C M C M Y K Y K WEATHER TRY OUR DOUBLE FILET-O-FISH HIGH 90F ANY TIME...ANY PLACE, WE’RE #1 LOW 79F The Tribune CLOUDS, SUN, T-STORM BAHAMAS EDITION www.tribune242.com Volume: 105 No.246 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 PRICE – 75¢ (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25) CARS! CARS! LOADS OF JOBS AND E E OBITUARIES D D I I S S N N I CARS! HELP WANTED I and RELIGION CLASSIFIEDS TRADER CLASSIFIEDS TRADER CLASSIFIEDS TRADER IN TODAY’S TRIBUNE Fox Hill gang ‘wars’ prompt Olympics star charged town meeting WITH the people of Fox Hill caught in the middle of warring gang factions, a town meet- ing was held last night at St Paul’s Baptist Church by MP Fred Mitchell to address this sharp rise in shootings in the community. With people having with assault on boy been shot, stabbed, and homes fired upon in recent weeks, the police f f along with other com- a t s munity leaders were e called upon to address n u Andrew Tynes b the audience. i r According to police T / e Inspector Marlon Ful- k r a ford the majority of l C pleads not guilty these incidents are tak- m i ing place in and around T Johnson, Adderley, and FORMER Olympian and Street, appeared visibly Reeve’s streets with the celebrated Bahamian ath- upset as he was led out of majority of the reports lete Andrew Tynes has been the courtroom. He was he said being blamed charged with indecently granted $6,000 bail with one on an ongoing feud assaulting a 16-year-old boy. surety. Tynes appeared at Magis- He was also ordered to SEE page eight trates Court yesterday and stay away from the com- pled not guilty to the charge plainant and witnesses in before Chief Magistrate the case. Rigby: Christie Roger Gomez. The 37-year-old track star should demand It is alleged that Tynes is a former national 200 assaulted the boy between metres record holder and Wilchcombe steps August 1 and August 27, has represented the coun- 2009, during his capacity as try at the Carifta games, down as chair of a physical education teacher CAC Championships, Pan at the C C Sweeting Senior Am Games, World Cham- PLP convention High School. FORMER PLP Chair- Tynes, of West Bay SEE page eight man Raynard Rigby has called on Opposition leader Perry Christie to Chinese planning large demand that Obie Wil- chombe step down as chair scale farming in Abaco of the party's upcoming convention. A CHINESE concern is planning to carry out large scale farm- Mr Rigby challenged Mr ing in Abaco. Christie to live up to recent Edison Key, executive chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural statements he made about and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), hailed the move as a “tremen- the "consequences" peo- dous boost” for the agricultural sector. ple would face if they oper- Mr Key took Yiqing Sun, director of the Shandong High-speed ated beyond the rules of Quila Construction Group, National Stadium Project, and inter- preter Baoquo Xing on an exploratory tour of what is being the organisation. offered in Abaco. He added that as long as The team also included BAIC general manager Benjamin Rah- Mr Christie allowed Mr ming, and assistant general manager (agriculture) Arnold Dorsett. is pictured leaving court yesterday. Wilchcombe to retain his “We enjoyed our visit and we are very satisfied with the land con- ANDREW TYNES position, while running for ditions for agricultural development,” said Mr Xing. “You have the deputy leadership post, the party would remain SEE page 10 President Obama includes Bahamas among divided. "I must assume that the rules which he refers, Caribbean countries in major narcotics list whether written or by cus- tom, address the issue of PRESIDENT Barack The Bahamas is recog- transparency, accountabil- Obama has included the nised as being a major drug- ity and fairness in the elec- Bahamas and three other transit country because of toral process," Mr Rigby Caribbean countries in a its location between drug- said in a statement yester- major narcotics list present- producing nations in South day, referencing comments ed to the United States America and the United Mr Christie made earlier Congress. States, and was also includ- this week on a radio talk Jamaica, Haiti and the ed in the major narcotics show. Dominican Republic were report last year. also named on the 2009 list, A spokesman for the US "He (Mr Christie) must along with 16 other coun- Embassy in Nassau said the also assume, rightly, that tries around the world Bahamas government has those members of the Par- determined to be major pro- also been commended in the ty that do not support the ducers of illicit drugs or key report for its efforts to crack candidacy of Obie Wilch- transit points for the sub- combe for deputy leader stances. SEE page eight SEE page eight BARACK OBAMA (AP) NASSAU AND BAHAMA ISLANDS’ LEADING NEWSPAPER C M C M Y K Y K PAGE 2, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 THE TRIBUNE LOCAL NEWS Should the prime minister of the Bahamas be a married man? 3 LESLIE FRENCH (1) the top office of prime minister “In the Bahamas today, should be married, it makes many problems start from the them look more responsible home with the family structure. and they'd be sensitive to fam- STREET If you want to lead a country, ily issues. A perfect example you should lead by example. would be to look at all the The prime minister, in my scandals surrounding our opinion should be married unmarried politicians. We need because he needs to send the someone who has a family and TALK right message.” can respond to the needs and understand what's going on in COLMAN DARVILLE, the family.” 1 2 BROKER (2) “Yes, I believe that the CARSON HEPBURN, 51, minister should present the prime minister should be mar- SOLOMON’S MINES (4) image of a stern, firm family ried. How can he lead our “As a married man the 7 man.” country without any family prime minister would com- experience?” mand more respect from soci- SHAWN BUCHANAN, 25 ety. You have people depend- (6) KIKI, 52 (3) ing on you and a greater sense “I wouldn't say it's necessary “I think anyone running for of responsibility. It makes you but it looks better for the com- more striving and stronger, munity that he’s a married man especially if you have children. and has a family.” This will give you a deeper love of people and society. An ISAAC LEON ROKER, 56 unmarried man might be think- (7) ing ‘Who cares? Its just me’.” “It would show me that he has a sense of responsibility, WILLIAMS, 60, TAYLOR that he has a family. I think INDUSTRIES (5) 456 that should be one of the “I agree because the prime requirements.” New Extended Banking Hours MoneyCentre @ Robin Hood Mon – Fri 9:30am – 7:00pm Saturdays 9:00am – 5:00pm Products & Services • Personal Loans • Western Union ® • Savings Accounts • Asue • Mortgages •ATM [ Accepts all banks Visa Cards ] • Visa Cash Card • Phone Cards Meet Our Team Pictured form (Left to Right) Jason Ferguson, Operations Manager Shameca Knowles, Personal Banking Officer Michelle Bethel, Branch Manager Clarice Gibson, Operations Representative Julie Nixon, Ambassador & Customer Service Representative TO DISCUSS STORIES ON THIS PAGE LOG ON TO WWW.TRIBUNE242.COM C M C M Y K Y K THE TRIBUNE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009, PAGE 3 LOCAL NEWS Government responds to complaints over new school By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter [email protected] GOVERNMENT is working on addressing a litany of complaints from parents, teachers and staff about the less than stellar state of the newly-construct- ed Anatol Rodgers High School. The school’s parking lot is dotted with large muddy puddles and pot holes, and contractors are busy installing drainage wells – creating an eyesore for both stu- dents and teachers. Minister of Education Carl Bethel said he understands why people are frustrat- ed over the school's external appearance but added that government has faced with circumstances beyond its control. Mr Bethel said the construction work was complicated by a discrepancy between the estimated contract price and the actual cost of building the school to fit certain necessary design changes, which led to cost overruns. He explained that the additional funds needed to carry out the repairs had to be approved by Cabinet before they could be released. "At the end of the day it's all been reviewed by Cabinet which has approved the extra funding. That was one of the reasons that caused some delay," said Mr Bethel. He also explained that the site of the school – which had already been chosen when he assumed office in 2007 – is a low lying plot in southwestern New Prov- f f a idence prone to flooding. t "Now that the final parameters have s e n been set, there are some difficulties u b i because the land, which we met chosen, r T is low lying," he told The Tribune yes- / e k terday. r a Contractors have been drilling on the l site to install new drainage wells. Their C m i work, coupled with recent rainy weather, T has created the muddy puddles lining during the school hours at Anatol Rodgers High School. the school's parking lot. WORK GOES ON He added that contractors have drilled tion of the school's sports facility – are which first opened its doors in Septem- eight of the 12 wells needed at the school.