Senator alarmed at early granting of bail

The Nassau Guardian

Senator alarmed at early granting of bail

Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell told the Senate yesterday that some accused criminals who were granted bail for serious crimes over the past three years were given bail as early as four months after being placed on remand.

Bell held up a list he said was 16 pages long with the names of people granted bail from 2010 to 2013.

He said after a glance through the document he came up with a list of at least 15 people who were released on bail within months of an arraignment.

Bell said the people were accused of crimes such as murder, burglary, armed robbery and other violent crimes.

“These are the persons who are being released, not in accordance with stated cases from the Privy Council,” he said.

“I want to make it very clear; yes, we accept the fact of the presumption of innocence, but at the same time if the law says two years then it ought to be two years to give the honorable attorney general, the prosecution [time] to deal with these cases.”

Bell was referring to the constitutional right defendants have to apply for bail if their cases are not heard within a reasonable time.

He said the judiciary must work alongside the government in dealing with the bail issue.

Bell also defended Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade and Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage from criticisms made by Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson.

On Sunday, Johnson told The Nassau Guardian that Greenslade and Nottage made “disingenuous statements” about bail.

Last week, Nottage and Greenslade renewed concerns about people accused of serious offenses being released pending trial.

Johnson noted that if prosecutors are dissatisfied with a bail ruling made by a judge, there is a right to appeal up to the Privy Council.

However, he added this right is rarely exercised.

“It’s disingenuous for the commissioner and the minister of national security to know the circumstances surrounding the grant of bail and then make public statements in a vacuum,” Johnson said.

“The commissioner and the minister of national security need to stop making these statements when they know full well they didn’t live up to their responsibility.”

Johnson said courts will not be bullied and they have the full support of the Bar while defending their jurisdiction.

However, Bell stressed that the government does not legislate in a vacuum. He added that all branches of government must do their part to ensure that law and order are upheld.

“So I call upon the honorable chief justice, I call upon the president of the Bar Association to understand, not misquote, but to understand that we have to work together,” he said.

Bell said the government respects the rights of victims, the rights of the accused and the right to rehabilitation.

“There has to come a point, Madame President, when we accept that there are some persons among us who simply cannot be rehabilitated,” he said.

“Each time we release somebody on bail, Madame President, we are talking the possibility of an innocent life being lost. It can be any of ours.”

Recently, Greenslade said the majority of the people monitored by ankle bracelets are on bail after being charged with serious crimes like murder, rape and armed robbery.

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Birbal convicted of sex crime

The Nassau Guardian

Birbal convicted of sex crime

A former public school teacher has been convicted of the sexual abuse of a student for the second time.

A nine-member jury unanimously convicted Andre Birbal, 51, of unnatural sex with a male student while he was in the seventh and ninth grades.

The jury on direction of Justice Roy Jones acquitted Birbal of four additional charges.

Birbal showed no emotion as the jury forewoman read the verdict.

Birbal, who has been in custody since his extradition from New York in 2010, returns to court on May 9 for sentencing before Justice Jones.

According to the virtual complainant, whose identity cannot be revealed, Birbal began molesting him in the seventh grade when he was 11.

He said the abuse continued up to his graduation in 2007.

The man, who is now 24, claimed that Birbal had anal and oral sex with him in a classroom after school and at his home.

The former student said the first sexual encounter took place in the art class when Birbal told him to stay back.

He said Birbal photographed his mouth and told him that he could help him fix his teeth, which were “very bad”.

Shortly afterwards, Birbal undressed the student and performed oral sex with him before having anal sex with him, according to the complainant.

Birbal did not testify in his defense. Instead, he called the prison physician, Dr. Hastings Johnson, who testified that Birbal was HIV-negative on his admission to Her Majesty’s Prison in March 2010.

Birbal’s lawyer Romona Farquharson-Seymour said her client’s HIV status questioned the complainant’s credibility as he had claimed that he had contracted HIV and Birbal was his only sexual partner.

However, Darell Taylor, the prosecutor, dismissed the issue as a “smokescreen”

She told jurors not to be blinded but to focus on the issue at hand: whether they believed Birbal had molested his student.

The Court of Appeal in 2012 overturned Birbal’s 2011 conviction due to errors made by the trial judge during his summation.

A second trial was stopped last year after it was discovered that certain jurors did not appear on the initial jury list.

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Minnis blasts PM’s ‘abuse of power’

The Nassau Guardian

Minnis blasts PM’s ‘abuse of power’

Prime Minister Perry Christie’s admission that he intervened with a local bank in an effort to help the government’s chief value-added tax (VAT) coordinator Ishmael Lightbourne save his home was “inappropriate” and an “abuse of power”, Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said yesterday.

Minnis said Christie’s actions likely left the bank in question in a difficult position where it felt it had no other choice than to give in to the prime minister’s wishes.

Christie made the revelation in the House of Assembly last Thursday as he defended Lightbourne from what he called “vicious attacks”.

“I called the managing director of the bank and asked the managing director, she was traveling, I said please call me. She called me. [I said] what can I do as prime minister to stop this man from being put out his house today?” Christie said.

FirstCaribbean International Bank had secured a court order to repossess Lightbourne’s Cable Beach home.

“I was ashamed, and all [of] The Bahamas should have been ashamed at the prime minister’s response,” Minnis said.

“That was totally inappropriate. When the prime minister said he called the bank, the bank manager to see what can be done, that can be interpreted, that’s abuse of power.

“It’s [a] totally inappropriate action that he [did] and it’s bordering really on you dictating to individuals what you want done.”

Minnis was a guest on the Guardian Radio show “Jeffrey” with Jeff Lloyd.

When asked by Lloyd if he would have made the tough decision to deal with Lightbourne, Minnis said, “That’s a no brainer.”

He added: “How could you have the messenger trying to sell a message when he is not adhering to what he is selling?

“That cannot work. Due diligence would have been done and I would have known the situation. That would not have happened.”

Last week, Christie blasted The Nassau Guardian’s revelation that Lightbourne has not paid real property taxes in more than 20 years.

Christie said Lightbourne did not pay his taxes due to “financial incapacity”.

The prime minister hired Lightbourne last year to help steer the implementation of VAT.

“These attacks have arisen as a result of the improper disclosure that he is in arrears on his real property taxes,” Christie said.

“While Mr. Lightbourne should clearly pay his property taxes, and is under legal obligation to do so, it is obvious that the call for the government to dismiss Mr. Lightbourne, is a clear attempt to discredit and shoot the messenger, because there are those special interests who do not like the VAT message he is delivering on behalf of the government.”

The Nassau Guardian recently reported that Lightbourne owes $110,083 in taxes on a commercial property he owns, through a company, at Mount Royal Avenue.

Lightbourne, who is also a director of Sandbourne Limited, has not paid taxes on the commercial property in Palmdale in over 20 years

The Guardian also revealed that Lightbourne, who has been lecturing Bahamians on the need to pay their taxes, has not paid property taxes on his West Bay Street home in at least a decade. He owes nearly $8,000 in real property taxes on his home.

Christie told the House that Lightbourne “is now making arrangements” with the Real Property Tax office to settle his liabilities “within a reasonable time”.

 

 

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NEMA’s tsunami test warning creates panic

The Nassau Guardian

NEMA’s tsunami test warning creates panic

A tsunami test warning sent out by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday created panic in parts of the country after some people thought an actual tidal wave was heading toward The Bahamas.

A test email sent out by NEMA at 12.39 p.m. said the country was under tsunami watch.

The email, which stated several times that it was a test, added that an 8.5 magnitude earthquake occurred 3,550 miles northeast of The Bahamas.

The email added that a tsunami would arrive in the country at 2:02 p.m. yesterday, hitting Mayaguana first before traveling throughout the country and hitting Bimini last at 3:12 p.m.

Scores of people called The Nassau Guardian’s newsroom concerned that the test warning was real and questioned what to do.

False reports of the tsunami also spread over the social media website Facebook.

Captain Stephen Russell, NEMA’s director, said the agency received more than two dozen calls from Eleuthera, Inagua and Mayaguana about the test warning.

He said the test, which was sent to the media, police stations and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company for dissemination to the public, was misunderstood by some people, which caused the panic.

“In disseminating the information, it can be misconstrued or certain parts of the text can be left out in passing the information,” he said.

“You’d expect some degree of panic because parts of the information was left out.”

Russell said the test warning was part of a regional exercise to measure responses to tsunami warnings in light of recent earthquakes in the region.

Russell said because tsunamis move so fast there is little those in warning areas can do except move out low areas.

“In The Bahamas, we are in such a peculiar predicament because we are so flat,” he said.

“If you know the characteristics of a tsunami they can reach waves of 50 feet in height and sometimes they move at a speed of 500 miles per hour.

“Being in a low-lying area we just ask you to try and seek higher grounds, the highest point in a building; that’s all we can ask people to do, because we are in a low-lying area.”

Russell said he was satisfied with the results of the test warning. He said responses started coming in minutes after the alert was issued.

The warning took place in 21 countries to monitor reaction in the event of an actual tsunami.

 

 

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PM ‘missed opportunity’ on Lightbourne controversy

The Nassau Guardian

PM ‘missed opportunity’ on Lightbourne controversy

Prime Minister Perry Christie missed an opportunity to salvage the government’s argument for tax reform, Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Chairman Dr. Duane Sands said yesterday.

Sands was referring to Christie’s defense of the government’s value-added tax (VAT) coordinator Ishmael Lightbourne, who has been delinquent in his real property taxes for more than 20 years.

“This story is much more about the judgment and lack of due diligence of Christie on the Ministry of Finance’s behalf,” Sands said.

“You cannot or ought not have to put somebody in charge of rolling out VAT who is himself not a believer of the principle of taxation.

“If you go back to 2002 to 2007 and even now, he (Christie) simply does not understand these types of

principles; The principles of ethical and responsible government.”

Sands said Christie has made the issue seem like a personal attack against Lightbourne who he is trying to save from “doom and gloom”.

“I think that he could have depersonalized the issue to acknowledge that he lost a teachable moment,” Sands said.

“I think he had an opportunity to speak to that and to perhaps salvage his side of the tax reform story.”

Christie said in the House last week that Lightbourne did not pay his taxes due to “financial incapacity”.

The prime minister also told the House he intervened with a local bank in an effort to help Lightbourne save his home.

Christie responded to what he called “vicious attacks” that have been directed at Lightbourne, who he hired last year to help steer the implementation of VAT.

The Nassau Guardian recently reported that Lightbourne owes $110,083 in taxes on a commercial property he owns, through a company, at Mount Royal Avenue.

Lightbourne, who is also a director of Sandbourne Limited, has not paid taxes on the commercial property in Palmdale in over 20 years

The Guardian also revealed that Lightbourne, who has been lecturing Bahamians on the need to pay their taxes, has not paid property taxes on his West Bay Street home in at least a decade. He owes nearly $8,000 in real property taxes on his home.

Sands said Christie lacks the fortitude to deal with controversial issues.

“What he could have done was acknowledge they made a mistake, that they chose the wrong guy,” Sands said.

“He is not the right person for this job.”

 

Friends

While not calling Lightbourne’s name, FNM Chairman Darron Cash said Christie’s speech about Lightbourne proves that it’s good to have someone in authority looking out for you.

“Mr. Christie’s friend had a prime minister to intervene with the bank on his behalf when he experienced financial problems,” Cash said in a statement.

“That was great for him. Sadly, the prime minister was not so concerned about the many Bahamians who have lost jobs and the ability to pay their bills, especially those unfortunate unemployed Bahamians who cannot pay their bills because Mr. Christie as prime minister put them out of work.

“His insensitivity began with Urban Renewal workers when he demonstrated that the only thing he was ready for on day one was to fire Urban Renewal workers.

“Similarly, his government seemed insensitive to the needs of the hotel workers on Paradise Island and Cable Beach when they lost their jobs. Neither the prime minister nor his ministers stepped in to intervene on behalf of those average, not-so-well-connected Bahamians.

“Mr. Christie’s passionate and vociferous defense of a friend would have been a lot more convincing if he had demonstrated that he cares as much about the rest of his countrymen.”

 

 

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Crisis Center director welcomes Miller as center spokesperson

The Nassau Guardian

Crisis Center director welcomes Miller as center spokesperson

Bahamas Crisis Centre Director Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson said yesterday she welcomes Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller’s “transformation and voice” after he pledged to be a spokesperson for the organization on Thursday.

However, Dean-Patterson said only time will tell whether Miller will follow through on his pledge, and whether his convictions are sincere.

“I am not so naive to believe just because you say something your attitude and your belief system have changed,” she said.

“The proof will be in Mr. Miller’s commitments, words and actions around this issue to come.”

Dean-Patterson said it has been the center’s strategy this year to engage men to become advocates in the fight against gender-based violence.

She said international organizations have recognized the importance of getting men to lend their voices to the issue.

“We are all in this and men and woman have to speak out against it, and share the responsibility of getting the message out,” Dean-Patterson said.

“The elimination and prevention of domestic and sexual violence will only come when this happens.

“I think that is why it has not been regarded with the attention or the gravity that it should, because men have been silent generally.”

Miller came under fire last week after a Nassau Guardian story highlighted his comments in the House on February 20.

Miller, while comparing the opposition’s love of Bahamian fishermen to that of an abusive relationship, said he too “had a girlfriend like that”.

While laughing, he said, “When I didn’t beat her she used to tell me I ain’t love her no more ‘cause I don’t hit her.”

He later said those comments were made in jest and denied that he ever beat a woman.

In the House of Assembly on Thursday, Miller apologized for his statements.

He said when he made them he did not realize the enormity of the problem of domestic violence in the country.

He said he came to appreciate the severity of the problem after speaking with volunteers at the center.

He also made a $1,000 donation to the center and pledged to champion its cause.

Asked to respond to Miller’s claim that he has a long history of fighting for the rights and protection of women, Dean-Patterson said Miller has been the only male MP to join the center on its annual walkathon in the last two years.

The walkathon aims to raise awareness on a variety of social issues, including domestic violence.

Dean-Patterson commended Miller for his push to get the government to assist the center in securing a safe house for abuse victims.

 

 

 

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Queen’s College student wins National Spelling Bee

The Nassau Guardian

Queen’s College student wins National Spelling Bee

The 17th Annual Bahamas National Spelling Bee produced fierce competition among the 20 participants, but it was Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools student Prachi Kondapuram who took first place.

The event was held at the Crown Ballroom in Atlantis yesterday.

Prachi, 11, of Queen’s College, said she did her best to remain calm and focused, chalking up her victory to fastidious preparation.

Prachi, who was still processing her win last night, said, “I can’t feel anything right now”.

“I am very excited to be going to Washington. I hope I get at least past the written rounds and go into the speaking rounds that will be televised. The Bahamas will place this year.”

Asked about her work ethic up to last night, Prachi said, “It has been tons of work, especially for Ms. [Joyelle] McIntosh (coach) who had to tackle tutoring and made us stay two hours every day after school.”

Prachi went 23 rounds, winning with the word ‘photographer’.

She went one round with sixth grade student Donovan Butler, 11, of Xavier’s Lower School, but in the end it was the word ‘impertinent’ that defeated him.

Prachi will represent The Bahamas at the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in Washington, D.C.

She will be accompanied by second place contestant, Donovan, and third place contestant Franqel Hagan, 10, of Hugh Campbell Primary School in Grand Bahama.

Prachi was showered with prizes, including a laptop computer, and a $750 cash prize, among many other gifts.

Donovan, who placed second in the previous 16th Annual Bahamas National Spelling Bee, said he was disappointed to be a runner up two years in a row, but he is already focusing on next year’s competition.

“I still have next year and hopefully I will do better,” he said.

“I have been studying long hours and I have put in a lot of work, and I will continue that.”

Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald wished the winner and participants great success.

“To the winner, our high praise and immeasurable support as you become a spelling ambassador for our country,” he said in his message.

Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Prime Minister Perry Christie shared similar sentiments in their messages.

The Bahamas National Spelling Bee held an additional three rounds as part of the preliminary competition on Friday, in which Donovan placed first; Adon Beckford, 11, of St. John’s College placed second and Prachi placed third.

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Web shop bosses ‘won’t make decisions on regulations’

The Nassau Guardian

Web shop bosses ‘won’t make decisions on regulations’

The 17th Annual Bahamas National Spelling Bee produced fierce competition among the 20 participants, but it was Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools student Prachi Kondapuram who took first place.

The event was held at the Crown Ballroom in Atlantis yesterday.

Prachi, 11, of Queen’s College, said she did her best to remain calm and focused, chalking up her victory to fastidious preparation.

Prachi, who was still processing her win last night, said, “I can’t feel anything right now”.

“I am very excited to be going to Washington. I hope I get at least past the written rounds and go into the speaking rounds that will be televised. The Bahamas will place this year.”

Asked about her work ethic up to last night, Prachi said, “It has been tons of work, especially for Ms. [Joyelle] McIntosh (coach) who had to tackle tutoring and made us stay two hours every day after school.”

Prachi went 23 rounds, winning with the word ‘photographer’.

 She went one round with sixth grade student Donovan Butler, 11, of Xavier’s Lower School, but in the end it was the word ‘impertinent’ that defeated him.

Prachi will represent The Bahamas at the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in Washington, D.C.

She will be accompanied by second place contestant, Donovan, and third place contestant Franqel Hagan, 10, of Hugh Campbell Primary School in Grand Bahama.

Prachi was showered with prizes, including a laptop computer, and a $750 cash prize, among many other gifts.

Donovan, who placed second in the previous 16th Annual Bahamas National Spelling Bee, said he was disappointed to be a runner up two years in a row, but he is already focusing on next year’s competition.

“I still have next year and hopefully I will do better,” he said.

“I have been studying long hours and I have put in a lot of work, and I will continue that.”

Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald wished the winner and participants great success.

“To the winner, our high praise and immeasurable support as you become a spelling ambassador for our country,” he said in his message.

Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Prime Minister Perry Christie shared similar sentiments in their messages.

The Bahamas National Spelling Bee held an additional three rounds as part of the preliminary competition on Friday, in which Donovan placed first; Adon Beckford, 11, of St. John’s College placed second and Prachi placed third.

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Mothers make plea for girls to return home

The Nassau Guardian

Mothers make plea for girls to return home

Christine Joseph said she has slept in her front room every night for the past 10 days hoping her 16-year-old daughter will return home safely.

Joseph’s daughter, Crystal Clarke, was one of two girls who reportedly ran away from their homes on March 10.

Joseph, 33, said her daughter’s friend, Wilnika Bullard, 16, also left her mother’s home that day.

Joseph, along with Bullard’s mother, Mia Bullard, 35, made emotional pleas yesterday for their daughters to return home.

The mothers, who have become friends through this ordeal, said they believe their girls each left home with a small bag of their belongings.

On the day their daughters left, the women said, they both came home to find several of their daughters’ things missing.

Having been gone for nearly two weeks, the mothers say their initial anger and disbelief have turned into fear.

Calls to their daughters’ cell phones have not been answered. However, the women said their daughters responded to their friends through Facebook messages shortly after they ran away. They believe the girls are together but don’t know where they are.

Bullard said she suffered an emotional breakdown on Wednesday night at a bar where she works as a waitress, and had to leave work.

“Everyone is concerned,” she said.

“These children don’t know that Nassau is dangerous,” Bullard said. “People are dying every day and you don’t know how these people are dying. I can’t sleep. My eyes are [swollen]. I’ve just been crying. I’ve been to this place and that place looking. I don’t know.”

Joseph said she fears that one day she’ll get a call that something bad has happened to her daughter.

“I’m very afraid,” she said. “I’m depressed.”

Superintendent Stephen Dean said police have found that most often the girls who runaway go to a relative, friend or boyfriend’s house. In some cases, he said, they move in with older men.

The women are asking anyone who have seen their children to contact them.

Bullard can be reached at 443-3598 and Joseph can be reached 425-2639.

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Survey shows strong disapproval of VAT

The Nassau Guardian

Survey shows strong disapproval of VAT

Sixty-five percent of people surveyed by Silver Lining Enterprises do not believe that the government should implement value-added tax.

According to its website, Silver Lining is a media organization that offers public relations services, business and organizational reports, surveys and market research.

Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis said yesterday he doubts anyone in the world would be clamoring for a new form of taxation.

Halkitis said the Ministry of Finance will continue its public education campaign on VAT.

“No one likes to pay taxes,” he said.

“But we have to face reality. Our fiscal difficulties will not go away without us taking action.

“Simply saying delay VAT without workable alternatives does nothing to contribute to the solution.”

The survey polled 2,000 people, ages 18 to 55 plus, in 20 constituencies in New Providence.

Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Chairman Dr. Duane Sands commissioned the survey.

The survey was conducted over a six-week period that began in January, according to the report.

Of the 2,000 people polled, 65 percent or 1,309 people said they do not think the government should introduce VAT; Seven percent felt the government should implement VAT, and 28 percent of respondents said they didn’t know.

Twenty-nine percent of respondents believe the government should cut down on expenses to reduce its debt; 22 percent felt the government should curb unnecessary spending; 21 percent believe the government should aggressively pursue the collection of owed taxes and 28 percent chose all of the above.

Forty-nine percent of respondents felt the government should not implement any new form of tax. Nineteen percent said they would pay a sales tax; 13 percent said they would support a payroll tax, and 19 percent supported income tax.

When asked if the government engaged in enough of an education campaign on VAT “that you feel you can make an informed decision”, 71 percent said no and 29 percent said yes.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they did not think the government should introduce VAT at all; 25 percent felt the government should delay its implementation and six percent felt comfortable with the July 2014 date.

Prime Minister Perry Christie hinted last week that the government might not implement VAT on July 1 as originally stated.

Christie also said the government has abandoned its plan to introduce VAT at 15 percent and is instead eyeing a lower rate.

On the issue of the VAT rate, 94 percent of respondents felt the 15 percent rate is too high and six percent felt it was about right.

When asked what rate they were willing pay, 79 percent of respondents said five percent; 10 percent said seven percent; seven percent said 10 percent and two percent said 15 percent.

The survey states that it sought to “attain an understanding of the opinions and position of the masses, outside of the business community, politicians and pundits”.

Among its list of recommendations, Silver Lining suggested that the government should release all of the information regarding VAT and expand the VAT implementation team to include the expertise of leaders in the business community.

 

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Two shot dead, others injured

The Nassau Guardian

Two shot dead, others injured

A man was killed during a triple shooting late Saturday night in a neighborhood off East Street and another man was shot dead in Yellow Elder Gardens early yesterday morning, police reported.

Two armed men shot two men and a woman after they pulled up at a home on Pearson Way, off East Street, according to police, who said one of the men was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police identified the victim as Carlos “Skuller” Colebrooke.

He was once listed as a suspect in the December 27, 2013 Fox Hill shooting that left four people dead. However, he was never charged with the crime.

The other victims from the Saturday night shooting were taken to hospital where they were listed in serious condition up to last night.

The gunmen reportedly fled on foot.

Police said another man was shot dead around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday as he sat in his car in front of a home on East Storr Court, Yellow Elder Gardens.

According to Superintendent Paul Rolle, the victim was shot multiple times with a shotgun.

When The Nassau Guardian arrived on the scene he was still slumped in his vehicle.

Rolle said it appears the victim was trying to get away from the shooter.

According to reports, the shooter fled on foot.

However, Rolle said eyewitnesses reported that they saw a vehicle speeding away from the scene.

Rolle said the victim appeared to be in his mid-20s.

Police said they had limited information on both shootings and appealed to people with information on these matters to contact them.

The killings brought the murder count to 21 for the year, according to The Nassau Guardian’s records.

Police reported two other shootings over the weekend.

Police said a man was shot in a drive-by shooting in front of his Mahogany Street home in Pinewood Gardens around 1 p.m. Saturday.

Police said the man was washing his car when a gunman approached in a red vehicle and shot him.

The victim was shot in the chest, police said. He was listed in critical condition yesterday.

Another man was shot sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning, police said.

Around 1 a.m. police received a report that a man was brought to hospital in a private vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to his left side.

Preliminary information indicates that the victim was in the St. James area when he was attacked.

He was in serious condition, police said.

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Men arrested at mall wore ankle bracelets

The Nassau Guardian

Men arrested at mall wore ankle bracelets

Police believe they prevented a crime yesterday morning when they arrested three men who were in a vehicle with mismatched license plates at the Mall at Marathon.

Superintendent Ken Strachan, officer-in-charge of the Firearms Tracing Unit, said two of the men arrested were wearing electronic monitoring devices.

However, he said they placed foil paper on the ankle bracelets in a bid to prevent officials from pin-pointing their whereabouts.

The men were sitting in a blue Ford SUV, which attracted the suspicion of mobile patrol officers.

“What aroused the officers’ suspicion was the fact that attached to this vehicle were two sets of plates,” Strachan said.

He said officers believe the vehicle was stolen.

Police impounded the heavily tinted vehicle.

A small crowd gathered in the mall’s parking lot as police arrested the men.

Police said two of the men will likely faces charges for tampering with their monitoring devices.

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FNM leader says he’s standing for democracy

The Nassau Guardian

FNM leader says he’s standing for democracy

Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis yesterday dodged questions about FNM Chairman Darron Cash’s reported threat to resign over their differences on the issue of web shop taxation and regulation.

When contacted yesterday, Minnis said he does not speak publicly about internal party matters.

On Tuesday, The Nassau Guardian reported that Cash told party officials he was prepared to resign over his

“strong views on Bahamian empowerment”, according to well-placed party sources.

Cash’s threat came during an FNM executive committee meeting on Monday, the sources said.

As The Nassau Guardian previously reported, Cash was chastised by senior members of the FNM at the meeting because he publicly supported web shop regulation and taxation.

Cash’s stance on web shops is at odds with statements made by Minnis, who has repeatedly stressed that the FNM would not support any action by the government to go against last year’s gambling referendum results.

Most of the people who voted in that poll said no to the question of web shop regulation and taxation.

Minnis affirmed his position yesterday, but did not respond directly when asked about Cash.

“The only thing I would say is this whole issue of web shops, is not about web shops,” Minnis told The Nassau Guardian.

“It’s about democracy. It’s about a referendum that went to the people and the people voted. It’s about the prime minister saying he would be obligated and he would follow through with the outcome of the people’s results.

“We are a party of the people; we believe in honesty; we believe in integrity; we believe in democracy; we believe in accountability.”

 

REGRET

Cash yesterday released a statement denying that he threatened to resign.

He expressed “regret” that FNM insiders had leaked information on the party’s meeting.

"The only comments I propose to make are to make it clear that there is no stand off,” Cash’s statement said.

“At various levels of the party there have been spirited discussions about a variety of issues. I have made known my personal views and as chairman I have also recommended a course of action to my party, as any party chairman is obliged to do.

“Those matters are matters for internal discussions and I regret that insiders have decided to reveal any part of those discussions.

“With respect to a threatened resignation, I have not resigned and I have not threatened to resign. A political organization should be greater than any one individual, whatever his position, and I do not and would not presume to win any argument or debate with my colleagues with the threat of a resignation."

However, a high-ranking member of the party, who was at Monday’s meeting, said yesterday “animosity” has been brewing between Minnis and Cash for some time.

The source, who did not want to be named, said he was not surprised that their differences “came to a head” at the executive committee meeting.

The source said the party is “divided” on whether to support regulating web shops because the FNM believes Prime Minister Perry Christie was not up front with the public on the issue and wasted money on an “expensive” referendum.

“I think that we have to regularize and legalize the industry, but I’m not going to give Christie a pass on this,” the source said. “He has created a mess.”

Well-placed FNM sources told The Nassau Guardian on Monday that Cash was verbally “attacked” by senior members of the party in the meeting because of his web shop position.

Several FNMs at the meeting were also upset that Cash appeared to be supporting the government’s actions, the sources said.

In a memo sent to the FNM’s executive committee before Monday’s meeting, Cash urged the party to publicly support regulating the web shop sector.

He noted that the former FNM administration facilitated the expansion of web shops.

He also urged his party to revert to the Ingraham administration’s position on web shop legalization.

Cash wrote that the country would benefit financially from a regulated web shop sector.

He said the country is “on the financial brink” and acknowledged that the situation was partly due to the FNM’s policies while in office.

“We were the government for 15 of the last 22 years and we took some tough but expensive decisions to manage our way out of difficult times, including the so-called great recession,” the memo said.

Cash also wrote that Minnis’ statement that the FNM will side with the results of the referendum is an unsustainable position.

 

 

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Reformed gang member gives views on crime

The Nassau Guardian

Reformed gang member gives views on crime

Former gang member Drexel Deal was forced into retirement when he lost his sight on July 2, 1996 during an attempted armed robbery of an armored truck.

At the time Deal was a member of the Rebellion Raiders, a now defunct street gang with a membership that reportedly vacillated between 7,000 and 10,000.

Deal, 38, told The Nassau Guardian, "You can't be a blind thug”.

The life-altering shooting opened Deal’s eyes to the folly of his wanton path of criminality.

Deal said although he knew he would eventually get his comeuppance, he “never expected it to go down the way it did”. Deal said he anticipated being shot by a rival who had caught him off guard, not by an armored truck guard who hit him four times at close range with a shotgun.

Deal has written a book called “The Fight of My Life is wrapped up in My Father”.

While other criminals have written books about their lives, Deal said he was more interested in finding out “why did I and so many young men choose the path we did in life. I discovered we all shared a common bond of neglect, rejection and fatherlessness.”

He continued, “That’s exactly what this book is, a study of the aftermath of the absence of fathers in The Bahamas.”

Deal said he did not meet his father until he was a teenager. He said that the man whom he thought was his father walked out on his mother when he was five-years-old.

As part of his research, Deal interviewed Kelcy "Scrooge" Lundy, the former leader of the Rebellion Raiders gang, in addition to former death row inmates, educators and policemen.

Lundy worked as a production manager at Aquapure until his conviction for attempted murder last year. The matter is under appeal.

Deal said Lundy compared the dissolution of the gangs in the late 1990s to “unleashing a military army on a civilian city”.

“People fail to realize crime will always escalate. It’s a dog eat lion game when it comes to the streets. When an individual makes a name for himself, the individual’s success becomes his downfall. Often enough it’s the rookie gangster who kills the seasoned gangster.”

Deal and Lundy became rivals when they were both shot in February 1995 during a struggle for a gun, according to police reports. According to Deal, Lundy shot him in revenge several months later. However, today the men share an amicable relationship.

Deal acknowledges that it’s unlikely that his work would influence other wayward youngsters, as he did not begin reading until he went to prison. Deal is a motivational speaker. He said he’s been encouraged by author and motivational speaker Dr. D. Paul Reilly.

However, he is confident that his 10-year-old son will not follow his wayward path. Deal recalled his son asking, “Daddy, why did you do those stupid things?”

Deal believes the answer to the country’s crime woes is really a social one, as persons often emerge from prison more criminally inclined than when they entered.

According to Deal, stiffer penalties often cause criminals to be more careful by wearing masks and gloves, and even eliminating witnesses. Deal said the hanging of Thomas Reckley in March 1996 did not scare him or his contemporaries straight, but encouraged them to be more careful.

According to prison records, Deal served six months in prison for shopbreaking and theft. He was remanded to prison on July 25, 1996 for attempted armed robbery just weeks after he lost his sight. However, those charges were dismissed a few weeks later by a magistrate, according to prison records. Deal was also accused of attempted murder but he was not convicted of the crime.

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PM: MPs can vote their conscience on web shops

The Nassau Guardian

PM: MPs can vote their conscience on web shops

Prime Minister Perry Christie said last night he is not ashamed that his views on web shop gaming have evolved and said “the whip will not be on” when a bill to regulate web shop gaming is introduced in Parliament.

Christie, who was wrapping up debate on the mid-year budget in the House of Assembly, said every MP will be given the opportunity to vote on the “divisive” issue based on their conscience.

“Whatever might be the position which parliamentarians might personally take in this matter — and the whip will not be on — the reality is that businesses which operate in this country should do so in accordance with the law, and pay appropriate fees and taxes,” Christie said.

In the last several months, several MPs have been very vocal about web shop gaming.

Christie said he supports regulating web shops.

“When all is said and done, however, I am not ashamed to admit that my own views on this matter have evolved in light of a new appreciation of the dangers we face from continuing to have an unregulated web shop gaming industry that is... not susceptible to sustained law enforcement under the law as it stands today and which, moreover still, is not paying its fair share of taxes,” he said.

“I believe, therefore, that the time has come to legalize web shop gaming but only on the basis of new legislation that would provide for licensing, operation, regulation and taxation of this industry in accordance with best practices and international norms.”

Christie said the taxes that would be derived from web shops are estimated to be “considerable”.

He said a “very significant” portion could be earmarked for causes such as health, welfare, education, sports and community recreation.

Christie said provisions would also be made for a counseling and support mechanisms for those who may become addicted to gambling.

He acknowledged that many of the religious leaders do not agree with the government’s position on web shops.

However, he said he welcomes their prayers as the government tackles these serious issues.

Christie also acknowledged that the majority of the people who participated in the gambling poll on January 28, 2013 voted against the regulation of web shops.

”At the same time I am keenly conscious of the fact that the citizens of this country who support the regulation and taxing of web shops are considerable,” he said.

“Indeed more and more persons have become positive advocates. Authorities in law enforcement and in banking, including the central bank, both recognize the challenges of enforcement posed by unregulated web shop gaming, and the law enforcement and security dangers of having vast amounts of money earned by web shops which local banks refuse to accept.”

He said that having vast amounts of money circulating through non-banking institutions create money laundering implications.

Christie said this could also pose serious problems and result in blacklisting of The Bahamas by the Financial Action Task Force and by other multinational bodies, “which would have disastrous consequences for our vital financial services sector and the reputational standing of The Bahamas in the world”.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe announced last week that he intends to present a proposal for the regularization of web shops to Cabinet by the end of the month and is pushing for this to be official by July 1.

Bahamas Christian Council President Rev. Dr. Ranford Patterson said last week that if the government goes against the results of the gambling poll, it would be setting a dangerous precedent.

He added that he would not vote in another referendum.

 

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Cash lashes FNM over VAT issue

The Nassau Guardian

Cash lashes FNM over VAT issue

The Free National Movement (FNM) has failed to present specific alternatives to the government’s proposed value-added tax (VAT), FNM Chairman Darron Cash wrote in an internal memo that suggested his party move away from “castigating” the Christie administration on the issue and provide specific policy suggestions.

Cash’s memo was sent to members of the FNM’s executive committee on Monday.

The Nassau Guardian has obtained a copy of that memo.

Cash wrote that while the government has “been paralyzed” on the issue of tax reform, the opposition has not taken a clear stance.

“It seems unreasonable that the Official Opposition would say no to what some of our colleagues have described as the regressive, poor man hurting VAT, while acknowledging that something needs to be done and then conveniently refusing to offer a specific alternative or stimulate the debate about meaningful, credible alternatives to a VAT disaster on July 1.”

The memo also said: “We have been vocal and voluble, but we have not distinguished ourselves, at least not yet.

“Specifically to govern is to choose and the FNM to date has in fact offered no specific alternatives to VAT.”

Cash said that since November 2013, many people have asked him for the FNM’s position on VAT.

“They have asked this in part because the November statement on VAT by the leader [Dr. Hubert Minnis] was regarded less as a statement of alternative tax policy and more as an attack on the government for offering a tax option that Bahamians would later learn the FNM’s own minister of state for finance [Zhivargo Laing] had stated publicly the FNM would have considered,” Cash wrote.

“To reiterate the point, we have to date offered no specific alternatives to VAT.”

Cash was referring to a statement Minnis made that slammed the government over its plan to introduce the “regressive” tax.

Minnis’ critique of the tax came even though the Ingraham administration planned to give VAT early consideration if reelected.

Cash said the FNM can no longer delay releasing an official alternative tax plan.

“The ‘delay and explore only’ option was viable as a posture for the alternative government (the opposition) for only a limited time,” he said.

“It is the position we maintained for about six months. Now that time has essentially run out — in no small measure because of the prime minister’s failure to make a decision — the country needs another option from the Official Opposition.

“We must now offer a meaningful alternative. It is time to pull the trigger.”

Cash wrote that while it is still a valid argument for the government to delay VAT, as of July 1 the government must make a decision to help the country’s fiscal condition.

“The FNM must now move from simple castigation in favor of proposing specific public policy,” he said.

“There are no easy options. There are only tough choices.”

The memo added: “Each day Bahamians watch the runaway VAT train with great expectations and fears as to what happens next.

“By most objective measures the overwhelming majority of people in the business and civic communities sense that this is the wrong tax at the wrong time. People want analysis and information.

“Those observers can plainly see that the Christie government is simply not ready to implement VAT on July 1.”

Cash repeatedly stressed that the government needs to delay VAT, but it needs an alternative plan to generate revenue.

Cash said the consequences of a national financial failure would be more harmful than the current crime problem.

“In fact, financial collapse would make our crime problems far worse,” he wrote.

The government has said it plans to introduce VAT at a rate of 15 percent in most cases on July 1.

The plan has been met with resistance from many in the private sector who have called for VAT to be delayed or abandoned in favor of an alternative tax.

 

 

 

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Minnis suggests govt has something to hide on tax issue

The Nassau Guardian

Minnis suggests govt has something to hide on tax issue

Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis yesterday charged that some members of the Christie administration have not supported his call for public disclosure of the tax status of parliamentarians because they are afraid of what will be revealed.

“They probably have something to hide,” Minnis said.

“They are employees of the people. The employers have a right to know what your tax status is. The people must demand it from them… We are their employees.

“You can’t go in there, accept the people’s job and not be prepared to disclose information.”

Minnis called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to release the tax status of all members of Parliament and senators last week, after it was revealed that the government’s value-added tax coordinator Ishmael Lightbourne owes more than $100,000 in real property taxes.

Minnis previously said government officials must demonstrate compliance before they ask the general public to comply.

“You chose a job of transparency,” Minnis said. “If you don’t want to be transparent, the people may fire you. We have to be accountable to the people.”

However, several MPs insisted the matter should be a private one.

When asked if MPs should make their tax status public, Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis said last week, “People can call for it.

“There is an argument that okay, if you are a public figure then those things should be public. There is also an argument that people still have their private affairs.”

Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller agreed that the information should be kept private.

Miller said such a move would violate the right to privacy.

He admitted that he owes the government taxes.

Halkitis assured that he is fully paid up on real property taxes.

Minnis said all FNM MPs are also paid up. However, he could not say whether FNM senators are up to date on their taxes.

He encouraged those who owe the government to pay.

There is approximately $500 million outstanding in real property taxes, according to government officials.

The Nassau Guardian revealed last Thursday that Lightbourne owes $110,083 in taxes on a commercial property he owns, through a company, at Mount Royal Avenue.

The Guardian previously revealed that Lightbourne owes $7,743 in back taxes on his waterfront residence.

Those stories have triggered intense interest in the real property tax issue. It is unclear yet however, whether the interest has prompted more people to pay their outstanding bills.

 

 

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Miller apologizes for abuse remarks

The Nassau Guardian

Miller apologizes for abuse remarks

Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday apologized for comments he made in the House of Assembly about physically abusing an ex-girlfriend and promised to donate at least $1,000 to the Bahamas Crisis Centre.

“Everyone who knows me knows better,” said Miller on the Guardian Radio talk show ‘Reality Check’ with host Chrissy Love.

“I apologize to every Bahamian woman. You all know the potcake ain’t never let you all down and I never will.”

Miller came under fire after a Nassau Guardian story on Wednesday highlighted comments he made in the House on February 20.

Miller, while comparing the opposition’s love of Bahamian fishermen to that of an abusive relationship, said he too “had a girlfriend like that”.

While laughing, he went on to say, “When I didn’t beat her she used to tell me I ain’t love her no more ‘cause I don’t hit her.”

On two occasions during his speech, Miller was asked if he was joking and he said he was serious.

Following his appearance on the talk show, Miller told The Guardian that his words were not meant to hurt women and were said in jest.

“I am sorry for being misconstrued with the words that I used in indicating to those (Free National Movement) members of Parliament that they were disingenuous when they indicated the love that they had for the Bahamian fishermen.

“...That’s all I was trying to make a comparison of. It was a bad analogy and I apologize. But every Bahamian woman knows that if [there is] one man in this country who loves them and who looks out for them, it is Leslie Miller and that’s never going to change.”

Miller said he will make the donation next Thursday.

“I will donate $1,000 and I will get my colleagues in Parliament to donate,” he said.

“If we can go to $3,000 each we will do that.”

Miller also called in and apologized on the More 94 radio talk show ‘Real Talk Live’ with host Ortland Bodie earlier in the day.

He said that he visited the victim of a hit and run accident every week while she was in the Intensive Care Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital.

In December, a hit and run driver killed a three-year-old baby and injured his mother on St. Vincent Road. Police said yesterday that they still have no leads in the matter.

“Every single week, bar none, I went and visited her, stayed at her bedside for at least half hour and took her flowers, took her Ensure and I was there until she left the hospital [and] went back to Abaco,” Miller said.

“It hurt my heart that a Bahamian could go and knock a lady and her son down and kill him, and today he is still sleeping with a conscience that he took a life. That’s what bothers me, not the this trivial stuff about what I said.”

 

 

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Man who molested daughter jailed for 25 years

The Nassau Guardian

Man who molested daughter jailed for 25 years

A 43-year-old man who breached his parental duty by molesting his biological daughter has been jailed for 25 years.

The man, of New Providence, had sexual relations multiple times with his 15-year-old daughter while she visited his home in November and December 2010, according to evidence.

The father, who cannot be named to protect his daughter’s identity, was convicted by a majority verdict of eight to one last month.

He maintains his innocence.

In sentencing yesterday, Justice Indra Charles said, “The victims of sexual assault must carry the memories for the rest of their lives and they must not carry the burden of silence and shame.”

She continued, “Society is fed up with the adult male population who prey on young school children for their own sadistic, sexual satisfaction.

“Worst of all, the rapist is often someone they know, not the creepy man in the alley.”

Echoing the sentiments of Court of Appeal President Anita Allen, Charles said, “We believe that we owe it to the children of The Bahamas to protect them from people who prey on them.”

The girl, who is now an adult, told the court that her father first became part of her life when she was eight-years-old. They developed a close relationship and he took her to the movies and to the beach to feed seagulls.

However, the familial relationship soured when the teenager was at her father’s home as part of an informal visitation agreement with her mother, according to the young woman.

He came into her room as she watched TV and began caressing her leg.

The young woman said her father pulled a knife on her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone before he took her virginity.

The complainant said she remained silent because she was afraid and ashamed.

She estimated that the abuse occurred more than 10 times before she finally told her mother. The girl said the trauma of the incident caused her to rebel and she dropped out school in the 10th grade.

Terry Archer prosecuted and Devard Williams represented the convict.

 

 

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Griffin says govt does not condone violence

The Nassau Guardian

Griffin says govt does not condone violence

Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin said yesterday the government does not condone violence against women in any form and from anyone.

In a statement, Griffin said she wanted to address the issue of violence against women and the “recent statements made by my colleague in the House of Assembly”.

It was an obvious reference to Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller who said recently that he physically abused an ex-girlfriend.

But Griffin did not speak directly to Miller’s comments or explain why she did not object to them in Parliament.

“Hundreds of women in The Bahamas face situations that cause serious distress, pain and frustrations to them and their children and households, generally,” Griffin said.

“Since returning to office in May 2012, I have actively participated in many international and local meetings and conferences addressing the issue of violence against women and girls.”

Griffin said her ministry continues to highlight this “serious scourge in our communities” by providing public education through the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, the Gender-Based Violence Task Force and other organizations.

She said by mid-June her ministry hopes to develop a strategic plan to strengthen the coordination of various agencies that provide services to victims and perpetrators.

This effort will assist in eradicating “this ugly menace from our shores”, Griffin said.

“We must not be distracted and we must continue to work together to make our families strong, safe and free from all forms of violence,” she added.

Miller received backlash from some women’s rights activists and Free National Movement Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner.

On Wednesday, Miller insisted his comments were made in “jest” and taken out of context.

However, he apologized on two radio talk shows yesterday — 94.9 FM’s ‘Real Talk Live’ with Ortland Bodie and Guardian 96.9 FM’s ‘Reality Check’ with Chrissy Love.

He pledged to donate at least $1,000 to the Bahamas Crisis Centre and committed to trying to convince parliamentary colleagues to donate $3,000 each.

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Vaughnique Toote named asst. broadcast editor

The Nassau Guardian

Vaughnique Toote named asst. broadcast editor

The Nassau Guardian has announced the appointment of Vaughnique Toote as assistant broadcast editor.

Toote will serve as the deputy to Broadcast Editor Juan McCartney and assist with oversight of the broadcast news division of The Nassau Guardian.

“Vaughnique is a hardworking and dedicated journalist who has extensive experience in broadcasting in The Bahamas. We have every confidence that she will excel in her new role and help grow the broadcasting division of our company,” said Brent Dean, general manager of the Guardian media group.

Toote, 30, has been in the field of journalism for 11 years. She joined The Nassau Guardian in 2011 as a morning radio news anchor before becoming an anchor and field reporter for NB12 – which is a partnership between The Nassau Guardian and Cable Bahamas.

“After working at The Nassau Guardian for three years, I’m overjoyed by the opportunity to take on a new role in such an amazing organization,” said Toote.

She previously worked at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas and Island 102.9 FM.

Toote is a graduate of St. John’s College in The Bahamas, and Towson University in Towson, Maryland where she obtained a bachelor of art degree in mass communications – journalism.

 

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DPM: Don’t jump to judgment on Lightbourne

The Nassau Guardian

DPM: Don’t jump to judgment on Lightbourne

Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said the public should not rush to judge Ishmael Lightbourne, coordinator of the government’s value-added tax (VAT) Unit, because he owes thousands of dollars in real property taxes.

“I understand the concern of the general public, but at the end of the day it is all about the individual,” Davis said.

“It is our responsibility to do things. Yes, it is often said do as I say and not as I do.

“It is a principle that persons often say. I think in this instance we have to look at the circumstance of the individual before we jump to judgment. There may be compelling reasons as to why he may not have been able to pay his taxes.

“If those are compelling, even though it is not an excuse, the reasons may mitigate against what the consequences may be. Until we know those reasons we ought not to judge what the consequences should be.”

Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis said he does not think Lightbourne should be fired.

Halkitis said the government stands a better chance of collecting what is owed if he is employed.

Lightbourne told The Nassau Guardian last week that the government would have to make the call on whether he continues to be employed by the Ministry of Finance.

The Guardian revealed that Lightbourne, who has been lecturing Bahamians on the need to pay their taxes, has not paid property taxes on his West Bay Street home in at least a decade.

The Guardian further revealed that Lightbourne owes $110,083 in taxes on a commercial property he owns, through a company, at Mount Royal Avenue.

Lightbourne, who is also a director of Sandbourne Limited, has not paid taxes on the commercial property in Palmdale in over 20 years.

The Free National Movement (FNM) has called on Lightbourne to resign or be fired over his delinquent taxes.

Davis said there needs to be a focus on the message and not the messenger.

“Very often we are misguided by the fact that we look at the messenger rather than the message,” he said.

“I’m always more concerned about what the message is than those delivering it.

“And though we often are influenced by who the messenger might be, I think it is folly and we will be on a march of folly when we pay more attention to the messenger than to the message.”

 

 

 

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PLP chairman defends tax dodger

The Nassau Guardian

PLP chairman defends tax dodger

A day after the Free National Movement (FNM) called for the resignation of Ishmael Lightbourne as coordinator of the Value-Added Tax Unit, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday defended him as an upstanding Christian man.

The Nassau Guardian revealed that Lightbourne failed to pay real property taxes over the past 10 years.

“I happen to know of Mr. Lightbourne's personal dilemma in the past,” Roberts said.

“I know him to be an outstanding and upright Bahamian, a strong Christian gentleman.”

Roberts suggested the FNM ought to be careful in how it criticizes the government on this matter.

“I think that a full disclosure of who owes real property tax may be a surprise experience for them,” he said.

“It’s not only brother Lightbourne, but there are many others, and many others who are sitting in influential positions.”

The Nassau Guardian revealed that Lightbourne has not been paying real property taxes even though his beachfront residence on West Bay Street is only assessed at $321,000 and as such his real property tax bill has only been $534 per year.

Lightbourne, who is one of the chief advocates for VAT, told The Nassau Guardian that he is experiencing some financial hardships and could not pay.

However, he admitted that he "recognized the hypocrisy and contradiction of this”.

FNM Chairman Darron Cash described Lightbourne as a “flawed messenger” who is unfit to carry the government’s torch on the VAT campaign.

"Mr. Lightbourne's decision to not pay property taxes for 10 years suggests a willful refusal to pay," said Cash in a statement.

"Consequently, he has lost all legitimacy as the principal spokesman and advocate of VAT."

Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday declined to comment on Lightbourne’s situation.

 

 

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‘Ingraham should advise young leaders’

The Nassau Guardian

‘Ingraham should advise young leaders’

While he believes former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s time has passed, leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Branville McCartney said yesterday young people in politics could benefit from Ingraham’s guidance.

“I think his wise counsel can go a long way," said McCartney, who resigned from Ingraham’s cabinet in 2010.

"I think he’s at the stage to guide the younger leaders of this country."

McCartney said the same of Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Ingraham has never indicated that he is interested in returning to politics.

However, Christie indicated recently that if Ingraham returns, he would consider staying on.

The prime minister recently said McCartney is not worthy to lead because of his dismissive attitude toward him and Ingraham.

McCartney’s comments on Ingraham and Christie came in response to the results of a new Public Domain poll, which showed him (McCartney) as the most popular opposition politician among several polled.

The results of the poll showed that 31 percent of respondents viewed McCartney as “very favorable”.

Twenty-seven percent viewed FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner as very favorable and 27 percent also viewed Ingraham as very favorable.

Seventeen percent viewed former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette as very favorable and 17 percent viewed Minnis as very favorable.

Eleven percent of respondents said the same about FNM Senator John Bostwick.

Just over 600 people were polled. President of Public Domain M’wale Rahming said this is a respectable sample size for the population of The Bahamas.

Analyzing the results, Rahming said McCartney did not learn how to turn his popularity into votes.

McCartney said he has assessed what went wrong for the DNA in 2012.

“We determined where we went wrong,” he said. “Time was a factor, money was a factor, persons had issues with some of our candidates and there was fear that a vote for the DNA was a vote for the FNM and that was something that was heralded by the PLP.

“As you know, many people didn’t want to see Mr. Ingraham’s return. That galvanized strength and caused us tremendously.

“You can see now that, that is not the case. We are a party that is moving forward.”

McCartney said he believes Bahamians are fed up with the way the country is being run and also with the “same old” leaders.

“We don’t think the country is going in the right direction,” he said.

McCartney said the DNA has already launched its campaign for the 2017 election.

“We are starting to work on the ground," he said.

“The last time we had 11 months before the last election. We were able to pull 13,181 votes and we made political history.

“We ran a full slate of candidates. But of course timing was a factor as well. We started from ground zero and we almost got 10 percent of the vote.”

Bostwick, who is a political newcomer, said he was honored to be among the group of favorable opposition politicians.

Bostwick said while he is not actively pursuing the leadership position in the FNM, it is among his goals.

"Do I think I am prepared to take on that mantle? Yes," he said. "Is it something that I am pushing for at this present time? I can't say yes or no.

"I am trying to perform and serve the Bahamian people at the highest level possible."

Asked if he is interested in the position, he said, “I am interested and willing.

“Right now the most important thing for us to do is lend ourselves to the development of our country. I say all hands on deck. It’s not about a push to leadership.

“It’s about a push to have the best country possible.”

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Police report apparent drowning of man, 87

The Nassau Guardian

Police report apparent drowning of man, 87

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the apparent drowning of an 87-year-old American man yesterday morning.

Police said the man, a resident of South Carolina, was snorkeling with a female friend in waters off San Salvador, in the vicinity of Club Med, where he was a guest.

Based on preliminary information, the victim, whose name was withheld pending the notification of his family, died around 11:30 a.m.

Police said he was pronounced dead by the island’s local doctor.

A post mortem exam will be performed to determine the exact cause of death, police said.

 

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