07012020 NEWS AND SPORT

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CASUALTIES OF COVID CRISIS

Baha Mar begins mass layoffs just as flights resume By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIANS were yesterday warned to brace for “more significant casualties” in the tourism industry as Baha Mar started laying off hundreds of workers. Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said that The Bahamas “will suffer more victims” from the COVID19 pandemic than less tourism-dependent nations as the Cable Beach mega resort yesterday informed

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

ATLANTIS has pushed its reopening back a further three weeks to July 30 to allow for what Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar described as “a bit more calm to come into an unsettled market”. Acknowledging that Atlantis’ move will “slow

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

ABUSE CASES INCREASED IN LOCKDOWN SOCIAL Services Minister Frankie Campbell said yesterday his ministry has received increased reports of domestic abuse and child abuse since the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, the minister said he could not reveal how many cases have been reported to the ministry thus far. Speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday, he SEE PAGE FOUR

TEACHING MAY HAVE TO ADAPT

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

down the inflow of visitors” that will be triggered from today with the resumption of commercial air travel and relaxation of border restrictions, Mr D’Aguilar added that The Bahamas will potentially be better positioned to combat the surge in infections in its major source market, the US.

SEE PAGE EIGHT

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

the workers it is releasing via phone calls. “It’s unfortunate that more Bahamians have become victims of this pandemic,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “I’m sure it’s disconcerting and troubling for the employees who have received termination notices. I think while it’s unfortunate it was probably expected given the decline in the tourism industry worldwide. This pandemic has affected everybody.”

ATLANTIS PLAYS SAFE AND DELAYS OPENING

ALICIA WALLACE WE’RE CHASING DOLLARS AND IT’S A BIG RISK

THE SCENE at Pink Meadows Avenue yesterday

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

24 HOURS AND TWO MORE DEAD By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net POLICE are investigating two more homicides after two men were found dead in separate incidents yesterday. A man’s body was found in St Joseph Church’s

graveyard. ASP Audley Peters said the deceased is believed to be between 40 to 45 years old and preliminary findings reveal he is a resident of the area. The man’s identity was not released. He said the body appeared to have been in the graveyard

overnight and foul play is suspected. “Shortly before 6am this morning, a male was walking through the cemetery when he came upon a body laying on the ground with severe head injuries,” ASP Peters said. SEE PAGE THREE

OFFICER CLEARED OF BEATING WOMEN By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net AN officer accused of punching two Exuma women in the face last year has been acquitted of the charges brought against him before the police disciplinary tribunal. The Tribune understands that a procedural error led the prosecution to seek to withdraw the case, at which point he was acquitted.

AALIYAH AND DEJAH Images of blood streaming from the gashed eyelid of one of the alleged

victims, Deja Laing, 19, caused anger among social media users last August. Inspector Christian Leary was subsequently interdicted by then acting Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle and disciplinary charges were brought against him. Insp Leary’s lawyer, Bjorn Ferguson, said yesterday: “The deputy commissioner is responsible

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION officials are considering class rotations and limiting faceto-face instruction between teachers and students when the new school year begins, Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd said yesterday. However, these considerations will depend on the advice from health officials to contain the spread of COVID-19, Mr Lloyd said. SEE PAGE FIVE

TECHNOLOGY

E-SCOOTERS AID TRANSPORT IN PANDEMIC

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, July 1, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Officers and marines step up to help colleague with his medical bills OFFICERS and marines from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force recently came together to financially assist a recently retired comrade with his medical bills. Chief Petty Officer Marvin Newbold was diagnosed in 2014 with a kidney disease known as glomerulonephritis. Over the years, his medical bills have increased and with him retiring from the force in February, his medical insurance was discontinued. As he waits on a kidney donor for transplant, he still

requires medical attention. The men of Entry 17 and Entry 20 each celebrated over 30 years of service with the RBDF during the past several weeks. Current and past members of those squads thought to observe their anniversaries by assisting CPO Newbold with his medical bills as they presented him with financial donations to offset his expenses. CPO Newbold was grateful for the gestures, and thanked the men for their contributions. He said whatever amount was donated would

go a long way for him, as he is still in debt. A member of Entry 17, CPO Newbold has spent over 34 years in the organisation, spending the majority of his career in the Military Operations Platoon and the Training Departments. As one of only 10 RBDF personnel to have ever successfully completed the all arms commando course, also known as the Green Beret course, in Lympstone, England in 1987, he remains the only marine seaman to accomplish this feat.

COUNCILLOR BOWE TO STEP DOWN IN GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net CHIEF councillor for East Grand Bahama District Donovan Bowe who was elected three years ago as one of the youngest to serve on the Council has resigned effective June 30. In his letter of resignation, Mr Bowe noted that lack of an administrator for the area, and “strained” communications between elected local officials and Ministry and Department of Local Government, were among some of his reasons for resigning. “Over these past several months, the work of the local district has been weighing heavily on me without the presence of a full-time administrator coupled with the existing challenges post-Dorian. The Ministry and Department of Local Government, in my estimation, have not done a sufficient job of attending to the affairs of the East Grand Bahama District,” he said. “Proper communication with elected officials in the district has been strained and has also contributed to my decision. I leave now to pursue personal and career goals as well as to rebuild my life to some semblance of normalcy…,” wrote Mr Bowe.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 1, 2020, PAGE 3

DOCTORS’ UNION FEARS FOR JUNIORS AND INTERNS By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Doctors Union yesterday raised alarm about the employment status of interns and junior doctors, claiming that over 30 interns and other junior physicians have received letters saying “that their services will no longer be required” as of today. Last night, the Public Hospitals Authority responded to the BDU in a brief statement, saying the doctors’ internships had come to an end.

“The PHA wishes to advise that the one-year internship period commenced by the interns on July 1, 2019 ends on June 30, 2020. The one-year internship arrangement is a requirement for licensure,” PHA said. PHA did not say if the doctors will be kept on after this period. Calling the move heartless and “a travesty”, the union said it was unfortunate and “incomprehensible that the goodwill and sacrifice of so many frontline physicians could be rewarded with such avarice and apathy”.

BDU said despite the challenges faced amid the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers never wavered from their commitment to care for patients. “It’s unfortunate, as a frontline worker during this entire COVID-19 pandemic many of these unsung heroes are left with no job and financial insecurities,” the union said. “The government promised that there will be no job loss as a result of this pandemic. However, the Public Hospitals Authority has indicated to doctors, plans to make some positions redundant

and not renew contracts. How is this a just reward?” In April, some 100 healthcare workers were ordered to self-isolate after they were exposed to a patient with COVID-19 on Princess Margaret Hospital’s surgical ward. Noting that some of the workers included medical interns, the union said yesterday the trainees were told by officials their internship had not been completed as a result of their forced confinement. “This is now the end of their internship period, June 30, 2020 and they are

being told that their internship is not complete due to the two weeks they were off for mandatory quarantine practices,” BDU added. “They were told that they should volunteer to work until July 13, 2020 which can be used to make up for their quarantine days with no salary guarantee during that time period—any logical thinking person would have considered this time an industrial accident.” In view of this, BDU asked of officials: “Where is the compassion? Where is their heart?” BDU continued: “This is

an example of the disconnect that exists between the Public Hospitals Authority and the government. On one hand the government has stated that they will do their best to retain jobs, however PHA has informed over 30 interns and other junior physicians that their services will no longer be required as of July 1, 2020. “These actions are a travesty and will be indelibly marked on the legacy of this administration as a failure to protect those that gave so much for The Bahamas.” Editorial View - Page 6

24 hours and two more murders from page one

“He called the police a short time later. The police arrived and EMS was called in where they pronounced the body unresponsive.” Hours later, a man was shot while fixing a vehicle yesterday afternoon on Pink Meadows Avenue off Bellot Road. On the scene, ASP Peters told reporters that shortly after 1pm police received information of a shooting incident. “Officers responded and the information we received was that a male was fixing a vehicle when he was approached by a lone gunman who shot him. The suspect got away on foot in an unknown direction,” he said. He added the victim was approximately in his 30s to early 40s. Asked if police are concerned about the recent spate of killings and shootings, ASP Peters assured the force is ensuring matters are brought to a closure and depends on members of the community providing information.

He said: “Any incident that would’ve occurred, the police would be concerned about it. What is of note is that we’re putting every effort forward to ensure that we bring matters like these to a closure as quick as possible and our success thus far has been our response from members of the community with providing the intelligence for us in getting our suspects and bringing these matters before the court.” The killings pushed the country’s murder count to 34 for the year according to this newspaper’s records. On Sunday night, a man was shot dead on his porch in Nassau Village. He was identified by relatives as 40-year-old Godfrey Sawyer. On Saturday, a two-year-old was shot by a stray bullet while in her grandmother’s arms as the two were on the front porch of the woman’s home. The child was flown to New Providence where she was last listed in critical condition. Police said two men are in custody in connection to that incident.

THE SCENE at Pink Meadows Avenue yesterday

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

Officer cleared of charges he punched two women from page one for discipline in the police force. The prosecution withdrew the charge today. When the prosecution did that, we were already deep in the trial. According to 23A of the Criminal Procedure Code, if they withdraw after the accused is called to make his defence, the court has to acquit the accused.” Mr Ferguson sued the government on behalf of his client, arguing it was unlawful for the officer to be interdicted and subjected to the machinations of the tribunal. “Our contention was that at the rank of inspector, a disciplinary tribunal wasn’t the proper procedure to interdict or try an officer,” he said. “The procedure for that is different. If there is a disciplinary issue involving an inspector, you are supposed to engage the Police Service Commission because officers at the rank of inspector and above fall under the purview of the Police Service Commission.” Commissioner Rolle declined to comment on the matter yesterday. When Insp Leary was interdicted, he received just one-half of his salary. He argued in an affidavit that he suffered significant

economic loss and hardship as a consequence. “I have several monthly expenses in respect of myself and my 17-year-old son such as a mortgage with Bank of The Bahamas (for my home), an outstanding loan at (BLECU), school fees, utilities such as electricity, water, cable, internet, telephone, gas (vehicle and home), groceries and other miscellaneous expenditures,” the 38-yearold officer said. Mr Ferguson said his client will now receive back pay. “It was always his contention that he did not breach any of the disciplinary rules,” he said. “He was acting in good faith and in the execution of his duties. What happened wasn’t as was displayed in the media. He will now be able to return to active duty and they will now have to pay him his salary back.” Insp Leary was accused of four major offences: two counts of use of unnecessary violence to a person in the execution of duty and two counts of conduct of a major nature which is contrary to discipline, good order and guidance of the RBPF. He was accused of punching Ms Laing and Aaliyah Bain, 20, while they

DEJAH Laing’s gashed eye and, inset, Ms Laing and Aaliyah Bain were travelling home from the Rolleville Homecoming Festival and Regatta. In an emotional interview with The Tribune, Ms Laing admitted that she

did not readily comply with the officer’s demand that she get out of her vehicle, citing concern for his aggression and discourteous demeanour. She alleged

that she was punched five times in her face. Ms Bain said she accompanied Ms Laing to the police station because she was concerned about

leaving her friend in the company of men. “I went with her in the police car because I didn’t want her there with three male officers and while I was in the car I was speaking freely, saying ‘y’all wrong, ya’ll wrong, how y’all could do this to a female who way smaller than y’all.’ That’s when the guy who was driving literally turn back and punch me in my mouth three times, directly in my face. My face was bruised, my lip has a cut under it and my teeth is cracked in the back,” she alleged. The women faced no charges.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, July 1, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

CAMPBELL: ABUSE CASES INCREASED IN LOCKDOWN from page one

told reporters: “I’ve heard of increased numbers. Specifically, I can’t give those numbers to you because you would appreciate that those matters would be reported predominantly to the police and then our people would get involved. “But my information

is that there have been increased matters of domestic violence, child abuse and that kind of thing.” Asked yesterday about the ministry’s plans to assist those affected individuals, Mr Campbell said officials were working with numerous agencies. He said: “Well, we have the good fortune of working with a good number

of NGOs along with the Department of Gender and Family (Affairs) and so our people kick into action automatically and they do what they do. We are responsive whenever we hear of a matter and we do cross collaborate with the law enforcement officers, so we are a part of those inquiries.” Last month, three people

were charged in two separate cases of child cruelty in the Magistrate’s Court. Among them was a 23-yearold woman, who was sentenced to three months in prison after she admitted to beating her boyfriend’s son with a belt. In response to the incidents, Mr Campbell urged parents and guardians not to “cross the line from

disciplining to abusing” children. He told reporters last month: “We’ve always and continued to admonish parents, guardians, persons with responsibility to not cross the line from disciplining to abusing and so the Ministry of Social Services does not support in any way form or fashion in a matter of fact we condemn any

child abuse. We know that these are tough times and we invite parents or guardians to seek assistance. The Department of Social Services offers assistance and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health we offer counselling. We have parenting classes and so seek assistance but for God’s sake don’t take it out on the children.”

and those who visit our shores that it is mandatory within The Bahamas to wear facial masks and wear it properly and, should they not, it’s a fine of $200 or one month in prison or both… I want to inform this Parliament and country that Cabinet has just recently agreed one hour ago to the establishment of a COVID enforcement unit where individuals will be traversing not only New Providence but the entire Bahamas aided or assisted by the police force and relevant agencies.” On Monday, Attorney

General Carl Bethel apologised after his office failed to deliver a resolution extending Dr Minnis’ emergency orders in time for last week’s sitting of the House of Assembly, causing the Governor General’s original proclamation of emergency to end at midnight. The Governor General nonetheless signed a new proclamation of emergency on Monday evening in time for the COVID-19 curfew and restrictions to remain in place when the previous proclamation expired.

No lapse in state of emergency, says Minnis By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis tabled Governor General CA Smith’s new proclamation of emergency orders in the House of Assembly yesterday and stressed there has been no discontinuity in the enforcement of his COVID-19 emergency regulations. “Many individuals who would’ve felt that the lockdown and emergency orders may not have been in place yesterday, I want to reassure them there was no breakdown in the continuity of the orders,” he said. However, when opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis tried to comment on the tabling of the order, he was denied the chance to do so, prompting fury and shouts from opposition members and FNM Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine. House Speaker Halson Moultrie demanded that Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin withdraw from the chamber for “creating a disturbance and using unparliamentary language”. Although he beckoned to an officer, Mrs Hanna Martin remained in

the chamber until the sitting was suspended for the day. Meanwhile, Dr Minnis said he will address COVID-19 more substantially in a future parliamentary speech. He revealed that Atlantis has delayed its opening until July 30, due to rising cases in the United States. The nation’s leader also spoke out against business establishments who have been visibly disregarding social distancing rules. “I do not want to call any restaurant or nightclubs’ names but that particularly nightclub in the east know whom I’m speaking about and be assured if we see that happening again what has happened just recently they will be be dealt with properly and the same message goes out to restaurants in the west,” he said. “I need not call their names but they know one is east of me and one is west of me and I live (in) Tropical, so one is to my left and one is to my right and if they continue to behave in that manner they too will be closed because we will not tolerate breaking our laws to place our citizens in danger, our healthcare system in danger and

possibly collapse of our entire healthcare system where individuals with simple headaches will not be able to see a simple doctor because we are utilising all our systems to deal with COVID matters and individuals who break our laws be it for money, greed or anything else, we will deal with them appropriately.” Even though a COVID19 curfew remains in place, the country is pressing forward with the resumption of international travel today as COVID-19 cases surge in the United States. The European Union, which is moving towards its reopening, has banned travellers from the US. “We’re all aware of what’s happening in the United States of America,” Dr Minnis said. “We’re seeing many states’ surge continue, infections continue, hospitals are being maximised to the state of being overran and should that happen here you could imagine or recognise that this particular time, especially our Family Islands as COVID-free, we must do everything in our powers to ensure that don’t happen in The Bahamas.” He again urged Bahamians to wear masks.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis “I want to point out that Bahamians must understand the great significance of wearing a mask… and in fact we now see that many states within the US and countries are making the wearing of masks mandatory and in fact, like we have, are introducing fines and one particular state has introduced a fine as high as $1,000 if masks are not worn. It’s essential to wear these as they protect not only the individual but all those around them also. “We’re taking this matter very, very serious and we continue to ask our people

EU EXCLUDES BAHAMAS FROM LIST SOME RESIDENTS ARE HAPPY TO OF COUNTRIES ALLOWED TO VISIT TRAVEL - OTHERS NOT SO SURE By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas has been left off the list of countries whose residents are allowed to travel to the European Union when the bloc opens its borders to international travel today. Due to a spike in COVID19 cases in the United States, America has also been left off the list of 15 travel partners allowed entry. It is unclear why The Bahamas, which was not recorded a new case in more than 14 days and has only had a handful of active cases, has been left off the list, however the EU said the recommendations would be reviewed every two weeks. Meanwhile, six flights from the US are set to arrive in The Bahamas today when international travel resumes. There are several outbound flights as well. Coordinator of the COVID-19 task force Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis was asked about the EU not allowing US travellers while this country will welcome visitors from that country. She deferred questions to the Office of the Prime Minister, but did say the situation is being monitored. “I think you should speak with OPM as that’s where the final decisions come from,” she responded. “But

we will be monitoring the situation very carefully and have put in place indicators to determine what is the risk of letting people in.” The first flights expected into Lynden Pindling International Airport will come from New York, Colorado, Florida, Texas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina and Canada. Florida alone has 146,341 confirmed cases with 14,354 people hospitalised. USA Today reported that travellers from 15 countries will be welcomed to the EU, including Canada, South Korea and Australia but not the United States. “Americans will not be allowed to travel to European Union countries when the bloc opens up to international visitors July 1, the European Council announced Tuesday,” the news source reported. “But those from the US and many other nations will be barred as too risky because of spiking coronavirus cases in their home countries. Chinese travelers will be allowed to visit if that country’s government confirms a policy of reciprocity, the council’s announcement said.” Dr Dahl-Regis said passengers will be monitored carefully and The Bahamas will have to hope for the best. “Where we are now, we will monitor the passengers,” she continued. “We hope to identify, early, if

anything like that happens and respond immediately and hope for the best.” USA Today said the EU’s criteria “used to decide whether to lift pandemic travel restrictions were based on the epidemiological situation and containment measures in each country” including social distancing, as well as economic and social considerations. “Tuesday’s decree will not apply to travel to Britain, which left the EU in January. Britain now requires all incoming travellers – barring a few exceptions, like truck drivers – to enter a self-imposed 14-day quarantine, although the measure is under review and is likely to ease in the coming weeks. The requirement also applies to UK citizens,” the report said. EU officials have said the decision to ban US travellers has nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with high numbers of COVID-19 cases. The EU has said its recommendations are not legally binding and should be reviewed every two weeks. The full list of countries approved for EU travel include: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. China is also on the list subject to confirmation of reciprocity.

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net

WHILE some Bahamians are ready to take a trip abroad after several months of the country’s borders being closed, others are hesitant to travel overseas due to rising COVID-19 cases in some parts of the world. Paulette Culmer says she plans to travel to Florida as soon as she gets some time off work. “Well, how I look at it is they beat down in our heads to wear masks and wash our hands to keep safe,” Ms Culmer said. “So if we are going to a state where a million people might have the coronavirus then we should be safe if we continued to wear masks and wash hands. “Bahamians clearly know how to keep safe. We have low numbers and few deaths from this virus so all we have to do when we go abroad is to just continue doing whatever we were doing when we were at home. As for me, the minute I convince my boss to give me some days off, I will be on Bahamasair and out of here, Miami bound.” Some Bahamians though are still sceptical about flying off to other countries that have high COVID-19 positive numbers. “I will not be the one to

travel at this time,” said Thelma Walkine. “I have no desire to go away and risk my life to COVID-19. This is my family’s time for travelling to New York. We visit the city every summer and then fly off to other destinations from there. We will forego our trip this year to be safe. “We can control our safety so we choose not to travel at this time to be safe. What I am concerned about, however, is our borders being opened and the ‘free-for-all’ starting for all and sundry to come here. I don’t think that was a good decision. We have been doing very well as a small nation keeping our numbers down. Dr Duane Sands (former minister of health) and his team did a fantastic job in keeping us safe when they got a handle on things. Why at this time should we mess up all their good work by letting all these people in from the United States where they have admitted COVID-19 is out of control?” Flights from Houston, Florida, Colorado, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland and Canada are expected in today. Several of these cities from where these flights originate are seeing serious spikes in COVID-19 cases. Donna Williams said she does not plan to travel overseas anytime soon. “I am not going a step,”

she said. “We been locked down for months and I am used to it. I now have a garden of vegetables which I will be catering to this summer. The prime minister said you should consider not travelling if it’s not essential. Shopping is not essential and Bahamians need to learn that. I am following the advice of the prime minister. I will be enjoying The Bahamas this summer. Home is where the heart is. I am not going one step.” For Dale Curry, taking her children to Florida is a must. She said they look forward to it every year and she is not going to deprive them of the trip. “We go to Florida in July every year,” said Ms Curry. “I am not going to let COVID-19 stop that. The Lord has not given me a spirit of fear. So we are going to let the first two weeks pass so the big rush can go by and then we will be heading to Miami. “Some people will call me foolish but we are covered by God’s grace. We will go to Miami and we will not get sick. I shop for school supplies and food and snacks every July and December and I will not stop that tradition for anything.” The arrival and departure of international flights comes after the restart of domestic flights a few weeks ago.

THE TRIBUNE By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas (UB) will seek to find “the most qualified candidate” to replace president Dr Rodney Smith, Education Minister Jeff Lloyd said yesterday after it was revealed the president will not renew his contract at the institution, which expires in August 2022. His comments come after UB’s board of trustees confirmed in a press statement on Monday that Dr Smith will no longer be heading the university when his contract expires in two years. UB officials also said Dr Smith had already begun seeking employment opportunities elsewhere, noting there was a possibility he may leave before his contract expires should an opportunity present itself and he accepts it. “Accordingly, the board of trustees will establish and convene a presidential search committee to lead the process of selecting a president to succeed Dr Smith. The university community will be advised regarding the search process involving stakeholder representatives and timelines in short order,” UB officials said. The announcement came after reports circulated online over the weekend, revealing that the UB president was among three finalists shortlisted to become the West Virginia State University’s 12th president.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020, PAGE 5

Smith to step down from UB in 2022

Speaking about the matter yesterday, Mr Lloyd told reporters that he was surprised to learn about Dr Smith’s upcoming departure from UB. However, he maintained that despite this “turn of events”, officials have a plan in place, one that will be executed in the best interests of the institution. “Well first of all, that’s a bit of surprise certainly to me at this turn of events,” he said ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. “The impact naturally is going to be whatever impact that they have whenever you’re transitioning to one as it were administration to another and or in particular, individuals such as a president to another. “But we will respond, and the board is now exercising its requirement in terms of searching for a replacement. UB has a plan and that plan will be executed and it will be administered in respective of who the personality is in that particular position

although each personality has his or her strengths and weaknesses and amenities and great benefits.” Saying he wished Dr Smith nothing but the best in his future endeavours, Mr Lloyd said he was grateful for the president’s contributions in helping to advance the university. He said: “President Smith and his team (have) done an extraordinary job in reconciling and bringing certain order and discipline to its operations, finances, HR in particular and it’s well on its way to becoming a university. It’s got a number of graduate programmes and I’m very proud of the work that the board under the leadership of Dr Johnny Rodgers and President Rodney Smith has done. “Wherever he goes, I’m sure he will carry the same capabilities and demeanour of excellence that he has demonstrated here at UB.” Asked yesterday about prospective presidential candidates, the South Beach MP said officials

will search for “the most qualified candidate” that is in the best interests of UB students. “We will be replacing him with the most qualified candidate that according to the board and the government of The Bahamas (is) the most qualified (and) what is in the best interests of the students who attend the University of the Bahamas,” he said. “That is what’s most important to me as the minister and this government - what is in the best interests of the students that attend the University of The Bahamas, what is in the best interest of the students of the commonwealth of the Bahamas period. That’s the driving and guiding principle on that jurisdiction.” Dr Smith was president of the College of the Bahamas until he resigned in 2005 amid controversy over a plagiarism scandal. He was selected to replace COB’s former president, Dr Betsy Boze, in 2014 and has served at the head of the institution ever since and oversaw its transition into a university.

UB President Dr Rodney Smith and, inset left, Education Minister Jeff Lloyd

Teaching may have to adapt from page one This includes enforcing social distancing guidelines and other hygiene requirements recommended by health officials, he said. However, the minister said nothing has been finalised as discussions are still ongoing. Speaking to reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday, the South Beach MP said: “You can expect that if the health authorities continue to issue mandates as they have been previously, of course, naturally so (such as) physical distancing and other hygienic requirements then yes, the operations of school in 2020/21 is going to change. “We’re looking at several options at the moment. Naturally, school in the face-to-face instruction will not be the same. So therefore, some form of blended engagement is going to be required. What does that mean and how does that manifest itself? I’m not so sure at the moment. But, we are aggressively looking at it and also consulting with our stakeholders but it does certainly require that if we are going to maintain physical distance of six feet and if we are going to be fair to the citizens of our country, the students in particular, then some form of rotation, shifts or

whatever you want to call it is going to have to be implemented. “And when I say blended, it means that some face-toface only a part of the day, a part of the week along with the virtual engagement, the virtual school which was excellently administered over the past several months during COVID.” In March, the government mandated the closure of schools after the country recorded its first COVID19 case, resulting in many local institutions shifting to online classes to allow students to continue their studies at home. However, after schools closed, several private schools sent out notices to parents demanding outstanding school fees be paid despite thousands being laid off due to the COVID19 pandemic. Asked if the ministry was prepared to see an influx of students in the public system due to the economic uncertainty of COVID-19, Mr Lloyd said yes. He also said the government will be providing financial assistance to schools negatively impacted by the pandemic. “That means additional financial support,” he said yesterday. “That support is going to take the form of, I believe, at least two applications. One, an immediate injection potentially

RE-OPENING DATES FOR DAY CARE CENTRES AND PRE-SCHOOL BEGINNING July 16, all registered pre-schools and day care centres will be allowed to reopen, according to the Ministry of Education. These facilities are allowed open for the purpose of sanitation from June 29 until July 5. On July 6, all pre-schools and day-care centres, registered under the law, are permitted to commence student registration. On July 13, all pre-schools and day-care centres will receive new guidelines for operation. These will be in accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines for

for these facilities inclusive of measures provided by health authorities and environmental health sanitation guidelines. Those requiring further information are invited to contact the Pre-School and Day Care Centre Office at 394-4831/2, from 8am–4pm on weekdays. The guidelines established for the re-opening of private independent pre-schools and day care centres will be available for review as of July 13 on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page and website: ministryofeducationbahamas.com.

MR KEVIN COLLIE: AN APOLOGY IN AN Editorial published in The Tribune on June 25 we incorrectly stated Mr Kevin Collie recorded an offensive song about former Prime Minister Perry Christie. We would like to make clear Mr Collie was neither the author nor singer of

the song. He was unlawfully detained by police in relation to the matter before another person was identified as being responsible for the recording. We would like to apologise to Mr Collie for our error and any distress the Editorial caused.

to assist those who have struggled as a result of non-payment of fees or whatever else and they have to maintain their staff and possible increases in subvention for those schools who again demonstrate that their circumstance requires government’s assistance in that regard.” Recognising the significant role the private sectors plays in education, Mr Lloyd added: “Listen, we recognise and value and

accept the system cannot operate efficiently without the contribution of the private sector. That’s a given. We do not in the Ministry of Education have the physical space to absorb 70-plus thousands of students. “Right now, we have 46 (thousand) and the rest of it is in the private sector so we naturally need to have the private sector play a role and the government needs to support it. To what form that support will take, as I

indicated, it could also be in terms of one time injection as well as increase of subvention and that subvention this year is the total of some $15m.” The minister was also asked yesterday for an update on school repairs in Abaco, which was devastated by Hurricane Dorian last year. He replied: “Patrick Bethel is probably not going to be ready. It’s no chance for Patrick Bethel to be ready (due) to extensive damage.”

“Number two, the contractor has only been engaged now for approximately a month and the work that is needed to be done, no way it is going to be ready. All the other schools, yes, we are very hopeful, and we expect that will be. “Central Abaco Primary is going to be ready and they are well about 90 percent on the way so we only have 10 percent to cover in the next two months.”

PAGE 6, Wednesday, July 1, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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Country opens, but resorts stay closed TODAY is the day. The first commercial flights from the US and Canada will be touching down today, ending the border closure put in place to protect us from COVID-19. The decision to allow travel from the US is not one shared elsewhere – the European Union is not allowing US travellers as yet. The reason is simple, the number of coronavirus infections that are still skyrocketing in our near neighbour. Travel from The Bahamas is not allowed yet either – despite our lack of cases. That might be reviewed in the coming weeks – but a lot rides on whether the visitors we welcome in brings a spike in cases here. On the same day as those planes touch down, we also report today on the first wave of layoffs beginning at Baha Mar, with between 1,200 and 1,300 people potentially losing their jobs. Added to that is a delay by Atlantis in its opening – until July 30. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday that as a result of the infections in the US, Atlantis “decided that it will be best that they delay their opening”. Dr Minnis also spoke about tough measures with the establishment of a COVID-19 enforcement unit, that would ensure everyone complies with the law, no matter where they are from. “If they are in violation, they will be dealt with,” he said. That may be, but one change is already being made after pressure from the tourism industry. Anyone coming into the country previously had to present a negative test from the past seven days – but now children under ten won’t have to.

The science on children catching COVID-19 is mixed. One study at the University of Queensland in Australia found that children were the initial infection source in about eight percent of households, while another study in New South Wales found only 0.23 percent of staff and students at schools in close contact with a patient contracted the virus. As with many things with this new virus, the science is still figuring things out – but there does seem to be some transmission from children rather than no transmission. For family-friendly venues, there is the obvious concern in attracting parents bringing their children on holiday weighed against the risk that some of those children might spread the virus at the resort. The decision by Atlantis to delay its opening may slow down the number of such visits – people won’t come if they have no place to stay – but it remains a concern. There are no easy solutions in this balancing of economy against health – but as we urge people to take every safety measure, we should be careful not to ease those measures too much for the sake of money. The sight of Baha Mar and Atlantis – two big engines in our economy – putting their feet on the brakes instead of the accelerator as the country reopens is a reminder of the high stakes involved. We hope and pray that in two weeks, we do not see a sudden spike in cases brought on by these new arrivals. Until then, it cannot be said enough – wear a mask, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, and keep your distance.

Be fair to interns THE situation involving interns and junior doctors that we report today is a very odd one. More than 30 interns and junior physicians reportedly received letters saying their services will no longer be required. The Public Hospitals Authority very briefly said that the doctors’ internships had come to an end. Now, with the Budget reducing the amount of money directed towards health, perhaps some departures are not a surprise. A regret, but not a surprise. However, some of these physicians – who let us not forget have been on the frontline during this pandemic – have apparently been told their internships have not been completed. Completing the internship is, as the PHA also points out, a requirement for licensure. So why did some of these medics not complete their required

internship? In April, around 100 healthcare workers were ordered to selfisolate after being exposed to a patient with COVID-19 at Princess Margaret Hospital. The union says some of these trainees didn’t complete their internship because they were required to confine themselves for two weeks. This is very odd, to say the least, with the union saying the medics were told to do voluntary work until mid-July to make up for the time they were protecting the health of others by staying in isolation. The union calls it a travesty. If true, it is hard to disagree. Surely some arrangement can be made to keep these medics on track. There has often been talk about trying to ensure there are places in the healthcare system for the next generation of doctors – let’s make sure we don’t close the door on them before they even get started.

Don’t let motorbike riders spoil it for all EDITOR, The Tribune AT ABOUT 4.30 this afternoon, at least four trail bikes were observed tearing up and down the road inside the Montagu Park that runs parallel to the beach. The ignorant riders were popping wheelies and endangering the people in the area. A group of perhaps 12 men were clustered under some trees with beers and other beverages in their hands, observing the show, creased up together.

Children and law-abiding citizens were enjoying the water, delighted to finally be at the beach. This is a plea to the police to post a number of officers at the park and arrest anyone who is driving in a dangerous and reckless manner. Put them before the courts. Ban motorbikes from the strip. It would be most unfair to close the park and the beach and punish everyone who has waited for so long and obeyed the law because of a few

miscreants. I don’t think people can take any more of being cooped up in this hot weather and they should not have to be because of these hooligans. Recently, we lost a beautiful young girl to a shooting and a toddler is in ICU after being shot. Will another child or innocent person be injured or even lose their life because of these lawless people? M. JOHNSON Nassau June 30, 2020

Time to think of our children EDITOR, The Tribune SOME have said that your opinion of the Andros project should be reserved until all that is proposed comes out. This sounds like the doctor who, when getting you ready for a colonoscopy, says, “This won’t hurt. I’ll give you a sedative and you’ll sleep through the whole procedure and when you wake up all will be done.” No, that’s not good enough. It has already been said that they propose mining the land for rock in the fresh water lens. This is not acceptable. So let’s start there. Rock mined from fresh water is far more valuable than rock mined from salt water. But in order to get this, the fresh water table must be punctured. Andros is known for its fresh water. Andros is called the breadbasket of The Bahamas. Once that lens is broken, generations of Bahamians yet unborn will no longer be able to grow their crops and till the land. When the rock has been mined and sold abroad, most, if not all, of the profits will go abroad and Bahamians will be left with barren land. Look at the land in the United States where strip mining has been done. Not even wild animals can live on it. Is this what we want

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net to leave to our children? Nothing! Barren land!! Our great grandchildren will say, “Our forefathers were greedy, short-sighted and foolish!” They say that some of the fresh water lens has already been contaminated. If this is so, there can only be two reasons: a hurricane has washed salt water into the lens or, someone has deliberately ruptured the lens. If the contamination is caused by a hurricane, the salt will eventually evaporate and return the area to fresh water. If someone has deliberately ruptured the lens, the law should be applied, and those responsible should be brought to justice. The proposal bothers me. In many ways it seems to be a carbon copy of other proposals. It’s not novel but seems to show up more often recently. We give away hundreds of thousands of acres to investors. In return, the very few local investors who participate are wellknown, very influential, and powerful people. As soon as this happens everything is granted. Is this a part of the play? I hope not, although it has been quite successful in the past. I sent a copy of my recent

article on Andros to a friend of mine in Europe who has dealt with these kinds of investments in several countries all over the world. She wrote: “Communist China’s m/o is classic and successful. In Africa and Latin America, China finances and implements huge infrastructure projects.” She went on to say, “The Chinese communist implementers (including intelligence operatives) stay. The borrowers default on the loans and have to allow more Communist Chinese incursions.” She concluded by saying: “Communist Chinese economic sway equals political sway”. Do we remember Hong Kong? Let me point out I have nothing against the Chinese people. They are some of the finest people I have ever known. I do, however, have a problem with any Communist government. It is contrary to our way of life and we should not let them get in a position of political and economic influence here. Let’s think a little bit beyond our noses. Let’s think of our children and grandchildren. What are we leaving for them? Next part of the proposal, please. Let’s take it one step at a time. PIERRE V L DUPUCH Former MP, June 28, 2020

Deal with shortcomings EDITOR, The Tribune DURING the last few weeks, following the white police officer killing of African American George Floyd, there has been a blizzard of posts on local social and news media with regard to racial inequality in the Bahamas with crusaders and lunatics alike, thankfully non-violent, coming out in imitation of our neighbours to the north. To gratify their newly discovered sense of outrage over perceived racial injustices in our society today, their solution is to tear down some historical statues, sanitize portions of our early and Colonial era history that they are uncomfortable with, and call for the defunding and demobilization of our law enforcement agencies in sympathy with the BLM movement abroad. While some of these agencies

are badly in need of their bad apples and corruption being weeded out, they are still necessary to preserve what little of civil society we have remaining. The last two weeks in The Bahamas have seen a seventy-nine-year-old Haitian grandmother chopped to death by a cutlass wielding teenager, a tenyear-old school girl killed in a drive by shooting, a forty-year-old man shot to death while standing in front of his mother on her porch and two days ago, a two-year-old girl shot and critically injured while held in the supposed safety of her grandmother”s arms. Not one iota of sympathy or outrage has been forthcoming from our posturing local BLM zealots and bandwagon politicians. Where are the protestations and demonstrations over these victims, or are the loss of a few locals lives

not worthy of our anger? Yes, black lives do matter, all lives matter regardless of whether they are lost to white supremacist hate crimes abroad, black on black criminal acts or police brutality here at home. No lives lost to race, gender discrimination or criminal violence should be acceptable in civilized society. However, we need to confront and deal with The Bahamas’ own social shortcomings, which for the most part have nothing to do with racial discrimination. Rather class, economics and lack of education resulting in poverty, crime and social disintegration. We need to address some of these issues before involving ourselves in those of our neighbours and the world at large. JOHN ANTHONY Nassau, June 30, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 1, 2020, PAGE 7

MAN ADMITS ATTACK ON HIS CHILD’S MOTHER By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was ordered to pay $800 in compensation to his child’s mother after he admitted to harming her during a domestic dispute earlier this week. Ray Sands appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after he was accused of stabbing the mother of his child with a pair of scissors on June 28. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to compensate the woman $800 for her injuries. If he fails to do so, he will spend three months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The court heard that the woman got in an argument with the defendant around 1pm that day. At the time, she told police that she was holding her three-week-old baby when the defendant slapped her face. She said when she tried to leave the room, the accused stopped her from doing so and choked her. When she finally managed to leave the room, she looked for an object to hit the defendant with. Still, when she returned she discovered that the man had locked the door. During the altercation, the woman claimed she was stabbed with a pair of scissors, causing

her injuries. As a result of her complaint, the defendant was arrested. During an interview with police, he admitted to being in a physical altercation with the complainant. The prosecution also noted that a hospital form indicated that the woman suffered penetrating wounds on her back and neck. When given an opportunity to speak, the defendant told the magistrate that he and the woman were talking about something when the argument started. He claimed that the disagreement escalated and the woman got a cutlass so he locked himself in the room.

The accused also said that the complainant broke the door down. “I glance (at) a scissors on the drawer,” he said. “I didn’t swing with no aim, I just tried to defend myself.” He added that when he tried to leave, the complainant’s brother came into the room and held him down so that the woman could “chap” him. He claimed that he was lucky to get out of the house alive. Before passing sentence, Magistrate McKinney asked the defendant how he could claim the woman was coming at him if her medical report indicated that she was attacked from

behind. He also noted that if a person suffered injuries on their back and neck the “reasonable conclusion” would be that the person was moving away from somebody and not approaching them. As a result, he ordered the defendant to compensate the complainant for her injuries. The man was also bound to keep the peace with his child’s mother for one year. Magistrate McKinney also warned the defendant that if he trespassed on the woman’s property or showed up at her place of work, he would be fined $500 or spend three months in prison.

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE UPGRADED TO MURDER

Sent to prison for ATM scam By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 35-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to 16 months in prison yesterday after he admitted to defrauding three men by depositing empty envelopes to their bank accounts through ATM transactions to deceitfully remove cash from their accounts. Jackson Colebrooke also known as “John Doe” appeared before Magistrate Sandradee Gardiner charged with three counts of fraud by false pretences, three counts of attempted fraud by false pretences and two counts of deceiving a public officer. He pleaded guilty to all of the charges and was sentenced to one year and four months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Colebrooke is accused of fraudulently obtaining $500 cash from Treyvaneo Carey’s Royal Bank of Canada account on May 25. He was also accused of attempting to obtain $600 cash from RBC’s Carmichael Road branch that same day. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two months at BDCS for count one and one year at the correctional facility for count two. Prosecutor Kenny Thompson said Mr Carey was at RBC Carmichael conducting an ATM transaction when Colebrooke approached him and asked him if he could deposit a cheque for him. Colebrooke then deposited an envelope into the ATM machine using Mr Carey’s account before withdrawing $500 and running away. Sgt McKenzie said a short time later, Mr Carey received a

call from RBC personnel informing him that a $600 transaction on his account was reversed since the envelope deposited to his account was empty. According to the prosecution, Colebrooke committed the same crime 10 days prior when he fraudulently obtained $480 from Doyle Forbes’ RBC account on May 15. The prosecution said Colebrooke attempted to obtain $600 from RBC’s Carmichael Road branch that same day. After pleading guilty to these offences, Colebrooke was sentenced to two months in prison for count one and one year at BDCS for count two. Sgt Thompson said Mr Forbes was at the bank when he was approached by a short, dark-skinned man who asked for help. He said the man then asked Mr Forbes if he could deposit a cheque on his account for him, before withdrawing $480 and giving Mr Forbes $50. Colebrooke is further accused of obtaining another $550 from Randal Richardson’s RBC account by means of false pretences on June 22. The prosecution said he attempted to obtain $600 from RBC Prince Charles that same day. The court heard that Mr Richardson was at RBC Prince Charles when Colebrooke approached him and asked him if he could deposit a cheque to his account. At the time, Colebrooke told Mr Richardson that he had two cheques, but only one envelope was at the ATM machine. Sgt McKenzie said when Mr Richardson allowed Colebrooke to use his account, he withdrew $550 and gave

Mr Richardson $50 before leaving. As a result of the complaints filed, an investigation was launched. This led to Colebrooke’s arrest, who told police his name was Tavarus Jackson when he was first taken into custody. During an interview with police, he admitted to all of the offences and was subsequently charged. Yesterday, Colebrooke pleaded guilty to the last four charges and was sentenced 16 months in prison for fraud and attempted fraud and one month each for deceiving two police officers. All of his sentences were ordered to run concurrently. When given an opportunity to speak during the hearing, Colebrooke begged the magistrate for leniency and claimed that he was willing to pay back everyone he defrauded “within a timeframe”. “I apologise for what I’ve done to those people,” he said. In response, Magistrate Gardiner told Colebrooke that she found it “egregious” that he deceived people who were trying to assist him and noted that in their efforts to help him, the men were deprived of their hard-earned money. She also noted that the defendant was convicted of four counts of fraud by false pretences in February and stated that she did not believe he learnt his lesson. Magistrate Gardiner added that Colebrooke was a “menace to society,” and said it appeared as if he went on a crime spree because he got away with the act the first time and felt he could keep doing it.

22-YEAR-OLD PLEADS GUILTY TO CARD FRAUD

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 22-YEAR-OLD, man, who was accused of possessing fraudulent Bahamian documents, was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday. OcNeal Box appeared before Magistrate Sandradee Gardiner charged with two counts each of possession of forged documents and uttering the same. The prosecution said Box attempted to present a fraudulent National Insurance Board smart card and Bahamian driver’s licence to a NIB fraud officer on June 26. The court heard that on the day in question, Box went to the Thompson Robinson National Stadium and presented himself to NIB officials facilitating cheque distributions there. Sgt McKenzie said when Jemma Hepburn, a fraud officer for NIB, ran Box’s smart card through the system no picture came up. As a result, she asked Box if he could present additional identification to verify his identity. Box then gave Ms

OCNEAL BOX, left, and Daniel Box yesterday Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Hepburn a Bahamian driver’s licence. Prosecutor Kenny Thompson said Ms Hepburn inspected both cards and suspected they were inauthentic since the photos on them were of “dull quality.” When she questioned Box, he admitted that he had bought the cards for $450 from an “unknown Caucasian male” who he was introduced to by a friend. During the hearing, Box pleaded guilty and the matter was adjourned to today for sentencing. The defendant’s brother,

Daniel Box, also appeared before Magistrate Sandradee Gardiner, charged with unlawful possession. He was accused of being in possession of 17 gold rings, eight gold earrings, one silver earring and one gold watch, which officers suspected were stolen since he could not give a satisfactory account for how he received the items. During his hearing, Daniel Box denied the allegation and the matter was adjourned to September 22 for trial before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

Yesterday, Tevin Wallace, 27, also appeared before Magistrate McKinney after he was accused of threatening to kill his neighbour on June 26. He pleaded guilty and was bound to keep the peace for six months. If he fails to do so he will be fined $500 or spend one month in prison. During the hearing, he was represented by attorney Ian Cargill. He told the magistrate that the neighbours had an argument and they both threatened one another. Still, he claimed that his client did not feel the need to report the matter to the police.

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

COLEBROOKE yesterday

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

A 26-YEAR-OLD man had his attempted murder charge upgraded to murder yesterday. Farron Palmer appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney charged with the death of Jaron Thompson on March 28. Palmer was initially charged with attempted murder in April; however, the charge was upgraded to murder after the victim died. During the hearing, Palmer was not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to August 11 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until trial.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, July 1, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

We know opening the borders just doesn’t add up: we’re chasing the dollars and it’s a big risk

IS THIS freedom? Beaches and parks, gyms and spas, places of worship, and businesses are now open. The requirements are different from what we expected. Masks do not have to be worn during exercise. They must be worn to enter and exit gyms and beaches, but not for the duration of the stay. There are to be no gathering of more than five people on beaches and parks. It is not clear why five is the magic number, or why it would be

The

Alicia Wallace column safe to be in close proximity to people from different households at this time. While the risk might have been lower because we have successfully flattened

the curve and reduced the spread of COVID-19, it is sure to increase in due time. The borders are now open to commercial flights.

People all over the world, including Americans, have been waiting to be able to go somewhere else — almost anywhere else — for a vacation for months. Visitors are sure to come to The Bahamas, where we have put in the work to protect public health, but does it make sense to risk that for the US dollar? On Friday, Florida reported 8,942 new cases of COVID-19. More than 13 percent of new tests were positive. This is just one state, and it is the one closest to us. Most visitors to The Bahamas come from the US. It is not difficult to imagine a person with COVID-19 coming here and spreading the virus. It can easily happen, especially since all visitors need to do is present the results of test taken within the seven days prior to travel. Seven days is more than enough time to contract the virus, and we have already established there are asymptomatic carriers. Someone can take the test on Monday, contract the virus on Thursday, and be in The Bahamas strolling the beach mask-free, dining in a popular restaurant and playing black jack on Saturday. This is the risk authorities have chosen to take, and we need to be aware of it rather than taking relaxation of restrictions to mean we can safely go back to normal. Let’s be clear: We are taking a risk It seems the government has decided that, since COVID-19 is not going away before a vaccine is introduced and most people have received it, it makes sense to bring in some US dollars while we can. However the important the tourism industry may currently be, this is a risk and we need to regard it as such. As other countries open their borders, most E.U. nations are not likely to allow people from the US to enter because of its high rate of infection. Our borders are now open, the beaches and parks opened for us to enjoy them for two days before tourists start arriving, and we have been told that we should not travel. If it is safe for people to enter the country, why wouldn’t it be safe for us to visit other countries and return? If we know the entry of tourists will increase the risk of COVID-19 community spread, why are households being allowed to break social distancing on the beach? If the number of COVID19 infections goes up, we will face longer lockdowns.

Whether we travel or not, we will live with the consequences of new cases. While we may be happy to be able to go to the beach and for hotel workers and taxi drivers to return to work, we have to think about the information we have been given, realise that is doesn’t all add up and behave accordingly. Don’t get “lost in the sauce”. We are free to work out, to swim, to shop and to gather in groups of five. That does not mean we are safe. COVID-19 has not vanished. It is still possible to contact the virus. Even as we enjoy freedom, we can take precautions. Maintain the six-foot distance and wear a mask as much as possible. We complied with the Emergency Order for months and we have benefitted from it. There is no reason for us to rush into a second round when we can reduce the risk in simple, if inconvenient, ways. To be clear, this is not to say the Emergency Order should be continued at this time or indefinitely. It does not make any more sense for us to continue to be under curfew than it does for us to have weekend lockdowns or tourists freely entering the country, especially from countries that have not adequately responded to the pandemic. This is to encourage consideration of the facts, discussion on the repercussions of decisions being made, and both personal and community responsibility. Who will handle noncompliant tourists, and how? Potential visitors have expressed their displeasure with the mask policy on the Ministry of Tourism’s social media accounts. Some have said they are cancelling their trips because wearing masks is not a part of their island fantasy. It would not be surprising to see tourists walking around resort properties with masks sitting under their chins or covering their mouths but not noses. Are hotel staff prepared to enforce this? How will they do that while maintaining the welcoming, (bordering on) deferential demeanours? How are employees being protected? There should be health and safety protocols approved by Ministry of Health in place at all properties. There should also be guidelines for baggage handlers, flight attendants, Customs and Immigration officers, taxi drivers and anyone else coming into direct contact with visitors. If they exist, they should be shared and as models for vendors and other

businesses — not only those coming into direct contact with visitors, but those who will be in contact with those on the frontlines of the tourism industry. What do you need to change? The past few months have been difficult. Our work lives have been upended, some of us somehow ended up with more responsibilities, we’ve spent far too much time with the people who live with us, and we have not really been able to socialise. There have been a lot of sudden, drastic changes. While there is some return to the way things were before, we can still feel a bit off balance. It is important to acknowledge this as a normal response to very abnormal circumstances. For many, it is time to go to the barber, have a beach day, or enjoy a nice meal at a favourite spot. These are easy ways to get back to where we want to be. It may be a good idea to do a bit more than that, and try to address underlying issues and observations made during the lockdown period. Did you find yourself saving money because you weren’t able to eat takeout as much as you usually do? Do you want to change that habit for the benefit of your savings account? Did you realise you tend to shop online when you’re bored or under stress? Maybe it’s time to come up with more helpful, healthy alternatives. Who did you call when you felt like you were at your limit, and how did they support you? Family members and friends don’t always know the right thing to say or have the tools to help you through a difficult time, so it may be a good time to look for a mental health professional. What about work-life balance? Did it go out the window, or did you not have it from the start? Working from home can reveal a lot about the way we work and manage time. If you’ve noticed you’re consistently doing more than a day’s work, it could be time to reassess your position, duties, and compensation. These are just a few examples of areas in our lives that we may see in a different way now. They are not just to be observed, but addressed. Now may not be the best time to make sweeping changes, but make note of everything you’ve noticed about your life that makes you uncomfortable. Ask yourself what would make it better, and move in that direction. While the world around us changes, we have the opportunity to at least plan for changes of our own.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 1, 2020, PAGE 9

AMAZON LOOKS TO SELF-DRIVING FUTURE BY ACQUIRING ZOOX By JOSEPH PISANI and TOM KRISHER AP Business Writers

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon said Friday that it is buying selfdriving technology company Zoox, which is developing an autonomous vehicle for a ride-hailing service that people would request on their phones. Seattle-based Amazon did not disclose how much it is paying for Zoox, which was founded six years ago in Foster City, California. Analysts pegged the purchase price at over $1 billion. The online retailing giant said Zoox will keep running as a separate business and continue to develop its own autonomous vehicle. “We’re excited to help the talented Zoox team to bring their vision to reality in the years ahead,” said Amazon’s Jeff Wilke, who runs the company’s retail business. The deal could drive Amazon into an entirely new business: transporting people from one place to another. But some industry analysts think Amazon’s ultimate goal is to repurpose the Zoox vehicle for its core business, delivering packages to shoppers. “My guess would be in the near term that Amazon is probably more interested in taking that platform and adapting it as an alternative or complement to its existing fleet of delivery vans,” said Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst for Guidehouse Insights,

who follows autonomous vehicle developments. Abuelsamid said Zoox has a good autonomous system and was planning to deploy a ride-hailing service next year. It’s also building its own vehicle that can travel in two directions — both ends can be the front and the back — making it ideal for urban deliveries. He sees Amazon converting the small vehicles into mobile lockers that would stop at delivery sites for people to pick up packages.

Goal Amazon didn’t directly answer a question about whether autonomous package delivery is its goal, but said Zoox would “continue working toward their mission to transform mobility as a service by developing a fully autonomous, purpose built vehicle.” The company cautioned that widespread use of autonomous vehicles is still years away and will require a substantial capital investment in a crowded field. The deal

puts Amazon, which has grown rapidly from its start as an online bookseller 25 years ago, in competition with Google’s self-driving technology spinoff called Waymo, and General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. Autonomous delivery would fit with Amazon’s plans to deliver more of its packages on its own and rely less on UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. In recent years it has expanded its fleet of planes, built package sorting hubs at airports and launched a programme that lets people start businesses that deliver packages in vans stamped with the Amazon logo. The investment could complement the $700 million that Amazon put into electric vehicle startup Rivian in 2019. Rivian, with operations in suburban Detroit and California, has a contract to make 100,000 electric delivery vans for Amazon. The company also has a factory in Normal, Ill., with extra capacity that could be used to build the Zoox vehicles for Amazon, Abuelsamid said. Amazon’s acquisition changes

the landscape in the autonomous vehicle business by bringing in a deep-pocketed competitor, Abuelsamid said. It increases pressure on smaller companies that are building delivery vehicles, he said. The Zoox acquisition isn’t Amazon’s first foray into autonomous vehicles. Early in 2019, it joined other investors in a $530 million stake in Aurora Innovation. Aurora recently has focused on a self-driving system for heavy trucks.

Robots Amazon has used autonomous technology to get orders to shoppers: self-driving robots shuffle products around its warehouses and a cooler-sized robot with six wheels has delivered orders in a Seattle suburb. It’s also working on self-piloted drones that fly small goods to customers’ homes. The deal comes at a time when the power of Amazon and other technology stalwarts such as Google, Facebook and Apple have drawn increasing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and antitrust regulators. The pandemic-stricken economy is making it more difficult for startups to raise money to continue work, creating opportunities for the industry’s still-thriving giants to make acquisitions at bargain prices. Privately held Zoox received $990 million in funding from investors, according to Crunchbase, which tracks investments in startups.

UK ALLOWS E-SCOOTER RENTALS TO AID TRANSPORT IN PANDEMIC By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — Britain gave the green light Tuesday for trials of electric scooter rental programmes, as authorities look for ways to help people get moving while maintaining distance and easing pressure on public transit as pandemic lockdown restrictions ease. The Transport Department unveiled new regulations that take effect Saturday and pave the way for e-scooter rentals in Britain, helping it play catch-up with the U.S. and countries in Europe and Asia where they’ve operated for years. “E-scooters may offer the potential for convenient, clean and cost-effective travel that may also help ease the burden on the transport network, provide another green alternative to get around and allow for social distancing,” Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said in a statement. “The trials will allow us to test whether they do these things.” Dozens of British cities are interested in hosting a trial programme, run by private companies. They were initially scheduled for next year and have now been fast-tracked because

TECHTALK VIRGIN GALACTIC MARKS THE SECOND GLIDE FLIGHT OVER NEW MEXICO UPHAM, N.M. (AP) — Virgin Galactic last week celebrated the second successful glide flight of its spaceship over Spaceport America in southern New Mexico. Unlike the first glide test in early May, the pilots last Thursday flew at higher speeds to help evaluate the ship’s systems and performance in preparation for the next stage of testing. That will involve rocketpowered flights. “Our focus for this year remains unchanged on ensuring the vehicles and our operations are prepared for long-term, regular commercial spaceflight service,” Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said in a statement.

Cabin While the company is in the midst of final testing, officials have yet to offer a date for the start of commercial flights. Officials said the data from the latest flight has to be analysed. Other steps include making final modifications to the spaceship’s customer cabin and completing detailed inspections. During the flight, the spaceship reached a glide speed of Mach 0.85 after being released from the carrier ship VMS Eve at an altitude of 51,000 feet (15,545 metres). The pilots conducted various tests and maneuvers before touching down on the runway. Virgin Galactic teams the previous weekend did a “wet” dress rehearsal in which they positioned the spaceship on the runway and loaded it with fuel.

Passengers

IN THIS 2019 photo, electric rental scooters lie on a sidewalk in Berlin, Germany. Britain is giving the green light for trials of electric scooter rental programmes, as authorities look for ways to help people get moving while maintaining distance and easing pressure on public transit. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file) of the coronavirus. The government wants them to start by the end of August and run for 12 months. Riders will need to have a valid driver’s license and be at least 16. The scooters won’t be able to go faster than 15.5 mph (25 kph). Legalisation only applies to rentals. Under the new

rules it remains illegal for e-scooters owned by individuals to be ridden on public roads in Britain, but that hasn’t stopped an increasing number of people using them. Rental e-scooters have already become a common sight in European cities like Paris and Brussels, often

strewn across sidewalks. Swedish startup VOI, which operates in 10 European countries and plans to expand to Britain, said it expects huge demand for short journeys. “We’ve seen an explosion of demand in all our cities across Europe” because of the pandemic,

said U.K. General Manager Richard Corbett. The number of VOI’s rides per day has doubled compared with before the pandemic, Corbett said. “I think a lot of that is driven by people who are scared to use public transport and they see this as a viable alternative.”

Virgin Galactic is the anchor tenant of the taxpayer-financed Spaceport America — the world’s first facility designed and built specifically for launching commercial passengers and payloads into suborbital space. The company now has close to 180 people working out of the desert outpost. More than 600 customers from around the world have purchased tickets to be launched into the lower fringes of space where they can experience weightlessness and get a view of the Earth below. The suborbital flights are designed to reach an altitude of at least 50 miles (80.5 kilometres) before gliding to a landing. In addition to a few hundred people who have put down deposits for a ride with Virgin Galactic, more than 9,100 have registered their interest online. Company officials expect the interest to surpass the company’s capacity for flights for a few years.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, July 1, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

SPARKING CHANGE SOLOMON’s is committed to ‘Sparking Change’ in the community and so, recently, Solomon’s Super Center and Solomon’s Yamacraw in New Providence, and Solomon’s Lucaya in Grand Bahama helped several grocery pantries and soup kitchens that are dedicated to feeding those in need. Donations in Grand Bahama were to Christ The King Church, Reach Out Youth Ministries, Evangeline Jervis Distribution Community Center, Island Encounter Youth Missions and the Rotary Club of Freeport. In New Providence the groups were Fox Hill Community Center, Grace Community Church, Evangelistic Temple Church, Great Commission Ministries and Redland Acres Community.

When France extorted Haiti – the greatest heist in history by Marlene Daut Professor of African Diaspora Studies, University of Virginia IN THE wake of George Floyd’s killing, there have been calls for defunding police departments and demands for the removal of statues. The issue of reparations for slavery has also resurfaced. Much of the reparations debate has revolved around whether the United States and the United Kingdom should finally compensate some of their citizens for the economic and social costs of slavery that still linger today. But to me, there’s never been a more clear-cut case

for reparations than that of Haiti. I’m a specialist on colonialism and slavery, and what France did to the Haitian people after the Haitian Revolution is a particularly notorious examples of colonial theft. France instituted slavery on the island in the 17th century, but, in the late 18th century, the enslaved population rebelled and eventually declared independence. Yet, somehow, in the 19th century, the thinking went that the former enslavers of the Haitian people needed to be compensated, rather than the other way around. Just as the legacy of slavery in the United States has created a gross economic

disparity between Black and white Americans, the tax on its freedom that France forced Haiti to pay – referred to as an “indemnity” at the time – severely damaged the newly independent country’s ability to prosper. The cost of independence Haiti officially declared its independence from France in 1804. In October 1806, the country was split into two, with Alexandre Pétion ruling in the south and Henry Christophe ruling in the north. Despite the fact that both of Haiti’s rulers were veterans of the Haitian Revolution, the French had

never quite given up on reconquering their former colony. In 1814 King Louis XVIII, who had helped overthrow Napoléon earlier that year, sent three commissioners to Haiti to assess the willingness of the country’s rulers to surrender. Christophe, having made himself a king in 1811, remained obstinate in the face of France’s exposed plan to bring back slavery. Threatening war, the most prominent member of Christophe’s cabinet, Baron de Vastey, insisted: “ Our independence will be guaranteed by the tips of our bayonets!” In contrast, Pétion, the ruler of the south, was willing to negotiate, hoping the country might be able to pay France for recognition of its independence. In 1803, Napoléon had sold Louisiana to the United States for 15 million francs. Using this number as his compass, Pétion proposed paying the same amount. Unwilling to compromise with those he viewed as “runaway slaves,” Louis XVIII rejected the offer. Pétion died suddenly in 1818, but Jean-Pierre Boyer, his successor, kept up the negotiations. Talks, however, continued to stall due to Christophe’s stubborn opposition. “Any indemnification of the ex-colonists,” Christophe’s government stated, was “inadmissible”. Once Christophe died in October 1820, Boyer was able to reunify the two sides of the country. However, even with the obstacle of Christophe gone, Boyer repeatedly failed to successfully negotiate France’s recognition of independence. Determined to gain at least suzerainty over the island – which would have made Haiti a protectorate of France – Louis XVIII’s successor, Charles X, rebuked the two commissioners Boyer sent to Paris in 1824 to try to negotiate an indemnity in exchange for recognition. On April 17, 1825, the French king suddenly changed his mind. He issued a decree stating France would recognize Haitian independence but only at the price of 150 million francs – or 10 times the amount the US had paid for the Louisiana territory. The sum was meant to compensate the French colonists for their lost revenues from slavery. Baron de Mackau, whom Charles X sent to deliver the ordinance, arrived in Haiti in July, accompanied by a squadron of 14 brigs of war carrying more than 500 cannons. Rejection of the ordinance almost certainly meant war. This was not diplomacy. It was extortion. With the threat of violence looming, on July 11,

1825, Boyer signed the fatal document, which stated: “The present inhabitants of the French part of St. Domingue shall pay … in five equal instalments … the sum of 150,000,000 francs, destined to indemnify the former colonists.” French prosperity built on Haitian poverty Newspaper articles from the period reveal the French king knew the Haitian government was hardly capable of making these payments, as the total was more than 10 times Haiti’s annual budget. The rest of the world seemed to agree the amount was absurd. One British journalist noted the “enormous price” constituted a “sum which few states in Europe could bear to sacrifice”. Forced to borrow 30 million francs from French banks to make the first two payments, it was hardly a surprise to anyone when Haiti defaulted soon thereafter. Still, the new French king sent another expedition in 1838 with 12 warships to force the Haitian president’s hand. The 1838 revision, inaccurately labeled “Traité d’Amitié” – or “Treaty of Friendship” – reduced the outstanding amount owed to 60 million francs, but the Haitian government was once again ordered to take out crushing loans to pay the balance. Although the colonists claimed the indemnity would only cover one-twelfth the value of their lost properties, including the people they claimed as their slaves, the total amount of 90 million francs was actually five times France’s annual budget. The Haitian people suffered the brunt of the consequences of France’s theft. Boyer levied draconian taxes in order to pay back the loans. And while Christophe had been busy developing a national school system during his reign, under Boyer, and all subsequent presidents, such projects had to be put on hold. Moreover, researchers have found the independence debt and the resulting drain on the Haitian treasury were directly responsible not only for the underfunding of education in 20th-century Haiti, but also lack of health care and the country’s inability to develop public infrastructure. Contemporary assessments, furthermore, reveal that with the interest from all the loans, which were not completely paid off until 1947, Haitians ended up paying more than twice the value of the colonists’ claims. Recognizing the gravity of this scandal, French economist Thomas Piketty acknowledged that France should repay at least $28 billion to Haiti in restitution.

GEORGE FLOYD Former French presidents, from Jacques Chirac, to Nicolas Sarkozy, to François Hollande, have a history of punishing, skirting or downplaying Haitian demands for recompense. In May 2015, when French President François Hollande became only France’s second head of state to visit Haiti, he admitted his country needed to “settle the debt”. Later, realizing he had unwittingly provided fuel for the legal claims already prepared by attorney Ira Kurzban on behalf of the Haitian people – former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide had demanded formal recompense in 2002 – Hollande clarified that he meant France’s debt was merely “moral”. To deny that the consequences of slavery were also material is to deny French history itself. France belatedly abolished slavery in 1848 in its remaining colonies of Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion and French Guyana, which are still territories of France today. Afterwards, the French government demonstrated once again its understanding of slavery’s relationship to economics when it took it upon itself to financially compensate the former “owners” of enslaved people. The resulting racial wealth gap is no metaphor. In metropolitan France 14.1 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. In Martinique and Guadeloupe, in contrast, where more than 80 percent of the population is of African descent, the poverty rates are 38 percent and 46 percent, respectively. The poverty rate in Haiti is even more dire at 59 percent. And whereas the median annual income of a French family is $31,112, it’s only $450 for a Haitian family. These discrepancies are the concrete consequence of stolen labor from generations of Africans and their descendants. And because the indemnity Haiti paid to France is the first and only time a formerly enslaved people were forced to compensate those who had once enslaved them, Haiti should be at the centre of the global movement for reparations.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 1, 2020, PAGE 11

EX-ATLANTA OFFICER WHO KILLED RAYSHARD BROOKS GRANTED BOND ATLANTA Associated Press THE former Atlanta police officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks can be free on bond while his case is pending, a judge ruled yesterday. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jane Barwick set a bond of $500,000 for Garrett Rolfe, who faces charges including felony murder in the killing of Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man. The shooting by the white officer happened against the backdrop of demonstrations nationwide over police brutality and systemic racism after

George Floyd died under a Minneapolis officer’s knee. Appearing via teleconference because of the coronavirus, lawyers for Rolfe argued that he is a native Georgian with strong ties to the community who is not at risk of fleeing or failing to show up for court and is not a danger to the community. A prosecutor argued that Rolfe, 27, had committed an unjustified fatal shooting and was a flight risk and might intimidate witnesses. Brooks’ wife, Tomika Miller, sobbed throughout an emotional plea to the judge, asking her not to grant bond for Rolfe. “I say no

to it,” she said. “I say no because, mentally, I’m not able to handle it.” Barwick thanked Miller, noting that her appearance required a lot of bravery, but said she found that Rolfe met the conditions required for bond. The judge said Rolfe “is not a flight risk and I do not believe he is a danger to the community.” The conditions of his bond include wearing an ankle monitor, complying with a curfew, surrendering his passport, not possessing any guns and having no contact with victims, witnesses or Atlanta police officers. Police body cameras showed

Rolfe and another officer having a calm and respectful conversation with Brooks for more than 40 minutes after complaints that Brooks had fallen asleep in his car in a Wendy’s drive-thru lane on June 12. But when officers told him he’d had too much to drink to be driving and tried to handcuff him, Brooks resisted. A struggle was caught on dash camera video. Brooks grabbed one of their Tasers and fled, firing the Taser at Rolfe as he ran away. An autopsy found Brooks was shot twice in the back. During Tuesday’s hearing, one of Rolfe’s attorneys, Noah Pines, denied the district attorney’s

accusations that Rolfe shouted “I got him!” and kicked Brooks after shooting him. Pines called on Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard to release video of the alleged kick. Howard had made the allegations when he announced the charges five days after Brooks’ death. Executive Assistant District Attorney Clint Rucker said video footage shows Rolfe’s kick and a witness confirmed that it happened. Rolfe was fired shortly after the shooting and the other officer, Devin Brosnan, was placed on desk duty.

Fears US could have 100,000 cases a day WASHINGTON Associated Press DR Anthony Fauci said coronavirus cases could grow to 100,000 a day in the US if Americans don’t start following public health recommendations. The nation’s leading infectious disease expert made the remark at a Senate hearing on reopening schools and workplaces. Asked to forecast the outcome of recent surges in some states, Fauci said he can’t make an accurate prediction but believes it will be “very disturbing”. “We are now having 40-plusthousand new cases a day. I would not be surprised if we go up to to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around, and so I am very concerned,” said Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health. Fauci said areas seeing recent outbreaks are putting the entire nation at risk, including areas that have made progress in reducing COVID-19 cases. He cited recent video footage of people socialising in crowds, often without masks, and otherwise ignoring safety guidelines. Infections are rising rapidly mostly in parts of the West and South, and Fauci and other public health experts said Americans everywhere will have to start following key recommendations if they want to get back to more normal activities like going to school. “We’ve got to get the message out that we are all in this together,” by wearing masks in public and

A STORE employee sprays hand sanitiser on a customer before he enters a Brooklyn supermarket in New York yesterday keeping out of crowds, said Fauci. Connect the dots, he told senators: When and how school buildings can reopen will vary depending on how widely the coronavirus is spreading locally. “I feel very strongly we need to do whatever we can to get the children back to school,” he said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans more guidelines for local school systems, Director Robert Redfield said. But in recommendations for colleges, the agency said it won’t

NEW YORK ADDS STATES TO ITS QUARANTINE LIST NEW YORK Associated Press

NEW York is urging travelers from eight additional states to selfquarantine for 14 days as it awaits a decision on the reopening of indoor dining in New York City. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he plans to send state police and health and liquor officials to New York City ahead of his decision expected today. The governor said he worries about lack of compliance with requirements to wear a mask and keep 6 feet away from others amid reports that dining in closed, indoor areas with air-conditioned systems could lead to spikes in COVID-19. “Tonight we’re going to have state police, we’re going to have department of health monitors, we’re going to have State Liquor

Authority monitors, but they’re going to be looking all throughout the city to see if New Yorkers are complying,” Cuomo said. “And I’ve said to the local governments in New York, also on Long Island we have an issue, they have to enforce the compliance ... I don’t want to be a hardedge, but it’s the law.” The Democratic governor’s concerns about indoor dining and lack of compliance with distancing and masks rules come as he raises repeated worries about travellers visiting New York from states where COVID-19 appears to be spreading. Cuomo, along with his counterparts in New Jersey and Connecticut, announced a travel advisory last week that requires individuals from states with “increased prevalence of COVID-19” to quarantine for 14 days.

TORONTO CITES US PROBLEMS AS MASKS MADE MANDATORY TORONTO Associated Press CANADA’S largest city has made masks mandatory in public indoor spaces. “You have told us you don’t want to see a repeat of what you see when you turn on your TV and see reports from the United States,” Toronto Mayor John Tory said. Toronto city council approved a bylaw and it will come into effect July 7. Dr Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, said there is growing evidence that shows non-medical masks

can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and noted many cities in the US are seeing a resurgence in cases since reopening. De Villa said she made the recommendation to help Toronto move from Stage 2 of the Ontario’s reopening plan to Stage 3. She said masks will help indoor spaces — most of which had been closed during the earlier stages of the pandemic — stay safe. “I cannot emphasise enough how important it is for all of us to remember that we are still in the middle of a pandemic,” De Villa said.

recommend entry testing for all returning students, faculty and staff. It’s not clear if that kind of broadstroke testing would reduce spread of the coronavirus, CDC concluded. Instead, it urged colleges to focus on containing outbreaks and exposures as students return. Lawmakers also pressed for what Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the committee’s top Democrat, called a national vaccine plan — to be sure the race for the COVID19 vaccine ends with shots that really are safe, truly protect and

are available to all Americans who want, one. “We can’t take for granted this process will be free of political influence,” Murray said. She cited how President Donald Trump promoted a malaria drug as a COVID-19 treatment that ultimately was found to be risky and ineffective. The Food and Drug Administration released guidelines saying any vaccine that wins approval will have to be at 50% more effective than a dummy shot in the final, required testing.

FLORIDA RUSHES TO LINE UP HOSPITAL BEDS, NOT BARSTOOLS FLORIDA Associated Press FLORIDA and other states across the Sunbelt are thinning out the deck chairs, turning over the barstools and rushing to line up more hospital beds as they head into the height of summer amid a startling surge in confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Over the past few days, states such as Florida, Arizona, Texas and California have reversed course, closing or otherwise clamping down on bars, shutting beaches, rolling back restaurant capacity, putting limits on crowds at pools, or taking other steps to curb a scourge that may be thriving because of such factors as air conditioning and resistance to wearing masks. “Any time you have these reopenings, you’re depending on people to do the right things, to follow the rules. I think that’s where the weak spots come in,” said Dr Cindy Prins, of the University of Florida. Hospitals in the new hot spots are already stretched nearly to the limit and are scrambling to add intensive care unit beds for an expected surge in COVID19 cases in the coming weeks. Newly confirmed cases in Florida have spiked over the past week, especially in younger people, who may be more likely to survive the virus but can spread it to more vulnerable older residents.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, July 1, 2020

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FIFA BANS FORMER FINANCE DIRECTOR KATTNER FOR 10 YEARS By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — FIFA banned its former finance director Markus Kattner for 10 years yesterday for helping former president Sepp Blatter and other top managers award themselves salary raises and bonuses totalling tens of millions of dollars. FIFA said its ethics committee judges found Kattner guilty of conflicts of interest and abuse of position, including obtaining a recording of a FIFA Council meeting from which he had been excluded. Kattner was also fined 1 million Swiss francs ($1.05 million) and ordered to pay within 30 days. “By his conduct, the integrity and objectivity of FIFA have therefore been exceedingly violated,” FIFA’s ethics judges said in their ruling. Kattner spent 13 years overseeing the world soccer body’s finances during Blatter’s presidency. When he was fired by FIFA’s new management in 2016, it was revealed that Blatter, former secretary general Jerome Valcke and Kattner himself were contracted to get World Cup bonuses, loyalty bonuses and future golden handshakes totalling tens of millions of dollars.

Lawyers for FIFA four years ago described “a coordinated effort by three former top officials of FIFA to enrich themselves.” At the time, a spokesperson for Kattner said the contracts were approved by FIFA’s compensation panel and known to its then-auditors. When Blatter and Valcke were suspended from duty in 2015, Kattner was promoted to be FIFA’s interim secretary general — a role he continued to hold for three more months after the election of current president Gianni Infantino. FIFA ethics investigators formally opened an investigation of the three men in September 2016. No judgment against Blatter or Valcke was announced yesterday. They are currently serving FIFAimposed bans of six and 10 years, respectively, and are the subject of Swiss criminal proceedings. Lawyers for Kattner argued in the FIFA ethics process his case was “prioritised, as only Mr Kattner is pursuing employment tribunal proceedings against FIFA.” He has declined to comment while that case is ongoing. Kattner’s ban from soccer comes weeks after he too was made a criminal suspect by Swiss federal prosecutors investigating

MARKUS Kattner listens during a conference in Moscow on November 24, 2015. FIFA banned its former finance director Kattner for 10 years yesterday in a case of top management self-dealing salary raises and bonuses totalling tens of millions of dollars. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) FIFA’s finances during the Blatter presidency. The 49-year-old German is now classed as an accused person in Switzerland after a long-standing criminal proceeding against Blatter was extended to include himself and his former boss Valcke. The latest allegation, reported by The Associated Press three weeks ago, relates to a $1-million

loan FIFA made to the Trinidad and Tobago soccer federation in April 2010. The interest-free, unsecured loan from soccer funds was paid into the control of FIFA’s thenvice president Jack Warner — while he was a candidate during the Caribbean nation’s general election — and later waived as a gift. FIFA lawyers said that in April 2011, during a difficult presidential election campaign Blatter went on to win, Valcke and Kattner signed eight-year contract extensions with guarantees of termination pay and indemnification for legal fees and restitution claims. At the time in 2011, US federal agencies were building an investigation that would throw FIFA into turmoil and remove a swath of top officials in Zurich, North America and South America. In the ongoing American investigation, more than 40 people and marketing agencies have been indicted, convicted at trial or made guilty pleas. The first trial in Switzerland, at a court affected by the coronavirus pandemic, collapsed in April when a statute of limitations expired. It involved an irregular payment from German organisers of the 2006 World Cup passing through a FIFA account.

EX-CONCACAF PRESIDENT ALFREDO HAWIT SENTENCED TO TIME SERVED By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The former president of soccer’s governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean was sentenced to time served for his role in accepting $1.66 million in bribes in the FIFA scandals and will return to Honduras after 4 1/2 years in the US. Alfredo Hawit of Honduras, CONCACAF’s president from May 27, 2015, until December 4, 2015, was given the sentence Monday by US District Judge Pamela K Chen in Brooklyn during a video hearing. The 68-year-old Hawit also was sentenced to two years of supervised release and barred during that time from holding a title in FIFA, CONCACAF or any professional soccer organisation. Chen deferred a ruling on restitution for 90 days, said forfeiture will be $950,000 and said he must pay $400 in special assessments. “I do take responsibility and I have changed considerably. I want to ask forgiveness for all those things I did back then,” Hawit said through a translator. “There are no words to express how sorry I am,” he said in a

BSF from PAGE 16 doing this for a long time,” Cargill said. “If I can get someone who wants to take it to another level, I

written statement read by the translator to the court. “I also regret all the harm I did to soccer, which is the sport that I love. ... From the day of my arrest in Zurich and the time that I spent in jail and 4 1/2 years so far, I’ve suffered. I’ve felt humiliated and shamed by my behaviour, and I’m paying the price.” Hawit, a lawyer, teacher and former professional soccer player, will be deported when the coronavirus pandemic eases and Honduras reopens its border. Prosecutors said his family is working with the Honduran consulate to arrange transport, and Chen recommended that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement allow him to self-deport. Hawit pleaded guilty on April 11, 2016, to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy and one count each of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Each count carried a possible sentence of up to 20 years. His sentence showed the impact of a guilty plea early in the case rather than risk a guilty verdict at trial. Former South American governing body president Juan Ángel Napout is serving a nine-year sentence following his conviction and

would gladly step aside. It’s not an appointment for life, but if I am asked to serve again, I would consider it.” No date has been set for the elections, nor any for the Nationals, which would be suspended for later this year.

former Brazil federation president José Maria Marin was sentenced to four years after his conviction. Marin was given compassionate release about eight months early in April, shortly before his 88th birthday. Chen said Hawit tried to conceal bribes and even used the name of his wife, a superior court judge in Honduras. He also tried to cover up the payments by directing co-conspirators to create a sham contract. “The government’s investigation and prosecution in this case has rightfully served as a wake-up call to the entire professional soccer world and to all of its associations that business cannot be conducted in this manner,” Chen said. She said Hawit did not warrant additional jail time, given that he voluntarily accepted extradition, spent two months incarcerated and about four years under house arrest, and he expressed remorse. “While it is clear that Mr Hawit faltered badly by agreeing for a number of years to take bribes of a significant amount on multiple occasions and covering that up through elaborate schemes,” Chen said, “he did recover after being caught and has since tried to make amends.”

“Right now, we don’t know the format for the Nationals,” Cargill said. “We are still looking at how we will function with all of the social distancing rules that are being put in place as a result of the coronavirus.

“Giving that, we had to suspend the nationals, just as FINA has done with all of its international events. So we won’t be doing anything until after school reopens. The swimmers are using this time to get in shape, so we really don’t

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Hawit became CONCACAF’s president after Jeffrey Webb was arrested while attending a FIFA meeting in Zurich, but Hawit was arrested in Switzerland on December 3, 2015. He was extradited to the US the following January 13 and released on bond that February 2. He was banned for life by FIFA on December 19, 2016, after the adjudicatory chamber of its independent ethics committee found him guilty of violating FIFA’s code of ethics provisions on general rules of conduct; loyalty; duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting; conflicts of interest; and bribery and corruption. Hawit admitted in court to accepting bribes for awarding media rights contracts for World Cup qualifying in Central America and for CONCACAF events, and to attempting to influence testimony in the US investigation during July 2015. “We do believe that once Mr Hawit was arrested and waived extradition and came to the country, that he has fully accepted responsibility for his actions,” Assistant US Attorney Keith D Edelman said. Eight remaining counts against Hawit were dismissed Monday.

AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS POSTPONED TO 2022 CAIRO (AP) — Next year’s African Cup of Nations was postponed yesterday to 2022 amid a backlog of matches caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Confederation of African Football said the 24-team tournament in Cameroon will now open one year later in January 2022. The 12 qualifying groups face a challenge to be completed this year. “The date for the final tournament and the remaining matches of the qualifiers will be communicated in due course,” CAF said in a statement after an executive committee meeting. It’s the second scheduling change this year for the continental championship. It was originally set to be played in June-July 2021, during Cameroon’s rainy season, but was moved to the beginning of the year. The second switch means clubs in Europe will retain their African players next season without being required to release them for a JanuaryFebruary tournament. In a separate decision, CAF cancelled the 2020 Women’s African Cup of Nations “due to challenging conditions” and will instead launch a Women’s Champions League in 2021. Each of CAF’s 54 member federations will get $300,000 in extra funding from the Cairobased organisation to help overcome lost revenue during the pandemic. The total aid package is $16.2 million. Qualifying for the men’s African Cup was already behind schedule. African national teams have yet to play in the official FIFA-approved dates this year and they may not be able to resume in October. With four qualifying rounds still to be played, only four match dates are likely available in October and November. CAF first decided in January to bring the 2021 tournament forward by five months in more reliable weather conditions. Cameroon had been due to stage the tournament in 2019 and defend its title at home but it was stripped of the tournament for problems with infrastructure and security. Cameroon was also scheduled to host the final of the delayed men’s African Champions League in Doualla in May.

see any value in having a nationals at this point.” Looking at the landscape of sports on the global front, Cargill said they are concerned because they can only provide a positive atmosphere for their swimmers to engage in. He noted that the swimmers are back in the pool at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Swim Complex working out with their various local coaches. They have also gotten some input from FINA on how they can progress in the future. “Given the impact that the rest of the world is going through with the pandemic, we feel our swimmers can only benefit from the time out of competition,” he said. “We know that several of the CARIFTA swimmers are communicating with their peers and so they have strengthened their relationships in this pandemic and FINA has put on a few seminars on how to stay fit and everything else. So they have been making the best of the situation that is out of their control..” The Bahamas was poised to go for their fourth straight title in CARIFTA, but that regional competition had to be called off in April because of the pandemic. But Cargill is hoping that the swimmers will remain geared up to compete in the event when it returns in 2021. At present, there are more than 20 swimmers who are either in boarding school or colleges and universities in the United States. Although there is social unrest going on in the aftermath of the death of African American George Floyd on May 25, Cargill said he doesn’t see any of the swimmers affected.

“Our swimmers have been able to return home and they are now training with their local coaches,” Cargill said. “Right now, based on everything we know, the US Embassy is not expected to reopen until September. “So given the fact that some of the new swimmers might not get the opportunity to enrol in school this fall, they will have the opportunity to stay here at home and train with their club coaches, who have gotten the opportunity to prepare them to go off right now.” Cargill noted that the Black Lives Matter movement has not yet reached the swimming community so he anticipates that once the student-athletes can get their papers sorted out, they should be able to head off to school. And with the Bahamas Olympic Committee offering some assistance through their Athletes’ Welfare Commission, headed by Roy Colebrook, one of the vice presidents of the BOC, which is mandated to help athletes from all disciplines to reach their full potentials in preparation for local, regional and international competitions, Cargill said they will certainly take advantage of it. “We currently have two athletes on the IOC Solidarity Scholarship that is offered by the BOC, but we are looking at how we can take advantage of this new initiative that the BOC is offering.” Federations will have until July 3 to submit their applications for athletes, who can benefit from the fund of about $30,000, which will not be available to professional athletes or those who are under contracts with companies such as Adidas, Puma and Nike.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 1, 2020, PAGE 13

Lionel Messi scores 700th goal, Barcelona held 2-2 by Atlético By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal for club and country before Atletico Madrid came back to draw 2-2 in the Spanish league yesterday and deal Barcelona’s title hopes a major blow. Barcelona’s third draw in four rounds left it in second place, one point behind leader Real Madrid. Madrid hosts Getafe on Thursday with a chance to open up a four-point lead with five more matches remaining. Barcelona was two points ahead of Madrid when the league was halted in March because of the coronavirus outbreak. While Madrid has won five of five since the resumption after a threemonth stoppage, Barcelona has only won three of six. The pressure is increasing on coach Quique Setién, who took over the team in mid-season with the task of rekindling its attacking spirit. “It is too bad because we keep dropping points and getting further and further away from the title,” Setién said.

“But we have to keep fighting.” Barcelona struck first in the 11th minute when Atlético striker Diego Costa inadvertently redirected a corner by Messi into his own net. Costa’s night got worse shortly after when his penalty was blocked by Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Atlético, however, got to retake the spot kick when a video review determined that the Barcelona goalkeeper had moved off his line too early. Saúl Ñíguez stepped up instead of Costa on the second attempt and converted to level the score in the 19th. Messi restored the host’s lead in 56th by coolly scoring a penalty in the “Panenka” style, chipping it softly past goalie Jan Oblak. The goal was Messi’s 630th club goal to go with 70 for his Argentina. It was also his league-leading 22nd goal of the season. Atlético responded again through the speed of forward Yannick Carrasco, who was tripped by Nelson Semedo and sent Saúl back to the spot. Ter Stegen got a hand on his penalty but not enough to keep it out.

FC Barcelona players celebrate their opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) Diego Simeone’s Atlé- by late tackles from Arturo tico remained undefeated Vidal and Semedo. in the six matches since “Carrasco came back the competition resumed. from the stoppage in better It stayed in third place, 12 shape, and is now back to points behind Madrid. playing at his best level,” Simeone left forward Simeone said about his forJoão Félix on the bench ward, who is in his second until the second half in stint with the club. favour of the in-form midSetién opted for leavfielder Marcos Llorente, ing Messi and Luis Suárez who is thriving in support alone up front and adding of the attack. an extra midfielder in Llorente led the attack youngster Riqui Puig, early on, but Carrasco with keeping forwards Antoine his speed on the left flank Griezmann and Ansu Fati proved to be the visitors’ on the bench. biggest weapon. Twice the Puig had one of his best Belgian forward burst into performances for Barcethe box on a counterat- lona, showing his passing tack and was taken down and ball control skills as he

linked up well with Messi and his other teammates. Barcelona is not blowing out rivals like it used to, but its main problem is its failure to protect leads. It also went ahead twice at Celta Vigo on Saturday only to concede twice to draw 2-2. “All the games that are left are super important and all points we drop hurt our chances,” the 20-yearold Puig said after his second straight start. “The other day the same thing happened, they were able to fight back in games we were winning thanks to our silly mistake or lapses in concentration.” Messi helped put Barcelona ahead when he struck a corner low and hard at the near post, where Costa tried to clear it but instead let it hit the inside of his leg. The ball bounced off the turf and left Oblak no chance. Before his penalty, Messi almost curled in a shot from the right side that came inches from bending into the far corner of the goal. Barcelona’s best chance to get the winner came from Vidal, who fired a shot just by the post with 20 minutes to go.

FERNANDES NETS TWICE IN MAN UNITED’S 3-0 VICTORY AT BRIGHTON BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Bruno Fernandes scored twice to lead Manchester United to a 3-0 victory over Brighton yesterday to maintain its push for Champions League qualification. The 25-year-old January signing has now scored in two of the three Premier League games since the season resumed after the three-month pandemic-enforced suspension. United took the lead in the 16th minute when Mason Greenwood broke inside from the right

and outfoxed his marker before firing in his sixth goal of the league campaign. Fernandes then curled a free kick over the bar before turning home the second goal from the edge of the box in the 29th minute after being teed up by Paul Pogba. Brighton players argued that the ball had gone out of play earlier in the move but the goal was allowed. Fernandes was on target again five minutes into the second half. Nemanja Matic played a long ball for Greenwood to collect

in space, and his deep cross was finished off emphatically by Fernandes, bouncing off the ground past goalkeeper Mat Ryan. “It was a good job from Paul,” Fernandes said. “In the first goal, the ball came back for me, he knows I will be there to shoot. “And the second goal was an amazing assist from Mason, an amazing pass, and I did a good shot. “Of course I am really happy for my goals, but I’m more

happy for the result because the team deserves this and we are fighting for the place in the Champions League and we know we can achieve this.” Manchester United moved back into fifth place which will secure Champions League qualification if second-place Manchester City’s two-season European ban is upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Brighton is six points above the relegation zone with six games remaining.

RONALDO’S ROCKET POWERS JUVENTUS TO 3-1 WIN AT GENOA By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer ROME (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo scored with a long-range rocket on a night when each Juventus goal was more spectacular than the other in a 3-1 win at relegation-threatened Genoa. Chasing a record-extending ninth straight Serie A title, the victory restored Juventus’ four-point lead over Lazio, which won 2-1 at Torino earlier Tuesday. Since losing the Italian Cup final to Napoli in a penalty shootout, Juventus has won all three of its league matches in the restart. “We produced a ton of chances and we scored three beautiful goals,” Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri said. “That shows that our physical condition is improving.” Paulo Dybala opened the scoring shortly after the break by evading three defenders before firing in a low shot that Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin, who is on loan from Juventus, could only get a weak hand on. Seven minutes later it was Ronaldo’s turn. The fivetime Ballon d’Or winner gathered a pass near midfield, charged toward the goal and unleashed a blistering effort from 22 yards (metres) into the top corner past the outstretched Perin. It was Ronaldo’s first goal in open play of the restart after converting penalties in his previous two matches, and it raised his total to 24 in 25 Serie A matches this season.

PAGE 14, Wednesday, July 1, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

MATCHDAY: CHELSEA EYES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION BOOST By The Associated Press A LOOK at what’s happening around European soccer today: ENGLAND Chelsea can strengthen its Champions League push and deepen West Ham’s relegation fears when it travels across London to the Olympic Stadium. Chelsea is fourth in the Premier League, two points clear of Wolverhampton, and West

Ham is only out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Chelsea is now only a point behind third-place Leicester. Brendan Rodgers’ side plays at Everton after drawing both league games since the restart and was knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea. Arsenal is in 10th as it hosts last-place Norwich. ITALY Inter Milan needs a win over relegation-threatened Brescia to

hold off hard-charging Atalanta in the race for third place. Inter leads Atalanta by four points ahead of the Bergamo squad’s game against in-form Napoli on Thursday. Also, Zlatan Ibrahimovic could return from injury when AC Milan visits last-place Spal looking to win its third straight game of the restart. In other games, it’s: Bologna vs Cagliari; Fiorentina vs Sassuolo;

Hellas Verona vs Parma; and Lecce vs Sampdoria. SPAIN Villarreal will visit Real Betis aiming for a fifth win in six games since the Spanish league resumed play after a three-month stoppage for the COVID-19 virus. Paco Alcácer has scored in two consecutive matches for the “Yellow Submarine” and

has helped it move to within six points of a Champions League berth. Valencia will host Athletic Bilbao in its first game since firing coach Albert Celades. Its hopes are fading of reaching the top four spots that qualify for Europe’s top club competition. Voro González will be Valencia’s caretaker coach. Also, Levante visits Valladolid and Granada is at Alavés.

Column: Johnson back to winning now after brief knee concern By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer IT only looks as though Dustin Johnson barely has a pulse on the golf course. One moment made him a little nervous. It wasn’t the tee shot that rolled toward the railroad tracks and barely crossed the out-of-bounds line, right after he had taken a twoshot lead in the final round of the Travelers Championship. It wasn’t even the tee shot two holes later that was headed for the water until it landed softly enough to stay dry, even though his feet got wet hitting the next one. That’s just golf. Good or bad, he moves on. No one has a shorter memory. What caused concern was his knee. Johnson missed three months at the end of last year recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair cartilage damage. He lost another three months when golf shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And then as he worked overtime getting ready to resume, the knee started acting up. He called his partner, Paulina Gretzky,

BAAA from PAGE 16 safety measures that we need to have in place. This is such a difficult situation that we are in to make any decision until we get a clear picture of what is going on.” With the government opening up its borders today as they continue the reopening of the economy,

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on the Tuesday before the Colonial and said he was coming home. The next day the knee felt better, so he stuck it out and missed the cut. “I was nervous,” Johnson said yesterday. “I had an MRI when I got home, and everything with my surgery had healed great. It was just a strained tendon.” Whether it was time away from golf and then an abundance of practice, Johnson isn’t sure. “Obviously,” he said, “everything is better now.” Johnson won the Travelers Championship for his 22nd victory worldwide, ending a drought of 490 days that matched the longest of his career. It was more exciting than it needed to be, which often is the case with his entertaining brand of golf. After going out of bounds on the 13th, he answered with a 15-foot birdie putt and then got a rare break for him — Johnson’s ledger remains heavily skewed toward misfortune on the course — when his ball stayed out of the water. One victory doesn’t always signal he’s on his way. One shot did it for Butch Harmon, his swing coach

who was watching from Las Vegas. With a oneshot lead playing the 18th, Johnson smoked his driver 351 yards, setting up a flip wedge and two putts for the win. “He was leaking oil a little on the back nine,” Harmon said. “His bounceback is incredible. But the key to me was knowing he had to drive it well on 18. I told him when I talked to him later, that was the part I appreciated the most. Yeah, that was just like Oakmont.” The drive on the daunting closing hole at Oakmont in Pennsylvania, reputed to be the toughest course in America, is what Johnson considers one of the signature shots of his career. It sealed his victory at the 2016 US Open, which remains his only major title. Johnson turned 36 last week. There is still plenty of time to fix the one area of his résumé that — with his talent — is sorely lacking. What also got Harmon’s attention was where Johnson won. The TPC Riverland Highlands in Connecticut is a par 70 at 6,841 yards, hardly known as a course for big hitters.

Archer said there’s very little time in planning a full blown meet so a final decision will have to be made by the BAAA before the end of the week. “The meet is being planned for the end of this month,” Archer said. “But we know that a lot of clubs are not training their athletes, so I suspect that a lot of them will not be participating in the meet.

“We know that there are some athletes training, but they are fewer than those who are not training. So there is still a lot of concern about the prospect of having a meet and getting the fans to come out in this social distancing environment.” Archer said his association will probably just end up having a small scale track meet that will cater

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DUSTIN Johnson poses with the trophy after winning the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands on Sunday. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Johnson played the two par 5s in just 2 under for the week and still shot 19-under 261, his sixth straight victory with a score of 19 under or better. His 22 victories have come on 18 courses. He has won at sea level (Doral) and mile-high altitude (Mexico City). He has won on courses that reward power (Crooked Stick) and shotmaking (Riviera). Pebble Beach; the TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee; Kapalua and Chapultepec in Mexico City are the only courses where he has won twice. Johnson wasn’t aware of this. “I think it shows my game is suitable for any course,” he said. “I like a variety of golf courses. And a lot of these courses that I didn’t

like then, I’ve grown to like now.” He paused before adding with a laugh, “And I wasn’t hitting it as straight.” If there are “horses for courses,” this might make him mostly a thoroughbred. He’s not alone in that department, of course. Rory McIlroy, the current No. 1 player in golf, has won 26 times on 22 courses around the world, with his only repeat victories at Quail Hollow, TPC Boston and both courses in Dubai (Emirates and Jumeirah Estates). Ditto for Tiger Woods, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Woods has eight victories at Torrey Pines, Firestone and Bay Hill. He has five victories at Augusta National, Muirfield Village and Cog Hill. They are among 19 courses

where he has won multiple times. That’s mainly because Woods wins a lot. Phil Mickelson has 47 wins worldwide on 25 courses, with multiple wins on 14 courses. “Being able to adapt is a huge deal, play on different golf courses,” Bryson DeChambeau said. “That’s what I’m trying to learn how to do. I think that will happen down the road if I just keep playing good golf, but being able to adapt in different situations and play in different conditions, win everywhere, is pretty impressive.” When he’s on his game, when he’s healthy, Johnson is as impressive as anyone. A winner again, he plans to spend two weeks at home in Florida before returning for the Memorial. He hasn’t won there yet.

to all ages of competition, rather than going ahead with the nationals, which takes on a much needed focus of attention. “We will make it available to all age groups, but the challenge that we have is numbers,” he pointed out. “We won’t be able to forecast as we would have been able to do in the past, exactly what those numbers

would look like. That’s where we are with that aspect of hosting the meet at the end of the month.” As the country embraces the opening of its borders, many student athletes will be looking at making their way back to the United States and Canada to continue their studies and training. At present, there are quite a number of athletes that fit that category, but with all of the unrest in the United States surrounding the racial tension in the aftermath of the killing of African American George Floyd on May 25 in Minnesota amid the spread of COVID-19, Archer said he doesn’t expect there will be any repercussions for Bahamians returning to school and those who are going for the first time. “I don’t foresee that being a challenge,” he stated. “Those cases are normally isolated and so I expect that it will be business as usual for our athletes as it pertains to going to school in August.” Support for Athletes From a local perspective, Archer said while there have been some concerns from athletes, he has not yet received any formal communication from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture about any reduction in the subvention of athletes. “As far as I know, all of the athletes on subvention will not be affected,” Archer pointed out. “All those athletes on subvention will remain the same.” Archer, however, said they have made their recommendations to the ministry on having an additional 10-12 athletes added to the programme, but he has not received any word on their status. “Those athletes’ names have been submitted for

the developmental programme,” said Archer, noting that those that should be considered for the higher tier for subvention and, based on their performances at the international level, will have to come from the ministry. However, Archer said the BAAA is also delighted that the Bahamas Olympic Committee has agreed to provide an Athletes Welfare Commission. Headed by Roy Colebrook, it is mandated to assist athletes from all disciplines to reach their full potentials in preparation for local, regional and international competitions. The assistance, which will account to about $30,000, will not be available to professional athletes or those who are under contracts with companies such as Adidas, Puma and Nike. “We have collected application forms and we will make our recommendations after our executive meeting this week,” Archer said. “We will make our recommendations before the deadline.” National associations and federations have until July 3 to make their recommendations to the BOC on behalf of the athletes. Archer said they are looking at submitting applications for as many members as they can. “Anyone who is in track and field and out of university can benefit,” Archer said. “These are austere times and the ability to generate and to make money by the elite athletes are few and far between. “I know that the World Athletics is trying to reorganise their programme, but these are some tough times and any little assistance that can be provided is welcomed by the athletes.”

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Wednesday, July 1, 2020, PAGE 15

Baseball’s minor leagues cancel 2020 seasons By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer

ARIZONA State infielder Spencer Torkelson makes a play during an NCAA college baseball game on February 18. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

TIGERS GIVE $8.4M DEAL TO TORKELSON, WHO JOINS PLAYER POOL By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer DETROIT (AP) — No. 1 overall draft pick Spencer Torkelson and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a minor league contract yesterday, and the team said the infielder will join its player pool for this abbreviated season. Torkelson’s deal includes $8,418,800, of which $8,416,300 is a signing bonus and $2,500 is a newly created contract execution bonus that is not in the usual structure of initial major league contracts. He is to receive $102,500 within 30 days of the deal’s approval by Major League Baseball, and 50 per cent of the rest on each July 1 in 2021 and 2022. The slot value for the pick was $8,415,300. Detroit had the top pick for the second time in three years after drafting righthander Casey Mize in 2018.

Undrafted out of high school, Torkelson hit 54 home runs at Arizona State. The Tigers took the slugging first baseman with the top pick, then said they intended to try him at third. He’ll get a chance to show what he can do, sooner rather than later. Detroit announced 58 selections for its player pool Sunday, leaving two spots open. On Tuesday, the Tigers said Torkelson will be added to that group. The Tigers also included Mize and several other top pitching prospects in that player pool, meaning it’s possible that some of Detroit’s biggest young names could reach the majors at some point this season. Torkelson hit .340 with six home runs and 11 RBIs in 17 games this year during a college season shortened by the coronavirus pandemic.

POSITIVE TESTS FORCE NUGGETS TO CLOSE PRACTICE FACILITIES By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets say they’ve closed their facilities after two members of the team’s travelling party tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend. A third tested positive this week. All three are asymptomatic, the Nuggets said yesterday in confirming a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The 35-member travelling party includes players, coaches and staff. It’s unclear if the Nuggets will reopen their practice facilities before the team flies to Orlando on July 7 to resume the season that was halted in mid-March because of the virus, which has has killed more than 128,000 people in the United States. The 22 teams that will restart the season July 30

AYTON from PAGE 16 guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield of the Sacramento Kings, who is recuperating from the coronavirus. He too is expected to play in Orlando. The Suns are currently 13th in the Western Conference with a 26-39 win-loss record, and will have to play eight games through August 14 in order to earn a berth into the playoffs that will begin on August 17. While those games will be played without any fans, family and guests of teams will arrive on August 30 for the conference semi-finals set for August 31 to September 13. The Conference finals will be contested September 15-28. The NBA finals will then take place

returned to their practice facilities last week and players, coaches and staff have been subject to ongoing testing as they prepare to resume the season. A week ago, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Nuggets superstar centre Nikola Jokic, one of only four players averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds, tested positive for the virus in Serbia. Nuggets coach Michael Malone revealed recently that he tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies and said he believes he had the virus in March. When the season resumes July 30 at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, the Nuggets will start with a 43-22 record, placing them 1 1/2 games behind the second-place Los Angeles Clippers and 1 1/2 games ahead of fourth-place Utah in the Western Conference playoff race. September 30 to October 13. Ayton, now known for his offensive stuffs and defensive swats, will get at least eight more games from the time he lost on the court during this past regular season under coach Monty Williams. He was suspended for 25 games without pay by the NBA on October 24 for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Doping Programme by testing positive for a diuretic. He returned to action December 17. Ayton, who had averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in 30.7 minutes in 71 games as a rookie, pushed his numbers up to 19.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.9 assists and 0.7 steals per game in 32.3 minutes in the 30 games he played up to the break in the league in March.

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball’s minor leagues cancelled their seasons yesterday because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the head of their governing body said more than half of the 160 teams were in danger of failing without government assistance or private equity injections. The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, the minor league governing body, made the long-expected announcement. “We are a fans-in-the-stands business. We don’t have national TV revenues,” National Association president Pat O’Conner said during a digital news conference. “There was a conversation at one point: Well, can we play without fans? And that was one of the shortest conversations in the last six months. It just doesn’t make any sense.” O’Conner estimated 85-90 per cent of revenue was related to ticket money, concessions, parking and ballpark advertising. The minors drew 41.5 million fans last year for 176 teams in 15 leagues, averaging 4,044 fans per game. MLB teams are planning for a 60-game regular season and most of their revenue will derive from broadcast money. “I had a conversation

with the commissioner, and we weren’t unable to find a path that allowed us to play games,” O’Conner said. “It wasn’t an acrimonious decision on our part.” O’Conner said many minor league teams had received money through the federal Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. “That was a Band-Aid on a haemorrhaging industry,” he said. “Many of our clubs have gone through one, two, maybe three rounds of furloughs. In our office here, we’ve had varying levels of pay cuts between senior management, staff, and we’ve furloughed some individuals, as well, and are just about to enter in a second round of furloughs.” He hopes for passage of H.R. 7023, which would provide $1 billion in 15-year federal loans from the Federal Reserve to businesses that had 2019 revenue of $35 million or less and “have contractual obligations for making lease, rent, or bond payments for publicly owned sports facilities, museums, and community theatres.” In addition, the Professional Baseball Agreement between the majors and minors expires September 30, and MLB has proposed reducing the minimum affiliates from 160 to 120. “There’s no question that what the pandemic has done is made us somewhat weaker economically,”

O’Conner said. “I don’t think it’s challenged our resolve. I don’t think it’s impacted our desire to stick together and get a good deal.” There have not been substantive talks for about six weeks. “There are very many teams that are not liquid, not solvent, not able to proceed under normal circumstances, and these are anything but normal circumstances given the PBA and the uncertainty of the future for some of these ballclubs,” O’Conner said. “So I think the coronavirus has really cut into many clubs’ ability to make it. And I think that we’re looking at without some government intervention, without doing something to take on equity partners, you might be looking at half of the 160 who are going to have serious problems.” MLB already has told clubs to retain expanded 60-player pools, of which 30 players can be active during the first two weeks of the season starting in late July. Conner said the financial impact of the pathogen might extend until 2023. “As serious as the threat from Major League Baseball was,” O’Conner said, “this threat from the coronavirus, it transcends any list that anybody wants to make with respect to the possibility of teams not being around in the future.”

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Deandre joins forces with Facebook Gaming By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ahamian Deandre Ayton, preparing to head to Orlando, Florida, for the Phoenix Suns’ completion of the National Basketball Association competition 2019/20 season, is lending his support to another charitable cause in Arizona. The Suns’ 6-foot, 11-inch centre will join Phoenix Mercury centre Brittney Griner, using the power of gaming and social media to raise money for COVID19 relief and social justice. Ayton and Griner are two of 11 athletes joining forces with Facebook Gaming to livestream games exclusively on Facebook and their own Facebook pages using a Live Donate button to raise money for two of the most prominent causes in the United States and beyond. In a press release yesterday, said Evan Shugerman, head of Facebook athlete sports partnerships: “Athletes continue to be remarkable forces for good on social media and we’re excited for this particular group to use Facebook Gaming this summer to

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entertain fans and raise money for incredibly important causes.” Ayton and Griner are a part of nine other athletes who Facebook will be donating $20,000 to the charity of their choice. While Ayton’s choice will be NAACP Legal Defence and Education Fund, Griner’s is for Hunger: Not Impossible. The other nine are Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz), Julian Edelman (New England Patriots), Allie Long, (US Soccer/ Reign FC), Alex Caruso (Los Angeles Lakers), Bogdan Bogdanovic (Sacramento Kings), JaVale McGee (Los Angeles Lakers), Josh Richardson (Philadelphia 76ers), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls) and Tacko Fall (Boston Celtics). The 21-year-old Ayton, who was the No.1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Suns and one of two Bahamians playing in the league, could not be reached for comments. He is scheduled to join the Suns in the NBA bubble at Wilt Disney in Orlando on July 31 when 22 teams compete for this year’s title. The other is Grand Bahamian shooting

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WITH their National Championships postponed until later this year, the Bahamas Swimming Federation is also looking at staging its election of officers before the year is over. Incumbent president Algernon Cargill, who also serves as the FINA Bureau for the Americas, has not indicated whether or not he will be seeking another term in office whenever the BSF’s elections take place. Cargill, who was first elected to serve as president in 2003, said he is considering another term in office. But he also has some international obligations to FINA that he is heavily involved in.

BAAA STILL COMMITTED TO STAGING TRACK & FIELD MEET AT THE END OF JULY By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH a lot of uncertainty still looming over the coronavirus pandemic, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is still committed to putting on a track and field meet at the end of the month. But BAAA President Drumeco Archer said the July 31 to August 1 meet will more than likely be a watered down version of the National Championships because it’s obvious that not that many athletes are training as a result of the lock down and curfews that were imposed by the Bahamas Government over the last three months. “I don’t want to make any formal statement yet, but it’s pretty unlikely that we will have the nationals,” Archer said. “Given the uncertainty with all that is happening, I just don’t see a clear path for us to have the nationals. “Trevor Moss, who is the chairman of the organising committee, is in consultation with the Ministry of Health in reference to the

DEANDRE AYTON, of the Bahamas, is lending his support to another charitable cause in Arizona. The Suns’ 6-foot, 11-inch centre will join Phoenix Mercury centre Brittney Griner, using the power of gaming and social media to raise money for COVID-19 relief and social justice. (AP Photo/Matt York)

BSF looking to hold elections before end of the year By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

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Similar to Mike Sands serving as a member of World Athletics by virtue of being the NACAC president, Cargill sits on the global board of FINA as the representative for the Americas, a position he has held since 2017 after he was appointed CCCAC. As a member of the FINA 24-member board, Cargill said they are discussing how the coronavirus pandemic has affected all of its member countries. “It’s going well. We get to make global decisions for all water sports - swimming, diving, water polo, artistic diving and synchronised swimming,” Cargill said. “I was recently appointed to serve for another four years.” With the distinction of being the first and only Bahamian to hold such a position, Archer said as the

area representative for Central and North America and the Caribbean, it’s a very important role that he has to fulfil. “I’m not just a representative for the Bahamas, but for the region on a whole,” said Cargill, who was re-appointed to serve for another four years during their last meeting in August 2019. It’s an awesome responsibility, but it’s one that I try to do to the best of my ability. I am delighted to be able to attend and function in any meeting or activities that FINA has.” Just like he would have regarded his position as the BSF president that got him to the FINA level, Cargill said he takes his global responsibility just as proudly as he does his national commitment. “Being the BSF president and a former vice president of CCCAN

and also an executive of UWA, the swimming body for the Americas and Canada, for the past four years, it shows that hard work pays off,” Archer said. “It tells me that what we are doing here is paying off globally.” Cargill was first elected as president of the BSF in 2003. Originally, each term was for two years, but it was changed and ratified for four years in 2010 to coincide with the International Olympic Committee’s four-year term. Having served for five consecutive terms over the past 17 years, Cargill said he’s not sure if he will seek another four-year term, but there are persons who are asking him to return. “My job is to train someone to take over. I’ve been

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BLTA TIME: ELECTION OF OFFICERS CONFIRMED THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) is scheduled to hold its election of officers at the National Tennis Centre between the hours of 3-6pm on Saturday. Darnett Weir won’t be seeking another term in office. Instead, council member and junior development coach Perry Newton will be running against former women’s national team player Dyphany Mortier. Both candidates have assembled a team of candidates to run for the various positions.