CONTROVERSIAL POUND THROWS DOORS OPEN TO...

PLP leader Perry Christie yesterday said he would be againstany amendment to the party’s constitution that would sup-port any effort to oppose leadership contender Paul Mossfrom nominating to challenge him.

“I would not support any effort to oppose his nomination ona technical point. I’ve heard about some attempt to stop Mossfrom running but God almighty, when the day comes that Per-ry Christie would have to rely on technical intervention (toremain leader of the party), by God, I should go,” he told TheTribune. Mr Christie was responding to claims from some

NNAASSSSAAUU AANNDD BBAAHHAAMMAA IISSLLAANNDDSS’’ LLEEAADDIINNGG NNEEWWSSPPAAPPEERR

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Volume: 105 No.266 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009 PRICE – 75¢ (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25)

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REMINDER: As Monday is Discovery Day, therewill be no Tribune until Tuesday.

CONTROVERSIAL POUND THROWS DOORS OPEN TO TRIBUNE

A MAN was arraigned in Magistrate'sCourt yesterday for allegedly having sexualintercourse with nine young boys.

Navardo Johnson, 29, was charged withnine counts of alleged sexual intercoursewith a minor and one count of indecent

assault. Court documents allege that Johnsonassaulted the boys between January, 2007,and August, 2009. It is claimed the youngsterswere between the ages of seven to 14.

Johnson, who was charged before ChiefMagistrate Roger Gomez in Court One,

Bank Lane, Nassau, had no lawyer presentand was not allowed to enter a plea.

The prosecutor in the case objected to bailon the grounds there may be more allegedvictims who may come forward, and arguedthat Johnson may interfere with witnesses.

Johnson, of Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, wasremanded to Her Majesty's Prison in FoxHill.

The case was transferred to Court 10 andadjourned to October 16 for a fixture dateand a bail hearing.

Man faces NINE child sex charges

BAHAMASAIR is inves-tigating claims that the down-sizing of flights into San Sal-vador has left ticketed pas-sengers stranded.

In a letter sent to The Tri-bune, frustrated traveller Gar-nell Williams — a resident ofSan Salvador — complainedthat her return to her home-town has been delayed sever-al times because the airlinehas started using smallerplanes on its routes to thefamily island.

Ms Williams, who is stay-ing with relatives in NewProvidence, said she missed

her scheduled flight to theisland on Sunday and has noguarantee of getting home thisweek because all of theremaining flights into theisland are full.

"My only recourse is to goto the airport every day onstand-by. I've done that, butso far without success," saidMs Williams, who added thatshe has to bear the cost ofround-trip travel by taxi to theairport from the Fox Hill area.

"Right now Bahamasair

Bahamasair probes claimsof passengers left stranded

ESTRANGED formerpresident of the Airport Air-line and Allied WorkersUnion Nelerene Harding saysshe is disturbed by reportsthat an office manager whoserved under her leadershipis on the verge of suicide andpleading for assistance for herdaughter after being caughtup in the middle of union in-fighting.

In yesterday’s Tribune, 29-year-old Krystal Barry toldhow she and her daughterRayven’s quality of life hasplunged since she lost her jobat the union earlier this year

following a dispute betweenexecutives.

Former Secretary GeneralAnthony Bain claims he isnow president of the union,in place of former presidentNelerene Harding, followingyears of intra-union strife.

Ms Barry claims she isowed around $26,000 by theorganisation for her five yearsof service, but has got nothingas the Department of Labourclaims it cannot act to settlethe matter until it knows who

Former union president upsetby office manager’s ‘despair’

Christie ‘against any move to oppose Moss nomination’

SEE page 11 SEE page 11

SEE page 11

LOLA, who was put down yesterday afternoon.

By MEGAN REYNOLDSTribune Staff [email protected]

THIS is starved and sickly pit bull pot-cake Lola. Just hours after this photo-graph was taken at the government dogpound ... she was killed.

Lola was one of 45 dogs collected bythe canine control unit this week andeuthanised yesterday morning in time fortheir carcasses to be collected by envi-ronmental health services for disposal, asthey are every Friday.

Lola was one of tens of thousands of

strays who roam the streets of Nassauwithout food, water or shelter, to theirgreat suffering and at a risk to publichealth.

Staff at the canine control unit say theirnumbers are increasing as the poor econ-omy and high rate of unemployment hasleft owners unable to care for their pets,

Is this theright wayto treat

our pets?SEE page 12

TRIX is a stunning one-year-old spayed tortoiseshell femalewith striking green eyes. She isstrong-willed, talkative andloves to be in the middle ofeverything. Whether it be a boxthat is about to be filled, a lad-der that is about to be climbedor a purse placed on a table forjust a moment, this inquisitivelady cannot help but investi-gate.

She was surrendered to theBahamas Humane Societyunder protest by a schoolgirlwho happened upon her oneday as she waited to be pickedup from school.

While the girl was disap-pointed her parents would notlet her to keep her new friend asa pet, Trix is very grateful thatthe family decided to put herup for adoption at the BHSinstead of simply releasing herinto the wild.

Due to her social and trustingnature, it appears that Trix had

been owned before beingfound, but was unfortunatelyeither lost or abandoned. Pleasehelp her out by providing herwith a new, permanent home.

Trix is just one of many beau-tiful adult cats with lovely per-sonalities on offer at the BHS –in fact, the shelter is runningwell over full capacity.

They have all been eitherspayed or neutered beforebeing put up for adoption andare also up to date with theirvaccinations. The BHS isimploring the public to help itsstaff save more lives throughadoption.

"I vex because I purchased a microwavefrom a major appliance store in January.This is October and the microwave is notworking.

"They claim that they had a techniciancheck it out and it was hit by a powersurge, but nothing else in my house was hitby a power surge. I think the microwavewas faulty. I spent $650 for the microwaveon a special order and they refuse to fix orgive me a new one, saying that the war-ranty doesn't cover power surges."

– Frustrated

"I vex because police are allowing somedrivers to cover their licence plates with'protective' plastic covers that completelyprevent the number being seen! Thismakes no sense to me; why are these peo-ple allowed to drive on the road? Supposethey knock me down, commit a crime, ordo one hit-and-run. What I gone tell thepolice? That a black car with plastic overthe licence plate do that drive by andalmost kill me? The slackness in this coun-try got to stop, starting with some lazy,

fat, dumb police whocan't enforce the sim-plest laws."

– Concerned Citizen

I’m more than vexed.Why does a letter post-marked September 22take until October 1 to

reach my post office box at the main postoffice? If the people there don't want towork, I say fire them all and give the job tosomeone who is willing to do the job.There is no excuse for laziness."

– Fed Up

"I vex because half the time when I goto drop mail off at the Shirley Street PostOffice mail slot, there are a bunch ofraggedy vagrants sprawled all over thestairs. I don't even get out of my car! Thishas been going on for years, has no one incharge noticed?" – Vex at the lack of secu-rity

"I vex at what is go on at these gas sta-

tions, how they make the attendants comein and pay for the gas while you in theretrying to get something out the conve-nience store. I been to one gas station onThompson Boulevard one night round 11pm – they had five people inside thecashier's cage but in spite of that they wasunable to serve any customers becausethey allowed the pump attendants to comefrom outside, cutting in front of the line topay for gas first. I wonder if they everheard of customer service?"

– Sick and tired

"I am happy for the Bahamianisationprogress my Haitian neighbours are mak-ing, because when they moved into theneighbourhood, people called themAugustine, then months later their friendsstarted hailing them as Justine and nowthey are being called Johnson."

– Progress

Are you vex? Send your complaints to'[email protected]' or faxthem to 328-2398.

WHY YOU VEX?

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LOCAL NEWS

PAGE 2, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009 THE TRIBUNE

TO DISCUSS STORIES ON THIS PAGE LOG ON TO WWW.TRIBUNE242.COM

By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune Staff [email protected]

HUNDREDS of capitalpunishment supporters areexpected to flood the streetsthis Discovery Day holiday fora "pro-hanging" march.

Members of the Worker'sParty along with relatives andfriends of murder victims willagitate for government toresume the execution of pris-oners on death row and denybail to those accused of vio-lent crimes.

This comes at a time whenthe fear of crime is spreadingamong law abiding citizensand "crazed criminals" areroaming the streets, said Rod-ney Moncur, leader of theWorker's Party.

"The working class of thiscountry is being denied the

f r e e d o mfrom fear ofearning ad e c e n twage andenjoying it.We are liv-ing in fearof takingour earn-ings home

without being robbed andkilled on the way and we arebeing denied the inalienableright and freedom to enjoy thefruits of our labour as crimi-nals attack us in the stores, onthe streets, on our doorstepsand even in the sanctity of ourhomes," said Mr Moncur in astatement released yesterday.

"The soaring crime rate isa clear indication that thisnation is spiralling out of con-trol. The escalating incidenceof mindless criminal activity

is symptomatic of the fact thatthis country is in a free-fallinto the abyss of hell, mayhemand violence. All the indica-tions suggest that we are head-ing pell-mell towards being afailed state," said Mr Moncur,who organised several similarmarches last year.

RulingsNational Security Minister

Tommy Turnquest has main-tained that rulings by the PrivyCouncil have changed how theBahamas can carry out capitalpunishment.

In 1993, a Privy Council rul-ing decided that the deathpenalty can not be carried outif the prisoner in question hasbeen on death row for morethan five years; as a result thesentence is automatically com-

muted to life imprisonment.In 2006, the country's

mandatory death sentence wasabolished by the UK judicialbody as a breach of humanrights.

David Mitchell, executed inJanuary 2000, was the last per-son to be hanged in theBahamas. According to pub-lished reports, the Bahamashas hanged 50 men since 1929;five of them were hangedunder the Ingraham adminis-tration; 13 were hanged underthe 25-year rule of the Pin-dling government; and theremainder were executedbetween 1929 and 1967.

None were hanged duringthe Christie administration,between 2002 and 2007.

According to publishedreports, there are 17 peopleon death row at Her Majesty'sPrison, Fox Hill.

Hundreds expected to takepart in ‘pro-hanging march’

TRIX: PET OF THE WEEKWORKER’S PARTY TO STEP UP PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT

TommyTurnquest

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LOCAL NEWS

THE TRIBUNE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009, PAGE 3


FORMER prime ministerPerry Christie said some mem-bers of his party feed the presssensational and “inaccurate”information about the affairsof the PLP.

Speaking with the media out-side of Gambier House on Far-rington Road Thursday night,Mr Perry Christie stronglydenied that the party leader-ship is attempting to deny any-one the right to challenge himat the upcoming PLP NationalConvention, a stance he reiter-ated yesterday (see story, page1). “It is not true that weintended as an organisation tocause any resolution to be puthere this evening that may haveresulted in a candidate notbeing able to contest the elec-tion.

“My goodness me, I havealways believed that I am sup-ported by the majority of the

people that vote in the PLPelection. I believe that,” he said.

Mr Christie added that hehas no doubt the person set tochallenge him, attorney PaulMoss, is a “credible candidate”.

However, he questioned howMr Moss could even think ofdoing such a thing, when he is anew member of the party andhasn’t even made a speech inthe PLP’s hall.

“But that is how it is. Theconstitution allows it to hap-pen. He claims to have support.He is representing St Cecilia,therefore the constitution willallow him to contest the elec-tion. It means that I will bechallenged by him.

“It is also for me to say that itis quite possible that anotheror others will exercise theirright as they complete theexplorations they are now mak-ing to determine whether Ishould be challenged,” he said.

With this likely to be the onlyconvention the PLP will holdbefore the next general elec-tion, Mr Christie said that it willbe a “defining one” as manymembers will use this opportu-nity to “test themselves”.

“As I indicated to ZNS in aninterview, that has some seri-ous consequences. Becausewhen you contest me you are

saying that I really should leavepublic life. And if you do sowithout even speaking to meyou are saying that I should doso in the most undignified man-ner. It therefore means I mustprotect myself and make judg-ments as to what is best for theorganisation as we go forward,”he said. However, Mr Christiesaid he has some good news forthe party.

“The good news is I amgoing to win. The good news isI am going to be the leader ofthe PLP, and the good news is Iwill competing for the primeministership of the Bahamas.

“And I believe the mostimportant point I can make isthat my party will be fully insupport of me moving forwardeven unto the point when wename the many candidates whowill be coming in for the firsttime,” he said.

Christie accuses some PLP membersof ‘sensationalising’ party business

A BROKEN trans-former was apparently toblame for a blackout thatleft the entire island ofNew Providence withoutpower for between oneand four hours yesterdaymorning.

The Bahamas Electrici-ty Corporation (BEC)issued a statement explain-ing that at 8.35am, a132,000 volt transformerat the Clifton Pier PowerStation faulted.

The corporation said therestoration process beganimmediately and that elec-tricity was restored tosome customers by9.22am.

Supply to most cus-tomers was restored by11am, the statement said.

“The corporation apol-ogises for any inconve-nience caused,” it said.

Broken transformerblamed for blackout By ALISON LOWE

Tribune Staff Reporter [email protected]

The attorney for Abaco residents disgruntledabout the heavy fuel burning power station beingbuilt in their midst has called on Prime MinisterHubert Ingraham to “put his money where hismouth is” when it comes to climate change andcutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Fred Smith, a partner at law firm Callendar’sand Co and attorney for a group of residentsthat oppose the Wilson City power plant, yes-terday “commended” Mr Ingraham for his com-ments to the United Nation’s Summit on Cli-mate Change but suggested that if he is trulycommitted to preserving this country and theworld’s environmental future, Mr Ingrahamwould cause a rethink of the Wilson City powerplant project and enact an environmental pro-tection act that calls for limits on pollutants.

In a pre-recorded message to the SeptemberSummit, attended by hundreds of world leadersand diplomats on September 22, Mr Ingrahamdescribed the “serious threat that climate changeposes to our economic viability, social develop-ment and territorial integrity.”

He said the world, and particularly low-lyingstates like the Bahamas, face “serious challenges”as a result of climate change and called on coun-tries to come to a global accord in Copenhagen,Denmark in December that will involve “ambi-tious, legally binding targets” to reduce the green-house gas emissions that contribute to it.

Mr Ingraham told leaders that the Bahamas is

“committed to collaborating with the family ofnations to ensure our own survival, and the sur-vival of humankind in a sustainable developmentmodel for Planet Earth.”

But while commending the prime minister forhis comments “which clearly appreciate the immi-nent danger to the very existence of theBahamas” that climate change poses, Mr Smithsaid it is hypocritical for him to state such a com-mitment whilst supporting the construction ofthe Wilson City plant and failing thus far to fol-low through on his party’s commitment, as out-lined in its 2007 election manifesto, to enact lawsto protect the environment.

Many Abaco residents and others have object-ed to the power plant on the basis that it will bepowered by burning Bunker C fuel, which manyfear will cause long-term damage to the sensitivesurrounding environment, partly through therelease of air pollution.

“We cannot on the one hand be promotingcleaner air environments whilst at the same timebuilding power plants that are the worst pol-luters,” said Mr Smith yesterday.

He said not only should the governmentrethink the plant, but it should ensure that anenvironmental protection act is passed whichputs limits on emissions by both the governmentand private industry, among other things.

“Rather than waiting or promoting interna-tional conventions to help protect the Bahamas asa small island developing nation,” the Bahamasshould “help itself by creating a proactive andenvironmentally sound energy policy,” said MrSmith.

PM under pressure over Abaco power station

Perry Christie

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I got a Prepaid Visa creditcard from Bank of TheBahamas International (BOB)in August 2007.

Of course, at the time I didnot expect to be able to use iton the island of (South) Androsor anywhere else in TheBahamas for that matterbecause most Bahamian busi-nesses, at that time, did nothave internet websites thatoffer online purchasing services;thus, any intent on using thecredit card required that onewalked into the actual place ofbusiness to exact transactions.

Of course, I could not (andstill cannot) use the card at anyAutomated Teller Machines(ATM) in South Androsbecause even though BOB hasbeen here for over 15 yearsthere are still no ATMs here.The card did, however, comein handy for making online pur-chases from other countries andI found it exceptionally conve-nient for foreign travels.

I used the card to purchasetickets and make hotel reser-vations, rent cars, get food andpurchase all sorts of other stuff,including CDs, printing suppliesand clothing. I was in love withmy Prepaid Visa Credit Card.

Fast forward two years laterand I am not as excited withmy credit card anymore, butthe problem with that is that itis not the card or BOB’s fault. Iam frustrated because I stillcannot use the card online todo business with the majority

of Bahamian companies. Sure,I can purchase tickets fromBahamasair but South Androsis not one of Bahamasair’s des-tinations. I can make hotelreservations online but only tothe fancy and more expensiveproperties on the Cable Beachstrip and Paradise Island.

Until recently, I could paymy phone bill and purchasephone cards online but theBahamas TelecommunicationsCompany Limited (BTC) hadto shut the system downbecause crooks and shysterscompromised the process; sothat little convenience wasstripped away and there’s notelling when it is going to bereinstated. Today, the BOBVisa Prepaid Credit Card thatshould help to make my lifeeasier on the Family Island is aworthless piece of plastic whereI need it to be most worthwhile.

Is it asking too much if I wantto be able to go online to paymy utility bills (telephone, elec-tricity and water)?

In this day and age FamilyIslanders who shop wholesalein New Providence should beable to go online to websitesfrom the different major food-stores and wholesale outlets topurchase grocery, cleaning andother supplies and have themshipped to the mail boat oftheir choice.

The same goes for otherbusinesses that sell computers,furniture, building supplies andother essentials.

I should be able to go onlineto a Commonwealth Bank web-

site and use my credit card topay on my loan account that Ihave with them or to a FamilyGuardian website to pay myinsurance premiums.

It would be convenient if Icould purchase my airline tick-ets on Western Air or Perfor-mance Air through the inter-net rather than having to go tothe airport.

Should establishments decideto put such mechanisms inplace this would provide newjobs and profits for persons andbusinesses that provide inter-net technology (IT) services.Sales and marketing companieswould make money becauseinformation about the avail-ability of such services and howcan they be utilised must beadvertised.

Businesses that employ suchmechanism will benefit fromtheir investments particularlyonce the general public of cred-it card holders in the FamilyIslands get the hang of it.

Banks will see an increase incredit card applicants particu-larly those persons interestedin enjoying the convenience ofhaving prepaid credit cards and,of course, they will also nothave to worry about default oncredit card payments becausecardholders will only be ableto spend what monies they puton the card.

This would also give card-holders a new sense of controlin their spending habits.

Of course, this will requirethat BTC and any other com-pany responsible for internetinfrastructure improve their ser-vices and expand to those areaswhere such services are lack-ing.

It is high time that the Gov-ernment, business establish-ments and banks work togetherto help improve our financialsystems while simultaneouslyengineering ways to guaranteethat family islanders reap thebenefits of taking advantage ofmodern conveniences such asprepaid credit cards.

Employing mechanisms toensure the continuous tenablegrowth and development ofinterisland commerce will helpin our mission to encourageBahamians to spend at homeand move our country closer tofinancial sustainability, partic-ularly in difficult economictimes such as what the world isnow experiencing.

I might not live in New Prov-idence or Grand Bahama, butthat is no excuse for me beingdisadvantaged. I want to liveeasy and I would like to be ableto use my BOB credit card athome in South Andros frombehind a computer screen topay the bills, get the things thatI need and have my groceryshipped on the Captain Mox-ey.

Besides, what is the point ofhaving a credit card if it is notconvenient to me on the islandwhere I live? And, then again,in The Bahamas in the 21stCentury, is that too much toask?

MARVIN R Z GIBSONThe Bluff,South Andros,October, 2009.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The Government is failingto realise that The Bahamas isa plural society, with bothBlack and White citizens,each having a separate cul-ture. The Black citizens wereraised on farm produce andthe seafood products, and thesea turtle are some of thosesea products. Banning thecatching of turtles is not theanswer, “Education is theanswer.” Let the people knowthat whenever they find thenest, leave some or all of theeggs.

While our White citizensprefer foods that are import-ed, (meat, poultry, ham, eggs,etc.) foods that are chemical-ly laden, which may very wellcause cancer, our Black citi-zens prefer sea foods, includ-ing the turtle. When you banthe catching of the turtle, youare telling me, a Black per-son and some Whites, to eatthe imports that are ladenwith chemicals. You are alsosaying to me, “It’s my way orthe highway.”

Turtles are not our nation-al anything. The Marlin is ournational fish, yet every year,

foreign people come here andslaughter them/all in the nameof sport, and nothing is saidabout it.

When a Marlin is hooked, ittakes about six to eight hoursbefore that fish is landed.Could you imagine the bloodlost, the pain, the agony, thefright that fish goes throughand finally death? These arethe things you campaignersshould be seeking to ban.

It is wrong to desecrate ourNational flag, it is wrong tokill our National bird, theflamingo, so why are the cam-paigners not fighting for a banon the destruction of ourNational fish? Turtles are notour National anything. Let’smake sense. Let’s wipe theslate clean. You want to banthe turtles, then let’s ban theslaughtering of our Nationalfish. We must stop allowingforeigners to dictate to uswhat we should pass laws on.It will only sow seeds of crim-inal behaviour among our

people. It seems that we took

advice from a few White menin England (the Privy Coun-cil) not to hang anyone. As aresult, look at what is hap-pening in our country today.Criminals are killing asthough it’s a 9am - 5pm job.We are now taking moreadvice from a few campaign-ers, some foreigners andmaybe some Bahamians whowant a ban on the catching ofsea turtles, where there isalready a closed season andan open season for them, sowhy a total ban? Remember,when you ban something, youswing the door wide open forblack market operations,which will lead to greaterproblems. And it will happen.

I trust that the Hon. Minis-ter of Fisheries will rethinkthis ban, take the matter high-er and cause there to be areverse decision. To thosewho want to eat the chemi-cally laden imports, fine, butas for me, I love turtle meat,and I will eat turtle meat.

CAPT BAINNassau,October, 2009.

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EDITORIAL/LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


The Tribune LimitedNULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master

LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published Daily Monday to Saturday

Shirley Street, P.O. Box N-3207, Nassau, BahamasInsurance Management Building., P.O. F-485, Freeport, Grand Bahama

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WEBSITEwww.tribune242.com – updated daily at 2pm

WASHINGTON — In his State of theUnion address a little over 13 years ago,President Bill Clinton proclaimed “the era ofbig government” was over. After a year ofbutting heads with the new Republicanmajority in Congress, Clinton signaled a will-ingness to change course and acknowledgethe message voters had sent in the 1994 mid-term elections: time to trim the sails of Wash-ington’s ambitions.

Yet when President Obama addressed hisfirst joint session of Congress earlier thisyear, many believed big government wasback.

Economic turmoil, coupled with the newpower trifecta in Washington — Democrat-ic control of the House, Senate and presi-dency for the first time since 1993 —breathed new life into Leviathan’s lungs.The lack of aggressive remedies in Wash-ington, the new president complained,became an “excuse to transfer wealth to thewealthy.” And during the Bush years, heasserted, “regulations were gutted for thesake of a quick profit.”

The Democrats’ resurgence coupled witheconomic distress meant nothing was safefrom Washington’s reach. Banks, energycompanies, health care, the automobileindustry and even CEO pay, to name a few,would now come under the control of WhiteHouse czars and activist lawmakers in Con-gress. “Move fast,” Democratic operativeswarned. A good crisis is a terrible thing towaste.

It took about two years for the curtain tofall on Clinton’s era of big government. Oba-ma’s may have ended sooner. A growingbody of evidence supports this contention.

Voter cynicism about the consequencesof Washington on steroids is one example. Anew survey by Democratic pollster GeoffGarin, widely reported by the media lastweek, underscores this point. When asked“who” was helped most by recent govern-ment economic policies, a majority said“large banks” (62 per cent) and “Wall Streetinvestment companies” (54 per cent). Only10 percent responded “my family/myself.”

Some say these data suggest the govern-ment should do even more. “Politically,”The New York Times wrote, “the poll doesa nice job of capturing one of the centralchallenges for the White House and Democ-rats in Congress. Voters do not think elect-ed officials have done enough to mitigatethe damage from the recession.”

This assessment misses the point. It’s notthat they haven’t done enough. They’vedone too much — or at least the wrong

things. Independent voters, who supportedObama in 2008, are the best indicators here.The NBC/Wall Street Journal survey regu-larly asks a similar question: “Should thegovernment do more/Does it do too much?”In February 2009, independents answered,“do more” by a slim 46 per cent to 44 percent margin. By September 2009, those desir-ing “more government” had slipped to a 21-point deficit (35 per cent to 56 per cent).

Beliefs about regulation of business andindustry are also moving in an unexpecteddirection. Given the financial meltdown andcharges that regulators were asleep at theswitch, you might expect voters to supportmore rather than less government interven-tion. Surprisingly, American attitudes, espe-cially among swing voters, have shiftedtowards less intervention. Last September,for example, on the eve of the economiccollapse, 38 per cent of independentsresponded that there was too much regula-tion of business and industry. One year lat-er, those numbers have risen to 50 per cent.

Growing doubts about Washington’s abil-ity to solve the nation’s health care prob-lems are another indication.

Several polls released in the last week,including those by Fox News and Ras-mussen, indicate support for the govern-ment’s capacity to address this critical issuehas reached a new low.

Americans don’t deny the problem, justWashington’s ability to fix it.

The prospects of bigger government arestirring other worries. Rasmussen, for exam-ple, also reported last week that for the firsttime in two years, voters now place con-cerns about “government ethics and cor-ruption” slightly ahead of the economy. AsWashington tries to expand its role, Ameri-cans’ suspicions about wrongdoing by publicofficials goes up as well.

Taken together these indicators suggestdeep and growing unease with the size, scopeand direction of government in Washington— especially among swing voters. Obama’ssaturation media coverage, reminding peoplehe and the Democrats in Congress are incharge and unchecked is part of the reason.Deeply divisive and highly partisan con-gressional leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi,D-Calif., are another.

Change in Washington may require anintervening election next November.

Yet many Americans already are callingfor the end of big government … again.

(This article was written by Gary Andres —C.2009 Hearst Newspapers).

Why banning tur-tle catching ismisconceived

[email protected]

Is the era of big government fading?

My worthless credit card

OUANAMINTHE, Haiti

FORMER President Jim-my Carter travelled to His-paniola on Wednesday tomeet political leaders, healthworkers and malaria victimsin hopes of jump-startingefforts to eradicate the dis-ease in the Caribbean, accord-ing to the Associated Press.

The battle against the mos-quito-borne disease in theDominican Republic andneighbouring Haiti has beenfrustrating, with health offi-cials complaining of a lack ofcooperation between bothcountry's governments.

Carter said on his visit toOunaminthe and to Dajabonin the Dominican Republic,just across a river border sep-arating the two countries, thathe hopes to expand a$200,000 pilot project estab-lished in those towns by thenonprofit Carter Centre to

curb malaria's spread.The project's funding runs

out early next year, but Cartersaid he hopes governments,non-profit health groups andprivate foundations will pickup the tab for a broadereffort.

"One of the most impor-tant developments has beenthe new cooperation betweenthe two countries," Cartersaid while touring a Haitianhospital that treats manymalaria victims. "And for thefirst time in history, they aretargeting the complete elimi-nation of the disease insteadof just treating sick people."

Ridding this corner of theworld of the disease, he said,would also eliminate thethreat that it could spread tonearby islands, includingJamaica and the Bahamas.

An estimated 30,000 peo-ple in Haiti and several thou-sand more across the bordersuffer each year from malaria,

which causes high fevers andflu-like symptoms that killsmore than one million peo-ple each year, mostly inAfrica.

By DENISE MAYCOCKTribune [email protected]

FREEPORT – Murderaccused Wilfred McPhee Jrtook the witness stand in hisdefence on Thursday, tellingthe Supreme Court that policepromised him “a deal” if hesigned a statement about thedeath of Corporal EddisonBain.

Co-accused Edwin Bauld Jrdid not take the stand.

The two men are on trialfor the robbery, kidnappingand murder of Bain, whosebody was discovered in aditch near the CasuarinaBridge on October 22, 2007.

McPhee, 26, told the courtthat he had not known Bainwas a police officer.

During questioning by hisattorney Mario Gray, McPheesaid the statements taken bypolice during their investiga-tion were not true.

He claimed he never readhis statement and only signedit because Sgt Darrell Rollehad offered him a deal.

McPhee said he was beatenand threatened by police anddenied his right to speak withan attorney and his family.

According to McPhee’s ver-sion of events, Bauld told himon October 19 about a planto rob his own cousin (Cor-poral Bain) of money. Bauldthen went over the plan withhis girlfriend, Gahnise Camp-bell at the Royal IslanderHotel. The two accused thendropped off Gahnise inBauld’s tan Lumina to KwanYin to meet with Bain. Heand Bauld then went to theIsland Seas Beach and hid inthe bushes to wait for them.

McPhee said when theyspotted Bain and Ms Camp-bell, they came out of thebushes and accosted them.

“We told them to get down,and I told Gahnise that I wasgoing to rape her, but I didn’tmean it – I wanted it to lookgood,” he said. McPhee saidhe had wrapped a towelaround the tree branch, pre-tending it was a gun.

He said Gahnise ran to theLumina and waited for them.

McPhee said Bain complied

with their demands, and theyput the victim in the back seatof his own car, a 1999 HondaAccord.

He said Bauld took Bain’swallet, removed the ATMcard and choked Bain untilhe disclosed his pin number.

McPhee said he drove theLumina while Bauld droveBain’s vehicle, then they metat the Boulevard Service Sta-tion, after which he followedBauld in Bain’s car to Casua-rina Bridge.

The witness told the courtBauld then took Bain out ofthe vehicle.

He said Bain told them thathe was a police officer, wassoon to be married and waslooking forward to a brightfuture.

McPhee said Bauld putBain in a hole.

He said Bain was still alivewhen they left.

Bauld is represented byBrian Hanna. Acting JusticeJethro Miller is presiding overthe trial. Vernal Collie andErica Kemp of the AttorneyGeneral’s Office are prose-cuting.

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LOCAL NEWS



NOTICE is hereby given that YOLANDA BELTRE CONTRERAS of FAITH GARDENS #2, MIRRIAN CLOSE, APT #16, P.O. BOX GT-2014, NASSAU, BAHAMAS, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 3rd day of October, 2009to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

52wk-Hi 52wk-Low Security Previous Close Today's Close Change Daily Vol. EPS $ Div $ P/E Yield

1.71 1.03 AML Foods Limited 1.15 1.15 0.00 0.127 0.000 9.1 0.00%

11.80 9.90 Bahamas Property Fund 10.75 10.75 0.00 0.992 0.200 10.8 1.86%

9.30 5.90 Bank of Bahamas 5.90 5.90 0.00 921 0.244 0.260 24.2 4.41%

0.89 0.63 Benchmark 0.63 0.63 0.00 -0.877 0.000 N/M 0.00%

3.49 3.15 Bahamas Waste 3.15 3.15 0.00 0.125 0.090 25.2 2.86%

2.37 2.14 Fidelity Bank 2.37 2.37 0.00 0.055 0.040 43.1 1.69%

14.20 9.93 Cable Bahamas 9.93 9.93 0.00 1.406 0.250 7.1 2.52%

2.88 2.72 Colina Holdings 2.72 2.72 0.00 0.249 0.040 10.9 1.47%

7.50 5.26 Commonwealth Bank (S1) 5.54 5.54 0.00 2,700 0.419 0.300 13.2 5.42%

3.85 1.27 Consolidated Water BDRs 3.14 3.12 -0.02 0.111 0.052 28.1 1.67%

2.85 1.32 Doctor's Hospital 2.05 2.05 0.00 0.625 0.080 3.3 3.90%

8.20 6.60 Famguard 6.60 6.60 0.00 0.420 0.240 15.7 3.64%

12.50 8.80 Finco 9.30 9.30 0.00 0.322 0.520 28.9 5.59%

11.71 10.00 FirstCaribbean Bank 10.00 10.00 0.00 0.631 0.350 15.8 3.50%

5.53 4.11 Focol (S) 4.11 4.11 0.00 0.332 0.150 12.4 3.65%

1.00 1.00 Focol Class B Preference 1.00 1.00 0.00 0.000 0.000 N/M 0.00%

0.45 0.27 Freeport Concrete 0.27 0.27 0.00 0.035 0.000 7.7 0.00%

9.02 5.49 ICD Utilities 5.59 5.59 0.00 0.407 0.500 13.7 8.94%

12.00 9.95 J. S. Johnson 9.95 9.95 0.00 0.952 0.640 10.5 6.43%

10.00 10.00 Premier Real Estate 10.00 10.00 0.00 0.156 0.000 64.1 0.00%

52wk-Hi 52wk-Low Security Symbol Last Sale Change Daily Vol.

1000.00 1000.00 Fidelity Bank Note 17 (Series A) + FBB17 100.00 0.00

1000.00 1000.00 Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) + FBB22 100.00 0.00

1000 00 1000 00 Fidelity Bank Note 13 (Series C) + FBB13 100 00 0 00

FRIDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2009BISX ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE 1,478.40 | CHG -0.03 | %CHG 0.00 | YTD -233.99 | YTD % -13.66

BISX LISTED DEBT SECURITIES - (Bonds trade on a Percentage Pricing bases)

Maturity

19 October 20177%

Prime + 1.75%

7%

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES AS OF:

30 May 2013

WWW.BISXBAHAMAS.COM | TELEPHONE:242-323-2330 | FACSIMILE: 242-323-2320

19 October 2022

Interest

FINDEX: CLOSE 789.77 | YTD -5.40% | 2008 -12.31%

1000.00 1000.00 Fidelity Bank Note 13 (Series C) + FBB13 100.00 0.00

1000.00 1000.00 Fidelity Bank Note 15 (Series D) + FBB15 100.00 0.00

52wk-Hi 52wk-Low Symbol Bid $ Ask $ Last Price Weekly Vol. EPS $ Div $ P/E Yield

14.60 7.92 Bahamas Supermarkets 7.92 8.42 14.00 -2.246 0.000 N/M 0.00%

8.00 6.00 Caribbean Crossings (Pref) 2.00 6.25 4.00 0.000 0.480 N/M 7.80%

0.54 0.20 RND Holdings 0.35 0.40 0.55 0.001 0.000 256.6 0.00%

41.00 29.00 ABDAB 30.13 31.59 29.00 4.540 0.000 9.03 0.00%

0.55 0.40 RND Holdings 0.45 0.55 0.55 0.002 0.000 261.90 0.00%

52wk-Hi 52wk-Low Fund Name NAV YTD% Last 12 Months Div $ Yield %

1.4038 1.3344 CFAL Bond Fund 1.4038 3.72 5.20

3.0350 2.8952 CFAL MSI Preferred Fund 2.8300 -3.75 -6.75

1.4932 1.4146 CFAL Money Market Fund 1.4932 4.15 5.56

3.6090 3.0941 Fidelity Bahamas G & I Fund 3.0941 -8.61 -13.59

13.1751 12.3870 Fidelity Prime Income Fund 13.1751 4.42 5.86

101.6693 100.0000 CFAL Global Bond Fund 101.6693 1.10 1.67

100.9600 93.1992 CFAL Global Equity Fund 96.7398 0.35 -4.18

1.0000 1.0000 CFAL High Grade Bond Fund 1.0000 0.00 0.00

10.5884 9.0775 Fidelity International Investment Fund 10.5884 5.88 5.88

1.0757 1.0000 FG Financial Preferred Income Fund 1.0757 3.86 5.30

1.0364 1.0000 FG Financial Growth Fund 1.0305 -0.24 0.22

1.0709 1.0000 FG Financial Diversified Fund 1.0709 3.24 4.54

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00 YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price

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McPhee: Policepromised me ‘a deal’

Hispaniola leaders aimto eradicate malaria

FORMER US Presi-dent Jimmy Carter,center, applaudsnext to his wife Ros-alynn Carter duringtheir visit to the LaBomba neighbor-hood in Dajabon,Dominican republic,on the border withHaiti, Wednesday,Oct. 7, 2009.

Ramon EspinosaAP Photo

By FRANCIS NORONHA

OCTOBER 11,2009, repre-sents the day ofthe Canoniza-

tion of Blessed Damien at theChurch of Santa Maria delCarmelo in Transpontina in Viadella Conciliazione 14 , which isnear St. Peter's Basilica inRome, Italy.

A great crowd is expected atthis very large Church when Fr.Alfred Bell, the Postulator-General of the Order of theSacred Hearts of Jesus andMary, will conduct the service.Henceforth, the world will referto

St. Damien de Veuster, anindividual who spent his lifehelping the lepers, and finallysuccumbed to the disease him-self

* * * *Hawaii (like The Bahamas)

conjures up visions of an idyllicparadise, with golden sunshine,dark blue skies, green islandswith exotic flowers, longstretches of white beaches,swaying palm trees, sparklingclear water and soft islandbreezes. Described as the Par-adise of the Pacific, Hawaiicomprises about eight majorislands, including Molokai (theFriendly Island which is about38 miles long and 10 mileswide), as well as numerousrocky islets, reefs and shoals.

On April 15, 1989, over50,000 people from all over theworld converged on Molokai,not as tourists in search of sun,sea and sand, but in honour ofthe hero of Hawaii, Fr. Damien,who reserves a permanent placein world history as the individ-ual who confronted and spot-lighted the ageless internation-al scourge of leprosy, contract-ing the disease and finally dyingon Molokai on April 15, 1889.Today, due to modern medi-cine and technology, leprosydoes not represent the horriblespectre that it was from the ear-liest days of mankind.

Hawaii has experienced aturbulent history. CaptainJames Cook landed on theislands in 1778 (named themthe Sandwich Islands after thefourth Earl of Sandwich), andwas killed by the local people ina riot on his return in 1779.Hawaii was a kingdom, and thelast to rule was Queen Lili-uokalani who, among hernumerous accomplishments,composed the hauntingly beau-

tiful farewell song “Aloha Oe”.United States settlers fomenteda revolution in 1893 when theQueen was deposed, and set upa provisional government,which, after associations withthe USA, became the 50thState in the Union on August21, 1959. From the dawn of his-tory, leprosy has been regardedas a loathsome disease, and wasregarded with terror as it hasbeen highly contagious andincurable from the earliest daysof mankind. A papyrus in aBerlin museum mentions lep-rosy as an abomination over6,000 years ago; other docu-ments mention its existence inChina in 2000 BC and in Japanin 1500 BC; and the Bible andthe Talmud refer to leprosy.The disease is mentioned in theOld Testament, and the NewTestament records Jesus cur-ing the ten lepers. Lepercolonies are often namedLazaretto after the leperLazarus who in the Bible sat atthe gate of the rich man.

Leprosy was spreading overthe world at the time of thebirth of the sixth child ofFrançois and Catherine deVeuster on January 3, 1840, inTremeloo, Belgium. At the cer-emony, the baby Joseph raisedhis clenched fist, and the god-father, a military man, inter-preted it as a salute and anomen that the boy wouldbecome a soldier.

Joseph enjoyed a happychildhood in the beautiful,peaceful hamlet of Tremeloo,where his pious parents ensuredthat he received his early edu-cation in Flemish at the knee

of his mother. The few books inthe home were mainly religious,a favourite being “The Lives ofthe Saints”.

Kind and generous but alsostrong and exuberant, Josephengaged in adventurous prankswhich often landed him in trou-ble. He also tended the familyflock of sheep, and helped thelocal smith with his work,including the digging of graves— a task he would performoften in later years.

Two of Joseph's broth-ers and a sister entered

the religious life, and at age 19Joseph followed his brotherPamphile into the Congrega-tion of the Sacred Hearts ofJesus and Mary (often knownas the Picpus Fathers after Pic-pus Street where the orderstarted) , assuming the nameDamien after the saint andphysician.

After ordination, Fr. Pam-phile was selected as a mission-ary to Hawaii, but contractedtyphus, a debilitating illnesswhich was ravaging Louvain.As Damien had ferventlybegged to become a mission-ary, he was selected to replacehis brother as a missionary toHawaii.

In 1865 King Kamchame-ha V of Hawaii issued a decreethat all incurable lepers mustbe banished to Kalawao settle-ment on the island of Molokai,so Friendly Island becameDeath Island. Families weredisrupted through this forcedseparation — husbands fromwives, parents from children,relatives from loved ones — butin many cases those unwilling tobe separated joined their ban-ished ones, being fully awarethat they would never beallowed to leave the colony.

In Honolulu Bishop Mai-gret spoke movingly to a fewpriests about the heart-break-ing plight of the lepers onMolokai who lived out theirlives in abject poverty and over-whelming hopelessness, with nopriest to comfort them. After apause, Fr. Damien's strongvoice rang out: “Please sendme.” He had passed his owndeath sentence.

Fr. Damien arrived at theleper colony of Molokai, and

was presented with a harrowingpicture of misery, sorrow andbroken spirits, and Dante's ban-ner over Hell could have beenstrung over the settlement withthe words: “Abandon Hope, allye who enter here.”

Author John Farrowdescribes the lepers: “Wherehad been, there were craters ofpus; and there were gaping cav-ities, disease-infected holes, thatmerged with rotting mouths,where noses should be. Earswere pendulous masses, manytimes their natural size, or wereshriveled to almost nothing.Hands were without fingers andsome arms were merely stumps.Feet and legs were equallyrepulsive, and bodies of mostof these repulsive creatureswere bloated and pitted,shrunken and swollen, but nev-er of a normal shape. Theywere a pitiable revolting sight,their wounds and sores beingentirely undressed or coveredwith filthy matter — soakedrags.” A vile odorous strongstench generally accompaniedthe diseased and rotting flesh.

PrayerFr. Damien had to overcome

his strong repugnance byintense prayer. Surveying thesmall primitive filthy hutsaffording shelter to the hun-dreds of lepers devoid of hopeor purpose in life, disregardedand disowned by humanity, heknew that God had invited himto a special vocation. AncientEgyptians described leprosy asdeath before death, and authorR.L. Stevenson, who visited thecolony many years after numer-ous improvements had beenmade, described it as “a pitifulplace to visit and hell to dwellin.”

A heart-breaking visit toevery settlement filled Fr.Damien with great sadness, andhe spent his first night (andmany subsequent nights) inprayer under a tree near thesmall abandoned woodenchapel. His first task was to offi-ciate at a leper's funeral whenfour lepers carried the bodywrapped in pieces of old mat-ting to the shallow ditch (thegrave) in the open cemetery

where wild, hungry dogsprowled at night, often uncov-ering the graves and devouringthe corpses.

Fr. Damien coped with thegigantic, overwhelming task byconstant prayer and persever-ance and determination to dothe will of God despite over-whelming obstacles. He encour-aged the apathetic, listless,doomed people to believe inGod and in themselves, whichresulted in new neatly-con-structed homes, a church, aschool for the children, the cul-tivation of crops, recreationalfacilities and other amenities.

Fr. Damien simultane-ously tackled the

human problems of promiscu-ity, prostitution, gambling, illic-it manufacture of alcohol andpagan superstitions. He alsobuilt up a sense of family andcommunity; he encouraged self-help programmes; he visited thelonely and sick, cajoling med-ical supplies from the Hawai-ian Board of Health; he com-forted the sick and the dying; heburied the dead, often con-structing the coffins and dig-ging the graves himself; and,most of all, he made the lepersaware that they were childrenof God. Greatly loved andrevered, he was given the affec-tionate name of Kamiano.

However, Fr. Damien suf-fered moments of lonelinessand discouragement when hisdedication was misunderstoodby civil authorities and even bypeople inside the Church.Called strong-willed and obsti-nate because his intense deter-mination was focused on thewelfare of his beloved lepers,Fr. Damien was often impatientwith the bureaucracy of Hawai-i's Board of Health and hemade endless demands on theChurch authorities.

He himself led a very simple,austere life, and his only hobbywas a pipe which he sometimessmoked to overcome the stenchof the odours of rotting flesh.

Fr. Damien disliked per-sonal publicity but was gladwhen good Queen Liliuokalanidecided to visit Molokai. At thecelebrations the Queen steppedon the platform to address thepeople, and she surveyed thedisease-ravaged people, andwas silent. She endeavoured tospeak, but was overcome withemotion as her eyes filled withtears and her lips trembled, so amember of the royal retinuesaid a few words to the gather-ing. The Queen toured theisland and, visibly moved,informed Fr. Damien that shecould not believe that anyonewould stay on the island of hisown free will. He replied: “It ismy work. They are my parish-ioners.” The Queen repliedsoftly and emotionally: “Yourparishioners — and my peo-ple.”

Thereafter, Queen Lili-uokalani exerted all her influ-ence to ensure that Fr. Damienwas supported by the authori-ties in the country, and thiseased his burden a great deal.

Fr. Damien was 45 years oldwhen he celebrated Mass oneSunday morning in 1885. Healways commenced his sermonwith “My brethren”. This Sun-

day there was a dramaticchange when he looked around,paused and started with: “Welepers…”.

He had finally and inevitablycontracted the fatal disease. Forfour long years Fr. Damienbore the scourge of leprosywhich slowly eroded his mus-cular frame. The realizationthat his time was running outonly spurred him on just as asprinter makes his final spurton the last lap of the race.

In 1886 Ira Dutton (ofStowe, Vermont, USA, whochanged his name to Josephwhen he joined the CatholicChurch) went to Molokai toassist Fr. Damien. As leprosytook its toll of Fr. Damien, hewas overjoyed to see that lep-rosy was gaining internationalattention, and a lazaretto wasestablished on the island bythree Franciscan Sisters, led byMother Marianne, a mostextraordinary individual, whosedevotion to education in Uti-ca, leadership qualities in Syra-cuse and subsequently at St.Joseph's Hospital made herwell-known in the country. Sheled six Sisters to travel 6,000miles to Molokai where shedevoted the rest of her life tothe lepers.

Fr. Damien's death on April15, 1889, plunged Hawaii intointense sorrow in a world whereleprosy was now well-known.The priest who disliked public-ity was now an internationalfigure. Newspapers everywherepoured tributes to the priestwho had sacrificed his life forthe untouchables of society.

Fr. Damien's last restingplace, in accordance with hiswishes, was under the same treewhere he had spent his firstnight on the island. At anothermemorial site there was a gran-ite cross above a white marbletablet with the words: “Greaterlove hath no man than this, thata man lay down his life for hisfriends.”

The Belgian King 47 yearslater requested the USA Presi-dent for the return of theremains of Fr. Damien to hisnative country. On January 27,1936, the remains were dug up,and as the coffin was trans-ported to Belgium the lepersmournfully sang the beautifulfarewell song “Aloha Oe”while the people on the islandwept and were inconsolable.

The remains of Fr. Damiennow rest in the Chapel of thePicpus Fathers in Louvain, Bel-gium. Robert Louis Stevenson,who had valiantly and vigor-ously defended Fr. Damienagainst his detractors predict-ed that within a century Romewould raise Damien the Leperto her altars as a Saint of theChurch. The London “Times”described the priest as “one ofthe noblest Christian heroes.”The Hawaiian Legislatureselected the priest in 1967 asone of the state's two out-standing citizens to be hon-oured by statues in the StatuaryHall in Washington, DC, USA.Memorials to Fr. Damien existin countries around the world,and many people around theglobe bear the name Damien.The peasant from the village ofTremeloo has forcefully impact-ed world history.

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LOCAL NEWS



ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

Pastor: Rev. Dr Franklin Knowles

P.O.Box EE-16807Telephone number 325-5712EMAIL - [email protected] number 325-5712

E M A I L

LIGHT AND LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH

Grounded In The Past &

Geared To The Future

Worship time: 11am & 7pm

Sunday School: 9:45am

Prayer time: 6:30pm

Place:

The Madeira

Shopping CenterRev. Dr. Franklin Knowles

Light & Life Community .ad 6/26/09, 2:16 PM

7:00 a.m. Rev. Carla Culmer/Bro. Ernest Miller11:00 a.m. Bro. Randall McCurdy/Rev. Carla Culmer7:00 p.m. Rev. Carla Culmer/Young Adults’ Ministry

Grant’s Town Wesley Methodist Church(Baillou Hill Rd & Chapel Street) P.O.Box CB-13046

The Holy Ghost Prayer-Line number is 326-7427(www.gtwesley.org)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2009

Theme: “ But As For Me And My Household, We Will Serve the Lord”

CENTRAL GOSPEL CHAPELCHRISTIE & DOWDESWELL STREETS • Tel: 325-2921

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11TH, 2009

Bible Class: 9:45 a.m. • Breaking of Bread Service: 10:45 a.m.• Community Outreach: 11:30 a.m. • Evening Service: 7:00 p.m.

• Midweek Service 7:30 p.m. (Wednesdays)• Sisters’ Prayer Meeting: 10:00 a.m. (2nd Thursday of each month)

11:30am Speaker

Elder Brentford IsaacsOctober Is Missions Month At Central

A life devoted to helping lepersCCAANNOONNIIZZAATTIIOONN OOFF BBLLEESSSSEEDD DDAAMMIIEENN ((JJOOSSEEPPHH)) DDEE VVEEUUSSTTEERR ((11884400--11888899))

(AP Photos/Hawaii State Archive)A FILE PHOTO provided by theHawaii State Archive showsFather Damien two monthsbefore his death in 1889 at theleprosy settlement in Kalaupapa,Hawaii.

In The Bahamas, there are three dedicated priests whobelong to the same order as Fr. Damien, namely the Mission-aries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. They are Fr.Martin Gomes, of St. Joseph's Church, and Fr. Michael Kelly,of Our Lady's Church, both on the island of New Providence;and Fr. Patrick Fanning, who is in charge of all the CatholicChurches on Long Island.

A BAHAMAS CONNECTION

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S A T U R D A Y , O C T O B E R 1 0 , 2 0 0 9

T H E T R I B U N E P A G E 9

INSIDE • International sports news


By BRENT STUBBSSenior Sports [email protected]

ALTHOUGH he didn’t win hisprofessional card at the CentralAmerican and Caribbean Body-building Championships, James ‘Jay’Darling was pleased with the two goldmedals he captured for the Bahamas.

Now he’s even more enthusedabout making the long trek to Doha,Qatar at the end of the month tocompete in the Worlds Men’s Body-building Championships.

Darling, the national men’s cham-pion sponsored jointly by Pro-Lab,Natrol and Bally Total Fitness, wasone of 11 athletes who representedthe Bahamas at the CAC Champi-onships last weekend in Georgetown,Grenada.

The Bahamas ended up thirdbehind champions Barbados and run-ners-up Trinidad & Tobago.

“The trip was good. Everyone wasin good spirits heading towards thetrip,” Darling said. “But it was disap-pointing that we had an athlete thatdidn’t show for whatever reason. Oth-er than that, it was a good show.”

This year’s championships attract-ed more than 200 athletes from 19countries, the largest entries in quitesome time.

Doubling up in the men’s mastersand the middleweight divisions, Dar-ling said the masters turned out tobe more competitive for him than itwas for the middleweight.

“Most of the guys in the masterswere medallists in their respectiveweights, so I had both the superheavyweight and heavyweight, whowere both silver medalists and I had

to beat them to win the masters,” hesaid.

Darling, who picked up his tenthgold medal at the championships,missed out on his bid to secure hispro card when he went into the pose-down.

The overall title went to Barbados’light heavyweight champion Marti-nus Durrant.

“When I go off, I go to do the bestI could do,” said Darling, when askedif he was disappointed that he didn’twin the title. “I gave it my everything.

“I had the feel that I won it, but itwasn’t meant to be. It’s a judges’sport, so I won’t let that stop me. I’mstill preparing to head to the WorldGames at the end of this month, so Iwill try again.”

Through his sponsors, Darling saidhe was able to stay focussed and wasable to perform at his best in Grena-da. But he said that’s behind him andhe’s now concentrating on Doha.

“Over there I was on my game. Mydiet was down and nutrition was fair-ly decent,” he said. “Over there, Ihad a large following from Barbados,Trinidad, Grenada and Bermuda.

“I had a lot of positive feedbacksfrom the judges too. So if there isanything that I think I would needto look at is dropping to a lighterweight division so I could come in alittle more leaner.”

Although he felt he was in the best

condition he could be at the champi-onships, Darling said as long as hedoesn’t win the ultimate title thenhe’s going to be disappointed in hisperformance.

“It’s always good to achieve themaximum best. Unless you achievethe maximum best, I think there’salways going to be room for improve-ment,” he said. “So in that regard,I’m not that disappointed.”

But the Royal Bahamas DefenseForce Officer said he’s not going tolet that dampen his spirits as he pre-pare for the World’s.

“Pro Lab is sponsoring me as muchas they can, but I still need somefinancial assistance with my accom-modations over there,” Darling said.

“I’m hoping the government willassist in this because I’m going to becarrying the (Bahamian) flag and Ireally want to do well over there.”

Darling, along with heavyweightTeddy Gray, are scheduled to leavetown on October 29 and return homeon November 7.

It will be his first appearance inthe World’s because when he wasscheduled to travel to the CzechRepublic in 2006, he had to stayhome due to his job commitment.

“This one, everything looksgreat. I’m in good condition and Iwant to represent my country andto represent them very well,” Dar-ling stated.

Darling pleased with CAC performance

MARK Knowles and Andy Roddick played their semifi-nal match at Open today in Beijing, China. The Bahamian-American duo were scheduled to face the team of LukasDlouhy of the Czech Republic and Phillipp Kohlschreiber ofGermany.

Both teams are unseeded.The winner will play the winner of the other half of the

draw that features number two seeds American identicaltwin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan against the French teamof Julien Benneteau and Jeremy Chardy.

The final is set for Sunday. Next week, Knowles is expected to be reunited with his

regular doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi of India as theyplay in the Shanghai Open.

Bhupathi is coming off a groin injury that he sustainedplaying Davis Cup for India. That forced Knowles to teamup to play with Roddick in this week’s tournament.

Knowles, Roddick inChina Open semifinal

Prepares to compete atWorld Championship

James ‘Jay’ Darling

JUSTIN Roberts claimedhis third consecutive singlestitle yesterday when hedefeated number two seedGeorge Semander of Aru-ba 6-1, 6-0 in the Boys 14-under singles final in theCuracao Junior Open 09.

Roberts also added theBoys 14-under doubles titleas he and partner VictorGurevich of the UnitedStates defeated the top seed-ed team of Timothy Blokand Geroge Semander ofAruba 6-4, 6-4.

In the latter match, thescore was not as close as itlooked as Roberts andGurevich led 5-2 in each setbefore suffering a slight let-down allowing their oppo-nents to cut the deficit to 5-4, only to eventually prevail6-4.

This is the final COTECCBoys 14-under event forRoberts in 2009 as he nowsets his sights on two of thetoughest junior tournamentsin the United States - theEddie Herr InternationalJunior Championships andJunior Orange Bowl.

Both tournaments areheld in Florida in Decem-ber with a strong contingentof junior players comingfrom Europe, Asia, SouthAmerica and Australia.

• Here’s a look at theresultys from the Curacao

Junior Open:BOYS 14-UNDER SINGLESFINAL

No.1 Justin Roberts def.No.2 George Semander ofAruba 6-1, 6-0.BOYS 14-UNDER DOUBLESFINAL

No.2 Justin Roberts(Bahamas)/Victor Gurevich(United States) def. No.1George Semander/TimothyBlok (Aruba) 6-4, 6-4.GIRLS 18-UNDER DOUBLESFINAL

No.2 Victoria Rodriquez(Mexico)/Simone Pratt(Bahamas) def. No.1. Car-men Blanco/BarbaraRodriquez (Venezuela) 6-3,7-6 (2).

Simone Pratt (BAH) cap-tures her first ITF Girls 18-under doubles champi-onships at the CuracaoJunior Open when she andpartner Victoria defeatedthe No.1 seeded team fromVenezuela in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (2).

Pratt currently has a ITFWorld Ranking of No.1080,which will go up as a resultof winning one round in sin-gles and claiming the dou-bles title.

Pratt has plans to play theEddie Herr and JuniorOrange Bowl in an attemptto win her first major sin-gles title.

Roberts wins thirdJunior Open title

FOR a long time, local tennis players have been seeking theassistance of a proper fitness training programme. Marion Bainhas stepped up to take care of that situation.

Recently, world famous tennis fitness and strength coach PatEtchebrry conducted a fitness programme where Bain was one ofthe 10 students to successfully pass the certification course.

Above Bain is shown receiving her certified certificate fromEtchebrry.

BAIN PASSES TENNIS CERTIFICATION COURSE

Nadal, Djokovicreach semis atChina Open

PAGE 10

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PAGE 10, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009 TRIBUNE SPORTS


n OLYMPICSCOPENHAGENAssociated Press

ALL those beautiful beach-es and Tiger Woods, too!

After more than a centuryon the sidelines, golf willreturn to the Olympics at theSummer Games in Rio deJaneiro. Rugby, last played in1924, is coming back as well.

Both were reinstated for the2016 and 2020 games after avote Friday by the Interna-tional Olympic Committee.They are the first sports addedsince triathlon and taekwondojoined the program for the2000 Sydney Olympics.

Each sport received major-ity support in separate votesafter leading athletes and offi-cials from both camps gavepresentations, including ataped video message fromWoods and other top pros.Woods has indicated he wouldplay in the Olympics if golfwere accepted for 2016.

“There are millions ofyoung golfers worldwide who

would be proud to representtheir country,” Woods saidfrom the Presidents Cup inSan Francisco. “It would bean honor for anyone whoplays this game to become anOlympian.”

Golf was approved 63-27with two abstentions. Rugbywas voted in 81-8 with oneabstention.

“We were ecstatic andwanted to jump on the table,but we sort of restrained our-selves,” former New Zealandrugby great Jonah Lomu toldThe Associated Press. “It wasjust fantastic for the game.”

Golf will stage a 72-holestroke-play tournament formen and women, with 60players in each field. Rugbywill organize a four-day sev-en-a-side tournament —instead of the more tradition-al 15-a-side game — for 12men’s and women’s teams.

“I think it’s fantastic, anunbelievable day for the gameof golf,” Jack Nicklaus said.“The impact is going to be feltall over the world, which iswhat I’ve always felt about

the game. The game is amature game in many coun-tries, but it never had theopportunity to grow in manyothers. People of all walks oflife will be inspired to playthe game of golf, and play forsports’ highest recognition.For all sports, that has been agold medal.”

The venue and schedule forboth sports in Rio de Janeirohas yet to be decided. Thegolf tournament will not nec-essarily be played Thursdaythrough Sunday, bid leaderand PGA Tour vice presidentTy Votaw said.

“It might be Wednesday toSaturday,” Votaw said. “Orit might be that the women’scompetition is first, and themen’s is second. ... All ofthose things need to beworked out over the next sev-en years.”

British bookmaker WilliamHill immediately made Woodsthe favorite in Rio, giving 6-1odds that he will the goldmedal. It gave the same oddsfor any player from Britain orIreland winning.

Golf, rugby make Olympicroster for 2016, 2020

FORMER New Zealand rugby player Jonah Lomu plays with children at Rugbbyklubben Speed inCopenhagen, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. The International Olympic Committee will decide on FridayOct.9, if rugby is to become an Olympic discipline.

Fabian Bimmer/AP Photo

SPORTSINBRIEF

n FOOTBALLNEW YORKAssociated Press

MICHAEL VICK willbe giving the public aninside look at his life dur-ing an eight-part televi-sion series scheduled todebut on BET next year.

Tentatively titled “TheMichael Vick Project,”the cable show will fol-low the Phi ladelphiaEagles quarterback as hetries to redeem himselfafter going to prison for18 months for his role inoperating a dogfightingring. DuBose Entertain-ment, which is co-pro-ducing the series, andBET off ic ia l lyannounced the show Fri-day.

“I think its importantto show our youth andour kids that you faceadversity but you’re notresponsible for falling,you’re responsible forgetting up,” Vick saidearlier this week. “I’mvery remorseful aboutwhat happened and whatI did. I just don’t wantother people to go downthat path. I’m trying tomake it right and repairpast damages. That’s all Iwant to show.”

The show is part reali-ty TV, part documentary,chronicling Vick’s risefrom a difficult child-hood to becoming a starat Virginia Tech, the No.1 overall draft pick of theAtlanta Falcons in 2001,and at the time the high-est paid player in theNFL.

Eagles’ Vick tostar in 8-partTV series

n TENNISBEIJINGAssociated Press

RAFAEL NADAL moved intothe semifinals of the China Open onFriday by defeating Marat Safin 6-3,6-1.

Nadal outplayed the former top-ranked Russian from the start andremains on track to meet NovakDjokovic in the final Sunday.Djokovic defeated Fernando Ver-dasco of Spain 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.

“I think I played a really goodmatch,” Nadal said. “I’m happy about

my level.”Safin plans to retire at the end of

this season, and thanked the fans fortheir support.

“I haven’t been practicing for a longtime and I can still hit some balls, soit’s a really nice feeling to get on thecourt,” said Safin, who won the inau-gural China Open title in 2004.

On Saturday, Nadal will face MarinCilic of Croatia, who defeated Niko-lay Davydenko of Russia 6-4, 6-4.Djokovic will face Robin Soderling ofSweden, who defeated Ivan Ljubicicof Croatia 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Djokovic was broken by Verdas-

co three times in the second set. Butthe fourth-ranked Serb regained hisform in the third set and took advan-tage of his Spanish opponent’s 19unforced errors in the match.

“I had ups and downs,” Djokovicsaid. “Verdasco used his chances inthe second set when he broke. I savedenergy at the end of the second setfor the refreshing start of the thirdand I was fortunate to do so.”

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russiabecame the first woman to qualifyfor the semifinals, stopping AnastasiaPavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-3, 6-3.

Kuznetsova will face Nadia Petro-

va of Russia, who defeated PengShuai of China 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2.

“I’m very happy to get through eventhough I didn’t really start out playingwell, but I really picked it up by thesecond and third sets,” said Petrova,who eliminated Serena Williams inthree sets on Thursday. “It’s alwaysdifficult to come out the next day andput on the same performance.”

Agnieszka Radwanska of Polandtopped fourth-seeded Elena Demen-tieva of Russia 7-5, 6-3. She will meetMarion Bartoli of France, who defeat-ed Vera Zvonareva of Russia 3-6, 7-5,6-2.

NNaaddaall,, DDjjookkoovviicc rreeaacchhsseemmiiffiinnaallss aatt CChhiinnaa OOppeenn

SERBIA'S Novack Djokovic returns the ball to Spain's Fernando Verdasco in the quarter finals of the ChinaOpen tennis tournament in Beijing Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. Djokovic won the the match 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.

SPAIN'S Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory overRussia's Marat Safin in the quarter finals of the ChinaOpen tennis tournament in Beijing, China, Friday, Oct.9, 2009. Nadal won the match 6-3, 6-1.

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LOCAL NEWS



Former union president upsetby office manager’s ‘despair’

really leads the organisation.In the meantime, the depressed economy has thwarted her

efforts to get another job and she has found herself in despair,wondering how she will support herself and her 11-year-olddaughter Rayven, a junior national tennis champion.

Confirming her story, Director of Labour Harcourt Browndescribed Ms Barry as an “innocent bystander” caught up in themiddle of union squabbles.

Yesterday Ms Harding, who was voted president of theunion in 2006, said she wanted to make it known that she“exhausted all means” to try to ensure Ms Barry got what shewas due — even formally signing off on a payout of $21,000 tothe former employee for her years of service in an officialmeeting with labour officials shortly after Ms Barry lost her jobin January of this year and filed a trade dispute.

But, said Ms Harding, the bank refused to disburse the fundsgiven the uncertainty over the leadership of the organisation,and union treasurer, Susan Palmer — who is allied with currentpurported president Anthony Bain — allegedly refused toprovide her signature to approve the transaction.

On Thursday, Mr Bain claimed Ms Barry is owed nothing asshe lost her job due to “poor behaviour” — something MsHarding vehemently denied, saying Ms Barry was a committedworker.

Ms Harding charged that Mr Bain and Ms Palmer’s refusal topay Ms Barry goes against the will of the AAAWU member-ship, who had “unanimously” agreed this summer that theunion should continue paying Ms Barry, and several others wholost their jobs at around the same time, until the disputebetween executives is resolved.

This did not happen.The former President also supported statements by Mr

Brown, contacted about the matter on Thursday, when he saidthat hundreds of the union’s 510 members are in favour of anelection taking place to finally decide the leadership of theunion.

Presently Mr Bain has an injunction against any electiongoing ahead, although Mr Brown and Ms Harding say the lastexecutive term expired in June. The Department of Labourfiled an appeal against the injunction earlier this week in thehope that elections will go ahead and the deadlock on resolv-ing the payment issue can finally be ended.

FROM page one

Christie ‘against any move to oppose Moss nomination’

political sources that certain individuals are seeking resolu-tions to amend the party’s constitution, blocking anyone whois not a sitting MP — such as Mr Moss — from nominating torun for party leader at its upcoming convention.

Sources alleged the attempt, along with another proposed todisallow someone who has not previously declared his/herintentions to run for a post from nominating at the convention,was one intended to “stack the deck” against any opponent ofMr Christie ahead of the party’s convention on October 21.

Yesterday Mr Christie said “rumours” that he was behind amove to block Paul Moss or any other would-be challenger inthis way are being “put out by people who intend to causemischief.” “There was never any attempt by any of the estab-lished party to block anyone,” he said.

Mr Christie noted that although it has “come to the attentionof those of us who are in leadership of party that it is possibleby our constitution for someone to join party and two weeks lat-er declare they’re running for leader,” if a resolution waspassed to allow the National General Council to vote to disal-low the same, a vote in favour of the move “should not be con-sidered.”

“Ordinarily there ought to be some preconditions that requiresomeone to be a member in good standing and otherwise qual-ified to hold the position (of leader). Clearly there’s consider-ation in that area, but if such a resolution would pass it oughtnot to be considered. In other words I myself would oppose anyattempt to prevent someone from running who is duly qualifiedto run. Right now the only one who has declared his intentionto do so is Paul Moss. I would not support an effort to opposehis nomination on a technical point,” added Mr Christie.

Meanwhile he said in principal he would support another pro-posed amendment to the party’s constitution — that anyonewho is to run for a post in the convention must declare theirintentions ahead of time — but “not for this convention.”

“I support any kind of proposal that advances the internalworkings of democracy inside the PLP,” he said, suggesting thatsuch a stipulation would give people more time to find outabout the person they are voting for, and whether they have“the qualities of a leader.”

“What I have said to people who assemble in the NGC(National General Council) is that we must become moreaccountable. People are looking at us and we should havereflected in our business how the country does its business,”added Mr Christie. The PLP leader said he is committed to“evolving rules to ensure people are free to contest electionsand contest elections that are fair.”

“That must be the commitment of the party — to have freeand fair elections, so people are able in unfettered way able toexercise the right to vote for the candidate who is right to leadthe party,” said the PLP leader. He said that by Monday orTuesday it is likely that people should know which proposedamendments to the party’s constitution will be voted on at theconvention.

√Bahamasair probes claimsof passengers left stranded

cannot guarantee me a seat home this (week). What I findfurther irritating is that this week is a very busy one for San Sal-vador as it is the Discovery homecoming celebration. Thismeans that more people will be travelling home," she claimedin the letter.Ms Williams also said the cost of inter-island trav-el, around $204 for a round-trip San Salvador ticket was toohigh considering Bahamians can travel outside of the countryfor less money. When contacted for comment yesterday,Bahamasair Managing Director Henry Woods says he readthe letter — which was also published in a local daily — andsought to verify the merits of the complaint.

He said he could not confirm whether any ticketed passengershad been affected by the airline's "economic downsizing" butadded that preliminary investigations did not support the com-plaint.

He said it was company policy to ensure that ticketed pas-sengers are "always protected" and the airline's agents areinstructed not to overbook flights.

"The load has been extremely light, the economic condi-tions have decreased our numbers and in this time of depressionwe have had to make certain adjustments.

"But our Booking and Load Control Unit — I've taken thisup with them on more than one occasion — and they have giv-en me assurances that if a passenger had a confirmed bookingthey will fly. It's a different story if a person just shows upwith no reservation and that might have been a situation wherea person could not be accommodated," Mr Woods told The Tri-bune yesterday.

He explained that smaller planes, 19-seaters, have been usedfor San Salvador flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays becauseof lagging sales.

When asked about the higher cost of domestic flights, MrWoods said the "highly competitive" airline industry was dri-ving the prices. He added that many times international oper-ators are faced with lower operating costs and could offercheaper rates to their destinations.

FROM page one FROM page one

Share your newsThe Tribune wants to hearfrom people who aremaking news in theirneighbourhoods. Perhapsyou are raising funds for agood cause, campaigningfor improvements in thearea or have won anaward.If so, call us on 322-1986and share your story.

REMINDER: As Monday is Discovery Day, there will be noTribune until Tuesday.

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and driven dogs away from their masters’ homes.Each week around 50 dogs and perhaps a dozen cats are col-

lected in traps by some of the nine staff at the canine controlunit government dog pound in an area of the Botanic Gardens,Chippingham.

The unwanted animals are locked in the 45 dark and tinycement cells in pairs before their pitiful lives are brought to anend.

Legislation requires the animals to be kept alive for at leastfour days to give owners an opportunity to collect their pets, butas the majority of dogs are brought to the pound at their own-er’s will, it is an unlikely outcome for the poorly-treated pets.

Their dying days are spent crammed in a kennel, some withbroken limbs, flesh wounds, mange, and if they are not alreadyinfested with ticks and fleas, they will be within 24 hours of stay-ing at the pound.

A lack of funding, resources, and a body of staff a third of thesize of what it should be, means the care for the dogs is minimal.

These wandering potcakes, pit bulls, and pit bull-mixes likeLola, have no space to roam. They rely on the food and rustywater provided twice a day by the supervisor and five wardenswho run the dog pound.

Those who arrive at the pound suffering from serious injuriesor illness are put to sleep almost immediately, as are motherlesspuppies never given a chance at life.

FreezesTheir bodies are stored in three deep freezes untll Friday

morning before their bodies are collected and disposed of.Criticisms of the inhumane way animals are treated at the

pound have been highlighted in The Tribune since a 14-year-oldvisitor wrote to the newspaper to share with the public thehorrors he had seen. A live dog locked in a kennel with a deaddog, faeces covering the floors of the kennels, and animalslocked up without food and water.

His complaints sparked public outrage and the formation ofan activist group demanding better conditions at the poundwhich now has more than 500 members.

But in the first ever public tour of the facility, The Tribunefound it is the culture of cruelty to animals bringing dozens ofneglected and poorly treated dogs and cats to the pound weekafter week.

When The Tribune visited the pound yesterday, supervisorKirkland Glinton said the 45 dogs and seven cats collectedthis week, all killed yesterday, is average.

Department of Agriculture and Marine Resources veteri-narian Godfrey Springer euthanises the animals with assis-tance from staff.

He said: “It’s not easy for me as a vet to put animals tosleep but it’s a public health issue; it’s creating a risk to publichealth and as a country we have to remove the disease elementfrom the population.”

However their work has little impact on the number of straydogs wandering throughout New Providence, as Dr Kirklandsaid as soon as 50 dogs are collected and killed, another 50 willbe found wandering in the same areas the following week.

What is required is responsible animal ownership, DrSpringer said. He told The Tribune: “We have to create a cul-ture of people who love animals.

“We need responsible animal ownership. Dogs are livingthings, they need to be fed and watered, and to be housed in acomfortable home. They need to be seen by a veterinarian atleast twice a year.

“They should not be tied up so the rope around their neckcuts into their skin, and they should not be roaming into neigh-bours’ yards or in the streets.”n What are your views on dog cruelty in the Bahamas?

Who’s to blame? And read more revelations next week.

Is this the right way to treat our pets?FROM page one

THE COLLARS of the dogs who have been surrendered to the pound and later killed, have been stuffed into these holes by staff members, cre-ating a haunting memorial to the unfortunate animals.

POUND manager Kirkland Glinton speaks to Tribune reporterMegan Reynolds outside the pound yesterday.

LOLA in her cage.CAGES for capturing birds.

MR CAREY talks about the challenges facing the pound.

VET AND ADMINISTRATOR at the pound Dr Godfrey Springer.

DIRTY BROWN WATER put out for the dogs to drink

MR GLINTON showsa syringe on a pole,which is used bystaff to tranquiliseaggressive dogs.

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