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

VOL. 31 - NO. 113 75 CENTSTHURSDAY - JULY 11TH, 2019

Governor General and PM enjoy

IndePendence celebratIons

4 Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith and Mrs. Smith (at right in photo) and Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnisand Mrs. Minnis chat as they prepare for an exciting night of events, July 9 at Clifford Park, leading up to the Flag Raising Ceremony on Independence morn-

ing, July 10, 2019 celebrating the 46th Anniversary of Bahamas Independence. (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)

Bishop Calls for Unity

he nation’s prob-lems can only besolved throughunity, according

to Bahamas ChristianCouncil President BishopDelton Fernander, whocalled for The Bahamasto unite, as he believesBahamians have devel-oped a “vicious cycle ofdestroying each other.”“See unity is the only

way we can standBahamas. We got to stop

BY DEANDRE WILLIAMSONJournal Staff Writer

g See page 4... 4 Bishop Delton Fernander

PMPromises$1 MillionArts Fund

Prime Minister Dr.Hubert Minnis announcedplans for the establish-ment of a $1 million artsand cultural fund toensure that Bahamian cul-ture is passed on to futuregenerations.The prime minister

made the announcementduring his televisednational independenceaddress, as The Bahamascelebrates 46 years as an

BY DEANDRE WILLIAMSONJournal Staff Writer

g See page 6...

21 Receive NationalHonours Award

Governor General CASmith, as chancellor ofthe Societies of Honourestablished under theNational Honours Act,2016, in accordance withthe advice of the primeminister, and the NationalHonours AdvisoryCommittee, announcedyesterday the recipientsof the 2019 NationalHonours Award.Companions received

the Order of TheBahamas, which is con-ferred upon any citizen ofThe Bahamas whoachieved outstanding dis-tinction in the countryand gave distinguishedand exemplary service. The Order of The

Bahamas includes threeranks of membership,namely companion, offi-cer, and member.A companion is con-

ferred with the title

BY LEAH COOPERJournal Staff Writer

g See page 4...

4 Rt. Hon. Rev. Dr. PhilipRahming C.B.

4 Mr. Orville "Tommy"Turnquest, C.D.

4 Mr. Frank Watson, C.D.

‘AddGenerators to BusinessPlans,’ Says

D’Aguilar

Minister of TourismDionisio D’Aguilar sug-gested yesterday thatbusiness owners shouldconsider adding standbygenerators to their busi-ness plans.D’Aguilar made this

suggestion while com-menting on the recentstring of load sheddingexercises in the capitaland its possible impact onthe tourism industry.

BY LEAH COOPERJournal Staff Writer

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DPM: Fiscal Consolidation Plan ReasonableDeputy Prime Ministerand Minister of FinancePeter Turnquest yesterday

responded to commentsmade by former Ministerof State for FinanceMichael Halkitis, whoexpressed that the govern-ment’s schedule for

reducing the country’sdeficit is “too aggressive”. Mr. Micheal Halkitis

suggested in a local daily

BY LEAH COOPERJournal Staff Writer

g See page 8...

T

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Thursday - July 11th, 2019

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4 FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas – Governor General His Excellency the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith and Mrs. Smith attended 46th BahamasIndependence Anniversary Celebrations in Grand Bahama on Monday evening, July 8, 2019 at Independence Park. Also in attendance were Prime Minister the MostHon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Peter Turnquest, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs the Hon. Carl Bethel,Minister of Social Services and Urban Development the Hon. Frankie Campbell, and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Darren Henfield – among a number of other

senior officials. BiS Photos/Lisa davis

Pharmachem’s Layoffs Worries WilchcombeFormer West End andBimini MP ObieWilchcombe wantsanswers from the govern-ment in the wake ofPharmachem parting wayswith 32 Bahamians and 11foreigners.As Labour Director

John Pinder has

explained, their contractswere set to expire inDecember.However, Mr.

Wilchcombe said this isdefinitely bad news forGrand Bahama, only fur-ther decreasing moralethere.“They have been sitting

and waiting idly for a longtime and they are veryanxious for things to hap-

pen,” he said.“Now when you see

companies likePharmachem, which issupposed to be developingthis incredible facility,that would play a majorrole in the global commu-nity and then of coursethey now firedBahamians.“However, they are

going to continue their

progress, they claim. Thenof course they say there isgoing to be a delay inopening the plant, so gov-ernment should explainthat.“What does it mean?

Are they taking advantageof the new legislation?The legislation that allowsyou to bring in individualsfrom other countries towork and they can work

without getting work per-mits and all the rest andit’s going to be almostautomatic.“Are we seeing a situa-

tion where they are takingadvantage? The govern-ment should tell theBahamian people no.” According to Mr.

Wilchcombe, havingalready laid off one group,the Grand Bahama

Shipyard is expected tohave another similar exer-cise.“Are we going to see

more of that taking place?Are they taking advantageof the new laws that havebeen passed? If you’retaking advantage of thenew laws, it’s going tohurt Bahamians,” Mr.

BY BERTHONY MCDERMOTTJournal Staff Writer

46th Independence AnniversaryCelebrations in Grand Bahama

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Thursday - July 11th, 2019NationalNEWS

PLAITING OF THE MAYPOLE 

4 Officials and special invited guests watch as youngsters from various primary schools carry out the Plaiting of the Maypole, during the Cultural Show on Monday night, as a part of celebra-tions for the country’s 46th Independence Anniversary.

Man Charged with Montell Heights Shooting The alleged shooter behindthe mass shooting inMontell Heights, on June30, was on Tuesdaycharged with 11 counts offirearm related charges. The shooting which

took place on Ethel Street,Montell Heights earlySunday morning, left 17people injured. According to a police

report, 14 persons wereshot - 10 of the victimswere women and fourminors. The youngestpolice said was a 10-year-

old. Police also confirmedthat there were no fatali-ties. The 26-year-old male,

Jeremiah Andrews, alsoknown as Jeremiah Forbes,of Kendal Avenue,appeared beforeMagistrate Derence Rolle-Davis and was charged

with 11 counts of posses-sion of a firearm withintent to endanger life. It is alleged that on the

date in question, Andrews,being concerned withanother, did have in hispossession a 9 mm pistol,with intent of endangeringthe life of 11 people con-

trary to section 33 of theFirearms Act. Andrews, pleaded not

guilty to all counts and wasdenied bail. However, theMagistrate informed himthat he could apply for bailthrough the SupremeCourt. Andrews was represent-

ed by attorney KrystalRolle.He was subsequently

remanded to the BahamasDepartment of Correctionsuntil September 10, whenhe returns for a VoluntaryBill of Indictment, whichwill fast track his case tothe Supreme Court.

BY LICEC BASTIANJournal Staff Writer

Pharmachem’s Layoffs Worries WilchcombeWilchcombe said. “It goes back to history

because it happenedbefore in Grand Bahama

where we had foreignersfrom Malta working at thehotels and of course theFreeport Act was in placeat the time.“The then Leader of the

Opposition Sir. Lynden

Pindling had to step in andget those people out of thetown.“Are we back to that

now? Are we putting lawsin place that’s repeatinghistory?

That you are movingBahamians on the side,bringing others in, callingthem experts and the nextthing you know you areincreasing unemploymentnumbers and decreasing

our levels of hope and ourlove for our countrybecause that’s what’sgoing on.“People want to leave.

They want to get outbecause they are saying

nothing is happening forme. “ The last unemployment

survey pegged the unem-ployment rate in GrandBahama at nearly 12 per-cent.

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Bishop Calls for Unity

21 Receive National Honours Award

letting these people playtricks with us. It’s timefor us to unite, that wehave to have a mindset ofoneness,” BishopFernander said during hissermon at the 46thIndependence EcumenicalService on Clifford Park. “We’ve got to know

that together we can, withGod’s help, restore this

land. God asked the ques-tion Bahamas, can thesebones live again? Ibelieve in 2019, God isasking that Ezekiel ques-tion and the answer comesback from Ezekiel, ‘OhLord, you know.’”According to Bishop

Fernander, the countryneeds to unite becausesome Bahamians feel thatthey are not innovativeenough to excel in the

country. “It is just that we have

become comfortable indestructive behaviour,” hesaid. “We have a viciouscycle of destroying eachother. In the nationalsense, we’ve allowed our-selves to become discon-nected and scattered. “A single identity ral-

lies in people around acommonality and tran-scends your party, your

skin colour. It transcendswhat all you believe. Thedifferences are minimal-ized when we see our-selves as Bahamians andnot in our camps and inour parties. “Can I tell you that the

success of all is the suc-cess of each of us? Andthe success of each of us,accumulatively lead to thesuccess of all of us. Itreally doesn’t matter

whether you are fromBimini or Inagua or any ofthe islands in between. “You shouldn’t be pre-

ferred because you wearred, yellow or green. Youshouldn’t be the personwho gets the job justbecause you know yourMP. That this is our land,and we ought to live witha sense that anybody, any-time can be great and beused by God.”

According to BishopFernander, Bahamians canonly experience change inthe country if they makeup their minds to getinvolved with God’sprocess.“We have to come out

of our houses and comeout of our tribes and beable to work together tosolve our problems,” hesaid. “God expects all ofus to get involved.”

“Right Honourable”before their name and theplacement of the letters“C.B.” after their name. Receiving this would

be the author of the coun-try’s pledge, the Rt. Hon.Rev. Dr. Philip RahmingC.B. Both the Rt.

Honourable TimothyGibson C.B., the writer ofthe national anthem, andthe Rt. Honourable Rev.

Dr. Hervis Bain, thedesigner of the nation’scoat of arms, will beawarded posthumously. Next up is the Order of

Distinction, which isawarded to persons recog-nized for their exemplaryservice provided to thecountry.The Order of

Distinction also includesthree ranks of member-ship, which are compan-ion, officer, or member. A companion is entitled

to place the letters “C.D.”after their name. An officer is entitled to

place the letters “O.D.”after their name.A member is also enti-

tled to place the letters“D.M.” after their name. THE ORDER OF DIS-TINCTION

Companions:Mr. Frank Watson,•C.D.Mr. Orville "Tommy"•Turnquest, C.D.

Officers:

Mr. Keith Vere Mason•Sr. O.D., LVO, OPM,MBE Dr. Elwood•Donaldson, O.D. Mr. Frank Rolle, O.D.•

Members:Dr. Gail Saunders,•D.M., O.B.E,Mrs. Angela•Missouri Sherman-Peter, D.M.Mr. Godfrey Kelly,•D.M., C.M.G, M.A.,LL.M Mr. Edward "Dud"•

Maynard, D.M.Mrs. Lynn•Holowesko, D.M.,C.B.E, J.P.Mr. Norwood•Rahming, D.M.

THE ORDER OFMERIT

Companions:Reverend Dr. Charles•Saunders, C.M. Bishop Carrington•Pinder, C.M.

The following•have been awarded

this honour posthu-mously:Mr. Edmund Moxey•Sr. C.M.Mr. Louis George•Adams Sr. C.M.

Officers:Reverend J. Carl•Rahming, O.M.

Members:Reverend Charles•Sweeting, M.M.Reverend Oral Rex•Major M.M., A.C.P,B.A., M.Div., Th.M.,D.D. (Hon), J.P.

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Police Patrol during Load Shedding Police are workingwith Bahamas Powerand Light to ensurehigh crime areas areadequately patrolled

during load sheddingexercises.The need for more

police patrol came afterBPL reluctantlyreleased its load shed-ding schedule follow-ing fears that doing so

will lead to a spike incrime in certain com-munities.“In these cases, the

police clearly under-stand their responsibil-ity,” Minister ofNational Security

Marvin Dames said. “They are working

with BPL to ensure thatthey are able to addressany outages, any con-cerns and to ensure toothat they up theirresources in areas that

they would need to.” BPL anticipates load

shedding to continuethroughout the brutalsummer months.The power giant

recently purchased anadditional five

megawatts rental gen-erator that’s expectedhere in the capital nextweek to help with thedemand, according toBPL Public RelationsDirector QuincyParker.

BY BERTHONY MCDERMOTTJournal Staff Writer

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