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VOLUME:117 No.163, JULY 21ST, 2020
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
HEALTH: GO GREEN IN GARDEN TO HELP BEAT DIABETES
GB SURGES ON
Twenty new cases as D’Aguilar says locals to blame, not tourists By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A RECORD 21 new COVID-19 cases were recorded yesterday, 20 in Grand Bahama and one in New Providence, bringing the country’s toll in virus infections to 174. This comes as the Ministry of Finance announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest will selfquarantine for 14 days after one of his aides tested positive for the coronavirus. Mr Turnquest “received a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result on Friday, July 17, 2020,” a statement said. “Following the Ministry of Health’s protocols, Minister Turnquest took the test after learning he was exposed to a positive case earlier that day.
Out of an abundance of caution and on advice, Minister Turnquest has voluntarily entered self-quarantine. He continues to perform his functions as minister of finance, working remotely from home.” In addition, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Delon Brennen told The Tribune officials are investigating a potential COVID-19 death. There have been 11 confirmed COVID-19 deaths to date. The Public Hospitals Authority also announced that an emergency medical technician in New Providence tested positive for COVID-19 after developing symptoms. The technician has no history of travel and the exposure points toward communitybased spread, the PHA said.
HAVE YOU DONE THIS BEFORE?
EZRA Russell is ready to close up shop three years after opening the largest hotel on Cat Island, the Fountain Bay Resort and Marina. The 49-year-old put his resort up for sale three weeks ago, a move cemented by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ announcement that the borders will be closed to commercial flights from the United States starting at midnight tomorrow. “There ain’t no coming
SEE PAGE FIVE
SEE PAGE EIGHT
UK SCIENTISTS OFFER HOPE OF VACCINE
FULL STORY - SEE PAGE 11
SEE PAGE THREE
back,” he said. “This reopening then shutting down, reopening then shutting down, it ain’t make no sense because all we are doing is wasting our money. You can’t borrow because the banks aren’t lending any money and I don’t want any debt. I’ve talked to a lot of hoteliers here and they have the same feeling. I think this is the end of tourism for us, we have to look to do something else. It’s sad that I opened this three years ago, invested all this money, and I’m here now wondering, what’s next?”
LOCKED AWAY ONE WOMAN’S COVID FIGHT
A CORONAVIRUS vaccine being developed at the University of Oxford in England yesterday revealed promising results with the experimental jab providing an immune reaction that can last for at least two months. Clinical trial results of the vaccine revealed more than 91 per cent of volunteers injected produced an immune response against the coronavirus that lasted a month or more. Immune responses remained strong for at least 56 days, according to results in The Lancet.
ISLAND HOTELIERS FEAR THEY MAY NOT RECOVER By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FACE-TO-FACE
TEN BAILED FOR FISHING OFFENCES
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
BAIN and Grants Town MP Travis Robinson celebrates his re-instatement as parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Tourism with Governor General CA Smith at Government House yesterday. Report - Page 2 Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
TEN fishermen who were accused of using an air compressor to catch over 400 pounds of undersized fish were yesterday granted bail ahead of their trial. Rodney Ferguson, 64; Ethan Saunders 56; Emilio Louis, 56; Mark Johnson, 56; Korndo Rolle, 40; Julian Albury, 27; Ashton Alcegane, 27; Hector Plaincencia, 58; Jose Delgado, 55; and Emilio Louis, 56, SEE PAGE SEVEN
NEW LEGAL CHALLENGE TO HI PROJECT
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A HARBOUR Island marina project has been accused of “side stepping” conditions imposed on its activities by submitting two different sets of plans to the central and local government authorities. Opponents of the controversial 4M Harbour Island Ltd development, in their second legal action
HARBOUR ISLAND challenging the approvals granted for its construction, are alleging that the plans submitted to the Harbour Island District Council to
obtain its building permit were not pre-approved by the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission as required by the government. Br-island Island Responsible Development is also claiming that 4M’s marina is larger than the size permitted by BEST and the project’s Heads of Agreement that were signed by both developer and government in March 2018. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
PETER YOUNG
CHINA BEWARE BRITAIN’S BARK STILL HAS BITE
SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Tuesday, July 21, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
Wells: I’ll be in charge of ‘progressive’ department By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
Bamboo Town MP said: “There’s a lot of countries around the globe at this point of time, who have HEALTH Minister ministers of health who are Renward Wells yesterday not doctors and some of defended his new ministe- them have been doing quite rial appointment, saying it’s well with the pandemic. not unusual for countries “We have Singapore that to have government repre- has an electrical engineer sentatives assume the role as the Minister of Health. I of Health Minister without happen to be a mechanical having medical experience. engineer and the response His comments to report- of Singapore in regards ers came after he received to how it’s handled the his letters of appointment COVID-19 pandemic has to the ministry by Governor been excellent.” General Cornelius A Smith He added: “I do believe yesterday. that perhaps the Minister During a national address of Health in Taiwan may on Sunday, Prime Min- be a dentist and Canada, ister Dr Hubert Minnis I believe, may not have a announced Mr Wells’ Minister of Health who’s a appointment as the coun- doctor and New Zealand try’s newest Minister of and a couple other counHealth. As a result of the tries that’s escaping me at move, Dr Minnis said the this point in time. Ministry of Transport will “But, what is necessary now fall under the portfo- as the prime minister has lio of Labour Minister Dion spoken as to what he’d like Foulkes. to see me do in the confines Since the announcement, of the Ministry of Health, many have criticised the he’s tasked me to be able appointment, with some to ensure that we move observers questioning the that ministry forward in a wisdom of the decision very progressive way and I given Mr Wells’ non-medi- intend to do just that.” cal background. The Minister of Health in Responding to critics, the Taiwan is Chen Shih-chung,
who qualified as a dentist in 1977. Canada’s minister is Patty Hajdu, who had previously worked in public health on drug policy, youth development and homelessness and was the executive director of a homelessness organisation. New Zealand’s interim minister is Chris Hipkins, an education specialist temporarily in the post after the resignation of his predecessor earlier this month. The Singapore minister is Gan Kim Young, who studied electrical engineering at university before entering the civil service. Mr Wells replaces Dr Minnis as Health Minister, who temporarily assumed the position following the resignation of Dr Duane Sands in early May. During Sunday’s address, Dr Minnis outlined a number of duties that Mr Wells will now assume as the new Minister of Health, including “working with health officials on boosting immunisations and vaccinations” and improving the public healthcare system. Asked yesterday if the country can expect to see more forthcoming information under his leadership
THE NEW Health Minister Renward Wells yesterday as Minister of Health, Mr Wells said he expected operations to run as usual. “. . .I think the Ministry of Health has been briefing the public on what is going on in the nation given where we are with this pandemic and I don’t see any change in the Ministry of Health,” he said. “This minister, the technical professionals will be able to update the nation on where we are and where we intend to go.” Yesterday, Mr Wells also pledged to meet with all
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
health professionals and associations that may have any concerns. This comes after some health associations have called for more communication from the Ministry of Health and then health minister, Dr Minnis. He said: “I will meet with all of those individuals who are a part of the mandate and the portfolio that I would’ve been given. You have to respect the fact that Prime Minister has been Minister of Health for probably about
six weeks but he’s also the Prime Minister of the country. “He’s also the individual tasked with dealing with this pandemic at that point of time and he’s still tasked with dealing with the pandemic as the head of the competent authority and so he would not have had time to be able to meet with them in that timeframe. “I’m here now and I will meet with them and hear their concerns and seek to address them going forward.”
ROBINSON PROMISES TO BRING IN FRESH IDEAS By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FOLLOWING a brief swearing in ceremony at Government House, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation Travis Robinson pledged to bring “fresh and innovative ideas” to aid the country’s tourism recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Robinson’s reappointment to the role comes two years after he was fired from the post for voting against the government’s VAT increase. On Sunday, Dr Minis announced Mr Robinson will be reinstated as the parliamentary secretary in
the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. During a scaled-down ceremony yesterday, government officials, family and friends watched as the Bains and Grants Town MP gave an oath of allegiance and accepted his instruments of appointment, which was administered by Governor General Cornelius Smith. Speaker to reporters on the sidelines yesterday, Mr Robinson said: “Well, as you know I was there when I was first appointed in 2017. One of the things I was pleased by was to put new ideas to the forefront. The minister brings a wealth of experience in his background in the business arena and being able
to present new, fresh and innovative ideas is what I’ve been able to bring to the board.” Also receiving his letters of appointment yesterday was Senator Dion Foulkes. Mr Foulkes, who is responsible for the Ministry of Labour, assumed the portfolio for the Ministry of Transport yesterday after Renward Wells was officially appointed to minister of health. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Foulkes expressed confidence in his ability to handle both ministries under his portfolio, saying he does not “foresee” any issues given his experience as labour minister. He said: “Well, one of
the advantages that I have is part of the Ministry of Transport, I had carriage in my portfolio previously and it was called the Ministry of Labour and Maritime Affairs so the Post Office, the Port Department and the Bahamas Maritime Authority, I’m very familiar with those areas. “So the Ministry of Transport is not totally new to me. The Met Department, the Road Traffic Department will be new areas but given my experience in the Ministry of Labour, I don’t foresee an issue with handling both ministries.” His new appointment comes at a time when thousands of Bahamian workers have been laid off due to financial strain brought
TRAVIS ROBINSON on the by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Foulkes said officials are in discussions with various employers, encouraging them to keep as many workers employed as possible. “We are talking to employers throughout
the country to encourage them to maintain the highest level of employment as possible,” he said. “I am very pleased as the minister of labour that the government had decided to extend the unemployment benefit by 13 weeks. Both the assistance rendered by the Ministry of Finance to persons like straw vendors and hair braiders, tour operations and taxi-cab drivers to extend that and also the unemployment benefit - I think that has given a lot of relief to a lot of Bahamian families but the fact of the matter is until a vaccine is discovered or until there is a serious decrease in the incidents of persons that contract the virus, our economy will not fully recover.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 21, 2020, PAGE 3
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
DAVIS: IT’S NOT BAHAMIANS WHO ARE AT FAULT By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis knocked Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for “blaming Bahamians for his government’s failings” after a spike in COVID-19 cases prompted a U-turn on the decision to reopen the country’s borders to commercial flights. He said in a press statement: “In June, as case counts began to rise rapidly in our nearest neighbour, we pointed out that the government was choosing to re-open our borders at a time of great risk, and
needed to take every precaution necessary to protect Bahamians. Guided by the medical and public health experts on our PLP task force, we repeatedly talked about the need to re-open wisely and the importance of expanding our nation’s capacity for testing and contact tracing. “If the country was free of COVID-19 at the time of re-opening, as the prime minister declared, then any new cases were imported. The focus therefore has to be at the borders. And yet the prime minister continues to focus on criticising Bahamians. When fresh air and exercise are critical to a nation under
great stress, he closes the beaches, rather than set up guidelines to make them as safe as possible. There is no scientific basis for this decision, just a need to dictate to Bahamians.” Mr Davis added: “It is not Bahamians who are at fault for this sudden rise in new infections. It is the government’s protocols that have been full of loopholes. It is also increasingly obvious the lack of proper enforcement at the borders has contributed to the resurgence of COVID-19.” Mr Davis said the testing and contact tracing policy of the government remains weak and inadequate, adding Dr Minnis
would be more successful if he focused on strengthening these than on curtailing “the rights and freedoms of Bahamians.” He said allowing a 72-hour window for people traveling to places with rising case counts without having to present a negative COVID-19 test to return home was a decision not based on science. He took aim at Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar’s recent statement that a few people slipped in the country without securing the right test. “Who were they?” he said. “Where were they from? What happened to them? What has been done
to remedy the protocols so that the situation isn’t repeated? Why hasn’t the government provided more details about how this was able to happen?” The government announced a ban on commercial international travel by plane or boat beginning Wednesday, except for travel from the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada, essentially cutting off most travel to the US. However travel from the US is still allowed on private aircraft and pleasure boat, something Mr Davis took issue with. He added: “It makes no sense that the FNM administration continues to allow
their wealthy friends to come and go as they like, on private boats and planes - this clearly presents a risk, as it did while Bahamians were fully locked down under curfew.” He continued: “The situation in Grand Bahama is very troubling. Given the state of the healthcare system there, what is the government doing to ensure that Bahamians will be safely taken care of? “The economic crisis is growing. Why then is BPL being allowed to consider disconnecting some 16,000 Bahamians? Depriving people of electricity and possibly water is likely to contribute to the health crisis.”
The move has since attracted international attention, with many focusing on the ban of commercial travel from US countries. However, Mr D’Aguilar said he wanted to dispel the myth that American visitors are not allowed to enter the country. “The Bahamas is open to the United States, you just cannot come here by commercial aircraft and you can come here by private aircraft or by pleasure boat and so that was incorrect and we’re going to correct that,” he said. Asked yesterday if he
expects to receive any “pushback” from the US due to the restrictions, the minster replied that he didn’t expect to receive any negative feedback. “So, I don’t anticipate any push back from the United States. I think they see what we did and why we did it and once the numbers from Grand Bahama settle, they will understand why we did what we did. “And the European market and the Canadian market, first of all, we have no flights coming in from Europe and the Canadian market is really one flight a
week so we need to fix our interaction with the United States both by our people going and out of the States and the protocols that they will now have to undergo when they return and obviously the ones we were using with the foreign visitors. “And the evidence I have right now in front of me, I have no known cases created by foreign visitors coming into the country. They were all following the protocols, getting the COVID tests. We were screening them before they came so I think that was working well.”
D’Aguilar: Locals are to blame By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday hit out at critics who knocked the government for its decision to re-open the country’s borders in early July, insisting the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country was not “touristrelated” but “domestic grown”. Speaking to reporters at Government House Mr D’Aguilar said the surge of cases was not a result of tourists entering the country, but rather due to Bahamians travelling abroad. In view of this, Mr D’Aguilar suggested the government was perhaps not strict enough with its travel protocols for residents leaving and entering the country. He said: “I completely disagree with them. It was not a tourist-related matter. Unfortunately, citizenry took advantage of their increased ability to travel and you will see that all of the cases are really domestic grown, and the foreign visitors have seemingly to date, not impacted us. “Unfortunately, you could not create two separate economies and you couldn’t create two separate set of rules so of course the rules must apply to all and in our attempt to get a citizenry or the number of cases in Grand Bahama back under control, the prime minister felt
DIONISIO D’Aguilar yesterday Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff compelled to do what he had to do.” He continued: “But I don’t think anyone has shown me any evidence at least that it was because of foreign visitors coming into the country that we had a growth in cases, so I think we had that group of protocols working well. It’s just that maybe with hindsight we were not strict enough on Bahamians going in and out of the country. We have to rethink our strategy as it relates to visitors, but also to our own citizenry moving in and out of the country.” In March, the government closed the country’s borders to all incoming commercial travel, including Bahamians, to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. At the time, some relief flights were allowed to accommodate Bahamians and residents stuck abroad. International commercial
TWENTY NEW CASES IN GRAND BAHAMA from page one
“The Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health is carrying out ongoing contact tracing in this regard,” the PHA said in a statement. “To date 10 persons connected to the EMT have been placed in quarantine. PHA ambulances and the impacted EMS locations have been professionally cleaned and sanitised. EMS services continue as usual and may be contacted by calling 911/919. The public is reminded to utilise the service of EMS for emergencies only, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.” The Tribune understands that several police officers are among the recent new Grand Bahama cases and some are in quarantine. Inspector Sonny Miller, chairman of the Police Staff Association, said some officers are fearful.
“Speaking with some of the officers in Grand Bahama, there is heightened alert and the officers are very, very cautious and some might be in fear,” he said. “We must remain focused and committed and this is just one of those times when the officers are placed in a position again to put country above their self. I have gotten reports that members have been affected by it and there is some testing going on now involving officers. A number of officers are in fear because Grand Bahama is a tightknit area where the officers are closer, unlike us in New Providence that are spread out wider.” The Ministry of Health could not say up to press time if the 21 cases had a history of travel. Details, such as age and gender of the new cases, were not released either. Editorial View - Page 6
travel resumed on July 1 in a move officials said would help jumpstart the country’s tourism industry. However, since then, The Bahamas has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, particularly in Grand Bahama. In an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on Sunday banned all commercial flights and vessels from entering the country beginning on Wednesday. However, he said commercial travel from Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union will be permitted.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, July 21, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net ARAWAK Cay and Potter’s Cay vendors feel they are being unfairly targeted after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis shut the areas down in light of rising COVID-19 cases. Dr Minnis made the announcement on Sunday. Vendors are angry that other restaurants are allowed to open with outdoor dining and limited indoor seating while they have to suspend operations. Lillian LarrimoreSmith, vice president of the Arawak Cay, Conch, Fish, Vegetables and Food Vendors Association, questioned why the popular spot has been shut down when no COVID-19 cases have been traced to the area. She said popular fast food franchises — such as Wendy’s and Pizza Hut — had employees test positive, yet their operations were not forced to close. “How can the Prime Minister strictly tell us we are closed and we don’t even have any COVID-19 cases at any of our establishments here? Pizza Hut and Wendy’s had cases and they were not closed down,” she said. “There are also some places in New Providence that never closed when everywhere else was closed down and they never practised social distancing either. And the police are in no way monitoring those places. So, my question is how can you shut down the place that is being monitored?” Ms Larrimore-Smith said restaurant owners have monitored social distancing, adding there is a police presence at Arawak Cay. “Listening to his address, the PM is saying we are closed until some reform to social distancing takes place,” she continued. “In reference to that, I believe that the business owners of Arawak Cay have been doing an excellent job in maintaining that. If you have three or four persons in violation, that’s fine, then you deal with them through the legal authorities.
RECENT scenes at Arawak Cay, left, and Potter’s Cay
Cay vendors: We are being unfairly targeted “The police and members of our association make sure persons that come into Arawak Cay are wearing their masks, so even if it’s not being done on the entire island, Arawak Cay has the daily monitoring of the police so for the Prime Minister to close us down, I am not understanding that. We have the police out here, we have the association leaders and members doing walkabouts on a daily basis to ensure measures are in place and everyone is adhering to the rules.” She said there are 32 vendors with over 200 staff members at Arawak Cay. Taking family members into account, she believes more than 1,000 people who will be affected by Arawak Cay’s closure.
“We also have the restaurants and persons that are selling food, they have their stock that they have bought,” she said. “They have spent thousands of dollars in inventories. The Prime Minister was abrupt in closing us down and he didn’t even give us a chance to put measures in place to deal with the excess of food items that we have in our refrigerators and freezers.” She fears financial disaster for the vendors, the employees and their families. The association plans to send a letter to Dr Minnis urging him to reopen Arawak Cay. Based on his response, the vendors may take further action, but she declined to elaborate. Ricardo Williams, proprietor of Drifters, said all
the vendors want is a level playing field. “We know his decision is not backed by the science of it. In my opinion it is also not backed by logic either, because when you look at the fact that you have every other restaurant going unhindered while doing their business, we have to ask, what makes us so different especially the fact that we just spent thousands of dollars installing signage, hand sanitizers and an inventory? “We should remember that when we first closed, we lost all that inventory. We then reopened and put new inventory in the place; now we are losing that inventory again. That is thousands of dollars going down the drain again. Maybe these big companies
can afford that, but for the smaller business persons, that right there, is definitely hard to absorb.” Meanwhile, an irate vendor at Potter’s Cay is upset that sufficient warning was not given. He, too, has complained about product that was lost due to the last closure. “Right now we have already purchased thousands of dollars worth of products for our stalls and now this closure with no warning,” the vendor said. “At least give us two days warning to say you are closing Potter’s Cay Dock and Arawak Cay. But, right now just to go on the radio and to close us down just like that after I have already invested my money. Come on man. There is no
consideration given to the small man. “We have followed all the guidelines the ministry has put in place. We have put up the signs, you get your grease trap, you get your water heater, you’ve done all your sanitization. I do not serve anyone without their masks on, so why am I being punished? Can someone from the relevant authority please tell me why am I being punished for following the rules?” After a near three month closure, vendors and stall owners at Potter’s Cay and Arawak Cay were allowed to reopen for business in mid-June. However, the areas were not allowed to resume indoor dining, only outdoor seating and takeaway services.
this COVID-19 pandemic, South Florida,” said businessman Brian Seymour. “Today, I am extremely upset because foolish decisions were made on behalf of the Bahamian people.” Grand Bahama’s proximity to the US makes it vulnerable to coronavirus infections. The surge of infections re-emerged on July 8 in Grand Bahama with two cases, with an almost daily increase in cases since then. Yesterday the island recorded a staggering 20 cases. On Sunday, Dr Minnis reimposed tough measures for Grand Bahama, including a 7pm curfew, closure of beaches and parks, and
the cessation of travel to the US and domestically. Mr Seymour, a Grand Bahama businessman, believes the island’s residents are not to be fully blamed for the spread, but rather the nation’s leader. “The duty of any government that is worth its salt is to preserve the peace, order, and safety if its people. The duty of a doctor is to preserve life and its wellbeing. Given these two metrics, Dr Hubert Minnis has failed miserably,” he said. “The Bahamas is under emergency orders. It was an irresponsible act of governance for Dr Minnis to allow citizens of the Bahamas to travel into the epicentre of
this COVID-19 pandemic, South Florida. It can also be argued that it was medical malpractice to allow Bahamians to go into South Florida for 72 hours, and return without being tested,” he stated. ”Dr Minnis, you are responsible and should be rebuked.” Local activist Joseph Darville also believes it was “a terrible judgment call” to reopen the borders. The outcome was expected, he said. “The PM hastened too early to open up travel back and forth between The Bahamas and Florida. Florida was into an exponentially severe surge in COVID-19 cases and
deaths. In spite of this, in the name of bringing back tourism, he obviously ignored good advice and opened the flood gates. Common sense could easily predict the outcome. Therefore, the draconian measures now again instituted are sensibly warranted.” Mr Darville added: “The directions and paths originally followed by the PM, obviously advised by his medical team, were the sane and productive manner in which to totally eliminate the virus from our nation. It was a terrible judgment call, not based on medical science, to open up our basically secure borders for COVID-19 to dramatically impact us. In light of the undisciplined nature of many of our citizens, everyone is now put at a serious disadvantage once again. I would say the PM now has no other more effective course to take in order to return the country to late June status.” According to Rev Glenroy Bethel, the government imposed COVID-19 laws on Bahamians and yet failed to protect its citizens by reopening the borders, knowing the risks. He is threatening to file a writ in the Supreme Court. “We are going to sue the government and take action against the prime minister, and the MPs in Freeport for allowing the borders to open and for (people) to be affected by COVID-19. The government knew Florida was a hotspot and opened the borders even though the Bahamas, we right next to the hotspot. I can’t see how we could allow the government to get away with this; they are imposing laws on us and failing to protect us. We were fine for 60 days with no reported cases,” he stressed. Although union activist Lionel Morley agrees Grand Bahama is facing a challenge with COVID-19, he says it sad that some people are politicising the issue.
“It is no surprise… this expected minor uptick,” he said. “Any real leader would reevaluate and reassess things. We don’t quite have a handle on how the uptick came, we think we do because of the borders that we have a spread…” He thinks Dr Minnis is on the right track. “This leader has been and is on the right track, and while there are critics, some people are still in the political rush and choose to be political over this new reality. And it is sad that is the case,” he said. Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president, Greg Laroda fears the island is going “back to square one.” “For us for in GB it is not a welcoming position,” he said. “We were just beginning to open back up and get commerce going on the island again, and now it appears we are back to square one, and probably faced with being completely lockdown by Friday,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what his intention is for a complete lockdown. I don’t know if it is the same that Bimini had because I think we are a little bit too big for that… in terms of provisions for food. And, so you can’t have folks in their home for two weeks so I am sure he will look at it and try to make a decision in the best interests of all of us. While it is not welcomed from a commercial standpoint, Mr Laroda said Bahamians have to appreciate the safety side of it. “I have seen photos passed around and been in places where I said to myself, ‘these guys are not practicing social distancing and not wearing their mask.’ So, I could understand why he would want to control that type of thing. But we want to see this coronavirus thing behind us sooner rather than later, if it is going to help us, fine,” he said.
‘I’M EXTREMELY UPSET BY THESE FOOLISH DECISIONS’ By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AS COVID-19 infections soar in Grand Bahama, some residents are blaming Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for reopening the borders too soon. To date, there are 59 confirmed cases here on the island, compared with eight recorded in early May. The island had a two month lull in new cases before July 1, when international travel restrictions were lifted. “It was an irresponsible act of governance for Dr Minnis to allow citizens of The Bahamas to travel into the epicentre of
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 21, 2020, PAGE 5
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
CHRISTIAN COUNCIL CALLS FOR MORE CLARITY By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander is calling for more communication with authorities so the church can make better informed decisions during the coronavirus pandemic. His comments come after Mount Tabor Church suspended in-person church gatherings until it was deemed fit to resume them. While church officials say they have no information of church members testing positive for COVID-19, they from page one Before COVID-19, Mr Russell could depend on at least breaking even. His $6.7 million hotel investment created a product featuring 21 hotel rooms, a clubhouse and opportunities to snorkel, visit pigs and deep drop fishing. During a brief reopening earlier this month, business was only 20 percent of its prior level. Now he says the immediate future of his twelve employees appears bleak. “What happens to all the food and monies we used up to reopen our resorts?” he said. “We were getting a little people in and out and it cost me like $10,000 to get back open.” Nearly 60 miles away on Exuma, Richard Lightbourn, operator of the popular Exuma Water Sports company, planned to host a family meeting to discuss the way forward for the family-ran business. “It could wipe us out for all I know,” he said of Dr Minnis’ decision. “It’s devastating.” To prepare for the reopening of the country and to prevent spread of COVID-19, Mr Lightbourn said the company spent at least $20,000 on disposable masks, disinfectants, hand sanitizers and products to ready its seven boats. “Sandals just told us that all guests have to be out of the hotel by Wednesday, and that is our main hotel,” he said. “Air Canada isn’t scheduled to fly here until October so Canadians can’t really come and we have not had flights coming here from Europe. Even if we did, there’s no sense coming if there is nowhere to stay since hotels won’t stay open if there is no money. When we reopened last week we were breathing a sigh of relief. Right now we’re still just dealing with the knockout blow of it all. I have a
explained in a press release that the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution and care”. The church’s administrative office will remain open throughout the week. Funerals and weddings will be facilitated in accordance with the government’s safety protocols. Bishop Fernander told The Tribune the council realises the recent flattening of the curve has led to a lack of communication between the government and church leaders in recent weeks. He said churches should be informed if there
is a community spread in a certain areas. He said: “It is useless to tell us there are …(a number of) cases in Grand Bahama. We need to know where. We need to speak to those congregations. We need to speak to that jurisdiction, so that they can know we need to step up our protocols because particularly in these areas we have an uptick and we have people in quarantine. “We knew that there would be opening and closing, but we’re just saying that we need the information so we could reduce or prevent. It cannot be just a
government problem, it’s a society problem and the church is a major part of the society.” Meanwhile, retired Anglican Archdeacon James Palacious said churches should continue the protocols currently being practised as he feels they have been working. “Well the same things that we were doing before just be careful, exercise the protocol, limit the number of persons in church, limit the contact between members. Don’t forget now that has been working for you know 11 weeks or however many weeks,” he said.
“If there is one thing we agree on as a country it is that we open up prematurely and the opening up of the borders has caused the surge. Just about everybody has agreed on that one thing. So if we could just continue to do what we were doing and it should be okay. On the other hand, if there are people that are fearful that even with those protocols in place that you would want to curtail direct services then I could understand as well.” As for Mount Tabor, Archdeacon Palacious said it was wise for the church
to suspend services from the perspective that it is believed that social gatherings like church worship could be the source of a spread. He added: “It doesn’t mean that others should necessarily follow suit if they do not share the same kind of fear of a surge because of church gatherings, but I could fully understand and appreciate why he thinks so. On the other hand, I could see why others would just say ‘well we are fine if we continue with our protocols then it shouldn’t be a problem.’”
Island hoteliers fear they may not recover THE Fountain Bay Resort and Marina on Cat Island
family meeting tonight to see if we could come up with some plan but we really don’t see much hope. “They allowed us to operate at only 50 percent of boat capacity, so with
that we hoped to at least break even to pay the staff, but this is now going on to five months of a shutdown. We have to pay for dockage and insurance and what’s frustrating is they’re letting
the big mega yachts come in that are doing the exact same tours we’re doing and it’s kinda unfair to us because we have to pay all these business license fees and other things and the big boats don’t have to.” Some swimming pigs, a popular attraction for guests, might have to be relocated as companies process budget cuts, Mr Lightbourn said. “There are 17 swimming pigs, we call them bachelors pigs because they were on the TV show in 2017, we may have to take them off the island and put them in a big pen here somewhere where we can feed them,”
he said. “It costs $50 to $60 in gas every day to go out and feed them by boat and because Sandals doesn’t always have enough food right now, we have to buy extra food. It’s not easy.” With the borders partially closed to people from their biggest market, some tourism-related businesses are eyeing domestic opportunities. Mr Lightbourn said he attracted about 30 customers from New Providence when his business restarted this month, far more than the usual fourper-week that he typically sees in normal times. But a domestic tourism
focus has limits and will not help all, according to Mr Russell. “Bahamians don’t have the money to travel and pay,” he said. “Most guests from Nassau are looking for rooms around $75 to $80 a night and we couldn’t run our business on that. The cheapest room we have is $190 a night, all the rest are like $250 to $300. Bahamians are not working either. Things are bad with them too. For me to cut my rate to pay electricity and helpers and gardeners, that $75 and $80 wouldn’t work for me, my property is too big for that.” Editorial View - Page 6
PAGE 6, Tuesday, July 21, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
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Finding the right balance in the fight against COVID-19 “There ain’t no coming back.” THOSE are the stark words of one hotelier who has decided to shut down, the owner of the Fountain Bay Resort and Marina in Cat Island. “I think this is the end of tourism for us, we have to look to do something else,” said Ezra Russell, who opened the resort three years ago. It is the largest hotel on Cat Island. His decision comes in the wake of the move to close down commercial travel from the US amid concerns over COVID-19. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced the decision on Sunday, just a few short weeks after The Bahamas reopened its borders. Those borders remain open to visitors from the UK, the EU and Canada – but not the US, which is our country’s biggest market. Mr Russell is not alone in his concerns at the state of the tourism market following the closure. Richard Lightbourn in Exuma said the move “could wipe us out”, while the famous swimming pigs might have to be relocated in order to keep them fed with no regular visits by boat. It is tough times indeed – but if tourists are bringing COVID-19 into the country, is it the right move to protect public safety? Well, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar sounds a different note. He says it is not the fault of tourists that we have a spike in COVID-19 cases. He was responding to criticism that the borders were opened prematurely – but he says it’s not the tourists to blame for our cases, but Bahamians. That’s not a line that will be popular with people, but Mr D’Aguilar is insistent about it. “It was not a tourist-related matter,” he said, “Unfortunately, citizenry took advantage of their increased ability to travel and you will see that all of the cases are really domestic grown, and the foreign visitors have seemingly to date not impacted us.” So why are we cutting off our income if visitors aren’t to blame? Mr D’Aguilar says that “unfortunately, you could not create two separate economies and you
couldn’t create two separate sets of rules so of course the rules must apply to all”. If Mr D’Aguilar is right, then this is a self-inflicted wound. He says that he has “no known cases created by foreign visitors”, so can we really find no solution that still brings visitors in but tightens up to ensure safe travel by Bahamians? Can’t we find a way to patch the hole in our system rather than shutting the whole system down? Bahamians are returning from the same places as our visitors are coming from – and may well have no idea they carry the virus, as it can be caught but not show any symptoms. There appear to be some who have been cheating the system – either by presenting fraudulent documents or getting a test here in The Bahamas and then presenting it as valid after returning from the US, which completely defeats the purpose of the test. But if that is true, that the transmission is not coming as a result of visitors from the US, is there some middle way where we can tighten our regulations without bringing tourism to a shuddering halt? There may be increased use of monitoring or quarantine that could be put in place, or the range of measures imposed in Grand Bahama to counter the spike in cases there. There have long been calls for expanded testing – and yesterday saw a remarkable rise in the amount of testing with more than 1,000 a day, higher by far than any amount we’ve seen before. One thing is for certain – as much as that debate goes back and forth, the sobering news of 21 new cases yesterday in The Bahamas, 20 of those in Grand Bahama, focuses our minds on the main goal: keeping people safe and healthy. That is the single highest daily total by far, and shows the scale of the threat that we face. The news that Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest’s aide is among those with the virus brings the news closer to home still for those in government dealing with this crisis. It is a terrible balance to try and strike, and if we get it wrong, then, well, as Mr Russell said, there ain’t no coming back.
We need the best masks available EDITOR, The Tribune EARLY on in this pandemic we were told that high quality face masks would help to reduce the risk of contracting this coronavirus, along with hand washing, adequate social distancing, etc. Several months ago the “competent” authority banned the import of face masks that may offer higher levels of protection against the airborne coronavirus. He opted instead
to encourage a cottage industry of more loosely fitting cloth masks. While these cloth masks may reduce the amount of particles a person exhales into the air, one must wonder how much protection they can offer against breathing in the virus, since most of these masks do not fit properly and based on my observations, many persons are wearing these masks below their noses. It may be wise for the prime minister to
consider removing the ban on the importation of masks during this current unprecedented surge of coronavirus, so that the vulnerable can have access to better fitting, more protective masks. This one thing may also help to reduce the rate at which person to person spread takes place. It’s the logical, sensible, responsible thing to do! JB Nassau,
Future belongs to those who prepare EDITOR, The Tribune THE internet, artificial intelligence and sovereignty will be key issues of the 21st century. The entire global economy is in disarray. The fight for technological dominance between the US and China is indicative of the importance of the internet to the future of the world. Business, education and everyday life will increasingly use the internet and therefore the internet will become vital to the modern world. Artificial intelligence(AI)
is the most revolutionary tool humans have invented in the modern era. Many jobs, including BPO jobs, will be taken over by AI. Some jobs will be created by AI but they will require advance education so people with little formal education who are usually the poor will be disadvantaged. Shorter work week and training for marginalised can mitigate the negative effects of artificial intelligence. The international infrastructure is complex and large and will get more
complex and larger, One country will be ineffective in influencing the global order. The splitting of the world into pro-US or pro-China and nations who want to be neutral will increase the need to be protected by a group of nations. Sovereignty will be shifting. Like Malcom X says the future belongs to those who prepare for it today, so prepare. BRIAN E PLUMMER Nassau, July 19, 2020.
A rat in the wheel house EDITOR, The Tribune YOU know, it’s never a good thing or a good feeling I imagine, as a Commanding Officer to have a grounding incident but, what I will say is navigation is a science. Sadly like most sciences, it is never exact and many of us who dare to attempt it, even at our best are merely practising. Many that have been in the oceans that surround this archipelago quickly learn that she is an equal opportunity mistress. It is regrettable that this is not always the most easy thing to explain to those that have not ventured into the bed of volatility that is our wide and treacherous shoals, especially when those people are also your civilian commanders. Interestingly, upon seeing the first tabloid print up, followed by the press release from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, I thought to myself that surely that was a dangerous precedent for the new command team to set. Marines operate and in the execution of our operations, we have what is known in Military language all around the world as OPDEFs (Operational Defects). Commanders of these vessels, operate in high stress conditions with needle thin timelines and, yes, sometimes failing equipment. Yet, they get their orders and they set out to, “guard our heritage”. Again I say, they do so whether the entire crew shows up, whether the conditions are favorable and they do so even if the radar does not work. I will make it plain, you cannot hit a ship that is tied up alongside a wharf and the Bahamian people have long suggested that they were sickened to believe that, “tied up” was our basic state. Well, now contrary to popular belief, it is clear that Her Majesty’s Ships move and sometimes when they move, OPDEFs happen. What troubles me beyond imaginable belief, is while absolutely concerned about the sand bank groundings, I am far more concerned
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net that at the dawn of the new Commander’s tenure, he seems to have A Rat In His Wheelhouse! What further troubles me and to my imagination should be equally as troubling to the new Commander is the accuracy in detail with which these rag sheet stories are printed. The fact that these are not reported as stories you could have heard in the wind or in the grapevine, but rather are printed with the kind of confidence that suggests to me that the rat in the Commander’s wheelhouse, is one really, really big rat; one with enough authority, seniority and power to adequately assist the enemy, an action that the Acts and Regulations speak directly against. It is sad and borderline sickening, that the new Commander could have this kind of problem this early in his tenure of taking the helm of Her Majesty’s ship. However, should the wind be kind enough to me, to cause my words to find the Commander’s ear, I would only wish to offer this: 1) Rats though a nuisance, can provide a wonderful opportunity for test case studies. 2) Although bothersome, rats require little to catch and when you do, make sure you leave them on the trap so that all the other rats know that rat catching is also among the many skills in your polished Curriculum Vitae. 3) Only super bleeding hearts care about rats and since we are all men made of gun metal, brass, salt water sprinkles and engine smoke, I trust no one will find fault with any experiments a caught rat gets put through. Since I have never been a gambling man and I doubt any of the things I say ever even make it beyond the walls of a junior rates mess, I will simply continue to pray. However, even in my praying I will remind anyone caring enough to
listen, that almost every person in this command team at the rank of commander and above, has crashed something, into something at sometime or another. Almost everyone! Whether it was into a lake, or into Potter’s Cay Dock, or into giant shoals, almost everyone has crashed something and those in the team, possibly, only with the exception of King, that have not crashed into something, quite easily arguably never had a command, seafaring or otherwise. What I also wish to point out as I pray, is that this is not the first time the HMBS Nassau was hit by a Commanding Officer. The point I am making, is operations happen and sometimes in the middle of those operations, defects happen. I do not see the wisdom or the forethought of creating news of it each time and I think it is repulsive that someone considers it valuable to leak that information outside of the organisation. Honestly, it amounts to child’s play and if by chance I were to ever become a Commander, I would not rest until I was certain that I had cured my wheelhouse of its rat issues. I will end with this, Lieutenant Commander Hart is a damn good officer both land base and sea going. Her competence and skill can match and outmatch the best of them and the respect she commands from her subordinates is one that is unwavering. She is much of what the Royal Bahamas Defence Force of tomorrow will look like and she certainly has earned her keep in the organisation. Similarly, I believe Senior Lieutenant Adderley is well on his way. The future of Her Majesty’s ship looks bright in the hands of this ilk, despite them finding themselves in quite an imbroglio at the moment. Three Cheers for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, for without relent, they “Guard Our Heritage.” LEYVON A MILLER III, JP Nassau, July 17, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 21, 2020, PAGE 7
Judges quash murder sentence of third man By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE Court of Appeal has overturned the conviction of a third man who was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering a senior immigration officer and his girlfriend in 2013. The judgment comes one week after two other men had their sentences quashed for the same crime. On December 21, 2013, the decomposed remains of senior immigration officer Shane Gardiner and his girlfriend Tishka Braynen were found on the grounds of Newbold Farms in Fresh Creek, Andros. Both victims had been killed execution style; each received a gunshot wound to the head. On March 29, 2016 James Johnson, Zintworn Duncombe and Cordero Saunders were convicted of murder and later sentenced to imprisonment. Like his co-accused, Johnson also appealed his conviction on the grounds that the judge failed to thoroughly investigate an altercation that occurred between the
forewoman and an alternate juror during the trial. He also argued that the judge failed to make a full inquiry on whether the jury pool would still be able to “render a true verdict” after witnessing the altercation. Yesterday, Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Jon Isaacs and Milton Evans quashed Johnson’s convictions, after concluding the judge’s failure to investigate the altercation between the jurors created a “material irregularity” over the course of the proceedings. A retrial has been ordered. According to a judgment posted on the court’s website, on November 24, 2013, Braynen was at Gardiner’s home in Love Hill, Andros when they were both kidnapped and taken to Newbold Farm where they were shot to death. While Gardiner was buried in a shallow grave, Braynen’s body was dumped into a six-foot deep hole. Their remains were discovered about a month later by two men who were out in the bush hunting hogs. The judgment noted the bodies of both victims were so
decomposed that they had to be identified by DNA testing of samples taken from the remains and samples of blood provided by their relatives. “After the close of addresses by counsel and before the judge was to sum up the case to the jury, the jury requested that they be allowed to visit the locus in quo,” the court documents read. “The judge acceded to the request and the arrangements were made. While members of the jury were on a bus which was apparently transporting them to various locations in Andros, an altercation occurred between the forewoman and an alternate juror. “The altercation was variously described as a verbal altercation and as a fight. The latter description was given by the forewoman when she was questioned by the judge in her chambers during a meeting the judge held with the forewoman and the alternate juror in the absence of counsel and the appellants. The judge later advised counsel that she would excuse the forewoman; but did not do so;
TWO REMANDED FOR CAR BREAK-INS
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were sentenced to 15 months in prison after they admitted to breaking into and stealing items from two cars last week. Duran Horton, 37, and Jacob Dawkins, 25, were accused of damaging a glass window of a red Hyundai on July 13 before stealing a $25 lunch bag and $110 cash out of the vehicle. The men were also accused of stealing a $50 black pouch from a grey Kia that same day. During their hearing before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans yesterday, the defendants pleaded guilty and were both
sentenced to one year and three months behind bars. The court heard the owner of the Hyundai parked her car at the RND plaza on JFK drive before she went to CIBC bank. When she returned to her vehicle, she discovered that her left window was shattered and her bag and cash were missing. The owner of the grey Kia also told police he parked his car in the same plaza while he went to CIBC bank. When he returned, he also discovered his right window was damaged and said his $50 pouch was no longer in the vehicle. In an interview with police, Dawkins admitted he was in the vehicle.
Horton, on the other hand, said although he was driving the car in question, he did not commit any of the offences. During the hearing, Dawkins said he had just been released from prison after being on remand for three-and-a-half years and insisted he was trying to engage in constructive activities to become a better person. After listening to his plea in mitigation, Magistrate Vogt-Evans said she believed Dawkins only felt sorry for himself because he got caught. She also noted that Dawkins had just been released from prison three months ago and insisted that fact should have been “fresh on his mind”.
MAN ADMITS FORGING US CURRENCY By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 25-YEAR-OLD man was fined $6,000 for forging Bahamian and American dollar bills to purchase items from two businesses last week. Hykame Knowles appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux charged with three counts of possession of forged currency, two counts of uttering a forged document and another two counts of fraud by false pretences. He pleaded guilty to all of the charges and was fined
$6,000 or one year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He was also ordered to compensate the businesses he defrauded. If he fails to do so, he would risk spending an additional three months at BDCS. Knowles was accused of being in possession of four American $20 notes which all bore the serial number NE4437518B. He was also found with two forged American $50 notes and nine forged Bahamian $20 bills. The prosecution said Knowles used some of the fraudulent money to
purchase $100 worth of laminate flooring from Wright’s Carpet Masters on July 15. The court heard Knowles also used the counterfeit money to buy $80 worth of clothing from Inell’s Fashion that same day. The court was told Knowles visited Wright’s Carpet Masters on the day in question where he purchased two boxes of laminate flooring with five Bahamian $20 bills. The prosecution said one of the store’s employees noticed all of the notes had the same serial number and had changed colour.
FINED $200 FOR COCAINE POSSESSION By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who was caught with three grams of cocaine was fined $200 in Magistrates Court yesterday. Darrio Duncombe appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux, charged with one count of dangerous drug possession. He pleaded guilty and was fined $200 or three months in prison. Prosecutor Kenny Thompson said around 10.25am officers on mobile patrol near Balfour Avenue observed the defendant in a silver Honda. Sgt Thompson said when Duncombe noticed the officers, he began to act suspicious. As a result, they approached him and informed him he would be searched in reference to dangerous drugs and firearms. During their investigation, officers retrieved one clear plastic bag containing seven brown paper wraps which all contained a quantity of suspected cocaine.
Yesterday, Parshad Johnson, 27, also appeared before Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux, charged with marijuana possession with the intent to supply. The court heard officers were on mobile patrol when they observed the defendant look in their direction before throwing an object to the ground. When the officers observed the item, they discovered a green Grabba leaf package which contained two clear packages with 17 Ziploc bags containing a quantity
of suspected marijuana. The officers then searched Johnson and found another package and plastic wrap in the waistband of his boxers. They also found $1,126 they believed was derived from the proceeds of crime on Johnson’s person. According to the prosecution, the drugs had an estimated weight of 19 grams and a street value of $95. During the hearing, Johnson pleaded guilty and was fined $500 or six months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
TEN BAILED FOR FISHING OFFENCES from page one
appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux, charged with three counts of possession of a prohibited apparatus and another count of possession of undersized fish. According to the prosecution, the men were found with air compressors on July 8, instruments they believed the fishermen planned to use to catch fish.
During the arraignment, the defendants were also accused of catching 412 pounds of Nassau grouper, which all weighed less than three pounds each. Yesterday, the men, who were represented by attorney Geoffrey Farquharson, denied the allegations and the matter was adjourned to October 26 for trial. All of the defendants were released on bail in the interim.
and the trial continued without protest from the appellants’ counsel.” In their judgment, the panel said since the altercation was a matter internal to the jury, they should have been “questioned in open court through their foreman to ascertain” whether they would be able to render a “true verdict according to the evidence”. “Mr Sweeting, counsel for the respondent, submitted that the judge exercised her discretion properly when she carried out an investigation by speaking to the two jurors involved and ultimately concluding that the trial could proceed with their continued participation,” Justice Isaacs noted. “It seems Mr Sweeting conflated the propriety of the investigative process employed by the judge with the exercise of her discretion to leave the jurors on the jury panel. There is a two-step process involved. First, there must be an investigation, properly
conducted; and second, the judge will arrive at a decision based on the results of the investigation.” Justice Isaacs also said he was “constrained to conclude” the judge’s investigation into the altercation between the forewoman and the alternate juror constituted an irregularity in the course of the trial. “The appellant’s convictions are quashed and his sentences are set aside,” he said. “During the hearing, we enquired of counsel that if we were to decide that the appeal succeeded on ground one what order should follow. Both responded that a re-trial would be the appropriate order. I agree. The error identified in ground one was made by the judge. The evidence led at the trial could suffice to cause a properly constituted jury properly directed to find the prosecution’s evidence compelling. Thus, the appellant is to be re-tried as soon as practicable.”
MAN FINED FOR CAUSING HARM By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 28-YEAR-OLD man was ordered to compensate another man he injured last week while he was arguing with his girlfriend. Tamicko Williams was charged with causing grievous harm to Nikeino Smith on July 12. The prosecution said Mr Smith was at Potter’s Cay when he tried to separate a fight between Williams and his girlfriend. He said during the ordeal, the defendant picked up a bottle and threw it at him, which caused him to injure his finger. Mr Smith also gave police a hospital form which indicated that he had fractured on one of the fingers on his right hand. When given an opportunity to speak, Williams said he flung the bottle at his girlfriend, but Mr Smith had stepped in the way. He also said he was a hardworking father and the breadwinner of his household and admitted he struggled with controlling his anger at times. After pleading guilty during his hearing before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans yesterday, Williams was ordered to compensate Mr Smith $500.
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PAGE 8, Tuesday, July 21, 2020
A
BAHAMIAN woman who survived the deadly COVID-19 virus today shares her story and applauds Prime Minister Hubert Minnis’ decision to close the borders to US travellers in order to preserve the health and safety of Bahamians. She knows the border closure can result in new economic setbacks for the country, but says the decision was “long overdue”. “If tourism is still the focus rather than diversifying the economy, they should more aggressively market elsewhere or for more exclusive ‘luxury’ accommodations, such as Albany, private yachts, and so on. “People should take this seriously, not only for themselves, but those around them,” she warned. She contracted the virus in April this year and suffered tremendously as the virus took its toll. She quarantined herself in her bedroom and worried about both of her parents who were in the home with her. She had recently returned home from college for spring break. Her friend had complained about having some chest pains, but did not develop more serious symptoms. My interviewee, who chose to remain anonymous, said she had gone to the MediCenter on a completely unrelated matter, and five days later, became very ill. This led into two weeks of agony with symptoms that at the time, made her feel like it would take forever for her to get better. “COVID-19 is real,” she said. “Though I knew within myself I would have a successful recovery, for the entire duration I worried about my father. He is in his 60s and has underlying conditions. I worried that I would pass it on to him and if so, I would have never forgiven myself for it.” “I started to have awful chest pain. My chest felt very restricted and tight. My back was hurting and
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As returning Bahamians spark COVID surge, Minnis wields the stick
• US travel shut down • G Bahama closed & new curfew imposed • Clear test mandatory • Cruise lines/Atlantis deliver new body blow By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net GIVEN the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the country, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday banned all
I found myself rubbing down with muscle relaxers because it felt like the walls of my chest were hurting. It wouldn’t go away unless I applied pressure. Then I noticed my throat was feeling dry and scratchy. The last symptom that worried me the most happened when I took a soak in a warm bath. I started to have chills. So, I got up and called the COVID-19 emergency hotline. They told me to go to Princess Margaret Hospital, so I went to the Emergency Room. “The Emergency Room service was almost completely touch free. They barely examined me. I had more symptoms by that time, such as a lack of
commercial flights and vessels from entering the country beginning on Wednesday with the exception of those coming from Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Dr Minnis also announced
the closure of all beaches in New Providence, Paradise Island, Rose Island, Athol Island and its surrounding cays, which will take effect today at 5am. He also ordered SEE PAGE THREE
AND IF FIGURES DON’T FALL, MORE TO COME
appetite, elevated blood pressure, sleeping problems, tiredness and some diarrhea. I was still having breathing problems and my chest was getting tighter. They did an X-Ray on me, then they told me to go to Flamingo Gardens Clinic in the morning for the results. “I spoke with doctors at the clinic there. My temperature was slightly high, but my blood pressure was sky high. But the X-Ray appeared okay – it did not show any signs of pneumonia. They gave me pain killers and they sent me to South Beach Clinic to get tested. It was at this clinic that they told me I tested positive for COVID-19. “I was told to quarantine
ROBBERY SUSPECT SHOT BY POLICE LAND AHOY! By TRIBUNE REPORTER
AN armed robbery suspect is in hospital after he was shot by police on Saturday. The incident occurred shortly after midnight, when officers were on routine patrol on Collins Avenue and Sixth Terrace. The officers were stopped by a man who told them he had been robbed at gunpoint by a group of four to five males
who ran towards East Avenue. The officers went to the area and observed a group of men gathered in the street. Upon seeing the police, the suspects ran and the officers pursued them. “One of the officers observed when one of the suspects brandished an object which was believed to be a firearm,” the RBPF said in a statement. “Having an awareness of the imminent threat towards his life,
the officer discharged his weapon in the direction of the assailants injuring one of the males as the others escaped. The injured suspect was transported to hospital where he is listed in stable condition.” The incident took place about a month after police shot and killed three men on Cowpen Road, after an officer was “ambushed” by a gunman. SEE PAGE SEVEN
OOPS - NOT AGAIN, SIR
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force has launched a Board of Inquiry to assess the circumstances surrounding the recent groundings of two of SEE PAGE SEVEN
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
THE STORY of one Bahamian woman and her battle with COVID-19. She applauds Prime Minister Hubert Minnis’ decision, covered in yesterday’s Tribune, to close the borders to US travellers. away from my family. This was hard to do. I live with my mother and father and although they were in the home, I had to stay by myself in my room for two weeks.” At home, she remained locked away in her room and communicated with her parents only by WhatsApp calls. She would crack her bedroom door open only to pick up a tray of food or to rest her dishes outside the door when she was done using them. If she wanted to use the bathroom, she would have to call and let her parents know so that they could be secure in their room and she could make her way to the bathroom. Once she was done using the bathroom, she would sanitise everything before she went back into her room. Her parents also had to be quarantined from the general public. They moved about the house, but she did not leave her room during that time. Luckily, her parents did not contract the virus. Her parents did their best to accommodate her and encourage her by calls as they were not able to physically console their daughter as she battled COVID-19 right there in the home with them. “There were days when
I was scared and felt like it would not get better,” she said. “In addition to those initial symptoms, I also developed terrible headaches. I tried my best not to rely on the painkillers all the time. My parents served me healthy food the whole time. I took vitamins and supplements, including vitamin D, which is said to help fight the virus. “COVID depends on the immune system, I can say. One day, I would start to feel much better, but if I encountered any stress, I would feel very bad again. I was doing online courses while in quarantine, and that was stressful. Then, one of my friends died. Each time, the stress would cause the symptoms to rage. But, I did practise breathing exercises, which helped me with the chest tightness and breathing difficulty. “During my entire time of quarantine, the doctors only told me to call them if I had difficulty breathing. That’s the only conversation I had with the doctors. I was surprised at how lightly they treated it. There was no calling and checking up on me, no testing. “I was concerned about the lack of contact tracing. They only assumed I got the virus when I was
in school, but I had been home about three weeks before I had symptoms. They did not check to make sure I was in quarantine, and they did not test my parents although they were in the home with me.” She made the decision to stay in her room for another week just to protect her parents and to make sure the virus was completely gone before she emerged. So, she spent three weeks in quarantine altogether. Today, months after her horrible experience, she says she feels only 80 percent recovered. The reason is because when she had COVID-19, she had terrible insomnia. She could only rest as opposed to getting into deep sleep, because the symptoms became considerably worse. She is still left with insomnia. “I hope that sharing my story gives some perspective,” she said. “I am grateful my symptoms were not as bad as they could have been and that my family members, who are more vulnerable, were not affected. “This virus has taught me that we must be more considerate as a people. Take note that even the smallest precautions can be effective. Everyone must do their part.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 21, 2020, PAGE 9
OFFENDED THEY MAY BE, BUT IT DOESN’T MAKE THEM RIGHT AMID the continuing calls for much-needed effective action to battle racism and police brutality in the US almost two months since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, one of the consequences the other side of the Atlantic of the activities of Black Lives Matter has been an accelerated debate about the ‘woke movement’. While many contend that the growth of illiberalism emanated originally from the US, in Britain this movement is developing as a strange and increasingly insidious phenomenon. There seems to be a growing institutional disdain for freedom of expression so that people are beginning to feel they are no longer living in a free society. Instead, this ‘woke movement’ seems to consist of those who are trying to enforce their extreme views on others
by shaming or ruining those who think differently. The so-called ‘cancel culture’, which is apparently the latest expression of ‘wokeness’, looks to be defined as criticising and shaming people – often on social media - and attempting to undermine or destroy the professional standing of anyone who deviates from ever-more extreme standards of political correctness. People are now required to submit to a new ruling orthodoxy from which it is a sin to deviate. Of course, the notion of political correctness has been around a long time. Reportedly, in the 1970s and early 1980s it was first used wittily by liberal politicians to refer to extremism in some left-wing issues. It seems now to be understood by most people as the need to avoid language or behaviour that could offend some individuals
The
Peter Young column THE issue of the extent of the involvement in Britain of China’s huge telecommunications company, Huawei, has finally come to a head. Last week, citing national security concerns, the UK government banned the tech giant from any role in developing the infrastructure of 5G – the nation’s next generation mobile communications network. This effectively reverses the government’s decision in January to allow Huawei to play a limited part in this on the grounds the company would be the answer to delivering faster new generation internet. Now, UK firms are banned from purchasing new 5G equipment from Huawei, thus blocking any of its products for the new network, while any of its existing infrastructure equipment must be removed from the 5G network by 2027. The UK government states the decision was taken in the security interests of the nation and new and highly restrictive US sanctions in May, including removal of Huawei’s access to products built in the US, combined with diplomatic pressure appears to have been a ‘game-changer’ so that the latest decision was claimed to have been inevitable. Earlier, the US had warned of the opportunity for China to ‘spy, steal or attack’ in this field, and the UK’s action is clearly in the interests of the Americans who have welcomed it as good for trans-Atlantic security while at the same time protecting citizens’ privacy. Equally, the strength of Britain’s domestic political objection to Huawei’s proposed participation in 5G should not be underestimated. The security concerns are based on the growing evidence that Huawei, despite its claims to the contrary, is not independent of the Chinese state but in reality is part of its security apparatus. There is surely little
doubt that, as a communist country with centralised control and where dissent is not allowed, China insists its companies cooperate fully with the nation’s security services – the difference between despotism and democracy. No less an authority than a former head of Britain’s MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, is quoted as saying publicly that ‘no part of the communist Chinese state is ultimately able to operate free of the control of its communist party leadership’. Huawei, therefore, presents a potential security risk to the UK as the forthcoming 5G network for phones could be used for hidden and underhand purposes. In such circumstances, there seems to be general agreement that it makes no sense to allow a potentially hostile foreign power to be at the heart of the sensitive infrastructure of Britain’s new communications system. It is the case, of course, that Huawei is already partially involved in 3G and 4G but the UK government maintains 5G is fundamentally different, more sensitive and vulnerable. Meanwhile, it is interesting that Huawei announced – even after having its equipment stripped from 5G - the launch of three new stores in the UK marketing its range of products including its popular smartphones providing internet access, the playing of films and the ability to make phone calls around the world. The background to all this and the broader context are important. In recent years, China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping – for whom the Party rules have now been changed to enable him to retain his position almost, it appears, indefinitely – is looking to maximise its power across the globe. As I wrote in a recent column about Beijing’s controversial new security law for
or a particular group of people – or, more positively, actively using language, behaviour, policies or measures that are intended to avoid offence or disadvantage to them, particularly those who are considered marginalised or discriminated against because of race. To most people that sounds fair and reasonable, though political correctness is often taken to extremes by those too easily offended without justification and where subjective judgment can be flawed. But, by and large, it works. What is now taking hold in Britain – in public life and national institutions, universities and schools, the police, the press and other media, big business and even the Church – is the promotion of a ‘woke’ ideology which demands anyone
who departs from the new orthodoxy is decreed evil and beyond redemption. All this may sound fanciful to some but the ‘woke movement’ is growing. It is interesting, however, that voices are now being raised in opposition to what is seen as a minority of activists trying to dictate to others how they should live and what they should think. For example, British comedian Ricky Gervais, pictured, has stood up publicly for free speech, describing ‘wokeness’ as weird – as he says, just because you are offended does not mean you are right. In addition, last week a letter was sent to Harper’s Magazine by some 150 liberal philosophers, writers and intellectuals denouncing the current
‘intolerant climate’ of public discourse. It seems to me there is some doubt about what exactly constitutes the new orthodoxy and who has defined it. There is insufficient space today to make a proper case for free speech. But, generally in the Western world people accept instinctively the need for a logical exchange of ideas and opinions through argument and counterargument in determining the truth and reaching measured conclusions on an issue – as enunciated by the 19th century German philosopher Hegel in the ‘dialectic’ named after him. In a democracy, shutting down debate, imposing conformity and crushing dissent is unacceptable and should be resisted. As someone said, if you don’t support free speech for people with whom you disagree, you don’t support free speech.
China may be dismissive of the UK - but Britain’s bark still has bite
UK firms are banned from purchasing new 5G equipment from Huawei Hong Kong in which its bilateral treaty with Britain had been brushed aside with blatant impunity, China is showing a more belligerent approach to the rest of the world in its quest for global primacy. It seems to be seeking pre-eminence as the new superpower – whether it is Xi’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative or its growing military activity and influence in the South China Sea and renewed threat to Taiwan or its ongoing trade war with the US. How different the whole picture looked at the time of President Xi’s state visit to Britain in 2015 when
the-then Prime Minister David Cameron spoke of a ‘Golden Age’ of good bilateral relations with improved exchanges across-theboard - not only enhanced economic cooperation, investment and trade but also links with universities in order to share advanced scientific and technological research. Now, the situation has changed to the extent that some see these as the Chinese ‘infiltrating’ British universities to obtain intellectual property and sensitive technology to be passed on to the country’s defence establishment. Five years later, SinoBritish relations have
soured, with clashes over coronavirus, Hong Kong, Huawei and human rights abuses. At the weekend, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab expressed concern about the ‘gross, egregious human rights abuses’ perpetrated against more than a million Muslim ethnic minority Uighur people in northern China that have caused international outrage. According to reports, not only have they been subjected to intense state surveillance but mosques have been destroyed and thousands have been sent to re-education camps while even enforced sterilisation
has been mentioned. Mr Raab described all this as deeply troubling. As for Huawei, China has condemned the latest decision and its ambassador in London has called it a bad move for Britain itself. He has also criticised the UK for ‘dancing to the tune of the US’ and warned of a ‘resolute response’ including the threat of retaliation - especially if, separately, the UK imposes sanctions over human rights abuses or in relation to Hong Kong. What is more, he made the meaningless suggestion that Britain had ‘missed the opportunity to be a leading country’. His inappropriate language is likely to be counterproductive, and he might have done better if he had attempted to convince people about Huawei’s claimed independence of its own government even if he knows that not to be true; but, as the book says, envoys are sent abroad to lie for their country! Whatever happens, it is likely Chinese leaders will not want to be seen by the Party faithful to be bowing to the West while at the same time it is in their own interest to maintain good trade relations with Britain. For is part, despite the current difficulties, Britain must surely remain fully engaged with China as a leading player on the world stage, but it has taken firm action by announcing yesterday suspension of its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
A WEDDING AND AN INVESTITURE - ALL IN A DAY’S WORK FOR THE QUEEN DESPITE the gloom and doom of new coronavirus restrictions here at home, I hasten to offer some positive and happy news from faraway Britain. Last Friday, The Queen attended the wedding of her granddaughter, Princess Beatrice who is the daughter of Prince Andrew, at Windsor. Because of social distancing requirements it was a small private event attended only by close friends and family. Prince Philip was also there looking fit and well at the age of 99. It was a rare appearance for him since his official retirement in 2017 and his first ‘public’ engagement in a year. Later the same day, Captain Thomas Moore was knighted by The Queen. It was he who had raised earlier this year the enormous sum of about $40 million for the National Health Service by completing 100 laps of his garden in time for his impending 100th birthday. Captain Tom, as he became known,
captured the hearts of the nation for his determination in a worthy cause and he was seen as a symbol of hope and perseverance during the coronavirus crisis so that he became a national treasure. At the unique, openair, personal investiture ceremony in the grounds of Windsor Castle in brilliant afternoon sunshine, The Queen was reported to have thanked the-now
Sir Tom for his extraordinary fundraising efforts and remarked that 100 was a wonderful age, while he himself expressed his own thanks and appreciation for being honoured in this way – and with typical humour apparently quipped that, if he had to kneel down for the ceremony, he might never get up again! So Friday was indeed a happy day to gladden the
heart – a lovely wedding for the new bride and bridegroom and a fitting climax to the Thomas Moore story. It will also surely not have escaped notice this was the first ‘public’ appearance by The Queen since the coronavirus lockdown measures and another example of her dedication and commitment to duty – at the age of 94 even in such troubled times. It was certainly a busy day for her.
TOP left: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip stand alongside Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi outside The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, England, after their wedding last week. A few hours later, Captain Sir Thomas Moore receives his knighthood from The Queen.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, July 21, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
So how did Jesus from Palestine end up white with blond hair? by ANNA SWARTWOOD House Assistant Professor of Art History, University of South Carolina THE portrayal of Jesus as a white, European man has come under renewed scrutiny during this period of introspection over the legacy of racism in society. As protesters called for the removal of Confederate statues in the US, activist Shaun King went further, suggesting that murals and artwork depicting “white Jesus” should “come down”. His concerns about the depiction of Christ and how it is used to uphold notions of white supremacy are not isolated. Prominent scholars and the archbishop of Canterbury have called to reconsider Jesus’ portrayal as a white man. As a European Renaissance art historian, I study the evolving image of Jesus Christ from AD 1350 to 1600. Some of the best-known depictions of Christ, from Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” to Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” in the Sistine Chapel, were produced during this period. But the all-time mostreproduced image of
Jesus comes from another period. It is Warner Sallman’s light-eyed, light-haired “Head of Christ” from 1940. Sallman, a former commercial artist who created art for advertising campaigns, successfully marketed this picture worldwide. Through Sallman’s partnerships with two Christian publishing companies, one Protestant and one Catholic, the Head of Christ came to be included on everything from prayer cards to stained glass, faux oil paintings, calendars, hymnals and night lights. Sallman’s painting culminates a long tradition of white Europeans creating and disseminating pictures of Christ made in their own image. In search of the holy face The historical Jesus likely had the brown eyes and skin of other first-century Jews from Galilee, a region in biblical Israel. But no one knows exactly what Jesus looked like. There are no known images of Jesus from his lifetime, and while the Old Testament Kings Saul and David are explicitly called tall and handsome in the Bible, there is little indication of
RAPHAEL’S transfiguration of Christ, painted between 1516 and 1520
Jesus’ appearance in the Old or New Testaments. Even these texts are contradictory: The Old Testament prophet Isaiah reads that the coming saviour “had no beauty or majesty,” while the Book of Psalms claims he was “fairer than the children of men,” the word “fair” referring to physical beauty. The earliest images of Jesus Christ emerged in the first through third centuries A.D., amidst concerns about idolatry. They were less about capturing the actual appearance of Christ than about clarifying his role as a ruler or as a saviour. To clearly indicate these roles, early Christian artists often relied on syncretism, meaning they combined visual formats from other cultures. Probably the most popular syncretic image is Christ as the Good Shepherd, a beardless, youthful figure based on pagan representations of Orpheus, Hermes and Apollo. In other common depictions, Christ wears the toga or other attributes of the emperor. The theologian Richard Viladesau argues that the mature bearded Christ, with long hair in the “Syrian” style, combines characteristics of the Greek god Zeus and the Old Testament figure Samson, among others. Christ as self-portraitist The first portraits of Christ, in the sense of authoritative likenesses, were believed to be selfportraits: the miraculous “image not made by human hands,” or acheiropoietos. This belief originated in the seventh century A.D., based on a legend that Christ healed King Abgar of Edessa in modern-day Urfa, Turkey, through a miraculous image of his face, now known as the Mandylion. A similar legend adopted
by Western Christianity between the 11th and 14th centuries recounts how, before his death by crucifixion, Christ left an impression of his face on the veil of Saint Veronica, an image known as the volto santo, or “Holy Face”. Christ crowned with thorns. Artist Antonello da Messina. The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931, Metropolitan Museum, New York These two images, along with other similar relics, have formed the basis of iconic traditions about the “true image” of Christ. From the perspective of art history, these artefacts reinforced an already standardized image of a bearded Christ with shoulder-length, dark hair. In the Renaissance, European artists began to combine the icon and the portrait, making Christ in their own likeness. This happened for a variety of reasons, from identifying with the human suffering of Christ to commenting on one’s own creative power. The 15th-century Sicilian painter Antonello da Messina, for example, painted small pictures of the suffering Christ formatted exactly like his portraits of regular people, with the subject positioned between a fictive parapet and a plain black background and signed “Antonello da Messina painted me.” The 16th-century German artist Albrecht Dürer blurred the line between the holy face and his own image in a famous self-portrait of 1500. In this, he posed frontally like an icon, with his beard and luxuriant shoulder-length hair recalling Christ’s. The “AD” monogram could stand equally for “Albrecht Dürer” or “Anno Domini” – “in the year of our Lord.” In whose image? This phenomenon was
not restricted to Europe: There are 16th and 17th century pictures of Jesus with, for example, Ethiopian and Indian features. In Europe, however, the image of a light-skinned European Christ began to influence other parts of the world through European trade and colonization. The Italian painter Andrea Mantegna’s “Adoration of the Magi” from A.D. 1505 features three distinct magi, who, according to one contemporary tradition, came from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. They present expensive objects of porcelain, agate and brass that would have been prized imports from China and the Persian and Ottoman empires. But Jesus’ light skin and blues eyes suggest that he is not Middle Eastern but European-born. And the faux-Hebrew script embroidered on Mary’s cuffs and hemline belie a complicated relationship to the Judaism of the Holy Family. In Mantegna’s Italy, antiSemitic myths were already prevalent among the majority Christian population, with Jewish people often segregated to their own quarters of major cities. Artists tried to distance Jesus and his parents from their Jewishness. Even seemingly small attributes like pierced ears – earrings were associated with Jewish women, their removal with a conversion to Christianity – could represent a transition toward the Christianity represented by Jesus. Much later, anti-Semitic forces in Europe including the Nazis would attempt to divorce Jesus totally from his Judaism in favor of an Aryan stereotype. White Jesus abroad As Europeans colonized increasingly farther-flung lands, they brought a European Jesus with them. Jesuit missionaries established painting schools that taught
new converts Christian art in a European mode. A small altarpiece made in the school of Giovanni Niccolò, the Italian Jesuit who founded the “Seminary of Painters” in Kumamoto, Japan, around 1590, combines a traditional Japanese gilt and mother-of-pearl shrine with a painting of a distinctly white, European Madonna and Child. In colonial Latin America – called “New Spain” by European colonists – images of a white Jesus reinforced a caste system where white, Christian Europeans occupied the top tier, while those with darker skin from perceived intermixing with native populations ranked considerably lower. Artist Nicolas Correa’s 1695 painting of Saint Rose of Lima, the first Catholic saint born in “New Spain,” shows her metaphorical marriage to a blond, lightskinned Christ. Legacies of likeness Scholar Edward J Blum and Paul Harvey argue that in the centuries after European colonization of the Americas, the image of a white Christ associated him with the logic of empire and could be used to justify the oppression of Native and African Americans. In a multiracial but unequal America, there was a disproportionate representation of a white Jesus in the media. It wasn’t only Warner Sallman’s Head of Christ that was depicted widely; a large proportion of actors who have played Jesus on television and film have been white with blue eyes. Pictures of Jesus historically have served many purposes, from symbolically presenting his power to depicting his actual likeness. But representation matters, and viewers need to understand the complicated history of the images of Christ they consume.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 21, 2020, PAGE 11
UK VIRUS TRIAL SHOWS PROMISE LONDON Associated Press
BLOOD samples from coronavirus vaccine trials are handled inside the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford in England
Stakes high as crisis worsens WASHINGTON Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump yesterday acknowledged a “big flare up” of COVID-19 cases, but divisions between the White House and Senate Republicans and differences with Democrats posed fresh challenges for a new federal aid package with the US crisis worsening and emergency relief about to expire. Trump convened GOP leaders at the White House as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell prepared to roll out his $1 trillion package in a matter of days. But the administration criticised the legislation’s money for more virus testing and insisted on a payroll tax cut that could complicate quick passage. The timeline appeared to quickly shift. “We’ve made a lot of progress,” Trump said as the meeting got underway. But the president added, “Unfortunately, this is something that’s very tough.” Lawmakers returned to a Capitol still off-limits to tourists, another sign of the nation’s difficulty containing the coronavirus. Rather than easing, the pandemic’s devastating cycle is rising again, leaving Congress little choice but to engineer another costly rescue.
PRESIDENT Trump yesterday Businesses are shutting down again, many schools will not fully reopen and jobs are disappearing, all while federal aid will expire in days. Without a successful federal strategy, lawmakers are trying to draft one. “We have to end this virus,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said. She said any attempt by the White House to block money for testing “goes beyond ignorance.” The political stakes are high for both parties before the November election, and even more so for the nation, which now has registered more coronavirus infections and a higher death count of 140,800 than any other country. McConnell and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy huddled with Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and acting chief of staff Mark Meadows. Mnuchin vowed passage
by month’s end, as earlier benefits expire, and said he expected a fresh $1 trillion jolt of business tax breaks and other aid would have a “big impact” on the struggling economy. Back at the Capitol, McConnell downplayed his proposal as simply a “starting point” for eventual discussions. Not only does he face pressure from the White House, but splits within his ranks have chiseled away at his majority power and left him relying on Democrats for votes. “The question before the Senate this week is, ‘Where are we now?’” the Kentucky Republican said as he opened the chamber. The package from McConnell, being crafted behind closed doors, is expected to include $75 billion to help schools reopen. It is also expected to provide a new boost in unemployment benefits, a fresh round of direct $1,200 cash payments to Americans below a certain income level, and a sweeping five-year liability shield against coronavirus lawsuits. But the administration was panning the proposal’s $25 billion in new funds for virus testing and tracing, said two Republicans familiar with the discussions. Trump was also reviving his push for a payroll tax break, said another Republican.
AMBER HEARD TELLS COURT SHE FEARED DEPP WOULD KILL HER LONDON Associated Press AMBER Heard has accused ex-husband Johnny Depp of abusing her both physically and verbally while he was allegedly bingeing on alcohol and drugs, claiming that at various times during their tempestuous relationship she feared for her life. On the first day of her testimony at Britain’s High Court in London yesterday, Heard also denied accusations she was a heavy drug user and drinker as well as a controlling and abusive person. The court is examining Depp’s libel suit against The Sun newspaper over an April 2018 article that labelled him a “wife beater” for allegedly abusing Heard. Chronicling a series of incidents over their deteriorating relationship, that purportedly included Depp throwing a magnum of champagne and a phone at her and even a “hostage situation” in Australia in March 2015, the 34-year-old actress insisted any action she took in response was purely in self-defense. She also denied having
AMBER HEARD, left, Johnny Depp yesterday a problem with her temper following questioning by Depp’s lawyer, Eleanor Laws. “Johnny often put me in a situation where I was confronted with unimaginable frustrations and difficulties, often that were life-threatening to me.” she told the court. “When I felt my life was threatened, I tried to defend myself and that started to happen years into the relationship, years into the violence,” she added. The court heard a recording of an argument between the pair, who were married from 2015 to 2017, in which Depp accuses Heard of throwing pots and other items at him the night before. Heard said she had
hit — but not punched — Depp and that she only threw things “to escape him.” Heard said the argument, like so many others, had stemmed from Depp passing out once again in the bathroom after another binge. “I was worried about Johnny’s life and this is the context of this argument, one of many that ended in a physical altercation of sorts,” she said. Depp, 57, is suing The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, and the paper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, over the article. The Hollywood star, who strongly denies abusing Heard, was at the court to hear his ex-wife’s evidence.
Both spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks. Trump insisted again on Sunday that the virus would “disappear,” but the president’s view did not at all match projections from the leading health professionals straining to halt the alarming US caseload and death toll. On a conference call with the nation’s governors, Pence called the rising numbers in Sunbelt states “serious.” And a sombre McConnell said that “it’s not going to magically disappear,” during a visit to to thank front-line workers at a hospital in his home state of Kentucky last week.
SCIENTISTS at Oxford University say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown in an early trial to prompt a protective immune response in hundreds of people who got the shot. British researchers first began testing the vaccine in April in about 1,000 people, half of whom got the experimental vaccine. Such early trials are designed to evaluate safety and see what kind of immune response was provoked, but can’t tell if the vaccine truly protects. In research published yesterday in the journal Lancet, scientists said that they found their experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in people aged 18 to 55 that lasted at least two months after they were immunized. “We are seeing good immune response in almost everybody,” said Dr Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University. “What this vaccine does particularly well is trigger both arms of the immune system,” he said. Hill said that neutralising antibodies are produced — molecules which are key to blocking infection. In addition, the vaccine also causes a reaction in the body’s T-cells, which help by destroying cells that have been taken over by the virus. The experimental COVID-19 vaccine caused minor side effects like fever, chills and muscle pain more often than in those who got a control meningitis vaccine. Hill said that larger trials evaluating the vaccine’s effectiveness, involving about 10,000 people in the UK as well as participants in South Africa and Brazil are still underway. Another trial is slated to start in the
US soon, aiming to enroll about 30,000 people. How quickly scientists are able to determine the vaccine’s effectiveness will depend largely on how much more transmission there is, but Hill estimated that if there were enough data to prove the vaccine’s efficacy, immunisation of some high-risk groups in Britain could begin in December. He said the vaccine seemed to produce a comparable level of antibodies to those produced by people who recovered from a COVID-19 infection and hoped that the T-cell response would provide even more protection. “There’s increasing evidence that having a T-cell response as well as antibodies could be very important in controlling COVID-19,” Hill said. He suggested the immune response might be boosted with a second dose. Hill said Oxford’s vaccine is designed to reduce disease and transmission. It uses a harmless virus — a chimpanzee cold virus, engineered so it can’t spread — to carry the coronavirus’ spike protein into the body, which should trigger an immune response. Hill said Oxford has partnered with drugmaker AstraZeneca to produce their vaccine globally, and that the company has already committed to making 2 billion doses. “Even 2 billion doses may not be enough,” he said, pointing to the ongoing surge of infections worldwide. “I think its going to be very difficult to control this pandemic without a vaccine.” Numerous countries including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, US and the UK have all signed deals to receive hundreds of millions of doses of the Oxford vaccine — which has not yet been licensed — with the first deliveries scheduled for the fall.
SPORTS SECTION E
NFL, PAGE 15
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020
Sprinter Strachan 2nd in 200m By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
F
resh off her third place finish in the 100 metres behind Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce a week ago, Bahamian sprinter Anthonique Strachan racked up a second place as they moved up to the 200m behind her Jamaican arch rival over the weekend. Now in Jamaica where she is training under the Maximising Velocity and Power Track & Field Club (MVP), which was founded by Stephen Francis, Paul Francis, David Noel and Bruce James in September 1999, Strachan competed for the second time in another closed circuit competition without any fanfare. This time, Fraser-Pryce, one of the staple athletes in MVP, but
representing Nike, in the first Velocity ran out of lane four Fest 2020 All Comers in the last of the Meet at the Ashenfour sections of the heim Stadium, but in women’s 200m at the 100m where she the Velocity Fest at placed third in 11.84. Jamaica College to Fraser-Pryce was win her second conthe winner in a worldsecutive race in 22.74 leading 11 seconds seconds into a -0.9m/s flat in an unfavourwind. able 2.2m/s wind. Turning up the Shashalee Forbes of heat a little too late Sprintec Track Club in lane eight after she was second in 11.49. watched as FraserBoth meets were Pryce started to pull held without any away on the home fans in the stands as stretch, Strachan, the Jamaica made some 2012 World Under-20 inroads to the return A STRACHAN sprint double chamof normalcy for pion, ended up in track and field in the second in 23.05. Shashalee Forbes COVID-19 environment. trailed in third in lane six in 23.39. World Athletics has yet to Over the Independence holi- resume its international compeday weekend, Strachan competed tition, except for the Weltklasse
Zurich Virtual Inspirational Games where Bahamian quartermiler Shaunae Miller-Uibo clashed with American sprinter Allyson Felix and Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji in a 150 metre race that was held simultaneously in three different locations. Felix, the 34-year-old mother, competing against Miller-Uibo, 26, for the first time since they clashed at the 2017 World Championships in London, England, posted the fastest time of the trio in 16.81 seconds in Walnut, California. Miller-Uibo, competing out of Bradenton, Florida, was second in 17.15 as she contested her second race for the year since her defeat at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, while Kambundji, the 28-year-old World Championships’ 200m bronze medallist, was third in 17.38 as she competed in Zurich.
Levarity to go pro in Denmark By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AARON Levarity will make the transition to professional basketball in Denmark for the upcoming season. Levarity signed with the Svendborg Rabbits of the Basketligaen, the highest level in the country. The Grand Bahama native played collegiately at Milligan College in the NAIA where he became the team’s leading scorer and rebounder in his final two seasons under head coach Bill Robinson. The Bishop Michael Eldon graduate, who later attended the University of the Bahamas, became the Appalachian Athletic Conference leading scorer with 19.1 points per game, top rebounder with 12.5 rebounds per game and top shot blocker with 1.47 blocks per game in his senior season. His field goal percentage ranked seventh in NAIA Division II. He also ranked within the top 10 in four other categories, including both defensive and offensive rebounds per game. In his first season with the Buffaloes, Levarity averaged just 5.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Those numbers rose to 16.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game before his career high numbers in year three. “Aaron’s development on the court in three years has been remarkable. He averaged less than six points a game as a sophomore and became the best player in our league,” Robinson told The Tribune. “He is incredibly motivated both on and off the court. His team-mates love him because despite all the success, he is a caring and humble person. It has been a privilege to coach Aaron.” Levarity was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference men’s basketball player of the week for the second time this year and the fifth for his career. The Rabbits are based in Svendborg, Denmark. The team won gold in the best Danish basketball league in the 2009–10 season, silver in the 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. They won gold in the Danish Cup tournament in 2007, 2011 and 2013. And they competed in the 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge.
AARON LEVARITY, of Grand Bahama, has signed with the Svendborg Rabbits of the Basketligaen, the highest level in the country. The Grand Bahama native played collegiately at Milligan College in the NAIA where he became the team’s leading scorer and rebounder in his final two seasons under head coach Bill Robinson.
DIAMOND LEAGUE BASKETBALL CAMP POSTPONED By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AFTER one week of intense instructional training, Terrance ‘Red Eye’ McSweeney said he’s not disappointed at all that he has had to halt his Diamond League Basketball Camp. The camp, held in memory of the late, versatile athlete Jonique ‘Mini’ Webb and coach Sherman Smith, got underway last week at the Hope Center Church for girls between the ages of eight and 16 from 9am to noon and boys 8-11 from 1-4pm. But on Sunday, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced that all parks, along with beaches, in New Providence and Grand Bahama, will be closed until further notice as a result of a spike in the coronavirus pandemic. McSweeney immediately sent out a letter to parents advising them that the camp will be put on hold until further notice, hoping and asking in prayers that it won’t be for any extended period of time. “I think the decision by the Prime Minister is a good one because lives matter,” McSweeney said. “The precautionary measures he took to shut down the parks doesn’t affect the overall objective that we are trying to achieve. “If it is that it probably takes a week or so for the parks to reopen, we will still try to see what we can do to commemorate Jonique ‘Mini’ Smith as well as coach Sherman Smith.” He admitted that the decision doesn’t throw a monkey wrench into his programme, but McSweeney advised the parents that if the parks remain closed for more than two weeks, then he will have no other choice but to shut down the camp. “We don’t want to interfere with the opening of school, whenever they do it, but as in the past, by August 15, we normally break training until September to allow the parents to get their children ready for school,” McSweeney said. “So the decision by the Prime Minister to close the parks was a good one for the nation overall, protecting lives. We were already out of the gate, so I give God thanks if we were only able to stage the one week of the camp.” While the camp was held from Monday to Friday last week, McSweeney also conducted a free Saturday training session at the facility where he indicated that the numbers increased and
SEE PAGE 14
Valerie Nesbitt continues to be model student athlete By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net VALERIE Nesbitt continues to be the model student athlete since she has reacclimated herself to the Ole Miss Rebels’ women’s basketball programme. Nesbitt, a general business major, was recently named to the SEC First Year Academic Honour Roll and was also an M-Club Student of the Month for July. The senior guard was one of five women’s basketball players and 67 Ole Miss student-athletes on the 2019-20 First-Year SEC Academic Honour Roll. Each month the FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center staff
selects five student-athletes 15 games into her tenure for the M-Club Studentwith the team. Athlete of the Month Nesbitt once again Award. Students are nomiappears on the team’s offinated by staff based on cial roster for the upcoming observed effort that goes 2020-21 season. above and beyond normal “Where I went wrong expectations and results was not being able to in personal or academic understand my flaws and NESBITT achievement. weaknesses. I wasn’t open In April, Nesbitt enough to people that addressed the issues surrounding wanted to help me. I just knew her dismissal from the programme within myself, I just wanted to do last season alongside head coach it my way and discipline is imporYolett McPhee-McCuin. tant, especially at this level and McPhee-McCuin hosted a you need that structure. I didn’t series of conversations on social allow the people that were trying media and Nesbitt was one of her to help me to better myself, I was guests, discussing changes in her like trying to do it on my own so behaviour since the surprising that’s where I went wrong,” Nesannouncement last January, just bitt said. “I was just comfortable
in mediocrity, I just wanted to be comfortable all the time so when I got removed from the team I was in a bad place and I just wanted everything to change. I was tired of the same results all the time. “I always used to blame my coaches and I never saw I was the problem so I had to do a lot of self check. Self checking, that helped a lot so now that I know where I go wrong and where I went wrong I’m able to change it and allow people to help me.” She was in the midst of making what appeared to be a seamless transition to NCAA Division I basketball following two years at the JuCo level. She led the Southeastern Conference in steals at 3.2 takeaways per game and had
six games this season with at least four. She was the Rebels’ secondleading scorer at 11.3 points a game and was also second in minutes played at 24.3 per game. At the time of January’s announcement, McPhee-McCuin called it one of the toughest decisions she has made in her career. Nesbitt was the first Bahamian player signed by McPhee-McCuin in her tenure as the head coach of the Rebels. She has successfully recruited Bahamians to her programmes in the past - Jonquel Jones to Clemson and Shalonda Neely to Jacksonville. The Rebels will have the No.1 recruiting class in the SEC and No.13 class in the nation for the 2020-2021 season.
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Tuesday, July 21, 2020, PAGE 13
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
IN this May 20, 2020, photo provided by the Chicago Sky, Phoenix Mercury WNBA coach Sandy Brondello, rear, her husband Olaf Lange, left, an assistant coach for the WNBA Chicago Sky, and their children Brody, right, and Jayda eat at home in Phoenix, Ariz., while quarantining. The Brondello family is in the bubble in Bradenton, Florida. Sandy and Jayda are living in a hotel room while Olaf and Brody are in a villa on the IMG Academy property. There are no league rules preventing the couple to stay together with their two children but the coaches decided against it to maintain a level of professionalism. (Olaf Lange via AP)
Married WNBA coaches living in different places in bubble By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer PHOENIX coach Sandy Brondello called her husband Olaf Lange and good-naturedly ribbed him that he was late for a zoom interview. The first-year Chicago Sky assistant replied that he was logging in as they were speaking. Sure enough, before he could even finish the sentence on the phone his voice could be heard on the computer screen. They’re both staying within the WNBA bubble in Florida at IMG Academy where all 12 teams are, but Brondello and Lange decided to live separately to maintain a level
of professionalism. The league offered to give them accommodations to live together along with their two children, Brody and Jayda, who split time with mom and dad. “We decided we’re with two different teams and there’s a little bit of professional integrity there,” Brondello said. “Olaf’s a first-year assistant with the Sky and we thought it wold be better for him to be surrounded by his staff and for me to be surrounded by my staff.” The pair have been married for years and coached together in the WNBA and overseas. However, this season will be the first that they’re on opposing WNBA benches.
“This is our jobs, this is what we do, it’s great that we got to work together,” Brondello said. Brondello has Jayda in the hotel with her and Lange has Brody with him in a villa with the other Chicago assistants. “It’s like a dorm in college. Four males here,” Lange said. “We have frequent gatherings at the kitchen table and we talk. He enjoys as a teenager now having this male energy around him.” While Brody is spending time with his dad, Jayda has been hanging out with Candace Parker’s daughter Lailaa. The two met years ago. “They grew up together when Candace was in
Russia and we were coaching in Russia,” Brondello said. “They’ve known each other since Jayda was 18 months old.” While they have been living apart the first two weeks in the bubble, they have gotten together for a few family meals. Brondello had both her kids with her when they first got to IMG Academy and were quarantining for a few days. “I had both of them living with me during quarantine, four days of that was enough,” she said laughing. The two met years ago in Germany when Brondello was playing and Lange was a young assistant coach on
that team. They’ve coached together in San Antonio and in Russia and Lange is an assistant for Brondello with theustralian national team. The coaching duo have spent countless hours discussing basketball over the years, but won’t be doing the scouting report on each others teams before they play. Phoenix and Chicago meet twice in a span of six days on August 6 and 12. Neither coach is really focused on that game and both say family bragging rights won’t be at stake. “I’m sure the (media) will make a much bigger deal out of it than we will,” Brondello said. “It’s just another game on our schedule.”
(AP) — The latest on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on sports around the world: • One University of Oklahoma women’s basketball player has tested positive for COVID-19, and a second player has been deemed a close contact. Oklahoma made the announcement in a news release on Monday. Both players are in quarantine off campus. The result comes from 100 tests performed Friday on Oklahoma athletes and staff members. The women’s basketball player was the only person with a positive test in a group that included 14 men’s basketball players and 15 women’s basketball players. Oklahoma re-opens its facilities to members of the men’s and women’s basketball teams on Monday. • The University of Louisville says it suspended men’s and women’s voluntary swimming activities for two weeks on Saturday after three members of the program tested positive for COVID-19. A university news release issued Monday did not specify whether those impacted are student-athletes or staffers. It says all three have been quarantined, with procedures and protocols being followed. Twenty-seven swimmers and divers have returned to campus in three phases for training.
CHAOS IN SPAIN AS 2ND-TIER GAME SUSPENDED AFTER VIRUS OUTBREAK By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — An outbreak of positive COVID-19 tests among players of a second-division club has created chaos in Spanish soccer. The positive results were announced just hours before yesterday’s final round, prompting the suspension of one decisive game and the ire of other clubs who felt they were at a disadvantage. The match between Deportivo La Coruña and Fuenlabrada was postponed after some Fuenlabrada players tested positive. The entire final round was at risk of being postponed but all of the other matches — which the league originally wanted to be played at the same time — went on as scheduled. Some clubs said the decision to suspend only one game instead of the entire round affected the outcome of the competition because many teams depended on the result of the DeportivoFuenlabrada match. Elche, for example, was holding on to the last playoff spot and will only keep it if Fuenlabrada loses to Deportivo. Deportivo would still be fighting to avoid relegation had it played yesterday, but other results sealed its demotion and it will have nothing to play for when its game is rescheduled. “Obviously a decision has been made that directly affects the integrity of the competition and we believe that it was not fair,” Elche said in a statement. “A situation like the one experienced today shows the importance of strict compliance with the rules and safety and hygiene measures determined by authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.” Rayo Vallecano had been in a similar position and its chances of promotion depended in part on Fuenlabrada’s result, so
it threatened legal action against the decision not to postpone all matches. Deportivo also said it would consider legal options to defend its interests. It said in a statement that the club complied with all health and security measures and was ready to play the match. The league — along with the Spanish soccer federation and the nation’s sports council — said the decision not to reschedule all matches was “the solution that best protected the health of players and the overall integrity of the competition.” Deportivo coach Fernando Vázquez said his team’s rivals benefited by being able to play their games. “They have an advantage because they don’t have the pressure of our result,” Vázquez told Movistar. “Why couldn’t we play all at the same time, without anybody having a competitive advantage?” Deportivo, the 2000 Spanish league champion, was relegated to the third division for the second time in club history. The first time was in the 198081 season. No other league
champion had dropped to the third division since Real Betis in 1947, according to Spanish media. Fuenlabrada, based just south of Madrid, is trying to reach the top flight for the first time. The promotion playoffs, which were expected to begin on Thursday, will also have to be delayed. There was no date set for a new game between Deportivo and Fuenlabrada. The Spanish league did not say how many Fuenlabrada players or club members tested positive. The club said no one who tested positive showed symptoms of the disease. Spanish media said Fuenlabrada was expected to be held in confinement until everyone tested negative again. The club hosted Elche last week. Spain was one of the hardest-hit countries by the coronavirus. The pandemic had been under control but some surges of new cases have been reported recently. “It’s a little alarming, we were all congratulating ourselves on how well we were doing as a society,” Vázquez said. “It’s a warning.”
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PAGE 14, Tuesday, July 21, 2020
England’s ‘Mr Incredible’ inspires victory in 2nd test MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Whatever the format, whatever the circumstances, Ben Stokes continues to deliver matchwinning performances for England’s cricket team. The latest masterclass by the swashbuckling allrounder has taken the test series against the West Indies to a decider. Stokes delivered crucial contributions with bat and ball to lead England to a 113-run win late on the final day of the second test, tying the three-match series at 1-1 yesterday and earning him the nickname “Mr Incredible” by his captain. Having already put England in charge of the test after a patient 176 in the first innings, Stokes transitioned to limited-overs mode to smash an unbeaten 78 off 57 balls early on day five, allowing England to declare after 11 overs on 129-3 and set the West Indies an unlikely victory target of 312. Survival quickly became the aim for the tourists, who needed to bat out 70 more overs to salvage a draw and retain the Wisden Trophy, after they were reduced to 37-4 after 15 overs. A fifth-wicket stand of 100 runs between Shamarh Brooks (62) and Jermaine Blackwood (55) gave them hope of a draw heading into the final over before tea. Enter Stokes. England’s World Cup hero from last year made the huge breakthrough as Blackwood gloved a ball down the legside to diving wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, igniting England’s charge to victory. With 14.5 overs — or one hour — left of a test played at an empty Old Trafford because of the coronavirus pandemic, the West Indies
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AP SOURCE: NFL OFFERS PLAYERS TO SCRAP ALL PRESEASON GAMES By ROB MAADDI and BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writers
ENGLAND’s Ben Stokes plays a shot during the last day of the second cricket Test match between England and West Indies at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Monday, July 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Jon Super) was dismissed for 198. “Eve- do whatever is needed. I’ve However, he said there performances over the last ryone understands that we been round a long time now was “absolutely nothing to two days, after a full day — are watching a player at the and I have that understand- worry about.” on Saturday — lost to rain peak of his powers, at the ing of the role models we “To be honest,” Stokes in Manchester. peak of world cricket, who are. “We want to pave the said, “it was just the body. England will likely is delivering time and time way for England cricketers I feel very old this test freshen up its attack for again,” England captain Joe in 20 years’ time. It’s not all match. It was a bit of body the third test, with James Root said. “He just seems about the present, it’s about stiffness.” Anderson, Mark Wood and to get better and better. taking the cap forward. ... There was some defiance Jofra Archer pushing for I feel lucky, I don’t know We’ve a duty to win games by the West Indies’ lower recalls, but Stuart Broad what else to say. We have to but also to youngsters who order in the final session staked a claim to stay in savour that, appreciate that, want to aspire to be like but spinner Dom Bess took the team by claiming three and we have to understand us.” two wickets, including the wickets in each of the West that we are — without Stokes has 343 runs last one of Kemar Roach to Indies’ innings. wanting to pump his tires already in this series, at short leg Ollie Pope, who He took three of the first too much — in the presence 114.33, along with nine needed two grabs to snaffle four wickets yesterday, finof greatness.” wickets heading into the the chance. ishing with 3-42. Stokes is thriving under third test that starts on “I’m a little disappointed This is the first series of the pressure — be it in Friday and will also be in with the way we batted,” international cricket since a World Cup final, a lost Manchester. West Indies captain Jason the return of the sport after Ashes cause at Headingley In what appeared to be a Holder said. a four-month shutdown or another day-five finale concern for England ahead “It’s all to play for. This because of the coronavirus in Cape Town at the turn of of the third test, Stokes is the perfect return to pandemic. the year. “It’s a case of doing failed to complete his 15th, cricket.” The tests are being played what’s needed at the time,” and what proved to be final, England wrapped up without spectators and in he said. “I’ll always try to over of the day. victory with big bowling isolated environments.
THE NFL has offered to scrap all preseason games, a person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press. The players’ association had sought no preseason games and the league had reduced the exhibition schedule to two games. But yesterday evening, the NFL said it would eliminate those preseason contests and also would offer players 18 days for acclimation, up from seven days. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the offer has not been made public. Another part of the offer is to provide a means for players concerned about participating in training camp and/or games to opt out and receive a stipend. The union has not yet accepted the offers. Should it do so, both sides would have taken a major step toward starting the season on time.
CAMP from PAGE 12 some of them were hoping to come out and participate this week. “Whenever I am able to go back to the court as a coach, I will continue to do what I do, training the girls in particular the basic fundamentals of the game. If not, whenever the parks are reopened, we will resume, if it’s just Saturday workouts.” Having gotten the camp off the blocks, McSweeney said he’s thankful to God and he will abide by the rules of the Bahamas Government because lives are more at stake. Webb passed away at the age of 30 on January 19 after a battle with lupus and 53-year-old Smith died on April 22, having been diagnosed earlier with sickle cell that led to complications with COVID-19. Already, McSweeney is already looking forward to next year when he will take his Diamond Basketball League to Harbour Island and Central Eleuthera during the summer for a primary school camp for girls in grades 4-6. Marcia Hall, the 10-yearold daughter of sportscaster Marcellus Hall, will be the face of the camp. Here for this year’s camp, Hall attends the Harbour Island All-Age School where she is coached by Ann Bullard. “If it is that we have to pull up anchor on this year’s camp, I am planning then to do a 3-on-3 tournament in her honour at some point and to go to Harbour Island and Central Eleuthera,” McSweeney said. “Those will be held in conjunction with the continuation of our regular Saturday morning training sessions. So we are going to try and stay busy, despite all that is going on with this pandemic. Once we get the clearance, we will provide the opportunities for our young girls to develop their skills in basketball.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 21, 2020, PAGE 15
NFL PLAYERS TO BE TESTED DAILY FOR COVID-19 FIRST 2 WEEKS By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer NFL players will be tested daily for the coronavirus for at least the first two weeks of training camp, per the league’s new testing protocols. The NFL and the players’ union reached an agreement yesterday as rookies for Houston and Kansas City were set to report to camp. Rookies for other teams begin arriving today. Players and all Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2M or Tier 3 individuals must test negative two times separated by 72 hours using a nasal swab before initially entering the building to begin physical exams or any form of team activity. After two weeks of daily testing, if the positivity rate of those tests falls below five per cent among players and Tier I and Tier II individuals, as described previously in NFL protocols, testing would go to every other day. If the positivity rate doesn’t fall below that threshold, daily testing would continue until it drops. “There’s no finish line with health and safety
and I think these protocols are very much living and breathing documents, which means they will change as we gain new knowledge about this virus, as we gain new knowledge about transmission, as we gain new knowledge about testing and there are new tests and new techniques that come online,” said Dr Allen Sills, the NFL chief medical officer. “We very much anticipate that these protocols will change.” The NFL has sought input from other leagues that have already returned to action, including leagues outside the country. It’s not known how many positive tests would result in shutting down the football season. “These are complicated issues which involve a lot of factors,” Sills said. “But suffice it to say we very much look at it from a medical and public health standpoint, and we want to make sure that first and foremost we’re creating the safest possible environment for our players, for our coaches and our staff, but that we’re also operating within the safest environment for each one of our clubs’ locations, which means ongoing and regular communication
NFL chief medical officer Dr Allen Sills gestures while speaking during a health and safety tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game in Atlanta January 29, 2019. (AP) with the public health authorities in those areas.” The league and the NFLPA already finalised protocols regarding team travel, media, and treatment response, and updated the facilities protocol to specifically address training camp based on recommendations from a joint committee of doctors, trainers and strength coaches formed by the league and players’ union. “Our union has been pushing for the
strongest testing, tracing and treatment protocols to keep our players safe. The testing protocols we agreed to are one critical factor that will help us return to work safely, and gives us the best chance to play and finish the season,” the union said in a statement yesterday. On Friday, the league sent players and teams an “Education Protocol” for camp which requires clubs to distribute joint
educational materials and to conduct educational sessions for players, staff and family members. “Everything that we’re doing is centred around the concept of risk mitigation,” Sills said. “We know that we can’t eliminate risk, but we’re trying to mitigate it as much as possible for everyone. We know that this is going to be a shared responsibility.” Sills stressed the importance of responsible
behaviour away from team facilities. Unlike the NBA and NHL, the NFL can’t put its clubs in a bubble environment, so players and team personnel will have outside risk. “What’s good for players and what makes players and their families safer also makes coaches, staff and teams safer and, quite frankly, it makes our communities safer,” Sills said. The NFL’s testing will run through a national laboratory company. The league spoke with the CDC; the White House task force; a number of public health officials; infectious disease experts and national laboratory medicine leaders to make sure its testing protocol would not have a negative impact on the country’s testing supply or the health care system. “We’ve received unanimous response across the board that it would not have a negative impact,” Sills said. “That’s a very important point to us, we take that responsibility very seriously. We’ve also discussed that at length with our testing vendor to make sure we are not having a negative impact on any of their business.”
WOLVERHAMPTON BEATS CRYSTAL PALACE TO RETAKE 6TH IN EPL WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Wolverhampton took back sixth place in the English Premier League after beating slumping Crystal Palace 2-0 yesterday, moving closer to qualifying for another season in the Europa League. The win moved Wolves back above Tottenham with a one-point advantage ahead of the final day of the league season on Sunday. Wolves must face Chelsea; Tottenham gets Palace, which has lost its last seven games.
Daniel Podence, a winter signing from Olympiakos, scored his first Premier League goal in the 41st minute with a header into an unguarded net off a cross from Matt Doherty, who was in turn cued up by a smart lob from Joao Moutinho. Jonathan Castro showed off his footwork to score the second goal on the turn in the 68th. “We wanted to be in Europe again and now we probably need to win at Chelsea to make sure we are again,” Doherty told
broadcaster BT Sport. “I thought we probably started off a bit slow, bit flat in the first half, struggled to get going, but once we scored we got a bit more confident.” Palace showed little sign of breaking its losing run, the club’s worst under manager Roy Hodgson. Jeff Schlupp sent a low shot narrowly wide in the first half on his first Premier League start of 2020 following injury problems. Palace lost defender Mamadou Sakho to a leg injury after 23 minutes.
Wolves’ European push was helped earlier in the evening when eighth-placed Sheffield United was beaten by Everton 1-0. That result, combined with the win for Wolves, meant Sheffield is no longer in with a chance of reaching the Europa League. Wolves is still in this season’s Europa League, which was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. It faces Podence’s old club, Olympiakos, in the second leg of their last-16 fixture on August 6. The first leg went 1-1.
WOLVERHAMPTON Wanderers’ Adama Traore, left, leaps in the air as he attempts to control the ball as Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend right, watches during their match at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, yesterday. (AP)
PAGE 16, Tuesday, July 21, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
LeBron James speaks out: ‘Nothing is normal in 2020’ By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — LeBron James keeps hearing the same questions. How’s it going? How’s the bubble? He now has a one-sizefits-all answer. “I just say it’s 2020,” James said. “Nothing is normal in 2020.” That’s not entirely true. The NBA is a few weeks from playoff mode, and James -- just like normal — has himself and the Los Angeles Lakers squarely in the mix to compete for championship. It is a rare bit of normalcy for a player who appeared in eight consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 through and including 2018, and for a franchise that has won 16 championships. Everything else about this year has been most abnormal. A pandemic suspended play. David Stern, the NBA’s commissioner emeritus, died. Kobe Bryant, who was the third-leading scorer in NBA history until James passed him on January 25, died in a helicopter crash the following day. And now James, the Lakers and 21 other teams are at Walt Disney World, separated from the rest of the world, trying to salvage a season and decide a champion. James took Bryant’s death — the Lakers’ star died along with his 13-yearold daughter Gianna and seven others on the morning of January 26 — particularly hard. “A day doesn’t go by when I don’t think about him,” James said. “A day doesn’t go by where our organisation does not remember him and think about not only Kob, but
Gigi, (his wife) Vanessa and their girls. They are a part of this family.” Lakers coach Frank Vogel has seen playoffseason James three times before — never liking how those experiences went. Vogel was coaching Indiana and his three best seasons there saw the Pacers matched up with James and the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Heat in 6 in 2012. Heat in 7 in 2013. Heat in 6 in 2014. This time, Vogel is genuinely and understandably eager to see James at playoff time. “Obviously, it’s been great having LeBron on our side after years of going against him,” Vogel said. “But in particular, when we get to the playoff environment, I’ve just seen how he is this year in some of the bigger regular season games, how he’s more mentally locked in, more vocal, more making sure everybody else is locked in. And I anticipate that come playoff time, we’ll see that all being done at an enhanced level.” James will have a big say in whether the Lakers win that title. By the time the season resumes July 30, the ballots will be cast to determine whether he or Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo — the two frontrunners — wins the NBA MVP award. James is almost mathematically assured of winning his first assist title; he cannot be caught by second-place Trae Young of Atlanta no matter what happens at Disney. And the Lakers, barring all-out collapse, will be the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
LOS Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr defends in Los Angeles on March 8. The NBA is a few weeks from playoff mode, and James has himself and the Lakers squarely in the mix to compete for championship. It is a rare bit of normalcy for a player who appeared in eight consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 through and including 2018, and for a franchise that has won 16 championships. (AP Photo/Mark J Terrill) By any measure, it’s been a good year on the court for James. A weird year, but a good year. Time will tell if it’s a great year. He believes the bubble will work and sees no reason yet why this NBA experiment would fail. And while he detests being away from his family and his inner circle, he’s using this chance to be locked in to focus on the opportunity. “As far as the MVP race, I think I’ve shown what I’m capable of doing, not only individually but from a team’s perspective, us being No. 1 in the West,” James said. “There was a lot of conversation about,
you know, ‘LeBron can do those things in the East but if he ever came to the West, what can he do?’ I heard all of that, and to have our team at the top of the Western Conference and playing the way that we were playing at that time and the way I was playing, you know, that’s definitely a good feeling.” NOTES: The league said 346 players had been tested on the NBA campus since last leaguewide coronavirus results were announced July 13, with no positives. Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said guard Russell Westbrook, who revealed last week that he tested positive for
coronavirus, was flying in Monday and rejoining the team. “I know he’ll be ready,” D’Antoni said. Sacramento announced that Marvin Bagley III was having an MRI to determine how badly he injured his right foot in practice Sunday. The Kings will be without De’Aaron Fox (ankle), Richaun Holmes (extended quarantine for rules violation) and Alex Len (coronavirus, returned to practice Monday) for their exhibition opener against Miami on Wednesday. Harrison Barnes (coronavirus) is also still away from the team and Bagley’s status seems most unclear now as well.
MOUNTAIN WEST POSTPONES FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS (AP) — The latest on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on sports around the world: • The Mountain West has postponed its football virtual media days which were scheduled for July 27-29. The league didn’t say when the online event would take place, saying only that “any future decisions and announcements will take place at the appropriate time.” Several Mountain West teams had scheduled strong Power-5 opponents to kick off the non-conference portion of their schedules only to see those games get cancelled. Colorado State, for instance, saw its games against rival Colorado and Oregon scuttled when the Pac-12 decided to play only conference games this season in light of the coronavirus crisis. The Mountain West still plans to release its predicted order of finish this week along with its preseason all-conference teams and preseason players of the year. • The country’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the first game of Major League Baseball’s pandemic-delayed regular season. The Washington Nationals announced Monday that Fauci -- a self-described fan of the reigning World Series champions -- accepted the team’s invitation to have the pregame honour Thursday. The Nationals will host the New York Yankees to open the season nearly four months after it originally was scheduled to begin.