WEATHER TRY OUR McFLURRY SNICKERS HIGH 90F LATEST NEWS ON WWW.TRIBUNE242.COM LOW 79F The Tribune SUN AND THE PEOPLE’S PAPER CLOUDS BIGGEST AND BEST Volume: 107 No.227 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2011 PRICE – 75¢ (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25) ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 13TH IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS CARTOONISTS PLAN BARRY AND THOMAS ARTS9/ AND1 ENTERTAINMENT1 TRIB INU SECTIONTE C ISEEN SPORTSTO F SECTIONINA EL BISHOP HALL: ‘ACTUAL LIFE’ WOULD BE GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter [email protected] CHANGING the defin- Child dengue fever ition of “life sentence” to refer to the remainder of a convict’s natural life would be a good alterna- tive to capital punishment, according to a religious leader. Bishop Simeon Hall of the New Covenant Baptist Church said the govern- ment’s suggestion of extending the current life sentence of 25 years to cases ‘on the rise’ SEE page nine Symptoms increase and ANGER AS STRAW VENDORS MOVE TO PRINCE GEORGE WHARF STRAW VENDORS line Prince George intensify across the board Wharf yesterday after Hurricane Irene damaged the tent on Bay Street. CLINICAL cases of cises by the Department of Felipé Major/Tribune staff dengue fever in children were Environmental Health have said to be on the rise, accord- no affect on mosquito breed- ing to a local doctor. ing grounds. The physician also told The “Even after fogging,” he Tribune that the symptoms said, “you will still have lar- experienced by persons going vae, so in just a matter of days to the clinics have increased we’re back to square one.” and intensified across the “These mosquitos don’t board. travel more than 100 metres. Health Minister Dr Hubert So if you are bitten in a par- Minnis said that he could not ticular yard, the breeding site confirm or deny reports as is either in that yard or the data from public and private adjoining yard.” facilities had not been fully Three to 15 days after a compiled. However, he not- mosquito bite, an infected ed that dehydration played a person will feel chills, a key role in the severity of the headache, a high fever and disease. pain behind the eyes. Lower The doctor, who spoke on back pain and achy joints are the condition of anonymity, also early symptoms. said: “It has not let up at all. Last year, regional officials We are swamped every day, expressed fears that the and the symptoms that we are dengue fever epidemic in the seeing now are a lot worse Caribbean could be the worst than what we were seeing at outbreak in more than a the start of the outbreak.” decade. Health officials continue to Dengue fever-like cases stress the need for greater have skyrocketed on the cap- AN ARTISAN who town area. "They have an allocat- porary market site on Bay community involvement ital since September, at which sells her wares at Prince "We are paying rent and ed spot. The tent might Street. against the outbreak. time there were only five con- George Wharf is angry at they out there for free," have been destroyed but After the storm passed, Preventative measures are firmed cases of dengue fever straw vendors who have said the artisan, who told if they have a designated vendors moved their wares a critical element in the fight in the Bahamas and another The Tribune to eradicate the disease, said moved to the site since she has to pay site why not go there? It's to the Prince George Dr Minnis, as fogging exer- Hurricane Irene destroyed $50 each day she operates not fair," said the artisan Wharf. SEE page nine their tent on Bay Street. from the site. who did not want to be When asked if govern- The craftmaker com- "Now it looks pathetic, I named. ment would hasten the plained the site is now con- ain' trying to knock them Last Thursday, Hurri- opening of the new straw gested with artisans and and take bread out their cane Irene lashed New market currently under straw vendors, who are all mouths because they have Providence, tore down construction on Bay competing to sell their to make a living too, but trees and utility poles, and Street, Works Minister goods to tourists and locals why don't they go work ripped through portions of milling about the down- under the tent? the tent covering the tem- SEE page nine SANDALS TO CLOSE FOR LESLIE MILLER: BLUE HILLS LABORATORY SCHOOL FOUR WEEKS TO ADDRESS MP AN ‘EASY OPPONENT’ INITIATIVE PUT ON HOLD FORMER Cabinet By NOELLE NICOLLS HURRICANE DAMAGE Minister Leslie Miller Tribune Staff Reporter By TANEKA THOMPSON yesterday branded [email protected] Deputy Chief Reporter Blue Hills MP Sidney [email protected] Collie an "easy" WHEN TG Glover Primary School opponent who he can opens its doors next week, it will do so SANDALS Royal Bahamian resort effortlessly beat in without the addition of the much-touted will close for four weeks to "address the next election. lab school initiative. structural and other damage" sustained Appearing on a The project was expected to “revolu- from Hurricane Irene, according to a radio talk show, Mr tionize” the education system; howev- statement from Chairman Gordon Miller also criticised er, it has been placed on hold by the 'Butch' Stewart. Mr Collie's term in Ministry of Education until further Staff were informed of the impending office so far, claiming notice. closure yesterday afternoon. the MP has done lit- LESLIE MILLER Desmond Bannister, Minister of Edu- The resort's 600 employees were tle to nothing for his cation, was unavailable for comment yes- encouraged to take vacation time or terday. However, in his 2010/2011 budget leave during the temporary closure, The constituency since he was elected in communication, Mr Bannister dedicated Tribune understands. 2007. a significant portion of his speech to Only essential personnel – engineers "He hasn't been in there and made highlighting the initiative. and landscaping staff – will be engaged his presence felt in the last four and a “A laboratory school is a professional during the closure. half years, that's a fact," said the for- development school for teachers, and is SEE page nine SEE page two SEE page nine NASSAU AND BAHAMA ISLANDS’ LEADING NEWSPAPER PAGE 2, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2011 THE TRIBUNE LOCAL NEWS FROM page one mer Blue Hills MP, who lost to Mr Collie in 2007. "The fella who is there LESLIE MILLER: BLUE HILLS MP AN ‘EASY OPPONENT’ He called the attack “vin- Records obtained from fencing of a park in Bozine Cabinet minister’s record in development company over now couldn't show you one tage Leslie Miller” and the the Ministry of Finance Town ($20,000), construc- a previous radio appearance. who had rightful claim to the single thing, he or his wife, remarks “of a desperate show Mr Collie has spent at tion of walking tracks "I would hope that in this land. did in almost five years as man.” least $99,306.25 in his con- ($65,380) and donation of election perhaps her and her Mr Collie hit back by the MP." “I beat him when he was a stituency up to 2010 from computers to various schools husband may go on that bal- claiming that despite own- When contacted for a Cabinet Minister and I was a the allowance provided by ($13,926.25). lot so the people of Blue ing a thriving business right response, Mr Collie said he rookie politician, and I will government. Mr Miller also took aim Hills will have the privilege next to the community, Mr was not surprised by com- beat him again on the basis This money went to resur- at Mr Collie’s wife, who of running both of them out Miller has not hired a single ments. of my record,” the MP said. face a basketball court and commented on the former at the same time and then resident of Bozine Town. they don't have to come “He hasn’t done a thing FORMER MINISTER RECALLS BRUSH WITH DEATH back there,” said Mr Miller for them, and now, after as a guest on the Real Talk four years of building up his Live radio show. business, he has reappeared. "I hope he comes, that'll “I will meet him on the be the easiest win in this ground in Blue Hills and country. I want him and his give him a dose of the same wife on the same ticket.” medicine he got in 2007,” Mr Miller also took his Mr Collie said. political opponent to task During his radio appear- for his work on Bozine ance, Mr Miller also Town. recounted his brush with He said if the Progressive death after thugs robbed Liberal Party is returned to him of gold jewellery dur- power after the next elec- ing an early morning jog. tion, he will advocate that He said the incident has government take over the him concerned for women land in that area and rede- in eastern New Providence velop it. who jog in the early morning "Once we take over the hours, leaving them suscep- reigns of government again tible to attack. it is my intent (for) govern- "My greatest fear is for all ment to take over all the the ladies that walk in Win- land stretching from Blue ton in the mornings. Hill Heights to the end of “Some go as early as 4.30 Bozine and redevelop that or 5 am. entire area because a lot "Something is wrong with needs to be done in Bozine." that picture when Bahami- Residents in Bozine Town ans got to be afraid to even FORMER MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY Leslie Miller is pictured on Monday describing how he was robbed during his early have been involved in dis- run or walk in the streets of morning run in Winton.