The Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers’ Union (BATCU) announced yesterday that it has filed a labour dispute with the Department of Labour and the union warned that it will lobby its members to take a strike poll in protest against alleged breach of contract and victimization on the part of the Department of Civil Aviation.

Members of BATCU were joined by several other trade unions at a press conference Tuesday where they outlined a number of their concerns.

Among their grievances, the air traffic controllers contend that their health and safety are being compromised as a result of the poor and unsanitary working conditions they are exposed to.

BATCU President Lashan Gray said that the controllers’ main building facility was left with significant structural damage to its roof from Hurricane Irene back in August 2011. That damage, she said, has compromised the safety of the work environment.

Further, Ms. Gray alleged, the work area has become contaminated with mould.

“A limited section of the facility was closed and our union members as well as our immediate administrative officers and technical staff, continued duties at their own health risk,” Ms. Gray said. “Similar situations still persist today as members of our organization continue to be exposed to adverse working conditions at a compromise to their health while operating from the abandoned terminal building in another facility.

“This office is tightly squeezed between two restrooms where there is a breach in the wall between them. There is significant mould contamination, exposure to rodents and their droppings and even occasional flooding.

Ms. Gray maintained that the Department of Civil Aviation has been complicit in jeopardising the health and safety of its workers who are now forced to take personal responsibility for their health and safety.

She recounted an ongoing situation at the Nassau Terminal Radar Control and Tower facility where workers continuously face water outages leading to staff having to transport bottles of water sometimes as many as nine floors simply to flush the toilets and wash their hands

“These unfortunate situations are allowed to persist in our workplace with little to no regard for the employees and their health and safety concerns,” she said.

Ms. Gray has also alleged that two of the union’s members are being victimized and threatened with disciplinary action for which there is no jurisdiction.

These workers, she claimed were simply acting in the interest of their colleagues who have been forced to work in deplorable conditions.

“They operated fully within their supervisory right of responsibility to protect the health and safety of their co-workers and themselves,” Ms. Gray said. “They also acted in accordance with both international and local regulations in regards to the implementation of their proposed action which was to temporarily suspend the air traffic services which entails significant notification and coordination to ensure that safety of aircraft is able to be maintained.”

The union is demanding immediate action on the part of the Department of Civil Aviation otherwise it has promised to take industrial action.

The owners of John Chea Meat Mart chain of stores were held and gunpoint and robbed of a deposit bag Tuesday, outside the Commonwealth Bank Wulff Road branch.

Police reported that the armed robbery took place in the bank’s parking lot.

When The Journal arrived at the scene, a number of police officials were seen inside and outside the building conducting investigations.

Services at that location were halted for several hours as the bank was forced to close.

Three John Chea owners, one female and two males, were seen being escorted from that location by police.

Investigations are ongoing.

Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) is committed to serving local communities through volunteering and fundraising. As students across the island prepare for a new school year, GBPC employees held their first ‘Back to School Giveaway.’

Families from across Grand Bahama enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of entertainment including bouncing castles, face painting, food and refreshments.

GBPC employees volunteered their time to help with the event and were delighted to provide more than 500 school age children with school supply kits including pens, pencils, rulers, composition books, pocket folders and paper.

The giveaway was organised by the GBPC Employee Volunteer Group (EVG). The Group has been working hard to find ways for GBPC employees to support the community and identify ways employees can give back where they live and work.

“The Back to School giveaway was a wonderful way for our employees to support the youth of Grand Bahama,” said Mia Wilchcombe, chair of the EVG. “Our employee volunteers were thrilled to be able to share an afternoon of fun with the children while helping to prepare them for their upcoming school year”.

A man recently released on bail for the April 17, 2013 murder of alleged gang leader Julian “Heads” Collie was shot to death early Tuesday morning after police say the occupants of a gray Honda Inspire went on a shooting spree Monday night, shooting three others, until they found him.

Distraught family members on the scene identified the victim 38-year-old Rolando Leroy “Cat” Smith of Ridgeland Park East, is the victim.

“My son is a loving kind hearted person with two babies who he was struggling to take care,” she said wailing. “Somebody shot him and no one knows who did it. This is the second time they shot my son.

“The government needs to do something about all of this murder. They need to hang these murderers.”

Smith’s mother Shirley King said her son has been the target of murderers for years now, having just recently recovered from a murder attempt where he was shot eight times.

Police said in this latest case, it was around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday that gunshots rang out through Albermarle Street where Smith, was among a group of men sitting on a wall outside his home, when the occupants of that gray Inspire pulled up, two men got out and opened fire hitting Smith and another man.

An area resident reported hearing 16 gunshots outside her window.

“Officers responded to this area where they saw a male who was suffering from gunshot injuries to his leg,” Central Detective Unit Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle said.

“EMS personnel responded and transported this victim to the hospital.”

Journal sources said that this first victim is area resident Raymond Rollins, who shot five to seven times about the body.

Now while police did respond to the scene last night and transported that shooting victim to hospital, family members are now questioning why Smith, the father of a five-year-old and a one-year-old, was not discovered until daylight, when the workers at the Royal Heritage Early Childhood arrived on the campus.

The murder victim’s body could be seen lying in the schoolyard.

“During the shooting incident last night the four individuals ran in different directions,” Supt. Rolle added. “So I don’t know if they knew that this individual was in fact injured.”

Screams pierced the morning air as Smith’s mother and family members watched as crime scene investigators wheeled the body from the scene.

“They already shot him down eight times and nothing was done,” the grieving mother added. “Nobody said anything about that and now they came back and shot him up again.

“He was only sitting on the wall, he didn’t do anything to anyone. They have him accused wrongly, they have him accused falsely and they can’t even prove anything.”

Smith was arraigned in August 2013 for Collie’s murder.

Now police officials said shortly before this incident two other shooting incidents were reported, one through Brougham Street and the other through Hay Street where the occupants of that same gray Honda Inspire shot two others.

They said based on preliminary investigations, they are convinced that these three matters are related.

At last reports, one of those victims was listed in hospital in critical condition while the other two were listed as serious.

Police investigations are ongoing into these matters.

Despite initial reports that they were investigating another homicide, police officials confirmed Tuesday that they will not classify the shooting death of a store robber as a murder.

Head of the Central Detective Unit Superintendent Paul Rolle said yesterday that police officials will not bring criminal charges against a store owner who shot and killed a man who attempted to rob his Lincoln Boulevard store on Monday.

Police have identified the robber as 23-year-old Enego Prescott Louis.

It is reported that the storeowner fired at the robber around 12:30 p.m. Monday, however, police said the victim was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital around 2:00 p.m. suffering from gunshot wounds about the body.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the U.S. Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section (INL), and the U.S. Department of State’s Antiterrorism and Assistance (ATA) Program teamed up to provide twenty-seven Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) officers advanced training in Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) August 24through August 29 in Nassau.

The week-long program was led by supervisory special agents from the FBI’s SWAT Operations Unit, which provides training, research, operational assistance, and program management to FBI SWAT teams and international law enforcement partners.

Last year, the Special Operations Unit provided over 2,600 hours of instruction and deployed 29 times.

In addition to classroom instruction, the RBPF participants received hands-on training including: scenario walk-throughs, firearms training, practical problem-solving exercises, and skill-building drills.

Coursework also covered techniques/approaches for tactical situations to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of the RBPF SWAT and Drug Enforcement Unit participants. Moreover, the FBI SWAT instructors emphasized the importance of teamwork in SWAT operations.

The practical exercises enhanced team proficiency, confidence, and trust among the team members. The FBI, ATA, INL, and RBPF collaboration will further enable SWAT officers to address potential crises confidently, safely, and professionally.

Funding for the SWAT course was provided under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a regional security partnership between the United States and the nations of the Caribbean to combat the drug trade and other transnational crimes that threaten regional security.

Murder arraignments are all the rage at the Nassau Street Court Complex, oftentimes prompting members of the public and the media, family and friends to gather on the court grounds to get a glimpse of the person accused of the heinous crime, but officials from a local anti-crime advocacy group are calling on police officials to ensure that when they take a murder suspect before the courts that they have done a thorough investigation and have arrested the right person.

President of Families of All Murder Victims (Bahamas) Khandi Gibson told the Journal Wednesday that while her organisation fully respects the work police officers do, sometimes questions do arise about the suspects charge with serious crimes.

“We are aware that not everybody hauled before the court is guilty of a crime, we are also aware that not everybody acquitted is innocent, we are also aware that persons are innocent until proven guilty so we beg the police to do proper investigations,” she said. “Could you imagine your loved one going to prison for something that he or she didn’t do?

“Could you imagine something happening to your loved one while they are incarcerated and the come back into society? They are going to come back bitter, they are going to come back angry and with animosity in their heart and God forbid who gets that side of that person.”

Ms. Gibson said, for her, a prime example is the fact that police officers arrested 50 people after that mass Fox Hill shooting last year where four people were killed, but only three suspects were charged for the crimes.

She said what makes matters worse is the fact sometimes wanted bulletins go out with a police suspect’s photo, address and name but once investigations are done and the person is not charged, there is no public notice that that person has been cleared of the crime.

“The same emphasis they put into circulating wanted posters and putting people’s photos up, we want the same emphasis of them going back into the public and saying, ‘Yes we were looking for this person, but they have been released and is no longer a suspect.

“Let the public know what’s going on and in itself will help to calm down the crime rate.”

FOAM Vice President Tomiko Evans said he experienced the devastation being falsely accused of a murder can have on a family when it happened to his brother several years ago.

“It really changed him because when he went to jail, he came out a totally different person,” Mr. Evans added. “I think he was around 19 to 20-years-old and he came out a totally different person.

“He now had vengeance and hatred towards the police and society and he didn’t say it but he blamed the law for how he turned out to be.”

Mr. Evans said his brother later became a murder victim himself.

Baha Mar officials yesterday applauded the government for tabling what they call “a sweeping revitalisation of the country’s gaming regulations” after Tourism and Gaming Minister Obie Wilchcombe tabled the long awaited Gaming Bill 2014 in the House of Assembly Wednesday.

In a move that marks the first major update since Bahamian casinos were legalised in 1969, the resort’s executives said in a press statement yesterday that the regulatory changes would allow Bahamian casinos to offer international travellers the latest gaming industry amenities.

The new regulations, Baha Mar officials said, would help to expand The Bahamas’ international tourism industry, which accounts for approximately 55 per cent of all Bahamian jobs and nearly half of the country’s gross domestic product.

Baha Mar, which has worked with other casino operators in the collaborative public and private sector effort to modernise The Bahamas’ gaming laws, thanked Prime Minister Perry Christie and the government for taking a major step in expanding The Bahamas’ international tourism business.

They said the proposed changes would generate new Bahamian jobs; stimulate private investment; and support the government’s investment of hundreds of millions in tourism infrastructure, including a $409 million airport expansion, enhanced cruise-ship facilities and roadwork improvements.

“These regulatory updates would provide The Bahamas and Baha Mar with a sustainable competitive advantage, which is vital for an economy driven by international tourism,” Baha Mar’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sarkis Izmirlian said.

“The Bahamas has long been known as a stable gaming jurisdiction, and these new regulations would put us on a level playing field with the world’s most successful casino markets such as Las Vegas, Singapore and Macau. The regulations also would allow us to offer private VIP gaming salons, enhanced lines of credit, gaming junkets and other amenities vital to attracting affluent international casino customers.”

Paul V. Pusateri, Baha Mar’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “The new regulations and laws would enhance Baha Mar’s ability to generate strong gaming revenues. Technology-driven amenities such as internet gaming, mobile gaming and in-play sports betting will help differentiate The Bahamas in the highly competitive gaming sector. They definitely will help Baha Mar attract players from the Eastern United States, Latin America, Asia and other markets that will be important to our success.”

Highlights of the proposed new regulations include proxy wagering, mobile gaming, internet gaming, in-play sports betting and policies to promote responsible gaming.

Bahamians could one day be allowed to gamble in casinos – ending years of discrimination, however Tourism Minister Obie Wilchombe, who has responsibility for gaming, told The Bahama Journal that this will not happen overnight as the process to get there will be a gradual one.

At the moment Mr. Wiclchombe said, the government is focused on regulating the industry as a whole.

“The minster now has the authority through regulations to determine who can participate in games in the casinos and games in web shops, it’s all in the bill, its apart of the new move forward which will be Bahamians, if the case comes and we want to make that case for Bahamians to gamble then regulations will be brought to parliament,” he said.

“This emphasise a gradual process, the first thing were doing is regulating what exist today, the second thing where going to do is look at where we go from here, it might mean Bahamians in casinos it might mean a national lottery , all that’s inclusive but it all depends upon the minister moving regulations. The new legislation will also empower the minister responsible for gaming to make regulations permitting participation in the types of gaming contemplated in casinos and gaming houses by any category or all categories of persons, which may regulate the circumstances under which and the conditions subject to which such participation shall be permitted.”

In an effort to revolutionize the gaming industry in The Bahamas to allow Bahamians to legally gamble in web shops, casinos and broaden the scope for casino operators, the government on Wednesday tabled the much anticipated gaming legislation in the House of Assembly.

Mr. Wilchombe explained what Bahamians can expect under the new regime of taxing web shops.

“Licenses will be granted pursuant to detailed criteria to be set forth in an RFP, containing appropriate minimum criteria for the licensing of web shops, on the basis of which the application and licensing process will be managed,” he said.

“The new law will provide for the issuance of a Gaming House Operator Licence to existing operators. The new Gaming Bill will also provide for the issuance of Gaming House Premises Licences and Gaming House Agent Licences. Gaming House Operator Licence shall be issued only to a fully Bahamian-owned company and may only be applied for in response to a formal invitation to apply for such licence. Gaming House Premises Licence provides for a separate gaming house premises licenses to be issued in respect of the dedicated premise.”

Provision has also been made in the Gaming Bill for two additional categories of licenses, namely Key Employee Licenses and Gaming Employee Licenses.

According to Gaming House Operator Regulations 2014, under section 64 of the Act, the holder of a gaming license will be taxed 11 per cent of the taxable revenue or 25 per cent of earnings before interest of taxes depending on which is greater.

The 2014 regulations also revealed that the annual Gaming House License and Operator fee will cost $250,000, the Gaming House Premises License will cost $2,000 dollars, the Gaming House Agent License will cost $1,000, the Key Employee License will cost $120 and the Gaming Employee License will cost $80

Mr. Wilchombe said that the bill also presents a provision for a supplier license which will be required by every person who distributes repairs, maintains, alters, modifies or otherwise directly supplies any gaming device, and may only be issued to a company.

He also assured that the bill will open the door for a national lottery and various forms of lottery.

“A new provision has been included in the Gaming Bill to empower the minister to authorise the conduct of a National Lottery in The Bahamas, and to appoint a service provider to operate the national lottery under a management contract,” he said.

“The Gaming Bill further provides for the minister to make regulations (inter alia) governing the management contract. The Gaming Bill also confirms the ongoing illegality of all other lotteries other than – any national lottery that may be implemented, charitable lotteries, private lotteries, lotteries which are incidental to certain entertainment events and the numbers game, when offered by the holder of a gaming house operator licence.”

The basic taxes for casinos on the other hand, remain unchanged however new license measures, taxes and fees are provided for restricted interactive, proxy and mobile gaming.

The bill empowers the gaming minister to set fees in respect to various licences to allow greater flexibility to amend fees and the taxation structure in the future.

Mr. Wilchombe assured that much consultation was taken to ensure that the future regulation of the gaming industry meet international standards.

“In conformity with international best practices and in full compliance with the prevailing anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing requirements, consultation led by the Attorney General has taken place with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to ensure that the provisions of the proposed legislation and procedures will be in compliance with FATF guidelines so as to ensure acceptance by banks of proceeds from legalized and regulated casinos and web shop operators,” he said.

He added that consultations continue with clearing banks operating in the country, a board will be formed to not only monitor the collection of taxes but will impose penalties as well to licence holders who do not met the necessary requirements.

Debate on the gaming bill begins next Wednesday.

Following an exchange of words between the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) chairman and the Opposition Leader who blasted the government for not meeting its September 1 deadline for the opening of The Bahamas Agriculture Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), Agriculture Minister Alfred Grey maintains that the institute will be up and running at the end of this month.

Mr. Grey said that he was not aware of a September 1 opening date as the government promised that the institute will be in operation during the fall of this year.

Mr. Grey assures that there was no delay.

“It’s being open on September 29, I don’t consider that a delay because logistical things had to be in place, staff had to be recruited, I think it’s going to open on time, that to me is on time as any other date which had been set previously,” he said.

He did admit however, that the site at BAMSI will not be quite ready for the opening date and assures that this will not hinder the quality of education for the first 50 students expected to join the institute this year.

Mr. Grey said that those students will be placed at alternative locations in the meantime.

Now as for the leadership of BAMSI, during a press conference on Wednesday, Minister Grey along with Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald announced BAMSI’s new executive director.

Mr. Grey said that Raveenia Roberts Hanna is fully equipped for the job and he looks forward to working with her.

Ms. Roberts Hanna said that she is excited for the task at hand and the country moving forward.

“For too long people have been complaining that we’re surrounded by water, we have all this unused land and not tapping into that potential and now we’re given an opportunity to actually do so,” she said.

“We’re really going to raise the level of awareness, skill labour and enthusiasm for agriculture and fisheries and really take it to the level where it should be.”

Ground was broken on the site in North Andros in November of last year, and since then millions of dollars was poured into the project.

The government is looking to institute to head agricultural research and lead the country towards producing its own food, expanding exports, educating Bahamians and generating revenue for the country.

Despite international credit rating agency Moody’s once again downgrading The Bahamas’ standing by one notch, taking the grade from Baa1 to Baa2, which reflects the country’s struggling financial landscape, State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis said Wednesday that despite the dip, there is hope for the country’s financial future.

The report on the country’s fiscal ranking was released late Tuesday and despite reporting a fall in the levels, it did note that due to fiscal reform policies in the making the financial outlook for The Bahamas was changed from negative to stable.

“While you never want to have your credit rating downgraded, we were comforted by the fact that it’s a one notch downgrade, not a double and that we maintained the credit rating of our investment grade which is very positive and that we have a stable outlook for the longer term of the economy,” he said.

“And so they came out and endorsed the government’s fiscal reform programme of restraining expenditure, improving out revenue and trying to grow the economy. They see that as a positive and so that has led to a stable long term outlook for the economy. So it’s up to us to continue along that path and make sure we have that balance between trying to grow the economy and manage finances and I think our future is bright.”

According to the Moody’s report, the key drivers of the downgrade are two-fold and include a continued deterioration of the government’s balance sheet, with debt and interest burdens that now exceed those of most Baa-rated peers and subdued economic growth, which, according to Moody’s, has been an important factor in the weakening of the government’s balance sheet.

“The first key driver for today’s rating action is related to the weakening of the Bahamian government’s fiscal strength, as reflected by the significant increase in the sovereign’s debt and interest burdens,” the report read.

“The government’s debt-to-GDP ratio has increased from 31.7 per cent in 2007 to 59.0 per cent in 2013, and Moody’s expects it to peak in 2015. At this level, it is almost 20 percentage points above the median for Baa-rated sovereigns which stood at 39.5 per cent in 2013.”

“That is high and that’s quite an increase,” he added. “They point to that as a concern so what we have to do is address it and we have been addressing it by our programme to improve revenue, constrain expenditure and to grow the economy.”

The report added that as the debt stock increased, the interest burden on government debt has risen during the same time period.

Interest payments now represent over 14 per cent of government revenues, compared to 9.3 per cent in 2007 and above the current Baa-median of 8.3 per cent.

“The deterioration of these metrics point to lower fiscal space for the government to confront any potential shocks, particularly in the current low-growth environment,” Moody’s added.

The credit rating agency said following the recession in 2008, the Bahamian economy has averaged annual growth of just 1.1 per cent in the four years through 2013 and added that the economy’s underperformance has negatively affected government revenues leading to higher current and capital expenditures by the government in order to support the economy.

Moody’s added that the stable outlook reflects their expectation that the medium-term fiscal consolidation plan will contain the government’s debt burden in fiscal 2015 and afterwards lead to a gradual reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio.

“The rating outlook also envisages that real GDP growth will strengthen somewhat to 2.0 per cent to 2.5 per cent in 2015, owing in large part to the ongoing recovery in economic growth in the US, which is closely correlated with tourist arrivals in The Bahamas,” they said. “Key elements of the fiscal stabilisation plan include expenditure controls that seek to increase the efficiency of public spending. In addition, government intends to introduce a 7.5 per cent Valued Added Tax (VAT) in 2015.

“Nonetheless, even with an effective implementation of fiscal reforms, The Bahamas’ debt and interest burdens will remain at levels significantly weaker than most Baa rating peers over the next two years at least, and over the medium term as well.”

Ministry of Finance officials issued a release on the downgrade late Tuesday, noting that the ratings agency rightly expresses confidence that the current programme of reforms to boost revenues, and to control expenditure and increase the efficiency of spending will yield positive results.

“These reforms are indeed expected to have the intended outcome of reducing the deficit and supporting a gradual reduction in the government’s debt burden over the coming years,” government officials added. “As Moody’s expectations underscore, on this course of action the Bahamian economy should strengthen, despite worries to the contrary in some quarters about the merits of the fiscal plan.

“The Government of The Bahamas must persevere with these reforms.”

Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin yesterday called claims from The Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers’ Union (BATCU) which has alleged that the health and safety of its members are being compromised because of unsanitary working conditions and that two of its members are being victimised false and scurrilous.

On Tuesday, the BATCU announced that it had filed a labour dispute with the Department of Labour and it stated its intentions to lobby its members to take a strike poll after it claimed that working conditions at its main facility are posing significant risks to the health and safety of its members.

Further, the union claimed that two its members who sought to rectify the situation are being threatened and victimised.
In the House of Assembly Wednesday, Mrs. Hanna-Martin dismissed these claims and accused the union of misleading the public.
“As minister responsible for aviation, we are ready and willing to respond to the issues as we see they exist,” she said. “And I reject as false, scurrilous and scandalous any allegation that any officer in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation is being victimised,” the minister said.

The union has claimed that there have been chronic water outages at the Nassau Terminal Radar Control and Tower which have led to employees at times having to transport water several floors high in order to wash their hands and flush the toilets.
Mrs. Hanna-Martin acknowledged that there have been water issues but said these problems are due to water supply issues as a result of works conducted by the Water and Sewerage Corporation.

Further, she maintained that any issues regarding unsanitary working conditions brought to her attention will be addressed immediately.

“The tower has an operational elevator,” Mrs. Hanna-Martin said. “There was an incident a few months ago involving cessation of water supply. We later learned that it was occasioned by works being conducted by Water and Sewerage Corporation. I am told that in the last two weeks additionally there have been issues with water supply intermittently. I am advised that technical officers went out and conducted an inspection which disclosed that there was no defect and that very likely it was an issue related to water supply.”

The BATCU which is supported by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has threatened to take industrial actions if its concerns are not immediately addressed, however, the minister said she remains committed with working to ensure there is a resolution to the matter.

“I am advised that there has been a convention with this union and the minister of labour that where there are issues there would be communication and consequent resolution,” Mrs. Hanna-Martin said. “If within this context of an employer who is not only listening but ready to respond and work with you and resolve these issues – if within that context, the threat of strike is executed I am inviting the Bahamian people to give it careful analysis, particularly, in light of the recent assertions of the Trade Union Congress of efforts they wish to take.”

Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday said that justice in the country is being challenged as a result of the number of people charged with serious criminal offenses being released on bail and subsequently killed and he outlined what his administration is doing to bring about speedier trials to reduce the incidents of crime and the number of criminals released back on the streets.

Mr. Christie said it is now a kill or be killed situation whereas the murder suspects released on bail as they await trial are being killed.

His comments come on the heels of the murder of murder suspect Rolando Smith whose bullet-riddled body was found behind a preschool in Ridgeland Park East Tuesday.

Smith, who is accused of the April 13, 2013 murder of Julian Collie, was out on bail for that crime.

“There is a revolving door that the justice system who hears me now must take into consideration when it comes down to the balance of the constitution and the rights of the individual to know that there is sufficient evidence for all of us to see clearly that when people allegedly kill and are charged because you are innocent until proven guilty that because the system fails in not having trials in sufficient periods of time – which is three years, they are admitted to bail and they are killed. So it is kill or be killed,” Mr. Christie said.

The prime minister again touted the government’s Swift Justice Programme which is meant to reduce incidents of crime and bring about greater efficiency in the judicial system and he foreshadowed that there will be significant movement in the judiciary with the introduction of ten criminal courts set to come on stream.

“We have now to assign justices to ensure that we have nine or ten courts running concurrently so that the excuse of people not having trials in sufficient time can be put behind us,” Mr. Christie said. “We know our country’s reputation is being heavily dampened – our young people are having their lives taken…they are all victims, the ones who kill the ones who are killed. We are all responsible for finding the formula to address it.”

Mr. Christie also announce that the government will hire public defenders and this will be institutionalised in order to ensure those unable to afford an attorney will not have their trials delayed.

A second man was on Wednesday charged with the January 6, 2014 shooting of Marcus Miller who remained in hospital a week before he died on January.

Thirty-six-year-old Garvin Adderley of 29 Spruce Street, Nassau Village, was the second suspect charged with the crime.

Police allege that Adderley and 30-year-old Jermaine Missick who was charged back in February, shot miller to the neck outside his home.

Adderley was not required to enter a plea to the charge and was remanded to prison until the service of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment on November 4.

He was not represented by an attorney.

When the City of Freeport was born in 1955 with the signing of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement there was one defining mandate, to dredge a deep water harbour that became the catalyst for the growth and development of Grand Bahama Island. Today, the Freeport Harbour Company (FHC) is pleased to announce the East Harbour Expansion (EHE) project and the continuation of that mandate given almost 60 years ago.

The Freeport Harbour is dynamic and has been in a constant state of development, but the East Harbour Expansion Project will be the most significant expansion of the harbour since the initial dredging in 1956 and establishment of the Freeport Container Port and the Grand Bahama Shipyard in the 1990’s.

From 1956, the development of the harbour caused Freeport to become synonymous with the names ‘Industrial Capital’ and ‘Second City’ of The Bahamas, and for the country to boast of having one of the largest and deepest manmade harbours in the region comprising of 1,600 acres with a depth of 52 ft. (16m).

As a direct result of the development of the Freeport Harbour, many state of the art companies are operating in and around the Harbour today. Freeport Container Port, Grand Bahama Ship Yard, Bahamas Oil Refining Company, Bradford Marine, Bahama Rock, Quality Services, Bahamian Brewery and Beverage, the Bahamas Hot Mix, Bahama Cement Company, PharmaChem Technologies, Bhicam, and other marine-related facilities, have made Freeport a world-class maritime center.

The expansion of the Freeport Harbour also brings with it long-awaited growth opportunities for companies like the Grand Bahama Shipyard that will be able to expand their operations and allows Freeport Harbour to retain its competitive edge over other ports. This includes creating additional berthing areas for a future container port; new industrial development; and serving the growing needs of the local industry.
The continued development of the Freeport Harbour allows Grand Bahama Island, and by extension, The Bahamas to remain competitive; to increase job and business opportunities within the harbour; and to strengthen the diversified, third pillar of the economy of The Bahamas.

Waldon Russell, a Case Officer and Electrical Engineer with the Utility Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), is now a registrant of the prestigious Engineering Council (EC) of London. The EC confers upon individuals who first, qualify for membership in the Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET), the professional title of “Chartered Engineer (CEng)”, while the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) grants the right to use the post nominal MIET.

The path to registration requires a Post Graduate Engineering Qualification equivalent to The Master of Engineering (M.Eng) in conjunction with eight to ten years of intensive continuing professional development and relevant work experience at a senior level.

According to the IET, the professional designation is an important milestone for any engineer. It is evidence that one has demonstrated a commitment to stringent professional standards and to developing and enhancing competence in the profession. As the country’s regulator for the Electronic Communications Sector, it is imperative that URCA staff members are highly motivated, qualified and competent in the latest technology in the sector.

Waldon’s most significant accomplishment to date is the design, construction and management of a 2million dollar National Spectrum Management Project. This included the design and building of towers strategically located in the country, design and construction of a multipurpose monitoring vehicle and the design and building of several computer systems to facilitate URCA’s spectrum monitoring obligations.

Professional registration with the Engineering Council is based on: demonstration of theoretical knowledge to solve problems in new technologies and develop new analytical techniques; successful application of the knowledge to deliver innovative products and services and/or take technical responsibility for complex engineering systems; accountability for project, finance and personnel management and managing trade-offs between technical and socio-economic factors. They must also have the skill sets necessary to develop other technical staff and effective interpersonal skills in communicating technical matters.

The Chartered Engineer (CEng) designation, which is recognized internationally, affords Mr. Russell the rights and privilege to use the CEng designation and logo. URCA advises that Waldon is also registered with The Bahamas Professional Engineering Board as a Professional Engineer (PE).

What is also commendable, is that while qualifying for the CEng qualification, Russell simultaneously completed a Master of Business Administration Degree with a concentration in Finance. He has been a valuable member of URCA’s team for 10 years. Since its establishment, URCA and its predecessor the Public Utilities commission (PUC) has always encouraged and supported the development and advancement of its staff.

Bahamian businessman Tom Basden has made the leap from constructing elevators to operating a boutique hotel on a private island.

On Thursday, Mr. Basden, the proprietor of the Camp Grantanna Special Projects Resort on Rose Island, took Prime Minister Perry Christie and several of his Cabinet minister on a tour of the $10 million property set to open in November.

Mr. Basden, who acquired the property several years ago, said initially he thought the island would serve as a retirement getaway for he and his family, but that idea quickly evolved into something more lucrative.

He said the resort will be earth friendly and will use solar panels and other green methods to sustain itself.

“As it evolved, it evolved from questions in my mind what are you building here…cabana for your grandchildren? But how many times a year are they going to use it? You might as well build something that will bring in returns,” Mr. Basden said. “So then I started thinking and they shot a James Bond movie out in Coral Harbour and I have a piece of beach property out there and James Bond people rented the property as one of their sites. And then the thought came to my mind – why don’t you build a site with all the amenities?”
Prime Minister Christie applauded the efforts and said this is a model that should be adopted nationwide.
“This has been a very difficult project and you can see how he has gone about and making it a green project and even though he has generators with surplus capacity he has in fact integrated in this mix solar LED lighting but all of the energy saving devices and use of energy from natural sources that again sets another standard and example for Bahamians,” the prime minister said.
Camp Grantanna will be a special projects resort which will be leased to movie productions, church groups, and other crowds.

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchombe said for years the country has struggled with finding inventory and more spots for tourists to visit, but acknowledged that this new resort is a great start.

“To build the tourism industry we require inventory and diversity with the inventory,” he said. “This will be in demand because there are many people from around the world who are looking for not the mammoth hotels but they want much more hotels such as this where they can get to a private island they can have easy access to the island and have their families and others enjoy with them. They want to have their own type of vacation so this will work.”

Camp Grantanna is scheduled to open on November 1.

The biggest point of contention with the Gaming Bill 2014, that was tabled in the House of Assembly Wednesday, is the perceived discrimination against Bahamians gambling in casinos and tourists not being allowed in web shops, however, Tourism And Gaming Minister Obie Wilchcombe explained Thursday that despite there being a clarion call for casinos to be opened to Bahamians, the issue is much more complex than simply signing it into law and requires mounds of research.

In fact, Minister Wilchcombe said these things take time and if The Bahamas is to do them properly, then the country must go through the process of researching, analysing and figuring out.

He added that governments work in such a way that when they act, they have to ensure it is in the best interest of the country.

“Further research is needed,” he said. “We have to look into sustainability of the existing business. See, we must remember that in our country the Hobbyhorse Hall closed down, that was daily gambling. When we allowed for casino gambling the idea was to provide for an amenity for tourist to get the foreign direct capital from the tourists.

“If we look at what we are going to do in the future it all determines where we’re going to go and we have to get to the point where we’re sure that’s what we want to do and we can sustain it. The average Bahamian only saves about $800 right now, that’s a very serious thing. We have to think about what we’re doing before we go there, or the next thing we know, we’re in trouble.”

It has been the biggest bone of contention and question ever since the gaming issue arose – why is it that Bahamians cannot gamble in casinos, and what is keeping tourists from over the hill and away from web shops.

Minister Wilchcombe said while some think it takes just the stroke of a pen to reverse these decisions, they are much more complicated than that.

“Those who argue, ‘Do it now,’ they haven’t done the research,” he added. “That’s all impressionistic views, or their personal views and populous views they want to follow, but that’s not the right view.

“You have to deal with information. When we were dealing with the web shops we have to do a tremendous amount of research and the truth is you would find that you have people participating in one web shop, more than the people who voted in the referendum.”

He told reporters Thursday that Singapore, a country that recently raked in $3 billion from its casinos only after introducing them in 2005 visited The Bahamas, looking for advice on how to run them, pointing out that the government knows what it is doing, but some things just will not happen overnight.

“The research will determine where we go next,” he further explained. “The sustainability, the growth of our industry, the web shops and their sustainability to ensure that they are compliant but we are in a gradual process and we believe that’s the right way to go.”

He added that although it has been tabled, the Gaming Bill is still being tweaked.

“We are waiting now for the audited accounts which will come after the request for proposal (RFP),” he added. “The audited accounts will in fact determine the real numbers that we’re going to put in terms of taxes.

“We’re starting with these numbers because we have to, but we intend to revisit after we’ve looked at the numbers after a true audit is completed and that will take place after the RFP which they have to make and swear an affidavit to and then we will make some decisions.”

Debate on the bill is expected to begin next Wednesday.

The incidents, victims and perpetrators of violent crime are oftentimes based in over-the-hill communities that have for years gotten a bad rap for the country’s crime woes, but on Thursday The Bahama Journal took to the streets to find out what some citizens in these areas had to say about this vexing issue that seems to grip headlines on a daily basis.

Residents in the Bains Town and Grants Town constituency care calling on the government to up the ante to fight a problem that is now out of hand.

A mother of four and resident of the Bain Town community said that she is in fear of her life and fear the safety of her family.

“This crime level is ridiculous and they need to start hanging because it’s getting worse each and every day, you can’t even sit down on your own porch, you’re getting shoot or gun downed something need to be done,” said Stephanie Burrows.

Others shared similar sentiments.

“I think it’s really out of hand now, the authorities really need to pay closer attention to it, I think it’s a shame, I think it falls like how everyone has been saying on the parents,” said Carla Jackson.

“If we had responsible parents bringing up the children in the right way, in my personal opinion I don’t think crime would be in the position that it’s in now.”

“I think they need to implement and do what they say they’re going to do rather than just locking them up, sending them back out with ankle bracelets and when you listen they get kill, they go out and commit more crime out on bail and they get their life taken away and it’s sad,” said Anishca Moxey.

“I think the problem with the crime is that the family members, if you have a brother who does a crime and you say nothing, if you see your cousin doing crap and come to your house with the money, you take the money, you’re not helping the country and that’s what really causing the problem,” said Julian Farrington.

A 33-year-old man and resident of the Bain Town community said that youth unemployment contributes to crime.

He also expressed dismay with young men who would decide chase fast money from crime rather than look for a job.

Marlene Dorsett, a 76-year-old store owner who grew up in the area of Bain Town said she has been a victim of robberies on a number of occasions.

Ms. Dorsett said that crime is everyone’s problem and encouraged Bahamians to unite.

“The government is trying its best but the government does not have children, parents have children and they need to learn how to train these children from small, we’ll just have to all work together and try to make it a better country, whatever we do crime will be here, when the end of the world come then we will have peace,” she said.

Prime Minister Perry Christie on Wednesday said that the country is now faced with a kill or be killed situation, adding that the justice system continues to be challenged by the revolving door of bail granted to people charged with serious criminal offenses.

However, Mr. Christie foreshadowed dramatic improvements in the judicial system as ten criminal courts are set to come on stream.

In the midst of widespread debate surrounding the proposed constitutional amendments tackling gender equality, Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly Dr. Bernard Nottage revealed that the constitutional referendum could possibly be delayed in an effort to ensure that the electorate is fully educated on the four bills that seek to promote equality between men and women.

Dr. Nottage said as much during the first reading of the Gaming Bill on Wednesday in the House of Assembly.

“The Constitutional Commission is also considering whether any adjustment to the current time table for the constitutional referendum should be recommended having regard to the need to ensure that the electorate is afforded ample time to develop a thorough understanding of the proposed changes in advance of any referendum,” he said.

“An announcement on this aspect of the matter is expected to be made on or before September 10 as well,” he said.

In the meantime, he added that the Constitutional Commission will continue to expand and diversify its public education activities throughout the country as it wraps up it consultations on any possible amendments to the bills.

“The commission is in the process of completing the final round of consultations with the religious community and a broad section of civil society in specific reference to the bills after which the commission will consult the government and the opposition before finalising its advice if any additional amendments could be advanced in consideration by this honourable house while the bills are in committee,” he said.

This announcement from the Constitutional Commission to consider delaying the referendum comes on the heel of a controversy that also fuelled uproar in parliament on the proposed amendments.

Last month this prompted female parliamentarians to speak out and to rally support for the bills as they vowed to launch a ground campaign in their bid for a successful referendum.

The controversy on the amendments centred on bill number four that seeks to end discrimination based on sex, many expressed concern that this bill could possibly pave the way for same sex marriages, a claim the that the government has repeatedly denied and has since revised bill number four to include a definition for the word sex to clarify male and female.

The government has scheduled the constitutional referendum for November 6.