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PLEASE BEAR WITH US LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Power and Light chairman Dr Donovan Moxey has called for consumers to “bear” with the company following several recent power outages in New Providence, insisting the electricity provider is doing “ everything” it can to improve service. He insisted this was not due to load shedding amid consumer scepticism of the situation. Dr Moxey spoke out after several communities experienced service disruptions on Sunday due to an issue at BPL’s Blue Hills Power Station. Again, yesterday, some communities experienced a repeat of the day before with hours-long service interruptions. Yesterday, the BPL chairman told reporters Sunday’s power outage was caused by a disruption at one of BPL’s substations,
which in turn affected the electricity provider’s entire transmission and distribution network. “The outages you’ve seen has not been due to load shedding at all and so the outage last night was actually due to a T and D (transmission and distribution) event,” Dr Moxey said at a press conference. “There was a disruption on one of our substations and what ended up happening is that particular fault propagated through the entire network. “It should have not propagated the way it did. Obviously, our engineers are looking at that to determine why it propagated and so from our perspective, we’re looking to make whatever changes need to be made so that whenever those kind of faults occur, we can contain those and really minimise the impact on our particular customers.” SEE PAGE THREE
TOURISM industry executives yesterday voiced optimism the industry’s recovery will not be impacted by tightening of COVID restrictions, with one asserting it will be “90 percent unaffected”. Magnus Alnebeck, general manager of Grand Bahama’s Pelican Bay resort, said: “Honestly I don’t think it will affect tourism unless we are
putting in restrictions that really impact tourists. Very few tourists leave their hotels or rental houses after 10pm, but there are obviously exceptions, so let’s say that 90 percent of tourism will be unaffected.” He was backed by Robert Sands, Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association president, who stressed it was more important to reduce COVID-19 numbers, save lives and ease pressure on the healthcare system. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net SUPER Value’s president Rupert Roberts says while COVID-19 vaccines won’t be mandatory for employees, the food store chain is considering only hiring fully vaccinated people in the future. Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Roberts voiced growing alarm about the surge in COVID-19 cases, saying the number of Super Value workers infected in this third wave have been greater than what was seen in the previous waves. SEE PAGE FOUR
CHURCHES CONCERN AT SERVICE TIME LIMIT
TOURISM CHIEFS HOPEFUL NEW RULES WON’T HURT By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
MAY NEED VACCINE TO SECURE JOB
ALWAYS TIME TO PLAY
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Christian Council president Bishop Delton Fernander says he was surprised a one-hour limit on religious services was implemented in the latest Emergency Powers Orders which took effect yesterday. He, along with Hope Centre Pastor Carlos Reid, said the government cannot dictate what churches do. SEE PAGE TWO
LUCAYAN SUES FOR $3M OVER COVID HALTS US EMBASSY PROJECT AC WATER A MOTHER and son enjoying the park yesterday as parents look for other means of keeping their children active as Summer Camps are cancelled due to the emergency orders. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
CONSTRUCTION at the US Embassy’s new site on Shirley Street has stopped following suspected COVID-19 cases there, according to US Embassy Public Affairs Officer Daniel Durazo. Mr Durazo said before work on the site was halted, there were about 400 workers there.
AN ARTIST’S impression of the planned US Embassy. He said officials do not expect the suspension will result in a significant delay to the project.
He confirmed that of the people who have tested positive for COVID-19, none had yet received a COVID-19 vaccine. This comes as the country experiences yet another significant surge in COVID-19 cases, with 133 cases confirmed yesterday. “We are aware of one or more suspected COVID19 cases among the private contractors at the New Embassy construction site,” SEE PAGE TWO
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government-owned Grand Lucayan yesterday said it is seeking almost $3m in compensation from the Grand Bahama Port Authority for “the exorbitant loss and damage” caused by poor quality water. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
PAGE 2, Tuesday, July 27, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
CAPTAIN HELD AFTER ‘THREATS TO HIS CREW’ POLICE are questioning a boat captain after his vessel was brought into New Providence on Sunday by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force for allegedly threatening his crew. An RBDF press release yesterday said its operations centre received a call shortly before noon Sunday from a crew member aboard a 95-foot white pleasure craft, located west of Highbourne Cay. The crew member said the captain was behaving in an erratic manner towards the crew and passengers.
RBDF assets were dispatched to investigate. On arrival at the named location, the RBDF boarding team immediately conducted investigations onboard the American registered vessel and discovered a 9mm pistol along with a magazine and ten live rounds. The weapon was not registered or declared to Bahamas Customs. The vessel and its crew were eventually escorted to the capital, and the captain and crew were handed over to the relevant authorities for further questioning.
COVID HALTS US EMBASSY PROJECT
Moultrie ‘worst Speaker in history’
from page one
Mr Durazo said. “Of the individuals who have tested positive, none have yet received a COVID-19 vaccine. Out of an abundance of caution, work at the construction site has temporarily been suspended. “However, the main Embassy building on Queen Street remains unaffected. Our consular (including US citizen services, student visa appointments, and other emergency services) and other Embassy operations remain functional. “Health and safety are our top priority, and the US Embassy continues to work closely with the US State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect the health and safety of our community. Regardless of vaccination status, all employees continue to be instructed to follow the appropriate guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The site is also being sanitised to prevent further spread. “In addition, this week on Thursday and Friday, July 29-30, the State Department will be vaccinating workers of the construction site. The planning for this vaccination effort has been underway for two months, long before this outbreak was identified. This plan is part of a broader Department of State effort to vaccinate workers at similar construction projects around the world.”
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A BOAT captain is being questioned after he allegedly threatened his crew.
By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
A FORMER Cabinet Minister has accused the current House Speaker of being the worst in Bahamian history. George Smith, who served as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Transport and Local Government in the Progressive Liberal Party during the Pindling administration, expressed total disappointment in the way Parliament is being run and also the governance of the country. “The person who was to preside over the conduct of Parliament is clearly the worst Speaker in the history of the House of Assembly that goes back to 1729,” he declared. “I think that he didn’t fully understand that he presides over the lower House of our Parliament. “His job is to facilitate the functioning of the government by virtue of
facilitating in Parliament the contributions that have to be made by various ministers. But, at all times he is to protect the rights of the minority to have their say as the alternative government. “He clearly started off with a vendetta towards the Opposition and overly facilitated the governing side and as time went on he ran amuck with the government. It is important that the Speaker of the House has a working relationship with the government and a
respectful and accommodating relationship with the Opposition.” The former Minister said clearly the House Speaker lost the relationship that he should have maintained with the government and he never fostered a sensibly accommodating and working relationship with the Opposition. Not only was Mr Smith upset about the running of Parliament, but he also blamed the House Speaker for what he called a colossal failure of the Boundaries Commission. “It was an approach that was bound to fail and it was evident by the colossal failure not only as Speaker of the House, but as chairman of the Boundaries Commission,” he said. “He failed there too. This is the first time in Parliamentary history that the functioning of the Boundaries Commission that has certain basic guidelines has had a chairman that failed to bring about a majority report.
“The majority report puts fairness of the people’s rights to have a properly constituted boundaries revision as is required every five years or thereabouts. This colossal failure points to there isn’t anything to credit the Speaker for conducting himself properly and maturely.” Mr Smith also had a sharp word of criticism for the Minnis administration. “A Prime Minister may call an early election if he believes firmly and with good reason that his party has the advantage,” he said. “Short of that, it is unwise to do. Anybody who thinks that the FNM is at a stage where they have an advantage over the Progressive Liberal Party is clearly delusional. “If you poll any ten Bahamians and ask if they are better off today than they were prior to the 2017 elections, all ten would say, ‘certainly not’. If you can find one that says they are doing better, then they are
only doing better because of their peculiar relationship with the government. That would be those who got lucrative contracts and those who are extremely, personally close to the prime minister. “He (the Prime Minister) picked what can clearly be described as the worst slate of elected representatives in possibly our history. So they had no experience. Most of them got into politics for the wrong reason. Unless you are extremely devoted to the service of the Bahamian people, and you clearly know that you belong to an organization that you will keep relevant to the people’s needs, you are not going to be focused.” Mr. Smith said even though the FNM won the 2017 election by a landslide he believes the party only won because of what he called the “unpopularity” of former Prime Minister, Perry Christie.
is facing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Bishop Fernander explained he was informed a day before of the rule change by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in a meeting “This was an informative meeting where he would have received this report out of what I’ve said here’s what he had his mind to do, but the detail might have changed by the time he presents. So, we never reveal the contents of that conversation because by the time he presented it might change,” he said. In response to the church capacity rule of 33 percent, Bishop Fernander said the church will try to come up with an allowance. “Only the one hour part was not introduced by the church, but we came up with the entire protocol for the church,” he noted. In the past, a proposed idea to combat the
one-hour restriction was that churches would follow the protocols strictly, which Mr Fernander felt most were doing. “Yes, I would guarantee we’ve been adhering to this, but as it is most times only the churches pointed out,” he said. “We’ve had mass infections at government sites and whatnot, we don’t get the same coverage as it is if something is said to be a church event and so it bothers us as the church that it seemingly agenda that anytime it’s comes up. It’s being limited. It’s being coerced as trying to. It’s only going to get to a point where the church is going to make some strong stands.” The BCC president insisted the state could not tell the church what to do. “The state cannot dictate to the church, as it does other entities, and it isn’t even dictating to the other entities and so we wrestled
with this. We came to (amicable) answer to this. We hope we can get it done again. It’s just surprising that this popped up again in the order.” Pastor Carlos Reid agreed it was “ludicrous” for government to dictate services can only be held for an hour. He said the measure made no sense. “Dictating to the church that they can only stay open for an hour. You know what I mean, that’s ludicrous,” he argued. “You can go into movie theatre for how long the movie the last. I’ve never watched a movie that only last for an hour. Don’t seem as if you’re anti-church. We understand that we’re all fighting a pandemic. We’re all fighting this disease that we can’t see. We understand that is contagious. We understand that we as a country need to do something, but when you make
decisions, make the decisions make sense.” “When we look at the Constitution, the constitution say a person should be free to worship up in their own style and whatever. The Constitution also states of emergency like the component authority the right to be able to make the decision. What we’re saying is that make the decisions make sense. “The constitution also states that it can be seen that the decision that you making is prejudice and I believe this is one of the problems that most Bahamians have from COVID-19 status. This administration that makes decisions don’t make it where it seem like its fair for everyone concerned. When you have businesses that are shut down and other business are open it don’t make sense. It don’t seem fair. It seems prejudice,” Pastor Reid said.
HALSON MOULTRIE, the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
CHURCHES CONCERN AT SERVICE TIME LIMIT from page one
The latest order says that in New Providence a worship service may be conducted daily for the maximum duration of one hour provided it is limited to 33 percent of the occupancy of the facility where it is being conducted. Further it must be conducted in accordance with the protocols established by the BCC and approved by the Ministry of Health. “We had dealt with the aspect of the one hour before. It is surprising that it came up again and we are hoping to settle this matter with the Office of the Prime Minister and back to the Christian council guideline as it was before,” Bishop Fernander told The Tribune. The restriction is a part of a series of new measures announced on Friday at a Ministry of Health press conference as the country
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 27, 2021, PAGE 3
Please bear with us
WHITNEY HEASTIE, CEO of BPL, and Dr Donovan Moxey, director and chairman of BPL. from page one Areas affected on Sunday included Millennium Gardens, Little Blair, Fox Hill, High Vista, Mount Vernon, Kool Acres, Pinewood Gardens and Garden Hills among others. Many BPL customers expressed their frustration with the energy supplier on the company’s facebook page, complaining that they had been left without power for hours. Dr Moxey acknowledged Bahamians’ frustrations and called for members of the public to bear with the company as it seeks to address issues. He said a lack of funding has made it difficult for the company to conduct critical
infrastructural upgrades. “It goes to the fact that we don’t necessarily have the latest and greatest components in our T and D network but obviously, we’re working to do all of the relevant detection settings so that we can essentially be able to identify and contain faults very, very quickly. So, it’s one of those things where you’re trying to do the best that we possibly can with the significant infrastructure recognising that you cannot make the significant investments that are required to make a smarter and more hardier network until you can get the funding closed. “We certainly understand the frustration of our customers and obviously we’re
asking you to bear with us. “Obviously, you’re paying for a service and you’re expecting a good quality service and so what I can say is we’re going to do everything we can in order to continue to try to improve the services as best we possibly can.” Yesterday, BPL officials also addressed service disconnections in the country amid the pandemic, noting the company has seen a significant decline in that regard for the year. BPL CEO Whitney Heastie said at last report, less than 3,000 residential accounts in New Providence and the Family Islands had been turned off. “In terms of service accounts, the last we had was under 3,000 that are
Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff currently not on the grid. I think what we have seen with the new rates is that number has dropped drastically,” Mr Heastie told reporters. “And so, we’re proud that not only people are being able to take advantage of consuming a little bit more power but our load, as you mentioned, is getting really high. Certainly, we typically see about 250 megawatts this time of the year, sorry for our peak which typically happens in the August timeframe.” He added: “We’ve already seen 245 in July and so that’s an indication that not only are people going back to normality in terms of what they’re consuming but folks feel very comfortable that they can
pay their bills. “We’ve also seen in terms of collections that we have not had a major issue with 30–60day collections so that’s all positive signs that not only the economy is recovering but people are comfortable with not only consuming power but making their payments.” In March 2020, BPL halted disconnections in response to the COVID19 pandemic, with the company initially saying it would suspend disconnections as long as the government maintained the COVID-19 emergency orders. However, the government-owned utility later resumed disconnections after it had announced last
July that it would discontinue electricity services of customers who were $500 or more in arrears, and 90 days past due, prior to April 1. Last October, a BPL official told The Tribune that the company had turned off 8,741 residential accounts in New Providence and the Family Islands since July 2020. However, a few days later it backtracked on the previous statement saying the actual number of disconnections stood at 3,011 as of October 23, 2020, as a large number of customers had been reconnected. Meanwhile, as it relates to BPL’s union issues, Mr Moxey said yesterday officials have been working to address the problems.
UNION: OUR MEMBERS NOT CAUSING POWER PROBLEMS By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Electrical Workers Union president has stated that his members are not to blame for any of the supply problems that have hit the power supplier in recent days. Suspicions that the union may have been behind the outages stems from its recent ultimatum to the company that it had 14 days to resolve outstanding issues. BEWU president Kyle Wilson told The Tribune that maintenance issues were the cause of the outages – not action by his members. “The union will not engage in activities that would disenfranchise the Bahamian people at all,” he said. “Under my watch that will not happen. I want to tell the Bahamian people that we are just as responsible as we can be as a union and if it ever comes to that, the Bahamian people will know when the union will disengage its labour. “I was here over the weekend working on (engine) GD10. We try to do our best to keep the power going. The Bahamian people should never have to be victims of the discourse between management and the union at BPL. That’s our core belief … to never intentionally disenfranchise the Bahamian people. “We would never engage in such reckless behaviour. I would have spoken to the DPM and Minister of Works, Desmond Bannister and informed him of the issues going on at the plant, so that he himself would be aware of what was happening at the plant.” Even though many an
eyebrow was raised over the weekend in regards to the union possibly trying to make a point with the power cuts, Mr Wilson explained that the trouble lies in the maintenance of the BPL engines and the fact that some are out of service. “Right now we have a lot of needs at the plants in terms of maintenance,” he said. “So we are trying to do our best to get things going. I am getting conflicting reports of a generator that tripped and a cable that exploded at a substation as the cause of the outages. It is being said that there was too much load on the system and it could not handle it. “I don’t care what they (BPL management says), you cannot tell me it’s okay to be at a loss of almost 100 plus megawatts and then say everything is fine. GD5 is down, GD4 is down, GD8 has complications, GD10 is down and we also have TA11 down. Each one of those represents over 20 megawatts. “You do the math and tell me if you are missing almost over 100 megawatts if it can be okay. If you are missing a foot or an arm, can you tell me life will still be the same for you? Life cannot be the same for BPL if we have over five major assets down – and that’s just the issues at Blue Hills (plant). You cannot tell me that we are going to be okay.” Mr Wilson said that some of the engines have been down for more than two years. He said they should have been repaired a long time ago. The Tribune asked Mr Wilson how negotiations were going with management and the union. “I feel management is two faced as they play nice in front of the DPM
and when we get back to BPL to the table amongst ourselves, they act as ferocious lions ready to eat us,” he said. “They revert to their pitbull mentality, but at the DPM’s office they pretend to be innocent pussycats. They put on a show for the DPM and then come back to BPL and be
mean-spirited. “They keep asking for extensions. We would have given them the extensions they asked for. There are still a lot of direct employee issues that we are still trying to resolve basically from 2018. With the assistance of the DPM and Mrs. Cora Colebrooke, the Permanent
Secretary at the Ministry of Works we were able to move some issues. I thank them for getting involved. “This put the issues back in-house and we left them to continue on a good note. But when we got back in house, management got right back to its position of posturing and arrogance of
not respecting the union. So we are right back at square one.” Mr Wilson said he doesn’t know what will happen in the long run; but, he said, he cannot keep running back to the DPM/Minister of Works to solve matters “if management continues to be disingenuous”.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, July 27, 2021
NEW HIRES MAY NEED VACCINE TO SECURE JOB from page one Added to this situation is the nation’s climbing death toll, which rose to 284 on Sunday after two men from New Providence died from the virus on July 14 and July 19. Yesterday, Mr Roberts said in recent days, it is believed that COVID-19 death has reached the company’s doorstep. He told The Tribune the chain is mourning the death of an employee, believed to have died from the virus. If confirmed, this would make the second employee to have died from the disease since the pandemic began. Mr Roberts said the latest deceased employee worked in the trucking department. He added the employee got tested for the virus last week after experiencing flulike symptoms. However, the test yielded negative results, but Mr Roberts suspects the result was inaccurate. “We are mourning our second COVID death last week,” Mr Roberts said. “Our employees are in shock at the moment. Our employee originally tested negative at a (local clinic) and continued his illness for a week until he passed out and was rushed to Doctors. We suspect the test was wrong. He died Thursday or Friday. He has children and I believed he’s in his 40s.” “I think he got the wrong test. Last year, we had a girl who died (from the virus) and I’d say it’s almost been a year, but we’ve had some other hospitalisations, but they’ve pulled through.” The food store owner was unable to say yesterday how many employees at the food chain store tested COVID positive to date in this third wave. However, he admitted that officials have seen a greater uptick in cases over the last month. The rise in virus infections, he added, prompted Super Value to re-implement new COVID-19 measures, which now only allows for job seekers to be interviewed virtually. “We’ve had more cases recently than we’ve had in the past 18 months, but we have two consulting doctors and they’re giving Ivermectin, and they’ve had no affect at all. It seems to work,” Mr Roberts told this newspaper. “This wave seems to affect younger people and it kills fast. With our strict protocols, I don’t think they’re getting it at work.” But, despite the climbing numbers, Mr Roberts said many workers still
remain hesitant to take the jab, citing vaccination rates among Super Value workers as “very low”. Mr Roberts believes misinformation and public misconceptions have contributed to vaccine hesitancy in the country. Asked if the company is considering making vaccinations mandatory for staff as is being done in some businesses, the foodstore owner replied: “I wouldn’t enforce vaccinations, but we are thinking about only hiring employees that are vaccinated (and) if that’s the trend then why employ unvaccinated people? “I think that most employers during COVID should only employ those vaccinated. Because if the Competent Authority says today, only vaccinated employees could serve the public. We’d have to close because we don’t have enough vaccinated people to carry our business,” Mr Roberts added. “So, that seems to be where we’re headed so we might as well co-operate and go with the flow. It’s not by choice and it’s not where the government wants to be headed, but it’s what the pandemic is driving us to do.” Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is expected to address the country at 8pm tomorrow regarding his administration’s continued fight against COVID-19. Dr Minnis will announce a series of measures to assist with care of people in hospital with COVID-19, steps to limit the further spread of the virus and an update on the country’s efforts to secure more vaccines. News of the national address have sparked concern in some Bahamians, who fear another COVID19 lockdown may be looming, especially ahead of the holiday weekend. However, in a statement Sunday, the Prime Minister’s office suggested there are no plans to implement a lockdown, insisting it’s focused on implementing policies that protect Bahamians while allowing commerce to continue in a safe and responsible manner. Still, when asked if store heads had seen any panic buying, Mr Roberts replied that they haven’t and stressed it’s very unlikely the government would resort to another lockdown as the country has already started its rebound from the pandemic. “I think they are going to take every possible measure to avoid lockdowns,” he said yesterday.
THE TRIBUNE
Munroe: Mandatory vaccinations illegal By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe, QC, questioned yesterday how government would justify the enforcement of a mandatory vaccination rule for healthcare workers, telling The Tribune that to do so would not be legal. Mr Munroe, who is also the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for Free Town, said to implement such a policy would be “foolish”. “How could you justify it?” he asked in an interview with The Tribune. “You have a right to security of your person, a right to freedom of movement, how can you justify doing that in the interest of public health? “You can always justify quarantining infected people, but you cannot justify doing things to healthy
people. Article 29.2 of the constitution is applicable only insofar as what you’re doing is reasonably justifiable. “Beyond that, it would be a foolish policy. Can you provide any disincentives and say, oh a nurse or doctor who doesn’t take the vaccine doesn’t have a job? Let’s assume that’s 60 or 70 percent of them. Who will look after the hospital people if all of them are out of a job? So, it seems self-defeating.” On Friday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan asserted that mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers is under consideration. It comes at a time when many healthcare workers are refusing the COVID-19 vaccine amid widespread vaccine hesitancy. Ninety-two people are in hospital with virus related illnesses.
The resurgence has led to a strain on public health facilities and the reimposition of harsher restrictions in New Providence, Grand Bahama along with North and Central Eleuthera, including Harbour Island. As a result, recommendations have been put forward to consider making vaccinations mandatory for healthcare workers, Dr McMillan said Friday. “I do not have the exact percentage, but we recognise the need for that grouping to be on board with vaccinations and in our discussions, I would say deliberations in the health EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), a recommendation would have been put forward for consideration of mandatory vaccinations of healthcare workers because of the significance of that group,” Dr McMillan said during a Ministry of Health press conference.
“Now, there are other things that must be considered because that grouping is the grouping that influences whether or not others, we recommend that you have a healthcare with your provider, so we have to work closely with the health provider grouping to understand their concerns…so that’s something we’re working on now and I’m sure we’ll be in a position to update”. On Sunday, Bahamas Nurses Union president Amancha Williams criticised the suggestion insisting the decision to take the jab should be a personal choice. Asked how she felt about the possibility of vaccinations being made mandatory for healthcare workers, Ms Williams said health officials could not make a decision like that without “consulting the union”.
‘EVERY BED FULL’ AS COVID SURGE GOES ON By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PUBLIC Hospitals Authority Managing Director Catherine Weech said officials are making makeshift arrangements to handle COVID-19 patients because “every bed is full”. Her comments follow similar comments health officials made during Friday’s press conference. “Every bed is full,” Mrs Weech said. “We have to work with overflow. We are using the general practice clinic. We are at maximum capacity. We have to make makeshift arrangements to accommodate patients. What the public has to understand is this is something we can beat together. Follow international recommendations like get vaccinated. “Refrain from social gatherings. Exercise some caution. Young people stop, give us a break. We are tired. The system only has so much. We have staff exposed.” Mrs Weech said the hospitals have been overwhelmed like this “for a long time”. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is expected to address the country at 8pm tomorrow
regarding the measures his administration will implement to curb the spread of COVID-19. Dr Minnis will announce a series of measures to assist with care of people in hospital with COVID19, steps to limit the further spread of the virus and an update on the country’s efforts to secure more vaccines. The announcement comes as two additional deaths, and 100 new cases
of the virus were recorded Friday. The country also recorded 133 cases on Sunday. PHA over the weekend responded to a viral video of patients staying on the porch of the Critical Care Block. PHA said, “The area identified in photos and video is the triage site for the Accident & Emergency Department. “All patients arriving for care at the emergency
department are screened for COVID-19 as part of the hospital’s prevention measures. “During the rainstorm, early Saturday morning, patients in the triage area were relocated from the west porch area to the north porch area for temporary shelter from the weather. “Subsequently, those patients were relocated to the General Practice Clinic area in the Ambulatory Block.”
DAVIS: FOLLOW RULES WHILE WE TEST LAW By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis has urged supporters to follow new COVID-19 restrictions, while the party examines avenues for legal recourse against government. In a press statement yesterday, Mr Davis made a push for people to receive vaccination against the virus, adding the decision to do so remained a personal one. He stressed that this was the only way for protection from this serious disease and hospitalisation. “As we are all aware, the Emergency Orders restrict campaigning and canvassing to vaccinated individuals,” Mr Davis said in a brief statement. “The Competent Authority permits many activities which pose a much greater risk of transmission of COVID. As we examine avenues for legal recourse, we ask that you follow the Emergency Orders. Candidates and their teams cannot campaign if unvaccinated.”
He continued: “However, although you are — for the moment — restricted from campaigning, the right to free speech has not been extinguished. You are free to converse with Bahamians about any topics you wish, including the economic and health crisis. “The government has failed badly to prepare the country for the Delta variant. We are facing a serious health crisis, one that is already overwhelming the public health system and is likely to seriously worsen. “The decision regarding vaccination remains a personal one. We continue to encourage all to get vaccinated. This remains the best way to protect yourself from serious disease and hospitalisation.” Mr Davis’ statement followed that of party chairman Fred Mitchell who said the PLP will not change its campaign protocols to comply with new rules requiring campaigners be vaccinated and their groups be no larger than five. Health Minister Renward Wells announced the rules during a press conference
on Friday. But in a statement yesterday, Mr Mitchell said: “The PLP encourages all persons to get vaccinated as the best protection against the COVID-19 virus. However, we also believe that the matter of taking the vaccine is one of personal choice and we do not support coercing people to do so on the pain of fines and jail terms, particularly where they have well founded objection to doing so, particularly as a matter of conscience.” “We do not intend to change our campaign protocols with regard to door-to-door notwithstanding the change in the rules, those remain health and safety first: keep walking parties small, keep physically distant, do not go inside homes unless the voter insists, practice sanitising your hands, wear a mask.” “We must point out, however, that as a matter of law, those who are found campaigning and are not vaccinated and are found out can face legal penalties. Therefore, the campaign workers and campaign coordinators have to balance the risks with regard to this. We believe that the law is not reasonably justifiable in a democratic society and should be challenged in court. We call on the authorities to repeal the law. “In the meantime, all campaign workers should be aware of the law and of the risks involved in challenging the law, by methods akin to civil disobedience and the risks to your health. This is an evolving issue
for the party which has grave implications for the ability of the party to carry out its constitutional and democratic functions. Please stand by for further guidance.” Many in the country remain hesitant to take the vaccine even though experts widely believe it is the only way out of the pandemic. On Sunday, Bahamas Nurses Union President Amancha Williams knocked Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan’s suggestion that mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers is under consideration. PLP candidate for Freetown, attorney Wayne Munroe, QC, said yesterday that mandating that healthcare workers take the vaccine would not be legal. “How could you justify it?” he asked. “You have a right to security of your persons, a right to freedom of movement, how can you justify doing that in the interest of public health? You can always justify quarantining infected people, but you cannot justify doing things to healthy people. Article 29.2 of the constitution is applicable only insofar as what you’re doing is reasonably justifiable.” “Beyond that, it would be a foolish policy. Can you provide any disincentives and say oh a nurse or doctor who doesn’t take the vaccine doesn’t have a job? Let’s assume that’s 60 or 70 percent of them. Who gon’ look after the hospital people if all of them are out of a job? So, it seems self-defeating.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 27, 2021, PAGE 5
Reid questions reasons for closing down summer camps PASTOR Carlos Reid has questioned the rationale for cancelling summer camps and their associated activities after new restrictions that came into force Monday said the programmes are prohibited. The news has been disappointing for Geneen Evans and her 12-year-old daughter who was looking forward to summertime fun. Ms Evans recently experienced a house fire and they both were looking forward to better scenery outside of the damage the fire caused. “I’m a single parent of one and I wanted her to be in a safe, fun, learning
environment for the rest of the summer and it was a blow to both of us,” Ms Evans said. “So, I’m not feeling very good about it, but what could you? I understand the protocol and procedures, but at the same time, you’ve got kids at home, and you want them to be safe,” she said. She added: “I recently had a fire at the house about three weeks ago. So, it was contained to the kitchen. Thank God the fireman got there on time, and you know, was waiting for, to save life and property. That’s the reason why I really wanted her to be somewhere other than, you know, than home.”
Ms Evans’ daughter is an athlete, and the track season is closed. She wanted her to do something else because “kids tend to get lazy” when they are stationary. Her daughter was in the King’s Son Summer Camp. “I was like, ‘Hey, you, do you want to do basketball?’ She said, yes and I was like, great. So for the past three weeks, we’ve been getting up and going to camp and she was eager to go.” Pastor Reid is CEO of the King’s Son Mentoring Programme. The pastor noted that COVID-19 is serious, and ways have to be found to prevent the spread of it but
at the same time he said the country could not “roll over (and) play dead because life still has to go on”. He further highlighted how the camp was also trying to prevent young boys from turning to gangs. “When we look at these kids like we are fighting a bigger disease with them – the disease where gangs are impacting them. One of the major problems we have in this is like gang violence. When we look at what we’re trying to do, we’re trying to be able to prevent young people from becoming a part of this disease. “I believe that summer camps can still go on. I believe that there could be
some regulations that are put in place to make sure that we don’t contribute to the spread of COVID19, but to just come down and shut down some things without providing clerical data. During the pandemic, during the course of this summer, has there been any data that has established to say that summer camps are contributing to the spread of this disease? There’s none.” “Why not see how we can come to a table and see how we can now put some measures and some stipulations in place to make sure that it don’t come to that.” He further expressed concern about not offering
sufficient activities for children while they are at home during the summer months. “Now what I do know to experience is that if we don’t provide alternative solutions during the summer, it’s going to contribute to the rise in gang violence, persons joining gangs, lawlessness, crime. So we know for a fact because clerical data could be provided on this,” he said. “So, now you’re putting in a stipulation that you can’t provide clerical data, but disregarding the fact that clerical data do exist to say that you don’t have alternative programmes for these young people, (which) teaching them sense.”
COMMUNITY SHOCKED BY DEATH OF SANDRA MOORE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TRIBUTES continue to pour in following the sudden death of Mrs Sandra Moore, which has left her family and the Grand Bahama community in shock. Mrs Moore was a loyal wife, a loving mother, and a beacon of hope to many in the community through her church and her political affiliation. Her death on Sunday was an unexpected blow for many, including her family. “It was a shocker,” her son, Malvin Moore said on Monday when contacted. “This is something we did not expect, but we are hanging in there. She (her death) knocked everyone off guard yesterday morning.” Mrs Moore was in New Providence with her husband, former Ambassador and Cabinet Minister Maurice Moore, who is battling prostate cancer and undergoing treatments in Nassau. “They were planning to come back this week,” Mr Moore said. “She was a very loving and loyal wife, and she nurtured him back to 100 percent – and it is just a shocker. She stood by my Father’s side. Mum was also somebody who you could talk to and go to for advice. He said that Mrs Moore was not only a mother to him and his three brothers. “My mother had four boys, but there was an older brother before Mum, and three others and she took everyone in. “Mum impacted our lives in every way. She instilled good manners in us from
small. She taught us to have patience, to be humble and respectful, and to trust in God.” Mrs Moore was an active member of the Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Pinder’s Point. “She was a part of everything around that church,” Mr Moore said. Through her church, she helped with feeding the hungry and helping the less fortunate in the community. The Tribune was flooded with tributes to Mrs Moore. Minister of State for Grand Bahama and Minister of State for Finance Senator Kwasi Thompson said: “Mrs Moore was a well-loved and respected woman of impeccable character who always had a brilliant smile and a kind word for all with whom she came into contact.” “A devout Anglican, Mrs Sandra Moore was faithful to her calling as a Christian woman. and served in many organs of her local Church with charity and grace as Lay-reader, President of the Anglican Church Women, and member of the Vestry of the Church of the Good Shepherd at Pinder’s Point, Grand Bahama. Mrs Moore truly personified Matthew 5:16 which asks us all to ‘let our light so shine before men that they would see our good work and glorify our Father which is in heaven.’” He said the Office of the Prime Minister, Grand Bahama, extends deepest sympathy to Ambassador Maurice Moore and the Moore Family. Mrs Moore was also well known for her role as a supportive wife of a politician. She not only supported her husband, but was an
honorary former president of the FNM Grand Bahama Women’s Association, having served as president from 1980 to 1983. April Crowther-Gow says Mrs Moore was a role model and mentor to whom she looked up to from a young age. “Her impact upon my life has been so wonderful and cherishable. When I was told she had suddenly departed, it was quite an emotional moment for me yesterday,” she said. “Sandra Moore was a beacon of hope, not just for her husband, her children, but for everyone that came in contact with her. Only God knows best when He makes a decision.” Mrs Gow, immediate past president of the FNM Women’s Association, former Torchbearers Association president, and former deputy chief councilor of the City of Freeport, said she often called on Mrs Moore for advice and counsel. She stated that Mrs Moore was passionate about helping people, particularly. “I know she would say, April, don’t be discouraged, you keep the fight going. We have too many women we have to heal, help and promote.” “Ms Moore was an angel on earth. When you saw her, her smile and eyes lit up and she made you feel you were the best person. Ms Moore’s contribution to the community of GB, East End, Central Grand Bahama, Pinder’s Point, Pineridge, Lewis Yard, Mack Town should never go unnoticed. I hope when GB celebrates all of our victories that she is added to that wall of fame.
SANDRA MOORE, who died on Sunday. “We love you Sandra dedicated wife and mother. Moore and you will be Family meant everything missed. I hope that future to her. I enjoyed seeing FNM GB Women’s Asso- her and her husband at ciation and the National events together. She added Women’s Association much to the Hon. Maurice will do something indel- Moore’s successful political ible and create the Sandra career and public life. The Grand Bahama comMoore Award for Women’s Excellence because she is munities will miss her. As someone whose footsteps we I mourn her death, I find need to continue to pursue.” joy in the prayerful hope Peter Adderley said the that she is now in a better Grand Bahama community place. I extend heartfelt will miss Sandra Moore. condolences to the Hon. “During Sandra Moore’s Maurice Moore and the life, I often thanked her entire family. Peter Turnquest rememfor the true professional she was before retire- bers Sandra Moore as “a ment. She bore a warm sweet lady, a source of pure personality and loving love, encouragement, and spirit. My mother is a big support”. “She was committed to her Sandra Moore fan. She was a woman of faith and a family, her church where she
served as a lay reader, and to her Party, for which she was a strong voice for women and youth. She lived a Christian life and was a true example of godly living. I will miss her weekly messages and spontaneous calls immensely. She was a strong personal supporter who never wavered or questioned. She was solid in her defense of truth and was incredibly clear in what she believed. I will truly miss her sweet face and graceful personality. “Sonia and I send our deep condolences to His Excellency the Hon Maurice Moore, her children, and to the entire extended Moore, Pinders Point, and FNM families,” Mr Turnquest said.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, July 27, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
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BPL is failing its customers IT’S summer – and the power is going out. It’s a familiar occurrence – and one that prompted Bahamas Power and Light officials yesterday to ask for customers to “bear” with the company. Chairman Dr Donovan Moxey said: “We certainly understand the frustration of our customers and obviously we’re asking you to bear with us. Obviously, you’re paying for a service and you’re expecting a good quality service and so what I can say is we’re going to do everything we can in order to continue to try to improve the services as best we possibly can.” Nice words, but the company is already falling short. For starters, the company could be more transparent about what the problems are and in their dialogue with customers. Yesterday, Dr Moxey said the problem wasn’t load shedding – which BPL had pledged had come to an end – but said it was a “transmission and distribution event”, going on to point at a lack of funding for infrastructure upgrades. Meanwhile, the union president said that maintenance issues are the cause of outages. Well, which is it? Let’s put some detail on that “transmission and distribution event,” Dr Moxey – what actually happened and when? Then there’s the failure of customer service. For hours on Sunday, when the power went out for many, there was no update posted to the company’s social media to let customers know what was going on and when they could expect the power to come back on. In the replies to a previous post, many customers expressed their disappointment and anger, with no reply from the company. Post after post means customer after customer, and all of them wanting to know when the power would be coming back on – all to the apparent indifference of the company judging by its lack of response. More customers experienced outages yesterday – but again a lack of communication to provide updates. So you can say there’s no load shedding, BPL, you can complain about not having enough money – but it’s not good enough. Customers do indeed expect a good quality service – and that’s not just keeping the power on, but keeping the customer informed when it’s not. In both respects, BPL is failing right now.
Are things better than the long hot summer of 2019? Yes. Are they good enough? Not yet. It seems we solve one problem – enough power generation – only to run into others. So come clean, BPL, tell us everything, and not just in vague terms. And respect your customers enough to keep them updated as they wait for the power to return.
Jab or job? What difference will a vaccine make to your future? On one level, of course, there is your physical protection – the reduced likelihood of hospitalisation and death. What about your economic future, though? There is talk in the healthcare sector of mandatory vaccinations, but Rupert Roberts raised the suggestion that his food store will only hire people who are fully vaccinated. He’s not talking about mandatory vaccinations for those already employed, but rather choosing a vaccinated candidate over an unvaccinated one to fill future vacancies. Mr Roberts says vaccination rates among his employees are “very low”, which is disconcerting considering how supermarkets are one of the few places that have been open throughout the pandemic, and serve as a gathering point for the public as they come to shop. The supermarket chain is also mourning the loss of a second employee, believed to have died from the virus and who works in the trucking department. Mr Roberts points to the expected comments from Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis tomorrow, saying if Dr Minnis says only vaccinated staff can serve the public that Super Value would have to close with not enough workers having had the jab to keep going. If Mr Roberts is thinking about such a move towards hiring only the vaccinated, you can be sure other sectors are considering the possibility too. There are many legal discussions that will need to be held to deal with such possibilities – but for those simply facing a choice of getting the jab or not, it may just be one more factor to consider. Do you want to lose out on a job to someone else just because they are vaccinated and you are not? It’s worth thinking about.
Allen’s honour is deserved EDITOR, The Tribune.
Scrap the Health Visa EDITOR, The Tribune. THOSE of us who operate travel agencies in my part of the northeastern United States recently held a virtual conference about the reopening of more tourism after the COVID-19 lockdowns. The Tribune has had letters from travel agents recently with which I readily agree. Your Health Visa has to be eliminated immediately. It makes no sense at all. This topic was discussed at our conference. Sadly The Bahamas has plummeted in interest by our clients. Over the past year, despite so many complaints, your Tourism Minister has continued harsh entry rules which has effectively stopped tourism. Our clients have a huge range of destinations in the Caribbean area to choose for a holiday. People just do not want, nor can they understand, why you are
forcing so many hurdles on them just to come and have a vacation. Rather than all the problems, expense and time taken to get a Health Visa tourists should be able to show a vaccination certificate at the airport, receive a boarding pass and be on their way. This is what happened for years with The Bahamas and helped to make it a popular destination. From what we understand the Health Visa has become a revenue producer for the Government rather than a health matter. It has become just another tax. When we have to explain all the formalities required to travel to The Bahamas our clients have all declined interest and are being booked to your competition. That could likely lead to a sharp decline in return visitors. Even those of our clients who always travelled
to Nassau are now looking elsewhere. I read yesterday that your hotel workers union is unhappy that so many members are not being rehired. Sadly this could well become permanent if you do not eliminate all the hassles involved in coming to you. How your economy can carry on with your main economic activity curtailed is a serious concern. Your Tourism Ministry always declared that they work with “travel partners”. Obviously this has not happened over the past year when you designed your entry policies. We always liked booking clients to The Bahamas. Let us hope the Visa will be gone very soon. WILLIAM DAVIDSON Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, July 15, 2021.
G
THE Hon Algernon SPB Allen has been awarded the Order of the Bahamas as a companion by the Governor General, the Hon Cornelius A Smith. He was among a number of other distinguished Bahamians who were given various other awards in this year’s National Honours Awards. While I congratulate him and his family, I am somewhat disappointed that Algernon (as I am privileged to know him) was not knighted by Her Majesty the Queen for his stellar services for and on behalf of a grateful Bahamian nation. There is no other Bahamian more deserving of this honour, however, than the Hon Algernon Saint Patrick Benedict Allen. He has come by the grace of God a mighty long way. He was raised through Father Callahan Corner just South of Wulff Road. His parents were Harry and Jestina Allen both of them were hard working business entrepreneurs, but they found the time to successfully rear several children inclusive of noted former banker Pauline Allen and ‘Butch’ Allen a former police office who gave exemplary service to the nation as a distinguished member of The Royal Bahamas Police Force. There were other children of the Allens, but these three were my life long friends and neighbours. “Bulgie” , a nick name for Algernon, attended the “real” Government High School on Poinciana Drive where the University of The Bahamas is now located. He was one of my prefects. There were several teenagers at that time who were known and respected as the best dresser. I, of course, was included. Our shirts and pants were always starched and pressed to the nines. Bulgie and Maurice
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Glinton, QC, were stand outs. In fact they would come to school with their trousers on hangers. Oftentimes they would have to stand on chairs to literally get into their heavily starched pants! Algernon, like so many of us, was a standout student and debate master. He was destined for the legal profession. He was a few years ahead of me but always treated me as a friend and was a mentor. I followed him into the legal profession where we eventually became ‘friendly’ rivals. Later on down the line “Bulgie” entered elective politics and was successful in being elected for the great constituency of Marathon. He was good at representing his constituents and was known as “‘the Marathon man”. He was first elected in 1987 and returned in 1992. While in the House of Assembly Algernon served as Minister of Youth; Sports & Culture in the then Ingraham administration. He also served as Leader of Government Business and as Minister of Housing & Social Development with distinction. There came a time when he sought the leadership of the FNM, but Ingraham was able to repel that threat. Bulgie, however, continued to serve the nation in other capacities. He and the Hon. Cynthia “Mother” Pratt (PLP-St Barnabas) served as co-chairs of Urban Renewal, a societal based initiative launched by former Prime Minister, the Hon Perry G Christie, the then long time and legendary member of Parliament for Centerville. Many inner city areas, especially here in the capital were transformed by the work which they and their
assorted teams were able to wrought. Debris was removed. Scores of affordable homes were built and the burdens on thousands of Bahamians were lifted. Bulgie has been married to Dame Anita Allen for eons it seems. I believe that way back in our days at GHS that they were an item. They have produced and successfully reared several children. There is a son, Algernon Jr, who is a lawyer and was recently sworn in as a Magistrate. There is a brilliant daughter, also a lawyer, who has made the financial industry her preferred career. All in all, I am so happy and proud of the stellar privilege to have known and worked with Bulgie, intimately, when he served as Minister of Housing & Social Development. I was given on a platter, a consultancy contract in that ministry by the Rt Hon Hubert A Ingraham (FNMNorth Abaco). Bulgie made sure that I had a small staff and a private office. I am forever grateful to him. His wife, Dame Anita, has also served the nation well: a dormer Crown Counsel at the Attorney General’s Office; a private practitioner; a stipendiary & circuit Magistrate; a Justice of the Supreme court; Chief Justice; a Justice of the Court of Appeal (later President) and as Chair of a committee tasked with issues involving citizenship and immigration issues and the list goes on ad infinitum. Congratulations, Bulgie, and thanks from an eternally grateful nation. You have served The Bahamas well and you will always be fondly remembered as long as there is a Bahamas. You, truly are a man for all seasons. God’s speed and all the best going forward. Jr
ORTLAND H BODIE, Nassau, July 14, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
SUSPECT IN BATHROOM ESCAPE BID By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A SUSPECT pretended he had to use the bathroom in an attempt to escape a local police station, an officer testified yesterday. Police said Malcolm Rolle attempted to escape lawful custody in December 2020 under the guise that he wanted to use the restroom. They further alleged he resisted violently when thwarted by two officers on duty. Rolle denied the allegations when he first appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney. Yesterday, when Police Constable Kendrick Moss testified during Rolle’s trial, he said he was on duty at the South Central police station’s cell block where four suspects were being held at the time. He said sometime that day, one of
the suspects called for an officer and when he went to see what the man wanted, the suspect requested to use the restroom. PC Moss said after he escorted the first male to the bathroom, he asked the remaining three who were detained if they also needed to urinate. He said Rolle was the last suspect he escorted to the restroom, and when he did, the accused “gave him eye contact before looking at the cell gate”. According to PC Moss, the cell gate led to the main entrance of the station where people could enter and exit freely. He said as he was leading Rolle to the bathroom, the defendant “started to walk closer to the cell gate”. He stated when he asked him where he was going, Rolle pushed him which caused him to lose his footing. “While I was off balance he was able to open the cell
gate and attempt to run,” PC Moss said. “I was able to grab him by his shirt and another officer came to my assistance. When we attempted to place him back in the cell, he resisted violently by kicking and throwing his hands”. The officer said he and his partner were eventually able to subdue Rolle who they then put back in the cell. During the proceedings, Rolle was not represented by an attorney. When he cross-examined PC Moss, he asked him how long he was thrown off balance when he was allegedly pushed. When the officer said “about two seconds”, Rolle suggested it would have been impossible for him to attempt to escape custody in that short space of time. The case continues on August 23.
Tuesday, July 27, 2021, PAGE 7
MARINE ‘PULLED GUN ON EX’ By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A MAGISTRATE yesterday ruled that a Royal Bahamas Defence Force marine who was accused of pulling a gun on his former girlfriend and her new lover has a case to answer. Demeko Simms was arrested after his former partner and her current boyfriend told police he pointed a gun at them when he visited the woman’s residence on December 20, 2020. He denied two counts of assault with a deadly weapon when he first appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney and maintained not guilty pleas during his trial. When Sergeant 3216 Percy Patton took the stand yesterday, he said he facilitated a meeting with Simms and the male complainant the day after the incident was alleged to have taken place. Sgt Patton said during the meeting, the man stated Simms pointed a black and silver coloured handgun at him while he was at his girlfriend’s Key West Street residence. Still,
the court was told that the accused denied the allegations during the meeting and insisted he never had a gun on him. The court was told that when Simms was given a chance to tell his side of the story, he told police his former lover was standing outside her door and he was standing in front of her. Sgt Patton said Simms claimed he asked her if she had a man inside the house before he noticed a male walking out of the room. According to Sgt Patton, Simms said the girl then started screaming that she had a boyfriend, which prompted him to leave the residence. When Sergeant Jewel Gray testified, she said she too held a meeting with Simms and the female complainant. Sgt Gray said during the meeting, the woman said she was at home with her boyfriend when Simms, who came there “unannounced”, produced a firearm and threatened to kill her. Corporal 3214 Melbert Munroe was the final police witness to give evidence. He said when he interviewed Simms in custody, the accused denied
all of the allegations made against him. Yesterday, Simms was represented by attorney Bjorn Ferguson. When he cross-examined Cpl Munroe, he asked him if it ever came to his attention that Simms was a RBDF marine who would have been out to sea for quite some time. In response, Cpl Munroe confirmed that Simms indicated the same in his interview. After the prosecution closed their case, Mr Ferguson argued the evidence before the court was tenuous. He also contended Simms’ former girlfriend was embarrassed that he caught her cheating so she “orchestrated a scheme to save face”. He said in view of these facts, his client should not be called upon to answer to the charges. Nonetheless, Magistrate McKinney said based on the evidence of the two complainants, the court found the accused did have a case to answer. As a result, Simms said he would give sworn evidence and that he also planned to call witnesses to testify on his behalf. The case continues on August 30.
MAN ‘HIT LOVE RIVAL WITH CUTLASS’ By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN and Haitian were detained in a human smuggling investigation.
BAHAMIAN IN HUMAN SMUGGLING SWOOP By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN and Haitian man are in US custody in connection with an alleged human smuggling operation last week that resulted in the apprehension of 19 illegal migrants at sea. Four children, between ages one and two, were among the group discovered in US waters. The Bahamian, along with a Haitian accomplice,
is expected to face prosecution in the US in relation to human trafficking. According to reports, US Coast Guards interdicted a 26ft centre console Bahamian registered vessel about 10 miles east of Lakeworth inlet. A Bahamian was captaining vessel. There were 10 males and nine females on board of mixed nationalities, including two Brazilians, one Ecuadorian, and 16 Haitian nationals. The group claimed they left Freeport last
Wednesday evening, and were apprehended by the USCG around 1pm on Thursday. The USCG Robert Yered brought the group to Grand Bahama on Saturday, July 24, around 1pm at Freeport Harbour, where they were turned over to Immigration officials. They were taken to Immigration Headquarters for processing and examined by staff from the Disease and Surveillance Unit of the Public Hospitals Authority.
MAN DENIES DRUG AND GUN CHARGES By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN who denied growing marijuana plants and being in possession of an unlicensed firearm was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial. Gregory Tynes was arrested after he was
accused of having a 9mm pistol and seven live rounds of 9mm ammunition on July 23. He was further accused of being in possession of 2.58 ounces of Indian hemp with the intent to supply and cultivating four marijuana plants, which all ranged between 2 to 4 feet in height on the day in
question. During his hearing before Magistrate Samuel McKinney, Tynes denied the allegations. As a result, his case was adjourned to September 2 for trial. In the meantime, Tynes, who is represented by lawyer Roberto Reckley, was granted $5,000 bail.
Private Service For Dorothy Albury Sands, 97 of Nassau Village and formerly of Rock Sound, Eleuthera will be held on Wednesday, July 28th, 2021, 10:00 am at Ebenezer Cemetery, Shirley Street. Officiating will be Father Colin Humes Left to cherish her memories are her adopted daughter: Ilene Smith; grandchildren: Monique Minnis, Jennie Smith and Shericka Edilall; great grandchildren: Alonzo & Branae Minnis, Desmond Smith, Danisha Fowler, Deshoawn Smith, Thalia Ferguson, Kemraj & Kristina Edilall; grandsons-in-law: Bruno Minnis, Kristen Edilall and Colin Ferguson; other relatives and friends include: The Fernander Family, The Smith Family, Joycelyn Finlayson and Family, Darnell Thompson and Family, The Albury Family, The Sands Family, The Johnson Family, Maggierite Adderley, The Honorable Minister Halson Moultrie and The Nassau Village Community: and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. Viewing will be held in the “Celestial Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Road on (TODAY) Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
A MAN “chapped” his former girlfriend’s new lover in the back of his head with a cutlass, a court was told yesterday. Police arrested Christopher McCartney after he struck his former partner’s current boyfriend with the cutlass during a physical altercation on July 17. He pleaded guilty to one count of causing harm when he appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville.
The prosecution said the complainant told police he was at his friend’s house on Farrington Road when McCartney attacked him with a cutlass causing him injuries to his head and arm. After he filed his complaint the accused was arrested. When he was questioned in police custody, he admitted to being in a physical altercation with the complainant, but denied “chapping” him with a cutlass. McCartney is represented by attorney Keevon Maynard. During his plea in
mitigation, he told the magistrate the argument was a “lover dispute gone wrong”. He also claimed the complainant was the one to instigate the altercation. In response, Magistrate Serville said if that were the case, McCartney may very well have a defence. As a result, he recorded a “not guilty” plea on his behalf and stood the matter down for trial. The case was subsequently adjourned to August 3 for mention. McCartney was granted $1,500 bail in the interim.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, July 27, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Pioneers in making us look a million dollars HOLLIS RobertsDelancy is a pioneer in beauty, cosmetics and spa services in The Bahamas. For decades, she has been transforming both men and women - not just through the way they look, but also how they feel about themselves. She has found a special formula for her clients, combining her effervescent personality with world-class spa techniques. The result - clients with great attitudes and gorgeous skin, hair and bodies. My first encounter with this beauty guru happened when my daughter, Malia and I visited her spa prior to the pandemic, located at the top of the hill on Blue Hill Road North. Never before had I seen a Bahamian with a complete cosmetics line. I’m not referring to home made, kitchen sink formulas but professionally crafted and laboratory tested. “I designed and developed the Hollis line for both the ethnic and caucasian race; knowing the problems all women of this hemisphere face with their skin, I designed a line to focus on many of these skin problems,” she explained. “The hypoallergenic cosmetic line is especially designed for sensitive and problem-skin types. These water-based lines do not contain any mineral oils, and therefore result in no conflicts of the skin. This extraordinary water-based formula creates a more natural look as the day wears on and as the body oils mix, which result in a beautiful flawless matte finish, delivering a gentle, velvet glow that will last throughout the day.” Anyone who knows Hollis, knows her claim is true and she is often stopped and asked what she uses on her skin and how she seems to simply defy ageing. Her talents as a beautician, hairdresser and spa expert have been crafted over a long period of time. Her passion for making others beautiful
Face to Face
By FELICITY DARVILLE
even landed her in the face of British royalty, who called on her to help make them beautiful. She attended Queen’s College and then Government High School before heading off to Blackheath Bluecoat High School in London. She then attended the International University of California (European campus) in Watford, England, where she graduated as the most outstanding student achiever. After university, Hollis attended Christine Shaw’s Beauty College, Old Bond Street, London where she graduated with honours and a distinction in beauty therapy and applied aesthetics. She earned the distinct honour of IPB (Institution of Practitioners in Beauty – an international body which allows a person to be certified and practice in any country). This is bestowed only to the top ten graduates of all beauty colleges throughout England. It was at Shaw’s that she stood out and was set apart. She became the esthetician for the Royal Court from 1979 until the end of 1981. She went on to attend Allen International Hairdressing College in Knightsbridge, London, where she obtained honours and a distinction in both basic and advanced hair dressing in both ethnic and Caucasian hair care, and received a certificate of honour and distinction in the World Federation of Supreme Hairdressers, (the highest certificate offered in London in that field). Hollis was also made head stylist during her time there. Hollis then returned home to Nassau in 1983 and began building her own business. She opened the
Total You Unisex Health and Beauty Centre. During this time, she became a pioneer in the field by starting the first in-home care therapy service. In 1987, she accepted a position at Windermere Spa as a Beauty Therapist and Hair Stylist and trainer where she trained other employees in massage therapy and skin therapy. She left Windermere Spa in 1989 to focus on her own business once again. This time, she opened her spa and hair care business, also under the umbrella of the Total You Unisex Health and Beauty Centre, at The Bahamas Medical Arts Institute. In 1993, Hollis was approached by Yves St Laurent to be his assistant and travel the world for a year. However, she was a young wife and mother at the time, so she turned down that opportunity. By 1995, Hollis accepted a position as Regional Director, Trainer and Beauty Consultant at Commonwealth Drugs & Medical Supplies (CDM Group). She introduced the Black Opal Cosmetic and Skin Care line along with the Alfa-Parf and MIZANI hair products. She also served as CDM Public Relations Director and Customer Service Representative during her tenure. In January of 2001, she accepted a position with Mandara Spa at Atlantis Paradise Island, where she was lead Hair Stylist and Beauty Therapist and performed applied aesthetics, massage therapy and body therapy. A year later, Hollis returned full time to her
HOLLIS ROBERTS-DELANCY, above, and, left, with her husband Philip. Below, Hollis at the Royal Court in London.
own practice and she set out on a course that has culminated in the realisation of her dream. “My dream was to own an establishment that could deal with any beauty concerns or issues - that’s what I always wanted,” she told me. “I wanted to help people experience the better side of life. I wanted to help the person who may not be at the peak of their financial status, to be able to have a place they could come and experience the life a rich person has, with first-class services at an affordable rate. Our mission is to enrich the lives of human beings and to provide a means whereby people may elevate the quality of their existence.” While still operating The Total You Health and Beauty Centre Hollis met Philip Delancy, who shared a passion to develop his own business. He is a graduate of Texas Christian University, Fort Worth and has an extensive background in business. After launching the Hollis Cosmetics and Skin Care line together, they went on to open the Island Spa in Harbour Island. During this time, Hollis joined the international make-up team for the world renowned Bobby Jones Gospel Retreat where the Hollis make-up line was featured, used and sold to the Gospel stars. Hollis was responsible for the make-up application for Jim Shearer of the VH 1 Top 20 Countdown group on site in Eleuthera. In February of 2004, Hollis and Philip closed The Island Spa and began focusing their attention on developing their Nassau operations which now serves as a home for the Hollis Cosmetics & Spas
and Skin Care Line. They were the first to introduce the art of Airbrush Makeup applications and protein bonding hair extensions to The Bahamas. Hollis is one of the few people in the country and the Caribbean region who can certify instructors in her field. She points out that greater opportunities need to be made available to small businesses like hers, which could catapult them to an international level. She said that any opportunities that could be available as a result of foreign direct investment are usually not offered to local businesses, and end up being developed and operated by the foreign entities themselves. Nevertheless, Hollis and Philip pressed on, and eventually, a love blossomed, resulting in their marriage on May 12, 2016. Together, they are parents to Dr Briquel Knowles, Dana Hawkins and Bryan and Bristol Delancy; sonin-law Tino and James and grandchildren Michael, Julip, Justice and Brooklyn. Presently, their company has transformed to a MediSpa operation, partnering with several medical doctors to offer treatments to patients who suffer from medical conditions. Hollis also focuses on a non-invasive weight loss programme with the implementation of Photobiomodulaton. This newly developed system called the Trifecta, is effective with the use of red light and near infrared light laser technology to heal the body and to effectively remove fatty cellular tissue pain free. Photobiomodulation is light wave body healing used for a myriad of issues including diabetic wounds, thyroid issues, back pain, the side effects of cancer, glaucoma, osteoarthritis, endometriosis, hair loss/ alopecia and much more. “We have always strived to be the
HOLLIS’ parents, Melverne Bain-Roberts and RF Anthony Roberts
leader in this field, coming up with new techniques,” Hollis said. “We wanted to remain at the forefront of an evergrowing industry. That is how we got into photobiomodulation and I’m excited about it and what it can do for our clients. I am always happy when I can enhance someone’s life and touch someone.” Hollis comes from a rich Bahamian legacy of nation builders who have made it a point of touching the lives of their fellow Bahamians and people around the world. Family patriarch, her grandfather Enoch Pedro Roberts, Sr is the great nation-builder for whom the school EP Roberts is named. She is also the descendant of great nation-builders Clarence and Edgar Bain. Her parents, Melverne BainRoberts and RF Anthony Roberts, a civil rights leader in The Bahamas. He was a Trade Union leader for the Airport and Allied Workers Union in the 1960s and was involved in the Bahamas General Strike. He later became involved in politics and ran for the constituency now known as Centerville. He became a High Commissioner in London and served there before eventually becoming an Anglican priest and the first chaplain for the Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Forces. He was the first Minister of Home Affairs for the newly-independent Bahamas. He tabled in the House of Assembly the Resolution on the presentation of the national flag which we now know and adore. The Roberts/ Bain family includes numerous members who held positions in the political arena in the Bahamas, both for the Free National Movement and the Progressive Liberal Party. They include her grandfather Senator Edgar Bain; granduncle, former MP for Andros Clarence Bain; father RF Anthony Roberts; Italia Johnson, Speaker in the House of Assembly; Neville Wisdom; Gladys Johnson-Sands; and Daniel Johnson. Too numerous to mention, Hollis’ family includes well known professionals who are leaders and pioneers in the Bahamas in medicine, law, business, and in the priesthood. These inspirations have helped her to carve her own pioneering path in beauty. Hollis is now focusing on a new marketing programme for her cosmetic line with the introduction of several new products. The company has realized major changes in the economy and in customers habits since the pandemic, and is actively in the process of revising the business structure. For more information, email holliscosmetics@ gmail.com or visit www.hollisdayspa.com.
THE TRIBUNE
AFTER all the opposition, controversy, setbacks and scandals surrounding the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, some people regard it as a minor miracle that these Games are finally under way despite much of Japan being under a state of emergency because of COVID. Labelled as the ‘cursed’ summer Olympics after being postponed last year followed by so much difficulty and disappointment, many would have bet on another delay or even outright cancellation as local public opinion polls showed a majority of Japanese people - reportedly, as high as 70 percent - preferred one of the two. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organisers in Tokyo insisted the event should go ahead as scheduled. So, now, some 11,000 athletes from over 200 countries are competing in 41 sports including five new ones. Four days into the Games, there have been various fresh setbacks; for example,
Tuesday, July 27, 2021, PAGE 9
two top golfers in the world having to withdraw after testing positive for COVID. But so far there has been no major incident or the chaos and confusion many predicted - though there are still two weeks to go. Given the uniquely challenging circumstances of these Games, it might be interesting to take a look at the background. According to numerous reports, the Games were opposed by large numbers in Japan because of the dangers of increasing numbers of COVID cases already happening in Tokyo and elsewhere in the country. Domestic critics maintained it was impossible to hold the Olympics and at the same time protect adequately people’s lives and health since huge numbers of foreign visitors would create a greater risk of new infections and place an extra strain on local health facilities. Put simply, the Games could become a ‘super spreader’ of the virus.
In response, while accepting there were serious concerns about personal and public health in the middle of a global pandemic, the organisers insisted the Olympics could be ‘safe and secure’ - even claiming that, with stringent restrictions in place at the many venues, they could be the safest places in the country. The public would be banned from all events, no spectators from overseas would be allowed, the numbers of team and sponsor delegations - as well as the media - would be capped and everybody would be subject to strict social distancing regimens. This would include, as a readily enforceable measure to stop the spread of the virus, the compulsory wearing of masks at all times, even by athletes at medal ceremonies. Despite all this, however, it seems the Japanese public remained unconvinced and still feared many local people would be put at unnecessary risk, not least because the vaccine
DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGERS
IN A democracy, investigative journalism is a key element in holding any government to account. Definitions are not hard and fast, but it is said that a particular aim of such journalism is to uncover and expose to public scrutiny matters that are concealed by policy-makers because governments, in particular, regard them as classified. But how far journalists should be allowed to go in order to secure such information has always been controversial. For instance, is it acceptable for journalists to make use of classified information which has been knowingly leaked? Historically, there have always been cases of the media publishing what has been classified as confidential or sensitive material which journalists have obtained by one means or another but have refused to reveal their source which they claim is privileged. Indeed, the protection of sources is fundamental to journalism - and over the years there have been countless examples in the UK of practitioners of the profession fiercely defending their independence and refusing to reveal sources even at the cost of going to jail. So, investigative journalism, which is an important element of the press and media in most countries, is an inherently interesting issue, and it has now come to the fore again in the UK in connection with the government’s intention to update and reform the nation’s official secrets legislation. In Britain, the principal aim of the original Official Secrets Act of 1911 was to protect against espionage. Since then, successive legislation including the present Act of 1989 fulfilled this purpose that included protection against the leaking of sensitive government information. Offences covered by the Acts included spying and sabotage - by hostile countries - as well as the disclosure of sensitive information by employees or ex-employees of the security services. Now, the
government is seeking to modernise existing counterespionage laws to deal with new online threats. It has said that in the internet age of speedy data transfer there should not necessarily be a distinction in security terms between espionage and the most serious unauthorised disclosures which, if made available online, could be accessed by a wide range of hostile elements. The key development causing concern in the media is that the government is proposing journalists who deal with leaked documents should be treated in the same way as those who leak the information or people who have committed espionage offences so that both journalists and spies as well as whistleblowers would be subject to the same harsh penalties. Such a reform means, therefore, reporters who handle leaked classified documents would be treated like spies and be subject to jail terms of up to 14 years. The UK’s Law Commission says there should be a “public interest” defence for journalists to prevent them from being prosecuted in such cases. But the government maintains that would “undermine our efforts to prevent damaging unauthorised disclosures which would not be in the public interest”. It is claimed this could signal the end of genuine investigative journalism, but the new proposed legislation is still at the ‘consultation’ stage and it will be interesting to see whether the government changes its position. There is no space today to consider how the “public interest” should be defined and the need for government to protect its own material. But the freedom of the press is an integral part of the UK’s democratic process - and it is, perhaps, encouraging that a spokesperson for the Prime Minister is on record as saying the government is committed to ensuring the right balance is struck between protecting press freedom and the need for constraints on the activity of whistle blowers.
HIGH OFFICE COMES WITH A PRICE TAG WHEN the former Health Minister in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet, Matt Hancock, was caught recently on closed circuit television in a private area outside his office in a passionate and revealing embrace with someone who was not his wife, he was forced to resign. This prompted some people to ask why the British take such a prudish, puritanical view of such happenings which should be a private matter between the parties concerned. By contrast, the French, for example, adopt a more cavalier and tolerant attitude and here in The Bahamas “sweethearting” for some is a way of life. But it does raise the fundamental and serious question whether anyone in high office has the right to maintain that their behaviour in their private life is wholly
their business and nothing to do with the rest of us. In thinking about this, I came across an interesting article by the best-selling author and political commentator, Frederick Forsyth, whose debut thriller novel published in 1971, The Day of the Jackal, received much acclaim. His immediate comment is rather too crude to reproduce here. But the essence of it was that, if you cannot stop seeking sexual favours from people other than your spouse, you should not aspire to high office. Of course, everyone knows of political leaders in the past who were reputed to be serial philanderers, the most famous of whom was none other than President John F Kennedy. But in modern times, when people are under relentless public and media scrutiny,
it is all but impossible to keep such behaviour under wraps. Forsyth’s broader advice was that those who are placed in leadership roles are obliged to adhere to certain standards. Members of the public have a right to expect - from those who represent them - honesty, truthfulness, fairness, decency and courtesy to others. In his words, there’s nothing compulsory about trying to be one of the socalled high and mighty, but high office carries a price tag and, if you want to stay there, you have to behave yourself. Generally, given the Biblical injunction about first taking the beam “out of thine own eye”, some people might regard this as somewhat sanctimonious advice - but most of us would probably agree with it.
TOKYO BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF BUT WILL IT LAST? The Peter Young column rollout nationwide had been slow. Since there can be few absolute truths about such a subject, whether the health risks were sufficiently serious to have stopped the Games from happening as scheduled must remain a matter for debate. But the fact was public opinion did not prevent a decision to let the Games go ahead which was ultimately for the IOC, as the owner of the Olympics, to determine. From what I have read, issues like the huge investment of time and resources already made during the course of some seven years of preparation, together with serious contractual obligations, will have been major considerations.
Moreover, if the Japanese had pulled out unilaterally, apparently the risks and losses would have fallen on the local organising committee, and there were also millions of dollars at stake in relation to broadcasting sponsorship. Add to this the benefits of any Olympics like creation of a sense of national pride and, in the longer term, boosting tourism, trade and the broader economy - together with the encouragement of investment in transport and infrastructure - and outright cancellation was always going to be unlikely. Furthermore, as the 1964 Olympics in Japan were seen at the time as an important symbol of the nation’s rehabilitation and rebuilding process after the Second World War, so this year’s Games are being regarded as an indicator of its revival after a long period of economic stagnation together with its recovery from the major earthquake and tsunami, followed by the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster, in 2011. Overall, even in such unprecedented times with no visitors, an Olympics strengthens international relations as a country gets a chance to showcase its culture, assets and way of life and to demonstrate its efficiency in running a well organised Games which is, of course, a gigantic task and what is for sure is Tokyo 2020 will be watched on
TV by millions around the world. Moreover, despite the misgivings amongst the general public, as long as the Games proceed without incident the likelihood is that they will raise people’s spirits and morale. Reportedly, it is already emerging that members of the public, who, in effect, were forced reluctantly to accept the Games should take place, now seem to be surprisingly excited and enthusiastic as some of their countrymen and women have won gold medals the most noteworthy of whom have been a brother and sister each earning the golden top spot in judo - and they are taking vicarious pleasure and pride in the achievements of these Japanese athletes. With a pared down but nevertheless successful opening ceremony in an empty stadium, together with a largely incident-free first few days, the organisers must be sighing with relief that, despite the earlier scaremongering - and amid exceptional heat and humidity - the Games have got off to a good start. Nonetheless, since the pandemic is far from over, the dangers remain and all will hope that the next two weeks pass without serious mishap - while they will also surely hope Tokyo will be spared the worst of the threatened approaching typhoon!
PAGE 10, Tuesday, July 27, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Veterans Affairs to require vaccination for health workers WASHINGTON Associated Press
THE Department of Veterans Affairs yesterday became the first major federal agency to require health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccines, as the aggressive delta variant spreads across the nation and some communities report troubling increases in hospitalisations among unvaccinated people. The VA’s move came on a day when nearly 60 leading medical and health care organizations issued a call for health care facilities to require their workers to get vaccinated. “With more than 300 million doses administered in the United States and nearly 4 billion doses administered worldwide, we know the vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19,” Dr. Susan Bailey, immediate past president of the American Medical Association, said in a statement. “Increased vaccinations among health care personnel will not only reduce the spread of COVID-19 but also reduce the harmful toll this virus is taking within the health care workforce and those we are striving to serve.” Although vaccination among physicians is nearly universal — 96 percent according to an AMA survey — that’s not the case for many other people working at health care facilities. In nursing homes, only about 60 percent of staffers are vaccinated, compared with about 80 percent of residents, according to recent numbers from Medicare. And COVID-19 cases are rising. At the VA, vaccines will now be mandatory for certain medical personnel — including physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants and others who work in departmental facilities or provide direct care to veterans, said VA Secretary Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough. Employees will have eight weeks to get vaccinated. “It’s the best way to keep veterans safe, especially as the delta variant spreads across the country,” McDonough said in a statement. “Whenever a veteran or VA employee sets foot in a VA facility, they deserve to know that we have done everything in our power to protect them from COVID-19. “With this mandate, we can once again make — and keep — that fundamental promise,” he added. In addition to the AMA, the medical and health care groups calling
ENGLISH language arts teacher Frank Esposito submits to a COVID-19 nasal swab test at West Brooklyn Community High School in New York last year. New York City will require all of its municipal workers — including teachers and police officers — to get coronavirus vaccines by mid-September or face weekly COVID-19 testing, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday. for mandatory vaccines for health workers included the American Academy of Nursing, the American Public Health Association, the American Pharmacists Association and, for the first time, a nursing home industry group. LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit nursing homes and elder care facilities, had previously advocated educating nursing home employees about the benefits of getting their shots. Also joining the call was the National Medical Association, the leading professional group representing Black physicians. “Unfortunately, many health care and long-term care personnel remain unvaccinated,” the groups said in a statement. “We stand with the growing number of experts and institutions that support the requirement for universal vaccination of health workers.” It was unclear what would happen to VA employees who refuse to be vaccinated. The longstanding policy in the health care industry is for staff to stay up-to-date with vaccinations, such as annual flu shots. However, a general rule is to allow exceptions
for medical reasons, such as known allergies. One complicating factor with the COVID-19 vaccines is that they have yet to win full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, and continue to be provided under emergency use authorisation. The lack of a full approval has fed into hesitancy among some people. However, the emergency approval process didn’t skip the extensive testing required of any vaccine. Of the three manufacturers of vaccines approved in the US, Pfizer and Moderna have applied for full approval, and a Pfizer decision is expected soon. And the COVID-19 vaccines were not brewed overnight, either. Indeed, they were the fruit of more than 10 years of behindthe-scenes research and huge injections of funding that laid the groundwork for them to be rolled out so quickly. Katie Smith Sloan, CEO of LeadingAge, said it’s time go beyond the power of persuasion. “As COVID-19 variants emerge and proliferate, we can start saving more lives today by ensuring staff are fully vaccinated,” she said.
FAUCI: WE’RE HEADED IN WRONG DIRECTION WILMINGTON, Delaware Associated Press
THE United States is in an “unnecessary predicament” of soaring COVID-19 cases fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the virulent delta variant, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert said on Sunday. “We’re going in the wrong direction,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, describing himself as “very frustrated.” He said recommending that the vaccinated wear masks is “under active consideration” by the government’s leading public health officials. Also, booster shots may be suggested for people with suppressed immune systems who have been vaccinated, Fauci said. Fauci, who also serves as
President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, said he has taken part in conversations about altering the mask guidelines. He noted that some local jurisdictions where infection rates are surging, such as Los Angeles County, are already calling on individuals to wear masks in indoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status. Fauci said those local rules are compatible with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation that the vaccinated do not need to wear masks in public. More than 163 million people, or 49% of the total US population, are fully vaccinated, according to CDC data. Of those eligible for the vaccine, aged 12 and over, the figure rises to 57 percent. “This is an issue
predominantly among the unvaccinated, which is the reason why we’re out there, practically pleading with the unvaccinated people to go out and get vaccinated,” Fauci said. Fauci said government experts are reviewing early data as they consider whether to recommend that vaccinated individuals to get booster shots. He suggested that some of the most vulnerable, such as organ transplant and cancer patients, are “likely” to be recommended for booster shots. He also praised Republicans, including Govs. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas and Ron DeSantis of Florida, and the secondranking House leader, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, for encouraging their constituents to get vaccinated.
NYC TO REQUIRE VACCINE OR WEEKLY TESTS NEW YORK Associated Press
NEW York City will require all of its municipal workers — including teachers and police officers — to get coronavirus vaccines by mid-September or face weekly COVID-19 testing, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday. The rule is expected to affect about 340,000 city employees, making the city one of the largest employers in the US to take such action. While it isn’t a vaccine mandate — no workers will be forced to take a shot — officials hope the inconvenience and discomfort of weekly tests will persuade many to overcome a reluctance to get inoculated. “This is about our recovery. This is about what we need to do to bring back New York City,” de Blasio said. “This is about keeping people safe.” Hours after de Blasio’s announcement, officials in California announced that state employees and all health care workers will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or get tested weekly. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declined to answer a question about whether he will require state employees to be vaccinated. Speaking at a news conference at Yankee Stadium, Cuomo urged localities to consider vaccinating public-facing
government workers. The September 13 deadline in New York City coincides with the start of public school, when the Democratic mayor has said he expects all pupils to be in classrooms full time. City health care workers and employees in congregate setting such as group homes will face earlier deadlines. The move comes as the city battles a rise in COVID-19 cases fueled by the highly contagious delta variant. Since the end of June, the daily average of new cases has increased by more than 300 percent. Last week, the city had announced it was mandating vaccinations or weekly testing for workers in the city’s hospital system. De Blasio expanded the requirement yesterday and urged private employers to adopt similar rules. “My message to the private sector is: Go as far as you can go right now,” the mayor said. “I would strongly urge a vaccination mandate whenever possible, or as close to it as possible.” Unions representing city workers offered mixed responses to the new mandate affecting their members. “Vaccination and testing have helped keep schools among the safest places in the city,” the United Federation of Teachers said in a statement. “This approach puts the emphasis on vaccination but still allows
for personal choice and provides additional safeguards through regular testing.” But Henry Garrido, executive director of District Council 37 of AFSCME, said, “If City Hall intends to test our members weekly, they must first meet us at the table to bargain.” Garrido, whose union represents about 100,000 New York City employees across several departments, said weekly testing is subject to mandatory bargaining. “New York City is a union town and that cannot be ignored,” he said. Asked about Garrido’s statement, de Blasio said the city has a right to require that its workforce gets vaccinated or tested. “When it comes to the health and safety of our workers in the midst of a global pandemic, we have the right, as employers, to take urgent action to protect people’s health, to protect their lives,” he said. The number of vaccine doses being given out daily in the city has dropped to less than 18,000, down from a peak of more than 100,000 in early April. About 65 percent of adults in the city are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, caseloads have been rising for weeks, and health officials say the variant makes up about seven in ten new cases.
SPORTS
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Tuesday, July 27, 2021, PAGE 11
SPAIN USES 19-0 RUN TO DEFEAT JAPAN By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — They would have talked about this night in Japan for generations. Imagine: the country’s first men’s basketball game at an Olympics in 45 years, in an arena just north of Tokyo that would have been filled with thousands of flag-waving fans, against the reigning World Cup champions. The pandemic took away Japan’s chance at having the desired scene. Spain took away Japan’s chance of having the desired outcome. Ricky Rubio scored 20 points and a 19-0 run in the second quarter turned out to be the difference, as Spain went on to top Japan 88-77 last night in the opening game of the Tokyo Olympics for both teams. Victor Claver made all six of his shots and scored 13 points for Spain, the four-time Olympic medallists — three silver, one bronze. Rui Hachimura scored 20 points and Yuta Watanabe added 19 for Japan, which spent some of its pregame meeting time talking to each other about how the country would be watching from places other than the arena. “We talked about it before the game,” Hachimura said.
“We actually played here like two years ago, an exhibition game or something. A lot of people came, we were looking forward to it, but it is what it is. Can’t do anything about it, and everybody is watching on TV.” Without fans permitted in the Saitama Super Arena because of the pandemic and the decision to not open almost all venues involved in the Tokyo Games to ticketholders, only a few dozen Japanese people — volunteers and workers, mostly — were there for the game. A few people stood and clapped when the host team was introduced pregame, and another man snapped a photo of the large scoreboard suspended over centre court when the video screen displayed the Japanese flag during the national anthem. Otherwise, there was no home-court advantage whatsoever. “The world is going through something very difficult, and I think we all have to go in the same direction,” said Marc Gasol, who scored 12 for Spain. “The fans are making sacrifices and we’re trying to give them something to cheer for and be proud of in these very difficult times. ... In the perfect scenario, you would have this arena packed, but we know
JAPAN’s Yuta Watanabe (12) tries to shoot over Spain’s Alejandro Abrines Redondo (21) and Pau Gasol (4) yesterday in their basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) there’s a lot of people game was tied at 26. That’s watching us and we’re also when Spain was findbringing joy to them from ing its groove. Spain made its final 10 both Japan and Spain.” Japan got down 11-2 shots of the half — the 19-0 after the first four minutes run happening during that but clawed back slowly, stretch — and the lead was and when Hachimura con- 48-28 going into the break. Japan got within 11 nected on a 3-pointer with 5:35 left in the half the points on two separate
occasions in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, but the lead was never in doubt. “It was a great experience,” Hachimura said. TIP-INS Spain: Thursday’s game against Argentina is a rematch of the 2019 Basketball World Cup final, won by Spain 95-75. Spain is 2-0 all-time against Argentina in Olympic matchups. Alex Abrines scored 11 points and Pau Gasol was 4-for-5 for nine points. Japan: It’s now an eightgame losing streak for Japan in the highest-tier international events -- the World Cup or the Olympics -- since 2006. Japan was outrebounded 42-32. HELLO, AGAIN Spain improved to 4-0 all-time against Japan in World Cup or Olympics meetings. Spain beat Japan 66-64 at the 1960 Olympics, 87-76 at the 1972 Olympics and 104-55 at the 2006 World Cup -- also in Japan. OFF DAY There are no men’s games at the Olympics today. The women have the court all day, with four games scheduled including the opener for the US. UP NEXT Spain: Faces Argentina on Thursday. Japan: Faces Slovenia on Thursday.
TOKYO OLYMPICS: A SUCCESS? A FAILURE? AND HOW TO JUDGE? By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — Will it be a success? A failure? Or none of the above? It will take something much more nuanced than those basic notions to assess the pandemicdelayed Tokyo Olympics when they wrap up in two weeks. The response will be twisted by dozens of parties with their own interests. There’s the International Olympic Committee. The 11,000 athletes. The Japanese organising committee. The Japanese public. The absent fans. And how about the sponsors? Or the Japanese government and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. There is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Governor Yuriko Koike, who has higher political aspirations. The Tokyo medical community. And television rights holders like American television network NBC. Just getting through it will be cast as a success by many. This may be the spin no matter what happens, particularly for the IOC, its broadcast partners and Japanese media. A half dozen newspapers in Japan are domestic sponsors and have a vested interest in portraying the Games positively. The more the focus is on the sports — and off politics, costs, corruption and COVID-19 — the better it is for the Switzerlandbased IOC. Pushing on with the Olympics after the postponement — and during the pandemic — has hurt the IOC’s reputation in Japan. Kaori Yamaguchi, a former bronze medallist and a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee, said a few months ago that she was shocked to find the IOC operated primarily as an “entertainment” business. The IOC generates almost 75 percent of its income from the sale of broadcast rights. Another 18 percent is from sponsors. Estimates suggest that cancelling the Tokyo Olympics might have cost the IOC $3 billion to $4 billion. About 40 percent of the IOC’s total income is from one source — NBC. “The focus (now) is on the field of play, on the athletes where we always feel it should be,” Kit McConnell, the IOC’s sports director, said Sunday after the first full day of competition. The IOC also needs the focus to be off COVID. The Japanese public has
been conditioned to expect some positive cases, and they are likely to accept this inevitability if all events are held and wrap up with medal ceremonies. Cancelled events and unclaimed medals will be difficult to dismiss. “It that happens, that would be a negative blow for the public, for the IOC, and everybody else,” Kazuto Suzuki, a political scientist at Tokyo University, told The Associated Press in an interview. The biggest winner if the Olympics are portrayed positively will be Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, whose ruling LDP party faces a general election this fall. Suga’s approval ratings keep dropping, tied to Japan’s slow rollout of vaccines and to his unpopular decision to barrel ahead with the Olympics despite opinion polls showing many Japanese opposed. Suga’s advantage is the ruling party’s weak opposition. The LDP has ruled Japan almost continuously since the end of World War II. “This is a very politically sensitive time, and Suga wants to use the Olympics as a stepping stone for his success in the election,” Suzuki said. “Japan’s success in the Olympics and winning gold medals, and the Japanese people cheering and rooting for the Japanese athletes. Those kind of things are working positively for Suga.” Suzuki said Suga also has an eye on not wanting to fail with these Olympics given that Japan’s rival and neighbor, China, puts on its own show starting February 4 with the Beijing Winter Games. “They are afraid that China will be celebrated as the champion and global leader in this pandemic,” Suzuki said. Seiko Hashimoto, the president of the organising committee, has repeatedly said the Olympics will be successful if they are “safe and secure.” Pressed to elaborate, she has been unable to specify exactly what that means. But it’s difficult to see how the Olympics can be portrayed as a success for the average Japanese. Fans are barred from all but a few outlying venues, and they’re being told to stay home and watch what is now an entirely made-forTV Olympics. Ditto for sponsors. More than 60 local sponsors kicked in more than $3 billion — at least two times more than any previous Games — to be connected to the Olympics. Toyota, Japan’s most famous manufacturer and a long-time
IOC sponsor, has pulled all its Olympic-related TV advertising from Japan during the Olympics. Many other sponsors have talked openly about not wanting to be tied to the Olympic brand. The chaotic runup to the Olympics has also exposed corruption, misogyny and bullying in Japan, undermining success even before the Games began. Tsunekazu Takeda, who headed the Japanese Olympic Committee, resigned in a scandal 2 1/2 years ago tied to bribery allegations surrounding the IOC vote in 2013 to award the Games to Tokyo. Yoshiro Mori, a former prime minister, was forced out six months ago as the head of the organising committee for making demeaning comments about women. And just last week, on the eve of the opening ceremony, its director resigned for comments about the Holocaust and a composer stepped away after acknowledging accusations of bullying. That came months after the creative director resigned for derogatory comments — again about women. Barbara Holthus, a sociologist at the German Institute for Japanese Studies, said the embarrassments may raise awareness and prompt change in Japan, a largely homogenous, island nation that nevertheless named mixed-race Naomi Osaka to light the cauldron in Friday’s opening ceremony. The move seems widely accepted in Japan, though Osaka barely speaks Japanese and has lived much of her life in the United States. She has a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, but has given positive attention to the Olympics — even for those Japanese who oppose the Games. “The Japanese economy and Japanese people are the big losers here,” Holthus said. “However, if these nods to sustainability, diversity, and inclusion stick and bring about significant change, then that would be great for Japanese society. But this cannot be evaluated right after the Games and probably continues to be a slow process.” She also criticised IOC President Thomas Bach for forcing through the Olympics, calling discussion of its message of hope “an elitist position.” David Wallechinsky, one of the world’s best-known Olympic historians, said these Games will be evaluated like all the rest — by the medal count.
“Every nation is going to judge it by how well their athletes did, just like any other Olympics,” Wallechinsky told The Associated Press. “If the United States wins 50 gold medals — they won’t — nobody in the US is going to talk about the pandemic. Because in the end, that’s what it’s all about — the medals.”
Wallechinsky said just getting out of Tokyo in one piece will please the IOC. But there is more trouble ahead with the boycott-threatened Beijing Olympics. “I think the IOC will just breathe a sigh of relief that it’s over,” Wallechinsky said. “And then hold their breath again for Beijing,” he added.
VASIC, DABOVIC LEAD SERBIA TO 72-68 WIN OVER CANADA By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Sonja Vasic scored 16 points and Ana Dabovic keyed a late run to help Serbia beat Canada 72-68 yesterday in the Olympic opener for both teams. With the game tied at 58, Serbia scored nine of the next 11 points to take control, Dabovic was involved on all of them, hitting two 3-pointers and also having a nifty backwards pass over her head as she was driving the lane to a wide-open Aleksandra Crvendakic in the corner, who made another 3. Dabovic’s second 3-pointer in the spurt made it 67-60 with 2:52 left. But Canada wasn’t done. Nirra Fields hit two 3-pointers over the next 2 minutes to get Canada within 68-66 with 51 seconds left. The Canadians trailed 70-67 with 10.3 seconds left when Shaina Pellington made the first of two free throws. After missing the second, Dabovic hit a layup to seal the game. Fields finished with 19 points to lead Canada. Both teams got off to hot starts with Canada leading 11-10 with 5:47 left in the first quarter after Fields’ layup off a steal. That would be the last basket for Canada for just over 10 minutes. The Canadians missed their last nine shots of the quarter and then the first five of the second period as Serbia built a 25-15 advantage. Serbia led 36-28 at the half. Canada had a 10-0 run as part of a huge third quarter to tie the game at 45. The Canadians did lose guard Shay Colley to an injury in the quarter. She sat on the bench for the fourth quarter with her right shoulder wrapped.
Tokyo 2020 Summer Games schedule Competition day Medal days
JULY AUGUST 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Ceremonies 3x3 Basketball Archery Artistic Gymnastics Artistic Swimming Athletics Badminton Baseball/Softball Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Canoe Sprint Cycling BMX Freestyle Cycling BMX Racing Cycling Mountain Bike Cycling Road Cycling Track Diving Equestrian Fencing Football Golf Handball Hockey Judo Karate Marathon Swimming Modern Pentathlon Rhythmic Gymnastics Rowing Rugby Sevens Sailing Shooting Skateboarding Sport Climbing Surfing Swimming Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Trampoline Gymnastics Triathlon Volleyball Water Polo Weightlifting Wrestling Source: International Olympic Committee - Schedule as of July 19
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Ashley Sturrup honoured to represent Bahamas at CAC Bodybuilding Championships By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALTHOUGH she considers bodybuilding a hobby, attorney Ashley Sturrup said she’s honoured to be able to make the team to represent the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships. At the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s showcase at J-Line Fitness Centre on Saturday, Sturrup was able to impress the panel of judges to earn her debut on the team as a bikini contestant at the championships, scheduled for San Salvador, El Salvador, from August 12-16. Trained by International Federation of Bodybuilding Fitness (IBBF) pro Lakeisha Miller at Better Bodies, the 30-year-old Sturrup said she contemplated participating in the sport from 2018. But it was during the start of the coronavirus pandemic that she made the decision to get on stage as a competitor. “I started training last October consistently and prepping for this year,” she said. “This is my first time doing this, so I was a bit nervous. I didn’t know what to expect, so I just did what my coach told me to do.” With this being her first shot at competing, Sturrup said she would have preferred to be in an actual show, but the federation didn’t have one because of the protocol restrictions for COVID-19. “I wished it would have been in front of an
audience, getting that support from my family and friends,” she lamented. “But nonetheless, I still showed up with the best version of my body today.” Looking at her performance, Sturrup said she felt she delivered a complete package and being just a novice, she hopes that she can get better in time. “I feel comfortable. I feel satisfied,” she insisted. No doubt, her number one critique outside of the judging panel that made the final decision came from Miller, who was on the sideline providing the support for her new protégé. “She looks amazing from where she started from,” said Miller, who will be coming off an injury to make her first appearance as a pro in November after earning her card in 2017 in Toronto, Canada. “She’s a novice so when she came in, we tried to put some muscle on her to give her a better conditioning and a better shape to her body for her physique.” From what she’s seen, Miller said Sturrup will definitely be ready for the championships. “I think she did very well. I’m very proud of her,” Miller reflected. “We’re just going to bring a whole new package. We will get her a more symmetrical shape, put caps on her shoulders and some more shape in her quads and hamstring area.” With a few more weeks to go before the team travels, Sturrup said she will continue to work hard under the supervision of Miller to ensure that she puts on a good show in El
IN AN OLYMPIC FIRST, TEAMWORK IS THE THING FOR MONGOLIA By EDDIE PELLS AP Sports Writer
ASHLEY Sturrup at J-Line Fitness Centre where the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation staged its showcase on Saturday to select the team heading to San Salvador, El Salvador, for the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships. Salvador. “I will give it my best shot. I will definitely take the critiques and criticisms from the judges into account and further work on my body,” Sturrup said.
“Right now, I’m satisfied with my upper body. My lower body could use some more work. I need to work on my legs some more. That’s what I’m envisioned
on doing when I go to CAC.” She’s just eager to finally get on stage and compete in a competition for the first time.
TOKYO (AP) — For decades, Mongolia sent mostly boxers, judokas and wrestlers to the Olympics — athletes doing solo work that, in many ways, reflected the spirit of a nation known for wideopen spaces and a sense of nomadic individualism. This year, though, teamwork is the buzzword. A group of Mongolian women’s basketball players has taken centre stage in Tokyo for the nation of 3 million, reimagining what’s possible both in their country and on the Olympic stage as a whole. Led by 21-year-old Khulan Onolbaatar, who last Friday became the first female flag bearer in the country’s six-decade history at the Games, Mongolia is one of the eight women’s teams playing in the Olympic debut of 3-on-3 basketball. “A dream come true for us, especially having our first Olympic Games as a team sport,” Onolbaatar said. “And representing our country on the biggest stage possible with team sports. And just being part of that team.” That Mongolia will not win a medal, and might not even win a game over the course of the five-day tournament that concludes Wednesday, is almost secondary to the big picture this story represents. When leaders of international basketball federation FIBA introduced this hybrid game to
SEE PAGE 13
RED SOX RALLY LATE, EXTEND LEAD OVER BLUE JAYS WITH 5-4 VICTORY BOSTON (AP) — Alex Verdugo hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox rallied late for the second straight game, beating Toronto 5-4 last night in the opener of an important series for the Blue Jays. Boston star Rafael Devers added a solo homer on the four-year anniversary of his first major-league shot. Bo Bichette hit a tworun homer for fourth-place Toronto, which fell to 10½ games behind in the East. Adam Ottavino (3-3) worked a scoreless inning for the win. Matt Barnes got the final three outs for his 22nd save. Toronto starter Thomas Hatch made just his second
big-league start after being sidelined with a shoulder impingement since spring training. The 26-year-old righthander gave up three runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Trevor Richards (1-1) took the loss. BRAVES 2, METS 0, 1ST GAME METS 1, BRAVES 0, 2ND GAME NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff McNeil laced his second go-ahead hit in two days when his RBI double in the fifth inning sent New York to a victory over Atlanta and a doubleheader split. Kyle Muller threw five sharp innings to earn his second big league victory
in the opener, a win for the Braves. The Mets have split nine of their 11 doubleheaders this season and swept the other two. Trevor May (3-2), the fourth of six Mets pitchers Monday night, threw a perfect fifth and earned the win. Edwin Diaz struck out the side in a perfect seventh for his 22nd save. In the first game, the 23-year-old Kyle Muller (2-3) gave up four hits and walked two while striking out three. He allowed the Mets to advance just two runners as far as second base. Tyler Matzek threw a perfect sixth and Will Smith earned his 20th save. Marcus Stroman (7-9) took the loss.
BOSTON Red Sox’s Alex Verdugo, centre, is congratulated by Hunter Renfroe, left, after his two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park yesterday in Boston. Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire, right, looks on. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Australia beats West Indies by 6 wickets to win ODI series BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) — Matthew Wade notched his 11th one-day international halfcentury to pace Australia to a six-wicket win over the West Indies in the deciding match of the three-game series yesterday. Wade’s 51 from 52 balls enabled Australia to score 153-4 and surpass West Indies’ total of 152 in the 31st over. Stand-in captain and wicketkeeper Alex Carey added 35 for Australia after West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard won the toss and elected to bat first. Australia won the first ODI by 133 runs and West Indies came back to take the rescheduled second match by four wickets. The second match was postponed by two days due to COVID-19 protocols but proceeded last Saturday after all team members and staff tested negative to the coronavirus. Mitchell Starc took 3-43 and Ashton Agar
and Adam Zampa two wickets each on Monday. Ashton Turner was 1-23 in eight overs as Australia bowled out the home side with 29 balls remaining. Agar was named man of the match after taking 2-31 in his 10 overs before contributing 19 not out in a 54-run unbroken fifthwicket stand with Wade. “It’s always nice to do it in the last game of a series,” Agar said. “We really wanted to win a series being away from a long time, being cooped up in your rooms, you just want to come out and win a series.” Opener Evin Lewis led the West Indies with 55 runs from 66 balls after initially retiring hurt in the fourth over after top-edging into his helmet. Lewis returned at the fall of the fifth wicket but West Indies soon lost Jason Holder when he played across the line at Zampa. Pollard said his team didn’t bat well, but praised the Australians.
“Winning the toss, yes the wicket was a bit tacky and I thought we did the hard work in the early overs but we weren’t able to string partnerships together,” Pollard said, adding “153 was never going to be enough. “This Australian team, these guys are passionate about their cricket. I’ve had the opportunity to play with Alex (Carey) at Adelaide Strikers and he has a good head on his shoulders. I think leadership suits him. Long may it continue for him.” Australia made three changes with Dan Christian brought back for his first ODI in seven years after an ankle injury to Ben McDermott forced him out of the team. He was not needed to bat. Captain Aaron Finch has a right knee injury that will likely require surgery and will also miss Australia’s following five-match Twenty20 tour of Bangladesh that begins August 3 in Dhaka.
SPORTS
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 27, 2021, PAGE 13
FENCER POZDNIAKOVA WINS OLYMPIC GOLD IN FAMILY TRADITION
Fania Johnson: ‘I’m hoping this is the pro card, year for me’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FANIA Johnson is hoping that the third time around will be the charm for her at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships. On Saturday at J-Line Fitness Centre where the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation staged its showcase to select the team heading to San Salvador, El Salvador, from August 12-16, the 32-year-old attorney on the Bahamas Financial Services board secured her berth on the team for the third straight year. “I’m hoping to bring a much better package than I did in 2019 and 2020,” Johnson said. “I’m hoping this is the pro card, year for me. I’m not sure if this is the show, but I’m going to give it my best. “We’re approximately three weeks out from the CAC and I know there’s still a lot to be done to refining my physique. But I know I can do it in time.” As she prepares for the championships, Johnson said she’s quite aware of what she needs to work on in her training sessions at Mac-Fit 360. “For me right now, my upper body is pretty strong, so I’m quite satisfied and pleased with how I look right now,” Johnson said. “It’s really my lower body, which is always a challenge in terms of leaning out properly. “Last year, the main critique was that I was too lean. I came in too lean, too dry and too hard. I think the reason for
MONGOLIA FROM PAGE 12
the world more than a decade ago, they did so with a mission of widening the audience for hoops beyond traditional countries, and beyond the urban playgrounds where 3-on-3 built its reputation. Their success is reflected not only in this discipline’s rise into the Olympic stratosphere but also by who is here — and who isn’t. The men from the United States — the country where the game was invented and perfected — did not qualify. Mongolia’s women did. “We’ve already had Olympic champions in boxing and wrestling,” said Tulga Sukhbaatar, the Mongolian coach who must watch the games from the stands, as dictated by
that was because I tried to cut down on my legs and I wasn’t strategic in the way I did it. This year, I’m a little more strategic. I’m going to keep my cardio at a minimum and do more sprints, as opposed to hours and hours of steady pace walking on the treadmill.” With a change in her approach to this year’s championships, Johnson said she will continue to assess her body and make the necessary tweaks, unlike what she did in the past, which she feels will help to propel her to the top of the podium in El Salvador. Unlike when she made her debut in the sport in 2019, for the second year, Johnson didn’t get a chance to compete in a show hosted by the federation because of the COVID-19 restrictions, but she’s not going to let it get to her. “Last year was a similar circumstance. The only problem is that the gyms were closed last year, so it was really a lot of running and doing cardio workout,” Johnson said. “At least this year, the gyms are still opened so we could train. “I would have liked to compete in a local show this year and to win that title, but I didn’t win the title. I won the novice bikini in 2019, but I never won the overall national title. That was my hope for this year, but that didn’t happen, so I’m hoping to shine at the CAC Championships.” With more at stake than a national title, Johnson said she’s confident that she can go to El Salvador and make her presence felt.
the 3-on-3 rules. “But now every Mongolian says ‘Now I might want to play basketball, too.’” Onolbaatar only started about four years ago. She grew up loving the NBA, which has been as aggressive as any U.S. sports league in spreading its tentacles through Asia and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, Onolbaatar’s older brother had already caught the bug and was part of the national team, “and you always look up to your older siblings and want to do what they do,” she said. The notion she might someday play in an Olympics? “That was a faraway dream. It was unreachable. It wasn’t something I thought about. I’d never even watched the Olympics,” Onolbaatar said. Now, she’s in them, and but
FANIA Johnson at J-Line Fitness Centre where the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation staged its showcase on Saturday to select the team heading to San Salvador, El Salvador, for the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships.
for a few bounces here or there, the men’s team might be, too. They were the topranked team in Asia and the top-seeded team heading into an Olympic qualifying event earlier this year, but fell short, much the way the U.S. men did in a different Olympic qualifier. By then, Mongolia’s women had long secured their spot in the field, due to high world ranking that’s part of a labyrinthian system that was tilted to benefit nations that don’t have long resumes in international hoops. “We’ve been pleased to see the quality of play from countries that are not traditional powers,” FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis said during a news conference over the weekend. The Mongolian women have gotten a good dose
FLORA DUFFY, of Bermuda, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal in the women’s individual triathlon competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics today in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Bermuda’s Flora Duffy wins triathlon gold (AP) — FLORA Duffy has won the Olympic women’s triathlon, earning Bermuda’s first Olympic gold medal and its first medal of any kind since 1976. Duffy is a twotime former world triathlon series champion. She’s competing in her fourth Olympics and is one
of just two athletes representing Bermuda in Tokyo. The start of the race was delayed 15 minutes because of storm conditions around Tokyo Bay. Duffy pumped her arms over her head as she finished the swimming, cycling and running course in 1 hour, 55:36 minutes. The 33-year-old Duffy had
never finished higher than eighth in her previous three Olympic triathlons. Bermuda hadn’t medalled at the Olympics since boxer Clarence Hill’s bronze in heavyweight boxing in Montreal. Great Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown won the silver medal and American Katie Zaferes won bronze.
of how the competition picks up once Olympic gold medals are on the line. Through the first three days of the event, they have played six games and lost all six. The U.S. women, meanwhile, came in seeded last but started 5-0. To further magnify what the Olympics can mean for a sport, First Lady Jill Biden was in the stands on the first night to watch Team USA in action. Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai was there the second evening.
“He told us, ‘You girls are making history and you are doing great,’” Onolbaatar said. “We feel great as a team, making history on the biggest stage possible. But I didn’t know he was watching. If we did, we would have been even more nervous.” The coach, Sukhbaatar, envisions a day when the stage might not feel so big for Onolbaatar and those who come after her. Hoops is thriving in their hometown, the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, where about half the country’s
By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer CHIBA, Japan (AP) — Sofia Pozdniakova continued a family tradition of winning Olympic gold yesterday, following in her father’s footsteps with a victory in sabre fencing, while Cheung Ka Long won the second gold in Hong Kong’s history. The Russian Olympic Committee is the name for Russia at the Tokyo Olympics and the committee itself has been prominent. Pozdniakova’s father, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, is a four-time gold medallist in fencing and the president of the ROC. Her opponent in the final, fellow Russian Sofya Velikaya, is an ROC officeholder too. She chairs the athletes’ commission. The final was tied 10-10 before Pozdniakova pulled ahead, marking key points with ever-louder roars of triumph. She sank on one knee after securing the win before embracing Velikaya. The two held hands and bowed to the audience of team members and other athletes. “When I first came into fencing, people didn’t call me by my name, but as the daughter of Pozdnyakov,” she said. “Obviously I’m proud to be his daughter, but we’re different. Each person is an individual personality.” Pozdniakova added that she made a name for herself by winning the world title in 2018 and “at that moment I think I showed I was my own person as an athlete. Now I’ve confirmed that. It’s really great.”
population lives and where blacktop and concrete abounds. Add a hoop, a ball and a dream, and some more kids from Mongolia could end up in this spot, too. “A lot of basketball experts say it’s almost impossible to get a player to improve the way we have in three or four years, but we’re doing it,” Sukhbaatar said. “There’s a younger generation learning now. I think we’ll come back to the Olympic Games much stronger — in ‘24, and ‘28, and ‘32.”
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PAGE 14, Tuesday, July 27, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Ellison Hanna II earns opportunity to enter professional baseball ranks By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ELLISON Hanna II earned an opportunity to enter the professional baseball ranks with the Missoula PaddleHeads of the Pioneer League. Following the first Pioneer League tryout, Hanna was one of three prospects chosen by the Paddleheads to join the franchise, based in Missoula, Montana. The Pioneer League is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. Formerly known as the Missoula Ospreys, the franchise was an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks from 1996-2020.
Both “Jazz” Chisholm Jr and Kristian Robinson spent their respective rookie seasons with the Ospreys. Following the restructure of Minor League Baseball out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pioneer League was converted from an MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent league and granted status as an MLB Partner League. Hanna, a 22-year-old outfielder, recently completed his collegiate career with the Indiana State Sycamores in the NCAA Tournament’s Nashville Regional. He hit .429 in the Sycamores’ three tournament games before they were eliminated and scored five runs. He went 3-4 and scored two runs as his team opened play
ELLISON Hanna II
with a 7-6 loss in the first matchup against Georgia Tech. He followed with a 3-4 night and three runs in a 9 -2 win over Presbyterian to stay alive in the bracket and went hitless in the second loss to Georgia Tech. In 26 games of his senior season, Hanna hit .337 with 30 hits, 20 RBI, 28 runs, five home runs, seven doubles, and two triples. The Sycamores finished the season 31-21 and were runners-up in the Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Hanna was selected to the MVC Baseball All-Tournament team. The redshirt senior outfielder finished the tournament hitting .278 (5-18), with five runs, nine RBI and three home-runs.
SIMONE BILES, of United States, performs her floor exercise routine during the women’s artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A former student at St Augustine’s College, Hanna began his collegiate career with two seasons at Kirkwood Community College. He finished the 2018 season with a .318 batting average, 15 doubles, 10 home runs and a pair of triples for a .573 slugging percentage, 55 RBIs and scored 45 runs and 12 stolen bases in 59 games. He transferred to the Division I level at Indiana State, and in his first season with the programme, played in 16 games while making eight starts. The following season was cut short due to COVID-19, but in nine games he hit .231 with six hits, one double and a triple, scored three runs and drove in one run.
KATIE LEDECKY, of the US, rests after her heat of the women’s 200-metre freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics yesterday. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
BILES TRIES TO LEAD TEAM USA TO THIRD CONSECUTIVE GOLD MEDAL By JENNA FRYER AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — The greatest gymnast of all time must rally Team USA for the Americans to win their third consecutive gold medal. Simone Biles and her squad trail the team representing the Russian Olympic Committee heading into today’s women’s gymnastics team final. Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel return to the pool and the U.S. women’s soccer team plays its final match in group stage play in Day 4 of coverage of the Tokyo Olympics.
• Here are some things to watch (all times Eastern): GYMNASTICS Simone Biles had a rare off day — off for her — in qualifications and the Americans head into the women’s final trailing the team representing the Russian Olympic Committee. The U.S. has three gymnasts making their Olympic debuts in Suni Lee, Grace McCallum and Jordan Chiles, and the trio all had significant form breaks as the Americans fell behind. But so did Biles, who despite putting up the top score was not at her best. Biles bounded off the mat at the end of a tumbling
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pass on floor and her block on her Cheng vault was crooked. Each member of the fourperson team competed in each event during qualifications with the lowest score dropped. For the finals, the competition moves to three-up/ three-count and the Americans have thrived in that format for more than a decade. Biles is scheduled to compete in all five events with coverage live at 6:45am on Peacock with an encore during primetime on NBC. SWIMMING Katie Ledecky is seeking a second straight gold medal in the women’s 200metre freestyle and then later that evening will attempt to win the Olympic debut of the women’s 1,500metre freestyle. Caeleb Dressel, who already has one gold medal in these Games, is expected to compete alongside Rio Olympic gold medallist Townley Haas and firsttime Olympian Kieran Smith in the men’s 4x200 metre freestyle relay. Zach Harting and Gunnar Bentz are both expected to contend for Team USA in the men’s 200-metre butterfly. Five races are up for medals during NBC’s primetime coverage, with the first final set to begin at 9:40pm. WOMEN’S SOCCER The U.S. women’s soccer team can advance to the quarterfinals with either a win or a draw over Australia. The Americans lost their opening game to Sweden but bounced back for a 6-1 victory over New Zealand. The game is the final match in group stage play and will air live at 4am on USA Network, with two encores to follow on the same channel. SOFTBALL The U.S. women’s softball team will play Japan for the gold medal in a rematch of the 2008 final, the previous time softball was an Olympic sport. Japan won that game 3-1.
UNITED States’ Javale Mc Gee, left, and forward Kevin Durant (7) walk off the court after their loss to France in a men’s basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Monica Abbott pitched a perfect seventh in relief to advance the Americans into the gold medal game and earned her third win of the tournament. Abbott is likely to start against Japan, a game played the day before her 36th birthday. The game will be live at 7am on NBC Sports Network with a replay in primetime. MEN’S BASKETBALL The much-maligned U.S. men’s basketball team seeks its first win of the Olympics when it plays Iran in Group A play. The U.S. men have only two games left in group play at the Tokyo Olympics to solve its woes.
An opening 83-76 loss to France snapped a 25-game Olympic winning streak. The Americans lost for only the sixth time in 144 games at the Olympics alltime, and fell to 53-4 in the Olympics with NBA players on the roster. The 2004 team at the Athens Games lost the other three, and won bronze. The game will be streamed on Peacock at 12:40am. TYPHOON WATCH There’s a full slate of competition scheduled today but a typhoon is scheduled to hit the Tokyo area and could disrupt much of the action. Archery, rowing and sailing have already had
schedule revisions, and all tennis not played on centre court could potentially be washed out. Centre court has a retractable roof. The third round of men’s singles, the quarterfinals for women’s singles and doubles, semifinals of men’s doubles and first round of mixed doubles are all scheduled to begin at 10pm on The Olympic Channel. FOR THE LATE CROWD The U.S. women’s water polo team continues its quest for a third consecutive gold medal in a match against Hungary, while the women’s cycling team trials both air on NBC in coverage that begins at 12:35am.
SPORTS
THE TRIBUNE
SEATS sit empty during the women’s 49kg weightlifting event, at the Tokyo International Forum, during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. (AP)
Tuesday, July 27, 2021, PAGE 15
JAGGER EATON, of the United States, competes in men’s street Skateboarding during the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on July 25. (AP)
Without the crowd’s roar, Tokyo Olympians search for spirit By CLAIRE GALOFARO AP National Writer TOKYO (AP) — The beloved American gymnast Sam Mikulak flipped off the parallel bars, stuck the landing and blew a kiss toward the camera. Those watching the men’s Olympics gymnastic competition on television back home knew they’d seen magic. “Beautiful!” the broadcast announcer exclaimed. “Wow, that was fantastic!” But all around Mikulak, the stretches of wooden benches meant to seat thousands sat mostly empty. Cheers erupted from a far back corner of the stands, where Simone Biles and the rest of the women’s team screamed as loud as lungs could muster to cut through the eerie quiet of the pandemic Olympic venue. In arenas across Tokyo, athletes accustomed to feeding off the deafening roar of the crowd are searching for new ways to feel Olympic enthusiasm. They’re rooting for each other as loudly as they can. Some are trying to envision fans at home in their living rooms, leaning into TV screens. They’re blasting playlists in backstage training rooms. The lucky few permitted to compete with headphones keep their phones in their pockets, tuned to songs with a beat to replace the thrill of applause. But others were surprised to find the silence motivating — like another day at the gym rather than the most prestigious competition on Earth. For them, the emptiness numbs the nerves and lets them fully focus on their sport. “It’s kind of nice,” said Mikulak, a three-time Olympian whose parallel bar routine helped usher him to finals. It barely feels like an Olympics to him, he said, but when he stuck that landing and heard his own team cheering, that felt like enough. “We created our own bubble. We had our own cheering section,” he said. “We created our own atmosphere. That’s what we thrive in, having each other’s backs.” The next day, they returned the favour. The US men’s gymnastics team stood in the back waving an American flag and screaming for their female counterparts before the stadium fell quiet again, like the others scattered across Tokyo. At the Sea Forest Waterway rowing venue, grandstands that stretch for nearly 2,000 metres (yards) are empty all the way to the finish line. The events are so quiet, rowers can hear the ripple of their own wake and the flap of hundreds of national flags whipping in the breeze on the shoreline. What is typically a swelling crescendo of chants and rush of adrenaline over the final 250 metres to the finish line replaced by the laboured breathing wracking their lungs. “When you cross the line and you’re hurting, and you feel like you are going to pass out and you don’t hear the ‘USA! USA!’, chant it hurts a little bit more,” said ÚS women’s rower Ellen Tomek, competing in her third Olympics and reminding herself that people
JAPANESE gymnast Mai Murakami performs on the balance beam during the women’s artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo, on July 25. Murakami said she was thrilled that her home country hosted the Olympics because she hoped many of her admirers could see her perform in person. (AP) are rooting from her from home. “Everyone is cheering us on, but when you are hurting and sad and you can’t look up for you mom in the stands, it sucks.” Other athletes, too, are trying to capture the energy of those fans at home, absent here but still somewhere in the world cheering them on. Japanese gymnast Mai Murakami said she was thrilled that her home country hosted the Olympics because she hoped many of her admirers could see her perform in person. When even Japanese citizens were barred from attending, she was devastated. “I get influence from the crowd, and that motivates me,” she said through a translator. The silence rattled her, she said, and she made a mistake in her bars performance. “This is my first experience without crowds, so I haven’t had that experience before. I couldn’t imagine how it would be, so I tried to have no emotion.” She tried to picture her fans watching on TVs and computers, applauding her from across the city. That brought comfort. Ágatha Bednarczuk, a Brazilian beach volleyball player, won a silver medal in front of her home country in 2016. This Olympics, she said, feels very different. “In Brazil, we had the biggest support. There were many, many people cheering for us, and here we had silence,” she said, drawing a flat line with her hand. “We need to put our emotion in the game, because we can’t receive emotion from them. For me, it’s very important to play with emotion so I had to bring it from inside.” Many say they are reminding themselves that they made it here — to the Olympics, a lifelong dream for many despite extraordinary odds including a pandemic that has killed
millions and postponed the Games, and for a time threatened to sink them entirely. “I think that Olympic Games is enough of its own,” said Greece men’s water polo goaltender Emmanouil Zerdevas. “It’s a bit sad, but it is my first time in the Olympic Games, so I’m still happy to be here.” At the silent skateboarding venue, U.S. skater Jagger Eaton found a mood booster in the phone he occasionally fished out of his right pocket while competing to change the music. Skateboarders, unlike other athletes, are able to shut out the quiet by wearing headphones as they compete. Eaton chose the aptly named “Rollin N Controllin” by rapper Dusty Locane as his soundtrack to
launch himself into the firstever Olympic skateboard event, men’s street. “It got me right in the groove,” said Eaton, who struggled to skate for an empty crowd. “That’s why I am wearing headphones. When I wear headphones, I can create my own hype.” But others have been surprised to find peace in the silence — and a stronger connection to their sport than they tend to feel when the pressure is on. “Normally, coming into the finish line, when qualification is on the line, it’s deafening,” said U.S. women’s rower Michelle Sechser. “It’s the hardest part of the race. Your heart is pounding, your legs are pounding, your breathing is rapid. And it’s absolutely silent. It makes it almost like Nirvana.”
SPORTS SECTION E - PAGE 16
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Evans 18th overall
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, has been a momentous experience for Grand Bahamian swimmer Joanna Evans. Still in a festive mood after celebrating her 24th birthday on Sunday when she competed in her signature event in the 400m freestyle, Evans closed the chapter on her second straight Olympics as she competed in her final event in the women’s 200m freestyle. On Monday at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre, Evans placed 18th overall as she touched the wall in one minute and 58.40
seconds, which was shy of her national record of 1:58.03 she set at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia on July 21, 2018. “The swim was decent,” Evans said. “It’s always an honour to represent the Bahamas and give people something to root for.” Everyone was rooting for Evans to at least advance to the semifinals, but she fell shy by two spots after she came through in seventh place in the third of four heats of the preliminaries. The 16th and final qualifying spot was 1:58.33 by Valeriia Salamatina of Roc, who finished just ahead of Evans in sixth place in their heat. The top qualifier was American Kathleen Ledecky in 1:55.28. Going into her race, Evans posted splits of 27.80 in her first 50m; 29.50 for 57.30 at 100m; 30.61 for 1:27.91 for 150m and 30.49 in the final 50. For the University of Texas at Austin graduate, her plan, even as she celebrated her birthday, was to “just swim and try to recover for my next race.” Now that her two races are over and done with and her second Olympic experience has come to a close, Evans said the plan is for her to “rest” before the International Swimming League season gets underway. The ISL is an annual professional swimming league that was established in 2019. It features a team-based competition format with fast-paced race sessions. Season three regular season is expected to run from August 26 to September 30 in Naples, Italy. While she is now done at the Olympics, today, Izaak Bastian will complete his debut account at the games when he competes in the men’s 200m breaststroke. The 20-year-old Florida State University student is coming off an eighth place finish in his heat of the 100m breaststroke on Saturday for 40th place overall. The remainder of Team Bahamas’ delegation will begin competing on Friday when the track and field competition gets underway at the Olympic Stadium where the opening ceremony took
GRAND Bahamian swimmer Joanna Evans at the delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. place on Friday with Evans and high jumper Donald Thomas serving as the co-flag bearers for the first time it was done in the history of the games. In the past, only one competitor carried the flag.
ROKER SIGNS WITH ACUNSA GIPUZKOA IN SPAIN’S LEB GOLD LEAGUE By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AZARO Roker’s first step on his professional basketball journey will begin in Spain. Roker signed with Acunsa Gipuzkoa Basket Club, in Spain’s LEB Gold League, the second tiered league in the country. The 6’7” forward out of St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada, said his story of perseverance is one that will continue as he reached another odds defying milestone. “I am extremely proud to announce that I will be taking my talents to the pros,” Roker said. “Not only did I manage to land an incredible situation coming out of a Canadian university, but I continued to defy the odds. (Leaving university and making the jump to a top Spain LEB ‘Gold’ league). I was told that it was going to be tough landing good
opportunities coming out of Canadian university on top of not playing the previous basketball season. There were a number of other people in (pros, G-League, and college) that could’ve been placed in this position ahead of me, but I was chosen instead. I managed to defy the odds and make what seemed to be impossible possible.” In May, Roker signed with the Helping Ballers Agency out of Ourense, Spain following a year on the court lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, Roker returned to the court in his final game with the X-Men. He finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds to lead the X-Men to a 99-76 win over the Acadia Axemen in the inaugural ‘Coach K Challenge’ exhibition in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. He returned to the X-Men for his final year of eligibility after rising to the status as one of the top players in the Atlantic
AZARO Roker in action in this file photo. University Sport (AUS) in 2019. He earned a series of postseason accolades
including a U Sports All-Canadian Second Team selection, an AUS
conference tournament All-Star nod and AUS First Team selection. He was one of only three players in the league to average a double double. He led the conference in rebounding at 13.2 per game and was second in scoring at 17.2 points per game. “I believe that this could only be possible with God’s grace and favour he’s placed on my life. Growing up as a kid in Nassau, Bahamas I dreamed of this day and now I’ve made this dream
a reality through hard work and dedication. This journey has continuously shown me that I am a true testament to will power and affirmation,” Roker said. “Believe me, this is just the first of many good things to come. You can truly do anything you put your mind to. Stop watching and following others, be the first one and your family to create generational wealth and be successful. If I can do it then you can too.” Roker was a mainstay of the X-Men lineup ever since he matriculated from the Anatol Rodgers High Timberwolves. In his first season with the X-Men, Roker averaged just 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in 18 appearances. In year two, he got three starts in 19 appearances and averaged 4.6 and 3.5 rebounds per game. His numbers improved in year three, when he averaged 10 points and was a conference leader with 10 rebounds and two blocked shots per game.