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A L L T H E N E W S Y O U N E E D T O R E A D I N T H E M O R N I N G

VOL. 31 - NO. 112 75 CENTSTUESDAY - JULY 9TH, 2019

‘A Crisis of Trust,’Says Davis

t’s a “crisis of trust”for Prime MinisterDr. Hubert Minnis’to award millions of

dollars in contracts tocompanies in which St.Anne’s MP BrentSymonette is a sharehold-er, Progressive LiberalParty Leader Philip Davissaid.

“One of these deals is alease for the Town CentreMall, a government con-tract, which will be worth$4.5 million to a companyowned by Mr. Symonetteand his brother,” Davisexplained yesterday.

“On October 24, 2018,the prime minister and hiscolleagues passed in theHouse of Assembly a res-olution to enter into this

BY DEANDRE WILLIAMSONJournal Staff Writer

g See page 4... 4 Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip Davis

‘Gov’t Wrong on Approach to Grand Lucayan Sale’

Former Minister ofTourism ObieWilchcombe said the gov-ernment’s approach toselling the GrandLucayan Hotel is wrong,as he believes this is thereason why the hotel has-n’t been sold as yet.

According toWilchcombe, the govern-ment should considerconducting the salethrough the HotelCorporation.

Apart from that, hesaid, the governmentshould explore Bahamianpartnerships to managethe property.

“Where the Hotel

BY BERTHONY MCDERMOTTJournal Staff Writer

g See page 4... 4 Former Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe

I

Teachers explore Technology, civics,and more To UpdaTe cUrricUlUm

4 Phyllis Baron, OAS representative, speaks at the Social Sciences Summer Professional Development Workshop for seniorhigh school teachers. Also shown seated in front row is Shaccara Lightbourne, IIEA representative.

(BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

NTSB Delegated toProbe Chopper CrashInvestigation into thedeadly July 4 helicoptercrash has been turnedover to the NationalTransportation SafetyBoard (NTSB) in theUnited States, according

to the Air AccidentInvestigation Department(AAID).

Moving forward,AAID, which delegatedNTSB, said all questionsand concerns should bedirected to the NTSB, as

BY LEAH COOPERJournal Staff Writer

g See page 3...

BPL’s Oil Leakunder Control A few slack bolts causedan oil leak at BahamasPower and Light’s BlueHills Power Station thispast Saturday.

BPL Public RelationsOfficer Quincy Parkersaid workers discoveredfuel spraying from a pipeat the plant and followedthe proper procedure to

get the matter under con-trol.

“The employee quicklyisolated the system andtook the necessary actioninline with BPL’s envi-ronmental policies includ-ing notification of theplant’s manager,” he said.

“Teams fromOperations Managementand the outside contactor

BY BERTHONY MCDERMOTTJournal Staff Writer

g See page 8...

Social Science teachersare swapping roles,becoming students for oneweek as they prepare toreview and redevelop the

curriculum.Creating blogs and

drop boxes, exploringlivestock and crops on afarm, learning about inter-

national organizations(OAS and IICA) andcivics are just a few of theareas that senior highschool teachers will be

exploring in the Ministryof Education’s SocialSciences Summer

g See page 4...

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The Public HospitalsAuthority (PHA) signedtwo contracts yesterday,totaling nearly $2 millionfor repairs to its coolingsystem and roof of thePrincess MargaretHospital (PMH).

Minister of Health Dr.Duane Sands said yester-day's signing marked asignificant day for PHAand PMH.

More than $1 millionwill be used to replace andupgrade the Chill WaterSystem in the CriticalCare Block and more than$600,000 will be used tocomplete phase two ofroofing repairs.

"Beginning in 2017 myministry, along with theBoard of Directors of thePHA, are committed tocharting a sustainablecourse for the futuredevelopment andimprovement of servicesacross the institutions ofthe PHA,” Dr. Sands said.

"Where appropriate, wewould commit to the

investments necessary toarrest and ameliorate theeffects of years of wearand tear, uneven mainte-nance and, in someinstances, periods of neg-lect on the infrastructure,equipment and physicalplants at our public hospi-tals. Also, where appropri-ate, we committed tolooking for opportunitiesto create and or enhancepublic private partner-ships to improve our hos-pitals’ capacities andequipment."

Commending the lead-ership of PHA and PMHrespectively, Dr. Sandsadded that with execu-tions of the contracts PHAand PMH are embarkingon significant improve-ments to the premierehealthcare institution inthe country.

Caribbean InternationalA/C Services Limited wasawarded the contract toreplace and upgrade thechilling system at a valueof approximately $1.1million, which willinclude installation andcommissioning of two

Smart AD065 chill watersystems for the HVAC atPMH.

Dr. Sands added thatwork in this aspect willtake approximately five tosix months to complete,which will include con-struction time for the newsystem.

"The upgrade will alle-viate cooling issues expe-rienced in the past in thehospital’s Critical CareBlock and its surroundingareas, capping an inten-sive series of remedial ini-tiatives undertaken byPMH to repair and restorethe AC system," Dr. Sandssaid.

The second contractvalued at $632,576 willcover phase two of roofrepairs at PMH and willsee the removal of exist-ing metal roofing panelsreplacing them with hurri-cane zone rated panelsand substrate.

This contract wasawarded to Ringo andSons Construction andGeneral Maintenance, thecompany that completedphase one roof repairs.

According to Dr.Sands, these contractsignings come on theheels of improvementstaking place around thehealthcare facility.

"Since the beginning ofthis year, this phasedapproach also encom-passed improvement andexpansion works associat-ed with the Urgent &Emergency Care Projectat PMH. These worksinclude the constructionof a new patient registra-tion area, as well as worksin the decanted spaces for-merly occupied by theMedical Surgical SuppliesDepartment (MSSD) andCentral Sterile SuppliesDepartment (CSSD),” Dr.Sands said.

"Recently, the initialround of improvementshas been completed in thehospital’s Dialysis Unitincluding the purchase ofsome 20 new dialysischairs.

"Finally, in May of thisyear, the PHA executedcontracts valued at morethan $850,000 for signifi-cant capital works at its

institutions in NewProvidence. Included inthose contracts were thereplacement of a 55,000gallon water storage,gravity fed tank at PMH’ssouthern campus areawhich will ensure that the

hospital’s water supplyremains constant, evenduring a major hurricane.”

He added that with yes-terday's contract signing,the projects will largelycomplete major capitalworks for PMH in 2019.

A2 NationalNEWSThe Bahama Journal

Tuesday - July 9th, 2019

GOT NEWS?call The Journal

TIP LINE at 356-7254

Nearly $2 Millionfor PMH RepairsBY LICEC BASTIAN

Journal Staff Writer

4 Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands

Pinder RejectsMass Firing ClaimsLabour Director JohnPinder yesterday refutedclaims of a mass firing atthe Grand Bahama ShipYard.

A message, whichmade its rounds on socialmedia, indicated that thefirings come as a resultof reduced business.

Mr. Pinder said,“There’s a project inGrand Bahama thatrequires that amount ofpersons at the shipyard.They have finished thatproject now. As a resultof that, contract workers’contracts will not berenewed.”

According to thelabour director, 32Bahamians and 11 nonBahamians will beaffected by this exercise.

They were working onthe multi-productionmanufacturing facilityfor Pharmachem, whichcommenced in May,2016.

All contracts are set toexpire in December.

BY LEAH COOPERJournal Staff Writer

4 Labour Director John Pinder

Section A REGULAR_Section A Tues 7/9/2019 2:25 AM Page 2

A3The Bahama Journal

Tuesday - July 9th, 2019NationalNEWS

Strong Effective Gov’t Partner isImportant for Sustainable GrowthDeputy Prime Ministerand Minister of Financethe Hon. K. PeterTurnquest explained thatthis GovernmentAdministration believesthat having a strong andeffective partner in gov-ernment is an importantingredient to sustainablegrowth and development.

DPM Turnquest wasthe keynote speaker at theinaugural CFALBudgetPass 2019/20Conference held at BahaMar, Monday, July 8,2019, under the theme“Striking the RightBalance.”

He said the 2019/20Budget is unlike anybudget before in threemajor ways:

This is the first budg-•et to adhere to legallymandated fiscal tar-gets set by the FiscalResponsibility Act,2018

This is the first budg-•et to fully adopt thenew Chart ofAccounts (COA) andto be compliant withinternationally recog-nised GovernmentFinance Statistics(GFS) Standards

This is the first budg-•et that required min-istries to take a newapproach to budgetplanning, highlight-ing our transition to

programme budgetingin the public sector

“This represents adeliberate move towards amore modern form ofbudgeting and public sec-tor accountancy that setsthe right foundation forsustainability in all of ourendeavours.

“As we continue tousher these changes in,they will have a profoundimpact on the manage-ment of taxpayer moneynow and in the future, andtherefore increase thelikelihood of long-termfiscal stability, a strongereconomy and socio- eco-nomic transformation.”

He noted that the thebusiness community will

play an important role inkeeping the governmenton track, particularlythrough its representationon the FiscalResponsibility Council.

The DPM explainedthat this independent civilsociety body is estab-lished by the FiscalResponsibility Act (FRA)to foster budgetary disci-pline, and to promote thegovernment’s adherenceto sound fiscal decisionsthat take into account theeconomic impact they willhave on the economy.“We expect the Council tobe vibrant and active inplaying its role.

“As it relates to fiscaltargets, the FRA binds thegovernment to a strategic

plan to meet core fiscalgoals. These include:Achieving a sustainablelevel of debt of no morethan 50 percent of GrossDomestic Product (GDP)over the medium term,and a target fiscal balancethat does not exceed 0.5per cent of GDP by2020/21 and beyond.”

DPM Turnquest saidthat he does not think thefull weight of this law hasfully registered with theBahamian people, but itshould be known, it hasthe power to ensure thegovernment strikes theright balance with its pri-orities and policies, whilehandling taxpayers’ hard-earned money in a respon-sible and transparent way.

“In keeping with ourobligations, the deficitprojected for this budgetyear will in fact end upbeing the lowest deficitthis country has seen in 10years, with its correspon-ding ratio marking thelowest deficit to GDPratio this country has seenin almost two decades.”

He said, “Our deficithas been on a downwardtrajectory since thisAdministration tookoffice, and as we continueto meet our fiscal goalswe will undoubtedly havemore resources to devoteto other areas of economicand social reform that willhave an indelible impacton the lives of our peo-ple.”

NTSB Delegatedfurther updates will begiven by that board.

AAID announced thatTimothy Monville is nowthe investigator incharge.

The helicopter’s flight

and data recorders, blackbox, were also handedover to the NTSB inWashington D.C. foranalysis.

According to AAID,investigators were on sitedocumenting wreckageto determine if the com-

plete craft was recovered.The helicopter crashed

in waters off Grand Cay,Abaco with seven pas-sengers onboard.

All seven passengerslost their lives.

One of the passengerswas 60-year-old

Christopher Cline, a bil-lionaire coal magnatefrom West Virginia.

Twenty-two-year-oldKameron Cline was hisdaughter and the otheryoung women were herfriends.

The bodies of the vic-

tims were brought toNew Providence onFriday.

According to police,the helicopter took offfrom Big Grand Cayaround 2 a.m. en route toFort Lauderdale, Florida.

The missing helicop-

ter was reported to policearound 2:53 p.m. on July4 after it did not arrive atits destination.

Police and residents ofGrand Cay later discov-ered the aircraft over-turned in 16 feet ofwater.

gg Continued from / PAGE 1...

Section A REGULAR_Section A Tues 7/9/2019 2:25 AM Page 3

A4 The Bahama Journal

Tuesday - July 9th, 2019 NationalNEWS

‘A Crisis of Trust,’

‘Gov’t Wrong on Approach

lease. The resolution stat-ed in part, ‘And whereasone of the beneficial ofowners of the TownCentre Mall is a servingCabinet Minister who didnot take part in the discus-sion leading to the deci-sion to accept the offer tolease portions of the build-ing.’

“On Tuesday, July 2,2019, Brent Symonetteappeared on the talk showof Shenique Miller, anddescribed a detailed con-versation he had with theprime minister about thisvery lease. This is a con-versation that, accordingto the resolution and theprime minister, never hap-pened. The language ofthe resolution passed bythe FNM in Parliamentwas a lie, and the primeminister knew it at thetime it was passed.

“The prime ministernow says his conversa-tions with BrentSymonette should be con-sidered ‘confidential’.When he talks about trans-parency, you see, he does-n’t mean regarding con-versations in which he andmembers of Cabinet dis-cuss matters of significantinterest to the public.”

However, Davis said itis difficult to imagine howthe prime minister cancontinue to lead the gov-ernment effectively.

“With his misrepresen-tations to the House ofAssembly, and multipledeals benefitting membersof his inner political cir-cle, he has lost the trust ofthe public,” he added. “Ina functioning governmentwhere public trust wasvalued, a vote of no confi-dence would take place.”

According to Davis, itis likely that members of

the prime minister’s polit-ical party prefer to keephim in place, rather thansee him resign or fall to ano confidence vote.

“Many of them are put-ting politics, not country,first. Some of them careonly about their continuedability to pull his puppetstrings to their own bene-fit,” he said.

“This may be the polit-ical reality, but it does notin any way justify theunethical behavior thathas led to this crisis oftrust.”

Symonette recentlyresigned as minister offinancial services, tradeand industry and immigra-tion and many believed heresigned because of a con-tract that was awarded tohis company.

The government hasalso been under severecriticism over a number ofcontracts that companies

in which Symonette is ashareholder would havereceived.

But Symonette

explained publically thathis decision to resign was-n’t because of the con-tracts awarded.

He said his decision toresign was a simple issue,as he wanted to resignbefore his 65th birthday.

Corporation ought to havebeen the owner of theproperty, as it technicallyis, and then the govern-ment ought to allow theHotel Corporation tocause for the refurbish-ment of the property andseek out a partnership,”Mr. Wilchcombe said.

“Now why does thepartnership have to be for-eign? The partnershipdoes not have to be for-eign. We are extendingour messages outside TheBahamas when inside TheBahamas we have IslandHouse and theHollowesko’s for exam-ple.

“You have people like

that who are in the hotelindustry and others whohave money. Why aren’tyou inviting them to beapart?

“Why aren’t you talk-ing to George Myers andhis group? Why aren’t youasking them ‘how do weget them moving’ and thenput some money aside tocause it to happen.”

It’s been three monthssince Lucayan RenewalHoldings signed a letter ofintent with RoyalCaribbean Cruises and theITM Group to purchase ofresort for $65 million andto redevelop the FreeportHarbour.

Mr. Wilchombecharged that the letter ofintent is just that - a letter

- and he doesn’t see RCLspending $65 million onthe resort considering thehigh cost to get it opera-tional.

“All that does is reallytake others out of the mar-ket and you’re sitting andtalking. Then, of coursethey’re going to try towork out terms,” Mr.Wilchcombe said.

“It’s going to be a giveand take. The governmentright now is in a desperatesituation and one of thestrategies you deploy is tostretch it out because ingovernment they aregoing to make decisionsbecause they’re thinkingabout elections, so they’regoing to stretch it outbecause they might get the

better deal.“So I think that is

where they are right now.I think the government ismaking a fundamentalmistake. We should lookinternal and get the helpinternally.

“Let’s talk to some ofthe Bahamian people who

have the where with all,who can do it. You cantalk to the Mosko’s. Youcan talk to George Myers.You can talk to the gam-ing boys. Put it alltogether. Put the moneytogether. Make it happenand then let them go getsomeone to manage it.

“You pay for a brandand a brand will come inand manage it.”

The government pur-chased the GrandLucayan for $65 millionunder heavy criticismfrom the opposition whoinsisted that it was a badidea.

4 Brent Symonette, Former MP

gg Continued from / PAGE 1...

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teaCHerS exPloreteCHnology,

CiviCS, and more

Professional DevelopmentWorkshop.

“Planting, Preparingand Politics in the SocialSciences” is the theme forthe Workshop which offi-cially opened Monday,July 8, 2019 at theOrganization of AmericanStates (OAS) headquar-ters, Village Road, andwill end on July 12, 2019.

Between 45 and 70teachers representing pub-lic schools in NewProvidence and severalFamily Islands are partici-pating in the Workshopwhich includes visits tothe House of Assembly(HOA) and Down ToEarth Farm, a tour ofDelancey Town, and a ses-sion on “Technology inthe Classroom”.

The curriculum forpublic senior high schoolsis being revitalized andreformed and the Ministryof Education is preparingteachers to have an appre-ciation for the new “narra-

tive” that is coming onstream.

Perlene Baker,Education Officer, SocialScience senior highschools, said, “We don’tjust give you the litera-ture; we want you to see itin action.”

“We’re going to a farmtomorrow. We’re [also]going to do some technol-ogy and teach people howto design blogs.”

On Thursday, the teach-ers will take a close lookat the House of Assembly.In addition to a tour, theHon. Halson Moultrie,Speaker of the House ofAssembly, will informthem of his role asSpeaker and the role ofGovernment andOpposition leaders.David Forbes, Clerk, willalso make a presentationon ceremonial practices,history and seating ofmembers in the chambers.

Monday’s presentersincluded Phyllis Baron,OAS representative, whooutlined the role of the

OAS in The Bahamas.She highlighted that TheBahamas has consented tohost the GeneralAssembly of the OAS in2020.

Shaccara Lightbourne,representative for IICA,gave an extensiveoverview of the agency.She said the mission is toencourage, promote andsupport member coun-tries’ efforts to achieveagricultural self-sufficien-cy. IICA provides techni-cal assistance in all areasof agriculture includinggovernment and the pri-vate sector.

Ms. Baker said a spe-cial feature of theWorkshop is a presenta-tion by Etienne Claes, theHonorary Consul forBelgium, who will sharehis extensive research onBahamians who fought inWorld Wars I and II andare buried in Belgium.

“That narrative needsto be told in our Historycurriculum document,”she said.

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