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VOLUME:117 No.87, MARCH 26TH, 2020
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ATLANTIS’ LIGHTS OUT UNTIL MAY 15
Resort acts as virus surge continues in US and travel stops By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net ATLANTIS’ announcement yesterday that the resort will close until May 15 signals a “rough ride” economically for the country, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar told The Tribune, adding he suspected the extended time frame was due to global uncertainty over COVID-19. In a letter to workers, Atlantis’ president and
managing director Audry Oswell said the resort would close yesterday beginning at 3pm through until mid-May. At such time, she said the mega resort would assess the situation and make a determination on re-opening. Recognising the burden this places on every worker, Ms Oswell said officials were working on a plan to assist employees during this difficult time. SEE PAGE THREE
BUSINESS DILEMMA - HOW LONG CAN WE SURVIVE? By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE government was yesterday urged to strike “a happy medium” in its battle against COVID-19 amid fears an extended lockdown could “completely destroy the Bahamian economy”. Robert Myers, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s principal, told Tribune Business there had “to be some balance” between fighting the virus and restarting certain industries given that few businesses have the financial reserves to withstand
the lockdown extension being considered by the Minnis administration. Backing present measures as critical to preventing a projected surge in the infection rate, Mr Myers said his key concern was that maintaining the lockdown status quo for another month could put “everybody out of business” and prevent the Bahamian economy from restarting. “There’s going to have to be a balance because otherwise everybody will be out of business, including the country,” he said.
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
ATLANTIS was looking quiet last night
Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
FAMILIES DELAY LAYING NIB EXPECTS 15,000 TO LOVED ONES TO REST SIGN ON FOR BENEFITS
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
MAJOR funeral homes across the country are seeing an increase of families either cancelling or postponing memorial services because of the COVID-19 pandemic, president of the Bahamas Funeral Directors
Association Kirsch Ferguson said yesterday. “Families, being fully aware of what we are faced with, are opting to postpone services until I guess they see this thing subside,” he told The Tribune. “But, as it stands right now, most families are not proceeding with funeral services. SEE PAGE FIVE
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
DEPARTMENT of Labour director John Pinder expects that around 15,000 people affected by the tourism sector shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic will register to receive National Insurance Board benefits.
GOVT LOSES SMITH PRIVY COUNCIL APPEAL By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Privy Council has rejected the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s bid to appeal the acquittal of former Public Hospitals Authority chairman Frank Smith of bribery charges. A Privy Council clerk wrote in a statement: “Having considered an application for permission
NO APPEAL: Frank Smith to appeal from the judgement of the Court of Appeal of the Commonwealth of
the Bahamas dated 28th August 2019 in the matter between Commissioner of Police (appellant) vs Frank Smith (respondent) and having considered written submissions from the parties, we have agreed to report to Your Majesty as our opinion that permission to appeal should be refused because there is no risk that a serious miscarriage of justice has occurred in this case.” SEE PAGE SEVEN
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
So far, only a fraction of these workers have registered with the department, with Mr Pinder telling The Tribune yesterday the process has been sluggish. This is due to many people having a challenge with the online application and a need to streamline the process. SEE PAGE THREE
FRONT PORCH SIMON
SEE PAGE TEN
PAGE 2, Thursday, March 26, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
Disconnections to be suspended until March 31 By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Power and Light (BPL) will immediately suspend disconnections until March 31. In a public notice sent out on Tuesday, the power company noted: “As the
nation adapts to the stringent measures taken by the government of The Bahamas to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) wishes to announce the following measures instituted in support of the government’s efforts to protect Bahamians.” Along with the suspended disconnections, operations at the Mall at Marathon will also be suspended until March 31. BPL encouraged its customers to observe the 24-hour curfew and said employees are maintaining an active customer call centre. When contacted yesterday, BPL’s director of communications, Quincy Parker said the company could not say how many people would be affected by the suspension in disconnections. BPL had planned to institute a bill increase this month to pay for a rate reduction bond. However, that process has been delayed due because the bond has not been finalised. “We are moving forward with finalising the required documents and processes to support the rate reduction bond offering,” Mr
Parker said in an email in response to The Tribune’s questions. “The bond will be taken to market after all final approvals have been granted, and there is a favourable market window for the bond offering to be successful. The additional charges to consumer bills will appear after the bond has been closed as per the terms of the bond offering.” Bahamians are staying at home and many businesses have suspended operations due to emergency orders executed by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in response to the pandemic. Asked if the curfew is causing an increase in power usage, Mr Parker said BPL has actually seen a moderate reduction in demand due to cooler weather. “Demand on BPL’s generation system is usually driven more by temperature than anything else,” he said. “Taking into consideration fluctuations in the daily temperatures, the fact is that BPL has seen a moderate reduction in demand since the implementation of the curfew. “However, that reduction has not led to a demand that is outside the typical range for this time of year, given those temperature fluctuations.”
PMH ISSUES APPEAL FOR BLOOD DONERS PRINCESS Margaret Hospital has issued an urgent appeal for blood donations. Donations can be made at the PMH blood bank from 9am until 5pm except for Sundays. The final donation will be taken at 4.30pm daily. Official identification is required in order to donate. In a statement, officials said: “The public is also
advised that if you are ill or experiencing respiratory symptoms, you should not donate blood. In keeping with social distancing protocols, the Blood Bank is discouraging group donations. No more than three individuals will be facilitated at a time.” For more information, contact 502-7822 or 322-8077.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, March 26, 2020, PAGE 3
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS from page one “We are still compiling information and doing the registration now, but for the most part these are persons who are affected by this COVID-19 layoff. But these persons aren’t really terminated, they are laid off,” Mr Pinder told The Tribune. “If this thing doesn’t turn around in the coming weeks then we may be facing a bunch of people being terminated or given severance packages. But as it stands people are just being (temporarily) laid off.” He continued: “Persons are registering in order to get the unemployment benefit from NIB. They register
NIB expects 15,000 to sign on for benefits through us first and then they go to NIB. “So initially we had over 1,000 who registered. But we are looking at least 15,000 people to register. In the first couple of days, I think we were able to do close to 2,000, but we had to shut down and some
persons are challenged with doing things online so we set up a Facebook page trying to make it easier for them to follow the steps.” The process has also been made easier as registrants no longer need to be issued a card from the Department of Labour to submit to
NIB. Now labour officials forward the information electronically to NIB to verify a person’s status. On Sunday, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said the temporary unemployment rate could now probably be above 30 percent and was expected to
grow, due to widespread hotel closures. Baha Mar, Sandals, Atlantis and the Melia resorts have all over the last week announced their planned suspension of operations. Some of the resorts intend to pay staff a fraction of their salaries
during the difficult time. “Every single hotel if they have not so declared (that they are shutting down), are probably heading in that direction as the world closes its borders and shuts down,” Mr D’Aguilar said Sunday. “This is going to be grim.”
AND LIFE GOES ON... TRIBUNE photographer Terrel W Carey Sr’s photo-diary of life under lockdown in New Providence
Lights out at Atlantis from page one The turn of events follows the hotel’s earlier furlough of workers for four weeks as COVID19 began to wreak havoc on the local tourism sector and disrupted economies around the world. Given these circumstances, Mr D’Aguilar said he was not surprised by the announcement. “Tourism is ground to a halt,” he said. “The next question is not only do you have to estimate how long this virus is going to grip the United States, causing everyone
to stay in place. Here it is March 25, I guess they are probably assuming based on what is being said at this time that the US, especially the eastern seaboard, is in the midst of a surge, and we haven’t peaked yet. “I guess they assume there are a couple of weeks left still with it. So I presume that they are pulling the trigger for seven weeks estimating that there is evidence available now that this could possibly run four to five weeks optimistically and then people then have to consider once again if and when they would be going on vacation.
“There is a lot of uncertainty out there, which is causing people to be uncertain. Even if they get a handle on this, there will be a while before a cure for people to again be comfortable with moving around. This will be bumpy and we’re in for a rough ride.” In a separate letter to guests posted on Atlantis’ website, Ms Oswell further addressed concerns about reservations. She wrote: “… We are navigating this current situation minute-by-minute, day-byday, adjusting as we learn more. One thing remains constant: nothing matters
more than the health, safety and well-being of our team members, guests and communities. For those of us who find purpose and passion in bringing people together, we must confront the reality that togetherness may be a threat to the health and safety of our community and loved ones at this time. “With this in mind, we have made the decision to temporarily close Atlantis Paradise Island from Wednesday, March 25, 2020 through Friday, May 15, 2020, at which time we will assess whether or not it is safe to re-open. Please
continue to visit our website or stay connected to us on social media for the latest updates. “We understand that this will be a hard time for everyone in our Atlantis family, but we believe it is unequivocally the necessary and responsible action to keep everyone safe. As Aristotle once said, ‘Even calamities have a soul and can teach us a wise life.’ “During this stressful time,” Ms Oswell continued, “we want to alleviate any additional worry you might have about your upcoming reservation. Our dedicated team of
reservation agents will be reaching out to you personally to assist you with refunds, credit vouchers or rescheduling your planned vacation. This way you can spend less time reaching us and more time with your loved ones.” She said the resort planned to use the temporary closure to make improvements to the hotel in time to welcome guests back. “In 1998 the ‘Lost City of Atlantis’ magically soared from the sea on an island called Paradise. I assure you Atlantis will ascend again,” Ms Oswell said.
FEARS SPREAD IN ABACO AFTER FIFTH CASE CONFIRMED
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
RESIDENTS in Abaco are concerned about COVID-19 reaching their communities after a case was confirmed in Grand Bahama on Tuesday. “I’d say there’s absolutely a concern,” Central and South Abaco MP James Albury told The Tribune yesterday. “There’s been a concern since we confirmed the first case in the country. Grand Bahama is a little closer to Abaco than Nassau, but I believe that everyone’s still concerned you know as we see it start to spread. “It’s that much more important that we practice distancing and stay in line with the curfew and adhere to all of the advice of the medical professionals because as we know about COVID now, the ones who many have it or carry it, they may have very mild symptoms or present very little symptoms at all.” His comments to this
newspaper came after Health Minister Dr Duane Sands revealed on Tuesday that a woman in Grand Bahama with no significant recent travel history tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the fifth confirmed case in the country. The woman has no link to the first confirmed case, according to health officials, who said they anticipate a surge in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks. While noting that most Abaco residents are complying with emergency orders, Mr Albury said the biggest challenge for officials on the island is trying to get the message across to the Haitian community. “That is an issue we’re facing,” he said. “There have been attempts to communicate that to the community, to the HaitianBahamian community. So (Monday), I actually would’ve been in Abaco and had a meeting with essential personnel. “And we discussed some initiatives as far as trying to reach that community better
MP James Albury but also making sure that those persons are following the law just like everyone else is expected to do. “…But that was specifically brought up (in the meeting), especially where we know in Marsh Harbour, some areas where persons of the Haitian-Bahamian community are congregating in close proximity. “So, we have to make some better efforts to reach out to them and plans are in place to do that..it’s a very dangerous situation but that is a matter that was discussed with police and the law intends to be enforced, no matter who they are.” Added to these concerns is the impact that
COVID-19 will have on the recovery efforts on the island, which was devastated by Hurricane Dorian in early September. With the country’s attention now fixed on combating the virus, many residents there have voiced fears on social media that recovery efforts will be pushed aside indefinitely. However, Mr Albury said while the COVID-19 threat will slow the speed of the recovery process, officials will not stop relief and rebuilding efforts. “There’s no denying that there will be an impact,” he said. “That’s just the frank nature of the matter is when something like this is going around, there’s going to be an impact on the speed and efficiency of things. “But as you’re probably aware, in the order itself, there is a special exemption on the movement and the work of people in the special economic recovery zones, which include Abaco and its cays, so construction crews and NGOs etc, anyone who is actively working as part
of the reconstruction and restoration efforts, they are not prohibited by this order from continuing those efforts. “Of course, they are doing their best to keep six feet between them and all the other proper procedures, but people are still working on that process.” As it relates to those non-governmental (NGO) and relief agencies who left Abaco in response to the pandemic, Mr Albury said many of them still have plans to return. “While we do have some NGOs that have pulled
out, we still have some on the ground who are determined to stay and help us through this, not only in the reconstruction efforts but especially in regard to COVID-19, assisting us with setting up more advanced screening areas and some better personal protection equipment,” he said. “…(But) some of the NGOs who have left, it’s my understanding, of course this is all tentative and it’s ultimately up to them, but some of them do intend to return once we have seen the light at the end of this COVID tunnel.”
PAGE 4, Thursday, March 26, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
MINISTRY SET TO ADVISE ON NEW EXAM DATES
OPERATION CLEAN-UP
THE Ministry of Education is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and will soon advise the public on new dates for all 2020 national examinations. In a statement released yesterday, the ministry noted that due to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambridge officials have decided to cancel the May/June 2020 sitting of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations in countries around the world. The ministry said this does not affect the sitting of the 2020 Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) and Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations. “It is not our intention to disadvantage any student,” the ministry said. “The safety of our population and the educational opportunities for all students are of paramount importance to the Ministry of Education.”
RBC INTRODUCES SENIORS OPENING ROYAL Bank of Canada announced the introduction of special month-end banking times for seniors and differently-abled persons due to the ongoing novel coronavirus global pandemic. From Friday, March 27 to Friday, April 3, most RBC branches will open 15 minutes early to serve seniors and differently-abled persons. Following the early-opening, the first 30 minutes of regular branch hours will continue to be reserved for seniors and differently-abled persons. Earlier this week, RBC announced reduced hours across the region which affected RBC’s Mackey St and Bay St branches.
THE DEPARTMENT of Environmental Health Services has embarked on a disinfecting exercise as a preventive measure to limit the spread of COVID-19. A DEHS team of 12 is on rotation, between 8.30pm to 1am until March 31 and thereafter if necessary -- targeting Bay Street, Potter’s Cay Dock, Montagu Beach and fishing ramp, Shirley Street and East Street, the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay, Saunders Beach, Nassau Street, and Poinciana Drive. Photos: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS
STUDENT SELF-ISOLATES AFTER RETURNING FROM JAMAICA By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN student studying at the University
of the West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica has been ordered to self-isolate after returning to the country on a government issued flight.
Britney Nairn told The Tribune yesterday she was among the 61 Bahamian students who returned home on the plane the
government chartered to Jamaica, hours before the country closed its borders. “I’m a medical student at UWI and the hospital on campus (University Hospital of the West Indies) had one case of the virus at first and then the next day it went to two,” she said. “After that, I woke up to a notice saying that schools were being closed down in Jamaica and my campus was a red zone. “They said it jumped from two cases to eight cases overnight and because of that, they didn’t want any of the students being at risk. So they told all of the students who live on campus to go home and they decided to close school until April 14.” Ms Nairn said the Bahamian consulate in Jamaica sent a message stating that the government would provide a way for Bahamian students to come back home “on the agreement” that they would be able to buy their own airline tickets to return. “They said you should only come if you’re able to pay your way back, because the government is not responsible for paying our way back to Jamaica,” she said. “We were supposed to leave the airport at 4pm on Saturday because at the time Jamaica was getting ready to close off their borders, but Bahamians were coming at the last minute so instead of leaving as scheduled, we ended leaving at 6.30.” Ms Nairn said when they arrived in Nassau, the students went through an immigration checkpoint and had their passports stamped. She also said they were asked if they had recently travelled to countries with high percentages of COVID-19 like China and Italy and if they had been in contact with anybody who was infected with the virus. “When they asked me I told them no,” she said.
“And then I went off to get screened by the nurse that they had there. She took our temperatures and everybody was fine and then she asked us one-by-one if we had any of the symptoms of the virus like a fever or cough. “Initially she came out because the prime minister had said if we come from any of these places you would get quarantined or self-isolated. So she was telling us that we may have to get quarantined, but she came back out because all of us had normal temperatures and were fine. So she just told us to self-isolate for two weeks and make sure to just drink a lot of Vitamin C.” Ms Nairn said she did not expect the pandemic to spread so quickly and incite national panic. “At first, because I wasn’t sure whether I would stay in Jamaica or come home, I decided to go to the food store. And when I went there, I couldn’t believe my eyes because people were shopping as if it was the end of the world. “Some persons had like two carts and I couldn’t find hand soap or Lysol and even though they had a two per person limitation, the shelves were still empty. That’s when I decided to come home because I was afraid to be stuck over there in the event that Jamaica would be in a lockdown and I wouldn’t be able to be with my family.” Ms Nairn added she has friends from other Caribbean nations who suffered the same fate she managed to avoid. “I had friends who got stuck in Jamaica because they were planning on travelling on Sunday, but the airport closed the day before. “Some of my friends from Trinidad & Tobago are still in Jamaica too, because Trinidad closed off its borders after a cruise ship came in with 49 cases.
Those persons that came off the cruise ship were immediately quarantined, but because of all of that, they decided to close their borders.” Ms Nairn, who is studying nursing and surgery at UWI, said while she is glad she was able to return home safe, she is still worried about how the pandemic will affect her studies in the long run. “For me, being a third year student two weeks away from exams, this has pushed us back a month and we don’t even know what’s going to happen,” she said. “Online classes work for the other students, but in third year we’re on clinical rotation so we have to be in the hospitals. Plus, some of our exams require us to examine patients for our final grade, so I don’t know how they’re going to work that out with us.” Still, Ms Nairn said she realises that countries all over the world are dealing with the coronavirus crisis, so the only thing she can do is wait it out and follow the instructions given to her by medical experts and health officials. “At first I was a bit anxious, but now I’m calm because I’m more educated about the virus itself and I know to just take the necessary precautions,” she said. Earlier this week, Education Minister Jeff Lloyd revealed the government chartered a Bahamasair flight to Jamaica at a cost of $30,000 to $40,000, to bring Bahamian students home before the country closed its borders. At the time, Mr Lloyd said the government chose to intervene after receiving requests from “frantic” parents who did not want their children to be stranded in a foreign country. However, he made it clear that the students would have to reimburse the government for the flight.
CHECKING OUT YOUR CREATIVE SIDE AS people around the world have been cooped up in quarantine, many are using the time to show their creative side – and Bahamians have been getting in on the act. From singing beer cans to singing for beer, performers have been showing that being stuck at home is no barrier to lifting people’s spirits. Check out some of the videos doing the rounds on www.tribune242.com.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, March 26, 2020, PAGE 5
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
FAMILIES DELAY LAYING LOVED ONES TO REST from page one
“Those who are (having funerals) are going strictly by the guidelines as the funeral director has been instructed and that’s what we’re faced with at this time.” After the country recorded its first COVID-19 case, Prime
Minister Dr Hubert Minnis imposed several strict measures in the country in an effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus. Under Dr Minnis emergency orders, for example, people are banned from attending social events and funerals with the exception of ten immediate family members and at least one officiant and essential mortuary staff.
Asked how this impacts dayto-day business in the industry, Mr Ferguson replied: “They are being impacted, but at the same time we’re like any business, but for us we’re on call 24 hours so if they’re calling to service, we have to respond accordingly. “Even our normal routine of handling services in terms of having payment through
insurance companies and the National Insurance Board, all of those have been impacted by this whole situation. “Even though complaints are there, there’s nothing you can really do. If insurance companies are closed down and if National Insurance is just getting back, then we have to follow suit.” Mr Ferguson said BFDA fully
supports every effort made by the government to keep the Bahamian public safe. “In the general sense, while we might hear some things among personnel in the industry, it’s simply classified as opinion but the truth of it is that we are 100 percent behind the initiative that the government is taking and we fully support every effort to keep everyone safe.”
‘CHURCH IS HERE TO HELP ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT’ By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net
JUBLIEE West held its church service in a car park at the weekend
ALTHOUGH church services have been suspended amid the COVID-19 crisis, Bahamians can still turn to the religious community for assistance during these hard times. Rev C B Moss, pastor at Mt Olive Baptist Church, said not only will his church offer spiritual counselling in this national lockdown, but also food to those whose lives have been affected by mass layoffs. “We are a relatively small congregation and we are in a very intimate way keeping in touch with all of our people,” Rev Moss said. “And, not only are we providing spiritual help, but also material help. It is frightening the need that exists, particularly in certain sectors of our society. People are going to need a lot of help and that concerns me, because in addition to the negative impact of the
virus itself from a health perspective, but it’s the social and economic fallout that’s going to be very devastating. “So we have always had a safety net approach, not only for our members, but for our community and we are putting that into effect now. For example we have a hotline that people can contact us with questions and for information on the virus and of course even just stress relief. We also are coordinating with other churches in the community to provide a source of sustenance for people. “A lot of our people lived hand to mouth before this, but this (pandemic) has exacerbated the situation and it has added a new element which is the element of uncertainty and it breeds fear. “People are fearful and it will have an impact on our social fabric. So we are working on that and we are also trying to help them economically.” The Meadow St church is
part of the Bain’s and Grant’s Town Association - an association dedicated to meeting the needs of people in the area. Rev Moss urged people and businesses to donate where possible to the association, to help the church provide hot meals to those in need. Amid public health fears, Rev Moss is worried about the long-term social impact from layoffs and an economic slowdown. “We have got to look at the long-term problem. See the public health issue; there’s little we can do about that except try to contain it and follow the (social) distance philosophy so that we can have a handle on it. It’s the social impact that I am somewhat concerned about, because people who are already under stress and it is made worse by layoffs and things like that. So we have got to be prepared to deal with any social unrest because that is a reality. This is not any fear mongering, it is a reality,” he said.
Religious leaders stage a day of prayer and fasting By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net A NATIONAL Day of Prayer and Fasting was observed yesterday as religious leaders engaged with worshippers through social media amid the COVID-19 crisis. The event was different from previous mass prayer services. Due to a ban on large social gatherings and a 24-hour curfew imposed in light of the pandemic, people were urged to pray individually in their homes. On Tuesday, the Bahamas Christian Council sent out guidelines on what to pray for and what times to pray through social media. The prayer event lasted from 6am to 6pm.
The Tribune spoke with some Bahamians who said they are turning to prayer for strength during the pandemic. “Prayer is very important and I am happy to participate in this National Day of Prayer,” said Willamae Ferguson, who described herself as a “prayer warrior”. “We may not be all together physically, but we are gathered together in spirit and the word of the Lord must prevail. The world is in chaos right now and the only thing we can resort to is prayer. “This coronavirus is a very serious disease and as we can see thousands are dying around the world. We must remain steadfast in prayer. Not just today, (Wednesday),
but every single day until it goes away.” Sandra Newton told this newspaper that while she doesn’t go to church on a regular basis, she has turned to God in this crisis. “I would not really call myself a Christian,” she said. “I don’t go to church unless it’s New Year’s Day or Easter or something like that, but what I see going on in the world right now is frightening. We have to turn to God. I have to turn to God. If you have a heart, and any sense, and see where hundreds of people are falling down dead per day from this COVID19 you would realise that something isn’t right in the world. I sincerely believe God is speaking to us and chastising us.
PORT AUTHORITY SET TO PUT MEDICAL FACILITY ON STANDBY By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Grand Bahama Bahama Port Authority has confirmed its intent to provide a medical facility on standby for COVID-19 cases here on the island, according to GBPA vice chairman Sarah St George. So far, there has been one confirmed COVID-19 case on Grand Bahama, bringing national count to five. The remaining cases are in New Providence. In a press statement issued last evening, Ms St George said: “The GBPA is working hand-in-hand with GB Health Services and the government of The Bahamas to put an extra medical facility on standby and at the immediate disposal of GB Health Services, should the need arise.” She also noted that “GBPA, along with the industrial sector, is amassing a pool of additional funds and resources to contribute to GB Health Services for sourcing, procurement
and shipping of specialised medical equipment to Grand Bahama, in order to assist with the fight against COVID-19.” Ms St George commended the government for its response to the pandemic. “We have been paying close attention to how this global pandemic has affected other countries around the world and we commend the government of The Bahamas and the health authorities, for acting swiftly to protect our nation and for their ongoing communications,” she said. Although the GBPA has discontinued nonessential
VICE chair Sarah St George
services in compliance with government orders, the company continues to work safely to provide essential city maintenance, collections and debris removal, inspection services for home remediation post Hurricane Dorian, and work carried out by the Grand Bahama Utility Company Limited (GBUC) for the restoration of potable water. “As work continues, employees are taking the necessary health and safety protocols to safeguard themselves and the public,” assured the vice chairman.Additionally, the GBPA has also taken steps that will benefit all residents and licensees. According to the release, the distribution sites for potable drinking water continue to be operational, without risk to the NGOs. The Grand Bahama Utility Company (GBUC) has increased sanitary protocols at water distribution sites to mitigate against the risk of COVID-19 spread, and there will be no disconnects of water for utility customers.
“I got down on my knees this morning and prayed to God to help us. I asked Him to have mercy on us and to forgive us of our sins. After we have prayed, we can only leave it up to God to help us. I hope the people of this country are not taking this virus lightly.” Graham Lewis, 19, said he too took part in the prayer event. “I didn’t really follow the guidelines,” he said. “I don’t feel that prayer should be outlined like that. “We know that COVID-19 can be a deadly virus so we know what to pray for – the victims and the fallout from it. So
that’s what I prayed for. I approached the throne of God, like I am taught to, and I prayed, sincerely, about all factors. “I do believe God has heard my prayers and the prayers of all the others praying about this situation. God is going to help us get out of this. We will all be giving our praise reports soon.” Rita Colebrook said she was moved by videos on social media of people praying for humanity. “I do believe the worldwide spread of COVID-19, and all that comes with it, is a way of God bringing us back to Him – a way of Him showing us that He is God
and that everything started with Him and that we must come back to Him,” she said. “We have to pray, and pray unceasingly, to get rid of this plague called COVID-19. Our country is too small to take on what it can really do. Let’s continue to pray.” There have been more than 400,000 cases of the disease with just over 20,000 deaths worldwide. Health officials have said most people who get the disease may have mild symptoms and not need to go to hospital, however the elderly and people with underlying conditions are at higher risk of death.
PAGE 4, Thursday, March 26, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
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Saving lives, then saving the economy THE extent of the economic crisis we are facing is beginning to become clear. Curfew has already been extended to 24 hours to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and the duration of it may be extended for another 30 days by the government. That extension will depend heavily on how our current isolation procedures fare in quelling the spread of the virus. Regardless of that extension, however, the long-term financial impacts were signaled yesterday by Atlantis extending its own shutdown until May 15. Atlantis, of course, is in a position where it doesn’t just need local infection rates to stop, but also relies upon the outbreak faltering in the rest of the world from where it draws its tourists. With coronavirus rates in the US still on an upward path, Atlantis is obviously eyeing the likely time period in which people will perhaps start to travel again. Meanwhile, the Labour Director expects around 15,000 people to register for NIB benefits as a result of the tourism sector shutdown. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognise that with private sector income going down and expenditure on helping people suddenly left out of work going up, our balance sheet is going to take a major hit. If you’re turning to people for easy solutions to this, there are none. The concerns are everywhere. The head of the Organisation for Responsible
Governance also spoke yesterday about the need for balance between fighting the virus and restarting industry. Robert Myers speaks of reaching a “happy medium” though this will be a situation where we might instead have to settle for the least unhappy medium. We have to get through it. People need to eat. Businesses need to be sustained so that when this has passed, the jobs are there again for workers. The government is making changes as it goes along – last night changes were made allowing commercial fishermen to sell their product for processing and to wholesalers, and rental car companies can open up to receive returned vehicles or extend contracts, for example. Adjustments have been made too in Freeport industries and at Commonwealth Brewery. This is a sign of the government listening to needs and making adjustments accordingly. It’s a balancing act. Open up enough to keep society going. Don’t open up so much that it gives the virus a chance to spread. And as Atlantis has shown, the effects of this aren’t going away any time soon. We must win the first battle and stem the spread of the virus. Then we can fight the economic battle. But until that fight is won, we are going to need to support one another. As a Christian country, we often talk about the Bible. The time has truly come to live up to the call to love thy neighbour as thyself.
Three strikes for the Crown THE court acquitted Frank Smith. The Court of Appeal rebuked the Crown’s appeal against that acquittal. And now the Privy Council has rejected the prosecution’s bid to appeal the acquittal. That’s three strikes and you’re out for the Crown. The wording of the Privy Council could hardly be clearer, saying that the appeal should be refused “because there is no risk that a serious miscarriage of justice has occurred in this case”. Mr Smith has already begun a case for malicious prosecution, filing a writ in the Supreme Court months ago. We have written in this column before that questions must be asked over how the case was handled by prosecutors, and those questions extend to the process of appealing to the Privy Council after meeting such an outright rejection.
Did the Crown really think after two court rejections, the case was really strong enough to demand the Privy Council’s intervention? The PLP obviously feels otherwise – slamming the state for having “wasted millions of dollars” and focusing on Attorney General Carl Bethel, who has picked up another loss on his record. The courts will of course ultimately decide on any issue regarding Mr Smith’s malicious prosecution claim, but even if it is eventually ruled there is no malice there should be an examination of the process that brought us here. Mr Bethel has previously replied to calls for his resignation by suggesting he’s going nowhere. If that’s the case, Mr Bethel, then you’ve got some work to do.
Hotline not so hot for Family Islands EDITOR, The Tribune I’M writing to share my experience relative to contacting the 311 Covid19 emergency order hotline. With both the PM and COP advising the public to call this hotline prior to venturing out for essential services due to the curfew, one would think that said call would be a point of critical communication in an effort to streamline the process. Regrettably, based on my experience a few minutes ago, that was not the case. Firstly, for Family Islanders (like me), it is a paid call from a land line. Hence the number 1 needs to precede the 311 digits. You can dial direct only from a cell phone. Secondly, the person who answered the phone
advised me (after I stated where I was calling from in the Family Island), that this was a Nassau number and that she herself was in Nassau. Further, she didn’t take any pertinent information from me or provide me anything for reference in the event I was stopped. According to the operator, she was only able to instructed me to take my identification with me and to reiterate that in the event of a stop, explain to the officers my reasoning for leaving home. When I inquired from the operator if the 311 phone call should be eliminated for persons in the Family Islands noting that she kept telling me it was a Nassau number and that she was in Nassau, she said no, which seems nonsensical in my view.
If persons in the Family Islands are adhering to the government’s instructions, calling this number where it appears information can’t be passed onto the law enforcement officers in their jurisdictions, how does this streamline the process and make it easier to venture out for essential services? I applaud these hard working men and women who are out there on the front lined doing their jobs and trying to protect all of us. Nevertheless, if the public is being advised to follow a process that’s not beneficial to them or law enforcement, maybe this issue requires further review. CLEO FARRINGTON March 24, 2020
Prepare for hard times EDITOR, The Tribune I RECENTLY read an article in one of our dailies in regards to “Mass layoffs” in the hotel industry. Thousands are being sent home and/or having their salaries reduced due to the spread of COVID-19. It is being described as “temporarily laid off”. Based on my discussions with people, many are treating this lockdown like a hurricane; here for a couple days and then things will go back to normal. The reality is, COVID19 and these preventative measures will be around in some form or fashion for months, it could extend into 2021. With only 4 confirmed cases, the country was forced to go into lockdown. This is largely because the virus spreads so easily and we, as a developing country don’t have the necessary resources to fight an outbreak. So, strong preventative measures have to be put in place. Prevention is better than cure. So, the question is how long do we have to be on lockdown? Truthfully, that depends on how long it takes to reduce the number of confirmed cases to 0. This is why social distancing is necessary. Hypothetically though, let’s say confirmed cases are reduced to 0 next week and we open back up for business. We will run into two problems. 1. Many Americans and foreigners in general are still coming from countries with the virus and so they may not (probably won’t) be able to travel even if our borders and hotels are open. 2. If they are allowed to travel, they will probably bring the virus with them and thus sparking another lock down. This process will continue until either a vaccine is made or the entire country catches the virus and grows an immunity towards it (even though there are reports of new strains and reoccurring illness by those who have caught it before. Thus leading some to believe that it may be a case similar to herpes, where it
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net flares up when your immune system is weak etc). There is currently no vaccine against COVID-19 and the World Health Organization said in Feb that it does not expect a vaccine to become available in less than 18 months. So, this leaves us with the second option. Letting the country contract the virus. This can be done in two ways, letting it run wild and “get it over quickly” or try to contain it, slow the spread and take care of few people over a long period. The problem with letting it run wild is obvious...a lot of people die. A lot. Just look at a much more developed country like Italy. Now add in the fact that we have an overburdened healthcare system on a normal day. Many people living with grandparents, a population with a lot of underlying illnesses and it is a recipe for disaster. So, that can’t be done. The next is to contain it. This is what we are doing now. This will have to continue until a vaccine is made. So, this brings me to the point of this post. Prepare for hard economic times. The world is fighting this same battle and it will more than likely trigger a global recession. Minister D’Aguilar said there will be no tourists for the foreseeable future and there is a catastrophic collapse of our number one industry...tourism. It is in difficult times like these that show us the importance of having a self sustaining economy with diversified industries. Sadly, with the collapse of tourism comes the collapse of many spin off businesses and employment. Those businesses that provide goods and services to those who work and are involved in tourism will feel it as well. It will have a ripple effect throughout the entire economy, far beyond those directly employed in Tourism.
I don’t want to cause anyone to panic but I do want people to be informed of what the future may hold so that you can prepare. • Cut back on excess spending as much as possible (hard to do when you have to stock up on supplies for the pandemic) and top up/create an emergency fund. • Start to cut back on overhead costs. Look at your monthly recurring expenses. Can you go to a cheaper phone plan? Can you work out at home instead of paying for the gym membership? Do you have premium services on some platforms and not the normal or free version? • Even if you don’t need to yet, reach out to your banks about suspension of payments on loans/mortgages for a period of time. • Use your time in 24 hour curfew to plan and find easy and doable ways to supplement your income. Pick up a side hustle. (I had a friend in college who taught himself how to cut his own hair. He saved money by not having to pay for haircuts and he also ended up as the barber for the entire dormitory!) • Plan out your expenses over the next 6months and be strict about sticking to it. This will not pass over quickly so we have to be ready for the long haul. There is a silver lining though. The huge reduction in production around the world has allowed the earth to cool off a bit which should have a positive affect on hurricane season...theoretically, a cooler planet means cooler oceans and weaker hurricanes. Let us pray that this is the case. We are one humanity. Throughout history, we have overcome many tragedies and catastrophes. We are strong and resilient but it is in these and future times that we have to make a special effort to be wise and show love and care for neighbours. This is when we show the love of Christ. We are in this together. CARLYLE BETHEL Nassau, March 24, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, March 26, 2020, PAGE 7
Govt defeat in Smith privy council appeal from page one
FORMER Public Hospitals Authority chairman Frank Smith
FAREWELL CEREMONY SET FOR FERGUSON
OUTGOING Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A FAREWELL ceremony is scheduled for next Monday in honour of outgoing Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson, according to Minister of National Security Marvin Dames. The announcement came days after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis confirmed Commissioner Ferguson’s impending resignation from the Royal Bahamas Police Force. This also comes after a local daily reported in February that the police chief was expected to be replaced by Deputy Commissioner Paul Rolle at the end of this month. “On Monday, we will have a very small ceremony,” Mr Dames said, while a guest on ZNS radio talk show Darold Miller Live. He said about 10 people will attend the ceremony to adhere to social distancing restrictions set out by the government amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the event would be broadcast live “so that The Bahamas will have
an opportunity to see the ceremony and will have an opportunity to hear from our leader... and our outgoing commissioner as well as our incoming commissioner.” He added: “Paul Rolle - he’s the commissioner designated.” Commissioner Ferguson took over the reigns of the RBPF in 2017. He joined the police force in 1980. While Mr Dames spoke briefly about the incoming police chief, he did not give much detail about the future leadership of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. RBDF Commodore Tellis Bethel was sent on leave on October 15 last year and it is unclear when he will return to work. Currently, the RBDF is under the leadership of Raymond King, acting commander. When asked on the talk show yesterday if there will be a “firm” commodore coming soon, the minister responded: “Well, we’re hoping. We don’t want to find ourselves in a position where we have acting (officials) at the top for a very long time.”
The ruling comes months after Mr Smith took the first steps toward suing the government for malicious prosecution, filing a writ in the Supreme Court. The Office of the DPP argued that between April 2016 and April 2017, Mr Smith demanded and obtained $5,000 per month from Barbara Hanna and attempted to extort another $5,000 from her in May 2017 in respect of his duties as a public officer. However, Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt acquitted Mr Smith of 15 criminal charges in February 2019. She said there were numerous inconsistencies and discrepancies in the prosecution’s case and that the crown’s witnesses further undermined the case. She said Mrs Hanna’s evidence contained “inherent inconsistencies” and were “manifestly unreliable,” running contrary to “reason and all common sense.” She also criticised Health Minister Dr Duane Sands and National Security Minister Marvin Dames for the “egregious” way in which they interacted with Mrs Hanna before the police investigated her claims, saying their conduct gave the appearance of a “political flavour to a curious bystander.” In August, after the prosecution appealed that ruling, the Court of Appeal ruled that the prosecution’s case was unsustainable and failed to show what was clearly wrong with the chief magistrate’s ruling. Yesterday, PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said Prime Minister Dr Hubert
Minnis has a decision to make with respect to Dr Sands and Mr Dames. “Both at the first instance in the Magistrate’s Court and at the Court of Appeal, the conduct of two of his ministers was judicially condemned,” he said in a statement. “We have previously asked for their resignations and if they failed to do so, we asked for their dismissal. “The eyes of the public must also be on the attorney general, Senator Carl Bethel, who allowed this
case to go forward when he must have known the state of the evidence. It gives rise to the charge of a malicious prosecution. The state has wasted millions of public dollars. The costs of bringing foreign counsel and other costs have not been handled in a transparent way. There has been no accountability for the conduct of the state and the entire effort against former Senator Smith and former Minister Shane Gibson has ended in abject and complete failure.” A jury acquitted Mr
Gibson in a separate bribery trial last year. “I am saddened by the fact that while justice has been served in this case, what of other people in our system who do not have the resources to take the fight all the way to the Privy Council? “This strengthens my resolve that one day God willing as prime minister, I will do my utmost to help the poor and the dispossessed. I make that pledge today,” Mr Davis said. Editorial View - Page 6
PAGE 8, Thursday, March 26, 2020
O
N Tuesday the coronavirus claimed one of its biggest victims yet. The 2020 Olympic Games have been postponed. The International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo organising committee officially announced the quadrennial global games had been put off until sometime next year. Perhaps the handwriting was on the wall on Sunday when the Canadian Olympic Committee said it wouldn’t participate if the games began as scheduled late in July. For The Bahamas, which must do as well as any nation in the world at the Olympic games when measuring its population against its haul of medals, this postponement is just more dispiriting news in a week full of disappointment. Over the weekend, Sir Sol Kerzner died. The white South African impresario, whose transition here was so memorably smoothed by none other than Nelson Mandela over 25 years ago, left an enduring mark on Paradise Island by turning the stagnant Resorts International property into a world-renowned destination. Kerzner was initially controversial. He was strongly linked in popular minds to South African white separatist policies that had long prevailed in his homeland despite global sanctions. When Mandela, fresh from sharing the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for helping to broker majority rule in South Africa, arrived in Nassau to lend substance to Kerzner’s application for ownership of Resorts International, the effect was electric. Approval of Kerzner’s application to purchase and redevelop Resorts International soon followed. As has been noted, it is ironic that Kerzner should pass just at the moment the world’s health crisis
THE TRIBUNE
Trump keeps putting his foot in his mouth without sanitising it STATESIDE with Charlie Harper threatens tourism everywhere, certainly including at Atlantis. In New York and Washington, the effects of the increasingly one-sided contest between US President Donald Trump and the coronavirus were perhaps more clearly felt than ever. The American stock market Monday officially completed the astonishingly quick process of losing every single penny in value it had gained since Trump’s inauguration. And then some. A Dow Jones Industrial Average that had soared to very nearly 30,000 slumped below the 20,000 mark it maintained in January 2017. A stimulus-fuelled recovery may be in view. Let’s hope so, and we will see how far it goes when it really begins. With its remarkable losses, the market removed, for now, one of the principal props supporting Trump’s stubborn push for re-election. There are other reasons to support the President’s desire for four more years in office, but none has been cited so frequently by Trump himself.
This President’s handling of the pandemic has hardly been inspiring. On almost every day over the past several weeks, he has been televised putting his foot in his mouth without even sanitising it first. Even conservative commentators have been moved by what they see with their own eyes to dispute Trump statements such as this tweet, aimed at encouraging a return to work and reopening of the many businesses who have slowed or shuttered operations: “Our people want to return to work. They will practice social distancing and all else, and seniors will be watched over protectively and lovingly. THE CURE CANNOT BE WORSE BY FAR THAN THE PROBLEM.” The capital letters emphasis is Trump’s. He clearly wants this crisis to go away and to stop its pesky interference in his re-election campaign. Trump’s denials of the seriousness of the pandemic have led numerous aides, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National
Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, to directly contradict some of Trump’s more nonsensical pronouncements. Fauci, who until recently appeared as part of the human background for Trump’s daily press conferences, has become something of an American national hero for the simple reason that he seems to be telling the truth to an anxious population. The man has proven to be trustworthy. The contrast with his boss could not be more pronounced. Even Liz Cheney, daughter of and heir to the still potent residual influence of former Vice President Dick Cheney, was moved to offer the following: “There will be no normally functioning (American) economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages, including doctors and nurses, are dying because we have failed to do what is necessary to stop this virus,” Liz Cheney tweeted. Cheney, elected only three years ago to the single at-large congressional seat from her home state of Wyoming, has risen in that phenomenally short time to the No. 3 leadership position in the Republican Party in the House of Representatives. A Senate seat was hers for the taking this November with the
TRUMP’s handling of the pandemic has hardly been inspiring retirement of the Repub- longer range goal is another lican incumbents, but she house, the white one at elected to stay where she is, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. in what is surely one of the But for now, she is a GOP safest House seats in the rising star and her words country. count. She may want to become But Cheney’s words still the second woman, and don’t count nearly as much first Republican, to serve as the President’s words as Speaker of the House. count. When he lies, it Many observers believe her hurts.
16,000 REASONS NOT TO PUT YOUR FAITH IN THE PRESIDENT SPEAKING of Trump’s lies, the Washington Post and other media outlets are still publicly keeping track of them. The total has now reportedly passed 16,000 falsehoods in not much more than three years in office. You’d think that would be hard to accomplish, but when your mouth is open in public as often as is Trump’s, it’s apparently doable. Even as his own medical specialists contradicted him and the Senate struggled for too long to agree on the parameters of a
massive stimulus bailout, Trump kept talking. And lying. Here’s a sample of his misstatements and untruths on the coronavirus, courtesy of the Post: January 21: “We have it (coronavirus) totally under control. It’s one person in from China.” February 6: “We pretty much shut it down coming in from China.” February 10: “Looks like by April when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.” During this three-week period,
the US went from one confirmed coronavirus case in Washington state to several more. And over 1,000 people worldwide had already died from the virus. February 25: “We’re very close to a vaccine.” - No vaccine for at least a year from now, and probably longer, say most health experts. February 26: “We have 15 cases in the US, and within a couple of days, that will go down to nearly zero. That’s a pretty good job we’ve done.”
Within five days, there were over 100 US cases. By midMarch, 28 people had died. The federal government did not do a pretty good job at all. March 6: “Anybody that wants a test can get a test.” Not true, then or now. A doctor or public health official must prescribe the test. March 11: “Health industry leaders have agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments.” Incorrect. Only test cost
payments would be waived. There were numerous other examples. But you get the point. Most Americans apparently believe Trump lied to calm the stock markets; to keep his re-election prospects on track; to protect his “great friend,” Chinese President Xi from embarrassment; from inattention or ignorance or simple puerile petulance. Or all of the above. But does any of those reasons strengthen your faith in Trump’s leadership?
TWO LEFT IN THE RACE MEANWHILE, on the other side of the political aisle, Hawaii Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has finally accepted the inevitable and abandoned her presidential candidacy. That leaves just front-runner Joe Biden and his stubborn challenger, Bernie Sanders. Numerous Democratic primary elections remain on the calendar, but many have been postponed until June 2, and few promise favourable results for Sanders. He nonetheless remains in the race, protected by the national obsession with the coronavirus from reporters’ nagging questions about why he is doing so and not putting his mind to efforts to unify his party to confront Trump in November. Biden shook up his campaign staff not long ago, bringing on board as his new campaign manager 43-yearold Jen O’Malley Dillon,
who was deputy campaign manager for Barack Obama in his winning effort against Mitt Romney in 2012. The appointment was widely praised. Biden’s campaign was initially woefully underfunded, but that is changing. Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg has reportedly pledged $2 billion to help defeat Trump. The Service Employees Union will spend more than $150 million in eight key battleground states to support the Democratic nominee. Other trade unions, facing a stout foe to future labour organising in Trump, will also sign on with money and campaign workers. Big Democratic donors are supposedly finally lining up behind Biden. This doesn’t nearly match the funds raised by Trump’s campaign. But for money, if not for delegates, it’s still early.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, March 26, 2020, PAGE 9
Global cruising’s alive and kicking - if you’re a blue shark By Jasmin Graham Ph.D. Candidate in Marine Science, Florida State University BLUE sharks are among the widest-ranging shark species in the oceans. We know this partly because from 1962 to 2013, 117,962 blue sharks were tagged as part of the ongoing Cooperative Shark Tagging Programme. This partnership between the commercial fishing industry, the U.S. government, recreational fishermen and academic research scientists is the longest-running tagging programme in the world. Since its launch in 1962, participants have tagged hundreds of thousands of sharks representing 35 different species.
More than half (51 percent) of the animals tagged were blue sharks (Prionace glauca) – a total of 117,962 individual sharks. This is probably because blues are abundant: They are found in all of the world’s oceans, as far north as Alaska and as far south as Chile, but rarely venture near shore. Unlike some other sharks, blues are not a prized commercial species, likely because most people think they taste disgusting. That makes fishermen willing to tag and release them instead of harvesting them. But blue sharks are often caught unintentionally as bycatch along with targeted fish. They are classified as near threatened, and there is evidence that their population is decreasing.
Each tag attached to a shark carries an identification number and contact information, so that recaptures can be reported and matched to data collected during the initial tagging. The data show that these sharks really move. One travelled a recordbreaking 3,997 nautical miles from waters off Long Island, New York, where it was first tagged, to the south Atlantic where it was recaptured – a distance longer than the Great Wall of China. Blue sharks range throughout the world’s tropical and temperate oceans (blue zones). IUCN Redlist/Wikipedia, CC BY-SA The sharks were caught in all seasons throughout their range, in tropical waters
warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) and temperate waters, which range from 50°-68°F (10°-20°C). In more tropical climates, blue sharks occupy waters as deep as 1,150 feet (350 meters), which are cooler than water near the surface. Their ability to inhabit a wide range of depths enables them to move around as seasons and water temperatures change. Tagging data confirm that blue sharks migrate incredibly long distances, with some even crossing the equator from the North Atlantic to the South Atlantic. All of this movement allows them to mix and mingle with individuals throughout their range. This tells scientists that all blue
sharks in the Atlantic Ocean are part of one mating pool, and can be considered one big population, rather than smaller separate groups. The fact that blue sharks range so widely suggests that an event in one part of the Atlantic, such as an oil spill, could potentially affect the number of mating pairs across the population. This could reduce the number of blue sharks in the next generation and lead to a decline in their population throughout the Atlantic. It could also reduce their genetic diversity and make the survivors more prone to mortality from disease. About seven percent of the tagged blue sharks (8,213) were recaptured later, sometimes after more
than a decade. One shark was recaptured nearly 16 years after it was first tagged. Scientists estimated that this shark was between eight and 11-years-old at the time it was tagged, based on its size. That original age estimate would have made the shark 24 to 27 years old when it was recaptured, which falls within the current estimated range of maximum age for the species. Thanks to tagging data, scientists have learned a lot about the ecology of several species, including smooth dogfish and sandbar sharks. As a scientist pursuing a career in marine conservation, I look forward to more wondrous discoveries about these marvellous animals. theconversation.com
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THE TRIBUNE FROM the left: Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson all grew through personal adversity; Right: Here at home, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis acted quickly, balancing the need for a vigorous policy response, while trying not to get too far ahead of public sentiment about restricting certain civil liberties.
Real leadership in times of crisis - listen, learn and act US PRESIDENTIAL historian Doris Kearns Goodwin has written extensively on public leadership and character. In Leadership in Turbulent Times, Mrs. Kearns Goodwin chronicles how Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and Lyndon Johnson (LBJ) grew through personal adversity and performed through periods of national crisis. Quoting Abigail Adams, the mother of President John Quincy Adams, the presidential historian observed: “It is not in the calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. … Great necessities call out great virtues.”
FRONT PORCH
SIMON President Lincoln led his country through a brutal civil war; FDR through
the Great Depression and World War II; and LBJ through the Vietnam War and during a critical period of the civil rights movement. Teddy Roosevelt (TR) proved an adept and decisive crisis manager during the 1902 Coal Strike and took unprecedented federal action to keep energy supplies running and the U.S. economy afloat. TR, who as VicePresident assumed the presidency after President William McKinley was assassinated, learned invaluable leadership lessons during the crisis, including, as noted by Mrs. Kearns Goodwin: “Secure a reliable understanding of the facts, causes, and conditions of
the situation; be ready to grapple with reversals, abrupt intrusions that can unravel all plans; reevaluate options and be ready to adapt as a situation escalates; assemble a crisis management team and find ways to relieve stress.” The health and economic pandemic engulfing the world because of COVID19 is in the coinage of Abigail Adams, a great necessity calling for great virtues by national leaders. The global pandemic is testing and revealing the character of political, corporate and other leaders. Some, like Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, son of Lee Kuan Yew, the modern father of the Southeast Asia citystate, acted decisively and quickly as the virus took a toll on China. His actions were bold and strong. His words measured and his disposition reassuring and temperate. He has demonstrated tremendous prudential judgement. Other leaders dithered. Some, like Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, both given to pathological narcissism, conspiracy theories and anti-scientific mindsets, proved incapable of grasping the magnitude of the threat. In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson initially was slow off the mark. Here at home, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis acted quickly, balancing the need for a vigorous policy response, while trying not to get too far ahead of public sentiment about restricting certain civil liberties. Such delicate timing typically proves necessary in a crisis. A leader who moves too far ahead of public sentiment, even in a time of crisis, risks a backlash. Democratic leaders have to bring citizens along with clear and compelling reasons, especially in times when curfews are required and when there will be mass economic dislocation and social turmoil because of restrictions. Even in authoritarian states leaders have to respond carefully to public concern and fear, especially when there is mass panic and anxiety about an unfolding disease of which little is known. Chinese President Xi Jinping realised he had to wage health and communications battles as COVID-19 deaths and illness mounted amid widespread outrage directed at him and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. In The Bahamas, Prime Minister Minnis seemed
prepared for this crisis. Because of his medical training and years of experience he appeared to instinctually understand the emerging threat. His tenure as Minister of Health, during which he dealt with other viral threats, also appeared to make him more acutely sensitive as COVID-19 began to hit other countries. But his greatest preparation for the current crisis may have been Hurricane Dorian, during which he learned through a baptism of fire and one of the most powerful hurricanes in recorded history, leadership lessons only understood and internalised by experience.
BEST TEAM One of those lessons is to carefully check and verify what one is told by officials. Check the facts on the ground as President Lincoln often did during the U.S. Civil War, often going to the frontlines of battles. He reviewed the state of battles, casualty and fatality numbers, the state of munitions, the needs of soldiers and the quality of his generals and officers. Officials sometimes misstate supposed facts out of ignorance or to cover up their ineptitude and mistakes, or to make themselves look better. It was critical for the Prime Minister to visit the areas ravaged by Hurricane Dorian to provide comfort and assess the situation on the ground for himself. It is also critical to assemble the best team possible. President Lincoln famously went through several generals until he settled on the hard-charging, often gruff and equally hard-drinking Ulysses S. Grant, who proved pivotal in helping the Union to win the U.S. Civil War. As the COVID-19 crisis began to hit home, Dr. Minnis reached out to a former colleague to help coordinate his administration’s response. He found one of his generals in the no-nonsense retired Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, a former Chief Medical Officer of the country. Her experience and biography eminently qualify her for the moment. She attained her medical degree from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, one of the leading educational institutions. Her Wikipedia page notes: “In 2010, Dahl-Regis was appointed to chair an
‘In The Bahamas, Prime Minister Minnis seemed prepared for this crisis. Because of his medical training and years of experience he appeared to instinctually understand the emerging threat.’
international expert committee responsible for verifying the elimination of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in the Americas. In 2016, the committee declared the Americas free of endemic measles, following a 22-year vaccination drive. “In 2018, Dahl-Regis was presented with the PAHO Public Health Hero of the Americas award. At the ceremony, Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis commended Dahl-Regis on her efforts to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases.” Her CV notes: “Dr. DahlRegis is known for her leadership role in the Pan American Health Organization at its regional offices and at headquarters, and for her work with the World Health Organization in Geneva. “… She has also served as a consultant at UNICEF, and as member and Chair of the Independent Review Committee of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) in Geneva Switzerland 2000 through 2011.”
LEADERSHIP Leadership is about understanding the moment and how to respond. In a bizarre redux of his politically inept wading through Pinewood Gardens in boots with a PLP flag on his truck at the time of Hurricane Dorian, Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis has proved dramatically out of tune and out of step during the COVID-19 crisis. First, he allowed for the creation of a PLP-branded committee that seemed more like a public relations exercise. And at the time when deaths were mounting around the world and the crisis was threatening the health and economic well-being of The Bahamas, he claimed the Minnis Administration was overreaching. Mr. Davis looked foolish as he appeared to try to take political advantage of a dire threat to the lives of Bahamians and to our economy. Within days he had to reverse himself and agree to stricter measures. Even many PLPs are stunned by his actions and poor judgement. Mr. Davis has reduced his stature even as the Prime Minister has gained in stature because of his steady leadership. Mr. Davis spectacularly misread the moment. He continues to allow himself to be misled by staggeringly poor, wild-eyed advice from certain quarters. The Leader of the Opposition has shown a pattern of poor judgement, pettiness and miscalculation. As Mrs. Kearns Goodwin has noted on numerous occasions, leadership and crises reveal character. Some world leaders have demonstrated tremendous character, while others have faltered and revealed their unsuitability for leadership and an inability to grow.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, March 26, 2020, PAGE 11
PRINCE CHARLES GOES INTO ISOLATION AFTER TESTING POSITIVE LONDON Associated Press
PRINCE Charles has tested positive for the new coronavirus, royal officials confirmed yesterday. The 71-year-old is showing mild symptoms of COVID-19 and is self-isolating at a royal estate in Scotland, the prince’s Clarence House office said. His wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has tested negative. The prince and the 72-year-old duchess are in good spirits, and Charles is not bedridden. “The Prince of Wales has tested positive for Coronavirus,”
Clarence House said, adding he “otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual.” Charles and Camilla’s tests were carried out by the National Health Service in Scotland. Its website says that in general people will be tested if they “have a serious illness that requires admission to hospital.’’ Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood defended the test. “From the information I’ve been given it’s clear he was tested for clinical reasons,’’ she said. “And I’m pleased
also that he is well and as with many people who have had this virus he has had a mild illness.” Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth, 93, remains at her Windsor Castle home west of London with her 98-year-old husband, Prince Philip. “Her Majesty the queen remains in good health,’’ the palace said, adding that the queen last saw Charles briefly at an event on March 12 and “is following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare.” Clarence House said it was “not possible to ascertain from whom the prince caught the virus owing
PRINCE Charles and his mother
to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks.” Charles’ last public engagement was March 12. He has also had a number of private meetings, and participants at those sessions have been made aware of his condition. Charles attended a March 11 awards ceremony for his Prince’s Trust charity alongside celebrities including actor Pierce Brosnan and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones. He also attended a round table meeting on March 10 with Monaco’s Prince Albert II, who has since tested positive for COVID-19.
COMPULSORY ISOLATION IN CANADA TORONTO Associated Press
LEFT: Patients wear personal protective equipment as they wait in line for a COVID-19 test in New York; above: A volunteer nurse tends to a homeless person in Milan; below: Travellers sit with their luggage outside Beijing Railway Station
Senate passes huge $2tn rescue package WASHINGTON Associated Press THE Senate late last night passed an unparalleled $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic. The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced. The 880-page measure is the largest economic relief bill in US history. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared somber and exhausted as he announced the vote — and he released senators from Washington until April 20, though he promised to recall them
if needed. “The legislation now before us now is historic because it is meant to match a historic crisis,”said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Our health care system is not prepared to care for the sick. Our workers are without work. Our businesses cannot do business. Our factories lie idle. The gears of the American economy have ground to a halt.” The package is intended as relief for an economy spiraling into recession or worse and a nation facing a grim toll from an infection that’s killed nearly 20,000 people worldwide. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, asked how long the aid would keep the economy afloat, said: “We’ve anticipated three months. Hopefully, we won’t need this for three months.” Underscoring the effort’s sheer magnitude, the bill finances a
response with a price tag that equals half the size of the entire $4 trillion annual federal budget. Insistently optimistic, President Donald Trump said of the greatest public-health emergency in anyone’s lifetime, “I don’t think its going to end up being such a rough patch” and anticipated the economy soaring “like a rocket ship” when it’s over. The drive by leaders to speed the bill through the Senate was slowed as four conservative Republican senators from states who economies are dominated by low-wage jobs demanded changes, saying the legislation as written might give workers like store clerks incentives to stay on unemployment instead of returning return to their jobs since they may earn more money if they’re laid off than if they’re working.
The sprawling measure is the third coronavirus response bill produced by Congress and by far the largest. It builds on efforts focused on vaccines and emergency response, sick and family medical leave for workers, and food aid. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi swung behind the bipartisan agreement, saying it “takes us a long way down the road in meeting the needs of the American people.” Senate passage delivered the legislation to the Democraticcontrolled House, which will most likely pass it Friday. House members are scattered around the country and the timetable for votes in that chamber was unclear. House Democratic and Republican leaders have hoped to clear the measure for Trump’s signature by a voice vote without having to call lawmakers back to Washington.
CITY MOBILISES AS IT BECOMES MAIN HOT SPOT NEW YORK Associated Press
DAYS after New York leaders ordered people to stay home, authorities mobilised to head off a potential public health disaster yesterday, with the city’s emergence as the nation’s biggest coronavirus hot spot
a warning flare — and perhaps a cautionary tale — for the rest of the country. A makeshift morgue was set up outside Bellevue Hospital, and the city’s police, their ranks dwindling as more fall ill, were told to patrol nearly empty streets to enforce social distancing.
Public health officials hunted down beds and medical equipment and put out a call for more doctors and nurses for fear the number of sick will explode in a matter of weeks, overwhelming hospitals the way the virus did in Italy and Spain. New York University offered to let its
medical students graduate early so that they could join the battle. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, again pleaded for help in dealing with the onslaught, attributed the cluster to the city’s role as a gateway to international travelers and the sheer density of its population, with 8.6 million
people sharing subways, elevators, apartment buildings and offices. “Our closeness makes us vulnerable,” he said. “But it’s true that your greatest weakness is also your greatest strength. And our closeness is what makes us who we are. That is what New York is.”
CANADA imposed mandatory self-isolation yestrerdy for those returning to the country under the Quarantine Act. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland initially said the system would begin at midnight Wednesday and require 14 days of isolation. But several hours later, government officials said the quarantine order had been in effect for more than 12 hours already. “It will be a legal obligation for people entering Canada from outside Canada,” Freeland said. “Essential workers are excluded.” Freeland said penalties would be announced later. More than a million Canadians and permanent residents returned to Canada between March 14 to March 20, according to Canada Border Services. Truck drivers and health care workers crossing the border are exempted from the quarantine act and Canada and the United States already closed their common border for all nonessential travel. Canada relies on cross border trade for essential goods like food and medicine. Freeland said people who have already returned should be self-isolating at home already, noting it is critical to protect the health of Canadians and ultimately to ensure that the country’s economic rebound comes more quickly.
MEXICO TAKES CRUISE SHIPS
MEXICO CITY Associated Press
THE Mexican government said yesterday it would continue to receive cruise ships “for humanitarian reasons,” but that passengers would be “individually fumigated” before being taken to airports for return flights to their home countries. The Transportation Department said in a statement that protocol had been applied to the MS Europa, which docked in the Pacific coast port of Puerto Vallarta and was cleared of passengers over the weekend. The department said Mexico’s position is that “cruise ships can disembark for strictly humanitarian reasons, without endangering the port’s population.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, March 27, 2020, PAGE 11
SPORTS SECTION A
PAGE 14
THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020
Gardiner: ‘It’s devastating’ By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
T
he International Olympic Committee and 2020 host country Japan officially announced the postponement of the Tokyo Games due to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak on Tuesday and prospective Bahamian Olympians reacted to the decision. Originally scheduled for July 24 to August 9, the event will now take place sometime in 2021. Reigning World Athletics 400m champion, Steven Gardiner, called the postponement “devastating” to athletics but necessary given the state of the world amid the pandemic. “It’s devastating. We trained most of the year for this event and it’s sad that we will not get to have the Olympic Games this year,” he said. “Then again, health comes first and it’s just something we can’t control. As athletes, we just have to continue working and staying healthy for next year.” At the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, last October, Gardiner highlighted his pro career with his gold medal in the 400m. The Abaco native set a new national record of 43.48 seconds. It also placed him sixth overall on the all-time performance list. It was Gardiner’s second World Championship medal after he won silver behind world record holder Wayde van Niekerk of the Republic of South Africa back in 2017 in London, England. This marks the first time the Olympics have been postponed because of a global pandemic. Previous editions in 1916, 1940 and 1944 were cancelled due to World Wars I and II. High jumper Jamal Wilson qualified for the Tokyo Games in February at a meet in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. Wilson soared to a second-place finish with his lifetime achievement of 2.33 metres or 7-feet, 7 3/4-inches,
Athletes react to Tokyo Olympics being postponed which also matched the qualifying standard. “The coronavirus did a number to everybody, including the track and field world. The Olympics has been postponed, which was a big one on the list of course, but at the end of the day it’s just one event for us and we have an entire professional circuit to continue to compete in. The focus is still on staying in shape and just trying to maximise our time for the rest of this year. Unfortunately, everything has been pushed back a couple months or even more. We don’t even know what’s really going on with this or where this is going, other than the major meets are all being postponed.” Back home in Nassau, Wilson said athletes have to find a way to stay in shape amid the restrictions. “As a professional athlete in the Bahamas, for training, it is difficult during the 24-hour lockdown, with limited resources you just have to do what you can do to stay in shape. They give us 90 minutes to be outside and we just have to use it wisely. We just have to tweak our training so we don’t peak too early, we just have to work our way into tip-top shape when it matters the most. So we have to push our training a few months back for the meets that were postponed. Just like everyone else we have to cope with it, no reason to complain just take it as it comes, wake up every day ready to apply and still get better,” he said. “Most athletes just want everything to get back to normal and to participate in their sport. The NCAA
THOMAS BACH, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), attends an interview after the decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday. (Denis Balibouse/Keystone via AP/pool) shut down sports for the rest of the year which was a devastating blow for a lot of young athletes, especially those that have been preparing for such a long time for those opportunities. Whenever anything opens up, it can be a high school, college meet, I’m just excited to get back out and start competing again because I have been competing well this year.” This season he surpassed his previous indoor best of 2.31m (7-7) and outdoors of 2.30m (7-6 1/2). IOC President Thomas Bach discussed the issues surrounding the historic postponement of the games. “What made us take this decision were the developments with the dynamic spreading of the coronavirus. We have, from the very beginning, communicated that we were monitoring the situation day-by-day, 24 hours a day, and that we would adapt to any changes, and follow the advice of the World Health Organisation. At the very beginning of this crisis, we had a clear
focus on the developments in Japan, where we had to evaluate whether Japan would be in a position to offer a safe environment for every participant of the Olympic Games. This focus then shifted more and more to the international world,” he said. “We could see, on the one hand, the progress being made in Japan, fighting the virus and the efficiency of the measures being taken. On the other hand, the virus was spreading so rapidly that it became more and more a question of whether the world could travel to Japan, and if Japan could really afford to invite the world in the spirit of containing the virus. “This situation changed very rapidly, this is why we were adapting our scenarios, which we have always been discussing with the Organising Committee: mitigating measures, quarantine, many other issues. We then came to the situation where, on the one hand, we were pretty confident that by adapting these protective and mitigating measures, Japan could
be able, in four months from now, to organise the Games. At the same time, our doubts were growing whether the world would be ready for these Olympic Games.” Prior to the Olympics, the world of athletics suffered a major setback as the Diamond League postponed its first three athletics meetings of the 2020 season due to be held in April and May in Qatar and China because of the ongoing outbreak. All Bahamian Olympic qualifiers thus far have come from athletics: including Gardiner, Wilson, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Tynia Gaither, Pedrya Seymour and Samson Colebrooke. “The significance can be very important because we all hope - and this is what we are working for that these Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, celebrated in 2021, can be a celebration of humankind after having overcome the unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus. These Olympic Games and the Olympic flame can be a light at the end of this very dark tunnel
that humankind is going through at the moment, and which we do not know how long it will be,” Bach said. “The agreement is that we want to organise these Olympic Games at the latest in summer 2021. That means that the task force can consider the broader picture and this is not restricted just to the summer months. All the options are on the table before or during the summer 2021.” The Canadian and Australian Olympic committees led the way prior the IOC’s announcement and both said they would not send athletes to the Tokyo Games due to risks associated with the outbreak. Both also called for the games to be postponed. According to insidethegames, World Athletics was the first international sporting body to lobby for the postponement of the Olympics when President Sebastian Coe wrote a letter to Bach stating it is “neither feasible nor desirable” to continue with the games as planned.
COLLEGE ATHLETES CHOOSING WHETHER TO STAY IN US OR HEAD HOME By PAT EATON-ROBB AP Sports Writer STORRS, Conn. (AP) — All but one of Anna Makurat’s teammates headed home after the NCAA cancelled this year’s postseason basketball tournament and the school suspended classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 19-year-old UConn freshman from Poland, the decision was not that easy, especially with ever-increasing travel restrictions to and from Europe. She worried about classes restarting while she was overseas and when — or if — she might be able to get back to campus. Makurat is one of more than 20,000 foreign athletes currently competing at NCAA schools, according to the organisation. With competition cancelled across all NCAA divisions, many of those athletes face a similar dilemma. Their campuses are shut down, but the coronavirus situation in their homeland is worse than it is in the United States. The NCAA has advised schools to handle the situation as they see fit “for the health and safety of their
coaches, staff and student athletes.” For the last two weeks, Makurat has been one of about 50 UConn athletes still living at school with the campus largely a ghost town. She spent a lot of her time on her computer and phone, video chatting with family back home. She was able to go out to dinner one night with coach Geno Auriemma and teammate Evina Westbrook, who remained on campus to get treatment for an injury. Plans changed again after UConn decided to cancel all events for the rest of the semester and move learning online. Makurat was booked Wednesday on a flight home. She will have to self-quarantine for two weeks when she gets back. “Poland has pretty much closed everything so everyone is staying home anyway,” she said. “I have a place at home to work out and we have a basketball hoop outside, so I can get back to shooting. It wasn’t a hard decision, once I knew it was an option. I think everyone right now wants to be with their families, and I’m the same.” Wisconsin-Milwaukee women’s tennis player Lucy
AN OFFICIAL holds a lantern containing the Olympic Flame at the end of a flame display ceremony in Iwaki, northern Japan, yesterday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Harper, who is from Bolton, England, has decided to stay in the US for now with a friend’s family. “A lot of the flights out to England are getting cancelled and they’ve actually closed two of the terminals down at Manchester (England) airport,” she said. “I just made the decision to stay here for now, because I don’t know sort of when I’ll be able to come back if I leave. We don’t know how long this is going to last.” Most of her team is from overseas. She said about
half the international players have gone home. Tennessee’s men’s basketball team has players from France, Serbia, Uruguay and Finland, which meant Mary-Carter Eggert, the director of basketball operations, became a travel agent, l ooking for the best flights. “The fact of the matter is, their parents want them home just like I would want my kids home,” coach Rick Barnes said. This past week, several women’s basketball players from the University of
California figured out their arrangements. Sara Anastasieski left on a flight home to Sydney, Australia, late Thursday. “She was scheduled to leave Friday but that airline cancelled and she was scrambling last minute,” Cal coach Charmin Smith said. Evelien Lutje Schipholt, from The Netherlands, is staying with teammate Cailyn Crocker and her family in Southern California. Chen Yue, of Beijing, is currently with friends near Berkeley as the Bay Area continues its shelter in place order. Three women’s basketball players from the University of San Francisco — sisters Marta and Marija Galic and Lucija Kostic — thought they were finally safely home in Zagreb, Croatia, late last week only to experience a 5.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the capital early Sunday. There have been aftershocks since. “When we — sis Marija and I — finally reunited with our big family, the stress definitely decreased and we thought everything was going to be normal. However, that one
morning a really big earthquake happened. It was the strongest one I have ever experienced,” Marta Galic wrote in a message to The AP. “The whole house was shaking and things were falling on the ground for more than 10 seconds. I think that it was terrifying is not enough to say.” UConn, meanwhile, has made arrangements to keep dorm rooms, and at least one dining hall, open for the 1,200 mostly foreign students, including athletes, who haven’t been able to go anywhere else. “While all students have been encouraged to leave, UConn is committed to providing students who must stay in Storrs with the support they need while prioritizing their health and well-being.,” athletic director David Benedict said. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
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PAGE 14, Thursday, March 26, 2020
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MINNESOTA Timberwolves centre Karl-Anthony Towns is shown during the second half of an NBA game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California, on February 3. Towns says his mother is hospitalized and in a medically-induced coma after contracting the new coronavirus. Towns talked about his mother’s condition yesterday on his Instagram page and urged his followers to take COVID-19 seriously and practice social distancing. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Timberwolves’ Towns says his mother in hospital with COVID-19 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves centre Karl-Anthony Towns says his mother is hospitalised and in a medically-induced coma after contracting the coronavirus. Towns talked about the condition of his mother, Jacqueline Cruz, Wednesday on his Instagram page. He urged his followers to take COVID-19 seriously and practice social distancing. Towns said both his parents went to the hospital recently and were tested for the disease. While his father was released and told
to quarantine at home, his mother’s condition deteriorated to the point where she was put on a ventilator and placed in a coma. “She just wasn’t getting better,” Towns said. “Her fever wasn’t cutting from 103. It’d maybe go down to 101.9 with the meds then immediately spike back up during the night. She was very uncomfortable. Her lungs were getting worse, cough was getting worse. She was deteriorating in front of our eyes.” Towns said he’s trying to remain positive attitude as
his family deals with the situation. “My mother, she’s the strongest woman I know and I know she’ll beat this,” Towns said. “We’re going to rejoice when she does.” For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The majority of people recover from the virus.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, March 26, 2020, PAGE 15
WILL 2021 TOKYO OLYMPICS BECOME THE SPRING GAMES? By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Columnist IMAGINE a gorgeous spring day in Tokyo. The chill of winter has melted away. The summer humidity is still a couple of months off. Maybe, just maybe, the famed cherry blossoms are still around, bathing the capital in dazzling colours. Sounds like a pretty good time to have the Olympics, huh? Now that the Tokyo Games are officially on hold until 2021, the next big issue that must be decided is when to reschedule this mammoth, 2 1/2-week-long event. “That’s a loaded question,” American swimming star Ryan Murphy, who won three gold medals in Rio, said yesterday. “There’s so many factors.” The International Olympic Committee says the Games will be held no later than the summer of 2021, which could mean simply pushing it back to roughly the same spot on the calendar as this year. The opening ceremony had been set for July 24, but those plans were officially scrapped Tuesday because of the worldwide virus pandemic. While the postponement was a jarring, unprecedented decision, that might wind up being the easiest call for the IOC. The suits in Lausanne face a much trickier issue in the next few weeks — nailing down exact dates for staging the Olympics so everyone can start adjusting their plans. Cornel Marculescu, who runs the powerful FINA, overseeing international water sports, says the IOC is pondering two options: the normal window in the middle of summer and earlier spring dates, perhaps slotted right after the Masters golf tournament but before tennis’ French Open. That could mean, for instance, the opening ceremony on April 16, with the games running through May 2. The various sport federations are likely to favour a spring date because it would cause less disruption to the 2021 summer sports calendar, highlighted by the rescheduled European men’s soccer championship and world championships for two of the biggest Olympic sports: track and swimming.
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If the Olympics are held earlier than usual, those events in Eugene, Oregon (track and field) and Fukuoka, Japan (swimming and other aquatic sports) could stay in their current slots. But the biggest appeal of a spring Olympics is the weather. Summers are hot in Tokyo, with temperatures climbing well into the 90s Fahrenheit (32 and above Celsius) accompanied by stifling humidity. Worries about the heat pushed the IOC to order the marathons and race walks moved to the northern Japanese city of Sapporo, despite angry opposition from local organisers. There were also calls to shift open water swimming out of Tokyo Bay because of high water temperatures, though the IOC has insisted that no other sports would be moved. If the Olympics were held in spring, the marathon could move back to Tokyo and there wouldn’t be any worries about the humidity affecting any of the athletes competing in outdoor venues. And the cooler temperatures would make things more pleasant for the more than one million fans expected to attend. Still, the idea of staging the Olympics in the spring comes with plenty of drawbacks. “Think about all the sports you would be competing against at that time of year,” said Michael Phelps, who retired after 2016 Rio Games as the most decorated athlete in Olympic history. “You have these gung-ho Olympic fans who want to watch the game in the summer. What if ratings plummet because of a change they make?” A spring Olympics would compete for US television viewers against not only baseball, which would have just opened its season, but the NHL and NBA playoffs. Also, many major domestic soccer leagues around the world would be in the homestretch of their seasons. The sport that would be hurt the most by a spring Olympics is basketball. Most NBA players would not be able to compete (except, perhaps, those whose teams didn’t make the playoffs) and it would be a short turnaround from March Madness for many of the top men’s and women’s college players.
When taking the athletes’ needs into consideration — which, of course, should be the primary goal though it rarely is — Phelps believes the games should be rescheduled for the summer of 2021. “I think that’s best way to do it,” he said. “Then the athletes actually have a full year to go back to the drawing board, figure out what they have to do between now and the trials. If you try to do it sooner, you’re almost lost in limbo.” Rick Burton, a professor of sports management at Syracuse University, wonders if the Olympics could even be staged safely next spring. “It would be impressive to kind of shoehorn something as big as the Olympics into March or April and not have it throw off the global calendars of the 33 sport federations,” Burton said. “But it’s certainly a roll of the dice to believe that people may be able to attend sporting events a year from now, and that the athletes are going to be comfortable with one another in sports where there’s physical contact.” Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali, expected to be one of the favourites in Tokyo’s cycling road race, said he’ll be prepared for the rescheduled Olympics — no matter when that might be. “The postponement of a year does not change my aspirations,” said the Italian rider. “From now on, I can say that I will plan my preparation to arrive at the event in the best condition possible.” Kudos again to the IOC for making the prudent call to postpone the games. Now comes the really difficult decision. “I’ll be ready for whatever date they name,” Murphy said. “I really just hope the games can move forward like we’ve always known it to be.”
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AUSSIE’S MESSAGE TO OLYMPIANS: DON’T BE DISCOURAGED, ADJUST By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Patty Mills for Prime Minister. In a statesman’s-style address, the San Antonio Spurs guard delivered a message to Olympians and to his fellow Australians who are dealing with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. With the NBA season suspended, and serious travel restrictions in play, Mills posted a video on social media from his home in Texas, “where we’ve been self isolated for the past almost two weeks,” to respond to the Australian Olympic Committee’s advice to its athletes to prepare for the Tokyo Games being delayed to 2021. Sitting on a comfortable chair, and wearing shorts and a sweat shirt with OZ printed on the front, the three-time Olympian commended the Australian committee for its “proactive approach in handling this unprecedented crisis.” “This message is for everyone in Australia, fellow Australian athletes .... and of course, anyone else who’d like to listen,” Mills
JAPAN’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talks to journalists in front of the prime minister’s residence in Tokyo yesterday. (Charly Triballeau/Pool Photo via AP) said. “I’m absolutely gutted that this crisis has affected the largest international sporting event in the world. But just like everyone, athlete or not, the health of all these people remain the
top priority. We’re all in this together.” Mills was measured in his message, delivered with an Australian-themed backdrop including his gold Boomers No. 5 jersey
draped over the corner of a canvas of the Olympic rings covered with hundreds of signatures. On a small table, there’s a boxing kangaroo and a doll draped with Australia’s indigenous
flags. “To my teammates, do not be discouraged by this adversity. “As an Olympic athlete, your goal remains the same: To represent our country the best way possible and
strive to be your very best,” he said. “Your goal doesn’t change. Just regroup, regather and adjust your preparation plans. Stay positive.” The coronavirus has infected more than 382,000 people and killed more than 16,500 around the world. It started in China late last year and took a while to reach to Australia, where the death toll increased to eight on Tuesday. The government has shut down pubs, clubs, cinemas and restaurants, imposed travel restrictions and all but closed the borders. Officials are urging residents to stay at home, or close to home, and to keep a distance of 1.5 metres (5 feet) to other people. “Please, stay at home, and keep your distance,” Mills said. “The better we can control this virus, the better we can look after each other. And the better us athletes will be able to prepare to represent you once the Tokyo Olympics arrive.” His hands clasped together, he closed with a message of unity: “Tokyo together.”
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, March 26, 2020, PAGE 17
THE WEATHER REPORT
5-Day Forecast
TODAY
ORLANDO
High: 89° F/32° C Low: 67° F/19° C
TAMPA
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Partly sunny with a shower
Mainly clear
Mostly sunny
Mostly sunny
Partly to mostly sunny
Partial sunshine
High: 84°
Low: 69°
High: 82° Low: 70°
High: 83° Low: 72°
High: 84° Low: 72°
High: 84° Low: 71°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
94° F
74° F
88°-69° F
88°-73° F
90°-74° F
93°-72° F
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 71° F/22° C
The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.
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E
W
ABACO
S
N
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C
7-14 knots
S
High: 87° F/31° C Low: 72° F/22° C
6-12 knots
FT. LAUDERDALE
FREEPORT
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 73° F/23° C
E
W S
E
W
WEST PALM BEACH
N
uV inDex toDay
TONIGHT
High: 83° F/28° C Low: 68° F/20° C
MIAMI
High: 88° F/31° C Low: 73° F/23° C
4-8 knots
Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 72° F/22° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 66° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 84° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 66° F/19° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 1.71” Normal year to date ..................................... 4.28”
ELEUTHERA
NASSAU
High: 84° F/29° C Low: 69° F/21° C
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C
N
KEY WEST
High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C
N
S
E
W
4-8 knots
S
4-8 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Low
Ht.(ft.)
Today
9:57 a.m. 10:17 p.m.
High
Ht.(ft.) 2.5 2.7
3:59 a.m. 4:08 p.m.
0.0 0.0
Friday
10:32 a.m. 10:53 p.m.
2.4 2.7
4:36 a.m. 4:40 p.m.
0.0 0.0
Saturday
11:07 a.m. 11:32 p.m.
2.2 2.6
5:15 a.m. 5:14 p.m.
0.1 0.1
Sunday
11:46 a.m. -----
2.1 -----
5:56 a.m. 5:52 p.m.
0.3 0.2
Monday
12:14 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
2.6 2.0
6:42 a.m. 6:36 p.m.
0.4 0.3
Tuesday
1:04 a.m. 1:22 p.m.
2.5 2.0
7:35 a.m. 7:28 p.m.
0.5 0.3
Wednesday 2:01 a.m. 2:23 p.m.
2.5 2.0
8:35 a.m. 8:31 p.m.
0.5 0.3
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
7:07 a.m. 7:24 p.m.
Moonrise Moonset
8:36 a.m. 9:28 p.m.
First
Full
Last
New
Apr. 1
Apr. 7
Apr. 14
Apr. 22
ANDROS
SAN SALVADOR
GREAT EXUMA
High: 78° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C
N
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 73° F/23° C
E
W S
LONG ISLAND
tracking map
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C
H
tiDes For nassau
CAT ISLAND
E
W
The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
4-8 knots
MAYAGUANA High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 77° F/25° C Low: 73° F/23° C
High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C
GREAT INAGUA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C
N
E
W
E
W
N
S
S
3-6 knots
4-8 knots
marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR
Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday:
WINDS NW at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots NW at 4-8 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots SW at 4-8 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NNE at 4-8 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots SW at 6-12 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NW at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots SW at 4-8 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots SE at 3-6 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NW at 4-8 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots W at 4-8 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NE at 3-6 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots SW at 4-8 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots
WAVES 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet
To advertise ALL your LEGAL NOTICES, call The Tribune’s Sales Department
502-2394
VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 79° F 80° F 77° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 80° F 81° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 80° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 80° F 78° F 79° F
PAGE 18, Thursday, March 26, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
THE OLYMPIC Flame burns during the Olympic “Flame of Recovery” display ceremony in Iwaki, northern Japan yesterday.
(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
OLYMPIC DELAY LEAVES ATHLETES UNCERTAIN ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS By ROB HARRIS AP Sports Writer ASIDE from figuring out how to maintain their health and fitness for an additional year, athletes like Ryan Crouser suddenly faced another concern when the Olympics were postponed until 2021. They also have to make the money stretch that far. Crouser still hopes to defend his shot put gold medal at the
Tokyo Games next year, but now needs to get clarity about his sponsorship funding going into 2021 since his contract — and that of many other athletes — only goes through 2020. “It’s a little bit tough because at the end of the day my contract, that’s my salary,” Crouser told The Associated Press. “That’s where I make the majority of my money.” Right now, of course, it’s hard enough just to stay in shape amid a stay-at-home order because of
the coronavirus pandemic. But the Oregon native, who is training in Arkansas, knows he has to use this time to his advantage in order to secure his future. “It will hopefully put me in a position where I could throw far and prove myself going into re-signing a contract,” said Crouser, who is sponsored by Nike. “Just to say I wasn’t really sitting on the couch this whole time.” The sponsorship executives in the Olympic world can’t afford
to slouch around either as they navigate the ramifications of an unprecedented delay to the games caused by the virus. Marketing plans for an Olympics that was meant to start in Tokyo on July 24 are now in flux. Promotional material and ads that have already been shot maybe have to be discarded and remade at great costs -- potentially with different athletes. Then there is the delicate matter of renegotiating contracts -- from
all those individual endorsement deals to the top-tier Olympic sponsors who were only signed up through 2020. “These games are called the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said yesterday, “therefore for me it’s a logical consequence that the sponsors ... keep their rights even if the games are organised in ‘21.”
SEE NEXT PAGE
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, March 26, 2020, PAGE 19
A MAN walks in front of a Tokyo Olympics logo at the Tokyo metropolitan government headquarters building in Tokyo yesterday. The Olympic torch relay was postponed Tuesday because the Tokyo Games themselves were pushed back to 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
OLYMPIC DELAY from PAGE 18
For big conglomerates like General Electric and consumer goods firms Proctor and Gamble, it might seem like getting an additional year added to their association with the Olympics should be of great value. However, that could be offset by the costs of the virus wiping out so many planned sponsorship events and commercials that would soon have been appearing across the world. “I don’t think there’s a fair claim to say you should suddenly pay more,” said former IOC marketing director Michael Payne, who now advises Olympic sponsors. “I think whatever is due to be paid in 2022 could be split 50-50 so half is in 2020 and the other half in 2021.” Securing funding as an athlete is more complex, and uncertain. Olympic hopefuls will be relying on the budgeted funding through 2020 -- from sponsors and domestic Olympic funding programmes -and now need to finance the extended buildup to a games in 2021. The lawyers will be busy poring over contracts. “They’ll be rushing to check agreements on what’s covered and what’s not covered,” said Simon Leaf, a lawyer in the London commercial team at Mishcon de Reya. “Brands may have paid money and are not getting the return they expected. Likewise, athletes working with brands could be expecting to receive additional amounts this year but will not meet criteria for competing at the Olympics in the summer of 2020.” Nike did not respond to a request for comment. For Atlanta-based agent Paul Doyle, the year ahead is going to be busy. He estimates that 40 of the 50 athletes he represents need reworked deals heading into 2021. “We could let this go on for another year -- we’ll sign a paper that says we keep everything exactly as it is and just put it one year later,” Doyle said.
That could work particularly well for athletes in their 30s planning on Tokyo being their last Olympics. But for some the delay might scupper their chances of competing at all, while others who were set to miss out this year may suddenly get a fresh opportunity. “Do we try to take opportunities to prove in these last few meets that might happen in 2020, that they are worth re-signing for next year? That’s sort of the intention,” Doyle said. “There are other athletes that might be in the opposite situation, they’ve been on fire through 2019 and their contract is up and they’re in a great position to negotiate now. “It’s going to be interesting to see how everything unfolds.” What is also problematic for track and field athletes is the lack of meets for the foreseeable future, with the postponement of the first three legs of the Diamond League denying them performance-related income from sponsors. “Obviously, they (sponsors) are trying to be fair to athletes, but they’re also trying to run a business that’s incredibly strapped right now as well,” Doyle said. “I hope everyone stands together and they realise, ‘Hey, these athletes are losing a lot of money by not being able to compete and not being able to earn bonuses. Let’s not take another hit on them.’ Hopefully the big companies absorb the loss more so than putting it on the athletes.” Because those athletes could be even more valuable to sponsors heading into 2021, with an anticipated heightened interest in the Olympics from sports fans denied the chance to watch so many elite events in 2020. “Brands can leverage that reinvigorated interest in athletes,” said Jonny Madill, who negotiates sponsorship contracts as a lawyer at London-based Sheridans. “Look at the opportunity of having an extra 12 months, and whenever sports starts again the level of engagement and interest will be off the charts.”
PAGE 20 , THURSDAY, MARCH 26th, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS
COVID-19
Help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Coronavirus Disease 2019
BE AWARE ! BE AWARE.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
COVID-19 is a new respiratory illness that was first discovered in Wuhan, China. It is transmitted from person to person.
State of Illinois Illinois Department of Public Health
common symptoms
COVID19
Social Distancing: What does it mean? fever
tiredness
dry cough
Clean and disinfect frequently
severe andthe surfaces. Social distancing is the practice of reducing close contact cases betweentouched peopleobjects to slow spread of
Symptoms* infections or diseases. Social distancing measures include limiting groups of people coming together, Difficulty breathing High fever Pneumonia closing buildings or canceling events. *Symptoms may appear 1 to 12 days following exposure to the virus
AVOID
USE CAUTION
Who is most at risk of becoming seriously ill? • People over age 60 • People with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease
SAFE TO DO
• Group Gatherings • Mass Transit Systems • Take a Walk How is it transmitted? Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and •mouth. • Sleep Overs Visiting a Grocery • Go for a Hike • Through close contact with an infected person Store • By an infected person coughing or sneezing • Playdates • Getting Take Out and then touching your mouth, • Yard • By touching contaminated objects or surfaces noseWork or eyes • Concerts • Picking Up Medications • Playing in Your Yard Currently there is no vaccine or specific treatment. We can only treat the symptoms. Serious cases may require oxygen ventilatory support.in a Park • Theater Outings • and Playing Tennis • Cleaning Out a Closet Stay home when you are sick, • Church Services • Visiting the Library • Reading a Good Book except to get medical care. • Athletic Events • Listening to Music PREPARE. ACT. • Crowded Retail Stores • Cooking a Meal Avoid close contact with people who Make sure you get your information from a • Malls Family Game Night have flu-like•symptoms. reliable source. • Workouts in Gyms • Going for a Drive Wash your hands WashHome your hands regularly with soap and water or Avoid often touching your soap eyes, nose or mouth with • Visitors in Your •with Stream a Favorite Show use an alcohol-based gel. and water forunwashed at leasthands. 20 seconds.on a Friend • Nonessential Workers in • Check Your Home • Check on Elderly Neighbor Avoid sharing cups, plates or other personal items and disinfect all surfaces that are touched frequently.
Cover your mouth with the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze or use a tissue and dispose of used tissue immediately and wash your hands.
For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19 If you have traveled to areasMINISTRY where COVID-19 is CS314915-A OF HEALTH circulating or have been in contact with someone who has it and you experience fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. Do not self-medicate.
Note: Information may change when more is known about the disease. February 2020.
BE AWARE. PREPARE. ACT.
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