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VOLUME:117 No.131, JUNE 3, 2020
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FINAL COUNTDOWN TO A NEW REALITY D’Aguilar warns phased reopening must show we can meet July 1 targets By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas’ tourism industry will begin a phased opening on June 15 when boaters, yachters and private pilots will be allowed into the country, the Ministry of Tourism announced yesterday. The industry’s much anticipated full opening will take place on July 1. Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar made the announcement at a Zoom press conference
held by his ministry and the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Committee. “This phased approach will start on June 15, when boaters, yachters and private aviation will be invited to experience The Bahamas destination,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “Tourism will begin with these smaller, special interest groups as they provide a more controlled segment to test its measure. These groups will have to pre-register electronically, allowing health officials to determine their risk level.” SEE PAGE THREE
MARINAS HOPING TO SAVE 75% OF SUMMER SEASON By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN marina operators yesterday hailed the sector’s June 15 reopening as potentially “saving 75 percent” of the summer season, adding: “Our phones are ringing off the hook.” Joseph Dargavage, managing partner at Harbour Island’s Romora Bay Resort & Marina, said the government’s decision to permit the industry to lead tourism’s revival two weeks ahead of other segments had paved the way for a
“sold-out July”. Revealing that the property plans to recall all 40 staff who were laid-off due to the COVID19 pandemic, he added that Romora Bay wanted to be “a leader and set the example for other resorts” when it came to implementing the necessary health protocols and safety measures. “As of right now, if all goes as planned, we will have a sold-out July and probably a very busy second half of June following all the protocols,” Mr Dargavage told this newspaper.
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
Alicia Wallace:
Imagine it here - what would you do?
See Page 8
SUSPECTS STRANDED ‘WE’LL STILL HONOUR AFTER COURT DATES LABOUR DAY VICTIMS’ By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
WHEN police brought Cordell Evans from Eleuthera to New Providence in a boat last month, the 20-year-old bumped his head during the ride and suffered a seizure so
severe his friend began to cry, thinking he would die at sea. Since arriving to the capital after they were arrested for alleged marijuana possession, life for the friends has been as rough as the seas they traversed to get here. SEE PAGE FOUR
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE the annual Labour Day parade being cancelled due to COVID19 restrictions, union officials said yesterday they still plan to celebrate the patriotic holiday this year
and honour the four women who died during the 2018 parade. Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, president of The National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas, Bernard Evans said after having to cancel the annual event in view of COVID-19 SEE PAGE TWO
‘SEEK AND DESTROY’ DEADLY TOAD MISSION TECHNOLOGY By TRIBUNE REPORTER
THE Ministry of the Environment and Housing reactivated a task force on Friday to deal with the re-emergence of the cane toad in western New Providence. The task force, which began meeting yesterday, is made up of government representatives and private sector groups. This comes after ministry officials received
THE CANE TOAD confirmation that the toad was spotted in west New Providence.
The cane toad was previously identified in 2013 in Lyford Cay and was believed to have entered the country by way of imported plant material. “When originally identified, an intense and deliberate action was taken by government, NGOs and private citizens to launch an intense day and night ‘seek and destroy’ mission against the toad. But now reports have come in which
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SEVEN
SPACEX WINS IN COSMIC CONTEST
SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
‘WE’LL STILL HONOUR LABOUR DAY VICTIMS’ from page one
orders, officials decided they would still honour the holiday, but in a different manner than usual. He said: “Leading up to and given the exigency orders from the prime minister and the lockdowns and all that, we had an idea that pretty much the Labour Day march as usual would’ve been somewhat compromised and may not have been allowed to happen. “…So, we had a vote and members decided. . .there’s just too much going on and
we can’t really have the march, not this Friday. And, so each affiliate was asked to do what they can and some said they were going to provide some sustenance for the elderly.” He continued: “Some said that they would provide sustenance for the frontline workers or the essential workers. We all agreed that at least for us we will hit all the radio shows to express when labour is and still what Labour Day means for us and talk about some of the advancement over the year, what we always do.”
Speaking ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes told reporters that union members wanted to commemorate the four women who lost their lives during the 2018 parade. He said: “(This Labour Day) will be totally different and very difficult to enjoy in terms of bringing a lot of people together. (But) we want to remember our fallen sisters who tragically died two years ago during the Labour Day parade. “There was some special events that was planned around their memory so we
want to continue to express our condolences to their family and to bring whatever comfort that we can.” In honour of those women, Mr Evans told The Tribune that union members also planned on laying memorial wreaths on their graves. “We’re still going to do that,” he said. “I understand that we may also want to try to recognise Sir Randol (Fawkes) by maybe even taking a wreath to his tomb, his final resting place. And so, we’re still trying to do some (things), given the restraints that we have.”
This is the first time in the country’s history the annual Labour Day celebration has had to be cancelled. However, according to Mr Evans, the union is hoping that government officials will allow them to reschedule the festive event at a later date this year. “…Our side decided that let’s petition the government maybe for another day down the year, once this COVID-19 subsides,” he said. “So October 12 came up and we know that that is Heroes Day and so we have not yet petitioned officially but we have softy
mentioned it to the government, to our minister of labour for consideration and also not take away from Heroes Day but to see if that is a day we could use to really celebrate labour.” He continued: “And if it’s approved, we’re also looking for them to do something else with that. October 12 falls on a Monday and so it will be hard-pressed for people to really march and go to work on a Tuesday so perhaps even asking further to consider maybe moving it to that Friday so people will still have the weekend to recuperate.”
MALL BACK IN BUSINESS
THE TRIBUNE was at the Mall at Marathon yesterday on the first day of their re-opening to see both store employees and customers wearing masks and sanitising. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 3, 2020, PAGE 3
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
Unemployment could hit 40%, says Foulkes By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE country’s unemployment rate could be as high as 40 percent, Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes said yesterday but stressed officials won’t know the exact figure until the Department of Statistics does its jobs survey. “In terms of the employment rate in the country, there’s no scientific evidence of what the percentage is. It is pegged around 30 percent. Some people say it is higher, but we do not know that,” Mr Foulkes said outside Cabinet yesterday. “There (are) approximately 225,000 Bahamians that comprise the workforce and some 55,000 of that group have applied for the unemployment benefit,” Mr Foulkes said.
“...If you do just a rough calculation, you can see the unemployment rate will be anywhere between 30 and mid 30 to 40 percent. Until the Department of Statistics does a scientific survey, we will not know exactly what the percentage is.” His comments came after Immigration Minister Elsworth Johnson said last week that “50 percent of the population is unemployed” due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has previously said the unemployment rate due to the pandemic was estimated at 30 percent. Meanwhile Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest expects the tourism industry, the country’s number one economic driver, to rebound “towards the end of this year” or the
beginning of next year. Noting that the government’s predictions fall “in line” with the worldwide estimates as it relates to the travel industry, the minister said officials anticipate that the Bahamas will have a strong tourism comeback in the months ahead, creating more employment opportunities. However, as a result of COVID-19’s impact both locally and internationally, Mr Turnquest said changes in the country’s tourism industry and how the Bahamas does business moving forward will have to be made. Speaking to reporters ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Turnquest said: “Of course, we know that there are going to be changes in the industry, some sectors and some entities in these sectors may not make it as a result of what
has happened and the significant strain that would’ve been caused on their individual businesses. “But, we are going to do whatever we can to ensure that we stabilise and support as many industries as we can as we have been doing to make it through this period and to recover on the other side with more creative and more innovation able to take off with the new opportunities that will be created as a result of the changes in the way businesses is being done.” He continued: “So, you know, we are very optimistic that the future for the Bahamas remains bright and the fundamentals of the economy are still strong, and the demand of our destination is still strong. “… (So) we anticipate that our number one industry, tourism, will rebound towards the end of this year
(and) the beginning of next year and that is in line with global predictions for the travel industry.” After the country closed its borders in March, major hotels across the country suspended their operations, temporarily laying off workers. Speaking about the eventual re-opening of the hotel industry yesterday, Mr Foulkes also told reporters that officials are hopeful that the sector will re-open sometime this month. He said: “The hotel sector is probably the only major sector in the country now that is not open. We are very hopeful that (in) the latter part of this month that some of the major hotels will begin to open and the hotel workers could begin to return to work.” Meanwhile, with upcoming construction projects set to begin soon, Mr
Turnquest said yesterday officials feel confident that the move will help facilitate more employment and aid in the country’s economic recovery from COVID-19. “We are confident that the construction projects, the large-scale construction projects that have been on the board are going to kick off this year, particularly towards the later part of this year and the new year,” he said. “And that will give us another boost on not only domestic activity but also foreign direct investment with some of the projects that are on board,” the deputy prime minister said. “All those things along with our efforts to deepen and increase the small and medium sized enterprise sector, we believe is going to help us to lift this economy back to where it was.”
TOURISM Readiness and Recovery Committee, pictured from left: Carlton Russell, President, Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association and VP Operations, Atlantis; Robert Sands, Sr. VP, BHTA and SVP of Government and Community Relations, Baha Mar; Suzanne Pattusch, Executive VP, BHTA; Minister D’Aguilar; Director General Joy Jibrilu; Vernice Walkine, VP, BHTA and CEO and President, Nassau Airport Development Co. Ltd.; and Stuart Bowe, Immediate Past President, BHTA, and Sr. VP and GM Hotel Operations, Atlantis. Photo: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS from page one He added that during this phase, commercial airlines will be allowed to bring in Bahamian citizens, legal residents, homeowners or their immediate family members. All returning residents will have to obtain a monocular swab PCR COVID-19 test with a negative result. On Monday, Mr D’Aguilar told The Tribune officials are still considering whether the government will require tourists to produce a negative PCR test result to gain entry into the country but have ruled out visitors being forced into quarantine. It is anticipated that during this first phase, there will be a reduced number of flights and airlines will begin adding The Bahamas to their schedules once again. Additionally, he said yesterday, hotels will begin reopening to allow staff to begin to work, putting in place all the measures required to ensure they are ready for the full opening on July 1. “Readying The Bahamas for tourism in a post-COVID world is quite challenging with many nuances and considerations to plan for,” said Mr D’Aguilar. “The Tourism Readiness and Recovery Committee was established to develop a collaborative plan for reopening and to provide health and safety protocols to be followed consistently across the country. Because of the detailed plan that is being put forth, I am confident that tourism is prepared to officially open its borders, hotels and transportation sector successfully to international commercial travel on July 1, 2020.” The tourism industry generated a record 7.2 million visitors in 2019. However,
D’Aguilar warns phased reopening must show we can meet July 1 targets in March Mr D’Aguilar said we were facing an economic calamity due to COVID19 bringing tourism to a screeching halt. “The sacrifice has been huge,” he said. “The affects on employment and income generation have been enormous for many, many Bahamians. I am delighted to be here and change the discussion from one about lockdowns and curfews to one about reopening. The one thing you learn about tourism, is that it is extremely resilient. Yes, it is subject to shocks, like hurricanes, economic downturns and now pandemics, but no matter what type of licking you put on tourism, it always seems to bounce back better and stronger.” Although excited about the reopening date, Mr D’Aguilar warned travel and tourism will be markedly different from what it was prior to COVID-19. Many new policies, safety measures and precautions, he said, will be introduced to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of Bahamian residents and visitors alike. “It is critical, however, that health and safety protocols are adhered to and that the health sector remains in a state of readiness to respond,” the minister added. “Therefore,
LOCAL government elections have been postponed due to the COVID-19 emergency orders, the Ministry of Transport and Local Government announced yesterday. The elections will now be held within three months of the cessation of the emergency powers orders.
before the proposed general opening of our borders on the 1st of July, it is intended that there be a phased opening of the tourism sector prior to this date. “It is important that once the destination reopens we are able to demonstrate immediately that we are indeed in a state of readiness. The Ministry of Tourism is of course very pleased with the announcement made yesterday (Monday) that will see the return of domestic travel in the Islands of the Bahamas for residents and review this as the beginning of the whole readiness efforts. This measure certainly allows LPIA to test their protocols before welcoming guests when we reopen completely.” Phase Two of the tourism reopening plan, which begins July 1, includes resumption of commercial airlines both international and domestic; reopening of hotels and vacation rentals inclusive of Airbnb and HomeAway; as well as transportation ranging from taxis to buses. The timing of the other phases and sectors will be announced shortly, the minister said. Tourism Director General Joy Jibrilu could not give exact figures on forward bookings, but said the numbers will be available shortly. “I think from today with the announcement that we have made, we are able to reach out and let them know that they now can load up The Bahamas as a destination,” she noted.
“The interest that we are seeing generated and the feedback for August and September and certainly Thanksgiving period, we can begin getting actual bookings. In a very short period of time we will be able to put tangible figures
behind that. But it was very difficult for airlines to know what to do about The Bahamas until they knew definitively from us when we will reopen.” She said similarly for the hotels, now they can announce officially July 1
as an opening day and can report to tourism officials about forward bookings. All tourism-related staff will have to be retrained using COVID-19 safety measures before the July 1 reopening date, officials said.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
SOLOMON’S made a second wave of donations to the community and distributed $50k in gift certificates to essential workers in Solomon’s Super Center, Solomon’s Yamacraw and Solomon’s Lucaya this past weekend. The donation came from savings the grocery chain accrued due to a reduction in port fees extended to businesses as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic. “This was money that we had budgeted to spend and recognising the pivotal role essential workers are playing in keeping our communities safe and operational, we decided to thank them for their invaluable service and offer this reward”, said Renea Bastian, VP of marketing and communications at AML Foods Limited. “The entire Solomon’s family is deeply
dedicated to supporting our communities and remain committed to closing the gaps created by the COVID-19 crisis. We are thankful for all our customers and will continue to strive to lead positive change, helping people live their best lives.” Essential workers shopping the stores this past Saturday received a $10 gift certificate.
Stranded after court dates from page one
Mr Evans said he pleaded guilty to marijuana possession stemming from an incident earlier this year and was put on probation. Johnross Mins, 20, pled guilty to marijuana possession for the incident that prompted their arrest and was fined $300. Calvin
Bain, 37, was completely discharged and faced no penalties. The men were brought to New Providence without clothes, hygiene products, money or identification cards and have been on a rollercoaster battle to get back to Eleuthera while temporarily living in a tyre shop. Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown,
authorities have been scrutinised over their enforcement of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ restrictive orders. Although the trio from Eleuthera were not charged with breaking curfew, they say their conundrum is an example of authorities being inhumane during the pandemic. At a time when Dr Minnis has vowed
Private Funeral Service For Theodore Burton Bethel, 77
of Mitchel Street will be held on Thursday, June 4th, 2020 at The New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Baillou Hill Road South. Officiating will be Pastor Alfred Stewart and other ministers of the gospel. Interment will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens, JFK Drive and Gladstone Road. In compliance with current Government regulations, attendance is limited to thirty (30) family members. Left to cherish his fond memories are his Wife: Maxine Bethel; Children: Bernard (Maxine), Theodore “Teddy” and Van Bethel and Tiphaney Russell; Grandchildren: Bernardo (Kimberly), Tanasha, Tedvanquie, Tedra, Vanderick, Devante and Vandero Bethel, Chickera, Laverne and Dennis Pratt, Darrio Smith, Delneaka Symonette and Shenae Henderson; Brothers: Athelstan “Bun” (Lucy) and Hillary (Ruby) Bethel, Reverend Egleton “Slick Brown” (Majorie) Brown, Kendal, Adrian (Veara Mae), and Lavardo McPhee; Sisters: Ursula (Lawrence) Chisolm, Paula (Garnet) MacGregor, Christine Clarke and Nurse Sabrina (Stephen) Hepburn; Brothers and Sisters-in-law: Maude Bethel, Betty (Floyd) Davis, Alice (Edward) Rolle, Christopher (June), Melford, Ishmael, Joanna, Ida Mae, Peter, Samuel, James (Patuella), Andrew, Michael (Kevia), Fredrick and Betsymae Clarke; Nephews and Nieces: Ricardo (Ricky), Wilmore Jr., Vanduke (Carolyn), Christopher, Margaret, Tamika, Valdesha, Sophia, Chandra, Troy, Renaldo and Devon Bethel, Michele Morley, Alsaider Farguharson, Marcel, Ian and Adrian McKenzie, Persis Penfound, Dwayne Saunders, Terrence, Antoinette, and Anderville Chisholm, Dr. Tamonya (Thomas) Sands, Terkisha (Roderick) Smith, Geron and Deshawn McGregor, Monique Davis, Wendell, Shantel, Samantha, Geraldo and Decordray Brown, Sherrell Symonette, Celeste Oscar, Shernea (Terran) Fulford, Reverend Cranston (Teresita) Evans, Elton and Shelton Williamson, Elkeria (Kemuel) Josey, Atty. Bryann and Stevaugh Hepburn, Charlene Sharmon Hall, Kendra, Kendal, Deandra, Adriann, Krishna, Alexis, and Michael McPhee, and Patrice (Kale) Williams; Other relatives and friends including: The families of the late Alice, Roland, Charles, Sarah and Dorris Bethel, the family of the late Hilda Dean, Reverend Douglas (Gloria) Rolle and family, Godfrey “Goofy” Brown, Michael Curtis, Donathan (“Don”) Cox, Julian (Sandradee) Gordon and family, Malachi (Margaret) Hopkins and family, Deaconess Patricia Moxey, Leslie Williams, Annismae (Kent) Sands, Craydora Musgrove and family, Daphane Davis, Dr. Dedra (Chad) Wallace, Dellaree (Jeremy) Saunders, Dr. DeAndra (Raylee) Miller, Dwight and Deka Rolle, Desdemona (John) Musgrove, Christana (Chervin) Brown, Candice (Dwight) Bain, Melinda (Enere) Scriven, Christal (Giovanni) Grant, Khadijah Young, Shantell (Edmund) Jolly, Sameka (Glenford Sr.) Munroe, Mikell (Kevin) Williams, Christafelis, Christopher, Dextesr (Ebonique), Melvert, Promise, Ray, Tia, Cordero, Shanita, Peter Jr, Denzel, Precious, Tiffany, Georgette, Corey, Shandyke, Shantone, Shandice, Shantell, Samantha, Jamaine, Jamon, Cindy, Andrea, Andrenique, Anastacia, Andrew Jr., Michael Jr., Mykia, Makaya, Kyamak, Akeem, Zavier and Lauryn Clarke, James Dupuch, Beverley Cooper, Pastor Alfred (Jackie) Stewart, Pastor, Cherece Evans, Pastor Theophilus (Erune) Claridge, The New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Family, Bishop Walter and Elder Minalee Hanchel, The Great Commission Ministry Family, The Adelaide Village Family, The Lowes Wholesale Family and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
to decriminalise possession of small amounts of marijuana, the men have been left stuck in New Providence for small marijuana possession while inter-island travel has been halted. Domestic travel is set to resume on Monday. “I is a man 37,” Mr Bain said. “The last time I shed tears was 2005 at my mother funeral but I been sitting down crying because I don’t know where my next meal coming from. They bring us over here and leave us stranded (sic).” Ian Cargill, lawyer for Mr Bain, said the men are not alone in their predicament. He said he has had clients from Bimini and others from Eleuthera who have suffered similarly. “Some don’t have family here, no place to stay and they won’t let them go back to their island,” he said this week. “The police should have given these people police bail and wait for a magistrate to come to their islands and even if you bring them over to face charges, you should find some way to get them back home. What are they supposed to do now, walk the streets? “The same way you brought them, why don’t you take them back that way?” Mr Bain said police tried to charge the men with intent to supply the drugs but the magistrate went forward only with the possession charge. Police Commissioner Paul Rolle suggested yesterday possession with intent to supply is among the matters for which police cannot give suspects police
bail, adding that the choice is to either keep suspects in custody on their islands or bring them to New Providence. He did not say what becomes of the suspects when their hearings end and they are released without a jail sentence. Until recently, inter-island travel has been banned in the country. Next week Monday such travel will resume without the need for a COVID-19 travel card. “When we first started the lockdown, we had a circuit magistrate that is responsible for formally going to the Family Islands to do arraignments and trials with matters like that,” Commissioner Rolle said. “In some cases, we’ve had to send a boat or a plane to pick up suspects. That’s the disadvantage I acknowledge with the system, a lot of offenders you can’t give them bail so until that is changed they have to be brought to face their charges. We’ve been giving some of them bail, some up until July. We had people in Freeport we couldn’t give bail to so they were in the station for 12 days and we had to send a defence force boat to get them.” For his part, Mr Bain said: “Our family members didn’t even know we were taken off the island. When we were in the Rocksound Police Station in Eleuthera, our family called and police told them they suppose to come before 4pm and sign the bail for us but before 4pm even came they took us out and carried us to North Eleuthera and put us on a boat. “We left Eleuthera right before nightfall. The
experience was life threatening. My friend had five seizures on the boat in my lap. Me and my other friend had to help another officer lift him off the boat when we reached. They bring us here with nothing, no bags, no toothbrush, no soap, no nothing.” Mr Evans said after the difficult journey, he woke up in a hospital shackled to the bed. “They then took me to the Central Police Station where my friends were,” he said. “I still had on my hospital gown and everything was still stitched to me. At one point a woman officer came and insulted me, she was like, ‘young lady what happen to you?’ Eventually they took Johnross and Calvin to court but they told me stay there. Then an officer came and forced me to wear one of the other cellmate’s clothes because they didn’t want the magistrate to see me like that.” To eat, Mr Bain said the trio have had to beg people. “With people hearing our story, giving us something here and there, that’s how we eat,” he said. “My sister brings groceries every other day but it’s tough. Johnross has two young children, a nine-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter, back home. His girlfriend ain’ working and he is the breadwinner of the family. Because he here, he can’t provide for them. They have to see what they could get from people on the island. Every other day he children calling the phone telling him ‘Daddy we miss you, when you coming home.’”
I WAS ONLY STRETCHING MY LEGS, CLAIMS MAN WHO WAS FINED $500 By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was fined $500 yesterday for violating the weekend lockdown after claiming he only went for a walk to stretch his legs. He was among several individuals who appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux for curfew and lockdown infractions, including three men who were arrested while attending a funeral repast over the weekend. Alverdo Rolle, 45, was charged after officers found him on Premier Avenue off Tonique William-Darling Highway around 12.05am on May 30. He pleaded guilty, but said he was only trying to stretch his legs. During the hearing, he told the magistrate that he was through the corner where he lived when he was stopped by officers. Prosecutor Claudette McKenzie told the court on the morning in question, officers on mobile patrol observed the defendant walking. She said when he saw the police, he ran away. Rolle was caught a
short time later and when questioned, told the officers he was walking home from his girlfriend’s house. As a result, he was taken to the Grove Police Station. During an interview with officers there, he said he had just finished drinking gin and went outside to exercise. He also admitted to lying to the officers who arrested him that morning. He was subsequently fined $500 or three months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Meanwhile, Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux discharged three men who were arrested while they were attending a funeral repast last Friday. Rashad Sullivan, 30; Jefford Roberts, 23; and Syranno Anderson were charged after officers found them on Timothy Lane, Fox Hill around 3.50pm. They all pleaded guilty and were cautioned and discharged. During the hearing, Sullivan was represented by attorney Ian Cargill. He told the magistrate that the defendants were attending a post-funeral gathering. He also noted that several
persons were at the event, but only three of them were brought before the court. As a result, Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux discharged the men. Still, she warned them to abide by the emergency regulations and noted that only 10 persons should have been allowed to a funeral and that a repast should not have been held in the first place. Sean Hamilton, 40, was charged after he was found near Bay Geranium around 10.15pm on May 28. He pleaded guilty and was fined $500 or three months at BDCS. Prosecutor McKenzie said at the time of his arrest, he said that he did not call the COVID-19 hotline to get permission to leave his home. Officers found James Markland, 33, on Cooper’s Close, Farrington Road around 10.50pm on May 30. He pleaded guilty to violating the lockdown, but said he had only left his house because he had got into a “little argument” with his spouse. He was subsequently fined $500 or three months in prison.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 3, 2020, PAGE 5
JUDGE DISMISSES FIREARM CHARGES AGAINST MOTHER AND DAUGHTERS By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Dames ‘concerned’ over marines video
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames said yesterday he was concerned about the videos that circulated on social media this weekend allegedly showing newly promoted RBDF marines involved in vulgar conduct while ignoring COVID-19 assembling protocols. Speaking on the matter ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Dames told reporters he was made aware of the videos after several people sent them to him over the weekend. He said: “Someone would’ve sent it to me, a number of persons would’ve, but the Commodore and his team are very much aware of it and have been conducting investigations into it and so we await to see the results of his investigations.” The videos showing people cavorting at a pool party came after a number
of RBDF officers were recently promoted to higher ranks last week. In a statement released on Sunday, the RBDF said officials were aware of the videos, adding that the imagery was being investigated to ascertain if those involved were actual RBDF personnel – adding that all guilty parties will be dealt with accordingly. The statement added that the RBDF “dispels the myth” that the list of personnel whose advancement was rescinded, which was making the rounds on social media with the videos, is in any way related. Asked yesterday if officials were concerned about the message it may send to the Bahamian public, he replied: “We’re obviously concerned and hence the reason why it’s under investigations by the commodore and his team. So, we look forward to seeing the results of his investigations. I mean as you can see, this is the time that we’re living in and Bahamians are concerned.”
The minister was also asked by reporters if he was concerned about crime increasing in the country once the curfew and lockdown measures were lifted. However, the Mount Moriah MP replied: “I mean we’re always concerned about crime but I’m confident that very shortly, I’ll be laying the commissioner’s crime plan therefore, in Parliament. But we have been getting regular briefings and we’re confident that as a government, that we’re moving in the right direction. “We continue to provide the requisite resources and improve the quality of the policing experience here in the Bahamas and we’re very, very confident that we are in fact on the right track and the plan that the commissioner and his team would’ve put together certainly for this period is a good one.” Noting that overall crime is down in the country, Mr Dames said he believed that the curfew measures
implemented by the government in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 may have played a role leading to the decrease. However, he said officials will have to “measure” the exact impact the measures had on crime in the country. Asked about the matter yesterday, he said: “I would suspect that the curfew would’ve had an impact on figures and certain categories of course. But as you see, I’ve been following crime globally especially during this pandemic and there are certain elements out there that will continue to wreak havoc no matter what. . . “I think it is having an (impact) on crime and we’ll have to measure to see what kind of impact that is. But crime has been trending down for the past three years. Are we there yet? No, we’re far from it but I believe that we are on the right track and we will continue to do those things that are necessary to ensure that our people are kept safe.”
31-YEAR-OLD ADMITS CRUELTY TO STEPSON By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 31-YEAR-OLD man was ordered to attend parenting classes after he pleaded guilty to child cruelty yesterday. The man appeared before Magistrate Kara TurnquestDeveaux charged with cruelty to a child after he was accused of unlawfully ill-treating a six-year-old stepson in a manner that caused the young boy unnecessary suffering.
The man, whose name The Tribune has withheld, pleaded guilty and was placed on probation for one month. He was also ordered to attend parenting classes and was banned from being in contact with the child until the classes were completed. Prosecutor Claudette McKenzie said on April 22, the boy’s father went to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station to report that his son’s mother and her husband had beaten
the boy, causing his bottom tooth to come out. The boy’s father also told the police the defendant squeezed and pulled his son’s testicles. The man said when he picked his son up from his mother’s house, he was crying and shaking. When they got home, he said his child told him the accused had beaten him and “squeezed” his testicles. Inspector McKenzie said the boy’s mother and the accused were arrested
and interviewed a few days later. At the time, the boy’s mother denied being involved in the incident, but said her husband had pulled on her son’s genitals. During his interview, the accused man also admitted to the allegation. He was subsequently charged. However when given an opportunity to speak, the accused claimed that he never grabbed the child’s genitals, but “beat him on his backside.”
A GRAND Bahama mother and her three children - including a 20-year-old son and two juveniles - were arraigned on illegal firearm and ammunition possession charges yesterday after police found a gun in a bedroom of their home. Turkessa Burrows, along with her son, Keiano Bethel, and two female minors, aged 14 and 17 years, of Freeport, appeared before Magistrate Rengin Johnson. However Bethel told the court the gun was his and pleaded guilty to the charges. He expressed regret through his attorney that his mother and young sisters had been caught up in the matter. The charges were later dropped against his mother and minor sisters. The four were charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of illegal ammunition. They were represented by Simone Brown. Police executed a search warrant at the family’s home before 11pm on the night in question and found a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun and a 9mm magazine with eight rounds of 9mm ammunition in a bag. The occupants of the home were all arrested. Prosecutor Sergeant Veron Rolle said Bethel was interviewed by police
under caution and admitted that the firearm belonged to him. Magistrate Johnson asked Sergeant Rolle whether the gun was found in Bethel’s bedroom. “It was found in his mother’s bedroom,” the prosecutor replied. He also noted that the firearm is alleged to have been used in another criminal matter brought before the court. Before passing sentence, Magistrate Johnson said: “We have too many guns on the street in our nation of just 340,000. Having a gun is an illegal act in the Bahamas. We don’t use guns 99 percent of the time to kill pigeons, we use it to kill. And even during COVID-19… people are driven to get guns and kill each other usually for money and vengeance, and drugs.” The judge told Bethel that the prison is overpopulated in the Bahamas. As a result, she imposed fines of $6,000 on the firearm charge, and $6,000 on the ammunition, totaling $12,000. If he fails to pay the fine in seven days, the judge ordered that he serve 20 months behind bars on both counts to run concurrently. Prosecutor Rolle asked that the firearm and ammunition possession charges be withdrawn against Bethel’s mother and two sisters, who were later discharged by the judge on both counts.
TEENAGER ACCUSED OF ARMED ROBBERY By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A 19-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of armed robbery and causing damage to public school property in Grand Bahama. Shamar Harding, of Spinney Road, Freeport, appeared in Court Three before Magistrate Rengin Johnson. It is alleged that on Tuesday, May 26, the accused while armed with a handgun robbed Ethlyn Hollingsworth of jewellery, a cellular phone, cash and a Hyundai vehicle, altogether valued at some $35,000. He was not required to enter a plea to the charge of armed robbery, which is an indictable offence. It is also alleged that on the same date and place, the accused intentionally caused damage to the school gate at the Maurice Moore Primary, amounting to $850. Harding elected
summary trial and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Both matters were adjourned to September 7. A voluntary bill of indictment will be executed in the armed robbery matter. Harding was represented by Paco Deal. He was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Also in court in connection with the same matter was 20-year-old Keiano Bethel, of Independence Avenue, Heritage Subdivision who was charged with being an accessory after the fact in connection with the armed robbery. It is alleged that on Tuesday, May 26, at Freeport, the accused was an accessory after the fact to the armed robbery of Ethlyn Hollingsworth, who was robbed of jewellery, cellular phone, cash, and a 2015 Hyundai vehicle, together valued at some $35,000. Bethel, who was represented by Simone Brown, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
SEVERAL CHARGED WITH SEPARATE DRUG OFFENCES By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
SEVERAL people were given fines or community service after being arraigned for separate incidents of drug possession in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Opara Williams, 40, appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux charged with possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to supply and simple possession, after officers found 10 grams of cocaine and one gram of Indian hemp at his residence on June 1. He pleaded guilty in court yesterday and was fined $500 or six months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services for count one and another $150 or three months at BDCS for count two. Prosecutor Claudette McKenzie told the court when officers searched Williams’ residence that day, they found a clear plastic bag with a number of brown
paper wraps containing a white powdery substance in a closet of one of the bedrooms. She also said the officers found black plastic wraps containing suspected marijuana. Williams was subsequently arrested and taken to the East Street South Police Station, where he admitted to the offence in an interview with police. At the time, he told officers that he bought the cocaine for $150 and the marijuana for $5. When given an opportunity to speak, Williams told the magistrate that he had an addiction to marijuana and cocaine that he was trying to fight. He claimed that he had already been to counselling to help him overcome his bad habits, but had fallen back into his old ways. Jameiko Mackey, 23, also appeared before Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux after he was found with eight and a half ounces of Indian hemp on May 26. He pleaded guilty and was
fined $750 or six months in prison. Prosecutor McKenzie said that day, officers, acting on information, proceeded to a residence on Jubilee Drive armed with a search warrant. Upon their arrival, the officers observed Mackey running from the residence with a white bag. The police then gave chase and followed the defendant through a track road where they saw him throw the bag, before falling down. Inspector McKenzie said when the officers caught Mackey, they took him back to the area where he threw the bag. When the officers found it, they discovered a quantity of suspected marijuana inside of it. During the hearing, Mackey was represented by attorney Ian Cargill. He told the magistrate his client was a father of two who was self-employed as a Jet Ski operator. He also noted that Mackey had bought the drugs for personal use.
Delvon Williams, 18, was charged with simple possession after officers found three grams of Indian hemp in his trouser pockets on May 29. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service. If he fails to do so, Williams will spend one month at BDCS. Prosecutor McKenzie said around 4.45pm that day, officers on mobile patrol on Cox and Rahming Streets observed three males standing on the side of the road. Inspector McKenzie said when the men saw the police, they began to act in a suspicious manner, which prompted the officers to approach the men and search them. During the search, the officers found a clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana in Williams’ front pocket. The drugs had an estimated street value of $15. During the hearing, Williams was represented by attorney Bernard Ferguson. He told the magistrate
his client was “extremely remorseful” for his actions. He also noted that Williams had an “unblemished record” to date and asked Magistrate TurnquestDeveaux not to impose a custodial sentence. Another teenager, Dandray Bethel, 19, was charged after officers found 21 grams of Indian hemp at his residence on May 28. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to complete 75 hours of community service. If he fails to do so, Bethel will spend one month in prison. Prosecutor McKenzie said when officers searched Bethel’s residence that day, they found a Ziploc bag underneath a stack of brown plywood in the backyard. The drugs had an estimated street value of $105. During the hearing, Bethel was represented by attorney Jomo Campbell. He told the magistrate that his client did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty
immediately, and asked her to note his young age. Neil Ferguson, 44, was charged after officers found 12 grams of Indian hemp at his residence on May 29. He pleaded guilty and was fined $150 or one month at BDCS. Normaneka Sands, 25, also pleaded guilty to simple possession after she was found with one gram of Indian hemp on May 27. Prosecutor McKenzie said around 10.10pm that night, officers on foot patrol on Parliament Street observed a yellow vehicle travelling north. Inspector McKenzie said when the driver saw the police, she began to act suspicious. As a result, the officers beckoned the car to stop and asked Sands if she had anything illegal in her car. In response, Sands handed the officers a silver foil wrap. During the hearing, Sands was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service or one month in prison.
PAGE 6, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
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The injustices on our doorstep THE world is watching the United States at present, as it convulses with protests, riots and looting, all sparked by a police officer kneeling on George Floyd’s neck until he died. This incident – a white officer killing a black man – is far from an isolated one. Racism isn’t getting worse, it’s just getting filmed. The convenience of the camera on the phone is letting the world see these incidents – just as it has recorded incidents during the police response to the protests that followed. Shortly before the death of George Floyd, another video went viral, showing a white woman calling the police in an hysterical tone of voice, saying an African American was present and she needed help. She was not being threatened – and the way George Floyd was treated showed what could have been for the black man she called the police on. The issues in the US have attracted worldwide attention – as issues in America so often do, dominant as it is in terms of media and social networks. When we feel anger about the injustices there, however, we should feel no less anger about the injustices in our own country. In Tuesday’s Tribune, columnist Felicity Darville looked to historic issues here at home - the Burma Road Riot in The Bahamas. Today, fellow columnist Alicia Wallace looks at issues here today. Does racism exist in The Bahamas? Some would say no, given the majority black population and the series of black people in positions of power in the country, all the way up to Prime Minister. But we would be foolish to pretend racism is not a part of our existence here. When we talk about institutional racism, we talk about a racism that is rooted in the structures of our society. It makes no difference if an individual police officer is white or black if they are following orders that come from a structure that works against black people. Do our structures work that way? Take a look inside the walls of Fox Hill prison
and tell us which sector of society is most represented there. More than that, take a look at the court cases routinely featured in The Tribune, and the series of young black men hauled before the courts. Look further, to the society we have created that leads those men into a life of crime. Are we really so different than the US? Even recently, take a look at the differences in sentences handed out for curfew violations. Mostly, it’s a fine of $400 or so, unless you’re a young black man selling coconuts and then you get fined $700. And what of the Filipino woman, fined $2,000 for jogging? Was that sentencing equitable compared to other cases? The Tribune has regularly reported on cases of alleged police brutality – from the case of Osworth Rolle, unlawfully killed by police more than three years ago, to the three people who said they were tortured by police in Eleuthera, and whose complaint to the force was allowed to run out of time without action. Or the officers caught on video here – beating people during Junkanoo on New Year’s Day. We could mention more – the teenager slammed on the ground at Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium, the two young women reportedly assaulted by police in Exuma, the video of an officer slapping a man on a beach, the man limping from custody to an ambulance after allegedly being shocked with a taser and beaten. We may not have the protests tearing apart the US at present – but we have more than our share of inequality, and plenty of injustice to go with it. So as we look at what is going wrong elsewhere, we must ask ourselves what we can do to eradicate injustice here too. We have fought some of these same battles in our own past – and the leaders who battle against injustice are renowned in our country. That prompts the same question Felicity Darville posed in her column this week – “Who’s going to fill their shoes?”
An unwelcome guest AS we edge closer to reopening the country and welcoming back visitors, there is one particular arrival that we could do without. The cane toad has returned to The Bahamas. Invasive. Toxic. Unwanted. A few years ago, in 2013, the toad was spotted and, at the time, seemingly dealt with.
READERS have been posting their reactions to the news on tribune242.com. After Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said a 14-day quarantine period is out of the question for visitors, Shonkai had this to say: “Most (American) tourists go in self quarantine anyway in all-inclusives, or with only one outing to a liquor store when they arrive. Let’s concentrate on how to get them to keep distance from taxi drivers and hotel staff. And then of course test those taxi drivers and hotel staff on a weekly basis, there must be enough test kits available in the world today. I agree it is about mitigating the risk, but let’s not be totally stupid about this and throw all caution overboard just because they are tourists. I mean what have these past months of isolation been for otherwise, all for nothing?” DD posted this: “I must
Seemingly, it had disappeared. Now, it is back. Speaking of things that had seemingly disappeared but are now back, Environment Minister Romi Ferreira is ready to take on the toad. The Bahamas is a wonderful, welcoming place. But this particular visitor can hop off.
say the statement from the Minister of Tourism speaks volumes. He is 100% correct on both the testing question and the quarantine of tourists for 14 days. With those two restrictions eliminated the tourist industry in The Bahamas has been given a chance to survive. The loss of the economy will kill more people than the Corona 19 ever will. Time is of the essence! The boating season is here and so is the hurricane season. For GBI there are plenty of rental houses with docks and hotels with marinas that could be opened immediately and just have the tourists confined to the property. There are many hotels that can not survive if you don’t
allow them to open for the summer season. There is no taking it back if you starve these businesses out of exsistance. Thank you, I think we are headed in the right direction.” The news that domestic travel will resume next Monday without the need for a COVID-19 travel card prompted this response from Proudloudandfnm: “Islands need their own authority, I am not ready to let flights or boats from Nassau travel here to GB. And definitely not ready for Americans to travel here.” And in The Tribune’s online poll, we asked readers what grade they would give the government’s 2020/21 Budget. The results at the time of going to press were: A: 32%, B: 11%, C: 9%, D: 5%, E: 2% and F: 41%. Don’t miss your chance to join the conversation on tribune242.com.
Patrick was a man of enormous wisdom and knowledge EDITOR, The Tribune As I knew Patrick Bethel, here is my salute to an incomparable national hero. WHILE heaven has regained an enlightened soul, we have lost a being of enormous wisdom, knowledge and knowingness. A long-life teacher of exceptional skills, intellect and Patrick was chosen to be the first Bahamian principal of The Bahamas Teachers’ College. Thus, his sense of educational excellence, fairplay, none discrimination and noble humility, fostered extraordinary elements of traditional commitment and dedication in the souls of our pre and post-Independence trained teachers. Patrick was colour and status blind, not in the physical sense, but mentally. He saw clearly and cherished all the wonderful creations of God, no matter status, creed, colour or political inclination. I personally cherished these special gifts of his. As with myself, he belonged to no political entity or paid homage to any. However, he was ferociously political in the true and original sense of that term. His passionate caring for the wellbeing of our ship of state was second to none, not even the avid party politician. However smart, intelligent and wise he was, he did not hesitate to seek advise from others, even from me his junior by some nine years. Politically objective, and fearing no man, when he had to speak out on, or write, about issues plaguing our country, he would not hesitate to call me any hour of the day or night to seek my advice before he went
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net public on burning national concerns. I felt an extraordinary and humbling pride that such a soul being would consult me. I always cherished and looked forward to my visits to Abaco, joyfully anticipating my interaction with Patrick. He always insisted that I join him and his beloved wife, Margaret, for one of her cooked meals with some special desert created by her loving hands. Then, of course, there was always the regular Saturday morning breakfast at THE FAMILY ISLAND RESTAURANT in Marsh Harbour. There I was privileged to commune with his assembly of geriatric friends. They were some ten of them usually. I was some ten years junior to the youngest in the group. What a crop of souls with whom to enjoy a Saturday morning! Talk about a “grumpy” old bunch of adorable men. Even Hollywood could not muster up such a crew of individually eccentric and specially talented beings. My encounter with them always filled me with insane joy and the bliss of the aged. I choked with laughter as I feasted on my delectable stew conch, listening to their taunting each other. I cherished those moments with their infinite wisdom matured over many years on this planet Earth. Then, of course, on every occasion leaving to return to Freeport, Patrick had my box of goodies packed
and ready to go, including every variety of frozen seafood and produce from his garden or farm he partially “owned”. If perchance the freezer was bare or the garden not producing, he was certain to have a box flown over to me when goodies were in store. Then came Dorian! He found it necessary and convenient to relocate to Long Island, my home island. Not long after settling there, I received a call from Patrick. It was no longer a call to seek my advice. He was simply full of joy and jubilation. He just wanted to share his happiness with me. “Joe”, he said, “I could not on any place on earth find more gracious and loving people than those on Long Island.” At this very moment, I can still feel the joy and happiness pouring from his grateful heart. That my good and honorable friend could speak so highly of my childhood home confirmed even more that there is no place so cherished in my heart than Long Island. From Long Island, Patrick was not able to return to Abaco, but finished his sojourn on this earth in the arms of his son Marcus in Nassau. Patrick adored his two sons, Marcus and Colin and their children. Spenser, Marcus’ son was the vibrating string of his magnificent heart. Rest in peace my brother in the arms of Abraham and Margaret. Back here on Earth you will forever be dearly loved. JOSEPH DARVILLE – a cherished friend Freeport, Grand Bahama. May 20, 2020.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 3, 2020, PAGE 7
‘SEEK AND DESTROY’ DEADLY TOAD MISSION
By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A TRIP to church on Sunday turned into a scary ordeal for Margaret Davies, a 49-year-old Bahamian living in the US, who got stuck in the midst of a heated protest in Tampa. Americans in the country’s major cities have started major uprisings after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after being detained by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Footage of the arrest showed a white police officer’s knee on Mr Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes while he was already handcuffed and facedown on the ground. Some of his last words were “I can’t breathe”. When heading out on Sunday, Mrs Davis noticed a lot of patrol cars and the road was blocked off. This led the mother to detour into a side street and caused her to be in the path of the protesters. “When I detoured, where the two cars blocked off they could not move. So then I turned back around and then I went back on the main Martin Luther King (street) and as I was going further down then that’s when the commotion was. When I reached further down that’s when I saw a lot of people on the road,” she recalled. “The police were disturbing them...Normally when they protest in the day the police don’t bother them. . .they get violent through the night. So the police cars were lined up all through the road on the left side and I was on the right and the protesters were all in the road because the cars in the front of me couldn’t move, because they were in the front of them.” As protesters tried to proceed into the street, Mrs Davies tried her best to move around. Her 11-yearold daughter who was in the car with her was afraid and started shaking due to the incident, she said. While some protests have become violent, with looting and rioting, Mrs Davis said those who stayed away from the fray were generally safe. She said: “If you stay out of harm’s way, they’re not
from page one
POLICE last night arrested protesters who refused to get off the streets during an imposed curfew in New York
US-based Bahamian woman caught up in Floyd protests coming looking for you... but if you go there being a spectator or a part of it, yes anything can happen - I’m not going to lie to you. But they’re not deliberately going to hurt you. But because of the violence and rage and them throwing things, yes you could get hurt in the process by them.” While Mrs Davis is trying to get away from the protests, 28-year-old Rashad Curry spent the weekend in Minneapolis. He had been planning this trip for a few weeks to the city from New York City where he currently lives. With everything that took just a couple days before his
departure, Mr Curry wondered whether he should cancel his trip due to the protest in the mid-western city - eventually, he decided to go in the end. “I got there Friday night... the first night of the curfew - an 8pm curfew was implemented. So, I got there right before that and the route we took to get home I didn’t see anything,” he said to The Tribune. “The second day, which would’ve been Saturday when we were driving from one part Minneapolis to another we saw just in the distance like you could see smoke coming from some of the buildings and then we saw like a pocket of
people with like signs but it was more of a peaceful protest. It wasn’t like the violent ones that they’ve been showing on TV. “..On the news, it’s saying it’s so horrible but then when you actually take the time to walk around it wasn’t probably what you would’ve expected based on watching the news because we were fairly close at that point to where the action was and was a typical day.” Walking around, he saw a lot of stores were boarded up. Stores that had already been vandalised and others that were taking precautionary methods. There were times he said
he was left uneasy. His friends wanted to help with cleanup efforts; Mr Curry did not feel “100 percent confident doing that” as he was not familiar with the area. “The other time I felt fear was when we were walking around in the Minneapolis neighborhood. Even though there was no presence of a riot or violence..I didn’t know if people would just be angry in those areas and would take action against seeing a black person.” Editorial View - Page 6 Alicia Wallace - Page 8 Latest news - Page 11
CALLING ALL CARS
indicate that the toad’s presence has been discovered in the newly developed subdivision of Venetian West,” the ministry said in a press release. “Efforts will be undertaken to attempt to identify if the toads may have been transported inadvertently from one location to the other or whether a new importation event has occurred.” Minister of the Environment and Housing Romauld Ferreira said: “The Ministry of Environment takes this new event regarding the toads very seriously. It is our ultimate desire to eradicate this pest but at the very least we need to stop its spread. Any attempt to control the spread of this new invasive will require the government and the private sector working together in a concerted effort. The fact that it has taken the toad seven years to re-emerge provides an indication that we can once again knock it back. “The task force will be looking at implementing a long-term monitoring and control program with landscaping companies working in the west and identifying border control methods to prevent any additional importations.” In a separate release, the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) confirmed it met with government representatives and other agencies on the matter. The BNT’s team of expert scientists is prepared to support the development of a national strategy aimed at controlling or eradicating the pest species from the environment, the press release said. BNT executive director Eric Carey said: “The reemergence of the cane toad is a major concern for our vulnerable native wildlife. I believe that with immediate action, the elimination of invasive cane toads from our islands is possible and necessary to mitigate further threats before the unwelcomed species gets out of control.” The cane toad releases toxins that are harmful to humans and can kill small animals. Anyone who spots a cane toad is asked to contact Ministry of Environment officials. Editorial View - Page 6
HAITIANS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE AT DETENTION CENTRE
IT’S the beginning of the month so drivers faced a long wait to get their car registered at the Thomas A Robinson stadium yesterday Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
DATE SET FOR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT BILL DEBATE THE Public Procurement Bill, dubbed as landmark legislation by the government, will be debated after the annual budget debate wraps up. The legislation, tabled last week, will substantially change how contracts are awarded throughout the entire public service. The new rules will govern how government contracts for goods and services are issued by all public entities. The bill creates a Public Procurement Department that will fall under the Ministry of Finance and establishes a new structure
for the Tenders Board. Following the budget debate, the Ministry of Finance will engage in public education around the new bill. Some of the fundamental changes include criminal penalties for unethical conduct by public officials involved in the tender exercise, a requirement for all bids and tenders to be published through the government’s electronic tender platform, and the implementation of an appeal process for bidders. “We are proud to advance our government reform agenda with another landmark piece of legislation that will once again,
fundamentally improve the standard of government transparency and accountability. Historically, there has been little public confidence in the procurement process for government goods and services. This new legislation is a massive step forward to bringing more credibility to the procurement process. Unlike other administrations that talked and promised, we are bringing this transformation to life,” said K Peter Turnquest, deputy prime minister and minister of finance. The bill is available online (www.bahamasbudget.gov.bs), and
officials encourage the public to connect with the ministry for ongoing updates on the implementation process. “The government has advised the heads of the state-owned enterprises, as well as everyone involved in procurement within government agencies to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the bill. In some areas, adjustments and augmentation of skills will need to be made to position the government to meet the requirements of the legislation and ensure the integrity of the procurement process,” said Mr Turnquest.
HAITIAN migrants detained at the Carmichael Road detention centre went on hunger strike yesterday morning, demanding to be returned to their country. Some two hours later, after RBDF marines had de-escalated the situation, a fight broke out between two Haitians. Some detainees escaped from their dormitories, destroying several fences and other minor infrastructure in the process. The situation was contained, the detainees separated and several of them are expected to be charged with destruction of government property. The Haitian detainees at the centre include 67 males, and 18 females which represent 56% of the detention centre’s population, some of whom have been at the facility since February.
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PAGE 8, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
WORLDWIDE demonstrations: Top: Protesters kneel in Paris; left: People gather in Sydney, Australia; right: People observe social distancing as they take part in a demonstration in The Hague, Netherlands. Above: George Floyd RESTRICTED to our homes and already exhausted by the effects of COVID-19 on our lives, many of us watched as Black Americans demanded recognition of their humanity and justice for the lives that have been stolen by law enforcement. It raised questions about race and racism in The Bahamas — a topic we do not often discuss and people try to quickly shut down. Young people on social media discussed racism in The Bahamas last weekend. Some said they do not believe racism exists here. Others argued it does exist and gave examples from recent history. There were some who took offence to the history lesson and the helpful context brought to the conversation, likely thinking they were being painted as complicit. In some ways, we can be complicit in the oppression of other people, including those who are a part of our own communities. This happens quite easily because racism is institutionalized, much like gender, homophobia, xenophobia and many other forms of oppression are built into systems and organizations and become a requirement of participants. It is the reason a school, in a majority black country, can be majority white. It is the reason police brutality, vile in any instance, disproportionately affects black people. It is the reason resorts make it uncomfortable for Black Bahamians to be on property unless they are there to work. The protests taking place in the US are necessary. People have been murdered at the hands of police at an alarming rate, many on camera. These police officers are rarely stripped of their badges. They are shuffled around like lousy ministers in a cabinet. They do not spend time in prison for the heinous acts of violence they perpetrate against innocent black people. They act with impunity, knowing there is no consequence for them to face because their power is greater. Racism in Central Park The video of Amy Cooper threatening a black man in Central Park in New York has gone viral and forced the world to look at the power one white woman has against a black man who has done nothing to her. We heard her tell him that she would specifically tell the police he was African American.
There is reason to be enraged, to protest, not to remain silent The
Alicia Wallace column We saw her call the police and tell them exactly that. When, presumably, they did not respond the way she expected, she went into performance mode and forced her dog to signal distress by strangling it with the leash. She suddenly sounded hysterical, repeating that an African American was present and she needed help. She knew it was that simple. She could have that man executed on the spot because she is white and he is black, and the police have no difficulty deciding he was guilty of something and not worthy of the opportunity for a fair trial. Christian Cooper could have been a hashtag and he knew it. That is why he recorded it and that is why we have evidence of white privilege, racism and the difference in policing for white people and black people. #SayTheirNames Last week Monday, George Floyd was brutally murdered by a police officer with the assistance of three others. He was pinned down and a police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. The officer asphyxiated Floyd. This sparked outrage in Minneapolis and across the US where people are protesting. Breonna Taylor was killed by police in Kentucky on March 13. Officers entered her home without identifying themselves. Her boyfriend, in fear for his life, fired shots from a licenced firearm. The police shot Taylor at least eight times. The murder of Floyd
has reminded people of the murder of Taylor which was overshadowed by the COVID-19 crisis, but is also indicative of the disparity in attention to the murders of men and women at the hands of police. Grief, anger and instigators There is reason to be enraged. There is reason to protest. There is no reason to be silent. Some have said they are seen as dead or expendable anyway, so they would rather be in the street, agitating for change, than doing nothing at all. There is unfair criticism of the ongoing protests, largely from people who have never experienced racism, are not black, do not live in the US and have very little understanding of racism or, more specifically institutionalized racism which builds bias based on race into systems and the people operating them like law enforcement. There have been numerous calls for peaceful protest. This is absurd for many reasons. The two (disparate) reasons that come to mind are: 1. The protests are peaceful. 2. It is ludicrous to call for a peaceful response to continuous murder of black people. It is not that violence is the answer, but that black people are regularly asked to exercise a restraint that is not required of people in positions of power. Calls for peaceful protest should not come without calls to end the senseless murder of black people. You may see images of burning buildings, people
looting and even people throwing objects at police officers. The protesters are being harshly judged without consideration to the context and the missing information. People on the ground are reporting that the destruction of property is being done by people who are being paid to create chaos. There are multiple videos showing black people telling white people to stop damaging property. In one video, a black woman gives a brick back to a group of white people in a car. She angrily tells them they should not be driving around giving bricks to young black people because they know what would happen if they are even seen carrying a brick. These actions are meant to incite violence and the put lives in danger. Some see through it and refuse to participate or call them out, but some people take the bait. It is difficult to see what you would do when you are grieving lives stolen by murders, expressing rage at the callous response to those murders and fearing for your own life as you do what is necessary — naming the acts of violence and the systems that support it and calling for justice and changes to law enforcements systems, equipment and officers. Even as black people work to make the change that would save their lives, people are trying to get them killed. They are giving out bricks, vandalizing buildings, looting businesses and getting into crowds and throwing things at police. They are creating dangerous environments for people who are protesting. They are giving people something to talk about when they call for “peaceful protests”. The people out there are fighting a difficult battle and it is an insult to insist they are peaceful in the face of danger. It is even more insulting to quote and misquote people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a way to control
people. King talked about peace, but he talked about riots too. He talked about when they are used. To be clear, we are not seeing black-led riots. Not yet. We are seeing chaos around a protest that has been infiltrated by people with different motives. Preparing children for hate If you know black people living in the US you probably know they have to have conversations about race with their children at an early age. They tell them some people will hate them because of their race and some people will treat them differently or automatically suspect them of wrongdoing. They have to make sure their children know how to behave when they are addressed by a police officer. They teach them to not only be respectful, but to be reverent, to acquiesce, to be slow in their movements, to keep their hands away from bags or pockets and to speak loudly enough to be heard, but not to be confrontational. Pro-black anti-racist white people are having conversations with their children about race too. They tell them they have privilege and they need to use it to protect black people. They show them the importance of pulling over when a black person is pulled over by police, to watch and make sure the person is not harmed. They tell them what to say when they are walking with a black friend and they are stopped by police. They tell them their role at a protest is amplify, protect and deescalate. By now, you are probably wondering what this has to do with us in The Bahamas. Aside from the fact that many of us are raising children to become citizens of other countries where they will be minorities, we face issues of race every day. We like to pretend racism does not exist here and that is a lie and a
useless — even harmful — narrative. It shows up in various ways. Look at the way young black men are treated by police. I have heard police talk about their duty to chase them out of the downtown area because they believe they do not belong there. Look at the way neighbourhoods are formed. Who lives in them? Who is kept out? Security guards do not have to be white to uphold racist policies. They are trained to see certain people as threats, not only to people’s safety, but to their comfort. Many of us have learned to see the world in the same way and it is up to us to change that. Pay attention to what is happening in the US. Ask yourself why this is the action being taken — by black people, by white people, by police officers, by the state, by the White House. People are coming together in different cities and all over the world to protest police brutality, murder, racism and militarization of police. Think about what you can do to help. Imagine getting to the place where Bahamians are able to organize ourselves to protest in large numbers, across islands, to achieve a common goal. How would you show up? In the street? On social media to amplify the voices of people out there? Volunteering as a medic, donating water, or recording videos as evidence of what is actually taking place? Donating to mutual aid funds? Giving someone a brick? Think about where you would stand and why. The Burma Road Riot was not so long ago that we can’t talk to people who were there. It started with rage, addressed an issue of unequal pay and racism and saw success beyond the immediate issue. Yes, rage can turn a protest into a riot, but people are more important than property. Black lives matter. Editorial View - Page 6
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 3, 2020, PAGE 9
LEAH HU, left, and her brother Leon demonstrate the use of robots for serving purposes or for dirty dishes collection, as part of a tryout of measures to respect social distancing and help curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at the family’s Royal Palace restaurant in Renesse, south-western Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
ROBOT WAITERS TO THE RESCUE AMID VIRUS By ALEKSANDAR FURTULA and RAF CASERT Associated Press RENESSE, Netherlands (AP) — You can always count on a robot for perfect timing. When Shaosong Hu saw robotic waiters serving food in China last fall, he knew exactly what he wanted for his restaurant in the Dutch beachside town of Renesse. He just didn’t have a clue how useful they would prove. The coronavirus pandemic has turned a whimsical idea into perhaps a window into a dystopian future where a human touch may make people cringe with fear, and a waiter clearing the table sends a customer tense with stress — only to be relieved by a soothing brush with plastic. “They came in just ahead of that time,” said Hu’s daughter Leah, who also works at the restaurant, the
Royal Palace. Now, his two shiny white-and-red robots glide across the dining area’s floor where, once the restaurant reopens, they will be serving Chinese and Indonesian specialties like Babi Pangang and Char Siu at 15.5 euros ($17) each. “Hello and welcome” the robots say — in a voice best described as pre-programmed. Their duties will include greeting customers, serving drinks and dishes and returning used glasses and crockery. It’s unclear whether diners will be expected to tip. One thing the robots will certainly do is see that social distancing rules are respected. “We will use them to make sure the 1.5 metres (5 feet) we need during the corona crisis sticks,” Leah Hu said.
“I’ve had negative reactions,” she said, “such as saying it makes it impersonal.” But it may prove just what customers crave when Dutch restaurants are allowed to reopen on Monday as lockdown restrictions are further eased. In a stab at quasihuman panache, one robot wears a chiffon scarf around its neck. And the hunt is on to give the two human names, with a competition already underway on Instagram. “We don’t have a favourite yet. But the suggestion of Ro and Bot is out. We want to give them a normal name,” said Leah Hu. Dutch restaurants have been hard hit by the crisis and have been closed for over two months. As of Monday, they were allowed to reopen but with a maximum of 30 customers. That will force some layout adaptations in
the Royal Palace where the robots’ programmed floorplan may have to be changed at the last moment. And in the southern Zeeland province, the Hus don’t want to hear any complaints about the robots robbing young people of a job. They say it’s hard enough anyway to find staff in a rural region without any major city close by. “They help us with the work we do,” said Leah Hu. “We are often busy and cleaning tables and the robots give us an extra hand.” It also frees up the human staff for some more personal contact. “We are not disappearing. We are still here. “They will always need people in this industry,” she said. Adapting to the robots, even your own, remains a challenge. “For us, it is still trying to see what works,” she said.
By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
NASA astronauts Robert L. Behnken, left, and Chris Cassidy right, listen as commander Douglas Hurley speaks about retrieving the American flag left behind at the International Space Station nearly a decade ago. (NASA via AP) — were responsible for Saturday’s flawless launch of test pilots Hurley and Behnken aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center. The Dragon capsule, also built and owned by SpaceX, docked at the space station Sunday. “It’s awe-inspiring for all of us,” SpaceX manager Benji Reed told the astronauts from Hawthorne. Reed asked them about the Falcon ride. Hurley said he could feel when the rocket went transonic and broke the sound barrier. The final push to orbit, on the second stage, was full of vibrations and felt like “driving fast, very fast on a gravel road,” he said. The astronauts instantly went from pulling more than three G’s — more
ZOOM BOOMS AS PANDEMIC DRIVES MILLIONS TO ITS VIDEO SERVICE By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer
SPACEX CAPTURES THE FLAG, BEATING BOEING IN COSMIC CONTEST
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first astronauts launched by SpaceX declared victory Monday in NASA’s cosmic capture-the-flag game. They quickly claimed the prize left behind at the International Space Station nearly a decade ago by the last crew to launch from the U.S. “Congratulations, SpaceX, you got the flag,” NASA astronaut Doug Hurley said a day after arriving at the space station. Hurley showed off the small U.S. flag during a news conference and again in a linkup with SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. “You can bet we will take it with us when we depart back to Earth,” said Hurley, floating alongside Dragon crewmate Bob Behnken. The flag flew on the first space shuttle flight in 1981 and the final one in 2011. Hurley was on that last shuttle crew. The flag was an added incentive for Elon Musk’s SpaceX company and Boeing, competing to be the first private company to launch a crew to the space station. Saturday’s liftoff of NASA astronauts was the first from the U.S. in nine years. Boeing’s first astronaut flight isn’t expected until next year. The crew will include Chris Ferguson, commander of the last shuttle flight who now works for Boeing. “Proud to yield the title of “The last commander of an American launched spacecraft” to @Astro_Doug who, with @AstroBehnken, has returned US to space from KSC after 3,252 days. Well done,” Ferguson tweeted following the SpaceX liftoff. An estimated 100,000 people — suppliers, vendors, engineers, etc.
TECHTALK
than three times the force of Earth’s gravity — to zero gravity as soon as they reached orbit. “Sounds like the ultimate ride in a Batmobile with the jet engine turned on,” Reed said. Behnken said one of the first things he did upon reaching the orbiting lab was call his 6-year-old son, Theo, to hear what is was like to watch his father blast into space “and share that a little bit with him while it was still fresh in his mind.” Hurley and Behnken spent Monday making sure their docked Dragon is ready to make an emergency getaway, if necessary. The capsule will serve as their lifeboat during their space station visit. They joined three station
residents — an American and two Russians. NASA will decide in the coming weeks how long to keep the pair there. Their mission could last anywhere from one to four months. The timing will depend on Dragon checkouts in orbit and launch preparations for the company’s next astronaut flight, currently targeted for the end of August. With so much uncertainty and so many variables, Behnken said it was a little hard explaining to his son when he’d back. “From his perspective, he’s just excited that we’re going to get a dog when I get home,” Behnken said with a smile.
SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Zoom Video Communications is rapidly emerging as the latest internet gold mine as millions of people flock to its conferencing service to see colleagues, friends and family while tethered to their homes during the pandemic. Tuesday’s release of the onceobscure company’s financial results for the February-April period provided a window into the astronomical growth that has turned it into a Wall Street star. Zoom’s revenue for its fiscal first-quarter more than doubled from the same time last year to $328 million, resulting a profit of $27 million — up from just $198,000 a year ago. The numbers exceeded analysts’ already heightened expectations, providing another lift to a rocketing stock that has more than tripled in price so far this year. After a big run-up leading up to Tuesday’s highly anticipated announcement, Zoom’s stock gained nearly 3% in extended trading to $213.60 — more than five times the company’s initial public offering price of $36 less than 14 months ago. The surge has left Zoom with a market value of about $59 billion — greater than the combined market values of the four largest U.S. airlines, which have seen their businesses hammered by the coronavirus outbreak that has dramatically curtailed travel. “We were humbled by the accelerated adoption of the Zoom platform around the globe,” said CEO Eric Yuan, who co-founded the company nine years ago. In a sign that its growth isn’t expected to be short lived, Zoom forecast revenue of roughly $500 million for its current quarter ending in July, more than quadrupling from the same time last year. For its full fiscal year, Zoom now expects revenue of about $1.8 billion, nearly tripling in a year. Zoom’s boom has come despite privacy problems that enabled outsiders to make uninvited — and sometimes crude — appearances during other people’s video conferences. The concerns prompted some schools to stop using Zoom for online classes that have become widespread since February, although the company’s efforts to introduce more security protection has brought some back to the service. More than 100,000 schools worldwide are now using Zoom for online classes, according to the company. But the once-weak privacy controls also helped make Zoom extremely easy to use, one of the reasons it became such a popular way to hold online classes, business meetings and virtual cocktail hours after most of the U.S. began ordering people to stay at home in effort to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Zoom also offers a free version of its service, another factor in its popularity at a time when about 40 million people in the U.S. have lost their jobs since mid-March, raising the specter of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
PAGE 10, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Dunkirk: How newspapers in Britain helped to turn defeat into a miracle
EXHAUSTED British troops on the quayside at Dover, May 31 1940. BY TIM LUCKHURST Principal of South College, Durham University MODERN Britons associate The Great Escape with the 1963 film of that name starring Steve McQueen, referring to, of course, a mass escape during the second world war. But this title might more appropriately be applied to the rescue of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from Dunkirk between May 27 and June 4, 1940. As the UK marks the 80th anniversary of that escape, we shall hear much of the author JB Priestley’s first “postscript” for BBC Radio on Wednesday, June 5. That broadcast coined the phrase “Little Ships” and even acknowledged Priestley’s own part in shaping understanding of Dunkirk. He asked listeners: “Doesn’t it seem to you to have an inevitable air about it – as if we had turned a page in the history of Britain and seen a chapter headed ‘Dunkirk’?” But there was nothing inevitable about it. Before pledging to “fight them on the beaches”, Winston Churchill himself reminded the House of Commons in the same speech that “wars are not won by evacuations”. He acknowledged the BEF had courted disaster before depicting its escape as “a miracle of deliverance”. That the British public regards it as a triumph owes much to the work of British newspaper journalists and the Royal Navy press officers who briefed them. Dunkirk was not reported in eyewitness accounts from the beaches. The few war correspondents who struggled back with the retreating armies had no means by which to communicate. Reports, such as Evelyn Montague’s The Miracle of the BEF’s Return for the Manchester Guardian of Saturday, June 1, 1940, were penned by journalists invited to witness the Royal Navy’s delivery of evacuated soldiers to the ports of south-east England. There, they were briefed with patriotic fervour and naval pride as well as facts. The first sentence of
Montague’s piece gives a flavour of the mood that was inspired: In the grey chill dawn today in a south-eastern port, war correspondents watched with incredulous joy the happening of a miracle. The reporter – a grandson of the famous Guardian editor and owner C.P. Scott – did not fail to give the Royal Navy credit. Having described a waterfront hotel in which “every armchair held its sleeping soldier or sailor, huddled beneath overcoat or ground sheet,” Montague turned to the scene in the port: “As the rising sun was turning the grey clouds to burnished copper the first destroyer of the day slid swiftly into the harbour, its silhouette bristling with the heads of the men who stood packed shoulder to shoulder on its decks.” Back in 1940, The Times did not award reporters bylines. Its report of the BEF’s return on June 1 was by “Our Special Correspondent”. He too witnessed the scenes in a south-eastern port (security censorship forbade more precise identification). The men, he wrote, were “weary but undaunted”. Protected by “the ceaseless patrol maintained by British warships and aeroplanes in the English Channel”, men who had displayed “steadiness under a cruel test” were “pouring onto the quays”. The Daily Mirror’s Bernard Gray, writing in its stablemate, the Sunday Pictorial, gave his verdict in a column on June 2 headlined simply “The Whole Magnificent Story”. “There have been many glorious episodes in the history of Britain”, he opined, “but, if that great English historian Macaulay were able to select from 2,000 years the most glorious week in the annals of the British Empire, this last seven days would surely be the week he would have chosen.” Gray did not hesitate to offer comparisons: “Never mind the defeat of the Armada. Forget even the Battle of Waterloo, the epic of Trafalgar. For this week has seen the British Empire at its mightiest – in defeat.” Standing “in the streets of an English Channel
Port”, G. Ward Price of the Daily Mail was similarly enthralled in his front-page piece, Rearguard Battles On, on June 1: “It is a picture of staggering heroism, fighting spirit and determination that never weakened in the face of overwhelming odds in men and material.” It took Hilaire Belloc, the Anglo-French author of Cautionary Tales for Children, to recognise in his column for the Sunday Times (The Evacuation and After, June 2) that the withdrawal from Belgium and the collapse of Britain’s key ally, France, constituted a “catastrophe”. In his defining examination of the elements that comprise Britain’s “received story” of 1940, The Myth of the Blitz, Scottish historian and poet Angus Calder noted that elements of the way the story was reported were misleading. However, Calder agreed that “Dunkirk was indeed a great escape”. I celebrate the work British newspapers did to stiffen resolve and sustain morale at this time of grave national peril. In a democracy fighting totalitarianism, newspapers must balance their obligation to hold power to account and their duty to the national cause. The newspapers surveyed here certainly colluded in the creation of myths about Dunkirk, but their readers might not have welcomed any efforts to report Dunkirk any other way. After all, myths are not lies and this one was studded with harsh facts. In Bernard Gray’s words for the Sunday Pictorial, Dunkirk was glorious despite the truth that: “The British Army has not won a battle. The British Army has retreated. The British Army has had to leave the Battlefield.” For me, David Low captured the prevailing mood in his famous “Very Well, Alone” cartoon for the Evening Standard just a few weeks later on June 18. It depicts a British soldier alone before a raging sea and gesturing with a raised fist towards the Nazioccupied continent from which German troops were expected to arrive at any moment. theconversation.com
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 3, 2020, PAGE 11
Cities gird for more violence as Trump decries ‘lowlifes’ TENSIONS MAR PARIS PROTEST AS OUTRAGE GOES GLOBAL PARIS Associated Press
TOP: People join George Floyd’s family in a march in Houston; left: A woman with the words “I can’t breathe” on her face covering at a Black Lives Matter event in Eugene, Oregon; above: Protesters gather at Foley Square, New York
WASHINGTON Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump yesterday turned up the pressure on governors to quell the violence set off by the death of George Floyd, demanding New York call up the National Guard to stop the “lowlifes and losers.” As more demonstrations began taking shape around the country during the afternoon, and cities girded for another round of scattered violence after dark, the president amplified his hard-line calls of a day earlier, in which he threatened to send in the military to restore order if governors didn’t do it. “NYC, CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD,” he tweeted. “The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart. Act fast! Don’t make the same horrible and deadly mistake you made with the Nursing Homes!!!” Protests were held in such places as Orlando, Florida, where more than 1,000 people gathered in the afternoon to decry the killings of black people. In New York, where crowds of people on Monday night smashed store windows and police made nearly 700 arrests, Mayor Bill de Blasio extended an 8 p.m. curfew all week. “We’re going to have a tough few days,” he warned, but
added: “We’re going to beat it back.” He pleaded with community leaders to step forward and “create peace.” More than 20,000 National Guard members have been called up in 29 states to deal with the violence. New York is not among them. De Blasio has said he does not want the Guard, and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he will not send it into the city against the mayor’s wishes. Monday marked the seventh straight night of unrest around the country. In Atlanta, police fired tear gas at demonstrators. In Nashville, more than 60 National Guard members put down their riot shields at the request of peaceful protesters. At a demonstration in Buffalo, New York, an SUV plowed into a group of officers, injuring three. An officer was shot and gravely wounded as police tried to disperse a crowd outside a Las Vegas hotel and casino. Four officers were shot in St. Louis; they were expected to recover. Philadelphia officials described a chaotic night in which one person was killed trying to use explosives to open an ATM, a gun shop owner fatally shot a would-be thief, and a 19-year-old died of injuries during looting. About a dozen other deaths have been reported around the country
PARIS RETURNS TO CAFES BUT VIRUS SURGE IN LATIN AMERICA PARIS Associated Press
PARISIANS returned to the City of Light’s beloved sidewalk cafes as lockdown restrictions eased yesterday but health experts expressed deep concerns as several Latin American countries opted to reopen their economies despite a rapid rise in coronavirus cases. The post-lockdown freedom along Paris’ cobbled streets will be tempered
by social distancing rules for the city’s once-densely packed cafe tables. Paris City Hall has authorised outside seating areas only, with indoor seating offlimits until June 22. But the tiny tables will have to be spaced at least 1 metre apart, sharply cutting their numbers. But as Parisians reclaimed the rhythm of city life, health experts warned that virus cases are still rising in Latin America, the world’s latest
over the past week. And more than 5,600 people nationwide have been arrested for such offenses as stealing, blocking highways and breaking curfew. “We have been sitting on a powder keg for some time and it has burst,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said. Some protesters framed the burgeoning movement as a necessity after a string of killings by police. “I fear for my safety every time I get in the car to go for a drive. I fear of getting pulled over. I fear for all 10 of my brothers’ and sisters’ lives, for my parents’ lives!” 19-year-old Amari Burroughs of Parkland, Florida, said as she prepared for another protest. “My goal is to use my voice and my leadership to make this world safer so that one day I can bring children here and won’t have to fear for their safety.” Meanwhile, governors and mayors, Republicans and Democrats alike, rejected Trump’s threat to send in the military, with some saying troops would be unnecessary and others questioning whether the government has such authority and warning that such a step would be dangerous. “Denver is not Little Rock in 1957, and Donald Trump is not President Eisenhower. This is a time for healing, for bringing
people together, and the best way to protect civil rights is to move away from escalating violence,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, both Democrats, said in a statement, referring to Eisenhower’s use of troops to enforce school desegregation in the South. A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the president is not rushing to send in the military and that his goal was to pressure governors to deploy more National Guard members. Such use of the military would mark a stunning federal intervention rarely seen in modern American history. Federal law allows presidents to dispatch the military into states to suppress an insurrection or if a state is defying federal law, legal experts said. But some state officials asserted that the president does not have a unilateral right to send in troops against the will of local governments. Minnesota, meanwhile, opened an investigation into whether the Minneapolis Police Department has a pattern of discrimination against minorities. Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee on the handcuffed black man’s neck for several minutes.
TEAR gas choked Paris streets yesterday as riot police faced off with protesters setting fires amid growing global outrage over George Floyd’s death in the United States, racial injustice and heavy-handed police tactics around the world. French protesters took a knee and raised their fists while firefighters struggled to extinguish multiple blazes as a largely peaceful, multiracial demonstration degenerated into scattered tensions. Several thousand people defied a virusrelated ban on protests to pay homage to Floyd and Adama Traore, a French black man who died in police custody. Chanting “I can’t breathe,” thousands marched peacefully through Australia’s largest city, while thousands more demonstrated in the Dutch capital of The Hague and hundreds rallied in Tel Aviv. Expressions of anger erupted in multiple languages on social networks, with thousands of Swedes joining an online protest and others speaking out under the banner of #BlackOutTuesday. Diplomatic ire percolated too, with the European Union’s top foreign policy official saying the bloc was “shocked and appalled” by Floyd’s death. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s remarks in Brussels were the strongest to come out of the 27-nation bloc, saying Floyd’s death was a result of an abuse of power. Borrell told reporters that “like the people of the United States, we are shocked and appalled by the death of George Floyd.” He underlined that Europeans “support the right to peaceful protest, and also we condemn violence and racism of any kind, and for sure, we call for a de-escalation of tensions.” More African leaders are speaking up over the killing of Floyd. “It cannot be right that, in the 21st century, the United States, this great bastion of democracy, continues to grapple with the problem of systemic racism,” Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo said in a statement, adding that black people the world over are shocked and distraught. Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga offered a prayer for the U.S., “that there be justice and freedom for all human beings who call America their country.”
A CAFE owner measures the distance between tables to respect social distance at a cafe terrace in Lille, northern France yesterday COVID-19 epicenter. “Clearly the situation in many South American countries is far from stable. There is a rapid increase in cases and those systems are coming under increasing pressure,” said Dr. Mike Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization’s emergencies programme. His warning came as some of Brazil’s hardesthit cities, including the jungle city of Manaus and the sprawling metropolis of
Rio de Janeiro, were starting to allow more business activity. Brazil has reported more than 526,000 infections, second only to the 1.8m cases reported by the US. Bolivia and Venezuela have also started opening up their economies, Ecuador has resumed flights and shoppers have returned to Colombia’s malls. In Mexico, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador offered a personal note of caution to his country’s gradual roll-back of
virus restrictions by opting to drive 1,000 miles instead of flying to promote a key infrastructure project. Despite its public praise of China, the WHO was deeply frustrated with Chinese authorities for not immediately providing the world body with information it needed to fight the spread of the deadly virus. Tight controls on information and competition within China’s health services are believed to be why the country delayed
releasing the genetic map, or genome, of the virus for more than a week after three different government labs had fully decoded the information. WHO officials publicly lauded China to coax more information out of the government, but privately complained in the first week of January that China wasn’t sharing enough data to assess how the virus spread between people or what the global risk was, costing valuable time.
PAGE 12, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
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NAIRN
FROM PAGE 13 just want to be support for others because I am a black man and I have been in the United States since I was 13, but I just walk in wisdom and be a help in a positive way.” While people have a mind of their own, “Tum Tum” said he has decided that he won’t be participating in any protest, but rather he will rely on God to work things out in his own time. With his faith in God, Laquan Nairn said he was able to go to the United States and achieve the goal he set out to accomplish when he first enrolled in college at South Plains in 2016. Despite suffering an injury, he transferred to the University of Arkansas where he was able to flourish as a long and triple jumper. “This season was great. I give God all praise and glory for it. The whole time I was competing, it wasn’t me jumping. I am totally honest, it was only God,” Nairn said. “He allowed the things to happen to give me a platform to glorify his name.” From an injured freshman season at South Plains to graduating as one of the top ranked competitors at the University of Arkansas, Laquan Nairn said he has so much to be thankful to God for. “My brother (Tum Tum) always tells me that your talent will take you only where your character will keep you,” he said. “So it’s all glory to God for the talent that he possessed me with. “I was at the NCAA Indoor Championships when the season was cancelled. I look at it as an opportunity to put my trust in God and not to lean unto my own understanding. I knew that God would work it out.” Before his season was disrupted this year because of COVID-19, Laquan Nairn emerged as the runner-up in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Indoor Championships with a lifetime best of 8.02 metres or 26-feet, 3 3/4-inches, which ranked him at No.2 on Arkansas’ all-time list and No.2 on the Bahamian all-time list. Additionally, he placed fourth in the triple jump with a leap of 15.92m (52-2 3/4), enabling him to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which was called off in March as the coronavirus took shape around
the world. While he didn’t get the chance to compete in the Nationals, Laquan earned AllAmerican honours in both events. Laquan also posted a personal best of 16.11m (52-10 1/4) in the triple jump at the Tyson Invitational after he opened the season with a mark of 15.83m (51-11 1/4) at the Arkansas Invitational. In the long jump, he did 7.69m (25-2 at the Red Raider Invitational and recorded his previous best at the Razorback Invitational with a distance of 7.94m (26-0 3/4). “My whole journey through college and my success is not to show people in the Bahamas that I am better than any of them,” he said. “I was in the same situation that they are in and they can achieve anything that they want if they put their trust in God. “The grace of God is what has kept me. From a little kid playing basketball, I didn’t know what college was all about. I didn’t know about Arkansas until I started running track. It wasn’t until then that I wanted to go to college and get a degree. I came out of a bad environment, but I made the best of my situation.” If it wasn’t those words of encouragement from “Tum Tum” that helped to inspire him and the mentorship that he got from national triple jump record holder Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands, Laquan Nairn said he doesn’t believe that he would have been able to accomplish what he did. “Manners and respect will take you through this world. That is what has sustained me,” he emphasised. “You would be surprised at how many people love me over here. And it’s not because I run track because a lot of them think that I play basketball. But it’s because I have manners and respect. “The medals and accolades that I achieved at Arkansas haven’t changed me. They don’t mean anything. I’m not like some of the other people who allow their success to change them. It didn’t. I’m the same person. I want people to appreciate me for the struggles and the hardships that I went through to accomplish what I did as a Bahamian.” Having set the pace as the role model for his younger brother, “Tum Tum” said it was a blessing to watch Laquan follow in his footsteps as a college graduate.
“Growing up back home, college was never in our minds. We never really talked about what college we wanted to go to,” Tum Tum reflected. “I feel he had a chance to go pro when he was coming out of school, but I didn’t want him to be like me because track and basketball is two different sports. “It was my mom’s idea for him to go to college. As he went through college and as I understood how getting a college degree could open up certain doors for you because it’s not an easy thing, I became more eager for him to graduate. When he graduated, I was super proud of him because I knew his journey wasn’t easy and graduating from college wasn’t an easy thing to do.” Laquan Nairn, who stands at 6-feet, 1-inch, said when he tore his ACL during his freshman season at South Plains in the 2016/17 season, it was Sands who reached out to him and got him through the process to recover from his injury. Today, Nairn said Sands remains his mentor. At age 23, Laquan Nairn also credits 25-year-old Tum Tum for being there as a big brother, especially as they talk on a daily basis about life, being Bahamians and allowing God to help them both to be the best that they can be. “I thank God for Tum Tum because he went to college before me and he was able to share with me some of the things that he had to go through to survive,” said Nairn of their relationship that was developed out of the parentage of Lourawls Sr and Monalisa Nairn. “At the end of the day, I am proud of him because it’s not normal to see two brothers dominant in two different sports. Being my brother, he has helped me a lot.” “Tum Tum” attended Michigan State and helped the Spartans to make the NCAA Final Four in 2015. After graduating in 2018, he wasn’t drafted in the National Basketball Association (NBA) but went on to be named to the Phoenix Suns’ front office with a role in player development. While he was going through his transition from college, Tum Tum also played a pivotal role on the Bahamas men’s national basketball team at the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifier. He is now back at Michigan State where he is a graduate assistant.
Before he achieved all of that, Tum Tum left HO Nash at the age of 13 to attend high school in Florida. He returned to the Bahamas at the age of 16 and spent five months at CR Walker before he went to Wichita, Kansas, to attend Sunrise Christian Academy. The 5-10 former middle distance runner turned basketball point guard said he’s enjoyed a transition that he will cherish for the rest of his life. “I think it’s a blessing. I believe the Lord has really blessed us honestly. We just capitalised on that opportunity,” Tum Tum said. “To be from the Bahamas and to be brothers, who participated in the same sport before we made the switch to what we are doing now, just to be able to have some success, to be from the same family with the same parents, is a blessing. “I always pray that we are an encouragement to the people back home because you can do and be whatever you want to be. It doesn’t have to be sports. It can be whatever you want to succeed in. It’s a blessing for us. I know my parents are proud of us, but we couldn’t do it without God. We did it playing in two different sports after we switched from one sport to the other.” In returning to his alma mater at Michigan State, Tum Tum said he’s contemplating his future in sports, while at the same time completing his masters degree in kinesiology with a focus on sports administration. He completed his tenure as a student-athlete with a degree in communication. Having played basketball as his first love when he attended school in the Bahamas, Laquan Nairn said he still hoops it up every opportunity he can, once he gets the approval from his coaches at Arkansas. His priority has changed to track and field and he’s enjoying every moment of it. “Sometimes I wished I never stopped hooping it up,” Nairn said. “But I believe if I had continued, I might not have been the person that I am today. So I thank God for what he did in my life through track and field.” As brothers, now college graduates, Laquan and Lourawls are making the best of their opportunities in the sports of track and field and basketball at the University of Arkansas and Michigan State respectively.
BRYANT FROM PAGE 13
basketball schedule is a bit of a trick,” Doleva said. “It is correct that the August date is done. The October date is still in play and the spring is the backup for that.” At least one thing will be different for this year’s ceremony: The Hall will “break protocol a little bit” and allow family members to speak on behalf of honourees who are being inducted posthumously. Previously, they were presented only on video. Doleva said the exception will be made not just for Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash on January 26, but also for Sutton and Baumann, who died in 2018. “That recognises the fairness aspect of it,” Doleva said, adding that it has not been decided if the change is only for 2020 or more permanent. Although Bryant, a five-time NBA champion who is No. 4 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, was already the biggest star in this year’s class, his death at the age of 41 guaranteed that his induction would dominate this year’s ceremony. Doleva said the Hall decided against inducting Bryant alone and gave no thought to having a separate ceremony for him. “It’s not going to be all about Kobe,” he said. “What I’ve found is that these classes bond together. ... And I’m hoping that that’s what this class will do with Kobe and his family and Eddie Sutton and his family and those that are still living, they will have that bond. “It may be a little heavily weighted towards Kobe, frankly, and that’s for obvious reasons. But it will be a memorable ceremony and we’re going to celebrate everybody equally in terms of their accomplishments. They’re all Hall of Famers, and all Hall of Famers are equal in the eyes of the museum.”
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NFL, PAGE 15
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2020
Nairn on Floyd protests: ‘I am a Bahamian first’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
L
aquan Nairn, graduating as a Razorback track star at the University of Arkansas, joined big brother Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn - a former basketball player with the Michigan Stated Spartans - in forming a rare Bahamian siblings to finish their tertiary education in the United States in two different sports. For Laquan, who grew up playing basketball before he made the switch to athletics, COVID19 denied him the opportunity to enjoy the formal graduation “Tum Tum” experienced in 2018. Instead, Laquan is waiting for his degree in criminal justice to be mailed to his residence in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Like “Tum Tum” did last year in returning to Michigan State as a graduate assistant for the Spartans’ basketball team, the younger Nairn will be back with the Razorbacks this year to complete his senior outdoor track and field season that was cut short by the spread of the coronavirus. He’s taking advantage of the NCAA’s decision to allow senior athletes to return to school to complete the outdoor season that they were deprived of because of the coronavirus that halted all sports in March and forced the shutdown of schools throughout the United States. “I just feel like it would be in my best interest to go back and complete my senior season because it will provide me with the best opportunity to get ready for the Olympic Games and the World Championship,” he said. “It just makes sense for me to do my final year of eligibility for the outdoor season.” Laquan Nairn is still in Fayetteville where he has been able to continue to train and stay fit, despite the spread of the coronavirus. But with the death of American George Floyd in Minnesota, which has sparked nation-wide protests and looting in the USA, Nairn said he has to realise that he’s a Bahamian in a foreign country and has been very cautious. “It’s nothing that I can say or do, even though I am a black person. I can’t speak on what the African Americans are going through right now,” he said. “I am a Bahamian first. I can’t really put myself in their shoe because I can’t relate to what they are going through. I haven’t experienced anything like that in the Bahamas, so I can’t say because I am black, I can go through it with them.”
LAQUAN NAIRN, right, with his big brother Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn. As a Christian believer, Laquan Nairn said he believes that God made everybody and he hasn’t read in the Bible where it states that black people are better than white or vice versa. “I can’t really speak on that. I’m good,” he said. “I am a Bahamian. Sometimes you have to move with wisdom. I know that as a whole, the world is going through a spiritual warfare, but I can’t go on social media and express my interest in what they are doing.” Laquan said he’s aware that the people want justice for George’s life, but because he hasn’t experienced anything like that at home in the Bahamas, he has decided
to stay at his residence in Fayetteville and not participate in any of the protests. “My passport says something different. I am a Bahamian citizen and not an American citizen,” he stated. “If they touch me, my Bahamian government will have to help me out. I am black, but I haven’t experienced what they are going through. So I’m not going to touch it.” As the older brother, “Tum Tum” said he has tried to offer the best advice to his younger brother during their daily conversation to help him to deal with the “touchy” situation and not let it overwhelm them as Bahamians in a foreign land. “Being a black man
in America, I know all about the history and what that means, but I just feel like people have a right to protest if they want, people have a right to feel angry and people have a right to feel frustrated because of things that were happening for years upon years,” Tum Tum stated. “But I think you have to move with wisdom when you are dealing with things like this. “I don’t have a problem with protesting, but I myself won’t be going out there and protesting because I understand in myself that it is so much more that we can physically see that is going on. I
SEE PAGE 12
HOOPS HALL MULLS DATE FOR BRYANT, 2020 CLASS INDUCTION By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer THE Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was gearing up for a great year: not just the all-but-certain election of NBA superstars like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, but also a chance to unveil a completely renovated museum. Because of the coronavirus outbreak, the reopening has been pushed back two months to July 1 and the induction ceremony — which will posthumously honour Bryant along with longtime college coach Eddie Sutton — is being postponed, either to October or the spring. A commemorative coin that was supposed to be released at the Final Four will instead go on sale on Thursday. “All of these things are going to happen. It’s just a matter of the timing’s going to be delayed,” Hall president and CEO John Doleva said yesterday in an interview with The Associated Press. “We will have the most remarkable class ever, when that happens. We didn’t plan it this way and it’s not the way we would have chosen to do it,” he said. “But we’re fortunate that our plans were able to remain in place, even though the timing has changed.” The Hall’s Class of 2020 includes Bryant, Garnett, Duncan and WNBA star Tamika Catchings — all elected in their first year of eligibility. Also to be honoured by the Springfield, Massachusetts, shrine are Sutton, who died last month, and fellow coaches Rudy Tomjanovich, Kim Mulkey and Barbara Stevens, along with former FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann. Doleva confirmed that induction weekend will not be held on August 28-30, as originally planned; the Hall is hoping to announce a new date by mid-June. Complicating the potential possibility of a spring 2021 induction: The Hall doesn’t know what the NBA and college basketball seasons will look like then. “Finding a date in that period of time that’s going to work in the new
SEE PAGE 12
Class of 1988 donate hurdles to the NCA Crusaders By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AS they deal with the uncertainty of COVID-19, Nassau Christian Academy will start rebuilding its Crusaders’ track and field team for the new school year with a generous donation of hurdles from the graduating class of 1988. As a part of their 30th anniversary, the alumni class purchased the 10 hurdles through the Sports Centre before the lockdown of the country because of the coronavirus. But they were not presented to the school’s athletic director, Ainsworth Beckford, until last week. “We contacted Mr Beckford and asked what they needed. He said that several of their runners did very well, but that they needed some hurdles,” said Whittington Brown, who spoke on behalf of Ancenette Wallace-McCartney,
the vice president of the class. “This is not the first opportunity that we made any contributions to the school. We provided some computers during our 25th anniversary and we hope that we can continue to make contributions wherever it is necessary, especially when we celebrate milestones.” Brown, who will celebrate his 50th birthday on Monday, said through their gesture, they are hoping that they can inspire other alumni classes to come forth and do their part to assist in the development of their alma mater. “The school can’t do everything. They need a strong alumni association to help out,” he said. “The school is producing quality athletes as well. They had one who had qualified for CARIFTA and so this should help to boost the Athletic Department.” Beckford thanked God for the gift they received
WHITTINGTON BROWN, of the Class of 1988, presents the boxes of hurdles to Ainsworth Beckford, athletic director, as physical education teacher Jameison Pratt and acting principal Lisa Miller look on. from the alumni class, which he assured them will help in the development of their athletic programme at NCA. “It will definitely help us because we have discovered now that the BAISS
(Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools) has become so competitive that we could use all of the help we can get,” Beckford said. “One of the areas that we realise that we really need
help in is in the hurdles. We have students who are talented enough to do the events, but we didn’t have the equipment to prepare them.” With this donation, Beckford said they feel as if the purchase of the hurdles will help them to secure the necessary points needed when they compete again against the powerhouses like St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine, Queen’s College Comets, St Anne’s Blue Waves and St John’s Giants. “We just hope that things could return to normalcy because we had athletes who have become comfortable with our coaching staff, who have been knowledgeable in helping us to improve our programme,” Beckford said. “We were right at the start of the National High School Track and Field Championships when sports was halted because of the coronavirus. We felt that
we did pretty good at the BAISS meet this year and would have made a good showing at the nationals.” Beckford credited the addition of Jamieson Pratt, the son of legendary long/ triple jump coach Peter Pratt and Clinton Smikle, who also coaches the Quick Step Track Club. They join the rest of the Physical Education staff that includes Michelle Miller and Donna Brown. “Hopefully when we readjust ourselves to the new norm of COVID-19 as we get back to normalcy, our track programme can continue to flourish, as the other disciplines that we compete in during the BAISS season.” Beckford thanked the alumni association for coming forward and assisting their alma mater and that the relationship will continue to grow as they build on their athletic programme at NCA. Kudos for a job well done.
PAGE 14, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
DÍNICO Perry-Ellis leads a chant on Station Street in Pittsburgh Monday, protesting the death of George Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)
‘WE WON’T TOLERATE’: SPORTS WORLD UNITES BEHIND FLOYD By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer PLAYERS who scored in the German and Hungarian soccer leagues removed their jerseys to display undershirts with the words: “Justice for George Floyd.” Others from English soccer clubs Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle dropped to one knee during practice in a clear gesture of support. In New Zealand, a Nigerian-born UFC fighter addressed a crowd of 4,000, imploring those listening to “speak up” and take peaceful action to register their discontent. Dismayed by the death of Floyd and inspired by the actions of Colin Kaepernick, athletes from around the world have come together during one of the most politically charged periods in modern history. “I can’t tolerate. I won’t tolerate. WE WON’T TOLERATE,” Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, one of the world’s most famous soccer players and a World Cup champion with France, wrote on his Instagram page to his 41 million followers alongside a picture of him looking to the sky with a clenched right fist. It was powerful image to accompany the picture of 29 Liverpool players kneeling around the centre circle at Anfield Stadium at the end of a practice session on Monday. Or the entire Chelsea squad kneeling down and forming the letter “H” — for humans — during training on Tuesday. Their actions mimicked the one made by Kaepernick during the national anthem in 2016 in silent protest of police brutality and racism while then playing for the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick’s gesture kicked off a period of pregame activism in the NFL and other sports but it didn’t gain a strong hold worldwide. Not like the killing of Floyd, a black man and former community college basketball player who died after a white police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes even after he stopped moving and stopped pleading for air.
“It hit a nerve in this very particular time, which I think made people all around the world reflect on the environment we live, not only in the US but in all kinds of places where there is a perpetuation of discrimination and inequality,” Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, secretary general of global soccer players union FIFPro, told The Associated Press. “We’re seeing a generation of players right now moving into the steps of athletes in the past who were socially quite engaged and willing to put themselves behind causes they care about. “I think it’s incredibly empowering to see these players step forward and share in that fight for a better society.” Things have escalated so much that FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, took the rare step of urging competition organisers to consider not sanctioning players who support justice for Floyd during matches. The laws of the game prohibit “any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.” “The application of the laws of the game … should use common sense and have in consideration the context surrounding the events,” FIFA said, acknowledging “the depth of sentiment” regarding Floyd’s death. English soccer leaders have already said players will be able to show solidarity without the prospect of facing sanctions when games resume this month after a three-month break because of the coronavirus pandemic. Emboldened soccer players appear to be more confident in speaking out about racism than ever before, including Jadon Sancho, who revealed a handwritten “Justice for George Floyd” message on his undershirt after scoring a goal for Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, openly and knowingly flouting the rules. Marcus Rashford, a black striker for Manchester United, called for justice for Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor — two other black people killed in shooting incidents in America this year — on Twitter in the wake of Floyd’s death.
Soccer players may also take what has happened to Floyd more personally because of how often black players have been abused inside stadiums around Europe in recent years. The sanctions for racism — if they are handed out at all — can often be derisory. As their own form of protest, some black players have taken to walking off the field after being racially abused by fans because many have little faith in authorities and governing bodies to effect change. That’s the position many protesters in the United States are finding themselves in. Baer-Hoffman said the reaction of sports stars was a reflection of uncertain times around the world since the outbreak of the coronavirus. “Maybe it’s because we are living in a time where the interconnectedness of people through the pandemic has become more conscious to us all,” he said. “When you look at the images (of the incident involving Floyd), it is manifestly disturbing. “It scares you and forces you to think … I think it stands for something much greater. For footballers in this context, they are people ... “They aare speaking out and, of course, have a bigger platform than most.” When Kaepernick took a knee four years ago, United States star Megan Rapinoe was one of the few high-profile soccer players to champion his cause publicly. But the clear parallel between Kaepernick’s action and the knee of the police officer on Floyd’s neck has roused more athletes to speak out. “In no way are we asking black lives to matter more than white lives,” DeAndre Yedlin, a US soccer international who plays with Newcastle in England, wrote on Twitter. “All we’re asking is we are seen as equal, as more than 3/5 of a man, as humans. My heart goes out in solidarity to George Floyd, his family, and all of the countless number of victims that have had their lives taken at the hands of meaningless police brutality.”
England, West Indies set for 3 cricket tests in July LONDON (AP) — England and the West Indies will play three cricket tests in 21 days next month provided the British government gives the goahead for the matches to take place in “bio-secure environments” without spectators. The West Indies will arrive in England on June 9. This date is nearly a month before the proposed first test of the series in Southampton from July 8-12 so the squad can quarantine and train in Manchester, the England
and Wales Cricket Board said yesterday. The other tests will be played in Manchester, starting on July 16 and July 24. “We are in daily dialogue with the government and our medical team, who have been incredibly supportive during this period,” said Steve Elworthy, the ECB’s director of events. “These are our proposed dates and they remain subject to U.K. government approval.” No domestic cricket will be played in Britain before August 1 at the earliest
because of the coronavirus outbreak. Cricket West Indies agreed in principle to tour last Friday. England said the venues — the Aegas Bowl in Southampton and Old Trafford in Manchester — were chosen because they had hotels attached or nearby and could be turned into bio-secure environments. The ECB said a decision about a test series against Pakistan, and limited-overs matches Pakistan, Australia and Ireland, will be decided later.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 3, 2020, PAGE 15
NFL TELLS TEAMS THEY MUST HOLD TRAINING CAMPS AT HOME By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer All 32 NFL teams have been told by Commissioner Roger Goodell to hold training camps at their home facilities this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most NFL teams stay at their training complexes year-round, but Dallas, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Carolina, Washington and the Los Angeles Rams are among those that stage portions of training camp elsewhere.
The Cowboys and Steelers are scheduled for the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, on August 6 and will be the first two teams to report in late July. Dallas usually trains in Oxnard, California, and Pittsburgh in nearby Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The Cowboys have never held their entire preseason at home. The Steelers have trained at St Vincent College in Latrobe for more than a half-century. The league has cancelled all inperson workouts at team facilities, which only in the past two weeks have begun opening on a limited
basis. No coaches nor players other than those undergoing medical treatment and rehabilitation have been allowed in those facilities. Soon, the NFL is hopeful of having club complexes fully open, but under strict medical guidelines including social distancing protocols. One team in something of a limbo: the Raiders. Their move to Las Vegas has been complicated by the pandemic, of course. They had been working out of their Oakland-area complex in Alameda, and had been planning
to hold training camp as usual in Napa, about one hour north of the Bay Area. But they could decide to move it to their new facility in Henderson, Nevada. The Bills have gone to St John Fisher College outside of Rochester, New York, since 2000, though they have decreased the time they’ve spent away for camp in recent years under coach Sean McDermott. The Bills have expanded practice facilities at and around their headquarters, and last year unveiled a new training facility/weight room featuring
state-of-the-art equipment and costing about $18 million as an addition to their headquarters. Carolina has spent all 25 previous training camps at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, about 90 minutes from Charlotte. Wofford was former owner Jerry Richardson’s alma mater. One team that usually travelled for training camp, the Bears, previously announced they would not be going to Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, where they spent the past 18 years.
Analysis: NFL will play games after support/ pressure applied By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer CALL it support. Call it pressure. However you describe it, the NFL is going to get it regarding playing games on schedule. And barring a setback in the reopening of America during the coronavirus pandemic, the show will go on. Wisely, the NFL has taken baby steps toward some sort of normalcy. It has moved slowly in allowing a small number of team personnel to return to club facilities. It essentially has barred travel by team and league personnel, while able to remotely conduct the business of the sport: free agency, the draft, owners meetings. Conducting offseason workout programmes virtually isn’t ideal, but it’s been worthwhile. The NFL’s medical staff, in conjunction with health officials across the nation, has taken a safety-first
approach that, so far, has served the league well. “I think the basis of it is medical and what the medical community is telling us,” says Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations. “We’ve got to get this right. And we are coming out of phase one and going into phase two, and we have to show the general public and the players that our protocols and our procedures, we can’t miss, we can’t fail. “We are really taking a responsible approach on a daily basis; it is changing daily. I would say that was the route of why the pause, because we are still learning, and we must get it right.” But the big questions are coming. From broadcast partners. From municipal governments and even higher. From sponsors. From players. From fans. And yes, from within, particularly from some
owners who, like it or not, are bottom-line guys. As contingency plans are made for playing in empty stadiums, or pushing back the schedule — and the Super Bowl, perhaps even beyond February — or even for games at neutral sites, rest assured the NFL has no plans to not play. Major League Baseball’s season and staging the Stanley Cup playoffs remain uncertain endeavours, mired in either monetary discontent or logistical morasses. At least the NFL has had time on its side so far, but a September 10 launch for the regular season isn’t that far away. The television networks couldn’t be more invested in getting pro football onto their airwaves. Live sports programming is now being looked at almost as essential rather than simply as entertainment. That’s where the NFL is king — and nothing else in sports comes close. Same thing
F1 will start with two races at the Austrian GP in July By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer PARIS (AP) — Formula One will finally get underway with back-to-back races at the Austrian Grand Prix in July as part of an eight-race European swing. The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg will host races on July 5 and 12, governing body FIA said in a statement yesterday. The next race will be in Hungary on July 19 followed by consecutive races at the British GP at Silverstone on August 2 and 9 after the British government exempted elite sports from an upcoming quarantine on foreign visitors. Further races are scheduled for Spain on August 16 and Belgium on August 30, with Italy completing the European swing on September 6. “Over the past two months Formula One has been working closely with all partners, authorities, the FIA and the 10 teams to create a revised calendar that will allow a return to racing in a way that is safe,” the FIA said. “Due to the ongoing fluidity of the COVID-19 situation internationally, the details of the wider calendar will be finalised in the coming weeks.” There will be no spectators allowed to attend, although there may be later in the year if health conditions allow it. “It is currently expected that the opening races will be closed events,” the FIA said. “But it is hoped fans will be able to join events again when it is safe to do so.” Four races have been cancelled this season because of the coronavirus pandemic — the seasonopening Australian GP, the Monaco GP, the French GP and the Netherlands GP.
F1 remains hopeful of holding 15-18 of the scheduled 22 races by rearranging the six that were postponed and finishing the season in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in December. “I want to thank every promoter and partner for their support and ongoing commitment to Formula One,” F1 chairman Chase Carey said. “We know the return of Formula One will be a welcome boost to sports fans around the world.” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is excited about kicking off the season in Austria. “We are pleased to be starting ... at our home circuit. It has been a huge effort by all involved and the two events at the Red Bull Ring will be a blueprint for all other races to follow,” Horner said. “With the first eight races of the calendar now confirmed we have some positive momentum. As a race team and racers, we are excited to get going again and put on a show for our fans.” Bobby Epstein, President of the Circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas said he remains hopeful of hosting the US Grand Prix later this year. It was held on November 3 last year. State orders from Texas Governor Greg Abbott allow professional sports events to include fans at up to 25 per cent of stadium capacity, but that has been complicated by local rules limiting public gatherings. The US Grand Prix relies on fan attendance as a major factor in securing about $25 million in public money annually just to pay the F1 rights fee to hold the race. “Very hopeful,” Epstein said. “There are still some uncertainties on what local ordinances will permit, in
terms of attendance, but there should be more clarity over the coming month.” The FIA and F1 are working together on a plan to have strict safety measures in place at the races. As well as initially holding races without fans, other measures will be used to limit risk. Any personnel attending a race will be tested for COVID-19 before travelling and must have a negative result. Regular testing will take place during the race weekend. There will be a significant reduction in the numbers of people attending from teams, officials and suppliers. Those attending must stay within their own working group and not interact with other groups. Travel restrictions will see charter flights used as much as possible and private transfers between venues, hotels and airports to prevent interaction with the general public. Social distancing measures will be observed inside the paddock for activities such as the national anthem, the podium ceremony and media interviews.
SAN Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, left, jokes with middle linebacker Kwon Alexander during a combined NFL football training camp with the Denver Broncos at the Broncos’ headquarters in Englewood, Colorado, on August 16, 2019. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) on local levels, where team radio deals are particularly lucrative, and advertisers reach a segmented audience they covet. With much of the nation reopening businesses that benefit from the NFL playing in their communities, there will be increasing anxiety in those municipalities that those games occur. Even if fans are barred or limited in stadiums, sports bars and restaurants that cater to the fans could be open, hopefully obeying social distancing protocols. Those fans, and particularly the ones who engage in fantasy football or bet
directly on games, figure to be the most supportive group of all to have the NFL stick to its plans as much as reasonably possible. While players must insist on the healthiest environment for a return to practicing and, eventually, to playing, it’s difficult to believe a vast majority of them even consider the possibility of no 2020 season. NFL careers are shorter than in any other team sport, and spending basically 20 months away from on-field action for so many could be devastating. Not to mention the quality of football we’d be watching after
such a hiatus. Naturally, nobody is saying the NFL should put on blinders and proceed indiscriminately on schedule, something Vincent and his boss, Commissioner Roger Goodell, have made clear won’t happen. Again, the league has the benefit of the calendar — and the popularity of the league that would allow it to stretch games into next spring without a substantial loss of audience or attention. Make no mistake, though. Call it support or call it pressure, it’s coming for America’s No. 1 sport.
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PAGE 16, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Will open seats be a familiar sight in sports as virus fades? By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Empty seats have been the norm the past few years at the University of Kansas, where a succession of football coaches has failed to turn around the flailing fortunes of the Jayhawks. Now, all those open seats — and short lines and quiet concourses — will be the norm in stadiums just about everywhere. The coronavirus pandemic has forced universities, leagues and franchises to evaluate how they might someday welcome back fans. While opinions vary from sport to sport, nation to nation and even state to state, one thing seems clear: Social distancing is a sure bet when fans return. So don’t expect 100,000-plus fans packed into Michigan Stadium for a football game this fall or 16,300 seated inside Kansas’ storied Allen Fieldhouse when college basketball season rolls around. “We don’t know how we’ll be coming back,” Jayhawks athletic director Jeff Long acknowledged. “We’ve modelled 15 to 16,000 in Memorial Stadium, and to be honest with you, we’ve modelled Allen Fieldhouse, and I can’t bring myself to look at it because I know how few people it will be and that’s upsetting.” Most colleges rely heavily on ticket sales, souvenirs and concessions in football and basketball to raise the bottom line to the point that non-revenue sports can be fully funded. But smaller crowds are going to be necessary to ensure proper social distancing — in pro sports around the globe, too.
Forbes estimates the NFL would lose $5.5 billion in stadium revenue if all games are played without fans, and the fallout for other leagues without lucrative TV deals could be catastrophic. The virus that causes COVID-19 is most easily spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks and the droplets spread to people nearby. That’s why guidelines from the Centres for Disease Control and World Health Organisation preach separation in public as an effective safeguard. In a stadium, though, creating that kind of buffer is no easy task. Most fans tend to file through the gates at the same time, creating a bottleneck in which thousands could be in close proximity. They gather in concourses to chat or buy food, drinks and merchandise. They stand in lines at restrooms. They surge toward the exits at the end of the game. Most teams and leagues have not publicly revealed their plans for fall sports, though some are up front about what to expect. Iowa State is looking at selling only enough tickets to fill up half of Jack Trice Stadium for football games and Notre Dame has warned of fewer fans and limits to tailgating. The Miami Dolphins released a number of ideas under consideration: using every-other turnstile, calling fans into the stadium in sections, letting them out row by row like a church service and using technology to minimise person-to-person contact. Once fans return, partitioning off seats will become crucial. And those won’t just be empty seats. Teams and leagues are investigating the use of
COURT SETS NOVEMBER DATES TO HEAR RUSSIAN DOPING CASE By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer
PEOPLE sit surrounded by empty seats as they wait for the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, on March 7. The crippling grip the coronavirus pandemic has had on the sports world has forced universities, leagues and franchises to evaluate how they might someday welcome back fans. (AP Photo/Jon Super) temporary banners spread across entire sections that can then be sold for sponsorship, helping to bridge the gap caused by unsold tickets. Such banners are already used to create a more intimate settings for concerts or other events, and Bristol Motor Speedway had some of them strung up for last weekend’s NASCAR race in Tennessee. Another idea is to turn sections of 20 or more individual or bench seats into temporary suites, where a group of 10 friends and family members can be socially distant from other groups — and potentially selling them for a higher price. “There are a lot of different things you can do,” said R.J. Orr, whose Arizona-based firm Bluemedia specialises in such “seat
kills” and temporary structures. They already have worked with Arizona State and other schools on similar projects. The next challenge is keeping fans socially distant when they do leave their seats. A company called WaitTime has software applications tied to security cameras that allow fans and stadium operators to know on monitors or apps just how busy certain areas might be. A motion analytics company, iinside, uses lidar sensors to detect unsafe crowding. “We’re working on tools to overlay crowd density on top of stadium maps,” iinside CEO Sam Kamel said. “These maps would then tell fans where to avoid, or when it’s ‘safe’ to get a hot dog or Coke and when the food court isn’t too crowded.”
There is little dispute that the game-day experience will be vastly different. At baseball games in Taiwan, up to 1,000 spectators have been allowed into the ballpark, but they were barred from bringing food, concession stands are closed and they are told to sit three seats apart. During a recent Fubon Guardians game in New Taipei City, about 900 people showed up at its 12,500-seat stadium, leaning across empty seats to talk with friends and moving on their own to cues from cheerleaders and mascots. “There’s plenty of social distance here,” said Guardians fan Sun Ming, who works in finance in New Taipei City. It could be that way for quite a while.
GENEVA (AP) — The Russian doping scandal will return to sport’s highest court in November when the nation faces a four-year ban of its flag, anthem and colours from Olympic Games and world championships. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said yesterday its judging panel will hear evidence on November 2-5 in the latest case examining allegations of state-backed doping and covering up evidence. No timetable was given for an expected verdict in a case which should be heard at the court’s headquarters in the Olympic capital of Lausanne, Switzerland. The sanctions will take effect when the CAS panel of three judges give its verdict. The legal fight follows the World Anti-Doping Agency recommending a four-year slate of punishments for Russian sport and athletes last December and declaring the national anti-doping agency non-compliant. WADA investigators found years of data from the Moscow testing laboratory relating to hundreds of athletes had been tampered with before being handed over last year. Russian teams and athletes would be stripped of their identity by the WADA sanctions proposal and forced to compete as neutrals at major events such as the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Russia would also be blocked from bidding to host major championships and risk being stripped of events it was already due to host.