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WEATHER ! EW N McCOMBO OF THE DAY HIGH 83F TheLATEST NEWS ONTribune WWW.TRIBUNE242.COM LOW 71F SUNNY AND THE PEOPLE’S PAPER PLEASANT BIGGEST AND BEST Volume: 107 No.81 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2011 PRICE – 75¢ (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25) REMEMBERING FREE INSIDE TODAY: KEVA BETHEL: PUZZLES, GAMES AND THANKSGIVING SERVICE LOADS OF FUN IN YOUR SEE PAGE 16 KIDS SCOOP MAGAZINE JUDICIAL REVIEW OF MINISTRY’S DECISION SET TO BE HANDED DOWN ON MONDAY A JUDICIAL review of a decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to BTC workers return a public officer – whose son is receiving nec- essary health care in the United States – to New Providence is set to be handed down on Monday. Lynnith Braynen, a civil servant for 21 years who has been serving as a For- eign Service Officer for the past 11, has filed a judicial review against the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General. According to her affi- in URCA protest davit, Mrs Braynen’s son Tyrone was diagnosed with cerebral palsy spastic diplegia in 2009 at the age Calls for ‘foreign’ of three. Dr Stephen Stricker, an orthopaedic surgeon at Jackson Memo- rial Hospital, and Dr CEO Usman Saadat Roberto Lopez Alberola, a neurologist at the Univer- sity of Miami Hospital, rec- ommended her son begin to ‘leave country’ SEE page six By TANEKA THOMPSON many "coincidental" ties with Tribune Staff Reporter the UK-based telecommunica- [email protected] tions provider. It was recently revealed that BTC workers protested out- Marsha Lewis, a human REPORTS: HAITIAN side of the Utilities Regulation resources consultant to URCA & Competition Authority worked at C&W until 2009. Mr IMMIGRANTS (URCA) calling for "foreign" Saadat left the company in CEO Usman Saadat to "leave 2008. Union leaders also find it APPREHENDED the country" because of his for- worrisome that an IT executive A GROUP of illegal Hait- mer ties with Cable & Wireless. at BTC is also a former employ- ian migrants landed in Exu- The demonstrators, about 30 ee of C&W. ma yesterday, according to to 40 members of BTC's two The two unions also want to reports. unions, carried placards which resume talks to become the col- A Tribune source claimed read "URCA cannot be trust- lective bargaining agent for 50 immigrants were appre- ed" and "URCA got to go." URCA. hended but more were sus- The group marched on the side- "We want to make the public pected to be on the loose. walk outside URCA's East Bay aware of URCA's role in the Police on Exuma con- BTC sale process to Cable & Street office, sang, some waved firmed they were found yes- Bahamian flags and chanted Wireless," said Bahamas Com- munications and Public Man- terday in Bahamas Sound in "Usman got to go." Great Exuma, but officers They demonstrated because agers Union President William Carroll. "We want the Bahami- could not provide further of Mr Saadat's "conflict of inter- details. est" – he is a former C&W an people to put pressure on executive who left the company the government to ask URCA Royal Bahamas Defence in 2008 – said union leaders. to excuse themselves from the Force spokesman Lt Carlton They argued that the regula- process. The process will be Bethel said a full statement tor's scrutiny of the sale will be flawed if URCA stay inside on the incident would be "flawed" due to Mr Saadat's there.” released when all the facts history with the company. Bahamas Communications are known. Union heads want the gov- and Public Officers Union Pres- ernment to create a new inde- ident Bernard Evans echoed pendent body to scrutinise the this statement. FIRST PHASE OF AIRPORT "We have been lamenting for SIGNS OF OUTRAGE: Protesters demonstrating sale of BTC to Cable & Wire- outside of URCA yesterday. less, arguing that employees at SEE page six REDEVELOPMENT OPENED the current regulator have too Tim Clarke/Tribune staff THE first phase of the redevelopment of Lynden Pindling Airport was officially opened last. Disabled parking spot controversy In his keynote speech at UNION READY TO ENTER TALKS ABOUT the ceremony, Prime Minister By NOELLE NICOLLS Hubert Ingraham said the NEW SANDALS INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT Tribune Staff Reporter completion of the US depar- By NATARIO McKENZIE [email protected] tures terminal realises “a long Tribune Staff Reporter deferred national aspiration [email protected] for an attractive, modern and ADVOCATES for the dis- efficient principal air gateway abled are appalled by the to The Bahamas”. EXECUTIVES of the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and response of some motorists Mr Ingraham also Allied Workers Union say they are prepared to enter into to the designation of a new announced that the Cabinet negotiations with Sandals for a new industrial agreement for disabled parking spot at Star- has given its approval for some 500 employees at the resort. bucks, Palmdale. stages two and three of the On the heels of a decision by the London-based Privy Starbucks shares a complex LPIA Terminal Redevelop- Council, BHMAWU President Lynden Taylor said there are with two other businesses, ment Project. several issues the union seeks to have addressed. including ABC Prosthetics & With Phase One of the pro- “One of the main things we intend to address are the Orthotics, a clinic which ject having been completed at salaries and gratuities, and how those are dispersed among caters to physically-challenged an estimated cost of $190.8 clients and offers free services million, the Prime Minister the workers. This has been a secret that has been kept for said he now expects Phase years,” said Mr Taylor. for businesses to detail their SPOT OF BOTHER: Painting the disabled parking spot. handicap spots. The Bahamas Two will cost $138.3 million “Another issue is the working conditions. Another very Foot Centre is also located on and Phase Three, which will important issue is the termination of the folks that followed amputee at ABC Prosthetics. The prosthetics clinic has commence immediately upon the complex. Dwayne Roberts, chief exec- three of its own disabled spots the executive board, and then the mass layoffs they had Owners of the complex the completion of Phase Two, without even consulting the union.” utive officer for Starbucks was in front of the complex. The have asked Starbucks to not available for comment. SEE page six SEE page six remove the spot, according to The owner of the complex SEE page two Erin Brown, volunteer could not be reached. NASSAU AND BAHAMA ISLANDS’ LEADING NEWSPAPER PAGE 2, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2011 THE TRIBUNE LOCAL NEWS Disabled parking spot controversy SITE OF CONTROVERSY: The disabled parking spot. FROM page one She found the entire situa- cause for leg amputations in tion “saddening” and thought the Bahamas. it was the “height of laziness” Ms Brown said blind and newest spot allocated for Star- that propelled some cus- deaf people apply for decals, bucks customers takes the tomers to complain. as well as elderly people. All total number of disabled spots She said the owner of the medically-recognised disabil- to four. complex was looking into the ities make individuals eligible There are ten spots in front matter because she was not to apply for the $30 decal. and a sizable parking lot to entirely comfortable with the The Ministry of Works and the rear. Starbucks has a sign arrangement. Ms Brown said Transport only provides that directs patrons to the one of the problems is the fact handicap detailing for gov- back. that the owners were not ernment buildings. Private “As far as Starbucks cus- informed before the new spot businesses are responsible for tomers are concerned, all of was allocated. detailing their own parking this is their parking. When we “How about telling your lots. painted the spot for them, we employees to park in the back Ms Brown said prior to got a big uproar about it from instead of parking in the ABC Prosthetics taking up some customers. But we get front! How about people start occupancy, the complex was that every day. We get flack taking into consideration all not handicap accessible. She for the three spots we have in consumers, including all dis- said the company financed the our office and we service abled people,” said Ms cost of adjustments to the physically challenged people,” Brown. ramps, and created the initial said Ms Brown. A variety of disabled peo- handicap spots. Ms Brown said she was ple apply to the Bahamas ABC Prosthetics is encour- “very offended” by a driver National Council for Disabil- aging private businesses to who said he disapproved of ity for parking decals. Ms take advantage of their free the designated spots because Brown said a number of peo- service to detail handicap “disabled people don’t drive.” ple in the Bahamas lose limbs spots. to diabetes, motor cycle and Ms Brown said the compa- boating accidents. ny uses amputees to provide According to 2002 census, the service. She said the com- data from the Pan American pany also partners with Cut- Health Organisation, diabetes ting Edge, a carpentry and was the leading cause of hos- construction company, to pital discharge from 1996- install disabled ramps and 2002 in adolescents, ages 10- handrails and other handicap 19, and diabetes is the leading infrastructure. THE TRIBUNE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2011, PAGE 3 LOCAL NEWS ‘Ludicrous’ PLP attacks govt’s suggestion it SPEAKING OUT: Steve McKinney speaks out at Wednesday’s BTC organised anti-BTC sale protest demonstration MASS PROTEST: People throng Rawson Square to demonstrate against the BTC sale. THE PLP has branded as “ludicrous” the governing party’s suggestion that it organised Wednesday’s anti- BTC sale protest in Rawson Square.

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