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Woman shot dead REGGAE STAR JAH CURE BLAMES in drive-by shooting at club ATLANTIS SECURITY OVER FIGHT

By LAMECH JOHNSON and SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporters A WOMAN was killed and two people hospitalised last night following a driveby shooting at Sand Trap, West Bay Street, the third homicide within 48 hours in the capital.

In the early hours of yesterday, a 21-year-old man had been killed after being shot in the head during an argument outside a nightclub off Arundel Street.

Last night, onlookers gathered across the street from the club off St Albans Drive as police detectives placed some 25 crime scene markers in the vicinity of the lifeless body of the unidentified female lying face down in a pool

of blood.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said that police had launched an island-wide hunt for the culprits behind the shooting incident, which took the country’s murder count to 90 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. “What we can tell you is that sometime shortly after 8pm tonight,a number of persons were out having a social event when the occupants of a vehicle pulled up and fired several shots and sped off,� ACP Dean said. “That resulted in one person being fatally shot, a female, and we know that two persons, a male and female, were rushed to hospital and they are listed in serious condition.�

SEE PAGE SIX

THE Progressive Liberal Party has yet to finalise a date for its national convention, nearly three weeks after postponing it, as some in the party fear the event will now be pushed back to early March amid difficulty finding available hotel dates in January and February.

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said yesterday that the party is negotiating with

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net AS the 2017 general election draws near, the number of constituencies in New Providence and the Family Islands is expected to increase by at least four seats with the Constituencies Commission set to finalise its report by the end of the month.

Several well-placed sources told The Tribune yesterday that the commission had “agreed in principle� for an additional two seats in New Providence, and an additional three seats in the Family Islands.

Although the majority of members have agreed on the increase, the group has not finalised how those changes will be reflected on the boundaries map.

One strong suggestion is splitting the MICAL constituency into two seats, with Inagua and Mayaguana to form one constituency and Acklins, Crooked Island and Long Cay the other.

Other considerations include splitting up the Exuma seat; splitting up the Rum Cay, Cat Island, and San Salvador seat; creating a new seat for Bimini and the Berry Islands; and a third new constituency for New Providence.

SEE PAGE FIVE

LUCAYAN OWNER HIT BY LOSSES DUE TO HURRICANE

FEARS THAT PLP CONVENTION DATE MAY BE AS LATE AS MARCH

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HOUSE LIKELY TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR MORE SEATS

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel to hold the convention at the “earliest date possible�.

Former PLP Cabinet minister George Smith confirmed, when contacted yesterday, that consideration is being given to an early March date for the party’s convention.

He said emailed memos about the matter have been circulated by the secretary general of the PLP. SEE PAGE SEVEN

JAH Cure at yesterday’s press conference.

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net  JAMAICAN reggae star Jah Cure yesterday blamed the Atlantis resort for not intervening and stopping a brawl between some “drunk Bahamians� which he said caused him to be “ridiculed internationally�.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

At a press conference on Monday, Jah Cure, whose real name is Siccature Alcock, denied that he was involved in the fight, which was captured on video and shared thousands of times on social media.

In fact, Jah Cure said he was trying to “be a peacemaker and saviour� and stop the fight when he was

attacked by a drunk man, causing him to “fall� on the ground and appear to be unconscious. He also denied that he was “fighting over a married woman,� or was fighting with his sound engineer or a concert promoter, as was speculated on social media.

SEE PAGE TWO

WHILE the government strategises over the resuscitation of the Grand Bahama economy in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, Prime Minister Perry Christie revealed yesterday that Hutchinson Whampoa, owner of the Lucayan group of hotels on that island, has “suffered significant losses� and continues to search for potential buyers.

This process, Mr Christie told reporters, is a move by the company to streamline its investments and to determine whether it can get value for money from the properties.

However, Mr Christie said, the government is “just a bystander� and will support Hutchinson Whampoa in “whatever it is doing�.

As a result, HVS Capital Corporation has been selected to superintend the sale of the Grand Lucayan Resort, Lighthouse Point at the Grand Lucayan and Memories Grand Bahama Beach Resort, the prime minister said.

SEE PAGE SIX

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PAGE 2, Tuesday, November 15, 2016

JUNKANOO TAKES CENTRE STAGE ON NEW $10 SILVER PROOF COIN THE CENTRAL Bank has introduced its Nassau $10 Silver Proof coin, the second in a five-coin series celebrating the uniqueness of the islands of The Bahamas.

The reverse of the unique coin, intorduced yesterday, features a female junkanooer in headdress and accessories playing the trumpet framed with a partial circumferential inscription

‘10 DOLLARS NASSAU’.

According to the Central Bank, the coin depicts the beauty and splendour of the festival that is most synonymous with the city of Nassau: Junkanoo. The obverse features the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas along with the year.

The limited edition “Nassau Coin” may be purchased at coin dealers Coin

THE TRIBUNE

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REGGAE STAR JAH CURE BLAMES ATLANTIS SECURITY OVER FIGHT from page one

Instead, Jah Cure claimed that he was breaking up a fight between a drunk man and one of his friends, after the drunk man allegedly grabbed a woman’s “bottom” who was with a man in his entourage.

Jah Cure said if the security officers at the Atlantis resort had “done their job” instead of allegedly “pulling out their phones to record,” the entire situation could have been avoided.

He said his lawyers have drafted a letter to the head of the Atlantis security team and the matter will be handled the “proper way.”

He has also requested that the person who videotaped the encounter be “dealt with” accordingly.

The Tribune contacted the resort, but calls to officials were not returned up to press time.

“There was no security at the Atlantis hotel that came to help which is a big negligence,” Jah Cure said at a press conference on Monday.

“Because there was no security, I, Jah Cure, had to take up the job as the security, which Atlantis needs to pay me for because it bring me into a situation and ridicule me in a certain way and have me getting discriminated all over the world because someone supposed to be doing their job and not have their device in the Atlantis using it to make the video and create a lot of negative and lies...

“But on the negligence of the Atlantis. . . if their security wasn’t trying to record this and they was doing their job, Jah Cure would not have been in this mess. So I end up doing the Atlantis security guard

JAH Cure at yesterday’s press conference.

Photo: Tim Clarke/ Tribune Staff work by parting this. I am an artist that came here for a show, I am not a referee, I am not a fight parter,” he added.

“My lawyer is addressing it, they are sending a letter to the head of security over there. We are approaching everything properly because this created such a bad energy for me.”

The singer also stressed that he was not injured during the fight and at no time was he knocked unconscious.

“I was so shame that I get my nice shirt tear off trying to be a peacemaker that I fell on the ground for two seconds and I stay there.

Even when my friends come to take me up I say ‘leave me alone’. I didn’t want to get my face hurt, I didn’t want to get punch, I have

no blows on my body. Because people see my lying on the ground and they say ‘Oh My God he is mashed up’ listen to me, it is not like that,” he said.

“I sing of love and peace, I am not a warmonger, therefore I was not in a fight and I wasn’t fighting, I did not get knocked down, I didn’t get beat up by someone for their wife, or by the promoter or by the engineer.”

In the video of the fight circulating online, a woman was seen being thrown to the ground as one of the men who she tried to stop from fighting is pushed down on top of her. She later shrieks as another man in a white shirt is also pushed onto the ground on top of her. She continues to try to stop the fight, trying to physically restrain the men as she best she could.

For the majority of the video, Jah Cure could be seen with his arms outstretched, trying to quell the confrontation along with another man wearing a green shirt.

The artist is later seen trying to evade a barrage of blows from another man near the hotel’s automatic sliding doors, who strikes at him relentlessly. Towards the end of the video, numerous persons, possibly hotel officials, could be seen standing in one of the doorways to the outside of the hotel, with Jah Cure seemingly lying unconscious at their feet.

At least two men attempt to tend to Jah Cure, asking the singer if he was okay.

However, it is unclear from the video if the singer responded to their words or if he was conscious.

The artist was in the country for a concert on Saturday.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, November 15, 2016, PAGE 3

Turnquest urges changes to increase voter registration

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

AS concerns grow over low voter registration numbers, Free National Movement Deputy Leader K Peter Turnquest has suggested a list of changes he thinks the Parliamentary Registration Department should adopt as it aims to increase registration numbers ahead of the upcoming general election.

In a recent interview with The Tribune, the East Grand Bahama MP insisted that the “generally low” registration numbers are due to several issues plaguing the Parliamentary Registration Department, such as the confusion about which documents are essential to the process. Mr Turnquest said the renewed effort by the Attorney General’s Office to simplify this aspect of the process could see a significant rise in the

number of registered voters in the coming weeks, as the lack of clarity over what documents are required led to the turning around of scores of eligible voters.

That matter once corrected, according to Mr Turnquest, should see an up-tick in voters from the Family Islands and inner-city communities in New Providence, as these were the groups most affected by the lack of clarity in this area.

“Differing requirements from location to location and returning officer to returning officer has been an issue,” said Mr Turnquest.

“There is no doubt that the public has concerns with the entire political process and how they fit into that system. They have questions over who will be the ratified candidates for their constituency and where the boundary for those constituencies will fall,” he added.

“They do not want to have to go back to the Parliamen-

tary Registrar Department to do the process over again to change constituencies or to pick up cards. If they could register and pick up a card at the same time this would help.”

He continued: “Night and off site registration has not been as robust as needed.

For instance, there should be a permanent registration desk at the Passport Office, Road Traffic and National Insurance as people usually have their identity documents with them at these offices making it convenient.”

Mr Turnquest, however, did offer some suggestions to further alleviate the issues presented to date.

“Technology offers us a tremendous opportunity to modernise the entire process,” he said. “For instance, eligible voters ought to be required to provide proof of citizenship only once in their lifetime, at the age of 18. Once that is done,

for subsequent elections it ought to merely be an issue of verifying an address for purposes of assigning persons to a constituency and poling division.

“A simple driver’s license could provide that proof if it would contain a person’s address in the data fields.

That same driver’s license could replace the actual voter’s card as proof of identity on the day of election when presented to the returning officer who would verify it via a card reader connected to the central registry and cross-referenced to other data.”

Mr Turnquest added that the country must also look at the possibility of electronic voting to cut the inconvenience of long lines and voter intimidation.

“Unique identity data could be implemented to ensure a voter is registered, that he only votes once and that he can only vote once from a location or device.

Technology offers us the ability to be so much more efficient in this entire process,” he said.

Mr Turnquest now joins former National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest, who last week Thursday voiced his concern with registration numbers, calling on the government to expand registration drives throughout the country.

Stopping just shy of blaming voter apathy for low numbers to date, the former Mount Moriah MP said new and innovative strategies had to be employed to attract those persons “needing that extra push.”

Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson last week said that Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall had 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 pass-

port or a birth certificate unless the commissioner specifically demands that one be produced.

The move was made as concern grew over low voter registration numbers to date.

Early last week, The Tribune reported that nearly 57,000 people had registered to vote, a lower figure compared to this same period before the 2012 general election.

A further review of the Parliamentary Registration Department’s statistics on voter registration has revealed that 77.2 per cent (43,864) of eligible voters in New Providence have registered; 7,707 (13.6 per cent) in Grand Bahama and 5,225 (9.2 per cent) in the remaining Family Islands as of November 4.

The 2012 voter registry consisted of 172,000 voters countrywide, 134,000 of whom had registered by this point in 2011.

CALL FOR GOVT TO ‘STAY TRUE’ ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

ORGANISERS behind a Freedom of Information Act town hall meeting held last evening have implored the government to “stay true” to its promise and ensure the passage and enactment of the “critically significant” piece of legislation before leaving office.

Reverend C B Moss, community activist and director of Coalition to Save Clifton, ahead of yesterday’s community forum said he along with other organisers of the event are operating under the premise of “do or die”.

The Bain and Grants Town activist said the Progressive Liberal Party must understand that the public cannot enter a new election cycle without the passage of a FOIA, insisting that successive administrations have successfully hidden infractions and failures behind the lack of need to make their actions public.

“We don’t want it to be like what the Free National Movement did back in 2012,” said Rev Moss.

The former administration passed a FOIA shortly before the 2012 general election, however the law was never enacted. After it assumed office, the Christie administration said the legislation needed to be significantly revamped.

He continued: “As a matter of fact, let me rephrase that to secure my point; we will not, must not, go ahead with a promise or plan; this act needs to be put before the House (of Assembly), voted on and passed before the voters go to the polls to choose a new government.

“This is far beyond a political talking point now, this is a matter of national development and all in the eyes of progress. That is the purpose of (Monday’s) meeting, we want to mobilise the entire public behind this movement to demand that now is the right time.

“We have done all we can do, the government has to now stay true to its promise to pass this piece of legislation; end the talking and the political actions, the bill is here, it is time to get it passed and ready to be used.

“We want feedback from the public. If a FOIA is passed, then the entire public is set to benefit. Government respects numbers and the more persons we get on board, the better it is for our cause. We know that Bahamians aren’t the most apathetic bunch, but we believe that if we make this as personal as possible they will buy in and see the importance. We are hoping that after the presentations, members of the public will feel connected to the de-

FROM left, Joe Darville, chairman of Save the Bays; Lemarque Campbell, chairman of Citizens for a Better Bahamas; Rev C B Moss, of the Coalition to Save Clifton; Matt Aubry, executive director of the Organization for Responsible Governance, and Bishop Walter Hanchell, chairman of Citizens for Justice.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

POLICE HUNT FOR SUSPECTS AFTER TWO ARMED ROBBERIES POLICE are searching for the suspects responsible for two separate armed robberies that occurred on Sunday.

In the first incident, shortly after 8pm, a woman had just pulled up to her home located at Pine Yard Road in her Nissan Teana vehicle, when two men armed with a handgun approached and robbed her of her vehicle

and handbag before speeding off.

Then shortly after 10.30pm, a woman was sitting in her black Honda Civic, license plate number 310298, in front of a business on Prince Charles Drive, when two men armed with a handgun approached and robbed her of her vehicle before escaping.

Investigations continue.

MATT AUBRY, executive director of the Organization for Responsible Governance, speaking at the Freedom of Information Act town hall meeting with Rev C B Moss and the Coalition to Save Clifton Bay. In May of last year, the tional Alliance (DNA) re- officially release the documand and join us in doing all we can to get the FOIA government released a draft leased its draft version of a ment, dared the Christie administration to muster up passed and ready for use,” of a revamped version of FOIA. the legislation. The bill was DNA Deputy Leader the courage to “do what is he added.

Monday’s town hall meet- to be tabled in the House Christopher Mortimer, dur- right for the Bahamian peoing, held at the BCPOU last month, however that ing a press conference to ple”.

Hall, featured presenta- was delayed due to Hurritions from those that have cane Matthew.

The bill is now expected remained devoted to the passage of the legislation: to be brought to Parliament Executive Director of the before the end of the year.

Monday’s meeting Organisation for Responsible Governance (Org) Matt marked nearly a week since Albury; Policy Chairman third party Democratic Nafor Citizen’s for a Better Bahamas (CBB) Lemarque Campbell; President of the Bahamas Bar Association Elsworth Johnson and Chairman for Citizens for Justice Bishop Walter Hanchell.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, November 15, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

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Tackle crime or face the frightening consequences THE PAST week’s crime news was so disturbing it could give goose bumps the shivers.

In a matter of days, the police blotter recorded enough crimes for a new season of ‘Law & Order’.

On Thursday, a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force was held up and robbed at gun point. There were reports he was doused with gasoline and threatened with being set on fire. Sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning, a popular and well-respected businessman, the co-owner of Via Caffe at the north end of Parliament Street diagonally across from the Cabinet Office, was gunned down execution style. His bullet-riddled body was found shortly after 7am in his Mercedes parked along Montagu foreshore. While police were still taping off that scene, across town three churchgoers were held up and robbed of what was believed to be the collection plate following services at Mount Tabor.

Those were just the highlights in a week filled with many gruesome incidents.

Shrug them off at your own peril, Bahamas, or wake up and face the fact that crime is out of control and if we want a nation where we can be free to live without fear for our lives or the lives of our children and loved ones, it is time to shout “enough! We have had enough and we won’t take it any more”. The chorus has to grow louder and louder. Enough, we won’t take it anymore. Scream it. Let your MP know. Let the police know. Let the criminals know.

We have to stop taking it and thinking that someone else will fix it. Yes, it is time to be angry that crime is out of control.

Yes, it is fair to be angry that you cannot sit on your porch at night talking with family or friends because gunshots could ring out at any second. Yes, you have a right to be angry that you worry every time you get into your car to go anywhere after dark, even to church, and you breathe a sigh of relief when you are safely back home, locked inside the prison of your own household.

Words are important. We have to shout and scream that we have had enough and stop accepting the fact that it keeps getting worse. We have a right to demand better. While the homicide rate is at a four-decade low in the United States, The Bahamas has recorded more than 100 murders a year for the last five years and our murder rate is approximately nine times that of the US. In four and a half years of the Progressive Liberal Party government, there have been 547 murders in The Bahamas according to The Tribune’s records.

Voicing anger and demanding change are important but they must be followed by action for no amount of words will

stop a bullet or end a gang war once the rivalry is unleashed.

What action is appropriate? The first is change in leadership at the very top.

The current situation demands a leader, whether the Minister of National Security or a crime czar, who is not afraid, who has no political ladder to climb and who has one agenda - to clean up. He or she has to pledge the basics - justice must be fair but it must be swift - and stop making excuses.

The second is showering resources, including extra surveillance and undercover agents at those corners or streets designated as hot spots on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis. Crime lights may be uncomfortable to sleep by but they definitely keep neighbourhoods safer.

The third is getting the message out to the public, reports of what is taking place, the stepped up patrols, arrests, searches, the bright lights. The crime czar or leader should make daily reports, to camera. This should not be left to police on the street who are less than comfortable facing a camera crew and stand awkwardly with a group around them. Let the public know if you do the crime, you are going to face the possibility of time. This is a new day and a new approach.

Fourth, set up roadblocks in unannounced locations every day.

Fifth, take the message that you are serious into schools, every officer travelling with an ex-convict or prison trustee talking to students from the fourth grade up about the hellhole and life at Fox Hill.

Sixth, rely on DNA for far more evidence.

Seventh, publish photos of everyone caught red-handed with a gun.

Eighth, step up community policing and police on bicycles. Getting closer to people is the only way to build trust when many are afraid to report a crime. As Safe Bahamas used to say, ‘When everyone’s watching, criminals can’t hide’.

Ninth, create a new highly secure evidence area that requires voice recognition and other checks for guns and ammo that is seized. The rent-a-gun so the crime can’t be traced strategy is thwarting many good efforts.

Tenth, create more citizens’ watches that are given responsibility and authority to clean up abandoned vehicles, buildings that harbour criminal activity and high grasses and weeds that are perfect cover for rape and other crimes to take place.

There are 100 more suggestions and more may follow. There can be no progress without starting somewhere and there will be no quality of life in The Bahamas if we do not start soon.

‘Enough’.

BTC worse than Batelco EDITOR, The Tribune.

AND I thought that no company could be worse than BaTelCo! I was mistaken. BTC has topped them, all including BPL and BEC. I have been without service to the company main line (356-0800) now since hurricane Matthew. Thinking that repairs will be made in a timely manner, I waited a few weeks and saw that nothing was done.

On October 25th, 2016, the company office manager called the BTC customer service line at 225-5282 and lodged a formal complaint.

After not getting a response from a service technician, she called again and no response and then a third time, and still no response.

After being thoroughly frustrated, on Thursday, November 10th 2016, now three weeks later, I went to the BTC South West Plaza office seeking some solution to my phone problem.

I entered the customer service section, and was eventually greeted by a representative, who was as professional as a jungalist, working in a Cow Pen Road food store.

Finally, I got to meet with the customer service manager, Mrs Cindy Davis. Mrs Davis was very professional and pleasant.

I explained my situation to her and she proceeded to call field technicians working the Sandy Port area to see if one of them could lend assistance.

In my presence, she

called four technicians and not one, was she able to get a hold of. I commented to her, by saying, see my frustration, Mrs Davis? In the end she sent an e-mail out to one of them to lend assistance.

I gave her my and the office manager’s cell numbers, to pass onto the technician to call when they can come to check out the line.

Today is Monday, November 14th 2016, and neither I nor the office manager has gotten a call from any BTC representative.

And I will bet, that BTC will charge me full rental for the month of October for the down line.

CHARLTON KNOWLES Nassau, November 14, 2016.

Investment in The Bahamas EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE continue to hear from our ministers the term FDI, or Foreign Direct Investment, as something important and vital to The Bahamas.

In reality, The Bahamas already has used up and wasted any FDI that has ever come into this country and should instead look inward to envision true national progress. Hint. This has more to do than putting on a coloured t-shirt every five years. Perhaps a few more dollars spent putting out students who can read and count would be a start.

The FDI we should be looking for is Foreign Direct Integrity, or maybe Foreign Direct Intelligence. These are the things which this country seems to be lacking.

The Bahamas has been blessed with more natural resources than any country imaginable. From crawfish and fin fish, to conch and crabs, to sponges and sea cucumbers, to aragonite to tourism, the billions upon billions of dollars worth of resources this country possesses is staggering. Yet today, The Bahamas is at the doorstep of others with our hand out. So sad. Even though we have shown time and again that we are very poor managers of money, we want the chance to repeat the whole process of theft, graft, corruption and incompetence that we continue to this day.

We are willing to accept foreign money, yet close our doors to foreigners who have the FDI most important to the success of any

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net endeavour. Call it what you want, but the FDI most important to The Bahamas could be called Foreign Direct Intelligence, or Foreign Direct Integrity. Both in short supply here. Instead, we have national leaders (politicians really, for we have no real leaders) who spend their time demonising others who are seeking to bring this country up.

Of course, The Bahamas can’t accept more foreigners, because we can’t even take care of our own. Why? Is it a secret? Honestly?

We can’t even take care of our own because it seems that we are a country awash in theft, corruption and a failed work ethic. We continue to blame the politicians, yet the millions and billions of dollars stolen from every Bahamian institution cannot be stolen by the politicians alone.

It seems, from reading the papers, that most every Bahamian government department is being stripped clean. We don’t have enough politicians to do the damage that is being done to this country.

It is a complete and utter failure of this society.

This should be repeated.

The reason we are in the situation we are in today is not just because of our politicians. It is systemic failure of every institution.

It is a failure of our educational system, of our system of corporate governance, a failure of our justice system,

a failure of our churches and a failure of us as human beings to speak out against these blatant and obvious wrongs around us. Did I leave anyone out?

Where we are today is not just the result of a few bad apples. We have a society that is as far away from decency, honesty and Christian tenets as any country could be. We have a population mired in dishonesty, corruption, anti-social behaviour and ignorance.

And, we seem not to notice, or are too proud to admit that we need a complete revolution of our thoughts and ways.

There are ways to stop the theft. Just ask the owners of any company such as Wendy’s or Kelly’s. How long would their doors be open if they suffered the losses comparable to what every Bahamian governmental organisation allows to persist? Not very long, right?

It is said we get the government we deserve.

Perhaps it is time to open our doors and change our laws so that we start bringing in some people who may possibly help turn things around.

I do not see the intelligence, wisdom, integrity or leadership qualities in any politician The Bahamas has offered to date. Perhaps it is time for real change, not just another tiresome orator who is ready to stroke his or her ego. Where in The Bahamas will these people come from?

NORMAN T Nassau, November 9, 2016.

A great loss for us all EDITOR, The Tribune.

TRAGEDY is something we are never prepared for. ‎The shock of murder is unexplainable, unfathomable.

Last night, I, The Bahamas lost a friend, a brother, one of its true bright, smart, businessmen. Most of you who worked at Atlantis during the 90s and early 2000s. Those who worked out at Body Zone Gym or visited Via Cafe

would know Albert the gentle giant. And he was truly a gentle giant. Soft spoken, hard working, committed to his family, friends and customers.

I watched this great guy open over 20 restaurants. I watched him work countless hours to make Atlantis a destination of food and beverage like no other in the region. I saw first hand his commitment to his gym.

Lending unpaid knowledge

to those needing assistance to better their body and themselves.

This is sad, but I and your friends and family will remember the humble gentle giant.

To your children, be proud of your father. He has touched many lives. Live in his legacy.

BROTHERS Nassau, November 13, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, November 15, 2016, PAGE 5

Exuma resident calls for extra seat - and for George Smith to run for it

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ONE resident of Exuma is urging Prime Minister Perry Christie and the Constituencies Commission to establish a second seat on his island, as he expressed support for former Exuma MP George Smith receiving a nomination for the area.

In a letter obtained by The Tribune, Kenneth Nixon, who co-ordinated Exuma’s “vote yes” campaign for the June referendum, asked Mr Christie and Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis to increase the level of representation on his island. Mr Davis is a part of the Constituencies Commission.

“I address this letter to you out of concern for the island of Exuma,” he wrote.

“There is overwhelming desire by Exumians for the

GEORGE SMITH

return of two constituencies for this island. The reasoning for this is that the consistency is made up of many islands, some of which are only one settlement, which produces a feeling of neglect among the people.

“These feelings were expressed to me many times when I chaired the ‘yes’ campaign. This feeling was expressed also by people who remembered when there were two constituencies. There were also a good number of younger voters who expressed the same feelings.

“A lot of people also agreed that our former representative should be the candidate,” Mr Nixon said, referring to Mr Smith, a former PLP Cabinet minister.

“It was felt that no one was more familiar with the island and its leadership.

People also remembered the high level of repre-

sentative they received in those days. I am personally in agreement with this choice.”

On Thursday, insurance executive Chester Cooper is expected to be ratified by the PLP to run in Exuma, replacing current area MP Anthony Moss.

Mr Moss, a member of the PLP, has represented the area since 2002, however some critics have found fault with his level of representation.

According to a flyer circulated by Mr Cooper’s public relations team, Mr Cooper will lead a motorcade from the Exuma International Airport on Friday afternoon ahead of a “minirally” in George Town.

The flyer says Mr Christie will speak at the rally, followed by a concert featuring D-Mac, Sammy Starr, Tropical Heat Band and other performers.

HOUSE LIKELY TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR MORE SEATS from page one

In 2011, the Constituencies Commission recommended that three seats should be cut from the 41 in Parliament at the time, bringing the total for the 2012 general election to 38.

Yesterday, House Speaker and Constituencies Commission chair Dr Kendal Major said census data has confirmed expectations that there has been a significant population growth, and a population shift in some areas. While he only spoke generally about the progress of the commission, Dr Major confirmed that the body was on course to complete its recommendations and submit a report by November 30.

“We have met three or four times now, and we’re moving quite nicely,” Dr Major said.

“There has been some thoughts on rationale for adding in certain areas in

New Providence and maybe the Family Islands, but nothing has been concretised as yet. We’re looking at statistics that have been extrapolated up to 2016, also last year’s data within the census, we have a lot of information, we’re not relying on the low registration numbers.”

Last week, The Tribune reported that nearly 57,000 people had registered to vote, a figure much lower compared to this same period before the 2012 general election, when about 79,000 additional people were registered by this point.

Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall told The Nassau Guardian last Tuesday that this figure represents 34 per cent of estimated eligible voters as of November 4.

As a guest on a radio talk show the following day, Mr Hall said his office was troubled by low voter registration numbers to date.

Speaking to the slug-

gish pace of voter registration, Dr Major said he fully expected a “flood” of registrants in the coming months.

“I have been talking to my colleagues, MPs, senior officials in ministries, lots of them are not registered, and you and I know they will get registered,” Dr Major said. “They’re just laissez-faire, or say ‘if you come to my office I’ll do it.’ The fact that all these young people are registering, that’s a good idea and at some point there’s going to be a flood and it will come together quite nicely.”

The Constituencies Commission is comprised of Dr Major; Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs, vice chair; government members, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis and Jerome Fitzgerald; Official Opposition member East Grand Bahama MP K Peter Turnquest; and House clerks Maurice Tynes and David Forbes.

CONSTITUENCIES Commission chair Dr Kendal Major.

JOIN THE TRIBUNE AND ROTARY’S MOVEMBER AWARENESS INITIATIVE THE Tribune radio stations and the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas have joined forces for a ‘Movember Bahamas’ initiative this month to raise awareness of prostate cancer, said to be the primary cause of death among older men.

Tomorrow, 100 Jamz and Joy FM will be promoting

free PSA testing in Rawson Square with Doctors Hospital between noon and 4pm and on Friday Y98 FM and KISS 96 FM will do the same at the Rotary joint social.

The radio stations launched the initiative on November 7 with morning show interviews. ‘Mo-

vember Bahamas’ aims to help positively impact the experience of men’s health issues in the country by increasing awareness of men’s diseases through education, raising funds to assist those men requiring treatment but unable to afford it, and assisting the Global Movember Foundation with

funding for research for men’s health issues.

Men have been asked to show their support by growing a moustache during the month of November, to learn about men’s health issues and be prepared to discuss them when someone takes note of their moustache, make

a donation to Movember Bahamas through Rotary, and encourage women to wear fake moustaches to also stimulate the dis-

cussion.

Globally the Movember Foundation has raised US $61.1m for research into men’s health issues.

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PAGE 6, Tuesday, November 15, 2016

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

THE TRIBUNE

Three killed in just 48 hours “Police are putting a public appeal out that we need to arrest those killers.

“We know members of the public know who they are, know what’s happening. Persons might have seen some things, they know just where these killers live and where they are.

And we need the public support, the public partnership to bring these persons to justice.”

Mr Dean said criminals may believe otherwise but they will not get away with this.

When asked if there was any indication that a semiautomatic or automatic weapon had been used in the shooting, ACP Dean said they are still in the “preliminary stages of the investigations”.

One bystander said he had counted 15 cartridges in the area and another reported people had been ducking for cover behind vehicles when the shooting started.

ACP Dean also said they are looking into “every line of inquiry” when probed on whether the incident was connected to a possible gang dispute, though the police will not inquire based on rumours.

“We’ve been solving a number of crimes but we need the public’s help.

They’ve been assisting us tremendously. If the public don’t give us information we wouldn’t know who these killers are. And just as they’ve been informing us, we know they’ll deliver these men to us,” ACP Dean stressed.

In the earlier incident, a 21-year-old man was shot in the head during an argument outside a nightclub shortly after midnight on Arundel Street.

According to police, officers received information that gunshots were heard in

COLEMAN EDGECOMBE, who was found dead yesterday morning. the Centreville area. When police arrived, they discovered the lifeless body of a man with a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Last night, police released the identity of the victim. He is Coleman Edgecombe, aka “Coldest”, of Soursop Street in Pinewood Gardens.

He was on the Bahamas Most Wanted List last year.

Officer-in-Charge of the Central Detective Unit Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said the victim was a “known prolific offender” who was “in and out of the system.” He said because of this, it is “difficult” at this time to determine the motive for the murder.

However, Chief Supt Fernander said police are on the ground working and hope to have a suspect in custody “very soon”.

There were unconfirmed reports of another shooting incident in the Prince Charles Drive area last night, after which a man was rushed to hospital with serious body wounds.

Meanwhile, Chief Supt Fernander said police are

still appealing to the public to assist in locating a silver Honda Accord, licence plate number 215220, which police believed to be involved in the death of Albert Rahming, a resident of High Vista.

The 52-year-old father of three and owner of the popular downtown nightspot Via Caffe was shot dead and his bullet-ridden body found slumped in a black Mercedes Benz in the parking lot east of the Nassau Sailing Club on the Montagu foreshore around 7.30am on Sunday.

Chief Supt Fernander said police did not know the motive for the killing of the former bodybuilder and exshareholder in the Fantasy Games gaming house chain but said robbery is a line of inquiry they are following.

Anyone with information on any of these homicides is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS. Investigations continue. ljohnson@tribunemedia.net sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE GRAND Lucaya resort prior to the hurricane.

LUCAYAN OWNER HIT BY LOSSES DUE TO HURRICANE from page one

He spoke of the impending sale on the sidelines of the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) Accountants Week at the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel.

“The process is ongoing now as a part of Hutchinson Whampoa trying to streamline their own investments in Grand Bahama and to determine whether there are buyers who would like to meet,” Mr Christie explained.

“It is on record that they have made major investments in hotels and suffered significant losses in hotel operations, but all to keep the economy of Grand Bahama going.

“So they have determined that it might be of interest to other investors to come in and manage the hotels and there are persons who are inclined to purchase.”

He continued: “The gov-

ernment is just a bystander in this process where we support Hutchinson in its endeavours and in whatever it is doing.”

Just last week, the hardship of unemployed hotel workers was highlighted in Grand Bahama as major resorts remained closed for extensive repairs left behind by Hurricane Matthew.

The Grand Lucayan Resort, which was projected to open its doors on November 7, will now remain closed for at least six months.

This leaves around 1,200 workers and management out of work, and many have turned to their union for help.

Michelle Dorsette, president of the Commonwealth Workers Union of Hotel and Allied Workers, said the group has been assisting members, and are closely monitoring renovations.

She said people have received assistance with their rent, mortgages, grocery

costs and other necessities.

“Hurricane Matthew has left trails of devastation on Grand Bahama, and our members at the Grand Lucayan and workers at Memories Resorts have been severely impacted,” she said recently.

The Memories Resort, operated by Sunwing, employs a staff of about 800.

The hotel has published on its website plans to reopen on December 16.

Ms Dorsette said workers are facing challenges and the union is supporting its members who are facing hardship.

“Hurricane Matthew has proved a devastating blow for our members. The resorts were severely damaged resulting in temporary unemployment for our workers. We have heard from a significant number of members and we continue to render some level of support and assistance on a case by case system,” she said.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, November 15, 2016, PAGE 7

FEARS THAT PLP CONVENTION DATE MAY BE AS LATE AS MARCH from page one

At a National General Council meeting in October, the PLP voted to postpone its November convention because of Hurricane Matthew, which had ravaged several islands in the country.

Senior party members were concerned about the optics of hosting a celebratory event so soon after some Bahamians lost their homes or suffered extensive damage.

However, the PLP has since been criticised for moving the convention so close to the period when campaigning for the next general election is expected to start that it may encourage the party to have a muted debate about the future of its leadership, potentially depriving the challenger, Alfred Sears, of a legitimate opportunity to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie.

When contacted, Mr Smith also said an early March convention would

DONATHAN Hanna outside court yesterday.

be unfair to Mr Sears and would hamper efforts to encourage Bahamians to vote early.

“I initially felt the postponement from November was a bad idea,” the former Exuma MP said. “I then bowed to the concern that because of the tragedy, there was a need to commiserate with those who suffered by postponing the event. Now we are finding that after being postponed to January or February it’s going to be further postponed to March. This is

Photos: Lamech Johnson/Tribune Staff

worrying.

“If the explanation is that the hotel isn’t available, then we ought to decide on another venue like the Kendal Isaacs Gym. If the hotel can’t accommodate the delegates coming in, give the business to the small hotels on Cable Beach and other areas.

Then use the bus transportation to bring them to the convention site. We don’t always have to have a convention at a hotel. We’ve had conventions in the past at auditoriums, schools, at

Worker’s House.

“What’s worrying to me is this: the Constituencies Commission ought to report to the House of Assembly well in advance of a general election. We fully expect some adjustments of the seats in New Providence and probably one or two of the Family Islands. We must find the avenue to motivate the Bahamian people to register,” Mr Smith added.

“Registration has never been this low at this juncture in the history of the Bahamas. Delaying the conven-

tion even further would also be unfair to Alfred Sears. It would send the wrong message. One message it would send is, is someone afraid of the challenge Mr Sears is mounting? Are you afraid to face the delegates in a convention? Those things are bound to pop into people’s head.”

The PLP has not held a convention since 2009, although the party is mandated by its constitution to have one every year. The next general election must be held by May 2017.

BERNARD Storr outside court yesterday.

Two accused of killing teen as he played game of dominoes

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net TWO men were remanded to prison yesterday after they were arraigned in connection with the killing of a teenager who was gunned down during a game of dominoes.

Bernard Storr, 24, and Donathan Hanna, 25, appeared before Magistrate

Constance Delancy facing a single charge of murder and five counts of attempted murder concerning the September 29 death of 17-year-old William McKenzie.

They were charged with murder under Section 291 (1)(B) of the Penal Code, which does not attract the discretionary death penalty if a conviction is reached at the end of the trial in Su-

preme Court.

It is alleged that they intentionally, and by means of unlawful harm, caused the death of McKenzie.

It is further alleged that they attempted to cause the deaths of Ashward Hanna, Anwar Lightbourne, Shayne Reckley, Deiago Arnette and Dominic McKinney.

McKenzie, of Sunset Way in Sunset Park, was a re-

cent graduate of C V Bethel High School.

The 17-year-old, and the other intended victims, were in the driveway of a home on Sunset Way playing a game of dominoes when the occupants of a champagne coloured Honda Accord armed with firearms pulled up and fired several shots at them before speeding off.

McKenzie was pro-

TWO ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AT POLICE OFFICERS WHO RESPONDED TO CALL NEAR COMMUNITY PARK

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday accused of shooting at police when they were responding to a call concerning gunshots near a community park.

Jameiko Mackey, 19, and Perdallion Moxey, 23, appeared before Magistrate Constance Delancy facing two counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm

with intent to endanger life, three counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm with intent to put another in fear, two counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm and two counts of ammunition stemming from an incident on Tuesday, November 8.

It is alleged that the pair had possession of a loaded AK-47 rifle and Smith & Wesson .40 pistol and used them to endanger the lives of Philano Williams and Shannon McKenzie.

It is further alleged that they possessed and used the firearms to put Sgt 1658 Williams, PC 3592 Dames and PC 3742 Moncur in fear for their lives.

It is also alleged that they do not have the required licenses for the rifle and pistol or certificates for the 19 pieces of 7.62 ammunition and 10 pieces of .40 ammunition allegedly found on them.

Mackey and Moxey were told that they would not be required to enter a plea to

the charges at this time as a preliminary inquiry will be held to determine if there is sufficient evidence for them to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

Both were remanded to the Department of Correctional Services in the interim. However, they were advised of their right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court.

They return to Magistrate’s Court on January 17, 2017 for the start of the inquiry into the allegations.

$29,000 SEIZED FROM AMERICAN VISITOR WHO LIED TO AUTHORITIES

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAGISTRATE yesterday seized more than $29,000 from an American man who lied to authorities about the amount of money in his possession before his scheduled return to the United States.

Magistrate Constance Delancy underscored to 60-year-old Ronald Sten-

gel the seriousness of the two charges to which he pleaded guilty concerning the crimes committed on November 13.

Stengel acknowledged his mistake and apologised for his actions.

The Tampa, Florida resident was told that the penalties for making a false declaration to an officer of the United States and failing to declare carried a fine and/or a term of

imprisonment.

He was returning to the United States on the day in question when US Customs and Border Patrol officials detained him at the Pre-clearance Departure Lounge at the Lynden Pindling International Airport for failing to declare $29,581 and lying to a US official that he was not carrying more than US $10,000 in cash into the US.

It is not illegal to travel with large sums of money.

However, travellers carrying more than $10,000 must declare it on a special form.

Magistrate Delancy accepted the defendant’s guilty plea, but did not fine or give him a custodial sentence.

Instead, the magistrate ordered the $29,581 to be forfeited to the Crown.

ASP Clifford Daxon was the prosecutor in the case.

nounced dead at the scene and the others were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries.

Storr and Hanna were told by Magistrate Delancy that they would not be required to enter a plea to the allegations until they are formally charged before a judge in the Supreme Court.

They are scheduled to return before her on Janu-

ary 17, 2017 to be presented with a voluntary bill of indictment that would transfer the matter to the higher court.

Because of the nature of the charges, they were denied bail and remanded to the Department of Correctional Services in the interim.

However, they can apply for a bond in the Supreme Court ahead of trial.

Funeral Service For

Mr. David Lynn Russell, 67

of Tuckaway Drive, Nassau, The Bahamas, who died at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Shirley Street, Nassau, on Thursday, 10th November, 2016, will be held at Calvary Bible Church, Collins Avenue, Nassau, on Friday, 18th November, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

Pastor Robert Elliott will officiate and interment will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens & Mausoleums, John F. Kennedy Drive, Nassau, The Bahamas.

Instead of flowers donations may be sent to Calvary Bible Church, P.O. Box N. 1684, Nassau in memory of Mr. David Lynn Russell.

Arrangements Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, November 15, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

What can we expect from Trump, the man behind the mask?

By NICOLE BURROWS

AMERICA: “Donald J Trump is President-elect of the United States of America.”

REST OF THE WORLD: “Y’all ain’t serious, though.

AAAAOOOOOOO.” It was a horror show. I’m still having daytime nightmares (and am I seeing things or is Pence wearing the wrong colour tie for this moment?)

Then, this is how it went in Trump’s victory speech.

“Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division”. “...it is time for us to come together as one united people.”

“I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help, so that we can work together and unify our great country.”

And I’m not buying what he’s selling. And I’m going to finally turn off the switch in my mind that keeps try-

ing to tell me that most people do what makes the most sense. I apologise to myself every five minutes now for ever being so hopeful that a majority of Americans actually would accept more of the same rather than the more insane.

To be clear, if I was an American citizen, I would not have voted for Trump or Clinton, just as I will be avoiding Minnis and Christie next year. And the outcome of that would probably have been similar to what it has turned out to be, but I would have been okay with that if it would have ended up the same way anyway. I don’t entirely disagree with the Republicans’ perspectives, just as I don’t entirely disagree with the Democrats’ perspectives.

But Trump is a horrible spokesperson to represent all Americans.

My first question is: “So is

Friday October 28 - Saturday December 24, 2016

House & Spray

We can computer colour match:

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP that his scheduled 15-min- thrive.

Our silly leaders say ute interview with President Obama turned into a there’s nothing to fear with 90-minute interview. I won- Trump as US President. der how much of that was Just how bloody foolish are due to his lack of under- we? We are a country with standing and Obama’s need a main industry dependent to repeat himself like it was on the excellent health and sustenance of all of our natkindergarten. ural environTrump ment. From also re- ‘The man just that one marked that perspective the conver- has not been we should sation with representative of all be pissing Obama was the progressiveness in our pants unbelievwith Trump ably interest- of America. He is as US Presiing. Yes, sir a reminder of the dent. He has - that’s what hateful ugly past already said emotional of a nation trying he doesn’t intelligence believe in clidoes … it for a comeback. At mate change. makes your this point, maybe He doesn’t conversation Sane America just believe sciinteresting. ence is real, I’m so glad needs to call in the in spite of you found the natural that out. Brits and have them history of the Let’s aim for recolonise all of the earth or of that in the Americas. Maybe projections next interof its future. view, please. that would be a fate He is thereIn life, less painful than a fore quite you have a Trump presidency.’ apt to come choice: you and set up a can walk the straight and narrow and ac- couple oil rigs himself out cept that much of what you in our ocean floors and jolt want in life you won’t get by the hell out of them for the doing or being good, or, you black gold because even if can teeter on the grey line there’s an oil spill, damage and be shady but ‘success- to the sea bed, the coral ful’. I would wager that the reefs, the fish stocks of our number of ‘successful’ peo- oceans, it’s not real to him. ple in this world who have And it will be worth it beill-gotten gains far outstrips cause there will be oil to those who travelled the sell. Oil to sell in a world straight and narrow or did that has no use for it when good … or were/are smart. everything becomes too hot After all, you don’t have to to function or survive. But be intelligent to be ‘smart’ Trump is no visionary, so I in business, especially if guess he couldn’t see it if he you know the art of screw- tried.

Personally, as an aside, ing people over.

I believe climate change is here The Ba- real, and it will happen with hamas is con- a progressive and terminal cerned, Amer- outcome; science has demica’s President-elect, as it onstrated the eras of the appears, is friends with earth’s transitions. It is anPhil Ruffin … another tax other life cycle as we all will dodger, who is said to still live and die one day. But if owe a crapload of money in you take care and certain hotel taxes in the Bahamas. useful precautionary meas‘Birds of a feather’ has nev- ures, it is possible to delay er been a more appropriate the outcome. I suspect that phase. And now, they tell Trump will consider that to me, our own good Prime be folly.

CNN’s Andersen Cooper Minister Christie, who has been known to drive around recently made a comment with Ruffin in our taxpayer- on his show in the US elecfinanced vehicles, was once tion aftermath that ‘it’s not an attorney or signatory for the end of the world.’ But Donald Trump on the old it very well could be, for Resorts International deal? countless reasons that range Ugh … the pain of these from Trump’s stance on realities. I thought all of our policy issues to his temper negative reputation died tantrums and flagrant hoswith Pindling, but it would tilities. The man’s moronic seem that there are oth- attitude will provoke every ers at the ready to make it militant crusader around the world. But we have his assurance, as given in his first official interview, that he will “conduct himself in a good manner, depending on what the situation is”. As long as everyone remembers, America first.

And, behold, then he said it: you “need a certain rhetoric to motivate people”. So I guess we can all stop wondering whether or not his campaign hate speech was a sham.

But to further not make sense, he says Americans are protesting his presidential victory because “they don’t know me - I just don’t think they know me.” What? What they PRIME Minister Perry Christie with businessman Phil Ruffin.

it still rigged Donald? Is the election still rigged? Was the election rigged?” Because, I gotta tell you, I’m thinking it for damn sure must have been for this to be the outcome … for you to have won it. Surely this is a joke.

“We will also be a country of law and order.” Said the tax cheat. Hold on. This is definitely a joke.

Trump knows full well that, had he lost said election, his speech would not be gracious; it would instead be swollen with more hateful, spiteful, nasty rhetoric. I see your true colours, Mr Trump (cue Cindy Lauper). I think the whole world does.

For months you campaign - now successfully it would seem - on hate speech … commentary that would almost certainly incite the most easily brainwashed, uneducated and diversity fearful to the polls to vote in your favour. Now we must believe you want unity? Something does not add up. But hats off to ‘The Donald’ and Ms Conway and Mr Bannon if this was indeed their strategy all along.

People keep commenting about how much more subdued Trump is now. I don’t think so. It’s an illusion. It’s another one of his many faces. He is acting the part of the subdued now because he is in the seat he aimed for all this time and his delusions of grandeur have materialised.

In the whole victory speech, six minutes were minimally substantive; the rest was a veritable shoutout to family and friends, and everyone and everything is fantastic, terrific, amazing or unbelievable.

And in this way, Trump truly resembles the average American if the average American is who voted for him as we are meant to believe. If this is their thinking, intellectually, they may be on par. Trump could even be below average. But he’s a damn good shyster, and that’s really all you need to ‘succeed’ in politics, business and modern life.

I thought George Dublyah, Mr Nookelar, was bad. When asked how he feels about the moment of realisation and the job ahead of him, Trump told Lesley Stahl, ‘60 Minutes’ interviewer, that it was “so enormous. So big. So enormous.” He also told her

W

think they know about you is what you showed them for the past two years. You see, this is why intelligence matters.

And let me not forget to add, he told Ms Stahl that, as far as his campaign goes, he can’t regret it. And he’s proud of it. Because it won him the White House. Well I never.

The man has not been representative of the progressiveness of America.

He is a reminder of the hateful ugly past of a nation trying for a comeback.

At this point, maybe Sane America just needs to call in the Brits and have them recolonise all of the Americas. Maybe that would be a fate less painful than a Trump presidency.

Were he not the man he presented himself to be in the run up to the election, why would he have hung his hat so decidedly on his questionable positions?

Alternatively, if he is a completely opposite person now than he was on the campaign, but he says you are to believe that today’s him is the real him, what does that tell you? America is rancid, or America got duped and elected a chameleon?

A man willing to pretend to be something completely other than he was to win your votes so he could satisfy his ego and be president, and fulfil the Republican mandate, and use the people who believed in him to do it? Bait and switch all the troubled, poor white folk of America to rile them up with hideous antics and verbiage, then switch once elected President?

So which is more true?

America has elected an egomaniac, with multiple personalities, or America has elected someone who would do anything, put on any mask, say any mean things necessary to get the top seat in the White House? Which is it? And who will it be from time to time? Which version of Trump will America rely on to keep their position in the world?

As the pundits continue to ponder, let me ask you ... Was the result of this US Presidential election a movement against the Democrats? Against the Clintons? Against the political elite? Against the political establishment? Against diversity? Against a woman as leader of the free world?

Could it be that even the mighty United States of America is not ready for a woman to lead the country?

All of the above?

America - “one nation under God, indivisible”.

Donald Trump’s strategy: Divide and conquer. Presidential?

Donald Trump’s slogan in effect: Make America hate again. Presidential?

Has Trump’s rhetoric successfully divided the country? Or has it only emphasised - under a floodlight - the existing and incurable division among Americans?

Comments and responses to nburrows@tribunemedia.net

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, November 15, 2016, PAGE 9

Teachers stage sit-in over delay in hurricane repairs

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE Martin Town Primary School was dismissed early on Monday when disgruntled teachers staged a sit-in at the school in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, over the long delay over repairs following Hurricane Matthew.

Although a $100,000 donation was made to the government over two weeks ago specifically for hurricane repairs at Martin Town Primary, the teachers and administrative staff are upset that work has not yet begun.

The 22 teachers and the administrative staff were supported by their respective unions. They complained that the condition of classrooms is unacceptable and not conducive for learning.

About at 11am, teachers refused to return to their classrooms. Classes were dismissed around 1pm and parents were notified to pick up their children.

The teachers requested an urgent meeting with Ministry of Education School Superintendent Mary Cooper and Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville concerning the start of school repairs.

“We want to know why repairs haven’t started when funds were donated to government for the school’s repairs,” said one educator.

Quinton Laroda, area vice president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, and Tammy Ellis-Elliot, area vice president of the Bahamas Managerial Education Union, which represents the school administrators, criticised the government over the delay of repairs.

The union executives reported that some of the classrooms are without ceilings and windows, and have mould.

“It’s been almost seven weeks since the hurricane and no work has been effected yet by central government at the school,” said Mr Laroda.

“The teachers … are tired of waiting and they need some answers from Superintendent Cooper and Minister Darville,” he said. “They have been cooperative in returning back to the classrooms … and some of them are teaching in rooms with no ceilings.”

The BUT executive said teachers have been very cooperative, but the government is not doing its part.

“The teachers and the union have been understanding during the disaster and wanted to work together with government to overcome it. I asked teachers to be cooperative and to see how best we can work, even if condition was not ideal.

We have done that and we see that after seven weeks no work has been effective yet by central government,” he explained.

Almost two weeks ago, Godfrey Smith, a top executive of the Hutchison Group of Companies in Freeport, made a $200,000 cheque donation at the Ministry for Grand Bahama to National Insurance and Housing Minister Shane Gibson, who oversees the government’s hurricane relief fund. Mr Smith said that $100,000 was to go towards school repairs at the Martin Town Primary, and the other $100,000 for repairs at the Eight Mile Rock High School.

Mr Laroda commended the private sector partner

HEAD OVER HEELS FOR A GOOD CAUSE MEMBERS of Bahamas Star Gymnastics held a ‘Flip For the Pink’ event in aid of Hurricane Relief recently. The youngsters were keen to help those affected by the storm’s devastation.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

A MUSICAL march in Eight Mile Rock helped residents forget for a while about the deprivations on the island folllowing Hurricane Matthew last month. Two marching bands, the Legend from the East and the Bahamas Brass Band from the West, met at the old Friendship Centre after parading through the streets with local schools and residents.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS for its donations to help repair the schools. “I think that’s what made it more unbearable for the teachers because funding was donated specifically for both schools.

“The government is taking too long to repair the schools when they have access to funding from the private sector. Why are you taking so long and why are asking us to continue to make a sacrifice when it seems unnecessary?”

Mr Laroda said teachers will sit in until someone provides them with the answers.

“It is really unfair to ask teachers and students to be

in this environment when government could do better. A private corporate citizen stepped up and cared enough about the community and education, and made money available, and still there is a holdup almost seven weeks after the hurricane. There has to be some accounting for why that is the case,” he said.

Mr Laroda said that the school superintendent was informed by the school’s principal about the sit-in at Martin Town Primary, which has an enrolment of 300 children.

The teachers have been enduring same conditions for three weeks to a month.

“The ceilings are hanging and there is mould in the roof. What has angered the teaching staff is that funds were allocated for repairs, but I think red tape associated with such donations should be fast tracked because the fixing school should be a matter of urgency for the government,” said the union official.

The BUT area vice president also stressed that the Ministry of Education and the Ministry for Grand Bahama have a responsibility to provide an explanation not only to teachers, but also to the community about why the repairs are taking so long.

“The entire community needs to understand why after seven weeks since the hurricane happened, that nothing is being done to repair the school. The community needs an answer,” he said.

Mr Laroda said the Eight Mile Rock High School and Bartlett Hill Primary School were also damaged.

He said repairs to the primary school will take longer, noting that teachers and students have been relocated to a temporary site, where there are also issues.

“But the teachers so far are willing to work and trying to be co-operative,” he said.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, November 15, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

VOLUNTEERS helping to clean up after Hurricane Matthew.

TRAVEL GROUP HELPS WITH HURRICANE RESTORATION WHEN natural disasters strike, selfless volunteers rush to lend a helping hand without hesitation.

Last month, a small crew of volunteers arrived in Nassau to aid with restoration efforts after Hurricane Matthew tore through the capital.

Senior account executive of Presidio Company, Tony Kaperick, is one of 150 team members that eagerly volunteered his time to give back. According to Mr Kaperick, Presidio Company

usually holds their annual conference in Florida, but decided to cruise to Nassau instead.

“Instead of having our annual conference this year in Florida, we decided to get on a cruise ship together but when we learned we had a longer stay over in Nassau, based on the damage to some of the cruise ships we decided to see if there was a need in the community to do some hurricane relief efforts,” Mr Kaperick said.

The Presidio team man-

COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS IN THE SUPREME COURT

2012

CLE/qui/01749

Common Law and Equity Division IN THE MATTER of The Quieting Titles Act, 1959 AND IN THE MATTER of ALL THAT piece parcel or Lot being Lot Number Eighteen (18), Block Number Forty-nine (49) of a Subdivision called and known as Englerston and bounded on the NORTH by land the property of one Williams and running thereon One Hundred and Twentyseven Hundredths (100.27’) feet on the WEST by land the property of one McKinney and running thereon Fifty and Sixteen Hundredths (50.16’) feet on the SOUTH by land the property of one Outten and running thereon Ninety-eight and eighty-two Hundredths (98.82’) feet and on the EAST by Ida Street and running thereon Fortynine and Forty-five Hundredths (49.45’) feet the lot being 50 x 100 in the Southern District of the Island of New Providence one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas AND IN THE MATTER of The Petition of MICHELLE GEORGINA JOHNSON (Administratrix of the Estate of Wilbur John Ferguson, deceased) _________________________________ NOTICE _________________________________ THE PETITION of MICHELLE GEORGINA JOHNSON (Administratrix of the Estate of Wilbur John Ferguson, deceased) “ALL THAT piece parcel or Lot being Lot Number Eighteen (18), Block Number Forty-nine (49) of a Subdivision called and known as Englerston and bounded on the NORTH by Lot Number Nineteen (19) in the said Subdivision now said to be the property of one Williams and running thereon One Hundred and Sixty-six Hundredths (100.66) feet on the WEST by Lot Number Fifteen (15) in the said Subdivision now said to be the property of one McKinney and running thereon Fifty and Forty-four Hundredths (50.44) feet on the SOUTH by Lot Number Seventeen (17) in the said Subdivision now said to be the property of one Outten and running thereon Ninety-eight and Seventy-seven Hundredths (98.77) feet and on the EAST by Ida Street and running thereon Fortynine and Forty-four Hundredths (49.44) feet and is more particularly described on PLAN 5771 NP filed at the Department of Lands & Surveys.

NORWOOD A. ROLLE & CO. Chambers Suite #6, Gomez Building Dowdeswell Street east of Christie Street Nassau, Bahamas Attorneys for the Petitioner

aged to split their efforts between The Salvation Army where 15 volunteers packed relief supplies and Clifton Heritage Park where 125 volunteers gave their best efforts.

Their efforts at Clifton Heritage park, in particular, were greatly welcomed as the park had been terribly damaged during Hurricane Matthew.

Managing director of Clifton Park Mario Bannister said the park had been inundated and the Clifton

Park staff is more than appreciative to have the help of the volunteers.

“Our building sheds got destroyed, our administration office was totally destroyed, along the shoreline – all the structures except for one got destroyed. We have about eight tonnes of seaweed along the shore and in that seaweed, you can find dead fish, dead birds and the stench from the water surge so we’re appreciative to have some help,” Mr Bannister said.

“One of our most famous areas of the parks is Jaws Beach, which is frequented by tourists from the cruise ship. So for them to do this today, gives us a jump on getting this part of the property operational. They’ve removed a lot of debris from broken and fallen trees, seaweed and garbage so this gives us a jump-start by three days.”

Despite being sweaty and scraped up, the volunteers expressed gratitude for being a part of the cleanup in

a hands-on way and wished the Bahamas well in the continued cleanup and relief efforts.

Thanks to the help of the volunteers from Presido, Clifton Heritage Park reopened for tours and event bookings on October 24, weeks earlier than initially expected.

Geneva Cooper, coordinator of Ministry of Tourism’s Emergency Coordinating Committee, thanked the group for their unselfishness.

DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL HELPING THE BAHAMAS TO SHINE AGAIN SEVERAL weeks after Hurricane Matthew left major damage in parts of The Bahamas, jewellery story Diamonds International has committed to do its part to put things right.

The company has launched a cleanup initiative, starting with the historic community of Adelaide, which lies in the southwest New Providence, an area hard hit by the storm.

Chynella Cunningham, environmental clean-up coordinator, said: “We’re mandated as a company to always help the community and we always have a community effort.”

Teaming up in groups, staff volunteers moved through the streets of Adelaide, cutting down trees, removing debris, and assisting residents with clearing their yards.

Before the actual clean-up, the Diamonds International team, along with an officer from Urban Renewal, conducted a site survey, moving from door to door, listening to the concerns of the residents, assessing the area and forming a plan of action for the proposed clean-up day.

Moving out of Nassau to lend assistance to other island communities, such as Lowe Sound, Andros and Freeport, Grand Bahama, is the company’s aim.

THE DIAMONDS International volunteers in action.

“We estimate that the recovery from Hurricane Matthew is going to take a while…we know that in another few months those people in Andros

are still going to need our assistance, so our plan is continue until we have exhausted our energies,” Ms Cunningham said.

Promoting human development and sustainable growth helps alleviate poverty YOUR SAY

By ROCHELLE DEAN AS THE Bahamas heads into another election season, the country continues to experience many challenges to its key industries and economic growth.

The United Nations, along with many leading organisations that examine national economic policies, have openly criticised The Bahamas and its approach to reform in an effort to foster a structural shift in the country’s approach to sustainable economic growth and the reduction of poverty overall.

Recently, the UN development report revealed that the challenges faced by The Bahamas have contributed to a record rise in the poverty rate for the country as well as the Caribbean region collectively.

According to Helen Clarke, administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), “vulnerabilities are increasing in the Caribbean; and the region faces growing multi-dimensional poverty”.

Outside these agencies’ reports and in light of the

ROCHELLE DEAN recent downgrade of The Bahamas’ credit rating, we are left to consider how the country will tackle low growth and the negative impacts on the state of the nation.

The Bahamas must now see the significance of human resilience beyond income and implement quality initiatives and innovative ideas that promote human development. The country must accept that sustainable development is more than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and cannot be the only measure of its growth.

The country’s leaders have looked further at new ways to generate revenue through additional taxation after the implementation of Value-Added Tax

(VAT). The prospect of a temporary taxation regimen applied to a developing country operating at a deficit speaks to the condition of the country’s fiscal status.

The country must now look towards how it will address eradicating poverty and encourage inclusive growth while determining new strategies and being guided by economic policies that direct fiscal policy which foster sustainable development, if not positive economics.

With the recent implementation of a National Development Plan it is important for The Bahamas to consider matters relating to its economic policies that drive further development.

As many countries produce strategies for sustainable development goals (SDGs) The Bahamas is in a perfect position to have offered itself as an effective participant of national voluntary reviews as it relates to these global goals.

It would allow the nation to grow as well as learn new measures for sustainable development to position it for progressive growth.

The Bahamas must be in-

terested in effecting proper measures that allow the country to capitalise on every opportunity for growth and, most importantly, the overall development of its people.

It must now seek to go beyond GDP and recognise that in order to have a prosperous nation, it must seek to transform the country into an “economically literate society”.

Moving forward, The Bahamas must consider the impact of the 2016 Caribbean Human Development Report, the outcomes of the State of the Nation Report and the approach the country’s leaders continue to take towards national sustainability.

Poverty alleviation begins with a new approach to positive sustainable growth.

Rochelle R Dean is a Bahamian scholar, research fellow and peer-reviewer and a theory writer of economics presently completing a Bachelors of Science dual degree in economics and public administration with Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia. Comments to dean_rochelle@ yahoo.com

COLOURS FOR CHRISTMAS

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, November 15, 2016, PAGE 11

‘THE Brilliant Colours of The Bahamas’ is the theme celebrated in this year’s Bahamas Red Cross Society’s Christmas card selection.

The set of four cards feature photographs and art by Andrew Aitken and Troy Aitken.

Represented are the striking flower of the Pauperis Orchid on ‘The Bahamas Poor Man’s Orchid’ card and the ‘Vivid Colours

of Bahamian Straw Works Reflect the Beauty of the Season’, both from photographs by Andrew Aitken.

‘Aerial View-Nassau Harbour and Paradise Island Bahamas’ is a cover from a photograph by Troy Aitken while a card depicting ‘Caribbean Flamingo Phoenicopterus Ruber’ of a bright orange/pink plumaged bird is one of 60,000 nesting around Lake

Windsor, Inagua, from an art piece by the same man.

The cards are available for purchase and early mailing at Red Cross Headquarters on John F Kennedy Drive.

Prices are $2 each and range from $10 to $14 a dozen.

Proceeds from sales of the cards support the ongoing “Matthew” Hurricane Relief efforts of the Red Cross Society throughout The Bahamas.

CLOCKWISE from above, Bahamian straw works captured on camera by Andrew Aitken, an aerial photo and flamingo art piece by Troy Aitken, and the poor man’s orchid, by Andrew Aitken.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, November 15, 2016

THE JUDGES pose with the winners (from left) Janay Pyfrom-Symonette, Errolisa McPhee, Michael Miller, Yamille Moss, Chelsea Tynes, Matthew Deveaux and Jade Williams.

THE TRIBUNE

Photos: Rogan Smith

Food plan earns student $60,000 scholarship AQUINAS College student Yasmille Moss’ plan to lower the country’s food import bill and inspire Bahamians to pursue careers in agriculture has won her a $60,000 scholarship to attend Elmira College in New York.

Yamille, 15, won the prestigious scholarship by becoming the grand champion of the 15th annual Sunshine Insurance Elmira College Essay and Speech Competition on Saturday. Her plan would allow Bahamians to produce their own food by using seawater greenhouses.

Yamille said she was “ecstatic” following the announcement on Saturday.

“I have never won anything before. All three of my siblings are older than me and they are huge overachievers. My brother won a full scholarship to Johns Hopkins [University] and so it’s a lot of pressure. I never felt like I really measured up,” she said.

Yamille, who is inter-

ested in pursuing a degree in journalism, theatre or psychology, explained that her siblings played a major role in getting her to enter the competition. “My sister came to me and she said, ‘there’s an essay competition that Sunshine Insurance is having; all three of us were in it, so you have to be in it, too’. So, it wasn’t much of a choice,” she said.

“Elmira doesn’t have journalism, but I’m looking at theatre or psychology right now.”

When it came time to write her essay, the 11th grader turned to her brother for advice. “He told me that I should sit down and think about what I think a real problem is. I immediately went to governmental spending and it came to me after talking to him for a long time and not sleeping a lot of nights,” she said.

Elmira College vice-president of external relations, Mike Rogers, told the students before the announcement that “this has been

YAMILLE MOSS, the grand champion of the 15th annual Sunshine Insurance Elmira College Essay and Speech Competition with Sunshine Insurance VP of Development, Dwayne Swaby, and Sunshine Insurance VP of Operations, Shelly Wilson. one of the best years ever”.

Miller, 16, of Genesis Acad“I think we could have emy and Chelsea Tynes, 17, easily had seven or eight of Queen’s College. They winners - all of you could will each get $30,000 scholbe excellent students here arships. The other finalists at Elmira College. We had were Lauren Johnson, Ala lot of terrific ideas. I think exandria Thompson, Lakia the Bahamas is in great Rolle, Kyra N McKinney, hands with young people Diontae Burrows and Tylah like you,” he said.

Campbell.

Runners-up included Sunshine Insurance viceMatthew Deveaux, 16, of president of development, Queen’s College; Michael Dwayne Swaby, thanked

SCHOLARSHIP winners Michael Miller, Yamille Moss, Chelsea Tynes and Matthew Deveaux.

Elmira College for its part- their growth and developnership throughout the ment. We are delighted to be a part of such a positive years.

“We were very pleased initiative,” he said.

Elmira alumnae, Jade that the students eagerly participated this year, in Williams, Janay PyfromErrolisa spite of their challenges Symonette, with Hurricane Matthew. McPhee judged the comThe opportunity to assist petition from New Proviyoung Bahamians fulfil dence, while Mr Rogers their college goals means a and Dr Robert Irons judged lot to Sunshine Insurance from Elmira, New York.

To date, Elmira College and we remain committed to doing our part to help has awarded $1.6m in scholour nation’s youth with arships.