning the shooting death of a man in the Market Street area on Hallowe’en night. Edward Dames, of King Street, appeared before Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes facing a murder charge for his alleged October 31 slaying of Reno Gilbert at Wellington Street, off Market Street. According to reports, shortly after 10pm, police received a report of
a man being shot at Wellington Street. On arrival, police found Gilbert with gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital, but later died. A short while later, police said officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit arrested an adult male in connection with the incident. On Friday, Chief Magistrate Forbes informed Dames that he was not required to enter a plea, and that the matter would likely proceed in the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment. The Chief Magistrate then adjourned the matter
to December 13 at 10am. Dames was subsequently denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS). Before being escorted from the court room by police, however, Dames’ attorney Calvin Seymour claimed his client was beaten while in police custody, and that his client’s ribs were hurting as a result. Chief Magistrate Forbes noted Mr Seymour’s claims, informing both he and his client that he would advise the prison doctor to examine Dames on arrival at the BDCS.
CARIBBEAN NEWS
GUNMAN KILLS THREE AND WOUNDS ONE IN DOMINOS GAME AT JAMAICA PUB KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Authorities say a gunman opened fire on four people playing dominos at a pub in Jamaica, killing three and leaving one seriously injured. Police say two males and one female were mortally wounded in the Friday night shooting in St. Catherine Parish,
in southeast Jamaica. One male survived and on Saturday remained hospitalised in serious but stable condition. The victims’ identities and ages have not been released. Officers did not provide a motive for the crime, which was under investigation.
THE TRIBUNE
PEOPLE SUFFERING EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF MATTHEW ‘NEED HOPE’ By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
FAMILIES and businesspersons suffering from the emotional effects of the destruction of Hurricane Matthew began their journey of healing by attending free post-crisis seminars last week on Grand Bahama. Crisis specialist Grace Plank, of the Renascence Institute International, met with families in West End, Eight Mile Rock, and Freeport on Thursday, and with the wider business community on Friday at the Pelican Bay Resort. Ms Plank, a psychotherapist and trauma specialist, said people who experience a crisis need hope to recover and rebuild their lives after the crisis. “We need hope right now,” she told those attending the seminar at the Bishop Michael Eldon Auditorium on Thursday. Residents turned out in good numbers at the West End and Eight Mile Rock communities, which were hardest hit. Just about every home and business in West End was significantly damaged by the category four storm on October 6. Ms Plank told residents that as they move about the island they will notice new leaves springing forth and blooming again on the trees. “That is a sign of hope, and as you drive and walk around look at the signs of life on those trees. We need hope right now to recover to the point we were at pre-storm,” said the trauma crisis specialist. “We are still recovering and rebuilding. And yeah, it is going to be a really long rebuild because the rebuilding that had already happened after Wilma and Jeanne was not at the level you needed to be, and then this storm came along and tore it down all over again. But think of this rebuild as turning things into something positive.” Many residents suffered significant personal losses
“We are still recovering and rebuilding. And yeah, it is going to be a really long rebuild because the rebuilding that had already happened after Wilma and Jeanne was not at the level you needed to be, and then this storm came along and tore it down all over again. But think of this rebuild as turning things into something positive.”
Crisis specialist Grace Plank and property damage, and did not have home insurance. Businesses were also affected and are faced with major rebuilding. The Castaways Resorts, which lost a portion of its roof, is open but the damage is still very visible and rebuilding has not yet started four weeks after Matthew. Ms Plank stressed that victims of crisis should be more purposeful in the things they do now that will make their lives better. Some people, she said, may decide to simplify and de-clutter their lives while others may want to improve and expand their homes. “This is a time for you to think about what your priorities are, and maybe refocusing some of them. If we do that we can come out of this better than we were going in. We might not have all material things, but we might have more peace of mind,” she said. Ms Plank said that people who are more detailoriented have a more stressful time than those who are more “big picture oriented and more focused on the future.” “Push yourself to think of the big picture because then you are able to think of the possibilities and op-
portunities, and rebuilding may not be so daunting,” she suggested. Ms Plank also stressed that victims should also focus on taking care of their bodies by eating and sleeping well, exercising and breathing deeply. “A lot of people who are under stress hold their breath or breathe shallowly. But you must breathe because oxygen keeps us healthy - we function and concentrate better and make better decisions. We must drink lots of water; keep yourself hydrated and do some deep breathing or sighs,” she suggested. She noted that stress can take a toll on our bodies and persons should be aware and take notice of any changes. “Some people have issues with their vision, intestinal issues, their blood pressure has gone up, and their heartbeat is racing; beware of those things and do something about it. If you have a headache - take a tablet even if you don’t like doing that so you don’t have a headache that day because one day without a headache can make a difference.” Ms Plank said that persons must find ways to destress themselves. “Get a massage, stretch out your muscles, and relax,” she added. “Most of you I am sure are more irritable and more impatient where you are snapping at the kids and standing in long lines now and less tolerant of people. Those are emotional signs of stress.” Ms Plank said that doing little things like watching the sunrise or sunset, star gazing or sitting on a dock with your feet dangling in the water, praying or reading the Bible or spending time alone are some things persons can do to relax. The seminars were hosted by the Grand Bahama Port Authority. Charles Pratt, commercial manager of GBPA, said that more seminars will be provided for residents on Grand Bahama, particularly in Freeport.
TOURISM BUSINESSES BEGIN TO REOPEN ON GRAND BAHAMA By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net SEVERAL businesses in the tourism sector on Grand Bahama have reopened for business and are anticipating the arrival of visitors to the island this month. The Grand Lucayan Resort is expected to reopen on Monday and Memories Resort on December 17. Sunwing, which leases Memories, will also resume air service from Canada and the United States in December. Restoration is progressing well on the island and power has been restored in the Freeport and Lucaya areas. Many businesses linked with the tourism sector have fully recovered from the effects of Hurricane Matthew. Sarah Rolle, Vice President of Ocean Motion Water Sports Bahamas, said the recovery process after Matthew has been very quick. “I feel that the island was really well prepared, and Ocean Motion is ready to go with everything we have always offered,” she said. The water sports company, located near Memories Resort, has been in operation for 30 years offering numbers water sports activities. It has survived past hurricanes that have impacted the island and were well equipped to quickly re-open for business. Bahamas Adventures, which opened two years ago, is also open and ready to facilitate groups on a private beach property. Cesar Ochoa, General Manager,
said the company reopened with improvements on October 21, some ten days after the storm. “(We) made a promise that just ten business days after the hurricane, we would be ready to go and get back to action,” he said. Bahamas Adventures was able to improve the existing restaurant space by with a brand new deck. There is the usual entertainment, catering services, specialised day tours and shopping. Linda Osbourne, General Manager of the Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO) and the Dolphin Experience, said everyone in the industry has been helping one another. “Those of us that have been in the industry have been working together to see what everybody needs. It’s been amazing to see everybody come together to help each other out,” she said. The UNEXSO sustained minimal hurricane damages and was fortunate to re-open for business, two days after the storm. Despite the circumstances, Ms Osbourne said several dive groups are scheduled to visit the island and are adamant about keeping their reservations for a November excursion at UNEXSO. The Dolphin Experience, said Ms Osbourne, is open and bookings are available if visitors have places to stay here. Currently, the UNEXSO store and “Dive In Marina Bar and Restaurant” is open during normal business hours and looks forward to continued service for valued customers.
WEST END, Grand Bahama was one of the areas that suffered significant damage during Hurricane Matthew.
Monday, November 7, 2016, PAGE 13
PAGE 14, Monday, November 7, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
‘EVERY PENNY’ CARIBBEAN MUSIC FESTIVAL RECEIVED FROM GOVT CAN BE ACCOUNTED FOR FROM PAGE ONE hamas Ministry of Tourism have now ‘contentiously’ found its way into the public domain,” Mr Pindling wrote. “This is something that the company went to great pains to avoid. Despite numerous public statements by the minister of tourism about the Caribbean Muzik Festival, my client made a conscious decision not to publicly reply, but instead to reply privately to the minister and the officials at his ministry. “The primary reason for this was because despite public perception, my client and the Ministry of Tourism were ‘strategic partners’ in this venture.” He said the full details of this partnership are outlined in a Host Country Production and Promotional Agreement executed on December 15, 2014. While not commenting on the exchange of words between Mr Sears and Mr Wilchcombe, Mr Pindling wrote: “Every penny of the monies received from the Ministry of Tourism pursuant to the aforementioned agreement was deposited into the company’s bank account in Nassau on which all three of the company’s directors - Tomlinson, Sears and Edwards - were joint signatories. No transaction could occur without two signatories. “Every penny spent from that account was spent on and towards the promotion and hosting of the Caribbean Muzik Festival scheduled for October 28 to 31, 2015. “ ... Every penny spent is well documented and can very easily be accounted for and verified. Most importantly, no event tickets or packages were marketed and sold locally or internationally.” The four-day festival was postponed last year after two nights of activity. Although the Bahamas government is not responsible for the event, the Ministry of Tourism is one of its major sponsors, having in-
vested more than $600,000 in the festival. After Mr Wilchcombe criticised Mr Sears for the second time this year over the postponement, Mr Sears criticised Mr Wilchcombe for “lecturing him on integrity” while not giving full disclosure about the circumstances surrounding the delay of the Caribbean Muzik Festival. Both are members of the Progressive Liberal Party. Mr Sears, the PLP’s candidate for Fort Charlotte, plans to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for the party’s top post at its next convention. Mr Wilchcombe has previously voiced his support for Mr Christie in the leadership race. Last week Mr Sears accused the tourism minister of playing “gotcha” politics with the issue. “I again reiterate that the making of innuendos, insinuations and allegations of wrongdoing by a public official, without full disclosure, against an individual without addressing the party in contract with a public entity does not contribute to the ease of doing business in the Bahamas or increase the confidence of Bahamian and foreign investors in contract with the government,” Mr Sears said. “It is not the right way to conduct the business of the country. The minister admitted in the interview that he has not contacted me with regards to any of the claims or assertions that he has sought to make in the press. “I would expect that the honourable thing would be to contact me and request answers before making such reckless public statements.” Mr Sears was a director of the festival until he resigned last December. He has previously disclosed that he is also a “minor shareholder” in the company Caribbean Music Festival Ltd. Mr Pindling wrote that the company intends to fulfil the terms of its contract.
MEMBERS of the academic community and government officials arriving at Christ Church Cathedral yesterday. Photos: Tim Clarke
TOWN AND GOWN START UNIVERSITY CELEBRATIONS
FROM PAGE ONE
feel, is only a political ploy. I think if you look over the past couple of months you would recognise from the reports about the financial state of the college that it’s not prepared for the transition. The government has made no indication, if they remain in power, that they will continue to invest in the university at a level that it needs to invest in it in order for the institution to be sustained.” Mr Humes said the quality of education students receive at COB is worldclass. “I think when you look at the quality of the faculty members that teach at the college, you can’t say that we don’t have what it takes to compete or be sustainable as a university. “The students that have left and gone abroad can attest to the fact that the quality of the instruction is superior and will prepare them for any institution outside of this country. So there’s no doubt about that. I think what hinders us also, as an institution, is the infrastructure that we’re lacking and the resources we’d need to function at the next level,” Mr Humes said. The historic week for the college began yesterday with a service of thanksgiving at Christ Church Cathedral. Prime Minister Perry Christie said that
a university does more than educate a population. “It aids in research, in defining and creating public policy. A university is a space where imagination is encouraged and dreamers, like me, become free to make their dreams come true. At the university, we will nurture talent and inspire new leaders.” Today, the college will have a “Blue Day” to build anticipation and enthusiasm for the University of the Bahamas (UB). Faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and friends have been requested to wear UB-branded T-shirts as a display of support. “In order to encourage and engage national participation and increase excitement, a live radio remote broadcast is scheduled to highlight charter week events, promote UB brand merchandise, and campus life activities,” the college said in a statement. On Wednesday, COB will host a “panel of presidents” at the facility’s
Performing Arts Centre at 6.30pm. It will feature current and former university presidents discussing the role and relevance of a university within communities. Invited panel presenters include Chancellor of the University of The West Indies Sir George Alleyne; President of Middle Tennessee State University Dr Sidney McPhee; former President of The College of The Bahamas Janyne Hodder and Chancellor Emeritus and Professor of Physics Emeritus at University of Washington, Dr Warren Buck. Finally, the formal UB Charter Day ceremony will be held at the Thomas A Robinson national stadium at 10.30am on Thursday. A public event, invited guests will come from around the worldwide academic community. Prime Minister Perry Christie will deliver the keynote address during the event.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 7, 2016, PAGE 15
BE SMART, BE SAFE WHEN IT COMES TO INTERNET AND SMARTPHONE USE By CORPORAL 3011 MAKELLE PINDER TWO OF the most advanced inventions of our time are the computer and smartphone - some may argue that they may be the greatest ever. These essential tools of communication positively affect many aspects of our daily lives (eg, medicine, entertainment, mathematics, agriculture, business, etc) but we have become too dependent on them. Unfortunately, it has got to the point that we have become susceptible to cyber bullies and computer hackers who commit crimes through the abuse of social media and chat rooms, which has negative effects because of its unfiltered information (eg, pornography, murder and gang violence). Because of this, families have been destroyed and personal lives shattered. The Royal Bahamas Police Force Royal National Crime Prevention Office wants to advise the public as to how they can protect themselves while using devices such as smartphones, laptops, iPads and other electronic aids. Safeguarding your privacy You can never be too sure of whom you are chatting with online. The friendly fellow movie fan or book lover in an online forum may actually be a clever criminal looking for his next cyber crime victim. You can have fun online while protecting yourself by following these tips. • Do not post information that will identify you, including: • Your full name. • Your home address or phone number. • Passwords. • Credit card or bank account numbers. • Names of family members or friends. • Your workplace or favourite hangout, or the names of your clubs or organizations • Do not use a nickname that can be used to identify you • Never share your account password. Protect your computer system and smartphone • Shut down your computer when it is not in use, especially in public places. • Keep your antivirus and anti spyware programmes, along with other software and operating systems, updated to protect against new attacks. • Consider using a firewall on your system to protect against hackers accessing your system remotely. • When using your webcam and smartphone, remember not to expose your genitals or indulge in any type of questionable activities. • Lock your computer and smartphone with an encrypted password Safety when using blogs, chat rooms, email, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp etc Fast friendships are forged over the Internet and there is no doubt that casual, online conversa-
tions sometimes are the foundation of good, lasting relationships. However, the anonymity of the Internet may compel some individuals to reveal too much about their private lives or to make hurtful comments or accusations they would never make in person. • Think about how your e-mail message will be read by others. Do not say anything online that is cruel or may damage someone’s reputation. • Do not give out personal information about someone else. • Do not forward another individual’s email without their permission. • Never allow anyone to photograph you in an embarrassing or compromising situation. • Never post anything that would cause you embarrassment or shame. • Do not send photos of yourself or family members to Internet acquaintances. • Do not post or forward nude pictures of yourself or anyone else. Be smart, be safe when meeting someone you met online. Do not accept friend requests from individuals who you don’t know personally. Remember, individuals misrepresent themselves online. Often the lies are small and harmless. But sometimes they are not. Should you need more information on Internet and smartphone safety, or if you have information pertaining to a crime, please contact the police at ‘919’ or Crime Stoppers at 328-tips (New Providence), 1-3008476 (Family Islands).