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VOLUME:117 No.143, JUNE 22ND, 2020
HO US E & 12 THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
INSIGHT: WE MUST HOLD ROGUE OFFICERS TO ACCOUNT
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HACKERS STRIKE AT GOVT SYSTEM Russians and Bulgarians behind cyber raid on key banking and personal data By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Registrar General’s department was forced to shut down its online database last week following fresh hacking attempts from abroad. Attorney General Carl Bethel told Tribune Business the agency’s online portal was closed after the Royal Bahamas Police Force detected fresh “incursions” that were traced to Internet Protocol addresses in two eastern European countries. While Mr Bethel declined to name the states involved, this newspaper understands from separate sources that the latest efforts to penetrate the Registrar
General’s department originated from Russia and Bulgaria. The latest shutdown, which comes months after the department’s database was hacked in a separate January incident, has caused further frustration for the ease and efficiency of conducting business in The Bahamas even though Mr Bethel said it will likely be re-opened by the end of the week once “several layers” of new cyber security defences have been deployed. The Registrar General’s department is the hub around which corporate Bahamas and the financial services industry functions.
SINGER Sammi “Starr” Poitier said he begged gunmen not to kill him in front of his family as he was robbed outside his home while his children called his name last week. The singer detailed the harrowing experience in a Facebook post. “All I was saying and praying to God was ‘Please don’t kill me in front of
SEE PAGE FIVE
THE Public Hospitals Authority has announced the resumption of patient visitation to its facilities starting July 1, under strict guidelines due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In PHA’s phased service reactivation and visitation schedule, the following measures remain in effect for the safety of patients, staff and the public. For access to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), patients and visitors must enter through the new Critical Care Block entrance. All maternityday cases must enter by the emergency or maternity entrance. Only dialysis patients will be permitted to use the medical block entrance for access to the Dialysis Unit.
SHORT TRIP TRAVEL: ‘NO TEST NEEDED’ By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
my family,’” the former Democratic National Alliance candidate posted on his Facebook page early on Friday morning as he recalled being robbed by two men. He admitted he tried not to say anything about what happened but the situation was “so heavy on my heart” and expressed sympathy for others who have been a victim of such crimes.
PATIENT VISITS TO RESUME
SEE PAGE THREE
SINGER SAMMI’S TERROR IN GUNPOINT ROBBERY By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
HOME
DADDY’S GIRL... AND BOY LEO Rolle enjoys Father’s Day with his children Dallas and Amelia Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
SEPT 15 EARLIEST CRUISE LINES RETURN By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Downtown Nassau Partnership’s co-chair yesterday said the cruise lines’ decision not to resume sailing until September 15 is “a very serious blow” that may mean many small businesses “will not survive”. Charles Klonaris said cruise tourism-reliant businesses now face having to hold on for an additional
CRUISE LINERS at the docks two to three months with minimal to zero income after the industry’s global trade body, Cruise Lines International Association,
announced that sailings from US ports have been postponed until mid-September at earliest. Pointing out that many Bahamian firms lack “the deep pockets” required to ride out such an extended closure, Mr Klonaris said The Bahamas was likely “to see very little tourist traffic” until the end of 2020 across both the cruise and stopover (hotel-based) segments. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
HEALTH officials have recommended that residents travelling outside the country for “a short period” of time do not need to produce a negative COVID-19 test to return home, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen said yesterday. Noting that suggestions have already been made to the government on the matter, Dr Brennen told The Tribune that health officials have no issues with SEE PAGE THREE
BODY FIND: SUSPECT DETAINED
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE body of a woman who was reported missing was discovered in bushes near her home in Eight Mile Rock early on Saturday morning. Grand Bahama police suspect foul play. A man is in custody assisting police with their investigation in the matter. The identity of the deceased, who is believed to be a Haitian national, is being withheld by police. SEE PAGE FIVE
PAGE 2, Monday, June 22, 2020
THE TRIBUNE Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net DESPITE “rumours to the contrary”, Fish Fry at Arawak Cay was not shut down and remains open for business, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources said. Vendors said a barricade was placed at Arawak Cay’s
Arawak Cay is open for business and obeying all the rules main entrance on West Bay Street a few days ago, prompting some customers to believe the popular dining and hang out spot was closed. However in a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture said: “The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, which has responsibility for the management of the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay, wishes
to advise the public that the Fish Fry remains open for business despite rumours to the contrary. The Fish Fry has not been shutdown. “We further advise that operators at the Fish Fry have been advised and are committed to the safety protocols put in place to protect vendors, visitors and patrons alike from the COVID-19 virus. These protocols include
the mandatory wearing of masks, social distancing, curb-side, takeaway and delivery services. The process of returning the Fish Fry to full operations is ongoing and the ministry will advise if any changes are made to our goal of restoring this area to full and safe public use through the appropriate channels.” The popular dining and hang out spot was allowed to open for outdoor dining on June 12. Videos of young people not practising social distancing and not wearing masks while at Arawak Cay then made the made rounds on social media. Lillian Larrimore-Smith, vice president of the Arawak Cay Association and proprietor of Candy’s Enterprises, said members of her association were not responsible for the “bad behaviour” when the Fish Fry reopened, but said it was people who were closer to the beach area who were not adhering to the
rules. “It has been a trying time for the past week since we’ve been open,” she said. “It’s taking a toll on us as vendors but we are working very hard in terms of social distancing and asking the people to wear their masks.” Speaking about the rumour the site had been shut down, she said: “For some reason, a few days ago the police on some command was directed to Arawak Cay around 4 pm and they had closed the entrance on the main West Bay Street and they were telling customers that Fish Fry was closed,” Ms Larrimore-Smith continued. “And, when the vendors inquired, they started to tell the patrons that Fish Fry was closed and they must park across the street. So it was two different sets of information. “We were so upset about it because a lady went to social media with it because she was told Fish Fry was
closed and that’s where the blast came from. That just took (social) media by storm. And so, our association, yesterday (Saturday) had to do a press conference to go back to the media and also indirectly addressed the prime minister. The prime minister is in charge of Arawak Cay and he gave the mandate on how we should operate. We are appealing to the general public that when they come to Fish Fry they must practice social distancing, they must wear their masks when not eating or drinking and be prepared to socialise within six feet distance from the next person, unless you come from the same household.” Wendell King, proprietor of Something Good, said things are hard now, but he remains optimistic. “Things have been up and down since we opened,” Mr King noted. “The crowd started to come but the minute the crowd reach, it’s time to shut down. It’s not too much time. People decide to come out at six o’clock and that’s too late.” All businesses must close by 7pm each day in light of COVID-19 protocol. “You see our signs are there for all to see. Everybody coming here has to spray and sanitise their hands. No mask, no service. I am not going to let my business close down for one person who doesn’t want to wear a mask. It’s picking up slowly. Yesterday (Saturday) was the best day, but the minute everyone start showing up, it’s time to go home. I wish we could soon go back to closing at midnight. You know how people are. They want to spend their money, but they are coming out late.” Mr King noted that some people like to visit Fish Fry when they get off from work, but the new hours are not convenient for them. “There are those people want to come out here when they get off from work but by the time they get off, it’s time to close,” Mr King continued. “It’s not fair, but it’s life. I’m waiting to see when the whole country opens up, if it still be like this, then it’s a problem. We can’t sit on it and let it ride like this. Cheaper you close your business down. If it stays like this we would soon have to let go staff and we don’t want to do that. I have kept all my staff so far.” In an interview last week, Dr Delon Brennen, deputy chief medical officer, said health officials in the country hope that police officers can help with enforcing the requirements for dining at Arawak Cay.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, June 22, 2020, PAGE 3
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS PROTOCOLS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net IN preparation for the country’s full tourism re-opening on July 1, the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is reminding residents and visitors to ensure that they complete the necessary protocols in order to gain entry into the country. These include presenting a negative COVID-19 test result upon arrival “no older than 10 days” and completing an electronic health visa.
“Select individuals will be exempt from testing, which includes children under the age of two, private pilots who do not deplane, and Bahamian citizens, residents and homeowners returning from English speaking CARICOM countries,” officials said in a statement. “No quarantine will be required upon arrival, however, travellers who show symptoms of COVID-19 may be transferred to an area away from other passengers for further testing and evaluation. Meanwhile, as it relates
to inter-island travel, the ministry said travellers must complete an electronic domestic travel form at travel.gov.bs before departure. “An automated response will be provided upon completion. All travellers must have their confirmation on hand upon arrival to their destination. This is a crucial step for contact tracing purposes,” the statement added. In an effort to mitigate the spread of the COVID19 virus, officials said there will also be a number of new guidelines tourists will
have to follow when permitted in the country. For example, “at airports and seaports, healthcare personnel will conduct temperature screenings for all incoming visitors.” “Travellers will be required to wear a face mask in any situation where it is necessary to enforce physical distancing guidelines, such as when entering and transiting air and sea terminals, while navigating security and customs screenings, and at baggage claim.” Once on island, travellers will also be expected to
follow country’s “Healthy Traveler Campaign” – an initiative meant to encourages visitors and residents alike to continue following the social distancing measures and health protocols implemented in the fight against COVID-19. “…This July 1 tourism re-entry builds on and supports existing government rules and regulations, which already allows for the resumption of travel for international boaters, yachters and those traveling on private aviation as well as inter-island domestic travel for Bahamian
citizens and residents ... Reopening of borders will continue to be monitored and guided by the Bahamas government and health officials. Reopening dates are subject to change based on COVID-19 trends, if there is a deterioration in improvement or if government and health organisations deem these phases unsafe for residents or visitors.” For more information on the country’s Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan, people are asked to visit www.bahamas.com/ travelupdates.
Short trip travel: ‘No test needed’ from page one
short-term travellers not having to take a COVID-19 test to return to the country. However, he said the final decision on the issue would have to be made by government officials. This comes after Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar announced last Wednesday that resident and visitors will need a COVID-19 negative test result to enter the country once commercial international travel resumes on July 1. Since the announcement, there have been calls for clarity as it relates to the testing protocols for short term travellers. Asked about the issue yesterday, the deputy chief medical officer said while officials do not see the need for requiring short term travellers to present a negative COVID-19 test to return, there should still be several guidelines implemented for travellers to follow in an effort to minimise potential exposure. He said: “The recommendation of the Ministry of Health is that if individuals are only traveling for a short period like 24 hours or 48 hours, then we have no issue with them travelling during that time period and then returning to the Bahamas not having had a COVID-19 test. “We will continue to monitor them and make sure that they are not necessarily out in public or having symptoms that may be concerning for us and we would suggest that they minimise their exposures and their interaction with others in the public because we know that they may not necessarily be exhibiting symptoms that would be suggesting COVID-19 within that short period of time. “But because they’ve had an outside exposure, we would ask that they pay attention to their symptoms and minimise their exposure so that if they do end up being COVID-19 positive, that we’ll be able to detect it as soon as possible and they wouldn’t have to expose a lot of people so we don’t want restrict people travel.” Yesterday, there were no
DEPUTY Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen new reported COVID-19 cases in the country, with the total remaining at 104 for seven consecutive days. According to Dr Brennen, the small number of cases reported in recent weeks show there was not a major community spread in the country as initially believed. He said: “So, far the most part, we’ve only had a very small number of cases that have come about in all of those cases that had been related to clusters that had we have known. “…They’re not showing up with spontaneous community cases around the country, definitely not in Grand Bahama or in New Providence or Bimini where we’ve had known cases which means we don’t have the amount of community spread that we thought could’ve been occurring at this point , but that’s all encouraging.” Despite there being no influx of cases of late, Dr Brennen noted that it’s still important for Bahamians to remain on their guards and adhere to the health and safety protocols. He said: “None of us are telling people to let their guards down but our process is we have done very well with the measures that have been put in place so far. Continuing those measures will get us to a place where we will continue to see less cases. “Unfortunately, if we let our guard down at this point, the likelihood is we will see an increased number of cases come out of that change in philosophy.”
NEGATIVE RESULT FOR CARGO SHIP WORKER A CARGO ship worker who was transported from Exuma to New Providence last week has tested negative for COVID-19, the Ministry of Heath said. The 33-year-old male patient works on a cargo ship that services the Caribbean and the Turks and Caicos Islands. He was transported from Exuma to New Providence via an air ambulance on Thursday June 18 and was suspected of having the respiratory virus.
The Ministry of Health said the patient was tested for COVID-19 however, the results came back negative. The last COVID-19 case reported in New Providence was on June 14. That patient was a 66-year-old New Providence man, with a history of travel, who was in hospital. There are 104 confirmed cases in the country. Eleven people have died from the virus while there have been more than 70 recovered cases.
Asked yesterday about concerns of the country experiencing a second wave of the virus once the country full re-opens it borders, he replied: “What we are trying to do as health officials is continue to monitor the situation and the way we are opening our borders, I think our recommendations have been taken into account and I think we will appreciate if it was not changed to a point where we no longer require people who are coming into the country to have COVID-19 negative test. “And that was taken into account and now we seen that by both the competent authority along with the tourism authority that we will continue to ask that those who are coming into to country that they have COVID-19 negative tests so that is encouraging for us. We know it is not eliminating all risks because as long as you have other individuals who are coming into country, there is a possibility that they could be infected, but minimising their possibility of being infected by mandating that they have a COVID19 negative test is one of those things that is going to help us out to minimise our risk.”
PATIENT VISITS TO RESUME from page one
PMH employees and credentialed providers are required to access the hospital by the legacy entrance at Burnside Lane or the Critical Care Block entrance only. Employees are always required to wear their ID badge, or they will be denied access at the legacy entrance. PHA said while recognising that asymptomatic individuals often appear healthy, hospital visitation “is strongly discouraged for the health and safety for all”. Hospital visitations remains suspended due to COVID-19 however exceptions may be made based upon the condition of the patient and the approval of the attending physician. PHA said if the public must visit patients, the following schedule will be in effect as of July 1. At PMH, patients will be allowed one visitor per day. Visitors are restricted to immediate family and
must be on a pre-approved list. All ward visitation will be permitted once per day between the hours of 6pm and 7pm daily. Intensive Care and Neonatal Intensive Care Units visitation will be permitted once per day between 10.30am and 11.30pm daily. Visitation in the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department is restricted to one person only. Social distancing requirements restrict the number of relatives to one accompanying individual. At Grand Bahama Health Services, people requiring information regarding their relatives or wishing to visit their relatives are asked to call the hospital before proceeding to the health care facility. Visitation at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and Geriatric Hospital is allowed by immediate family only, however there will be one visitor per patient, as per standard hours of visitation. Only essential items/packages will be accepted
from visitors. Visitors are required to wear face masks, utilise hand hygiene stations, and complete a brief Q&A/declaration interview, PHA said. Those with fever or exhibiting flu-like symptoms will be denied entry for visitation. It is anticipated that screening measures employed will cause some delay at the points of entry. PHA also said that effective immediately, all outpatient clinics will operate under an appointment system to ensure adherence to social distancing requirements and maintaining appropriate infection prevention practices. PHA added that only emergency cases will be managed during this period. Additionally, the statement said, the public is asked to only use ambulance services for emergencies. The public should contact their personal physicians for non-emergencies during the day, and Accident & Emergency after hours.
PAGE 4, Monday, June 22, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Don’t get too excited, Andros residents told By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A CHAMBER of Commerce president is urging Andros residents to wait for more definitive details surrounding the proposed North Andros “free trade zone” project before coming to a conclusion on the potential development, which promises thousands of jobs. In a statement released on the weekend, Darrin Bethel, Andros Chamber of Commerce president, told residents to not take a definitive stance on the proposed multi-million dollar project until further details have been released on the project, as current information has been too conflicting. Saying Andros residents “need to know the details of the said project”, Mr Bethel urged locals to “simply pump the breaks on judgment” towards the potential investment, which could potentially benefit the people of Andros in the long-term. He added: “The information being circulated here on the ground and what is being reported is a big contrast so it is important that’s in our best interest to rather seek understanding
because even the MP says that he is unaware of such a project. “…The issue is not giving Androsians a clear understanding of what it is that is actually being proposed or offered to us and how it will affect us today and our children later and grandchildren in the future. “I’m not suggesting the project is a good one or that it’s a bad one, what I’m saying is that it is evident that we don’t have enough information as yet to make a decision.” Last week, The Tribune reported that a US-based billionaire was behind a proposed multi-million dollar development at the Morgan’s Bluff area, called the North Andros “free trade zone,” that would include a new port, airport, healthcare research facilities and manufacturing facilities for harvested aragonite. A formal submission has not yet been made to the Minnis administration but a leaked draft proposal requests work permits and promises more than 10,000 new construction, manufacturing and service jobs. Since the bombshell announcement, many critics have weighed in, with some observers raising environmental concerns about the
NORTH Andros and the Berry Islands MP Carlton Bowleg proposed project, which speaks to harvesting aragonite in a water concession area. Those concerns were also expressed by the Progressive Liberal Party last week, which noted that the project was not environmentally sustainable given the shallow water table in the Andros area.
For his part, North Andros and the Berry Islands MP Carlton Bowleg said he would not support any project that will negatively impact the future of his constituents. The revelation came after he told The Tribune he was not even aware of the development until he read the details in the press.
“Whatever we agree to has to be safe,” Mr Bowleg said, “not in a way that is going to be damaging as far as people coming in reaping awards that our children won’t benefit from at the end of the day. I am not for it.” In view of these concerns, Mr Bethel said some Andros residents have suggested that the project be established in Grand Bahama. However, the Chamber of Commerce president said he believes all pros and cons of the proposed development should be weighed before a final decision is made. Noting that the government alone cannot facilitate the island’s economic growth, he cautioned to residents: “What really needs to happen is that we the people should get full transparency on the proposals and maybe the investors would want to invest in both Freeport and Andros. I think we have to be careful to pass early judgement and take a side. “I was very much against the early proposal for a mining project here in North Andros, I led objection to it, however I was able to review those plans and evaluate the benefits
and drawbacks. Since then the scenarios have changed eg, no more barging of water to New Providence, Arrow Plants have taken over. “This is different and we can’t allow history to represent us as the sleeping giant that never progressed because it’s people fought against all manner of investment simply out of fear of losing control of something that we never had power over, which is the land here in Andros.” Mr Bethel also said that a letter is currently being drafted by the North Andros Council in response to the proposed development. He noted: “The information I received is that the North Andros Council was contacted in reference to the proposed mining project only. The developer’s request was to simply update the District Council and to seek their support of the project when presented to the government. “The council met and made a determination and is in the process of drafting a letter of response to the developer outlining their position and contingency of support and recommendations inclusive of but not limited to an environmental impact assessment.”
BAHAMAS JOINS CALL FOR ‘URGENT DEBATE ON RACISM’
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas has joined the international chorus calling for “an urgent debate on racism” as people across the world continue to protest police-involved violence against black people, which was sparked by the killing of George Floyd – an unarmed African American man who died in Minneapolis last month. This comes following the end of a debate on human rights violations, systemic racism and police brutality, which was hosted by the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) last week. During the debate, members called for an independent investigation into Floyd’s death and killings of black people in the US and abroad, but the draft was rejected and a more comprehensive approach to the issue was called for instead. On Friday, the UNHRC unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a report “on systemic racism, violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of
GEORGE Floyd’s death has sparked protests across the US African descent by law enforcement agencies.” The mandate, which will be headed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachele, also calls for an examination “into government responses to anti-racism peaceful process, peaceful protests, including the alleged use of excessive force against protesters, bystanders and journalists”. In a statement released on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it welcomed the adoption of the resolution, noting that officials are looking forward to having discussions on the human rights issues. Officials also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to protect “the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights” of people. “As a nation of majority people of African descent, with a shared history of slavery, we condemn all forms of racism and believe that equal treatment is a human right founded in natural justice,” the statement read. “Today (Friday), the international community, by way of consensus adopted a draft resolution to further promote and
protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and people of African descent. In its statement to the UNHRC, The Bahamas reaffirmed its commitment to ‘eradicating racism and protecting the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of all,’” the statement read. “The Bahamas looks forward to engaging with other member states on the question of racism and human rights, which is of grave concern and needs to be eradicated wherever it raises its intolerable head.” Floyd’s death has sparked protests across the US against police brutality and excessive force used on unarmed black people. The incident has even reignited conversations about police brutality here in the country. The draft resolution is entitled, “the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers”. Editorial View - Page 6
MINISTRY ON THE MOVE THE Ministry of National Security has announced its relocation of its offices from Charlotte House to its new premises on John F Kennedy Drive. The location is just west of the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs. Effective today, all
business inquiries including security application renewals and other related matters will be conducted from the new location. The telephone numbers for the Ministry of National Security will remain the same: 242-356-6792/3 or 242-502-3300.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, June 22, 2020, PAGE 5
SINGER SAMMI’S TERROR IN GUNPOINT ROBBERY from page one
SINGER Sammi “Starr” Poitier begged gunmen not to kill him in front of his family
“Earlier tonight I was made to get out of my wife’s car, lay on the ground face down and be robbed at gunpoint; an experience I thought I’d never have to go through. “What’s worse is, where did this take place, in front of my home...with my children at some points looking outside saying ‘Daddy’ not realising what was happening.” He added: “Two young men, no older than 17, politely walked up to me, cocked their pistol in my face, pulled me out of the car, made me lay down face
first onto the street in my quiet, one-way street neighbourhood and proceeded to rob me, asking me questions about what I had, my life, and at this point I’m lost for words; for anything but life.” After about three minutes of searching his pockets and car, the culprits grabbed the hat off Mr Poitier’s head, threw it down and ran away. The singer said he called a friend, who sent officers, and four cars came within about 15 minutes. Another friend was visiting a neighbour and both stayed with Mr Poitier until the police left.
When his wife and children realised what had happened, he said they were terrified. Mr Poitier said he still cannot believe what he went through, but is thankful to God he survived. “I’m telling you, the worst experience I’ve ever had was this... what made it worse was knowing they were all right inside, inside of the home on the street where I was laying face down with a gun pointed to my back/head,” he said. “I still can’t believe I went through this, but I’m no better than anyone else. So I’m thankful. I still believe it will get better.” Editorial View - Page 6
RELIEF AS BOY, 12, IS FOUND SAFE AND WELL By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE SCENE at Eight Mile Rock on Saturday where the body of a woman was discovered in bushes. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
BODY FIND: SUSPECT DETAINED from page one Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashton Greenslade reported that sometime around 10pm on Friday family members of the deceased woman went to the Eight Mile Rock Police Station and reported her missing. “Information is that she left home early that day and up to 10pm on Friday had not been seen or heard from here since leaving home,” said ACP
Greenslade. He said officers of the EMR division and the victim’s family left on inquiries to locate her, but did not find her. ACP Greenslade reported that sometime around 7am on Saturday, family members discovered the deceased’s body in bushes near her home. “We suspect foul play, and I am happy to report that we have someone in custody who is assisting us with the investigation; we are following some
promising leads and hopefully expect to close this matter shortly. We are still asking members of the public to please reach out to us and share any information they have with us,” he said. ACP Greenslade would not reveal the woman’s age. “At this stage we do not want to reveal that information. We are in the initial stages of the investigation and as soon as we get sufficient information we will provide it.
We believe she is a Haitian national,” he said. In early May, a man and a woman died hours apart after being shot in the Limewood Lane area in Grand Bahama. One of the victims was Kim Smith, the wife of reported gang leader Tony Smith, aka Jamal Penn, of New Providence. Smith died at the scene while a male victim died from his injuries at the Rand Memorial Hospital shortly after being shot.
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy who was reported missing on the weekend has been found and is safe with his family, a close relative told The Tribune yesterday. Kooban Barr was last seen leaving his residence on Farrington Road on Saturday, according to police reports. However, hours after he was reported missing, relatives said the 12-year-old was found. Describing the experience as a total nightmare, Clarissa Sturrup, the boy’s mother, said she was relieved when a friend of hers called and said her son had been found and that he was safe. “We found him at Carmichael Road Police Station last night,” she told The Tribune yesterday, adding the child was missing for about seven to eight hours. Asked yesterday about the family’s reaction to the news, Ms Sturrup replied: “We were very relieved. It was very frightening and very stressful as a mother and I’m his mother so I was very relieved.” The mother said the ordeal has shown her the significance of the MARCO Alert system being fully implemented. She said: “. . .When a child goes missing I don’t think 48 hours is a good time to wait if someone is missing. In the instance that they’re missing, the first thing is an alert should be going out to say that the child is missing because you don’t know what’s going on.” After the murder of 11-year-old Marco Archer in 2011, a law was enacted allowing authorities to send notifications alerting the public to missing children,
dubbed the Mandatory Action Rescuing Children Operation (MARCO) Alert. While the system was rolled out by the Christie administration, it is unclear if it was ever used and it was set for an overhaul by the Minnis administration. Last year, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said the government had committed $3.05 million over three years for the MARCO Alert. A contract was signed between the government and Multimedia Technologies for the MARCO’s Alert system in late August in 2019. Speaking in the House of Assembly last week, Mr Dames noted that the MARCO’s alert system was still in “its testing phase and will soon be available nationally.” He said: “All of the hard work for MARCO’s Alert has been installed and both telecommunications providers integrated. The system is in its testing phase and will soon be available nationally. Mr Speaker, members of the public have begun to see infrastructural works on the digital boards in four locations, including the RM Bailey Park, Arawak Cay, Baillou Hill Road South, and JFK west. “The programme should be in operation August 2020, not too long. Mr Speaker, my ministry will invest some $350,000 in the new fiscal period for billboards in New Providence. The billboards will be used to broadcast important messages whenever an alert on a missing child is issued. “… It is our intent to utilise the platform sometime during this fiscal period to introduce a pilot around the sexual offenders registry, which was laid before this parliament last year.”
PAGE 6, Monday, June 22, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
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So what direct action will we see over racism? IT IS nearly a month since the killing of George Floyd sparked worldwide protests against racism. We hardly need tell you about those protests in detail – the news and social media has been full of the response, from highlighting other instances of police brutality to declarations of support for the Black Lives Matter cause. So while we welcome The Bahamas calling for a debate on racism last week during a United Nations Human Rights Council event, we are not entirely convinced of the sincerity of that call. The call has been for an “urgent” debate on racism. Urgent? How urgent is it if you can wait a month before making that call. And while we absolutely agree with the need to ensure equal treatment and to condemn all forms of racism, we suspect the sincerity of the call can be judged by one thing: what happens next. How will the government engage the people of the nation now on this “urgent” matter? How will the discussion be had? More than that, what direct action will be taken? If the answer to this turns out to be nothing, except perhaps a bit of talking shop between officials in different
member states, we’ll be able to judge exactly how importantly the government takes these matters. Our reporters stand ready to hear how the government plans to go forward tackling these issues. The issue of police behaviour has been thrown into the spotlight again after three men in a car were shot dead by police earlier this month. One gun was found at the scene. That has prompted a declaration that body cameras are expected to be rolled out by August – which is still too slow, but movement on the issue nonetheless. That needs to be accompanied by rules on when body cams should be turned on, and the availability of the footage afterwards in such instances. There is no point having the equipment if it cannot be accessed to see what happened in such circumstances. As for issues regarding racism, those too need exploration – although issues in The Bahamas show themselves in different ways to those in the US. But if these are to be more than just words, we need to see the next step. Otherwise, next time the government declares something to be urgent, we will be perfectly entitled to ask if they really mean it.
The horror of crime THE opposite side of the crime situation is shown by the brutal robbery of singer Sammi Starr. Forced to lie on the ground in front of his family and robbed at gunpoint is a horror no one should have to go through. This is the kind of viciousness that police have to deal with, and why sometimes they do indeed have to respond with deadly force to protect themselves or the public. It is a deadly balance – protecting the public without going too far and becoming criminals themselves.
Crime can touch any one of us, as Mr Starr’s incident shows, although we know that some communities suffer crime more than others. The areas with the most criminals are often the ones with the most victims – these are no civic guardians, but predators who turn on those around them. We hope that Mr Starr recovers from his ordeal quickly. We hope that those who robbed him are swiftly caught and face the courts. We wish the police well in bringing Mr Starr’s attackers to justice.
We need the imagination to run our country ourselves EDITOR, The Tribune I HAD an interesting chat with a lady several days ago. Her name was Andros and she belonged to the Bahamas family. Andros spoke of the past years and compared them with today. She said that many years ago when elections were held on different islands on different days, she would see the landing craft on the horizon coming in for the election. It was loaded with liquor. The people on it were loaded with money. When it landed the front opened and the party started. Four shillings and a bottle of rum! That was the price of a vote. They always won. This put them in a position to grant to themselves as much Crown Land as they wanted. Some took thousands of acres for themselves. But they impregnated me with many seeds of various types. I carried them and, because I had plenty fresh water, produced thousands of offspring. They were healthy and fed families. These were the good old days. We were productive. But the powers-that-be were not interested; they couldn’t be bothered. They had their land and they had put themselves in the
position to get more. They impregnated us with more seeds but they did us no harm. They left our water and left our soil. But then on the horizon I saw many landing craft. All packed with heavy equipment, some never before seen in The Bahamas. They were no longer the land grabbers who had no picks and shovels. These folks planned on digging our hearts out and leaving us to die. They were going to mine our rock. They were going to open our fresh water lenses into salt. They were going to take five hundred thousand – yes five hundred thousand acres of our land, kill it, mine it and ship it out. The money flowed. I shouted RAPE. Nobody listened. In desperation, I called out to the lady who used to be known as the Lady of the Environment. Years ago she would have been out front shouting, “Stop!! Foul!” But I haven’t seen or heard her name mentioned. They promised to create 10,000 construction jobs. I heard the same figure at “The Pointe” in Nassau. I don’t recall seeing many Bahamians on the site. Could this be hot air too?
They have promised to give the Government $2/ load of what they mine. How much are they selling it for? They want tax-free status. I ask, how can Bahamians compete if the outsider pays no taxes, but we Bahamians have to pay taxes? Do they think we are inferior? They say that this foreigner with a Chinese name has a “golden” record; that he is in no way tied to the Communist Chinese Government. But I understand that the same story was given about Hutchison Whampoa in Freeport. Was it not recently said that Hutchison Whampoa through Hong Kong was intrinsically tied to the Communist Chinese Government? What about Baha Mar? Are we being taken for a ride again? Are we giving our country away again because we don’t have either the ability or imagination to run it ourselves? RAPE! Our fellow Bahamians, please help us. RAPE! I won’t be able to breath – help us, we are being RAPED. PIERRE V. L. DUPUCH Nassau June 20, 2020
Don’t believe airline’s tears EDITOR, The Tribune RECENTLY we have had a river of tears cried over Bahamasair by everyone from the Minister of Tourism, the Chairman and the CEO of Bahamasair and most recently the auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers. The current fad is to lean on so-called State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) which are essentially any form of business engaged in by government. The implication is that government ownership and/or control of anything is bad. The converse is that private ownership and control is best. Both beliefs are flawed. The current pandemic has laid bare the falsehood that the public sector should quit the commercial landscape. Just as SOEs rely on government for survival, many privately owned businesses would be bankrupt were it not for government waivers, favours, tax concessions and outright custom. Around the world the assets of SOEs are worth $45 trillion according to the IMF. That is equivalent to half of global GDP. SOEs are present in all countries, including the USA. We have ZNS, they have Voice of America. We have the Bahamas Development Bank, they have the Small Business Administration. The much-admired Singapore Airlines is government owned. Because the private sector didn’t find them to be profitable, the government had no choice but to create SOEs to provide basics like water, electricity, transportation and even hotels. And though everyone says these businesses should be privatized, very few Bahamian investors are knocking on the door to take them off the government’s hands. It seems that those who bash government the most about state ownership of businesses, are often the first ones seeking treasury bailouts, handouts and subsidies whenever they face headwinds. After the tragedy of 9/11 in the US, their airlines
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net and many others around the world went, cap in hand, to the public treasury seeking state aid. The same is true in this pandemic. Billions have been doled out in the US and around the world and little mention is made of the fact that there is a clause in the contract that provides for government ownership of these airlines if they can’t pay the money back. But nobody complains about that. The pandemic has hit Bahamasair hard, yet few support further subvention to Bahamasair to keep it afloat. They don’t want our direct tax money from the Treasury (whence it should come in the pandemic). No, they want to raise already prohibitively high ticket prices on those of us with little choice to get around the Family Islands. At this time, Bahamasair should be a catalyst to promote domestic tourism and in so doing allow more of us, for the first time, to explore our own country. And now the lament from Bahamasair’s boardroom is, don’t blame us, blame the gurus at PricewaterhouseCoopers. They told us to do it. The story being peddled by Ministers, the Chairman, the CEO and now their accountants is that domestic ticket prices haven’t gone up in eight years, so an increase is long overdue. And besides, it’s just $20. Bahamasair must decide it if wants to act as a commercial airline or if it wants to be a utility charging only to recoup costs. It is hard to see how PricewaterhouseCoopers could have, with a straight face, justified a price increase on the basis of ticket prices holding steady for the past eight years. The US Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported last year that airline ticket prices have actually gone down in the last 10 years. In 2010, the average ticket
cost $392 versus $359 last year, an eight percent drop. The airline industry has slashed ticket prices while simultaneously piling on socalled ancillary fees. They charge for bags, they charge for food, they charge to reserve a seat on the plane and then they really hit you when you have to change your travel dates. Most egregiously, many don’t refund the taxes and other fees built into the ticket if you have to cancel the flight. It’s understandable that the ticket is non-refundable, but the taxes should be. The treasury only collects for passengers flown. And now they make it sound like Bahamasair has just miraculously discovered bag fees. Child, please. On flights to Miami the first bag may be free, but they have been charging between $45 and $125 for extra bags for a while now, plus special fees of over $100 for overweight bags and on items like television sets. The same policy applies domestically, only they come with the added bite of VAT. First bag free is the norm, not the exception, for airlines all over the world. So, spare us the crocodile tears about Bahamasair reluctantly having to charge bag fees so that they can keep up with the airline Joneses. The Board of Bahamasair must run the business to match the marketplace, not abuse the marketplace to fit their business model. And here’s a novelty straight out of the JetBlue and Southwest playbook. Reduce the fares and, low and behold, the number of people on each flight will go up. It’s called price elasticity. Better to have 100 people on a flight paying $100 each than just 50 people on a flight paying $150 each. Bahamasair should finish cutting the fat on the cost side then maybe we’ll believe their tears. THE GRADUATE Nassau, June 21, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, June 22, 2020, PAGE 7
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net MORE than 700 food vouchers were provided to five local entities in Freeport through the national food distribution programme launched on Friday in Grand Bahama. State Minister for Grand Bahama Senator Kwasi Thompson announced that some 735 vouchers were distributed. The Salvation Army and Reach Out Ministries each received 225 vouchers; the Red Cross, 102; Calvary Temple Assembly of God, 133; and Jubilee Cathedral, 50. The vouchers, he said, are redeemable at Sawyer’s Fresh Mart, AML/ Solomon’s, and Express Food Mart. Mr Thompson said that the programme – which is jointly funded by the government and the private sector – received its first tranche of pledge assistance from three private entities – Buckeye Bahamas, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, and Direct Relief. “Today we are beginning the process of distributing
700 food vouchers distributed in GB vouchers in accordance with the national food distribution programme,” he said at the Office of the Prime Minister. “This really is evidence of the government’s commitment to ensure that no resident, no Bahamian, no citizen, and no person who resides in our country goes hungry.” Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell was also present and spoke briefly. A steering committee for the programme has been formed in Grand Bahama, with representatives from key stakeholders, including Deputy Director of Social Services Lillian QuantForbes, Grand Bahama Port Authority President
Ian Rolle, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce President Greg Laroda, and Robert Lockhart, president of the Grand Bahama Christian Council. Ellison Delva, of Cates & Co, will ensure due diligence for the funding to ensure transparency and accountability. After Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19, Mr Thompson said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis indicated food distribution would be a national priority. Mr Thompson said officials will be creating a database in Grand Bahama of those non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are assisting and people who need assistance through
the establishment of a website next week at www. feedgrandbahama.com. Meanwhile Mr Campbell thanked the NGOs and those in the private sector for partnering with the government in the programme. He indicated the government is committed to the programme for at least three months, after which it will be evaluated. “No government can do it alone and partnerships are important to us,” he said. “I invite others to consider partnering with us in this very worthy exercise; this is addressing the basic need of our people – food.” Although the government is funding 85 percent of the programme, Mr
Campbell noted it was important to ensure politics is not involved in the initiative, thus the appointment of a National Task Force, headed by Susan Larson. The National Food Task Force, he said, is divided in The Bahamas into nine zones –five in New Providence, one in Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco, and northern Family Islands, and the Southern Family Islands. “Many questioned why not having it run by a minister or a ministry, the reality is we are a polarised people; we are politically polarised whether we want to admit it or not and the PM wanted to ensure that there was no indication at all that there
was any politics involved,” he explained. For his part, Mr Lockhart said they have identified about 16 churches on the island that will be used as channels of distribution of food vouchers and food supplies through this effort. “We have identified four churches on west Grand Bahama; three in East Grand Bahama, and another seven to eight in Central Grand Bahama to cover the Freeport area. On GB, we have 160 churches and the goal is that if we have churches that will cover certain areas that they will partner with other churches in their communities,” he said.
MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ARMED ROBBERY By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
DEVON Carey outside court last Friday.
SHARK BITE VICTIM A SHARK bite victim was transported from The Bahamas to a Palm Beach County hospital last week, according to Florida reports. The Palm Beach Post said a spokesman for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue confirmed the incident. Crews stationed at Palm Beach International
Airport were alerted at about 5pm that the victim was being flown from The Bahamas, the outlet reported. The person was taken to a trauma hospital upon arrival in Florida, a fire rescue official told the outlet. However when contacted yesterday, police press liaison officer ASP Audley Peters said he was not aware of the incident.
Death Notice For
Kay Frances Emily Cash-Russell, 83 died peacefully at her residence in Nassau on Sunday, June 14th, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her Husband of 60 years: Kenaz D. Russell; Daughters: Melinda Bethel and Melodie Pinder; Son-in-Law: Christopher Pinder; Grandsons: Kyle (Lisa) Bethel and Matthew Pinder; Great Grandchildren: Milan and Kylia; along with a Host of other Relatives and Friends. Funeral arrangements are being finalized and details will announced at a later date.
Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
A 25-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to prison on Friday after he was charged with holding a man and woman at gunpoint and robbing them of cash earlier this month. Devon Carey stood before Magistrate Andrew Forbes charged with two counts of armed robbery, one of attempted murder and making death threats. It is alleged that Carey, with others, robbed Ghisele Lubin of $761.59 at Mac Grab Convenience Store, located in Jubilee Gardens, on June 3. It is also alleged he robbed Samuel Strachan of $300 and tried to murder him on June 9. When given the chance to speak, Carey told the court that while he was in police custody, officers showed him video footage
of the armed robberies. After watching the footage, Carey said he told police that the people in the videos were not him. In response, Magistrate Forbes replied that the details of his claim would have to be shared with an attorney, who would then address the court on his behalf. Carey was then arraigned for the remaining charge which alleged that he, on June 8, threatened Brittany Ferguson with death. Carey pleaded not guilty to issuing the death threats but was not required to enter a plea to the armed robbery and attempted murder charges. Magistrate Forbes adjourned the matters to September 30. Bail was also denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim. He has the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020 LEFT: People taking part in a Juneteenth march in Seattle to protest against police violence and racism. Right: National Security Minister Marvin Dames
We put our trust in the police but rogue officers must be held to account BY MALCOLM STRACHAN COUNTLESS images of police brutality have nearly been just as common as the mantra of “protect and serve” - widely used terminology in policing globally. And yet, The Bahamas refuses to take much-needed steps toward enhancing the level of accountability that currently exists in local law enforcement. As peaceful protests
are still ongoing throughout the US, The Bahamas, while not being anywhere near as racially divided, still experiences much of the same divisiveness between citizens and the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Within the past few years, we’ve all seen multiple police-involved killings which continue to magnify the wedge between the hard-working men and women of the RBPF and the communities they serve. Indeed, one-sided accounts
of the events that have led to the deaths of those who supposedly provoked violent encounters with the police continue to grow in number. With police usually seeking to defend the institution against criticism and pro-tough-on-crime tactics being supported by a large sector of society, the families that mourn their dead are often villainised. It is understandable, as the society we live in leads us to vilifying individuals with
street aliases that portray them as hardened, criminalmined savages. Fear, anger and outright exhaustion are all feelings representative of living life in The Bahamas, particularly in New Providence. In avoiding the criminal element, many of us have inadvertently become prisoners. From ensuring we’re off the roads and home at a certain hour, to having routines of circling the neighbourhood when we get home and having
efficiently timed strategies to get the kids out of the car and in the house before being robbed at gunpoint – indubitably, we underestimate the strain on our mental health. Many of us, rather than sleeping at night, have so much anxiety that we get up multiple times to check our surroundings for intruders. Perhaps this is why when officers riddle a car with three individuals known to them full of bullets, the vast majority of society believe it is justified and hardly give it a second thought. With aliases that indicate a level of street prowess held by the three men shot and killed by police, the names their parents once affectionately gave them merely join the growing list of those who have fallen under a hail of bullets sprayed at them by the police. No surprise, however, as warnings of such encounters have been foreboded by National Security Minister Marvin Dames and police commissioners – former and present. Back in March, speaking plainly, Dames sent a clear message to those who attack the police telling them they will suffer the consequences. And speaking to this most recent event, he spoke in support of the officers on the scene, stating that “they did what they had to do”. Certainly, none of us should presume to know what it’s like suiting up and hitting the road as a Bahamian police officer. One can only imagine the level of aggression encountered daily by our officers. Thus, approaching this conversation in this manner, it should be stated this is not an attack on the police. Rather, it is only an acknowledgement that just as there are good and bad people in society, the police force is no different, with officers recruited from the very same communities in which they are duty bound to protect and serve. That said, policies need to be in place that ensure our officers are on their best behaviour at all times. In the past few years, we’ve seen videos recorded by citizens showing excessive force and police brutality exhibited by officers of the RBPF on the populace, as well as visitors. In addition, we’ve also seen police-recorded videos displaying egregious misconduct by officers. However, when it comes to how these matters are handled, we constantly are stonewalled – being told the police are handling these occurrences. Thus, let us not oversimplify this discussion by
making it black and white. Just because criminals mean our society no good, it does not remove fault from poorly executed policing. Neither does it minimise the responsibility of the police performing their duties in a professional, fair and just manner. After all, these men and women took an oath to uphold the law. To this end, in 2020, should we really still be allowing our police force to be policed by itself? Understanding the deep obligations officers feel to this fraternity, how can we expect to live in an equitable system of law and order if the scales are so severely imbalanced. Most, if not all, have encountered poor policing. Yet, the impetus to implement stricter measures of accountability are terribly ineffective. As backlogs in the coroner’s court cause these discussions to taper off into an abyss of irrelevance, years continue to mount between these questionable killings and any form of review that will bring clarity to what actually took place. On the heels of these recent events, Dames has announced body cams and dash cams will be in effect by the month of August. But what does any of that even mean if the system is inefficient and strongly lacking in accountability? If the names George Floyd, and most recently, Rayshard Brooks, among countless others, mean anything to you, then you should know the technology is merely a talking point if the policies remain unchanged. Bad policing can’t operate within a special set of guidelines as it pertains to law and order. Moreover, the era of protectionism in Bahamian policing must be held to account. Else, the divide and distrust that exists between the police and the citizenry will be sure to widen. Officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force must continually go through sensitivity training consistent with best practices in modern policing. Likewise, the policy makers must be minded not to show partiality to our officers, regardless of their allegiance to the law enforcement fraternity if the system is what is desired to be fixed. As long as misconduct can be cloaked, the populace is at the mercy of the nature of the officers we encounter, and therefore, stuck in a cycle of perpetual distrust. We ought to want to live in a better society than that.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net BY AZALETA ISHMAEL-NEWRY LAST September, Hurricane Dorian struck the Northern Bahama Islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama causing billions of dollars in damage. The One Eleuthera Foundation stepped in to assist hundreds of evacuees who resettled in Eleuthera, with just over half still remaining today. Over 14,000 people were displaced by Dorian with Abaco taking the brunt of the catastrophe. The fierceness of the Category 5 storm is still fresh for many. Abaco evacuee Josette Albury-Gilbert who is a single mother-of-four, survived to tell their story. “When it rains and it’s stormy, at night, my children pile into the bed with me and my little one would still tremble,” said AlburyGilbert. She and her three children, ages six, 12 and 14 survived by swimming to a neighbour’s house after the roof of their house was blown off. That neighbour soon had to leave. “All of us kept moving from one place to the next. We were swimming. We were scared. We didn’t know what was happening. I just wanted to make sure we were safe and trying to get to safety. I lost a coworker in the storm and a few people in the community because the water was really high and a lot of people can’t swim. I thought a demon was in the storm. You could hear screams and things. It was worse than a nightmare.” Albury-Gilbert is one of the 273 families assisted by the One Eleuthera Foundation and she was thankful for a new start. She was able to leave a shelter in Nassau in October 2019 with her three children. Her fourth child will be graduating from the University of The Bahamas in June. “When I received a call from Shawna McCartney of One Eleuthera, she told me about their programme to help evacuees. I didn’t believe her at first. I thought it was a joke.
INSIGHT
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020 PAGE 9
A helping hand for the hundreds left devastated by Dorian
JOSETTE Albury Gilbert with Ashley, Samara, Teron and Andraya. Inset: Shawna and Marjie Finlay People don’t call you to say they will relocate you, find you a job and help you with a place to live.” McCartney who was a cook in Abaco found a job at the Centre for Training and Innovation and her three children started school in Tarpum Bay. Although they are not a disaster agency, the One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) has moved from one emergency to another – Hurricane Dorian to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Since September 2019 to June 2020, generous contributions of cash and in-kind donations from community, hundreds of donors and
grants exceeding $900,000 supported this NGO’s seven-month Hurricane Dorian Relief (HDR) Programme and Covid-19 initiatives. The evacuees were embraced by the communities in a loving space they would temporarily or permanently call home. The HDR Programme offered economic and beneficial necessities that included a housing and utilities (HU) allowance, emergency relief supplies, educational grants, a school feeding programme, job placement and training and trauma counselling. Funds also covered revitalization of commercial agriculture in South
Eleuthera and employment and disaster preparedness. Six hundred registered evacuees primarily from Abaco with a few from Grand Bahama represented 213 households. The HU allowance was applied to 173 long-term households on mainland Eleuthera, 39 short- term in Spanish Wells and one in Harbour Island. Also, undocumented migrants and others were able to receive support from the OEF. Over 4,000 hot meals were served from three locations in Rock Sound and Tarpum Bay while people waited to get into their new living spaces. Two distribution centres offered
clothing and dry goods. The education programme covered school supplies, childcare and a few salaries. Further, employment at One Eleuthera and CTI meant permanent and temporary jobs for 14 people and four relief coordinators. To help ease the trauma for the hurricane evacuees, One Eleuthera engaged the services of a counselling team led by Emma Basset and Stephen Thompson; they covered all of Eleuthera. Utilising the services were 272 evacuees – 203 under the age of 18 and 69 adults - with the addition of 38 new applicants at the end of January. School principal Shardell Gibson of Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School has reported that in time the parents improved and many students were on the honour roll. More funding is needed to support the counselling initiative and a survey showed that 60% of adults and 100% of children under 18 requested more services. Other emotional support included a memorial
ceremony at the Methodist Habitat’s Camp Symonette in James Cistern that gave closure for many. Later in January 3, 2020 a heartwarming community connection event in Rock Sound was attended by 110 evacuees who came from the many settlements on Eleuthera. The Hurricane Dorian Relief Programme was a holistic approach led by One Eleuthera’s CEO, Shaun Ingraham who is a certified disaster relief responder with 22 years of experience. “Our 7-month Hurricane Dorian Relief Programme was rewarding and is a successful model that we are sharing with our counterparts and The Bahamas. We were happy to welcome the new residents to come and help us build Eleuthera,” said Ingraham. At the peak of the evacuee’s resettlement – 300 in Spanish Wells and 300 on the mainland, the population of Eleuthera grew and the economy received a boost since most of the funds from the HDR Programme was injected into the local economy. On June 13, 2020 a group of 51 people returned to Abaco by mailboat, and since January, approximately 200 people from Spanish Wells have also returned. More information on the One Eleuthera Hurricane Dorian Programme and stories of survivors is available at www.oneeleuthera. org.
PREFERRED DIVIDEND PAYMENT FOCOL is pleased to announce a
dividend payment to all holders of CLASS ‘A’ and ‘C’ preference shares as of June 30, 2020 payable within ten business days of the record date through THE BAHAMAS CENTRAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORY.
“Fuelling Growth For People”
PAGE 10 MONDAY, JNUE 22, 2020
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HREE US senators, who have done little to advance the interests of the Caribbean and with whom requests for meetings by many Caribbean Ambassadors are usually shunted to their staff, are now proposing US government punishment for Caribbean countries that request assistance from Cuba for medical personnel. The three senators are all members of the Republican Party. Two of them represent Florida – Marco Rubio and Rick Scott - and the other, Ted Cruz, is a senator from Texas. Senators Rubio and Cruz have strong Cuban heritage and are known to be virulently opposed to the Cuban government. Senator Scott is a former governor of Florida and has been a senatorial representative of the State since 2019, having run a campaign wooing the significant Cuban-American population. On June 17, the three senators introduced in the US Senate, the “Cut Profits to the Cuban Regime Act”, which, if it is adopted, will penalise any government, worldwide, that contracts with the Cuban government for the provision of medical personnel. Since many Caribbean governments have such contracts with Cuba, they all stand to be targeted. Among the measures that the Bill, sponsored by the three Senators, seeks to impose are “a requirement that the Department of State publishes the list of countries that contract with the government of Cuba for their medical missions programme”, and that the contracts be considered “as a factor in considering that country’s ranking for Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report”. In other words, these three U.S. Senators are seeking to disregard the sovereign right of other countries to enter arrangements with Cuba. In any event, a principle of international law and norms is
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
Caribbean among countries being unfairly targeted by US senators over Cuba being casually disdained, as if the rights of States do not matter. The Senators also show a remarkable indifference to the critical public health emergency confronted by all Caribbean countries, particularly now in the seemingly endless era of the COVID-19 pandemic and its disastrous effects. Had the three Senators considered a discussion with Caribbean representatives before they introduced their Bill, they would have learned that, for many countries of the Caribbean, the presence of Cuban medical personnel has made a huge and beneficial difference to their capacity to manage COVID-19 and its spread. It is no exaggeration to say that, without the Cuban medical personnel, the medical system of several Caribbean countries would have collapsed. The senators would also have been reminded that the United States, despite all its great resources, found it difficult – and are still finding it difficult – to respond to the demands that the pandemic has placed on its public health system. If the U.S. cannot cope, how would any objective person believe that the Caribbean can do so without help?
Further, the Senators might have considered what assistance the U.S. provided to the region in terms of the medical personnel that they urgently needed and continue to need. Senator Scott is reported to have said that “Any country that requests medical assistance from Cuba is aiding their human trafficking efforts”, because, in his view, Cuban medical personnel sent abroad are “forced labour”. Caribbean countries have had no experience that substantiates this opinion. Indeed, Cuban medical personnel have conducted themselves with professionalism, integrating well with local medical teams and passing-on their knowledge and experience. Caribbean countries have no basis for believing that the medical personnel are “forced labour”. But, if the government of any country believes this claim to be true, there are international bodies to which it can be taken, and evidence proffered in support of a decision to uphold the allegation. Caribbean representatives would have encouraged the senators to pursue such a definitive course of action, which all governments would have respected. One attempt to internationalise this claim
SENATORS Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and Ted Cruz by a private Europeanfunded group came to nothing. Had they had the chance to do so, Caribbean representatives would have reminded the three senators that COVID-19, in addition to being a public health emergency, is wrecking the economies of Caribbean countries, some more severely than others but all without exception. They are now confronted with their greatest economic challenge. Government revenues have dropped drastically, expenditures have increased extraordinarily, and employment and poverty are expanding rapidly. In all this, there has been a poor response from richer countries that could have helped. The Caribbean needed to get COVID-19 under control not only to save lives in their communities, but also to salvage their economic prospects,
now and in the future. Cuba has provided Caribbean countries with medical assistance for over 30 years; the present contingent of Cuban personnel is not a new development. These arrangements have been formally negotiated and set out in contracts. Further, Caribbean governments have knowledge of the circumstances of Cuban medical personnel because for three decades, Caribbean doctors have trained in Cuba on scholarships that richer neighbouring states have not offered. Until and unless other governments step up to help, Caribbean governments will be constrained to get assistance from where they can, including Cuba. The senators would also have been advised that most Caribbean countries have worked closely and well with the U.S. government to curb human
trafficking. An attempt to mar this cooperative work by introducing a political dimension to it – particularly a very narrow one – would be tragic. A conversation with the senators would be welcome. The hemisphere – like the rest of the world – needs cooperation in improving the human condition; what it does not need is coercion for political purposes. A Caribbean conversation with the senators would be welcome. The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, June 22, 2020, PAGE 11
UK PARK STABBING THAT KILLED THREE WAS ’TERROR ATTACK’ READING, England Associated Press
A STABBING rampage that killed three people as they sat in a British park on a summer evening is being considered a terrorist attack, police said yesterday. A 25-year-old man who is believed to be the lone attacker was in custody, but officials said the motive for the carnage was unclear. Authorities said they were not looking for any other suspects and they did not raise Britain’s official terrorism threat level from “substantial.” Three people were killed and three others seriously wounded in the stabbing attack that came out of the blue Saturday in Forbury
Gardens park in Reading, a town 40 miles west of London. “Motivation for this horrific act is far from certain,” said Neil Basu, Britain’s top counterterrorism police officer, as police forensics officers combed the park for evidence. Chief Constable John Campbell of Thames Valley Police said officers were called to reports of stabbings just before 7 pm and arrived to find a “horrific” scene. He said a suspect was apprehended within five minutes. Basu said “incredibly brave” unarmed officers detained a 25-year-old local man at the scene. Police said they did not believe there was any further danger to the public. The suspect is believed to be
Khairi Saadallah, a Libyan asylum-seeker living in Reading. He was sentenced to two months in prison last year for assaulting an emergency worker. The same man was also charged last year with assaulting a judge who had sentenced him. The BBC reported that Saadallah was investigated by British security services last year over concerns he planned to travel abroad to join a jihadi group, but that he was not determined to be a major threat. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “appalled and sickened” by the attack. “If there are lessons that we need to learn” or legal changes needed to prevent such attacks, “then we will learn those lessons
SUSPECT: Khairi Saadallah
and we will not hesitate to take action where necessary,” Johnson said. Notes and bunches of flowers had been left yesterday by the police tape in tribute to the victims. One of the people killed was identified as James Furlong, a teacher in the nearby town of Wokingham. “There are no words that anyone can say to express how horrible and senseless this was,” one said. “”Our prayers are with all the victims and their families and friends. #Readingstandsunited.” The attack came hours after a Black Lives Matter demonstration at Forbury Gardens, but police said there was no connection between the two events.
WHO REPORTS LARGEST SINGLE-DAY INCREASE IN VIRUS CASES
PAGANS, DRUIDS MISS OUT ON STONEHENGE CELEBRATIONS LONDON Associated Press THE coronavirus pandemic has prevented druids, pagans and partygoers from watching the sun rise at Stonehenge to mark the summer solstice this year. The ancient stone circle usually draws thousands of people to mark the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. But Britain has banned mass gatherings as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID19. Some dedicated druids were determined to watch the sun rise in person, gathering in a field near Stonehenge despite the morning rain. Well-known druid King Arthur Pendragon said it had been “very wet,” but he was undaunted.
GENEVA Associated Press
AN ARCHDRUID performs a ritual near the cordoned off Stonehenge as a small group of people gathered to celebrate the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, near Salisbury, England yesterday
Trump dismisses low rally turnout TULSA, Oklahoma Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump used his comeback rally to try to define the upcoming election as a choice between national heritage and left-wing radicalism, but his intended show of political force during the pandemic was thousands short of a full house and partly overshadowed by new coronavirus cases among his campaign staff. Trump ignored health warnings and held his first rally in 110 days in what was one of the largest indoor gatherings in the world during an outbreak that has killed about 120,000 Americans and put 40 million out of work. The rally in Tulsa was meant to restart his re-election effort less than five months before the November election. “The choice in 2020 is very simple,” Trump said. “Do you want to bow before the left-wing mob, or do you want to stand up tall and proud as Americans?” After a three-month break from rallies, Trump returned to regular themes, including boasts about the pre-pandemic economy and complaints about the media. He made
PRESIDENT Trump in Washington yesterday after returning from Tulsa no mention of some of the flashpoints roiling the nation, including the abrupt firing of a US attorney in Manhattan, the damaging new book from his former national security adviser or the killing of George Floyd. Trump aired pent-up grievances about the coronavirus, which he mocked as the “Kung flu,” a racist term for COVID19, which originated in China. He tried to defend his handling of the pandemic, even as cases continue to surge in many states, including
Oklahoma. He complained that robust testing was making his record look bad and suggested the testing effort should slow down. “Here’s the bad part. When you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more cases,” Trump said. “So I said to my people, ‘Slow the testing down.’ They test and they test.” In response, Trump’s Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, tweeted, “Speed up the testing.” A White House adviser, Peter Navarro, told CNN’s “State of the
Union” on Sunday that Trump’s remark was “tongue in cheek.” In the hours before the rally, crowds were significantly lighter than expected, and campaign officials scrapped plans for Trump to speak at an overflow space outdoors. Inside the 19,000-seat BOK Center, Trump thundered that “the silent majority is stronger than ever before.” Tulsa Fire Department spokesperson Andy Little said the city fire marshal’s office reported a crowd of just less than 6,200 in the arena. Trump tried to explain away the crowd size by blaming the media for scaring people and by insisting there were protesters outside who were “doing bad things.” Hundreds of demonstrators flooded the city’s downtown streets and blocked traffic at times, but police reported just a handful of arrests. Before the rally, Trump’s campaign disclosed that that six staff members who were helping set up for the event had tested positive for the coronavirus. Campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said neither the affected staffers nor anyone who was in immediate contact with them would attend the event.
THE World Health Organization yesterday reported the largest singleday increase in coronavirus cases by its count, at more than 183,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours. The UN health agency said Brazil led the way with 54,771 cases tallied and the U.S. next at 36,617. Over 15,400 came in in India. Experts said rising case counts can reflect multiple factors including more widespread testing as well as broader infection. Overall in the pandemic, WHO reported 8,708,008 cases — 183,020 in the last 24 hours — with 461,715 deaths worldwide, with a daily increase of 4,743. More than two-thirds of those new deaths were reported in the Americas. In Spain, officials ended a national state of emergency after three months of lockdown, allowing its 47 million residents to freely travel around the country for the first time since March 14. The country also dropped a 14-day quarantine for visitors from Britain and the 26 European countries that allow visa-free travel. But there was only a trickle of travelers at Madrid-Barajas Airport, which on a normal June day would be bustling. “This freedom that we now have, not having to justify our journey to see our family and friends, this was something that we were really looking forward to,” Pedro Delgado, 23, said after arriving from Spain’s Canary Islands. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged people to take maximum precautions: “The virus can return and it can hit us again in a second wave, and we have to do whatever we can to avoid that.” The US has the world’s highest number of reported infections, over 2.2 million, and the highest death toll, at about 120,000, according to Johns Hopkins. Health officials say robust testing is vital for tracking outbreaks and keeping the virus in check. The number of confirmed cases is still growing rapidly not only in the US but in Brazil, South Africa and other countries, especially in Latin America.
PAGE 12, Monday, June 22, 2020
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Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller dies in hospital FROM PAGE 16 extended to cycling. He was also a very long time physical education teacher at the Government High and CC Sweeting High School, the latter where he operated his Bahamas Youth Boxing Club out of the campus. He was also a reserve policeman. Former Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller remembered his long-time friend as the G.O.A.T. - the greatest of all time - for the impact he made in sports and as a community activist. “To me, Boston was the GOAT of Bahamian sports because he did so many sports and he excelled in so many of them,” said Miller, who first started working with Boston Blackie in 1979 as an assistant coach on the Pan Am Games in Puerto Rico. “Some of my greatest memories of Boston came in 1983 when we were taking a boxing team to the Pan Am Games and the association didn’t have the money. Boston told me to pick him up the next morning and I took him to an insurance company and he cashed in his life insurance to make sure that the boxers travelled.” Miller said he was amazed, but ‘Boston Blackie’ told him emphatically that the boxers had to go. Another memorable occasion for Miller came when ‘Boston
ROBERTS from PAGE 16
of 6-4, 6-4. It was his third tournament for the year after he played in a pair in Cancun, Mexico, in February. In the last tournament in Mexico, Roberts was beaten 6-4, 7-5 by Gilbert Klier Junior of Brazil in singles during the week of February 17. Roberts and Maginley got to the semi-finals in doubles, only to get knocked off by the team of Igor Marcondes of Brazil and Brandon Walkin in scores of 6-1. 6-3. However, they posted wins over the pairs of Felippe Sarrasaque of Argentina and Kiranpal Pannu of Australia in the quarter-finals and Americans George Goldhoff and Alfredo Perez in the round of 16. During the week of March 10 in Mexico, Robert got to the
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Blackie’ fought and lost to Ernie ‘the Androsian Tiger’ Barr. It was ‘Boston Blackie’s last fight, but he asked Miller to prepare him in the dressing room. “When he came out of the ring, he allowed me to undress him again,” Miller said. “I was so proud to be there for him. We became close friends ever since. He was such a great person. He never held anything back.” And in 1984, Miller said he remembers when the BOC wanted to send somebody off to a solidarity course and he told Miller that he should go because he would need the experience more than him. Miller said ‘Boston Blackie’ was also a very good story teller and he could relate what happened to him over the years. One of the stories Miller said he remembers when ‘Boston Blackie’ told him how he won the Caribbean Cycling Championship title and he stayed with the Mighty Sparrow of Trinidad & Tobago. As a PE teacher, who sat his course at the College of the Bahamas (now the University of the Bahamas) after it was discovered that he didn’t have the credentials when he was first hired, Miller said he remembers how ‘Boston Blackie’ disciplined a student. The story was told by ‘Boston Blackie’ that the student went home and told his father. The irate father came to the school the
semi-finals in singles where he was stopped 6-2, 6-3 by Maximiliano Estevez of Argentina after winning three consecutive matches over American Alexander Sarkissian 6-4, 6-2; Mexican Juan Alejandro Hernández 6-3, 7-6 (4) and American Joshua Ortlip 6-2, 7-6 (3). In doubles, Roberts and Maginley didn’t advance out of the round of 16 as they fell victim, this time to Goldhoff and Perez in identical scores of 6-3, 6-3. As they began the tour of Mexico during the week of February 2, Roberts and Maginley reached the quarterfinals where they got ousted 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 15-13 by the Brazilian team of Mateus De Cavaiho Cardoso Alves and Igor Marcondes. They won their opener 7-6 (5), 6-4 over Eduardo Ribeiro and Fernando Yamacita also from Mexico. Roberts didn’t play singles in that opening tournament. “I was feeling good. I played four events and made the semi-final,
next day and when he discovered who had disciplined his child, the parent asked the child if he knew who the teacher was? “The parent told Boston that if I knew it was you who beat my child, I would have told you to whip him again,” Miller said. “That was the kind of respect that persons in the community had for Boston. “Boxing was his legacy, but he made his mark in cycling and as a jockey in horse racing. But he never got the credit that was due him. He should have been honoured by the government for his contribution to sports and the community in a more tangible way.” Bahamas Boxing Federation president Vincent Strachan led a chorus of condolences sent out to Miller, who was also a founding member of the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association in 1986. “On this Father’s Day, we are saddened of the passing of one of the greatest sporting icons in the Bahamas, long-time light and heavyweight champion and cycling champion Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller, who passed away today,” Strachan wrote. “We miss him very much.” Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt, a contender for the Bahamas lightweight title, said Miller was the first coach to put a pair of boxing gloves on his hands in 1983.
JUSTIN Roberts enjoys a day of fishing.
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Marvin ‘Marvelous’ Smith, a former Bahamian super middleweight champion, called for the customary 10-bell salute in honour of the late Miller. Freeman ‘the Natural’ Barr, the former World Boxing Organisation’s NABO super middleweight champion, considered Miller a friend who taught him a lot of stuff in boxing as well. “We’re going to miss him. R.I.P,” Barr wrote. Olympian Shonel Ferguson, now the Member of Parliament for Fox Hill, as a budding track and field athlete who went on to win the 1982 Commonwealth Games’ gold medal in the long jump in Brisbane, Australia, remembers how ‘Boston Blackie’ first impacted her life when he competed as a cyclist. “As a child growing up on Adderley Street, I remember Boston Blackie and other contestants speeding past Johnson Road as they contested the round the Island cycling road races,” she reflected. “We were so proud of him and loudly cheered him on. We knew him first as a cyclist then later as a boxer. He was our hero.” Ferguson said she was delighted when Anatol Rogers High School bestowed the singular honour of naming the school’s houses after Knowles House for the late Sir Durward Knowles, Ford House for the late Wenty Ford, Ferguson House for herself and Miller
BAHAMAS National Hall of Famer Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller passed away yesterday. House for Leonard “Boston Blackie” Miller. “It was wonderful that he received this accolade while he was able to enjoy the honour,” she stated. “May the soul of this very special human being, exceptional athlete and patriotic Bahamian rest in peace and rise in glory.” After his days of competing in sports, Miller travelled extensively as a coach and medical trainer for a number of national teams. He will be sorely missed for his contributions.
so I felt I was playing some good tennis,” Roberts said. “I was looking to get on a roll there, but the coronavirus slowed it down. “I am looking forward to the return of tennis. I think I have improved a lot, so I’m just looking forward to getting back out there when the time comes.” To help pass some of the time during the lockdown and curfews imposed in Texas as a result of COVID-19, Roberts said he hit a lot of tennis balls and watched movies. Right in the midst of the pandemic, Roberts said he threw his support behind the ‘Black Lives Matter’ and “I Can’t Breathe’ campaign to protest the killing of African American George Floyd on May 25 in Minnesota by a white policeman. “I fully support it,” said Roberts, who admitted that he opted to stay home and not to go out on any of the rallies or protest matches. “I think it affects people like me in America. It’s hard that we
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have to go through it, but it’s a beautiful thing seeing people standing up for their rights.” Although the ITF is currently finalising a provisional calendar of ITF World Tennis Tour events August 3 to September 27, there was some protests from international players, who claim that they don’t think that the US Open, scheduled for August 31 to September 13 in Flushing, New York, should be played in the aftermath of COVID-19 and the stance against black protests. But Roberts said he believes that the ITF and the ATP is doing all they can to ensure that the sport continues and players get an opportunity to make some money in the process. “They will lose out on a lot of players who don’t feel safe travelling at this time, but I honestly have no clue,” he stated. “I know players have to defend their points, so I’m prepared to go out there and play. “I just don’t know yet what tournaments will be available for me to play in.” In the meantime, Roberts said he was glad to get on the water on Saturday and participate in his fishing expedition. “It wasn’t bad. It was my first time fishing. I did a little bit of fishing when I was a little boy,” Roberts said. “We went to the lake here and I caught a few fish. It was a fun time. I enjoyed it.” Roberts, who now intends to make fishing a part of his pastime activities off the court, said they used the catch of the day for their Father’s Day meal on Sunday. “I miss home, but this is where I have to be and where I have to take advantage of my time,” said Roberts, the son of Bruno and Sonjia Roberts and the brother of Savannah Roberts, a female tennis player who is expected to enrol in Cornell University in August. “So I’m enjoying it.” As the top ranked Bahamian player on the tour, Roberts was automatically named to the Bahamas Davis Cup team along with Kevin Major Jr, Baker Newman and player/captain Marvin Rolle. It’s not certain if they will play this year, but Roberts said if they do, he will definitely be ready. “I will put my best foot forward and make the Bahamian people proud,” said Roberts, who previously represented the country at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China in 2014. “I will just continue to represent the flag at the highest level and I think good things will come in the future.”
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Monday, June 22, 2020, PAGE 13
BALK IN BASEBALL CORONAVIRUS TALKS, JULY 19 START OFF By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — An email from baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to union head Tony Clark led to a balk in the drawn-out talks to start the pandemicdelayed season, which now won’t begin by July 19. The executive committee of the players’ association was set to vote and reject Major League Baseball’s latest offer for a 60-game season yesterday. “I really believe we are fighting over an impossibility on games,” Manfred said in the email, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. “The earliest we will be ready for players to report is a week from Monday, given the need to relocate teams from Florida. That leaves 66 days to play 60 games. Realistically, that is the outside of the envelope now.” Players want 70 games and $275 million more than teams are offering. They are worried that if a resurgence of the new coronavirus causes the 2020 season to be cut short, the deal being negotiated would lock in innovations for 2021 and lessen the union’s bargaining power. “Tony, am
writing to reiterate what I told you on the phone a few minutes ago,” Manfred wrote. “Given the Covid developments, I understand that the players are concerned that the 2020 season will be truncated beyond the agreed upon number of games (for example, we agree to play 60 and can only play 40). If that were to happen, I would be prepared to eliminate the 2021 components of the deal. That would mean that we would not get the expanded playoffs in 2021 and the DH rule would revert to the current rule (DH in AL, no DH in NL).” Players didn’t take a vote and will consider their next move today. The 2020 only items in the deal include starting extra innings with runner on second and a discussion of whether to allow tie games after a specified total of innings plus player reentry in extra innings. Some players would prefer there not be a deal and that Manfred unilaterally order the schedule. Because players insisted on full prorated pay, he threatened a schedule of about 50 games. MLB agreed to prorated pay when Manfred met with Clark last week.
MLP Association Executive Director Tony Clark. (AP) The proposed deal would give Manfred the right to suspended or cancel play if “restrictions on travel throughout the United States are imposed” or if he determines after consulting medical experts and the union that there has been a change in circumstances posing “an unreasonable health and safety risk to players or staff to stage those games, even without fans in attendance.”
Simpson celebrates a Father’s Day win at Harbour Town By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Webb Simpson celebrated another victory on Father’s Day, this time with a tartan jacket instead of a US Open trophy. In a wild sprint to the finish after a three-hour storm delay, Simpson ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine at Harbour Town and closed with a 7-under 64 for a oneshot victory over Abraham Ancer. Simpson won the US Open at Olympic Club in 2012. The US Open has been scheduled to end on Father’s Day every year since 1976, but it was moved to September this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The RBC Heritage filled the spot on the schedule and Simpson, now a father of five, became a winner for the second time this year with a record score at Harbour Town. He didn’t have much of a choice with so many low scores on a soft course with little wind. He finished at 22-under 262, breaking by two the tournament record set by Brian Gay in 2009. “It was a crazy day,” Simpson said. “I didn’t get it going until 12 and then the putts started going in and I started getting confident. It’s amazing to be standing here right now.” Simpson, who won the Phoenix Open in February, moved to No. 5 in the world. He also moved to the top of the FedEx Cup. It was a tough runner-up finish for Ancer, trying to become the fifth straight winner of the RBC Heritage to capture his first PGA Tour victory at Harbour Town. He hit all 18 greens in regulation and tied for the lead with a bold fairway metal over the trees to the par-5 15th that set up a twoputt birdie. He also stayed in the game with a birdie on the 17th. Ancer shot 65. There was just no catching Simpson, whose only birdies were on the par 5s on the front nine until he couldn’t miss. He rolled in birdie putts from 10 feet and 20 feet on the 12th and 13th, two-putted for birdie on the 15th and then sealed it with two more birdies from 15 feet and 18 feet. Colonial winner Daniel Berger also stayed in the mix by chipping in for birdie on the 17th and closing with a 65. Tyrrell Hatton, whose last
WEBB Simpson lines up a shot on the first green during the final round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament Sunday. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) tournament was his victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, was leading until a poor tee shot led to bogey on the 13th, and bogeys were hard to recover from on this day. He shot 66 and tied for third. Dylan Frittelli had the low score of a tournament filled with them, a 62 that put him in the lead before the final groups even teed off. Justin Thomas had a 63 and tied him. Both knew it wasn’t going to hold up, especially after returning from a storm delay to still conditions and even softer conditions. But it led to a carousel of contenders, and even Brooks Koepka got in the mix. Koepka hit driver on the 331-yard ninth hole that hit on the slope above the bunker and settled 3 feet for his eagle. He birdied the next two to get within one of the lead, but his hopes ended with a 5-foot birdie putt he missed on the par-5 15th. Koepka missed a pair of 5-foot par putts on the front nine. He closed with a 65 and finished seventh, his best result since the Tour Championship.
“Six months off — three with the lock down and then three on my knee — so yeah, it feels like it’s been a really long time since I’ve even felt some juices flowing,” Koepka said. “It just felt nice to be in contention.” Rory McIlroy closed with a 70 and tied for 41st, his second straight result out of the top 30 after going seven consecutive events worldwide with no finish worse than fifth. The PGA Tour now heads to the Connecticut for the Travelers Championship, and it’s still to be determined who will be playing until coronavirus tests are released for those on the charter flight. The uncertainty stems from the first positive test — Nick Watney on Friday — along with 11 tests for those who had been in close contact with Watney. Until the first tournament back at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, the area around Harbour Town was crowded with the start of summer vacation. Those not on the charter will be tested upon arrival in Connecticut. Any positive test means a player must withdraw.
MLB’s proposal for 60 games includes $1.48 billion in salary plus a $25 million postseason players’ pool, while the union’s plan includes $1.73 billion in salary and a $50 million pool. Absent an agreement, the union would file a grievance claiming MLB violated the provision in the March 26 agreement recognising “that each of the parties shall work in good faith to as soon as is
practicable commence, play, and complete the fullest 2020 championship season and post-season that is economically feasible,” subject to several provisions. Those provisions say that without MLB’s consent, the season shall not start until there are no legal restrictions on playing in front of fans at the 30 regular-season ballparks, no relevant travel restrictions and no health or safety risk to players, staff or spectators to playing in the 30 regular ballparks. The agreement also says the sides “will discuss in good faith the economic feasibility of playing games in the absence of spectators or at appropriate substitute neutral sites.” MLB had proposed having the season run from July 19 or 20 through Sept. 27, the shortest since the 1870s, while the union agreed to the start date and said it should end Sept. 30, or earlier using doubleheaders. Both sides proposed pitchers and catchers report June 26, followed by position players two days later, but that schedule has come and gone, like the proposed Fourth of July start. A rise in positive tests last week in Florida caused MLB to close all 30 training
camps for deep cleaning and disinfecting. The Philadelphia Phillies announced Friday that five players had tested positive for COVID19 and person familiar with the process, speaking on condition of anonymity, 40 players and team employees had tested positive as of noon EDT Sunday. MLB sent 200 COVID-19 tests to each team to be used over the weekend, the person said. Twenty-nine of the 30 teams now intend to hold training at their regular season stadiums rather than spring training sites. Toronto may be an exception due to Canadian federal and Ontario provincial restrictions. Manfred’s email referred to another issue: termination pay for players released prior to opening day. “I think I have previously agreed to give you full termination pay for players who were salary arbitration eligible in 2019, are on non guaranteed contracts and are terminated in spring training,” Manfred wrote. “Those players would get the numbers of days of termination pay equal to the number of games we agree to play, subject to the repayment of salary advances.”
PAGE 14, Monday, June 22, 2020
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DOMNICK BRIDGEWATER
DOMNICK Bridgewater continues to climb the pro basketball ladder in France and was promoted for the upcoming season.
from PAGE 16
official the loan of our young leader Bahamian Domnick R Bridgewater,” the Byers said in the official announcement. “Arrived in 2018 at the Byers Academy as part of our collaboration with the association “Raw Talent” (led by Jaraun “Kino” Burrows) Domnick will be able to complete his training in NM2 under the orders of the former assistant of Giuitta Rémi, Alexandre Casimiri.”
WILLIS MACKEY
from PAGE 16 “I just feel blessed. That’s just an honour just to be recognised on that stage and to be recognised at the top of the league, as the best player in the entire league and in the whole country. There are hundreds of players that
could have been chosen,” Mackey said on his YouTube channel. “Thank you to Eurobasket for the awards. Thank you to my coaches, thank you to my organisation for making my first pro season a success, making me so comfortable and making me feel at home even though I’m 5,000, 6,000 miles away.” A season of milestones for Mackey also included
his debut as a member of the Bahamas’ senior men’s national team. In the latest window of FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers the team emerged with a dominant win over Mexico in February. He entered pro basketball following a senior season for the Northwestern Ohio Racers when he averaged 16.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game as a senior.
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In March 2019, an 18-yearold Bridgewater made history when he became the first Bahamian player to make the jump straight from high school to the professional basketball ranks when he signed a Junior Pro contract with the Byers. He spent his first season as a member of the club’s Epoirs (Junior League – U21). In 28 games, he averaged 15.7 points, 4.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. After a promising start to his second season in the U21 ranks, he was made eligible to the A roster with a call-up to participate in the LNB Pro B Leaders Cup. The team was
eliminated in the semi-finals to Nancy. At the time of his call-up, Bridgewater dominated the NM3 league at 23.7 points and 7.5 assists per game. In February, Bridgewater also made the transition from a junior national team standout to a breakout performer on the senior national team. He came off the bench to lead The Bahamas to a 76-59 win over Mexico in the latest round of FIBA Americas Qualifiers. The youngest player on the roster, Bridgewater scored 15 off the bench to lead four Bahamians in double figures.
NBA sets October 16 draft date, October 18 for free-agent talks By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer THE NBA has firmed up the schedule for what will be a hectic time for teams this fall, deciding on October 16 as the date for this year’s draft and saying clubs can begin talking to free agents two days later. The annual moratorium will begin at 12:01am EDT on October 19 and continue through noon on October 23, the league told teams on Saturday in a memo obtained by The Associated Press. As was the case last season, teams and free agents can begin negotiating six hours before the moratorium — so 6pm EDT on October 18. It could be a wildly busy few days in October for the NBA. If the schedule for the restarted season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at the Disney campus near Orlando, Florida, goes as planned, Game 7 of the NBA Finals could be held on October 13, followed by the draft three days later
and then free agency almost immediately following. By setting the draft date, the NBA also firmed up August 17 as the early entry deadline and October 6 as the early entry withdrawal dates. It’s unclear if that will change the schedule the NCAA laid out earlier this month, when it said college players would have “until 10 days after the NBA draft combine or August 3, whichever comes first” to withdraw from the postponed draft and retain their eligibility. The league also clarified the procedure for teams should any need arise to replace a player who either was excused from participating in the restart, would be protected from playing for health reasons or chose to not play. Starting July 1 and going through the end of the seeding games, expected to be August 14, substitute players can be signed to take the place of someone who falls into those categories. If a player tests positive for coronavirus after the seeding games end, teams would
still be allowed to replace them — but only with someone who has three years or less of NBA service. And if a player — excluding two-way players — refuses to participate in games at Disney, he would lose about 1.1 per cent of his salary for every game missed. That would be capped after 14 games, or roughly 15.1 per cent of the player’s contract. Players who are excused or protected from participating would not be subject to lost salary. Teams will also be able to sign players to rest-ofseason contracts, when eligible, starting Tuesday and continuing through June 30. Tuesday is also the day that the NBA enters Phase 2 of its health and safety protocols related to the resumption of the season. Among them: mandatory high-sensitivity coronavirus and antibody testing, with the virus test to be repeated every other day and the antibody test repeated only in the event of a positive virus test.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, June 22, 2020, PAGE 15
FALTERING RESTART FOR LIVERPOOL TITLE CHARGE AFTER SHUTDOWN By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool’s title charge has been slowed by the pandemic, and its attacking ruthlessness blunted. After a wait of 103 days, Jürgen Klopp’s team returned to action with a 0-0 draw at Everton yesterday as it nears the end of a 30-year title drought. It means the world champions can no longer be sure of sealing the English title with a victory against Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Liverpool can become champions with a win if Burnley does not lose at second-place defending champion Manchester City today. Liverpool lost to Watford in the penultimate Premier League match before the unexpected break in the league. But when the team is 23 points in front with eight games remaining there is hardly much to grumble about. The need to prevent the coronavirus spreading meant this was an
unusually quiet Merseyside derby with fans prohibited from Goodison Park and even the teams having to enter the field separately. Liverpool used a temporary dressing room outside the stadium so they could socially distance. “Obviously everyone didn’t know really what to expect, the whole procedure before the game and how things will go,” Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk said. “Obviously we wanted to win, we wanted to get the three points today, but we’re another step closer. We’ll try to improve every time.” That has been the message since the week before the football shutdown in March when Liverpool was also knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup. But Liverpool saw just why Everton is unbeaten at home since Carlo Ancelotti was hired. He has steered the team 11 points clear of the relegation zone which it dropped into after losing at Anfield in December in Marco Silva’s final game before being fired.
GROUND staff clean the cross bar of the goals during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, yesterday. (AP) The search for a goal on Sunday saw Joel Matip’s header go wide in the first half and Fabinho having a free kick tipped over by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford late on. Liverpool should have striker Mohamed Salah back fit for the visit of
Palace to Anfield after not being risked from the substitutes’ bench on Sunday. “After four weeks’ preseason and preparation,” Klopp said, “we cannot ignore that we play again on Wednesday.”
Pulisic, the US winger, hadn’t played for Chelsea since January 1 because of injury and then the league’s suspension. It was his sixth league goal in his first season in England, and seventh in all competitions.
SENDING A MESSAGE With the impending arrivals of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud could find game time increasingly hard to come by at Chelsea next season. They gave manager Frank Lampard a reminder of their qualities against Aston Villa. Pulisic scored five minutes after coming on as a substitute and Giroud added a second soon after, as Chelsea rallied for a 2-1 win at Villa Park to strengthen the team’s hold on fourth place. Chelsea is five points clear of Manchester United in fifth place, which will be enough to qualify for next season’s Champions League if Manchester City fails to overturn its two-year European ban.
NEWCASTLE NEARLY SAFE If Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund does eventually complete its protracted purchase of Newcastle, it will take over a club almost guaranteed to be in the Premier League next season. A 3-0 win over 10-man Sheffield United lifted Newcastle 11 points clear of the relegation zone with eight games remaining. Allan Saint-Maximin, Matt Ritchie and Joelinton scored after John Egan was sent off in the 50th minute for a second yellow card. It was Newcastle’s first game since the restart after a three-month hiatus when the club’s future was one of the big talking points. League officials are deciding whether to approve the Saudi Public Investment Fund buying an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle as part
of a takeover alongside the wealthy British-based Reuben brothers and financier Amanda Staveley. The deal is complicated by a recent ruling by the World Trade Organisation that the Saudis facilitated the bootlegging of sports broadcasts, as well as the kingdom’s human rights record. But the Saudis have now tried to offer assurances they are clamping down on the piracy. Sheffield United missed a chance to climb to fifth place. LACKLUSTRE LEEDS Surely Leeds isn’t going to have another end-of-season collapse? Marcelo Bielsa’s team played its first game of the restart in the second-tier Championship and lost 2-0 at Cardiff, leaving Leeds second on goal difference and seven points clear of third-place Fulham. There are eight games left. Leeds, out of the Premier League since 2004, looked like getting promoted last season only to lose in the playoffs after a poor run of form late in the season.
NEWCASTLE BEATS 10-MAN SHEFFIELD UNITED 3-0 AMID TAKEOVER TALKS NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Newcastle beat 10-man Sheffield United 3-0 in the Premier League yesterday to virtually guarantee its top-flight status for another year and make the club an even more attractive option for its controversial potential buyers. Newcastle capitalised on the 50th-minute sending-off of Sheffield United centre back John Egan for a second yellow card to score through Allan SaintMaximin five minutes later, Matt Ritchie in the 69th and Joelinton in the 78th. The win at an empty St James’ Park lifted Newcastle to 38 points, 11 clear of the relegation zone with eight matches remaining. The future of Newcastle has been one of the big talking points during soccer’s three-month shutdown, with Premier League
officials currently deciding whether to approve a takeover of the northeast club by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund. The deal is complicated by a recent ruling by the World Trade Organisation that the Saudis facilitated sports broadcasting piracy of rights owned by Qatar’s beIN Sports — one of the Premier League’s broadcasting partners — while others have expressed concerns about the kingdom’s human rights record. A decision on the takeover is expected in the coming weeks, by which time Newcastle might have mathematically ensured their survival and secured a fourth straight season in the lucrative top division. Sheffield United was looking for a win that would have lifted the team into fifth place, currently
a Champions League qualification spot pending Manchester City’s appeal against a two-year European ban for a serious breach of financial fair play rules. This was the visitors’ second game since the restart, after drawing 0-0 at Aston Villa on Wednesday, and the game turned on the decision to hand Egan a second booking for pulling back Joelinton as they fought to reach the ball after a long clearance by Newcastle. Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder was more unhappy about the decision to give Egan a first yellow card before halftime for some push and shove with Joelinton “Obviously the second one was a definite yellow card,” Wilder said, “but the first one it is just ridiculous.”
Five minutes later, Ritchie played a ball across the area, Sheffield United left back Enda Stevens completely missed his kick, and Saint-Maximin applied a finish at the far post past goalkeeper Dean Henderson. The winger marked the goal by kneeling and raising his right arm into the air. All players, coaches and match officials did the same after the first whistle was blown in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Ritchie added a goal of his own with a fierce strike from the edge of the area, before Joelinton made up for an embarrassing early effort — when he was clean through on goal — by sliding in to convert Miguel Almiron’s cross. It was only Joelinton’s second Premier League goal and it came 301 days after the first.
The 23-year-old Brazilian striker has been the subject of criticism this season “He’s a really genuinely good lad and he gives his all for the team,” Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said. “So once you keep doing that and you’re a team player like he is, then you’re going to get the respect of everybody. “He personally has suffered in the lockdown more than anybody. He’s had no family here, no friends, holed up in an apartment somewhere, so it’s been really, really difficult for the kid. “So I’m delighted for him because he’s a really genuinely good pro and he can only get better.” Sheffield United stayed in seventh place, two points behind fifth-place Manchester United.
SPORTS SECTION E
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020
Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller dies in hospital By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
JUSTIN Roberts, reeling in the catches from his new found fishing hobby, was excited to hear the International Tennis Federation’s announcement last week that the ITF World Tennis Tour will resume on August 3 for ladies’ events and August 17 for the men. After a day on the lake in Keller, Texas, the Bahamas’ top professional tennis player at 788 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and 416 by the ITF told The Tribune that he stepped up his training with his longtime doubles partner Jody Maginley from Antigua and American Evan Drew in anticipation of his return
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
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someone in government to at least look at him and posthumously give him what he deserves for all of the service that he gave to the country.” As a child, Miller-Green said she clearly remembers the days accompanying her grandfather to many sporting events, even at the Boys Industrial School, now the Simpson Penn School for Boys, where she saw Miller
BAHAMAS National Hall of Famer Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller passed away yesterday. providing his service or dipping into his pocket to assist those in need. “When he got ill, the people left,” she said. “Even before he died, we were trying to get the powers that be to give him
his honours while he could appreciate it. “I was trying to get him some recognition for the work that he did for others and the nation at large. He won many awards for the Bahamas, representing
to the tennis courts. “The calendar is not official yet, but while we wait on it, we are just training, trying to get better,” said the 6-foot, 0-inch Roberts, who is coming off four tournaments at the beginning of the year. Right after those tournaments, the world of sports was shut down due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. But Roberts remained in Keller (just outside of Dallas) where he rode out the crisis instead of trying to come back home. “I’ve been training hard, probably spending at least five-six hours on the court trying to improve on some things,” Roberts pointed out. “I’m looking forward to getting back out there, so I’m more than ready.”
JUSTIN Roberts enjoys a day of fishing.
WILLIS MACKEY JR TO MAKE MOVE FROM SPAIN
The 23-year-old former home-schooled student, who graduated from the University of South Florida in 2018 before he transferred to Arizona State University as a graduate student where he reunited with coach Matt Hill, played his last tournament at the M25 Las Vegas on March 2, 2020. He lost in the round of 32 in singles to American Spencer Papa 6-1, 6-3 and teamed up in the men’s doubles with Maginley, a long-time touring partner from their junior campaign. The Caribbean duo were not successful as they got eliminated in the round of 16 to the American pair of Hunter Johnson and Yates Johnson in identical scores
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN pro basketball player Willis Mackey Jr will make the move from Spain to France next season. Mackey is set to join JSA Bordeaux Métropole Basket of France’s Nationale Masculine 1 (NM1 League, the third-tier division of club basketball in the country. The two top teams from each season of the competition are promoted to the LNB Pro B, which is the French second division. Mackey recently received league-wide recognition for a standout season in Salamanca, Spain, with Aquisima Carbajosa of the Liga Española de Baloncesto Aficionado, commonly known as Liga EBA. He was named the EBA’s Eurobasket Player of the Year, Import Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and was an All-EBA 1st Team selection. Mackey led the club with 16.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He recently returned home after spending an additional three months quarantined in Spain due to COVID-19.
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the country all around the world in different areas of sports.” While he made his mark as a former boxer and coach, Miller’s legacy
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Roberts: ‘We are just training, trying to get better’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
BRIDGEWATER CLIMBING PRO BASKETBALL ‘LADDER’ IN FRANCE DOMNICK Bridgewater continues to climb the pro basketball ladder in France and was promoted for the upcoming season. Bridgewater, a member of the For-Sur-Mer Provence Byers Club, was placed on loan to Sapela Basket 13 of France’s Nationale Masculine 2 (NM2) League. It has been a seamless transition to the professional level for the 20-year-old Bridgewater after standout seasons as a member of the Byers’ Epoirs (Junior League – U21) and NM3 League teams. Jaraun “Kino” Burrows, who also returns to the Byers next season, facilitated Bridgewater’s move to the French club through his “Raw Talent” organisation which trains Bahamian pro basketball prospects. “In the continuity of partnership with our friends at the Sapela Basket 13, we are pleased to be able to
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ather’s Day was a somber one for the family of Bahamas National Hall of Famer Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller and the Bahamas Boxing Federation fraternity as one of the country’s most versatile athletes/ coaches passed away. Miller, who would have celebrated his 83rd birthday on July 20, died shortly after 2pm yesterday at the Princess Margaret Hospital after developing a heart problem. He leaves behind his children, Charles, Maria Miller-Jenoure, Latoya Stuart, Flossie Cooper, Theresa Williams, Claudia and Ricardo Miller and a host of relatives. Minerva Miller-Green, who was named after her grandmother Minerva Miller, who passed away on November 25, 2019, called on the Bahamas Government to finally give her grandfather the accolades he rightfully deserves posthumously, even though he was inducted into the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Class of 2003 for the Bahamas National Hall of Fame for his contribution to boxing and cycling. “He was an energetic, funny, charismatic person, who was always helping people. He was very sociable, even up until his death,” Miller-Green said. “He still was in love with his days as a boxer, his cycling days and his coaching services that he gave. “I personally feel that he didn’t get the amount of recognition that he deserved. I would love for
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