nobody beats the tribune ...ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/uf/00/08/42/49/03175/12-15-2011.pdfthe men –...

NASSAU AND BAHAMA ISLANDS’ LEADING NEWSPAPER

Fishermen alive after 5 days adrift

Volume: 108 No.21 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011 PRICE – 75¢ (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25)

WEATHER

SUNNY ANDBREEZY

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By SANCHESKA BROWNTribune Staff [email protected]

FOUR missing Androsfishermen have been rescuedand returned to their familiesafter being adrift at sea forfive days.

The men – Prince Jolly,Allan Wright, Roger Millerand another man known asKK – were airlifted to Nas-sau by the US Coast Guardat about 5pm yesterday. Theywere then taken to thePrincess Margaret Hospitalfor treatment.

Lieutenant CommanderNedly Martinborough, of theRoyal Bahamas DefenceForce, said the men were dis-covered around 1pm driftingin waters near Andros.

He said: “They were foundby US Coast Guard aircraftabout 32 miles south ofAndros. All four of themwere in one boat.

“Two of them are very sickand need medical attention.You have to understand these

men have not eaten since Sat-urday. When they were firstdiscovered, the Coast Guardgave them a radio andremained on the scene untilthe helicopter from Opera-tion Bahamas, Turks andCaicos (OPBAT) arrived torescue them.

“They all appeared to be ingood health although theywere obviously exhaustedfrom the entire ordeal. Theywere dehydrated and there-fore for health reasons theywere flown to Nassau formedical attention. They donot appear to be injured andwill be fine after a couple daysof rest.”

A friend of the fishermen,said the entire Andros com-munity is grateful to theDefence Force and the U SCoast Guard for their assis-tance.

“The whole community,”he said, “is elated and thank-ful and grateful.

US Coast Guardairlifts menback to Nassau

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By CELESTE NIXONTribune Staff [email protected]

DISMISSING claims thatthe FNM interfered with ahousing investigation, Minis-ter of Security Tommy Turn-quest claimed that formerlead investigator Keith Bellis and always has been a“political operative” for thePLP.

Mr Turnquest spoke outagainst Mr Bell’s accusationthat the investigation intoallegations of corruption inthe Ministry of Housing weresubject to political interfer-ence, claiming the statementwas opportunistic.

He said: “His commentswere most inappropriate thismorning. He is a politicaloperative, he was a politicaloperative while he was a partof the police force and I takeanything he says with a grainof salt.”

An investigation waslaunched in November 2006as a result of claims made bycontractors and inconsisten-cies in housing documentsuncovered by The Tribune.

By mid-2007, the investiga-tion had stalled for the lackof evidence. In 2008, policesaid the case was still activeand more charges were to beexpected.

This week, former HousingMinister Kenneth Russellconfirmed the long-awaitedprobe had been completed,but never made public and atleast six more people were

By SANCHESKA BROWNTribune Staff [email protected]

CUSTOMS and Immigration Officers at theLynden Pindling International Airport walkedoff the job yesterday morning, after a foulodour from raw sewerage became “unbear-able”, union officials confirmed.

The walkout occurred around 8.30am andcaused operations in the customs and immi-gration department to stop working for a littlemore than an hour.

Sloane Smith, of the Bahamas CustomsImmigration and Allied Workers Union (BCI-AWU), said the officers have been complain-ing of the smell for quite some time.

“The officers in the customs and immigrationreported the odour to management a fewmonths ago and nothing happened,” he said.“What is happening is there is a pipe which

By CELESTE NIXONTribune Staff [email protected]

ANOTHER piece of the Baha Mar puzzlefell into place yesterday as the governmentopened the new Cable Beach Police Station.

A number of cabinet ministers and opposi-tion MPs were present yesterday for the build-ing’s ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessing.

Security Minister Tommy Turnquest said anew police station was necessary to accom-modate the expanding Cable Beach commu-nity and to continue the government’s battleagainst crime.

He said: “We are here today to witness theopening of a state-of-the-art police stationwith provisions of emergency managementservices.

“The government is taking the lead in thefight against crime – implementing many ini-

By DANA SMITH [email protected]

A MAN and his son wereremanded to Fox Hill Prisonyesterday after beingarraigned at Magistrate'sCourt for weapon and drugcharges.

Haitian-born DieudonneJean Pierre, 53, and hisBahamian son Donald JeanPierre, 25, both of Freeport,Grand Bahama, were chargedbefore Magistrate JoyanneFerguson Pratt.

The prosecution claimedthat on Saturday, December10, a team of police officersentered a residence at ForestView Apartments on OutlawLane with a search warrantfor dangerous drugs and unli-censed firearms.

CHOIR WELCOMES IN CHRISTMAS

MINISTERACCUSESBELL OF PLP LINK

BAIL DENIEDFOR HAITIAN ONDRUG CHARGESCUSTOMS STAFF

STAGE WALKOUTCABLE BEACH POLICE

STATION OPENED

MEMBERS of the Bahamas National Youth Choir perform during their third annual Christmas concert onTuesday night at the Trinity Methodist Church. The choir was directed by Cleophus Adderley. For more pic-tures, see page 9. Photo: Felipé Major/Tribune Staff

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THE Bahamas Hand-book 2012 is now in stores,offering readers fascinat-ing and little known facts

about the Bahamas, its peo-ple, culture, economy and his-tory.

In its 626 pages, the hand-book is filled with insightfulfeatures on the Bahamas,beautiful four colour pho-tographs and rich illustrationsthat bring the stories to life.

The handbook reveals pre-viously unknown detailsabout the second world war,the general strike of 1957, andthe first ever distribution ofweapons in the Bahamas.

Readers can discover howGerman and Italian U-boatsstalked and torpedoed Alliedfreighter in Bahamian watersduring the second world war,trying to prevent them fromcarrying war materials toBritain, and how islanders of

high and low station helpedto rescue and care for the sur-vivors.

Relive the anger andresentment that led to theGeneral Strike of 1957 andhow he Bahamian policeforce was issued with weaponsfor the first time in history –as seen through the eyes of agazetted police officer of theday.

Also in this year’s publica-tion, readers will find thatdespite decades of heat,humidity and hurricanes onSan Salvador, a plantationowner’s meticulous diarysomehow survived to the pre-sent day, giving Handbookreaders an unvarnished pic-ture of the high emotions thatprevailed among slaves in theearlier 19th century, on theeve of emancipation.

Ever wonder how WallaceGroves was able to build anentire industrial city in thepine and barrens of GrandBahama in less than 10 years?A Handbook story clears upsome of the mystery andexplores the techniques heused to build Freeport, asrecalled by his contempo-raries and closest associates.

For more information, pro-motional copies or to sendpress releases to the publish-er, please contact the Editor-ial Department at 242-323-5665 or email [email protected].

LOCAL NEWS

PAGE 2, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011 THE TRIBUNE

TREASURES WITHINTHE PAGES OF NEWHANDBOOK EDITION

THE STORY of U-Boats that stalked the Atlantic feature in the latestedition of the Bahamas Handbook.

THE HISTORY of horse racing inthe Bahamas features in the newHandbook.

DISCOVER Clark Gable’s con-nections to the Bahamas.

LOCAL NEWS

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By DENISE MAYCOCKTribune Freeport Reporter [email protected]

FREEPORT – With theFree National Movement insearch of “new blood” to runin the next general election,senators Michael Pintard andFrederick McAlpine could beon the list of new candidatesfor Grand Bahama.

Prime Minister HubertIngraham said the party isalways in search of new tal-ent and in the coming weeks,will unveil its line-up of can-didates.

Sources say Kay Smith, aformer FNM senator, couldalso be on the list.

While in Grand Bahamathis week, Mr Ingraham con-firmed that some current MPswill not be running again.

“We want for this electionto put forward the best teamthat we can. In order to dothat, some of our memberswho are now in the House aregoing to retire,” he said.

Senator McAlpine said theFNM has always been renew-ing and reviving itself.

“Whether it is with womenor young people, they have

always sought to give peoplean opportunity, and that isone of the things I was alwaysfascinated with when it comesto our party,” he said.

Rev McAlpine, a native ofEight Mile Rock, GrandBahama, was appointed to theSenate in 2007.

He is president of FrederickMcAlpine Evangelistic Min-istries and a senior minister atFreeport Fellowship Centre.

Senator Michael Pintardwas appointed in March to filla vacant seat in the Senate.

Mr Pintard is a well-knownentrepreneur, human

resources development con-sultant, poet, lecturer andwriter.

He said the FNM is lookingto transform the lives of peo-ple in Grand Bahama, offera new vision, generate jobsand increase Bahamian homeownership.

Following the recent firingof former Housing MinisterKenneth Russell, Mr Pintardsaid persons expecting a divi-sion in the party are going tobe disappointed.

“We are going to pulltogether at the correct time;all is at stake,” he said.

By KHRISNA [email protected]

THE government signed contractsworth almost $4 million for the repair ofbadly damaged roads in Andros and Har-bour Island yesterday.

Works, Transport, and Housing Min-ister Neko Grant travelled to StanyardCreek, Andros where residents havereportedly lost vehicles to roads thathave become almost unusable.

Charmain Lubin, a preschool teacheron the island, said she lost two vehiclesbecause of the “deplorable roads”.

She said: “I’ve been back here 10 yearsand I have changed two vehicles since Icame back here – front end gone.

“That’s how bad the roads are, espe-cially the inner communities, that’s inStanyard Creek, Blanket Sound, andStafford Creek.”

“We prefer to ride bicycles and walkbecause we cannot afford to ride our carson the roads.”

Mr Grant and other officials signed a$2,523,280 contract to repair 5.3 miles ofroad in Stanyard Creek.

He said: “Just over a month ago I exe-cuted contracts for some $3.5 million on

infrastructure works in Andros and todayI will execute a contract for some $2.5million.”

“Never in the history of this island has $6million in contracts for infrastructure workbeen executed in such a short period.”

The contract, awarded to Mr Basil Ney-mour, the father of Phenton Neymour, willbe completed in phases, with plans for thefirst phase to be completed in six months.

Basil Neymour, who built 78 miles ofroad in Long Island, and 51 miles of road

in Cat Island more than 40 years ago,said he is the best man for the job. “Youshould have seen my product, I am one ofthe best and I have proven that,” he said.

Another contract was signed in Har-bour Island where residents have com-plained for months about the poor roads.

Nu View Construction Company willspearhead the $1,285,208 project.

Earlier in the year, the governmentsigned a contract to repair the island’s roads,however, preexisting water problem’s pre-vented the work from being carried out.

The minister responsible for the Waterand Sewage Corporation, Earl Deveaux,said the government had to make someimportant decisions before the roadworks could continue at that point.

“When we were here to do the roads,we signed a contract and the infrastruc-ture for your water was so bad and soadvanced in corrosion that we were stuckand we were asked not to pave the roaduntil we restored and rehabilitated thewater mains,” he said. “Unfortunately ittook a long time to fix.”

Quinten Kemp, the lead contractor forthis project, hopes to begin the road workon Friday. The project is expected totake six months.

By DENISE MAYCOCKTribune Freeport Reporter [email protected]

FREEPORT – The OldBahama Bay resort in West Endwill reportedly close by the endof the week, leaving more than adozen persons out of a job.

According to a source, theresort is expected to close onFriday – when all employees,including the management, willbe terminated.

Only a small skeleton crewwill remain to oversee the prop-erty, the source said.

The resort’s financial con-troller Paul Hansen and projectmanager Derek Gape could notbe reached for comment.

According to an article pub-lished in Tribune Business lastmonth, Lubert Adler, the mainfinancier for the stalled $4.9 bil-lion Ginn sur Mer project, hascontrol of the Old Bahama Bayproperty and 225 surroundingacres, plus another 294-acre par-cel that contains the golf course.

OLD BAHAMA BAY TO CLOSE

$4m deal to fix roads

PINTARD AND MCALPINE COULD BE CANDIDATES

BATTERED ROADS on Andros

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE precedent that hasbeen set with the straw ven-dors as it relates to the relax-ing of the various outstand-ing monies that is normallycollected by other businesspersons cannot be right.There is a joke being playedon the public purse.

I am not satisfied that thispractice of allowing the ven-dors who make enough mon-ey, to be responsible for livingup to the obligations thatevery other business personis expected to pay.

Vendors are bragging howthey “outsmarted” the gov-ernment. If an ordinary busi-ness person cannot give anaccount of their businessactivities for a number ofyears, they would have aproblem renewing their busi-ness license. How come thestraw market is different?

If an ordinary business isfound wanting, as it relates tounpaid National Insurancecontributions, they wouldhave a major difficulty withgovernment. Why are thevendors different? How comea group of vendors who brag

about being able to throw twoand three hands in a $200 perday asue are given a freepass? No one believes thatthey cannot afford to payNational Insurance and theoutstanding business licensefees. What’s up with this?

This precedent is not goingto bear good fruit. What causethe authorities to be solenient? This cannot be forpolitical purposes because themarket is the market. I amflabbergasted to know thatvendors who missed tens ofyears of National Insuranceand Business License feeswould be exempted from pay-ing all of the arrears. Whathappens if every other busi-ness does the same? Wherewill the line be drawn?

This is unfair and shouldnot be continued. If no otherbusiness is allowed to ignoretheir obligations to the statethen the vendors must betreated the same.

Imagine this, the US’ IRSfinds out that a business hasnot paid their taxes for 10years, do you think that theywould be given an opportu-nity to play these kind ofgames. I think not!

The US Government hasimprisoned the highest rankingofficials, actors, athletes, con-gressmen, the wealthiest andothers for these same kinds ofthings. There are no excep-tions or excuses accepted.

We gave the vendors a freebrand new facility funded byour money, and then theyrefuse to contribute to Nation-al Insurance, and refuse to payBusiness License Fees. Thiscannot be right and thereforeshould be revisited, otherwise,level the playing field so otherbusiness could enjoy the sameprivileges.

The Bahamian peopleshould not be left to pay thevendors’ bill.

This is not settling well withmany Bahamians who aresimply “too chicken” to voicetheir opinion. The intentionsto help the vendors relocateare just, but they must paytheir own way, not the publicwho does not benefit from it.

IVOINE W INGRAHAMNassau,December 9, 2011.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

SOMETIME ago, BishopSimeon Hall released an arti-cle in which he pointed to aneed for the major politicalparties in the Bahamas tobegin a process of successionplanning. The commentscaused me to undertake a lit-tle bit of research on the sub-ject. However, I soon becamedistracted and discontinuedthe effort.

I resumed my researchsometime after conventionsby both the PLP and FNM atwhich time they both placedsignificant emphasis on theneed for the involvement ofyouth, with special focus ona commitment to the youthof our nation. I once againbecame distracted and dis-continued my research.

Recent comments by PrimeMinister Ingraham regardingthe FNM’s intention to seekto offer fresh, new, youngfaces among its group of can-didates for the upcomingGeneral Elections havecaused me to resume theeffort I have twice put aside,with a determination to iden-tify whether what the PrimeMinister is now saying is merepolitical expediency orwhether it is supported byprevious actions on his andhis party’s part.

My intention, when I ini-tially commenced my effortseveral years ago, was for theresearch to have a three-foldfocus. The initial focus wouldbe on identifying formerYoung Liberals, the youtharm of the PLP, and formerTorchbearers, the youth armof the FNM, who are present

sitting members of Parliamentor who may have previouslybeen elected to Parliament.

Secondly, the focus wouldbe expanded to identify mem-bers of both political youtharms who had previouslyreceived the nomination oftheir party to contest an elec-tion.

Finally, I thought to lookto identify members of Par-liament from both politicalparties who may have beenborn subsequent to the PLPattaining a majority of theseats in the House of Assem-bly, an era some refer to as“majority rule”, a terminolo-gy I detest as I find it divisiveto our peoples.

Majority Rule, by nameand by inference, emphasisesthe ascendancy of one groupof persons and the defeat ofanother, the rule by personsof one hue and the subjuga-tion of persons of a differinghue.

I know of no other countryin the region, all of whomhave a similar political back-ground to ours, that have slav-ishly clung to such a notion.But that’s another topic foranother day.

My political successionplanning research was abort-ed without me ever gettingbeyond first base upon dis-covery that there are present-ly four elected members ofparliament – Tommy Turn-quest, Carl Bethel, ZhivargoLaing and Kwasi Thompson –

all who have ascended fromthe youth arm of the FreeNational Movement. All fourhave emerged from theTorchbearers.

Additionally, Labour Min-ister, Senator Dion Foulkes, aformer Torchbearer, is a for-mer elected parliamentarianon an FNM ticket.

I was, however, unable toidentify a single present orformer member of the Pro-gressive Liberal Party's youtharm elected to Parliament ona PLP ticket.

I was, nevertheless, suc-cessful in identifying a formerYoung Liberal who had beenelected to serve in Parliamentin the person of David Wal-lace. Mind you, my researchdid reveal that while DavidWallace served as a formerYoung Liberal, his election toParliament was on an FNMticket.

In my view, my research,though limited in scope, isconclusive. The recent pro-nouncements by Prime Min-ister Ingraham regarding theneed for the FNM to intro-duce fresh, new, young facesamong the FNM's slate ofcandidates is clearly not merepolitical rhetoric, but born outby historical fact.

Failure on the part of anyorganisation to renew, toregenerate itself, will surelylead to its decay. The limitedresearch outlined above clear-ly portrays the PLP as anorganisation in decay whilethe FNM is portrayed as anorganisation in ascendancy.

MICHAEL R MOSSFreeport, Bahamas,December 11, 2011.

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

TELEPHONESSwitchboard (News, Circulation and Advertising) 322-1986

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Freeport fax: (242) 352-9348

WHILE the Bahamas government, inan attempt to crack down on crime, thisyear made life sentences for murder meanjust that — “the remaining years of a con-victed person’s life” – there was an uproarin England when it was suggested thatmandatory sentences should end.

On December 7, an article in the Sun byAnthony France reported that legalexperts in England who recommendedthe ending of mandatory life terms formurder were ridiculed as “diabolical do-gooders” by victims’ families.

“The Homicide Review AdvisoryGroup wants judges to decide the lengthof sentences based on each individualcase,” France reported. “It argued thatthe current system — where mercy killingsand serial murders both carry a minimumsentence of 15 years — is unjust.”

The Lord Chief Justice Lord Judgewants MPs to consider reform of themandatory sentence law.

A parent, whose 10-year-old son waskilled by thugs, warned that “criminalswill continue laughing at the law” ifmandatory sentences for murder are abol-ished. The suggestion that mandatory lifesentences no longer be mandatory, butleft to the discretion of judges, opened anew debate — the return of the deathpenalty in England for murder.

“We need the return of the death penal-ty, not a watering down of life sentences,”said a mother whose daughter was stabbedto death in London.

“Yes, mandatory life sentences shouldbe abolished,” commented another Britishcitizen, “and replaced with the deathpenalty.”

In amending the Bahamas’ Penal Code,Prime Minister Ingraham pointed out that“the courts” — in fact the Privy Council —“have determined that the death penalty isnot a mandatory punishment for murder.They have also decided that the deathpenalty may only be used in the worst ofthe worst cases.”

Although many Bahamians believedthat the case from the Bahamas on whichthis decision was made was indeed the“worst of the worst,” the Privy Councildid not agree. Based on that judgmentmandatory capital punishment in theBahamas was effectively abolished.

However, in its amended legislation, theBahamas government listed what it con-sidered the “worst of the worst” caseswhen the mandatory sentence would be

either the death penalty or life in prison forvarious crimes. The death penalty was toremain an option for the murder of apolice officer or other law enforcementofficials, persons critical to the judicial sys-tem, such as the killing of witnesses, jurors,judicial officials, prosecutors, a murder inthe furtherance of robbery, rape, kidnap-ping, terrorism or other felony, multiplemurders and contract killings.

So what was seemingly taken away bythe Privy Council was given back by anamended act of parliament.

Other murders are punishable in arange of from 30 to 60 years. The onlyexception would be the conviction of aminor — that is a person under 18 years ofage. A minor would be sentenced to aminimum of 20 years in prison after which“his continued confinement will bereviewed by the court every five years”.

With the mandatory death penaltyremoved for murder, government decidedthat some way had to be found to deter ourcriminal element, which under the protec-tion of the various Privy Council rulings,was indeed laughing at the law. Therefore,the heinous crimes that did not measure upto the Privy Council’s “worst of the worst”were to get mandatory life sentences. Lifeno longer means 25 years with more timeshaved off for good behaviour. Life formurder means just that — years of waitingfor the undertaker to remove the deadbody from the prison cell.

In England, Prime Minister DavidCameron stepped in to calm tempers. Heassured citizens that his government had“no plans” to do away with mandatoryterms.

“The most serious crimes deserve themost serious sentences,” a spokesmanadded.

The same sentiments were expressedby the Ingraham government. It’s a joyto now report the daily chirping of magis-trates reminding lawyers that under thelaw they can no longer grant bail to repeatoffenders and persons accused of heinouscrimes. This must be music to the ears oflaw-abiding citizens, who have had to waita long time to read such words in courtreports.

As for the criminal who might think heis being treated unfairly, he has only onealternative and that is to turn his back onhis life of crime, reform his life and startmaking a worthwhile contribution to soci-ety.

Politicalsuccessionplanning

[email protected]

Britons cry for return of death penalty

Vendors should pay infull - like everyone else

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter [email protected]

FREEPORT – Police havelaunched an intensive initia-tive to combat crime duringthe Christmas season.

Assistant CommissionerEmrick Seymour said Opera-tion Winter Storm will involveheightened police visibility onthe streets and in residentialand business communities

throughout Grand Bahama.Mr Seymour was speaking

at the Royal Bahamas PoliceForce’s annual Christmas TreeLighting ceremony at the Ger-ald Bartlette Police Head-quarters Complex on the Mall.

A number of students andparents attended the event.The Police Youth Band pro-vided music and prayers wereoffered up for the police forceand the nation.

Santa Claus also rode in ona police motorcycle and hand-ed out candy to the young-sters, but the highlight of theevening was the lighting ofthe Christmas tree by Mr Sey-mour and his children,Emrick Jr and Emrinique.

Mr Seymour said Christmasis a time of reflection and fel-lowship.

“As people prepare to pur-chase gifts, dine and socialise,I want to remind you toremember the true meaningof the season which is toreflect and celebrate the birthof Jesus Christ who was borninto this world to redeem usof our sins,” he said.

He also stated that thepolice are committed toensuring that everyone has asafe holiday season.

“One of the things we aredoing is increasing policepresence on the streets and

trying to sensitize membersof the public of what they cando to protect themselves forthe season.

ACP Seymour said a teamof officers have been specifi-cally assigned to “OperationWinter Storm,” which willcover businesses in the down-town area, the InternationalBazaar, and Port Lucaya, aswell as residential areas.

He also noted that thepolice have conducted variouswalkabouts and met with res-idents to speak about crimeprevention. Officers have alsodistributed safety tipbrochures in the community.

“We have seen some suc-cess already and have hadsome arrests and taken someillegal weapons off the streets,”Mr Seymour reported.

Mr Seymour said residentsshould continue to be vigilantgoing into the holiday season.

He said persons shouldalways be aware of their sur-roundings. He stressed thatpersons should always remem-ber to buckle up when driving.

Mr Seymour noted thatshoppers should make certainthat purchased items andvaluables are in the backtrunk of the vehicle.

While shopping, he said per-sons should carry small amountsof cash, and businesses shouldmake regular deposits.

“We also want to urge indi-viduals to observe personscoming into their businessestablishment and lurkingaround their shops,” he said.

“If anything looks suspiciousgo with your gut and call thepolice at 911 and let us check itout. We want every memberof the community to have asafe Christmas holiday.”

LOCAL NEWS


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All things are lawful for me, but not all things arehelpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all thingsedify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the otherʼswell-being.Eat whatever is sold in the meat market,asking no questions for conscienceʼ sake; for “the earthis the LORDʼs, and all its fullness.” If any of those whodo not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire togo, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questionfor conscienceʼ sake. But if anyone says to you, “Thiswas offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of theone who told you, and for conscienceʼ sake; for “theearth is the LORDʼs, and all its fullness.” “Conscience,”I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why ismy liberty judged by another manʼs conscience? But ifI partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for thefood over which I give thanks?Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever youdo, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, eitherto the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,just as I also please all men in all things, not seekingmy own profit, but the profit of many, that they maybe saved.

Police clamp down on crime

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONEREmrick Seymour

LOCAL NEWS


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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Brent Symonette holds the ribbon as Tommy Turnquest, Minister of National Security, cuts it, with Commissioner EllisonGreenslade looks on. Photos: Felipé Major/Tribune Staff

PERRY CHRISTIE, leader of the PLP, signs the photograph of the newpolice station.

tiatives and new legislationthat together with the workof police officers, we expectpositive results.”

For those who reside, workand visit the western area, MrTurnquest said they can beassured the best of policing.

By placing this new policefacility in the centre of a newcommercial village, Mr Turn-quest said protected servicesshould rival or surpass anyother area of the Bahamas.

He added, however, thatthe facility is not unique toCable Beach.

“The government hasinvested considerableresources to provide for thesafety and security of resi-dents and visitors alike,” saidMr Turnquest.

He said this year alone, thegovernment has spent some$14.5 million on new equip-ment, technology and crimefighting tools for the RoyalBahamas Police Force.

“These assets are to make iteasier for police officers to dotheir job more effectively andadditionally it is incumbenton them to take care of theseassets,” he said.

Police Commissioner Elli-son Greenslade said the newfacility is perfectly positionedto serve the communities ofwestern New Providence andthe Baha Mar development.

He said: “This new stationis purpose built and will pro-vide comfort and amenitieslike nothing that exists on theforce today.”

Cable Beach police station openedffrroomm ppaaggee oonnee

A TOUR of the cell block for visitorsto the new station.

COMMISSIONER of Police EllisonGreenslade, along with Minister ofYouth, Sports and Culture CharlesMaynard and the Minister of Nation-al Security Tommy Turnquest isshown the new station by Supt ElaineSands OC, of Cable Beach.

Shareyournews

The 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.

TOMMY TURNQUEST, Minister ofNational Security unveils a plaque atthe Cable Beach Police and Fire Sta-tion yesterday.

LOCAL NEWS


By DANA [email protected]

RESPONDING to mediareports that nearly all of thePLP incumbents have beenratified, former MP GeorgeSmith has criticised onealleged choice.

“The decision in respectof Exuma was based on aninadequate and unfairassessment, which was obvi-ously biased and laced withdisregard for the facts andfor many who are affectedby the outcome,” Mr Smithsaid.

His comment is in refer-

ence to allegations that cur-rent Exuma MP AnthonyMoss is likely to be ratified torun again for the constituen-cy.

A decision Mr Smith hasfirmly opposed in recentweeks.

“An accurate review and

investigation throughoutExuma may have resulted ina different conclusion andwider acceptance,” Mr Smithsaid.

Last month, he went onrecord opposing the nomina-tion of Mr Moss to once againrun in Exuma under the PLP.

Mr Smith said while it is notpersonal, Mr Moss “has notmet the standard” to be ableto represent the people ofExuma.

In a recent statement, MrSmith stated: “The Bahamasdeserves the best talent; thereshould be no room for medi-ocrity or second-rate perfor-mance.”

PLP Chairman BradleyRoberts refused to confirm ifAnthony Moss has been rati-fied.

“The PLP will make anannouncement if and whenthat occurs,” Mr Robertssaid.

Former MP criticises selection of Moss

ANTHONY MOSS MP

‘The Bahamas deserves the besttalent; there should be no roomfor mediocrity or second-rateperformance.’

George Smith

By NOELLE NICOLLSTribune Features Editor [email protected]

ONE year after $50,000worth of Junkanoo suppliesdisappeared, the owners ofthe merchanise say the matterhas yet to be resolved.

Last year, a major shipmentof Junkanoo supplies, pre-dominantly feathers on spe-cial order for three majorJunkanoo groups, was “lostin transit”.

The products were shippedthrough the multinationalcourier DHL by theJunkanoo Shack, a popularEast Street Junkanoo suppliesstore.

When the shipment arrived,it was short $50,000 worth ofgoods, said James Miller,owner of the Junkanoo Shack.

He said no “acceptableexplanation” has been putforward for why the shipmentwas short when the incidentoccurred last year.

One year later, he said thestatus remains the same.

“After one year of inquiriesand questions, no one in thecompany can say to me, youritems were found in HongKong, Jamaica, or where,” hesaid.

A spokesperson for DHLsaid last year the goods were“simply late”. During the hol-iday season, the spokesper-son said, “that is the norm”.

The company claims anysuggestion otherwise is falsepropaganda.

According to Mr Miller, atruck-load of goods, believedto have been the contents ofthe missing shipment, wasdestined for the black marketbut was intercepted by pri-vate investigators workingwith police.

The goods were identifiablebased on a customer number

issued by the JunkanooShack’s Asian suppliers, hesaid.

Because of the incident, MrMiller said the JunkanooShack has had to adopt a newbusiness model that has madebusiness a lot more risky.

“We lost a lot of our cus-tomers based on that event.They were unsure, because itis still not proven today whatwas the problem.

‘What we had to do was goout and purchase suppliesfrom January.

“In Junkanoo, you wouldwant to know what is thecolour code the groups areusing. Sometimes you onlyhave sufficient funds to orderitems to cover the groups, butbecause of what happened,we had to order early andpurchase practically everycolour,” said Mr Miller.

“Now we have to orderanticipating what the groupsmight wear and hope thatsomeone uses the colour wehave.

“That is a risk, because wedon’t know if they will likethe style of feathers or thecolours we have,” he said.

The Junkanoo Shack hasreturned to using TropicalShipping, its regular shippingcompany for 10 years.

Mr Miller said the companydecided to use DHL last yearbecause they had a lastminute order that was moresuited to a multinationalcourier capable of deliveringon a three-day deadline, asopposed to the standardthree-week shipping sched-ule.

All hope is not lost, accord-ing to Mr Miller. He said theCommercial Crimes Unit ofthe Royal Bahamas PoliceForce is still working the case,and is expected to “bring clo-sure shortly”.

ONE YEAR ON,JUNKANOO

LOSS REMAINSA MYSTERY

By DANA [email protected]

THE Bahamas will report-edly be visited by a memberof the British royal familynext year.

According to media reports,as part of the Queen’s Dia-mond Jubilee celebrations, theentire family will visit Com-monwealth countries and oth-er nations where the queen ishead of state or which haveties to the United Kingdom.

Prince Harry will reported-ly be visiting the Bahamas onbehalf of the queen.

The exact date of the visitand what he will do while inthe Bahamas is yet to beannounced.

However, according to theDaily Mail’s website, PrinceHarry may use his visit to“stage a fundraising polomatch on behalf of his Sente-bale charity”. In addition tothe Bahamas, Prince Harrywill reportedly be visiting

Jamaica and Belize.Other Caribbean countries

on the tour will be visited bythe Earl and Countess of Wes-sex. These include: Antiguaand Barbuda, Barbados,Grenada, Montserrat, St Kittsand Nevis, St Lucia, St Vin-cent and the Grenadines, andTrinidad and Tobago.

The Duke of Gloucesterwill visit the British VirginIslands and Malta.

The recently married Dukeand Duchess of Cambridgewill visit Tuvalu, the SolomanIslands, Malaysia and Singa-pore, reports say.

Prince Charles and theDuchess of Cornwall will trav-el to Canada, Australia, NewZealand and Papua NewGuinea, and Prince Charleswill visit the Channel Islandsand Isle of Man alone.

The Duke of York will vis-it Mozambique, Zambia, andIndia while the Duke of Kentwill visit the Falkland Islandsand Uganda.

ROYAL VISIT TO BAHAMAS

FREEPORT – As theDowntown RevitalisationProject nears completion, theGrand Bahama Port Author-ity has announced it will intro-duce kiosks for the sale ofindigenous Bahamian prod-ucts as an added attraction tothe newly refurbishedChurchill Square.

This complementary fea-

ture is intended to enhancethe downtown experience fortourists and locals alike.

The first of the “Making ithappen” initiatives launchedin 2009 and the brainchild ofGBPA President Ian Rolle,the three-phase project hasnow begun breathing new lifeinto the centre of Freeport.

Chairperson for the DTPNakira Wilchcombe said:“We are seeing the fruits ofeveryone’s hard work andcommitment to the project.

“More and more of thebuilding and shop ownershave come onboard to sup-port what is being done.

“More importantly, thispast summer with majorevents like ‘Rush for Peace’

and the ‘Downtown Interna-tional Food and Cultural Fes-tival’, we’ve proven thatdowntown is an ideal locationfor such cultural events.”

As Churchill Square is justabout ready, GBPA officialshope to make the downtowncentre a regular stop for tourbus passengers and othergroups.

The kiosks were introducedto add cultural flair and breakup the monotony of the gen-eral retail stores in the area.

A public notice by GBPA’sBusiness DevelopmentDepartment invited local arti-sans interested in obtainingone of four kiosks planned forphase one to submit theirbusiness ideas.

LOCAL NEWS


Kiosks to be addedto Churchill Square

THE CROWNING gloryof the DowntownRevitalisation Project,the newly refurbishedChurchill Square fea-turing the bust of SirWinston Churchill.

LOCAL NEWS


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THE Chinese Ambassadorof the People’s Republic ofChina Hu Shan presentedMinister of EducationDesmond Bannister with a

cheque for $10,000 to assist inthe rebuilding of the CrookedIsland High School, which suf-fered severe damage duringHurricane Irene in August.

In making the presentationat the Ministry of Educationon Monday, AmbassadorShan told Education officialsthat when the hurricane

struck, the Chinese people feltas if it were their own tragedyand Chinese Premier WenJiabao sent a letter of sympa-thy to Prime Minister Ingra-ham.

Shortly after, the Chinesegovernment donated $300,000to assist with the hurricanerelief efforts.

The ambassador said whenhe learned from MinisterBannister and the EducationPermanent Secretary ElmaGarraway about the damageat the Crooked Island HighSchool, he decided to providethe school with $10,000 “as atoken of regard of the Chi-nese Embassy and also anexpression of our esteem foreducation.”

He said: “Like theBahamas, China attachesgreat importance to educa-tion, which is reflected by apopular saying in China,which literally reads, ‘In ahundred-year strategy, edu-cation is the base,’ and the

deep meaning is that educa-tion is of fundamental impor-tance to the fulfillment of anation’s long range mission.”

Thanking the ambassador,Minister Bannister said: “It isimportant for us to rebuildthis school because it is thebirthplace of secondary edu-cation in the Family Islands. Itwas the first central secondaryschool to be established in theBahamas,” he said.

He said the government isdetermined to rebuild theschool, not only for its histor-ical legacy, but more impor-tantly, to meet the needs ofthe students of CrookedIsland.

Mr Bannister also lauded

ambassador for his recentdonation of laptops and print-ers to the CI Gibson SeniorHigh School’s technology pro-gramme.

The Chinese Embassy hasalso been instrumental in theestablishment of the Per-forming Arts Programme atthe Government High Schooland has donated thousands ofbooks to public librariesthroughout the Bahamas.

Acting Principal ofCrooked Island High, JeromeForbes, thanked the ambas-sador, explaining that theschool needs to be rebuilt forthe students as well as theadults in the community, whoalso take classes there.

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FROM LEFT ARE Director ofEducation Lionel Sands, Coun-sellor and DCM of the Embassyof the People's Republic of ChinaZhai Xingfu; Education Perma-nent Secretary Elma Garraway;Crooked Island High School headboy Laquinton Armbrister; Min-ister Bannister; Ambassador HuShan; Acklins High School headboy Douglas Collie; CrookedIsland High acting principalJerome Forbes and NEMA direc-tor Captain Stephen Russell.

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By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter [email protected]

FREEPORT - The firstannual Maritime Symposiumwill take place on GrandBahama on Monday, Decem-ber 19, at the Lucayan Harbour.

Minister of National Secu-rity Tommy Turnquest isexpected to deliver thekeynote address at the open-ing. Commodore RoderickBowe of the Royal BahamasDefence Force is also expect-ed to attend.

The symposium is beingorganised jointly by the Roy-al Bahamas Defence Force(RBDF), the Port Depart-ment, and the Department ofMarine Resources.

Sub Lieutenant GlennMcPhee, officer in charge ofRBDF Northern Command,said the purpose of the sym-posium is to initiate dialoguebetween Grand Bahama fish-ermen and industry partners.

“The Commander of theDefence Force, CommodoreRoderick Bowe, would liketo ensure that the RBDF ful-fills its role as an active com-munity partner,” he said.

He noted that some of theother industry partnersinclude the Port Department,the Department of MarineResources, Bahamas Cus-toms, the Royal BahamasPolice Force Marine Division,the Bahamas Air Sea RescueAssociation, and the USCoast Guard.

Sub Lt McPhee said theDefence Force also wants topromote a greater awarenessof maritime legislation; pro-mote maritime safety andenforcement among fisher-men; identify challenges expe-rienced by fishermen, andresolve them through collab-orative action.

The symposium will includesessions on boat safetyrequirements, and AssistantPort Controller ShannandorEvans will give a presentationon water-skiing regulationsand the Motor Boat Act.

A representative from theDepartment of MarineResources will give a presen-tation on the rules and regu-lation governing fishing inBahamian waters.

Maritime event toforge partnerships

FASHION Hall threw aChristmas party for The Bil-ney Lane Children’s Homeon Dec 9 and donated a com-puter set and printer.

The Fashion Hall employ-ees got together and boughtgifts for the children, to bedelivered early next week.

FROM LEFT, Amanda Riley, inventory manager at Fashion Hall, OliviaMajor, assistant administrator for Bilney Lane Children’s Home andAbigail Minns, director of sales and marketing for Fashion Hall.

GIFTS FOR CHILDREN

LOCAL NEWS


THE Cape EleutheraIsland School, an internation-ally recognised leader in edu-cation focused on sustainabil-ity, has announced a newhead of school starting in the2012-13 school year.

After an extensive 18-month search, John Schatzhas been hired to fill the posi-tion. He has a long historywith the Island School semes-ter programme.

Mr Schatz joined a pioneerteaching team in 2001 as amathematics teacher.

Outside the classroom, hewas head of the boys’ dormi-tory, sea kayaking guide,research advisor for a num-ber of different projects andin his final year he ran thedaily programme as dean ofthe school.

“John is remembered wellas the teacher/mentor whowas always there to chal-lenge and at the same timesupport the community,”said the Island School in astatement.

“After four years of com-mitted service to the IslandSchool, John went on toreceive his masters in educa-tion from Columbia Teacher'sCollege and taught at severalprivate schools.

“This past summer, Johnreturned to help run the newIsland School summer term;he realised that there was anopportunity to come back andhelp raise the bar for thesemester journey.

“John brings a wealth ofexperience with Eleutheraand the Island School jour-ney; he shares the school’svision to inspire the next gen-eration of leaders to knowthey have the ability to effectpositive change in theworld.”

Although the school isalready very successful, thestatement said Mr Schatz is

not being hired to maintainthe status quo, but rather iscommitted to enhancingopportunities for faculty andstudents across all pro-grammes.

“The Island School jour-ney will experience signifi-cant growth under John’sleadership. John’s new lead-ership role will give ChrisMaxey the chance to help

support the larger mission ofthe organisation thatincludes sharing solutionsthrough the Deep CreekMiddle School and CapeEleuthera Institute.

“Chris is also looking for-ward to doing more teachingand spending more time outon expedition with futureIsland School classes,” thestatement said.

Island Schoolrecruits Schatz fornext school year

JOHN SCHATZ, who has a long history with the Island School semes-ter programme, will be taking over as head of school in the 2012-13school year.

THE Ministry of Tourismhas eliminated its director ofproduct development post inan effort to better focus onthe most important elementof tourism – the visitor expe-rience.

Minister of Tourism andAviation Vincent Vander-pool-Wallace told hundredsof taxi drivers, jet ski opera-tors, airport workers and oth-er new graduates of theBahamaHost programme thatthe old post with replacedwith a “director of visitorexperience” position.

This, he said, took the focusoff buildings and physicalattributes and put it on the“human perspective”.

Mr Vanderpool-Wallacesaid that for a long time,tourism and hospitalityexperts convinced themselvesthat marketing was largelyabout advertising.

“But at the end of the day,the most powerful part ofmarketing, we all know, isword of mouth,” he said.“Where does word of mouthcome from? It comes fromthe experience that the visi-tor has in the Bahamas. It isthe most powerful form ofmarketing.”

What the Ministry ofTourism and Aviation hasdone in terms of improvingvisitor experience is remark-able, though largely unpubli-cised, the minister said.

“We have spent more mon-ey than ever before in historymaking sure we get the visi-tor’s experience right asopposed to spending moneyoverseas (on advertising) tokeep talking about the wholething over and over again,”he said.

“Because in today’s world,you can’t fool people any-more. There is something thathappened that made word ofmouth more powerful andmore important than everbefore. Do you know whatthat thing is? It is the inter-net.”

Mr Vanderpool-Wallacepointed out that marketingprofessionals have coined theterm “digital word of mouth”to describe a powerful formof internet marketing. Theterm refers to the commentspeople post online about theirexperiences with a product orservice. People often postsuch comments after a vaca-tion.

“The problem now in ourday is that when someonegoes to the computer and putsthat phrase or that feeling inabout their experience in theBahamas, it is there perma-nently,” he said. “So it is moreimportant than ever before,and that is why you see usinvesting so much more andmaking sure the experienceis right. I’m delighted to tellyou that it has been gettingbetter.”

Mr Vanderpool-Wallacelauded two long-standingMinistry of Tourism pro-grammes for their impact onvisitor experience – Bahama-Host and People to People.

He pointed out that theseprogrammes – which he wasinvolved with from the begin-ning – are particularly valu-able because of the focus theybring to improving how guestsexperienced the country.

The minister reported thatsince 2005, visitor surveyshave been reaping more pos-itive results.

It was people like theBahamaHost graduates whomade all the differencebecause they engaged guestson a personal level, he said.

“The most important peo-ple in the Bahamas tourismsector are the people whotouch the visitor directly,”Minister Vanderpool-Wallacesaid. “We don’t seem tounderstand that many times.”

He said the ministry has

adopted a purpose statementthat calls for all staff to iden-tify and attract visitors whocan significantly enrich thepeople and economy of the

Bahamas and then deliver thekinds of experiences thatcompel them to tell theirfriends and relatives that it isbetter in the Bahamas.

LOCAL NEWS


MINISTER OF TOURISM and Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, supported by his industry training team,addresses BahamaHost graduates.

Targeting the tourist

THE school pick-up trafficjam on East Bay Street took ajolly turn last week as SantaClaus ‘Ho Ho Ho-ed’ to allthe passing children.

Santa was assisting with thelaunch of the Bahamas Real-ty Holiday Home Showcasefeaturing with thousands ofdollars in prizes, the compa-ny’s Christmas Gift to theisland.

The competition began lastFriday, when the Christmaslights went on at BahamasRealty.

Entry forms are availableat Bahamas Realty on EastBay Street; on Bahamas Real-ty’s Facebook page; atBuilder’s Mall stores on WulffRoad; Jolly Roger Paint Sup-pliers on Shirley Street; andAG Electric on JeromeAvenue.

Entries close on December19 at 4pm.

Santa is also making guestappearances on “BahamasRealty Now” on Mondaysand Thursdays in December,according to show host SaraParker, a broker at BahamasRealty.

Photo: Andrea Brownrigg

LOCAL NEWS


SANTA BRINGSSMILES TO THESCHOOL RUN

Share your newsThe Tribune wants to hear

from people who are makingnews in their neighbourhoods.

Perhaps you are raisingfunds for a good cause,campaigning forimprovements in the area orhave won an award.

If so, call us on 322-1986and share your story.

According to police, duringtheir search they uncoveredseven pounds of suspectedmarijuana and an unlicensedDesert Eagle .44 magnum pis-tol with six rounds of .44ammunition.

Prosecution also told thecourt of a “large quantity”

of US currency that wasfound during the search,which they believe are pro-ceeds from criminal con-duct.

On December 12, Donaldwas arrested for questioningby Grand Bahama police. Theprosecution claims that dur-ing questioning, he admittedto living in the residence

where the weapons, drugs,and money were allegedlyfound.

His father, Dieudonne, waslater found and also arrestedin connection with the inci-dent.

The pair were chargedwith possession of an unli-censed firearm, possessionof ammunition without

proper certification, and pos-session of drugs with intentto supply.

Dieudonne pleaded guiltyto all counts while MagistratePratt allowed a short recessin order for Donald to “prop-erly” consult with his attor-ney.

After the break, Donaldpleaded not guilty to all

counts.The court will meet again,

today, at 1.30pm for sentenc-ing, after Magistrate Pratt

allowed more time for “pros-ecution to do proper crimi-nal checks of pending mat-ters.”

LOCAL NEWS


Bail denied for Haitianffrroomm ppaaggee oonnee

runs through that area whichcarries waste, and the smellis horrible. It is really strongin the customs area and itflows over into immigration.

“So from what I know, themen arrived to work and the

smell was so overbearing theywalked outside to catch them-selves.

“They were out there for alittle over an hour before arepresentative, I’m assumingfrom the Nassau AirportDevelopment Company,came in and directed the

pipeline outside the building.When the problem was fixed,the men returned to work. It’sa health issue, so they acted ina way that was constitutionaland sanitary. They did whatany responsible person wouldhave.”

Shonalee Johnson,

spokesman for NAD, said asfar as she is aware there wasno issue with customs yester-day. Ms Johnson said the areawas temporarily closed for“maintenance.”

“The area shut downaround 8.31am for mainte-nance and everyone was back

at their posts by 9.20am.There was no impact on flightsor anything because the firstflight was scheduled for 9.30and by then things were upand running,” she said.

This latest incident is justone of many customs andimmigration officers have hadwith management in the lastfew months.

Last month, 200 staff stageda protest outside their admin-istrative complex on Thomp-son Boulevard after theyclaimed their concerns werenot being heard.

Among those concernswere: staff members not beingpaid hazard allowances whereworkers suffer from dusty

substances; staff not beingconfirmed after years of workwithout any credible or legalreason; persons being disci-plined for lateness while theyshould not be as it is definedas more than four times percalendar month. Such actionhas resulted in employees notbeing confirmed or promot-ed; employees shift premiums,call allowances or overtimenot paid appropriately; reim-bursements for courses ofstudy outstanding.

Mr Smith said he believesthe government has a “per-sonal vendetta” with customsand immigration because theyrefuse to give them basicnecessities.

LOCAL NEWS


Customs staff stage walkoutffrroomm ppaaggee oonnee

The officers in the customs andimmigration reported the odour tomanagement a few months agoand nothing happened.

Sloane Smith, Bahamas Customs Immi-gration and Allied Workers Union

LOCAL NEWS


“The men seemed to befine. They were dehydrated,but I was told they were givenfood and water. The familiesare thankful to the Bahamasfor all the prayers and efforts.They feel relieved becausethese past few nights havebeen terrible for them. They

can rest their heads nowknowing their loved ones aresafe.”

The fishermen, who all livein Mangrove Cay, Andros,were reported missing by rel-atives on Saturday at 11.20am.

According to family mem-bers, the men were aboardthe Tropic Explorer.

The vessel was left near the

Fish Cays when the four menboarded two dinghies – twoin each dinghy – and headedin a west southwest direction.However, when they were dis-covered all four were in onedinghy.

It is not certain what hap-pened to them nor why theydid not return to the TropicExplorer.

expected to face charges as aresult of the police investiga-tion into allegations of cor-ruption.

On Tuesday, Mr Bell urgedthe government to give a fullaccount of the police investi-gation into the allegations

made against the Ministry ofHousing, and any further find-ings.

“There is obviously politicalinterference and political influ-ence going on with this admin-istration. There is no questionabout it,” Mr Bell said.

He added: “I don’t knowof no case in the history of

the Bahamas where it took awhole team of officers fiveyears to investigate – not evenSir Harry Oakes’ murder.”

Earlier this week, Mr Bellconfirmed he has offered him-self up for candidacy in thenext general election. How-ever, he said the PLP has notyet made a decision.

ffrroomm ppaaggee oonnee

ffrroomm ppaaggee oonnee

MINISTER ACCUSESBELL OF PLP LINK

FISHERMEN ALIVE AFTER FIVE DAYS ADRIFT

MINISTER for NationalSecurity Tommy Turn-quest says that formerinvestigator Keith Bell isand always has been a“political operative” forthe PLP

By NEIL HARTNELLTribune Business Editor

BAHAMIAN exports to the USdeclined by 6.4 per cent year-over-yearto $691.3 million in 2010, falling from$738.3 million the year before, a USCongressional report saying Freeport-based Polymers International’s prod-ucts generated the “second-highestgain” in consumer welfare.

The latest document from the USInternational Trade Commission on theCaribbean Basin Economic RecoveryAct (CBERA) largely blamed thedecline in the value of Bahamianexports to the US last year on falls in thevalue of refined petroleum products.

And, not surprisingly, Bahamianimports from the US increased in dollarvalue by some 31.5 per cent during 2010to $3.2 billion, growth again driven by“increased exports [meaning Bahamasimports] of refined petroleum prod-ucts”.

The Bahamas, in seeing its USimports increase from $2.4 billion in2009 to $3.16 billion last year, account-ed for 17.1 per cent of all Americanexports to CBERA countries. This lat-ter percentage grew by 0.5 percentagepoints year-over-year, from 16.6 percent in 2009, leaving the Bahamas asthe second biggest US importer behindPanama.

The US report said the impact of

trade preferences was negligible for theUS economy, and more beneficial for

BAHAMAS’ EXPORTSTO US DECLINE 6.4%

* But Polymers International’s $95m exports generate ‘secondhighest gain in consumer welfare’ from Caribbean

* FDI into Bahamas fell 25% year-over-year in 2010, saysUS congress report

* Bahamas’ imports from US grow 31.5% to $3.16bn


THE Water & SewerageCorporation’s operating costrecovery rate is projected tofurther decline to the “high60 per cents” range for 2011,its chief financial officer yes-terday saying the impendingproject to overhaul its opera-tions would generate a“huge” $233 million savingfor Bahamian taxpayers.

Sandra Edgecombe effec-tively told Tribune Business that the $81 million Inter-Amer-ican Development Bank (IDB) loan to overhaul the Water &Sewerage Corporation’s operations, and New Providence’swater and sewerage infrastructure, paled into insignificancewhen compared to the potential multi-million dollar savings forthe Government and taxpayer - a net $152 million.

And she added that the phasing-out of water barging fromAndros had generated further “considerable savings” for theWater & Sewerage Corporation, as water produced by BISX-

WATER CORP COST RECOVERYTO FALL TO ‘HIGH 60%S’

* IDB project to generate‘huge’ $233m subsidysavings for Gov’t andtaxpayer

* Subsidies projected to fall from $414m to$181m over 10 years

* Barging end saves $2.80 per 1,000gallons

By NATARIO McKENZIETribune Business [email protected]

CRUISE passenger spendup to the 2011 third quarter isestimated at $137 million, aMinistry of Tourism officialtelling Tribune Business yes-terday that things were“looking positive” headingto the Christmas/New Yearpeak.

Carla Stuart, director ofcruise development at theMinistry of Tourism, told Tri-bune Business yesterday thatup to the third quarter of thisyear the Bahamas received3,320,720 cruise passengers.She estimated a head taxtotal up, to the third quarter

$5.19

$4.97

$5.02

THE TRIBUNE • SECTION B • [email protected] THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011

CHRONOMATBREITLING.COM CHRONOMAT

PURE PERFORMANCE PURE BREITLING


BANK of the Bahamas Internation-al yesterday said it was “building anew business model” focusing on hightransaction volume areas, its managingdirector describing this as “best suited”to counter reduced earnings from lend-ing activities.

Emphasising that the BISX-listed


ROBIN Hood’s principalyesterday pledged that theretailer would “do our bestto recover”, following a bitterbust-up between himself andan investor who, just fivemonths ago, had agreed torecapitalise the business.

Sandy Schaefer confirmedto Tribune Business that he and Bahamian businessman,Hubert Pinder, had parted company over the latter’s allegedfailure to provide promised equity capital in the millions of dol-lars to recapitalise Robin Hood.

Reluctant to say much, Mr Schaefer said their parting waslikely to result in legal action, although he declined to commentfurther. Tribune Business attempted to reach Mr Pinder forcomment prior to press deadline, but the number it had for himjust rang out.

“We are no longer involved together,” Mr Schaefer toldthis newspaper yesterday about his relationship with Mr Pinder.“There are issues we are turning over to the courts and ourattorney.

“It’s such a sticky wicket right now. I can’t comment, otherthan to say our deal was never consummated, because the

BANK BUILDS NEW BUSINESS MODEL

SEE page 8B

SEE page 10B

SEE page 9B

SEE page 6B

SEE page 6B

* Private label credit cards in the works at Bank of Bahamas

* Mario’s Bowling and three other locations targeted foroff-site ABMs

* Looking to ‘redesign liabilities’, plus alter equity ‘composition’in next 24 months

PaulMcWeeney

ROBIN HOODINVESTOR WOE

* Retailer’s principal pledges to ‘do our bestto recover’ followingsplit with Hubert Pinder

* Alleges proposed recapitalisation fundingnever materialised

CRUISE VISITOR SPEND UP TO $137M TO Q3

BUSINESS

PAGE 2B, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011 THE TRIBUNE

By DEIDRE M. BASTIAN

IMAGINE yourself as aconsumer. What is the firstthing that attracts you to aproduct: Expiration date,price or packaging? If youanswered packaging you areabsolutely correct. “DesignPackaging has to grab theconsumers in seconds to cre-ate an emotional connection,”says Jason Kempen, an inter-national creative director.

Would you agree that ashopper has to observe yourproduct before it can bedropped into their cart? Yourproduct must engage theshopper, as they will scan theshelf for three seconds and, ifyour product is not appeal-ing, it is unlikely they will seeit. Remember, books arejudged by their cover.

What is more, most of whatwe purchase comes in a pack-age. For example, toothpaste,tide, beauty supplies, phar-maceuticals and software cov-ers are all around us, espe-cially in magazines, adver-tisements, the Internet andnewspapers, etc.

Great design is innovativeand does not copy existingones, but improves uponthem. I especially like theview of a designer who said:“People see the past, artistssee the present, but designerssee the future”. There is noth-ing new under the sun; weneed only the humility andwisdom to correctly reinventwhat came before us.

Have you ever wonderedwhat Product PackagingDesign does for your prod-uct? It identifies your brand,communicates with con-sumers and distinguishes yourproduct from your competi-tors. Packaging refers to theprocess of design, preserva-tion, evaluation, logistics andproduction of packages. It isalso the science, art and tech-nology of marketing, storage,sale and end use.

Bear in mind that thegreater percentage of all pur-chasing decisions are madein-store, and packaging designmust take priority and makeall the difference at the pointof sale, as this is where theproduct either dies or lives bymaking it into the shoppingcart.

Throughout the years,design packaging has evolvedfrom an information tool toan identifying tool, and is aspecialised area for graphicdesigners. It involves the visu-al elements of design, andtakes into account how peoplethink and act when shopping.It also helps businesses toopen doors that weren't openbefore.

If designers aim to be suc-cessful when launching pack-aging ideas, it is essential forthem to keep abreast ofevolving trends. It is alsonoteworthy that industry spe-cialists have moved towardspackaging designs that areunambiguous, concise andtimeless.

In every product category,from elegant wine and spiritsto perfumes and apparel,packaging is truly an emo-tional experience as opposedto a functional one. I knowthis because, if the productpackaging doesn’t reach outand instantly connect with theconsumer, you know whathappens? Yes, check mate;the game is over.

Sounds crazy, but it is true.When facing the task of cre-ating new packages, it isimportant to consider how theconsumer’s mind manages theintense overload while brows-ing the aisles. Here is a snap-shot: The mind filters withamazing speed. Then some-

thing catches it, holding itlong enough for the brain toregister and connect with theheart. This is time packaginghas to make a sale, and winon the shelves.

It is important to under-stand the ‘lingo’ of packagingdesign, as marketing is whereeverything begins. A monthago, I was asked during aninterview what my true pas-sion was. I could only confessthat marketing was my firstlove, followed by graphicdesign.

Drawing on both wasadvantageous and got me offto a great start. I was privi-leged to amalgamate bothperspectives (marketing andgraphics) and methodicallyanalyse designs. More signif-icantly, you must exploit anduse passion, and infuse yourlanguage to speak to sub-scribers.

To do this, be brutally hon-est with your approach, as ahandful of words with anattractive design can possiblydouble sales. Also, if you arebrave enough to ask, I mighttell you that fire is what cus-tomers follow, and lucid pack-aging is one of the things thatwill help a successful business.

I particularly love ‘artistic’labels, but packaging is inef-fective if all you are selling isbeauty. Design packaging isreally about communicationsand building a relationshipwith your consumers. Imagessuch as cartoons or picturescan be included on the pack-aging designs as well.

To avoid confusion, try notto paste an image of a dog ifyou are making a packagingdesign for hot dogs. Thismight mislead consumers intobelieving it is dog food, or thehot dog is made of dog meat.

Designs should be honestand transparent, easily under-stood and not hide defects orweaknesses. Clearly, an hon-est label does not claim fea-tures it does not have. I recallsometime ago designing a lineof labels for a client who ranout of promotional and per-formance ideas for theirlabels, and shamelessly I wasasked to “be inventive”. (Becareful of labels).

To this end, ask yourself if

HOW TO ACHIEVE ACOMPLETE PACKAGE

THE ART OFGRAPHIXBY DEIDRE M BASTIAN

SEE page 10B

BUSINESS

THE TRIBUNE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011, PAGE 3B

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The successful applicant must: • Have a minimum of fi ve (5) years as a member of the Bahamas Bar Association and experience in commercial and corporate practice in The Bahamas.• Have a proven track record on “problem solving” skills in regards to working with multiple stake holders.• Have the ability to draft and review documentation in connection with complex commercial, and other transactions.• Have the ability to draft and negotiate vendor contracts, consulting, commercial, and service agreements.• Ability to provide labour law advice. Formulate, interpret, and ad minister labour policies/practices that are in compliance with Bahamian law. To be able to represent the Company (directly/ indirectly) in labor litigation/disputes.• Have the ability to negotiate and draft agreements required for marketing and promotional activities. Advise on compliance with laws and regulations governing promotional activities and marketing. Review of marketing materials, including websites, marketing campaigns, press releases and social media.• Experience in working with a variety of Bahamian Government entities.• Be familiar with US and other international commercial transactions.• Have the ability to work under pressure within tight timelines.• Possess exceptional communication (written and oral) and negotiating skills.• Ability to work with the senior management team on a multitude of business issues.

Successful candidate will report to Baha Mar’s General Counsel and work with other members of Baha Mar’s legal team.

Please forward the following information along with salary requirements via email to [email protected] no later than December 22, 2011.• Cover Letter;• Curriculum Vitae;• Writing Sample – on any Commercial Legal topic (non property related), to be at least fi ve (5) pages in length and double spaced; and• Two (2) References.

All responses will be held in the strictest confi dence. Only short listed ap-plicants will be contacted and Baha Mar Ltd. reserves the right to consider all applicant’s with comparable qualifi cations, in its absolute discretion.

By NATARIO McKENZIETribune Business [email protected]

ATLANTIS is running at 90 per centoccupancy levels for Christmas and intothe New Year a Kerzner Internationalexecutive said yesterday, telling TribuneBusiness that occupancy levels for thewinter season were up 7 to 8 per cent overlast year.

The resort is also projecting significantgrowth in group business in 2012, Kerzn-er International spokesman Ed Fieldssaid.

He told Tribune Business: “Christmas

and New Year travel is strong again thisyear, and we will run approximately 90 percent for the total resort. Certain towerslike Cove and Reef have been full formonths.”

“Next Year we expect growth again,with stronger group business up 10 to 15per cent.”

Atlantis executives said earlier this

month that the resort expected to finishthe year up 33 per cent over 2010 in termsof group business. Group travel is an inte-gral part of Atlantis’ success, with groupsand conventions accounting for a signifi-cant percentage of the resort’s total busi-ness.

Mr Fields also told Tribune Business:“Our winter season looks good with occu-pancies up 7 to 8 per cent over the previ-ous year.”

In late October, Atlantis launched its'Winter Mega Sale' promotion to helpboost occupancy levels during the wintermonths. The resort advertised room ratesat all five towers within the Atlantis resortby a discount of as much as 60 per cent.

* Winter season projected up 7-8% over 2010

* Projecting 2012 group business up 10-15%

ATLANTIS TARGETS90% CHRISTMASOCCUPANCY LEVEL

BUSINESS


ROYAL Bank of Canada and RBC FINCOhave held their customer appreciation night inGrand Bahama at the Grand Lucayan Resort.

“Our employees continue to set Royal Bankapart by putting our clients first, and bydemonstrating integrity in their actions everyday. Our ability to do the right things for ourclients, our communities and each other willcontinue to drive our success,” said NathanielBeneby, RBC Royal Bank’s market head.

“Our commitment to our clients has beenthe cornerstone of our success. We pledge ourcontinued support as you create the lives andcommunity you wish for in Grand Bahama.”

Joining Mr Beneby was a strong contingentof RBC and FINCO management includingGeorge Roache, market head, business bank-ing; Tanya McCartney, area vice-president,RBC Finco; Michael Munnings, area vice-pres-ident, New Providence; Brian Knowles, senioraccount manager, business banking; and JanKnowles, manager, public relations and com-munications.

An RBC client, Sarah Rolle, co-owner ofOcean Motion Water sports, said:“My hus-band and I have banked with RBC for manyyears, but recently we have had more com-munications and support from them. Brian

Knowles, RBC senior account manager inbusiness banking, has been wonderful to workwith. He discusses with us areas that they canhelp us with and understands the rises andfalls of our business flow. I look forward tomeeting him tonight and thanking him for hisassistance.”

First-time visitor to the island, David Hack-ett, regional president of business banking forCaribbean banking at RBC, was the mainguest.

He said: “Our Mission ‘to put our strength towork for you’ is not an empty statement. Wecome prepared to meet the future with ourfocus on delivering exceptional service at everyopportunity.”

Mr Hackett described Grand Bahama as“one of our largest markets in the Bahamas,and plays a pivotal role in RBC’s strategicplans for the Northern Caribbean.

“With its first class infrastructure, extensivedeep water harbour, one of the longest airstripsin the Western Hemisphere, excellent telecom-munications and technology, along with anabundance of skilled professionals in a varietyof fields, it stands to reason that GrandBahama is a very important market to RBC interms of future growth potential.”

ROYAL BANK PLEDGESTO STAY CLIENT COURSE

WELCOMING guests at the Royal Bank of Canada Annual Customer Appreciation event in GrandBahama were (left to right) George Roache, RBC and Finco Management; Nathaniel Beneby, Market Headfor RBC Royal Bank Market Head; Tanya McCartney, Area Vice President, RBC Finco; guest Sir Albert Millerand first time visitor to the island David Hackett, Regional President of Business Banking for CaribbeanBanking RBC, who was also the special guest at the event.

LOCAL Grand Bahama business men and women enjoyed a sumptuous buffet while listening to clas-sic Christmas songs by Shelly Carey and Tru Music at the annual RBC Client Appreciation event.

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NEW YORKAssociated Press

A GROWING sense thatEurope's leaders have failedto contain that region's debtcrisis swept through financialmarkets Wednesday.

It started with the eurodropping below $1.30 for thefirst time since January and ajump in borrowing costs forItalian government debt. Bythe end of the trading day theDow had lost 131 points,European stock indexes fellas much as 3 percent and golddropped $76, ending below$1,600 an ounce for the firsttime in more than twomonths.

Investors dumped assetsthat might be seen as risky andpiled into the most conserva-tive ones around: the dollarand U.S. government debt.

The market appears to bein "sell now and ask questionslater mode," said John Canal-ly, investment strategist atLPL Financial.

Since European leadersreached an agreement to reinin future government budgetdeficits last week, investorsand credit rating agencies havecriticized the deal for failingto address current problems."Markets are impatient,"Canally said. "They still can'tsee how all these efforts willget this situation stabilized."

Italy had to pay higher bor-rowing rates in its last bondauction of the year Wednes-day. The euro zone's third-largest economy paid 6.47 per-cent interest to borrow euro3billion ($3.95 billion) for fiveyears, up from 6.30 percentjust a month ago. The higherrates make it more expensivefor Italy to borrow money andreflect rising doubts that thecountry will be able to repayits debts.

The Dow Jones industrialaverage fell 131.46 points, or1.1 percent, to close at11,823.48. Caterpillar Inc. fell4.4 percent, the worst dropamong the 30 stocks in theDow.

Canally said the fear thatanother bank failure will leadto a financial crisis likeLehman Brothers did in 2008overshadows everything else,he said. Markets are so jitterynow that traders see a slightdrop in the euro or a smallrise in Italian governmentbond yields as a step toward awider collapse.

The Standard & Poor's 500index fell 13.91 points, or 1.1percent, to 1,211.82. The Nas-daq fell 39.96, or 1.6 percentto 2,539.31.

Gold dropped 4.6 percentto settle at $1,586, the lowestclosing price since July. Com-modity prices tend to fall

when the dollar gains strength,since a stronger dollar makesit more expensive for investorsusing other currencies to buycommodities, which are pricedin dollars.

The yield on the 10-yearTreasury note dropped to 1.91percent from 1.96 percent lateTuesday as demand increasedfor ultrasafe assets. Highdemand for U.S. governmentdebt helped the governmentsell $13 billion in 30-yearbonds at a record low rate of2.92 percent. In a note toclients, strategists at Nomurasaid "the insatiable appetite"for Treasurys at such lowyields implies that bond buyersare readying themselves for"the end-of-the-euro-trade."

CROSS & Mosko RealEstate and DevelopmentCompany (Cross & Mosko)has been formed as a realestate sales, appraisals anddevelopment business. Theprincipals, Jim Mosko andKevin Cross, have knowneach other for 20 years anddecided to work together inpartnership.

Mr Mosko, president ofthe Mosko Group of Com-panies, has been involved inreal estate transactions formore than 20 years. As alicensed broker, his primaryrole in Cross & Mosko willbe to identify and executeupmarket real estate salesand development transac-

tions. Mr. Mosko said: “I’m

pleased to be moving for-ward with this new venturewith Kevin at the helm. I’veknown and trusted him foryears, and this adds a realestate company to the rangeof businesses we now havein the Mosko family of com-panies.”

Mr Cross has beeninvolved in real estate for 20years, and served on theboard of the Bahamas RealEstate Association (BREA)for three years. He is aBREA licensed broker and

appraiser, specialising in highvalue property sales, partic-ularly in private islands andoften in conjunction with hisexclusive affiliate, PrivateIslands Inc.

Mr Cross also has a pro-fessional appraisal practice,serving leading banks, insur-ance companies, attorneysand other clients in theBahamas and elsewhere. Hequalified as an appraiser in1997.

Mr. Cross said: “Jim and Ihave worked together in thepast, and I have alwaysenjoyed his honest and no

nonsense way of doing busi-ness. I gained a lot of valu-able experience in the last 10years with Bahamas Realty,but the chance of working asan equal partner with some-one of Jim’s stature, backedby the business infrastruc-ture of the Mosko Group,was an opportunity too goodto miss.”

Cross & Mosko is exclu-sively affiliated with theMosko Group and with Pri-vate Islands Online. It islocated at Lyford Cay Houseon Western Road just out-side Lyford Cay.

BUSINESS


Mosko forms real estate partnership

STOCKS, EURO SLIDE AS WORRIES ABOUT

EUROPE PERSIST

listed Consolidated Water’sBlue Hills reverse osmosisplant was some $2.80 cheaperper 1,000 gallons.

The urgent need to stem thebleeding at the Water & Sew-erage Corporation, whichmanifests itself in annual tax-payer subsidies of $20-$30 mil-lion, was further highlightedby the fact its operating costrecovery rate is projected tofall further than last year’s“unacceptably low” 79 percent in 2011.

“It’s projected to declinefurther for 2o11,” Ms Edge-combe told Tribune Business,saying it “it’s projected to bein the high 60s”. Given that

this ratio measures how muchof the Water & Sewerage Cor-poration’s costs are coveredby its revenues, the projectionindicates that almost one-thirdof its 2011 expenses will notbe met by income streams.

Asked about the likelyimpact of the proposed IDBfinancing for the Water &Sewerage Corporation’sfuture financial health and sus-tainability, Ms Edgecombesaid simply: “Huge. I think thebest illustration of that is weproject that, if nothing is doneover the next 10 years, theGovernment will be calledupon to provide subsidies inthe order of $414 million.

“If something is done withnon-revenue water reduction,

the tariff calculation occurringunder an economic regulator,and also with the organisa-tional restructuring and pur-chase of some additional tech-nology, we expect that amountto be $181 million over thenext 10 years.

“In exchange for $81 mil-lion, we will see savings in theamount of $233 million, interms of the amount the Gov-ernment has to pitch in. It’shuge for us, and huge for theGovernment and the taxpay-er. We’ve known for sometime that we need to findsome form of financing toaddress these issues.”

Further savings, the Water& Sewerage Corporation chieffinancial officer said, wouldcome via the end of bargingfrom Andros and the simul-taneous expansion of the BlueHills reverse osmosis plant.

“The barging costs us morein the order of $9 per 1,000gallons, and with the BlueHills reverse osmosis expan-sion, the average cost is $6.20per 1,000 gallons, so that’s aconsiderable savings on threemillion gallons per day,” MsEdgecombe told TribuneBusiness.

The structure of the con-tract to slash the Water &Sewerage Corporation’s non-revenue water losses byaround 50 per cent, coupledwith mains improvements car-ried out as part of the NewProvidence Road Improve-ment Project and Airport

Gateway project, should leaveNew Providence’s water andsewerage infrastructure in“good shape” for years tocome, Ms Edgecombe added.

“Once the non-revenuewater has been brought undercontrol, and reduced by 2.5million gallons per day, thathas to be maintained for fiveyears,” she explained, “dur-ing which time capital invest-ment will be made by the con-tractor to maintain that level.Then there will be the han-dover to the Corporation, andthe infrastructure should bein good shape.”

Together with the improve-ments related to other pro-jects, Ms Edgecombe added:“All of these things are goinga long way to improving car-rying capacity, and increasingcustomer satisfaction becausethey have more - and betterquality - water.

“All these things pave theway for a customer win back,very much so. We do hopethat beginning in 2012, goinginto 2013, we will see someimprovement in operations.We look forward to startingin the New Year.”

While unable to specify howmany Water & Sewerage Cor-poration customers are cur-rently disconnected, Ms Edge-combe said accounts receiv-ables were having “to be man-aged very carefully”, and thatcustomer non-payment had“been a bit of struggle since2008”.

BUSINESS


KINGSWAY ACADEMY

ELEMENTARY ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS

Entrance Examinations for all Elementary grade levels:-

K3 – January 14, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m.(must be 3 years old by October 31, 2012)

K4 – February 3 & 17, 2012times are scheduled throughout the day

(must be 4 years old by December 31, 2012)

K5 – March 3, 2012times are scheduled throughout the day

(must be 5 years old by December 31, 2012)

Grades 1 to Grade 6 Saturday, March 3, 2012.9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Parents are asked to collect application forms between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily from the Elementary Desk in the Herbert L. Treco Administration Building on the school’s Bernard Road campus, before the testing date.

Application forms may also be accessed from the school’s website

www.kingswayacademy.com.

APPLY NOWFor further information, kindly contact the

school at telephone numbers:- 324 – 5049 or 324 - 2158

NOTICEPAUL MART LIMITED

(IN VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION)

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Section235 (c) Companies Act, that the captionedCompany is in Liquidation, commencingDecember 5, 2011 and that James B. Gomez,4th Floor, Centreville House, P.O. BoxSS-6229, Nassau, The Bahamas is appointedLiquidator.

Dated: December 5, 2011

JAMES B. GOMEZ Liquidator

NOTICEPAUL MART LIMITED

(IN VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION)

Notice is hereby given that the captioned Company is inLiquidation, commencing December 5, 2011. Creditorshaving debts or claims against the Company are requiredto send particulars to James B. Gomez; Liquidator of thecaptioned Company, 4th Floor, Centreville House, P.O. BoxSS-6229, Nassau, The Bahamas and if so required by noticein writing from the Liquidator, come in and prove the saiddebts or claims at such time and place as shall be specifiedin such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excludedfrom any distribution made before such debts are proved orprecluded from objecting to any such distribution.



NOTICESARIO INVESTMENT

PLUS LIMITED(IN VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION)

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Section 133 (1),of the International Business Companies Act 2000 thatthe captioned Company is in Liquidation, commencingDecember 5, 2011 and that James B. Gomez, 4th Floor,Centreville House, P.O. Box SS-6229, Nassau, The Bahamasis appointed Liquidator.



NOTICESARIO INVESTMENT

PLUS LIMITED(IN VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION)

Notice is hereby given that the captioned Company is inLiquidation, commencing December 5, 2011. Creditorshaving debts or claims against the Company are requiredto send particulars to James B. Gomez; Liquidator of thecaptioned Company, 4th Floor, Centreville House, P.O.BoxSS-6229, Nassau, The Bahamas and if so required by noticein writing from the Liquidator, come in and prove the saiddebts or claims at such time and place as shall be specifiedin such notice, or in default thereof, they will be excludedfrom any distribution made before such debts are proved orprecluded from objecting to any such distribution.



of this year, at $59.773 million, and spend at $137.053 million.Ms Stuart told Tribune Business that tourism officials were

extremely pleased with cruise arrivals in Grand Bahama,which recorded as much as a 41.6 per cent growth in the firstquarter.

“One of the things we are pretty pleased with is the growthin Grand Bahama. Grand Bahama has experienced tremen-dous growth with regards to their cruise calls, and that bodeswell for the people in Grand Bahama,” Ms Stuart said.

“Carnival increased the number of calls to Grand Bahamassignificantly, and also there was the injection of BahamasCelebration, which sails there on a regular basis - at leastthree times a week.

“We have seen growth in the first quarter of as much as 41.6per cent. During the second quarter and the third quarterthings levelled out, but during the first quarter they sawtremendous growth in Grand Bahama.”

Ms Stuart said the Bahamas recorded increases in cruisepassenger arrivals this year.

She told Tribune Business: “Based on statistics I have,which is up to October, cruise arrivals have been up. In thefirst quarter of 2011 versus 2010, it increased by 15.3 percent. In the second quarter we saw an overall increase of 6 percent. During the third quarter we saw just a 1.8 per centincrease.

“At the end of August and into September we had somechallenges with the weather, which caused a lot of vessels tobe diverted. Usually in most instances the ships are divertedtowards us, but there were some close calls for us with hurri-canes at the end of August and September, so ships werediverted away from us. Despite that our numbers are stillextremely positive. Thus far for the third quarter, Octoberalready showed a 2 per cent growth. December is usually apeak for us so we expect that to be pretty positive.”

WATER CORP COST RECOVERY TO FALL TO ‘HIGH 60%S’FROM page 1B

CRUISE VISITOR SPEND UP TO $137M TO Q3

FROM page 1B

institution’s development ofelectronic banking and cred-it card processing centrewere integral to this strategy,Paul McWeeney told Tri-bune Business the latter wasalready working with sever-al Bahamian companies onthe development of ‘privatelabel’ credit cards.

Bank of the BahamasInternational, he said, wasshifting away from the tra-ditional focus on ‘bricks andmortar’ branches to the pro-vision of off-site electronicbanking, an AutomaticTeller Machine (ATM)being installed at Mario’sBowling & EntertainmentCentre the latest example ofsuch a strategy.

Disclosing that the bankwould start to outfit itsCarmichael Road branchthis month, with the facilityset to open in four-fivemonths’ time, MrMcWeeney also told Tri-bune Business that Bank ofthe Bahamas Internationalalso planned to exploit thehigh liquidity in the com-

mercial banking system to“redesign” its liabilities,strengthening the balancesheet by reducing costs.

And, in preparations forBasle III’s enhanced capitalrequirements, MrMcWeeney said that while“well fortified”, Bank of theBahamas Internationalwould move in the next 24months to adjust “the com-position” of its $117.187 mil-lion in net equity as at Sep-tember 30, 2011.

Speaking in the wake ofBank of the Bahamas Inter-national unveiling a $1.09million profit for the threemonths to that date, MrMcWeeney told TribuneBusiness that too muchemphasis was being placedon the fact that a $1.231 mil-lion preference share divi-dend payment left ordinaryshareholders with a smallloss for the quarter.

He explained that the div-idend payment, which wasnot made in the first quar-ter of the bank’s previousfinancial year, was a “tim-ing” issue related to whenthe Central Bank of the

Bahamas, under the regula-tor’s new rules, approved thedividend payment.

The Central Bank now hasto pre-approve dividendpayments or any otherchanges to a bank’s capitalbase, and Mr McWeeneysaid: “It’s just a matter ofwhen we submit the requestand get that approved. Evenif we send it in prior to thedue date, we’re at the mercyof the Central Bank.

“We did make a goodprofit. It just happened thatas the timing was different,it went to the preferenceshareholders who take onmore risk. At the end of 12months, the distribution ofearnings will always be equi-table, as it has been for 19years.”

Mr McWeeney said Bankof the Bahamas Interna-tional’s major first quarterachievement lay in produc-ing a profit despite suffer-ing a 75 basis point marginsqueeze on interest income(spreads) as a result of theBahamian Prime rate cutearlier this year.

“Unlike other banks, wehave the customer the ben-efit immediately of thereduction in the Prime rate,”he explained. “That is a 75basis point spread cut off a$600 million-plus loan book.Most of our loans are tiedto Prime, as we have veryfew consumer loans, and ittakes at least six months torecalibrate deposit rates.”

Given that relatively highnon-performing loan levelsand increased provisioning

were likely to be with theBahamian commercialbanking industry for sometime, Bank of the BahamasInternational is continuingmoves to diversify its rev-enue streams.

“We’re focusing a lot onelectronic banking and cred-it card processing over thenext few years, the heavyvolume transaction-typebusinesses, not to mentionAutomated BankingMachines (ABMs).”

The ABMs, being rolledout under the ‘BOBExpress’ moniker, are multi-lingual, being especially tai-lored for areas such asCarmichael with “large pop-ulations and different cul-tures”. Through enhancedfunctions and being moreconsumer friendly, MrMcWeeney said theseABMs would help to“extend the banking mar-ket” and provide year-round, 24/7 service.

“Some of the new offsitelocations are pretty stand-out and competitive,” MrMcWeeney said of the off-site ABM spots. Apart fromlocations at Phil’s Food Ser-vices, the Lynden PindlingInternational Airport(LPIA) and Mario’s Bowl-ing, Bank of the BahamasInternational had “identi-fied three other off-site loca-tions we’re moving on veryaggressively at this time.

“We’re shying away frombricks and mortar, andputting more emphasis onelectronic banking destina-tions, being a lot more lean,flexible and accessible,” themanaging director added.

Bank of the BahamasInternational is also moving

on its credit card processingplatform. “We’re meetingwith the people from Visa,who are in town right now,looking at how we’re goingto roll-out new products inthe New Year,” MrMcWeeney told TribuneBusiness.

“We’ve tied down part-nerships throughout theworld as to how we moveforward with that....... We’reone of the few banks in theregion, possibly there’s onlyone other, that has its owncredit card processing facil-ity.

“We’re working with sev-eral local companies to sup-port the issuance of privatelabel credit cards. We canstart doing private labelcredit cards for customers.We’re going to roll-out awhole candy shop of prod-ucts for customers.

“Credit is down. We knowwe’re going to be in thisstate for several years, butare going to concentrate onbuilding a new businessmodel.”

Mr McWeeney explainedBank of the Bahamas Inter-national’s new philosophyand business model in thecontext of the global reces-sion, and its likely medium-term impact on the Bahami-an banking market andeconomy.

“Things will never be asthey were,” he told TribuneBusiness. “We keep lookingto the past for the future,but we need to create thefuture. Here we understandwhat’s not going to happen,and what will happen, andbased on that thinking wecan create a new businessmodel for the bank, which

we are confident is best suit-ed to the evolving financialmarkets and economies.”

Bank of the BahamasInternational is alsso mov-ing to strengthen its balancesheet through capital andliability adjustments.

“We have some plans Idon’t want to disclose at thispoint in time, but with theheightened liquidity we maylook at redesigning some ofthe liability elements of thebalance sheet to assist inreducing costs,” MrMcWeeney said.

“At the same time, theimportant thing is to makeprovisions where appropri-ate. That’s the first line ofdefence against losses, andwe’re exceptionally wellprovisioned.”

On the capital front, MrMcWeeney said Bank of theBahamas International’scombined regulatory capitalwas over 23 per cent, “wellahead of the regulatoryregime”.

“We’re well fortifiedthere,” he added. “WithBasle III, we have to meetthat standard. We know wehave to revisit the composi-tion of the equity in the nearterm, but that’s somethingwe will work on over thenext 24 months.”

Mr McWeeney added thatthe expansion and upgradesto Bank of the BahamasInternational’s Village Roadbranch were almost com-pleted, with the final ele-ments - the three self-servicestations - set to go in bymonth’s end. Village Roadwill be used as the model forupgrades to Bank of theBahamas International’sentire branch network.

BUSINESS


NOTICE is hereby given that RACHEL JOSEPH of P.O.Box SP-61625, East Street South and Juan’s Drive, Nassau, Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationalityand 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 15th day of December, 2011 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

N O T I C E

REICHLICH LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) REICHLICH LIMITED is in voluntarydissolution under the provisions of Section138 (4) of the International BusinessCompanies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said company commencedon the 12th December, 2011when the Articles ofDissolution were submitted to and registered bythe Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company isDizame Consulting SA, Pasea Estate, Road Town,Tortola, BVI

Dated this 14th day of December, A. D. 2011_________________________________

Blue Seas Administration Ltd.Liquidator

N O T I C E

VINAGE LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) VINAGE LIMITED is in voluntarydissolution under the provisions of Section138 (4) of the International BusinessCompanies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said company commencedon the 12th December, 2011when the Articles ofDissolution were submitted to and registered bythe Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company isDizame Consulting SA, Pasea Estate, Road Town,Tortola, BVI

Dated this 14th day of December, A. D. 2011_________________________________

Dizame Cosulting SALiquidator

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTIONOF

STONESTHROW LIMITED

Notice is hereby given that liquidation of theabove company commenced on the 12th dayof December, 2011. Octagon ManagementLimited of Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley& Charlotte Streets, Nassau, The Bahamas hasbeen appointed Liquidator of the Company.

_____________________________________Octagon Management Limited

Liquidator

NOTICE is hereby given that RONEL ST.MILE of CarmichaelRd., Nassau, Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsiblefor Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as acitizenofTheBahamas,and thatanypersonwhoknowsany reasonwhy registration/naturalization should not be granted, should senda written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight daysfrom the 15thday of December, 2011 to the Minister responsible fornationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that APRIL SAWYER of #17 Dick’sPoint, P.O.Box N-1237, Nassau, Bahamas,is applying tothe Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, forregistration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, andthat any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a writtenand signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days fromthe 15th day of December, 2011 to the Minister responsible fornationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that DIANA GEORGE of CarmichaelRd., P.O.Box N-1072, Nassau, Bahamas is applying tothe Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, forregistration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, andthat any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a writtenand signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days fromthe 15th day of December, 2011 to the Minister responsible fornationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that REDMOND JOHN FRASER of#8 Inspiration Rd.,Imperial Park, P.O.Box N-10478, Nassau,Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationalityand Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen ofThe Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason whyregistration/naturalization should not be granted, should send awritten and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight daysfrom the 15thday of December, 2011 to the Minister responsible fornationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF

BEAUTIFUL STEF LTD.

Notice is hereby given that liquidation of the above company commenced on the 9th day of December, 2011. Octagon Management Limited of Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Char-lotte Streets, Nassau, The Bahamas has been ap-pointed Liquidator of the Company.

______________________________________ Octagon Management Limited

Liquidator

BANK BUILDS NEW BUSINESS MODELFROM page 1B

Shareyour

newsThe Tribune wants to hear from peoplewho are making news in theirneighbourhoods. Perhaps you are raisingfunds for a good cause, campaigning forimprovements in the area or have wonan award. If so, call us on 322-1986 andshare your story.

funding never came through.We’re in a fight, and Godknows I’m a fighter.”

Tribune Business under-stands that the relationshipbetween Mr Pinder and MrSchaefer effectively brokedown last week. That repre-sents a remarkable about-turnin just five months, as MrSchaefer – as recently as July18 this year – was extollingthe virtues of Mr Pinder andhis group of Bahamianinvestors, who had agreed tobuy into the then-strugglingretailer.

Confirming that Mr Pin-der’s group was buying a 48per cent stake in Robin Hood,and taking out his formerMiami-based partner, SureshKhilnani, Mr Schaefer saidthen: “It's an all-Bahamiangroup that is buying. We'vesigned the agreement for 48per cent, and I'm waiting forthe money.

“They're substantialinvestors in the Bahamas. Suf-fice it to say, if there's onegood thing coming out of thisin the eyes and minds ofmany, it's that a substantialpart of this retailer is comingback to the Bahamas."

It is unclear what impactthe break-up with Mr Pinderwill have on Robin Hood andits 100-plus employees, espe-cially as they head into theall-important Christmas sea-son for retailers, but MrSchaefer said there were oth-er investors interested in buy-ing into the Tonique WilliamsDarling Highway-based retail-er.

“Clearly, it has a deleteri-ous affect on any businesswhen you’re in negotiationsfor 15 months, and funds arepromised and promised, butnever materialise,” he toldTribune Business.

“This break-up has hap-pened and we are no longertogether, but I am encouragedto find there are other peo-

ple interested in investing inRobin Hood.

“I’m confident we’ll be ableto raise capital to rebuild thecompany in the vision of whatwe wanted. But it’s a terriblysad experience.”

Ever the optimist, MrSchaefer said Robin Hoodwas still looking to re-openits second store on PrinceCharles Drive, which wasclosed months after it opened,once the roadworks stemmingfrom the New ProvidenceRoad Improvement projectcame to fruition.

“We’re going to do our bestto recover,” he promised.“We’ve got some meetingswith some good people in thenext week. We’re hopefulwe’ll be able to open RobinHood 2 in a couple of months,once the roadworks aredone.”

Research by Tribune Busi-ness has revealed that Mr Pin-der is the “chief financial offi-cer” of a Nevada-incorporat-ed company called the Pros-

pero Group, which is listedon the US “pink sheets” over-the-counter market.

The US Securities &Exchange Commission (SEC)initiated administrative pro-ceedings against the ProsperoGroup in October 2010 forfailing to meet its obligationsto file timely annual reportssince December 15, 2009 (itsfinancial year end being inMarch).

In describing the ProsperoGroup, the SEC said it wassupposed to have its mainexecutive offices in NewYork, “but appears to haveits primary place of businessin Nassau, the Bahamas.

“Prospero purports to bean oil and gas company,and/or multi-faceted businessoperation with investments inresort development, malariatreatments and water purifi-cation.”

The Prospero Group,though, did file its annualreport for 2010, with the state-ments signed off by Mr Pin-

der. The company made a$571,182 net loss for the yearto March 31, 2010, comparedto a $46,660 net loss the yearbefore. From its incorpora-tion in July 2002, the Pros-pero Group has lost a collec-

tive $4.446 million.The financial statements

also refer to a company calledCavitation Concepts. Mr Pin-der and this latter entity swaminto Tribune Business’s radarview in 2003, when they were

forced by the Securities Com-mission to withdraw an invest-ment offering seeking to raise$2 million because, by holdinga press conference to publi-cise it, they had made it a“public offering.”

BUSINESS


ROBIN HOOD INVESTOR WOEFROM page 1B

the Bahamas.“The future effects of

increases in imports underCBERA from the Bahamason the US economy are likelyto be minimal, largely becausethe Bahamas is, and is likelyto remain in the near term, avery small supplier to the USmarket,” the report said.

“Foreign direct investmentin the Bahamas has largelybeen directed into the coun-try’s tourism and financialservices sectors. Foreigndirect investment in theBahamas was $499 million in2010, down from $839 millionin 2008. Little of that wasreported to have been direct-ed to the production ofCBERA-eligible goods.”

Foreign direct investmentinto the Bahamas in 2010 wasalmost 25 per cent down onthe $664 received during2009, and 40.5 per centbehind 2008 levels. That,though, should pick up for2011 due to the $2.6 billionBaha Mar project.

When it came to PolymersInternational’s polystyreneproducts, the US report saidthey saw an increase in Cus-toms value of 1.6 per centyear-over-year in 2010, com-pared to a 30.7 per cent fall in

2009. The quantity of US imports

of Polymers’ GsrandBahama-made productsdropped by 2.5 per cent, areduced rate from 2009’s 12.5per cent decline, but theirunit value staged a 4.1 percent recovery last year. In2009, the unit value of Poly-mers’ exports fell 20.8 percent.

“In 2010, US imports underCBERA of expandable poly-styrene in primary formsaccounted for 59.4 per centof total US imports of othermining and manufacturingproducts under CBERA,”the US report added.

“The Bahamas was theonly source of US imports ofthis product. US imports ofexpandable polystyrene inprimary form increased 1.6per cent in 2010 to $95.4 mil-lion, after a 30.7 per centdecline in 2009. The decreasein these imports in 2009 to$93.9 million involveddeclines in unit value, whichfell 20.9 per cent, and volume,which fell 12.5 per cent.”

And it added: “Polystyrenefrom the Bahamas providedthe second-largest gain inconsumer surplus ($5.4-$5.7million). Without CBERA,

the import price of poly-styrene would have been asmuch as 6 per cent higher.”

As a percentage of totalCaribbean exports to the USunder the CBERA, theBahamas’ share fell by onepercentage point, from 7.8per cent to 6.8 per cent.

“The Bahamas accountedfor 6.8 per cent of the valueof US imports from CBERAcountries. About one-half ofthese imports consisted ofrefined petroleum products,”the US report said.

“US imports from theBahamas increased by 23.9per cent in 2009 to $738 mil-lion, and decreased 6.4 percent to $691 million in 2010,almost exclusively because ofthe changes in the value ofimports of refined petroleumproducts.”

Bahamian exports for USconsumption, likely crawfish,rose by 2.5 per cent year-over-year in 2010, hitting $99million compared to $96.5million the year before.

Bahamian exports for con-sumption accounted for 3.4per cent of the total exportedby Caribbean countries underthe CBERA, a 0.7 percent-age point fall compared to2009’s 4.1 per cent.

your packaging is just a chunkof colourful noise or other-wise. Take the time to learnabout your ideal target andthen communicate effectively.Getting your concept right isthe most important part of theprocess, and will help yoursales.

If the sales of your productare important to your profits,you should not "compromise"on your design, as it is notgood business sense to investin packaging if it is evident itwould not be competitive.Take the time to make a goodchoice and do it right. So untilwe meet again, have fun,enjoy life and stay on top ofyour game.

• NB: The columnist wel-comes feedback [email protected]

About the Columnist: MsBastian is an extensivelytrained graphic designer whohas qualifications of M.Sc.,B.Sc., A.Sc. She has trainedat institutions such as: MiamiLakes Technical Centre, Suc-cess Training College, Col-lege of the Bahamas, NovaSoutheastern University,Learning Tree International,Langevine International andSynergy Bahamas.

READER FEEDBACK

Hi Ms Bastian:I really appreciate the

advice you render to us youngand up-coming business indi-viduals. The informative arti-cles are always invaluable,

and I loved the article youposted in The Tribune in ref-erence to personalities, Orig-inality comes with Personality.To me it gave us readers anew way to put our businessplans/outlook in perspective.

It helps us to figure out:"What impressions we wantto give our customers?", andoffers more detail to theapproach of our customersand whether we wish toremain lazy, brainy, a show-off, enduring, or ingenious,etc.

But like your signature linesays at the end of every arti-cle: “Until we meet again,have fun, enjoy life and stayon top of your game." Youmake it so much easier for usto do all of that. Again,thanks for your invaluablegraphic and business advicebecause evidently it keeps uson top of our game!

Ms. Shoron MillerC.O.B StudentNassau, Bahamas

Hi Dee: I like the article (Design-

ers Personalities), very inter-esting. Good job Dee!

Regards, Jaymes “Jay” DarlingNassau, Bahamas

BUSINESS


COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS 2010

IN THE SUPREME COURT No. 376

Equity Side

IN THE MATTER OF ALL THAT piece parcel or lot of land contain-ing 7,467 sq. ft. situate on the northern side of Northeast side by land said to be Jeffrey Russell and on the Southeast by Jumbay Street and about 92 ft west of Windsor Place Drive and on the Southwest by land said to be Roy Burrows and on the Northwest by land said to be the estate of Ben Darville in Nassau Village in the Eastern District of the Island of New Providence in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas

AND

IN THE MATTER of the Quieting Titles Act, 1959

AND

IN THE MATTER of the Petition of Daniel Ritchie, Jr.

NOTICE

The Petition of Daniel Ritchie Jr. in respect of ALL THAT piece parcel of lot of land containing 7,467 sq. ft. situate on the northern side of Jumbay Street and being about 92 feet west of Windsor Place Drive in the subdivision of Nassau Village in the Eastern District of the island of New Providence in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas which said piece parcel or lot of land is bounded on the NORTHWEST jointly by Lots Numbers 32 and 33 of Windsor Place and running thereon

-

by land the property of one Jeffrey Russell and running thereon One

the SOUTHEAST by Jumbay Street and running thereon Fifty-six and

the property of one Roy Burrows and running thereon One Hundred

parcel or lot of land has a duplex apartment building and a store room thereon which said piece parcel or lot of land is more particularly de-

5247 N.P. and thereon coloured Pink.

owner of the fee simple estate in possession of ALL THAT piece parcel or lot of land hereinbefore described and the Petitioner has made ap-plication to the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas under Section 3 of the Quieting Titles Act, 1959, to have its title to

during normal working hour at:-

-can Building, Marlborough Street, Nassau, N.P. Bahamas; or

Building, Bay Street and Victoria Avenue, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that any person having dower or right to dower or any adverse claim or claim not recognized in the Petition

in the Registry of the Supreme Court and serve on the Petitioner or the undersigned a statement of such claim in the prescribed form and veri-

J HALL & ASSOCIATES,Chambers,Malcolm Building,Bay Street & Victoria Ave.,Nassau, Bahamas.

Attorneys for the Petitioner

Job OpportunityHotel Chief Maintenance Engineer

The Chief Maintenance Engineer is responsible for maintaining the overall operation of the maintenance department and the appearance and working order of the hotel.

The successful candidate must be able to work independently, as well as, with others. Responsibilities include but limited to: maintaining the exterior of the building, parking lot, and common areas, maintaining all equipment in guest rooms, conducting daily, weekly and monthly safety inspections and training the staff on safety and emergency procedures, and working with vendors. The Chief Maintenance Engineer must be willing to respond to emergencies, even if after hours, and work with corporate maintenance on special remodeling projects or capital expenditure needs. This position requires overall maintenance knowledge and trouble shooting ability with skills in painting, HVAC, carpentry, equipment, and tool usage. A minimum of

[email protected]

Our people are ourcompetitive advantage.

At Butterfield, we pride ourselves on being approachable, disciplined and proactive. If you embody these qualities and have the necessary experience, you may be the one we’re looking for.

THE BAHAMAS | BARBADOS | BERMUDA | CAYMAN ISLANDS | GUERNSEY | SWITZERLAND | UNITED KINGDOM

4RUST�/FlCERAn exciting opportunity currently exists for a results oriented self starterwith a record of professional achievements to join a dynamic Trust &Fiduciary team. The successful candidate will report directly to the VicePresident & Head of Trust & Fiduciary Services.

Please apply by 16 December 2011 to:Debbie Higgs, Head of Human Resources, Butterfield Bank (Bahamas) LimitedMontague Sterling Centre, East Bay Street, P.O. Box N-3242, Nassau, BahamasTel (242) 393 [email protected]

www.butterfieldgroup.com

#ORE�2ESPONSIBILITIES��

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management and customer service skills.

The Public is hereby advised that I, RAMONA A. NIXONMUNROE of St.Lucia Cresent, Elizabeth Estates mother ofRAVANNA ELIZABETH SANDS a minor, intends to changehis name to RAVANNA ELIZABETH MUNROE. If there areany objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you maywrite such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.BoxN-742, Nassau, Bahamas, within thirty (30) days after the dateof publication of this notice.

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLLPUBLIC NOTICE

HOW TO ACHIEVE A COMPLETE PACKAGEFROM page 2B

BAHAMAS’ EXPORTS TO US DECLINE 6.4%FROM page 1B

nobody beats the tribune ...ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/uf/00/08/42/49/03175/12-15-2011.pdfthe men –...

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