C M C M Y K Y K WEATHER TRY OUR DOUBLE FILET-O-FISH ANY TIME...ANY PLACE, WE’RE #1 HIGH 88F LOW 79F The Tribune SUN WITH STORMS BAHAMAS EDITION www.tribune242.com Volume: 105 No.242 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2009 PRICE – 75¢ (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25) Beauty Queen Hotels on Tank’s S S S T W R W E O E N THE MENU P Steps Down N Back S CITES ‘MANAGEMENT ISSUES’ AS REASON Getting local food into sector Sherman to fight German Focus on DNA at Bishop’s retrial Gunman riddles I By NATARIO MCKENZIE Tribune Staff Reporter [email protected] THE retrial of Bishop Earl Randolph Fraser con- tinued in Magistrate’s Court yesterday with a DNA expert presenting evidence for the prosecution. murder victim Fraser, who is the head pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Temple, St James Road, is accused of having a sexual Slaying near Hundreds attend power plant meeting SEE page 7 school is year’s 59th homicide I By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter [email protected] A YOUNG man is dead shots at Knowles who was after he was riddled with bul- reportedly shot in the hip, leg lets by a drive-by gunman and back. who left him lying in a pool of Knowles staggered several his own blood outside a home feet into a neighbouring yard, in the Sunshine Park area, a managed to hop a backyard few blocks away from the fence before collapsing — Carmichael Primary School. leaving a large trail of blood His death pushed the behind him. nation's homicide count to 59. The gunman escaped in the Police said it was just after green vehicle. 10am when 22-year-old Police have launched an Degario Knowles and anoth- intensive investigation into er man were sitting on a wall the shooting and yesterday ABACO teenagers waved banners they made at a public meeting about the new Bunker C-fuelled power plant that BEC is building on the island Embassy I By MEGAN resenting residents of Abaco uals and groups who dissemi- REYNOLDS opposing the development, nate and circulate images Tribune Staff Reporter questioned officials about designed to provoke an emo- clarifies [email protected] whether all the legitimate per- tional response and create mits had been obtained fear, anxiety, anger and hys- before construction began. teria. ‘warning NEARLY 1,000 Abaco res- Local group Friends of the "I personally take offence idents concerned about the Environment organised the to the video that has been cir- on crime’ f Bunker C fuel power plant meeting to encourage dia- culated and its misleading f a t going up in Wilson City logue between residents and statements." By Ava Turnquest s attended a public meeting in e the Government as contro- Mr Gottlieb said that as a n Marsh Harbour to put their u versy stirred in the commu- resident of Abaco and a US Embassy officials b i concerns to government min- nity. father, it is in his interest to believe The Nassau r T / isters and Bahamas Electrici- A video exploring the choose the right investment Guardian exaggerated the e k ty Corporation (BEC) execu- potentially damaging impact for the area and continued importance of a statement r a l tives. of the heavy oil Bunker C development of the country's placed on its local website, C Prime Minister Hubert (HFO) power plant was third largest, and fastest-grow- blowing a routine notice m i Ingraham was among the released on an internet video ing, economy depends on a out of proportion. T packed audience at New sharing site this week and had constant and reliable source The Guardian led its BLOOD covers the ground where 22 year-old Degario Knowles Visions Ministry Church on been viewed more than 9,000 of electricity. Friday edition with the was shot Thursday as BEC chairman times at the time of the meet- Stopping the development headline: “US Embassy Fred Gottlieb, BEC general ing. would only be "an economic issues crime warning”, but manager Kevin Basden, Min- An internet petition to stop disaster for Abaco," he said. according to a senior of a house on Winward Isles appealed for persons with ister of State in the Ministry the development had also A number Abaconians embassy official, this head- Road when occupants of a information on the incident of the Environment Phenton been signed by more than 900 attending the meeting said line might have given a green Honda Inspire drove to come forward. Neymour and Minister of the people yesterday. they supported Mr Gottlieb misleading impression. up and opened fire on the vic- "Sometime around 10.45 Environment Earl Deveaux Mr Gottlieb, a prominent in the decision to build a new Jeff Dubel, Political tim. am we got a call of gunshots stated their case for the $150 lawyer in Marsh Harbour, power plant. Economic Public Diplo- As Knowles made a mad heard in the Sunshine Park million, 48 megawatt power denounced the video as "pro- Officials maintain there is macy Chief, said the dash to escape the attack, the area, police officers respond- plant in South Abaco. paganda" deliberately feed- not enough room to expand embassy is disappointed gunman — described as a ed to investigate. Once they Residents from the Aba- ing people misinformation the 27 megawatt facility in that The Nassau Guardian light skinned male with a low got there they found Degario cos concerned about the envi- and took strides to refute the Marsh Harbour, and renew- did not contact the hair cut — emerged from the Knowles suffering gun shot ronmental impact Bunker C accusations made. able energy sources such as Embassy before printing backseat of the car and con- wounds to the body. He was could have on their health He said: "I do not have solar, wind, waste or hydro- the story – as much could tinued shooting. taken to hospital by ambu- criticised officials for not any problem with those who kinetic power are not yet have been explained. Residents of the area said lance and later pronounced informing them about the have legitimate concerns with advanced enough to imple- the brazen gunman then dead," said head of the homi- plant before they began con- regard to the plant that's to stood in the middle of the SEE page 7 struction last month. be built at Wilson City, but I street and fired around eight SEE page 2 SEE page 7 Lawyer Fred Smith, rep- have a problem with individ- NASSAU AND BAHAMA ISLANDS’ LEADING NEWSPAPER C M C M Y K Y K PAGE 2, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2009 THE TRIBUNE BEC chair hits LOCAL NEWS at protest video FROM page one to your data." conians BEC and the Gov- Mr Pitcairn said he ernment will "ensure the believes wind power is a highest standard of environ- ment in Abaco. viable option for Abaco and mental stewardship for the Information presented by ought to be explored further. plant." the Bahamas Environment Mr Neymour said BEC is Those behind the project Science and Technology investing in renewable energy said they were surprised by (BEST) Commission showed research, but is not yet able the enormous turn-out how wind in Abaco has an to consider using renewable because plans for a power average of seven knots, too energy to power Abaco. plant had been in the pipeline weak to power a wind energy He said: "The Government since the previous, PLP, gov- farm. It also blows south east, is committed to financing and ernment was in power. meaning any gases emitted by implementing a national alter- The original location at the plant will go away from native energy supply. Snake Cay, north of Wilson residential areas. “These initiatives look not City, was thrown out when However, wind turbine only at the short-term, but the concerns were raised about design engineer and Abaco long-term benefits for present the sensitivity of the sur- resident David Pitcairn said and future generations, and rounding environment, a his research has achieved dif- they will not be seen complex creek system on ferent results. overnight. Abaco's east coast. "I don't know where the "In the interim conven- But environmentalists say wind data you have comes tional methods must be used the present site at Wilson from but historical wind data with a view to mitigate impact City, in the Bight of Old BEC general manager Kevin Basden (right) takes questions from Abaco residents shows 60 per cent of wind is on the environment and citi- Robinson, is intrinsically blowing towards the west and zens." linked to the area of Snake northwest, and 16 per cent Measures to prevent envi- Cay by a network of blue towards Marsh Harbour. So ronmental destruction will be holes and could be just as I found the slide you showed taken by ensuring regular damaging to the pristine area with the wind blowing to the maintenance of the plant and near the Pelican Cays Land south west misleading," he three mile pipeline to the and Sea Park. said. tanker port, providing staff They said the public should "Also the average wind with proper training and sup- have been consulted about velocity is 18 mph, or 16 port, and by appointing an the relocation and given an knots, which is considered environmental officer to over- opportunity to express their class six in a scale of one to see all such concerns. concerns in an open dialogue seven, not seven knots, which Mr Deveaux assured Aba- before construction began.