WEATHER TRY OUR McFLURRY SNICKERS HIGH 88F LATEST NEWS ON WWW.TRIBUNE242.COM LOW 79F The Tribune SUNNY, THE PEOPLE’S PAPER T-STORM BIGGEST AND BEST Volume: 107 No.228 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 PRICE – 75¢ (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25) NOBODY – BUT NOBODY – BEATS THE TRIBUNE INSIDE TODAY CARS! CARS! CARS! LOADS OF JOBS AND HELP WANTED! THE TRIBUNE’S CLASSIFIEDS TRADER CELL PHONE SERVICE ISSUES CONTINUE ONE Hurricane charity WEEK AFTER HURRICANE By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter [email protected] A WEEK after Hurricane Irene swept through the Bahamas, cell phone users are still experiencing dropped calls and interrupted services, or no service at all. BTC spokesman Marlon Johnson said that while the aircraft detained power plant in Nassau is largely online, some cus- tomers are experiencing dis- MOTHER-OF-FIVE’S DEATH PROMPTS DENGUE FEVER CONCERNS ruptions in services as a result ‘Questions’ about HOPE of BTC resetting its network. Apologising for the service disruptions, Mr Johnson said Foundation operations “some of the exchanges have gone offline – what customers have been experiencing are By NOELLE NICOLLS deliver relief supplies to dropped calls and failed calls Tribune Staff Reporter family island residents in the which are just related to us [email protected] wake of Hurricane Irene. getting our plant functioning.” Police detained one of the Mr Johnson added that POLICE detained the air- company’s helicopters on these issues are being craft of a local charity with Sunday in Cat Island while addressed and they hope to “questions” about its opera- they investigated their con- have problems fixed today. tions, The Tribune can con- cerns. This came on the He said: “We are hopeful in a day or two that phenom- firm. heels of an alleged “mis- ena will go away.” The Humanitarian Oper- take” that led to govern- Most of the country was ation Foundation (HOPE ment officials temporarily affected by Hurricane Irene Foundation) was allegedly seizing some of the organi- when she tore through the flying its helicopters “too sation’s relief supplies. Bahamas on Wednesday and low” and landing on “unau- The HOPE Foundation Thursday of last week. thorised locations,” accord- worked in collaboration with While some minor issues ing to government officials. Sea Air Land Security persist, Mr Johnson said over- HOPE Foundation used (SALS) Inc, a Florida-based all the BTC plant is in good two helicopters and a fixed- security company, com- shape. wing aircraft from the Unit- prised of ex-military pilots According to Mr Johnson, ed States to operate “search around 90 per cent of land- and rescue” missions, and to SEE page 10 line customers and 80 per cent of mobile customers remained in service throughout the KATIA WILL PASS ‘WELL TO THE EAST’ OF THE BAHAMAS storm. The islands affected the STORM ‘NOT EXPECTED TO BE DIRECT THREAT’ most continue to experience TROPICAL storm Katia is not expected to be a direct threat operational problems, in par- for the Bahamas, meteorologists predicted yesterday. ticular Eleuthera and Cat The storm has the potential to develop into a hurricane Island, said Mr Johnson. sometime today, however up to press time it had not developed JONATHON AND EUNICE He said issues in service can a well-defined eye and was travelling at 70 miles an hour. SMITH on their 20th either be attributed to dam- According to Accuweather, storm projections indicate Katia, wedding anniversary. aged poles, which are now whose path is much further north than that of Hurricane Irene, being addressed by BTC will pass “well to the east” of the Bahamas. along with BEC and the issue Despite favourable projections, Bahamians were advised to By AVA TURNQUEST of unrestored commercial remain on their guard and keep abreast of the storm’s path over Tribune Staff Reporter power. [email protected] the next few days. Mr Johnson explained THE sudden death of a mother-of-five who had SEE page 10 experienced dengue fever- like symptoms has shocked loved ones who now ques- tion whether or not they MP ACCUSES PM OF ‘CORRUPT PRACTICES’ underestimated the disease. By SANCHESKA BROWN announced that dredging had Grieving husband started on the Aga Khan’s pri- Jonathon Smith told The Tri- MP for MICAL, V Alfred vate island in the Exumas – bune he now awaits the find- Gray has accused Prime Minis- Bell Island. ings of an autopsy to under- ter Hubert Ingraham of "cor- The island , which is a part of stand why his wife, Eunice, rupt practices", after he trav- the Exuma Cays and Sea park, 46, collapsed in his arms at elled to Abaco Monday using has been the source of contro- their Pinewood home. the Aga Khan's helicopter. versy among environmentalists Mr Smith said: “I had just The Prime Minister with a who say the development gone out to get (his wife) contingent of ministers went to would destroy the natural some more Gatorade, right Abaco to assess the damage beauty, the ecological diversity as I pulled up, they came out after the passage of Hurricane and history associated with to me saying that she wanted Irene. MP FOR MICAL SEE page 11 That same day it was SEE page 11 V Alfred Gray NASSAU AND BAHAMA ISLANDS’ LEADING NEWSPAPER PAGE 2, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 THE TRIBUNE LOCAL NEWS INSIGHT For the stories behind CRASH ON THE the news, read Insight on Mondays EASTERN RD A Tribune reader cap- tured this photo of a traffic accident on Eastern Road shortly before 6pm yester- day. The incident took place between High Vista Drive and Mount Vernon, and caused even more traffic congestion than usual at this already busy hour. PAGE 4, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 THE TRIBUNE EDITORIAL/LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Tribune Limited The disaster NULLIUS 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., response in (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt . Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991 EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Mayaguana Publisher/Editor 1972- Published Daily Monday to Saturday EDITOR, The Tribune. working with him under very difficult circumstance; Shirley Street, P.O. Box N-3207, Nassau, Bahamas I WILL appreciate it if LETTERS with limited resources; as Insurance Management Building., P.O. F-485, Freeport, Grand Bahama you would allow me a little [email protected] of yesterday, most of the space in your columns to islands’ power has been TELEPHONES express my personal obser- restored. S witchboard (News, Circulation and Advertising) 322-1986 vations and feelings in But God is still faithful As a Mayaguanian, I Advertising Manager - (242) 502-2352 regard to the disaster to His promise and his urge the government to response here in Mayagua- mercy extends to us take a serious, look at their na. “behind His back” because disaster plans for these While, I can appreciate, He is in the lead. islands and in particular Alfred Gray worries about PM’s reputation that we are a country made While Mayaguana, thank the island of Mayaguana. up of islands spread over God fared better than I am incensed that I have ACCORDING TO MICAL MP V Alfred talking about, because no one else seems to thousands of square miles; some of our family islands, heard of government agen- Gray, Prime Minister Ingraham has “cor- know about it. and that the government we have and continue to cies having visited our oth- rupted” himself by accepting the Aga Khan’s “The PLP are sitting on the sidelines tak- and/or its agencies must experience some difficul- er family islands and to helicopter to tour the Bahamas’ hurricane ing pot shots at a man who is getting the prioritize their response to ties. Many, if not most of date none think us impor- damaged islands. According to Mr Gray, job done,” a Bahamian sarcastically com- those islands or communi- our homes experienced tant enough to make not the Prime Minister, to protect his reputa- mented. “They are just jealous because they ties according to their need some form of damage, even a cursory visit. tion, should instead have taken a plane, can’t get the Aga Khan’s helicopter or any which Mr Gray claimed was available. other helicopter to get there. If they say a for assistance after a hur- whether from flooding loss There is a limited supply Obviously, Mr Gray is completely plane was available why didn’t they take it ricane or other disaster. of shingles and parts of of water and we are sad- unaware of the conditions in the islands, themselves and make a contribution to help However, let me state roofs. The churches, dled with an and is oblivious — either by design or igno- the people?” here that their response to received damage and in unreliable/erratic mail ser- rance — that an aircraft cannot effectively Is the Aga Khan — a man noted for his Mayaguana, after the pass- one instance, lost a com- vice. cover the same territory in such conditions. generosity and his philanthropic work — to ing of hurricane Irene, plete structure which was The government’s water For example on Monday when four US be treated like a pariah in this country, leaves much to be desired under construction. tanks, which collects water Army Black Hawks landed at Odyssey Avi- because he is digging a canal at his Bell and I personally, expected During the hurricane, we for the community’s use, ation because of bad weather, Prime Minis- island property – for which he already has a more from a caring gov- can appreciate that situa- has been damaged or the ter Ingraham was getting into the Aga permit, and does not have to depend upon ernment.