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STAY ALIVE - PROOF IS IN THE NUMBERS
Less than 5 percent of fully vaccinated are admitted to hospitals By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net LESS than five percent of people fully vaccinated in The Bahamas have been infected with COVID-19 and fewer than one percent of recovered patients have been re-infected with the disease, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen has said. Dr Brennen insisted yesterday vaccinations are the only way out of the pandemic, adding that while
many may be hesitant to take the jab for various reasons, the benefits of taking the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine still far outweigh the risks. Dr Brennen disclosed the information as a guest on radio talk show “The Morning Blend” with host Dwight Strachan. Dr Brennen said the vast majority of people contracting the disease and being hospitalised are those who have not been fully inoculated against COVID-19. SEE PAGE TWO
HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie is to hold “Open Parliaments” for the public each Wednesday starting next week. While the House is not set to reconvene until September 22, Speaker Moultrie said most of the discussions with citizens will be held with himself and Chief Clerk David Forbes. These sessions will be held for the most part at the Senate building, Parliament Square and the House
of Assembly from 10am to 1pm. This will continue either until Parliament is dissolved or until sittings of Parliament continue in September. The Speaker’s announcement came as part of an attack on the continuation of Emergency Powers. “The chains fell off in 1833 but we are witnesses of new chains of bondage, guised as Emergency Power Orders that discriminate, infringe Bahamians’ constitutional rights and SEE PAGE THREE
By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Power and Light said a mid-morning fire yesterday at its decommissioned Station O at Clifton Pier had no impact on generation or other operations. Pictures and videos of the fire made the rounds on social media with many expressing concern that the incident could affect already unreliable power supply that has plagued residents for the past few weeks. However, in a statement yesterday, BPL explained that the fire took about 25 minutes to extinguish, adding that it happened as SEE PAGE FOUR
SHAUNAE: WILL SHE RUN THE 400M?
DON’T LIKE PARLIAMENT? TRY SPEAKER’S VERSION By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
FIRE QUICKLY CONTAINED AT BPL PLANT
- SEE SPORTS
‘WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR IMAGE FOR CORRUPTION’
A TRUE BAHAMIAN PATRIOT
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
The two foreign pilots who flew the plane into Abaco from the Dominican Republic later filed a stolen plane report. The Tribune understands that police have been following various leads relating to the incident. However, the Royal Bahamas Police Force has so far declined to describe the nature of their investigation
REFORMERS yesterday warned The Bahamas “is not doing enough to change perceptions of corruption” as the US government again cited irregularities in this nation’s procurement and investment approvals process. Matt Aubry, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) executive director, told Tribune Business it was “not good enough” for The Bahamas to believe its “status quo” ranking as less corrupt than many Caribbean competitors was sufficient at a time when “we cannot leave anything on the table economically” due to COVID-19’s devastating fall-out.
SEE PAGE FIVE
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
FORMER Governor General and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Dion Hanna has died, aged 93. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis last night described Mr Hanna, a founding father of the nation, as “a Bahamian giant and statesman”. See PAGE THREE for the full story.
PILOTS BLAMED FOR ABACO CRASH PILOTS who died in a plane crash in Abaco last month did not properly configure the settings on the aircraft for takeoff, investigators say in their report on the crash. The jet destroyed airport lighting equipment and broke several trees along its path, according to the official report from the Air Accident Investigation Department. Lavan Paul, a former
LAVAN Paul and Jason Allen. defence force officer, and Jason Allen, a marine, were pilots of the plane which crashed on July 5.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
PAGE 2, Wednesday, August 4, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Minnis: Get vaccinated ASAP By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday again encouraged people to get vaccinated as quickly as possible as he marked the arrival of 33,600 OxfordAstraZeneca vaccines. The vaccines, which were obtained through the World Health Organisation’s COVAX facility, come as COVID-19 cases surge in The Bahamas and as vaccine supplies run low. Thirty-five new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Monday and a 36-year-old woman of New Providence who died on Monday was the latest death recorded. People fully vaccinated against the virus total 46,793. There have been 106,898 doses of the vaccine administered and 61,803 people have got one dose. “For those waiting to make an appointment for a second dose of the vaccine, I encourage you to book your appointment as soon as possible,” Dr Minnis said at Jet Aviation, where the vaccines arrived. “If you haven’t received your first dose yet please book an appointment online or visit one of the walk-up centres as they become available.” “I would like to empha- PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis welcomes the third tranche of sise that throughout the 33,600 AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines via the Covax facility. pandemic the SARSPhoto: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff COV-2 virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, has He said last week the US Next Monday, people continued to change. There Embassy in Nassau donated will be able to get vaccines have been many new vari- four ultra-cold freezers, at the Church of God of ants of the virus and there three of which will be used Prophecy. The Baha Mar will be more. We were at an expanded EPU unit Convention Centre and St taught in medical school on New Providence while Anselm’s Church Hall will how quickly a virus adapts the other is sent to Grand be available for vaccines to efforts Bahama. starting August 11. to stop its ‘It is important for He said the Dr Minnis said health spread, US has also officials are working on a as many people to especially donated PPE schedule to continue vacwhen a large get vaccinated as to safely use cinating people on Family number quickly as possible. the freezers. Islands. of people Of the Dr Minnis and Health This is the most remain newly Minister Renward Wells effective way to unvacciarrived have previously said the nated. This address and to show 33,600 vacadministration will let is why it is the spread of a virus cine doses, emergency powers orders important 5000 will lapse on August 13. for as many and its variants.’ be sent to However, yesterday he people to get Antigua and said the matter is under vaccinated by Cabinet as quickly as possible. This Barbuda as payment for discussion the vaccines that country and health officials. Many is the most effective way to address and to show the sent to The Bahamas in late believe that with rising cases and high hospispread of a virus and its June. Dr Minnis said second talisation numbers, the variants.” Dr Minnis said the gov- vaccine doses will be avail- administration is unlikely ernment is continuing able at the Loyola Hall to move forward without to work with the United centre on Gladstone Road some ability to restrict the States on their donation starting tomorrow and activities and gatherings of people. of vaccines to this country. Friday.
UNITED STATES DELIVERS FREEZERS FOR VACCINES THE United States has delivered four ultralow temperature medical freezers to the Ministry of Health for storing COVID19 vaccines. The four freezers, valued at over $100,000 can cool vaccine doses at up to -122 degrees Fahrenheit and can store over 168,000 doses. US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) facilitated the acquisition of the freezers. In addition to the ULT medical freezers, USNORTHCOM is also providing additional medical supplies – valued at around $115,000 – needed to administer and handle any vaccine doses received, including syringes, phlebotomy equipment and specialised tools and personal protective equipment for manipulating materials at sub-zero temperatures. Those materials will be arriving over the coming week.
General Glen VanHerck, commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM said officials are committed to ensuring The Bahamas has the equipment it needs to reach vaccination goals. He said: “To completely defeat this virus we cannot isolate our response to domestic actions, we need to support and supplement the medical infrastructure of our geographic partners, and recognize that their safety is our safety. US Northern Command is committed to the support of The Bahamas and ensuring they are equipped to reach their vaccination goals.” This latest donation of ULT freezers and additional supplies adds to the long list of donations and assistance the US has already provided to The Bahamas through the pandemic. These include: two Rhode Island National
Guard missions to distribute thousands of vaccine doses to eight family islands throughout The Bahamas (Mayaguana, Acklins Island, Crooked Island, Cat Island, Long Island, Inagua, Bimini, and Eleuthera); $535,000 in AIRVO respirators, Biofire test kits, and additional medical supplies from USNORTHC; mobile shelters especially retrofitted to serve as medical tents for the COVID-19 response. Further $20,000 worth of respirator equipment from Rhode Island National Guard and a $750,000 USAID ongoing grant to Bahamas Red Cross Society, which has provided (among others) – $85,000 BioFire respiratory disease rapid diagnostic machine, PPE and other services for frontline medical workers and sanitising stations at local schools in New Providence.
STAY ALIVE - PROOF IS IN THE NUMBERS from page one
He said at last report, no fully vaccinated people have died from the disease or are currently in hospital. Meanwhile, the number of fully vaccinated who tested positive for the virus represents fewer than five percent, he added. These occurrences are known as “breakthrough cases.” “The last time we looked at it, it still represents less than five percent of what we’re seeing in country (and that is for) persons who’ve been vaccinated who are still getting infected,” Dr Brennen said. “And most startling is when we start to look at some of the issues that come with hospitalisations, when you look at the deaths, it shows you over and over again – that it is unfortunately individuals who have not been vaccinated who are suffering
most from this. “The last time we checked there were no individuals who had been vaccinated who were currently being hospitalised. That changes from dayto-day, and you know we have more than 100 people on a daily basis in country who are hospitalized from COVID-19. “You may get one or two here and there but most of those people are not fully vaccinated and when it comes to deaths, we’re seeing that none of the individuals had two doses in and two weeks out from their vaccines. Those individuals are not dying from COVID-19.” As for re-infections among recovered people, Dr Brennen said the figures are also not significant and in fact, represent less than one percent of newly confirmed cases in the country. “What we’re able to see is persons who’ve had,
you know, tested as positive once were more than three months out from having tested positive were asymptomatic and then test positive a second time. “We’re counting those as reinfections but what I will say is that does not represent a significant number of our infections in country. Honestly, that represents less than one percent of infections that we’re seeing in country. A lot of what we’re seeing is persons who would’ve been infected that are brand new infections.” More than 15,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the country to date. Active cases tally at 2,019 and 104 people are still in hospital as of Monday. Speaking about the nation’s climbing COVID19 numbers, Dr Brennen said relaxed adherence to public health measures coupled with COVID-19 fatigue have
largely contributed to the current spike in cases. He suggested that while COVID-19 variants may also have played a role, it is not the country’s main cause of concern at this time. “What we have seen so far are variants like the Alpha variant, Iota variant and we have no doubt whatsoever that we have a number of variants and it’s likely as we continue to do our surveillance that we’ll discover the Delta variant as well, but our issue is not so much necessarily the variants themselves,” he said. “It is that we’re seeing increased numbers of infections going on in country and what we need to do is realise that it isn’t the variants and the differences and the types of coronaviruses isn’t really the issue. It’s our approach as a population as to how we are going about doing our daily tasks that really represent why we are
seeing these infections and what we need to do differently,” Dr Brennen added. “We really need to approach our daily interactions in a way that means we are not going to put ourselves at risk of passing it on to each other. We have to take the public health measures themselves very seriously and we have to make sure that we are not putting ourselves at risk of contracting the virus and then being able to pass it on to other people.” Asked if he thinks lockdowns are needed to get a handle on the current health crisis, the deputy chief medical officer said he believes it all boils down to personal responsibility and urged Bahamians to keep following the public health protocols. “It’s going to take each of us doing what is necessary. We know that we need to wear a mask. It shouldn’t be that you’re waiting for the
COVID enforcement or the authorities at your workplace or at a social venue to tell you that you need to wear a mask. You should wear that mask,” he said. “A lockdown shouldn’t be required for us to take personal responsibility and say ‘I’m not going to put myself in that environment so this isn’t a let’s wait for someone to give me restrictions so I can complain that there are restrictions in place. “We need to take the approach that I’m not going to put myself at risk, I’m not going to put my family at risk. I’m not going to put my community members at risk. This is on us.” Officials have said 106, 898 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in The Bahamas as of July 31. Further, 46,793 are said to be fully vaccinated against the virus, while 61,803 have received their first shot.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 4, 2021, PAGE 3
A true Bahamian patriot By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net FORMER Governor General and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Dion Hanna, the ardent progressive whose faith in Bahamians helped push The Bahamas toward independence and sparked the Bahamianization policy that defined an era, died at home yesterday at 93. Mr Hanna was Deputy Prime Minister from 1967 to 1984 and held a variety of ministerial portfolios during his time in office, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance with responsibility for public service, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Home Affairs with responsibility for immigration. He was Governor General from 2006 to 2010. Mr Hanna, the father of longtime Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin, was a nationalist whose views were critical in pushing former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling to seek independence for The Bahamas in the late 1960s, according to University of the Bahamas historian Dr Christopher Curry. “He was a progressive thinker and he was one of the earliest to really galvanise the PLP to champion the cause of independence and when The Bahamas gained independence he was the person who promoted the Bahamianisation policy,” Dr Curry said last night. “In the realm of education, that policy came about because we had a system based on British values and British beliefs and he felt there needed to be an overhaul of that system. He encouraged more Bahamians to be hired as teachers and so the Bahamianisation
FORMER Governor General and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Dion Hanna. concept was really his idea, especially as it relates to education.” Tributes to Mr Hanna poured in last night. PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis described him as a lion. “I am deeply moved on this occasion, saddened yet empowered because I know of the legacy which he left us,” he said in a statement. “He set the initial rules to help the poor as Minister of Finance, through the social safety net which is now
incorporated in our social services department. “That was Arthur Hanna, dedicated to wiping every tear from every eye, building our country with our own hands. He was a mentor to former Prime Minister Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham when as young ministers they joined the cabinet. When others walked away from me at a challenging time in my political life, Arthur Hanna was my protector.” Prime Minister Dr
Hubert Minnis said he remembers Mr Hanna “fighting for opportunities for Bahamians in every sector of society” when he was a boy and he noted that Mr Hanna “was a man of tremendous humility who loved boating, fishing and farming”. Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said Mr Hanna was a “great Bahamian patriot” who committed his life to uplifting ordinary Bahamians and to national development.
“His fingerprints can be found on most significant polices that continue to be observed in government even today,” Mr Ingraham said in a statement. “His name is synonymous with the Bahamiization policies that successive Bahamian governments have pursued since 1967. Small in nature, AD was a giant of a man.” Democratic National Alliance leader Arinthia Komolafe said “generations of Bahamians will continue to live under the shade of trees” he planted. Mr Hanna was born in Pompey Bay, Acklins in 1928. He moved to New Providence and attended Government High School where he bonded with Sir Lynden Pindling. His wife, Beryl Hanna, predeceased him. He studied law in the United Kingdom and joined the Progressive Liberal party after returning home from his studies. He served as member of parliament for the Annes Town constituency - now St Annes - from 1960 to 1992. “His ideology was grounded in the ideas of social justice,” Dr Curry said. “He would have been influenced by some of the ideas floating around the world as it relates to theories of liberalisation, including the decolonialisation movement in the Caribbean and Africa and the civil rights movement in the United States. Having learned from those ideologies, he had his unique flavour on Bahamian way of thinking about things. It is interesting that his death comes after the Emancipation Day holiday because he was all about freedom of justice for the oppressed and the idea that they should have rights. For so long education was a privilege not a right in this
country and the Bahamianization policy he had brought an end to that.” Mr Hanna was known to have a keen sense of humour. During his public career, he could also display radical instincts and was on the vanguard of a generation that was not afraid to challenge power in bold ways. During a debate on boundary changes in 1965, he was ordered out of the House of Assembly and forcibly removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms, an event described as unprecedented at the time. As a nationalist, he refused British honours and advocated for a Bahamian honours system. “He had a real issue with awards or titles being bestowed on him by the Queen,” Dr Curry noted. “He was a critic of the Queen and colonialists. He was a progressive thinker that wanted us to have our own national heroes park.” During the drugs scandal era of the 1980s, Mr Hanna resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, but never fled the PLP. “The PLP in that era faced a lot of criticism of corruption and they had from what I understand had a conclave in the Berry Islands and he put questions to Pindling and was very openly critical of him and that’s when he stepped down as deputy prime minister,” Dr Curry said. “He still remained in the PLP while Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie left and ran as independents in 87 and we all know what happened after that. He always remained faithful to the party he started with despite being openly critical of Pindling. He was able to stand on principle against what he saw as creeping corruption in his own party.”
DON’T LIKE PARLIAMENT? TRY SPEAKER’S VERSION
from page one
challenge the very essence of our being,” Mr Moultrie said. “As the countdown to end this unprecedented encroachment on civil liberties, in the form of COVID-19 protocols, approaches - the 13th of August, Bahamians face further threats to our freedom and additional concerns of our nation’s wellbeing.” He pointed to a comment Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis made back in Julylast year when Bahamians travelled to the United States when the borders reopened that month. Dr Minnis admitted the administration considered prohibiting residents from leaving the country. “Governments will be placed in situations where at some point in time they will have to make what they call discriminatory or
HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie yesterday. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff unconstitutional decisions He said: “If taking the against their people in the COVID-19 vaccines is a interest of the advancement matter of choice why are of their nation.” unvaccinated persons being Those comments came denied while the vaccinated before parliamentarians persons are given clearance passed a resolution extend- when they are equally likely ing the state of emergency to contract the virus and to September 30, 2020. more likely to inadvertently The Speaker further also spread the virus?” questioned the government “The fact that the govon vaccinations. ernment is permitting the
intrusive emergency law and orders to expire on 13 August in my estimation is proof that government had available to it less intrusive means to serve public health purposes that need not violate civil liberties as the Emergency Orders have.” Nonetheless, Speaker Moultrie said he would not stand in the way of government doing what it felt was necessary. “I would not stand in their way because the government has a mandate on behalf of the people and once the government decides it wants to do something the Speaker is not to stand in the way. The Members of Parliament - that’s a resolution that the government would have to bring to the Parliament. The Speaker is a facilitator,” he explained. The Speaker noted the current recess deprives duly elected members their privilege of effective representation and the Parliament “constitutional obligation to
supervise and have oversight of Cabinet’s interim activities, expenditures and policies”. He hopes the open parliament would deepen democracy, be educational and allow people to voice their grievance as the Parliament is in recess. “If they have grievances during this recess usually Parliament would be the place to ventilate those grievances by the representative members for each constituency but there’s no opportunity for that now because effectively Parliament has been prorogued and I say that because this is an unprecedented period since I became speaker. Ninety days in the midst of a pandemic and with the possibility of a snap election being called within the period but the Parliament is in recess during the period? “I think that is most undemocratic and most unfortunate that we find ourselves in that circumstance.
“What I’m hoping to do is to cause Bahamians not to feel that the Parliament and executive is out of their reach and that they don’t have the kinda of access to Parliament particularly as a result of our COVID19 protocols when we had to convert the gallery. So, there’s really no public participation in terms of even sitting and viewing the proceedings. So, I felt we should not go all the way to September without persons having the opportunity to voice their concerns and to at least access the parliament of The Bahamas because once they access the Speaker, I have a good relationship despite me trying to enforce certain changes with most of the members of parliament. “When people come to me all the time from different constituencies outside of Nassau Village that I represent and I passed those concerns onto the various members.”
PHYSICIANS HAPPY WITH TESTING CHANGE - BUT NOT STAFFING LEVEL By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net CONSULTANT physicians are happy that fully vaccinated travellers now need to present negative tests to enter the country, but they remain concerned that public health facilities remain understaffed. According to Consultant Physicians Staff Association President Dr Sabriquet Pinder-Butler this is compounded by suspicions that the Delta variant of the virus is present in newly infected individuals. On Monday, a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister laid out new travel requirements for people entering The Bahamas. Effective Friday, August 6, all fully vaccinated travellers wishing to enter The Bahamas will now be required to obtain a COVID-19 test Rapid Antigen Test or PCR, with
a negative result, within five days of arrival in The Bahamas The statement also said there are no changes to the testing requirements for unvaccinated persons wishing to enter The Bahamas. All persons, who are 12 years and older and who are unvaccinated, will still be required to obtain a PCR test taken within five days of arrival in The Bahamas. Additionally, all children, between the ages of 2 and 11, wishing to enter The Bahamas will now be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test - Rapid Antigen Test or PCR, with a negative result, within five days of arrival in The Bahamas. All travellers, entering The Bahamas on a cruise ship, will be subjected to the testing requirements mandated by the cruise line and approved by the Competent Authority.” Dr Pinder-Butler expressed satisfaction with
the new measures, which she said her team had been recommending for some time. “Certainly the CPSA has been making recommendations related to travel from last year,” she noted. “We had always maintained the recommendation that testing should be done for all persons travelling in and out of the country. Whether its residents and/or guests alike and whether persons are vaccinated or not. “We reiterated the call when we knew that the testing arrangements were being modified and that it did not include persons that were vaccinated. So, we are pleased to see that that policy has been adjusted, especially during this time when we continue to see an increase in the COVID cases in the country. ‘We continue to have additional travellers coming to our shores and Bahamians travelling as well and we know that there have
been variants in COVID. Our numbers have also increased in the country so I think that this is certainly something that we needed to do to get a better handle on what we are seeing with cases.” The public health system remains in distress with a shortage of staff and beds due to the spike in COVID19 cases along with patients who have other needs. During this new wave of the virus, the transmissible rate seems very high and mortality very quick. With that in mind, The Tribune asked Dr PinderButler if she believed the deadly Delta variant was present in The Bahamas. The same question was fielded by The Tribune in a Pan American Health Organisation weekly webinar last week, and an official said the only strain of the virus officially present was the “Alpha” variant. Tests on variations of the COVID-19 virus sent away
to labs for further studies, seem to take a very long time to reveal results. Answering the question Dr. Pinder-Butler said: “I will say that certainly when we see what’s happening in other countries around the globe, I think that most of them noted that there has been Delta. We have certainly seen that perhaps the profile of patients who are presenting, we’ve seen that the transmission rates has increased significantly. Those things are in keeping with what has been shown to be aligned with the Delta variant, perhaps. “So, anecdotally even though we await for formal confirmation, I think that we can very likely say that perhaps we have Delta knowing that we have travelled so it was one of those things that was inevitable.” During his national address last week, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis promised the country’s
doctors that he was adding 49 new physicians to public health to alleviate its staffing issues. It was believed the 49 doctors would start work right away, but the CPSA president said that has not happened. “We have not gotten those other doctors as yet,” she said. “They have not started. We hoped that they would have fast tracked these doctors, but it would appear that they are going through the same regular HR process. Most people thought it would be immediate.” Dr Pinder-Butler said health officials must continue to press hard on Bahamians to take personal responsibility for themselves in the fight against COVID-19. She said everyone should continue wearing masks, washing hands, practicing social distancing and start to restrict the attendance of events as they relate to large numbers.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, August 4, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
FIREFIGHTERS cleaning up after the blaze and, right, smoke rising from yesterday’s fire.
FIRE QUICKLY CONTAINED AT BPL PLANT from page one a contractor was in the process of cutting apart two out of service diesel tanks. BPL’s statement read: “Bahamas Power and Light Company Limited (BPL) can confirm that there was a fire at the Clifton Pier Power Station on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. The fire was extinguished within 25 minutes, thanks to assistance from Sun Oil and Sol Petroleum. Given the location of the fire, which was at the decommissioned Station O site, there was no impact to either generation or fuel supply. “Reports were received around 10.40am that a contractor hired to facilitate
the decommissioning of Station O was in the process of cutting apart two out-ofservice diesel tanks that were isolated and not tied into any part of the system when sparks appear to have ignited some residual fuel in the bund walls. “The contractor immediately notified BPL personnel, who reacted with firefighting supplies from on site to suppress fire, with assistance from Sun Oil and Sol Petroleum. The Fire Department arrived shortly thereafter and were able to extinguish the fire. The whole episode took approximately 25 minutes. As noted, the fire was in an isolated area, and had no impact on generation or other operations.”
A BPL source at Clifton Pier at the time of the incident described the effort as heroic to save the plant at large from any serious damage. “We saw the fire and it was thereabouts at Station A,” the BPL source said. “BPL staff situated at Clifton Pier and Sun Oil staff came together quickly and kept the fire from spreading until the fire trucks arrived. We used a foam machine that we have there, and we acted quickly. “There was a nearby tank and we kept putting water on it to keep it cool. The main fuel station that supplies Blue Hill Power stations was less than 100 yards away from the fire.”
Church of God says it followed guidelines By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Church of God claimed yesterday that it is following the guidelines the Bahamas Christian Council has recommended and that the Ministry of Health has approved following reports that several people who attended a recent youth convention contracted COVID-19 and died. However, the statement from Bishop Moses Johnson, the administrative bishop and national overseer of the Church of God, did not refute the claim that the church event likely sparked a COVID-19 cluster. The Ministry of Health has said nothing about the matter. Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan told reporters yesterday that the ministry would release a statement, but none came before press time. The Nassau Guardian reported yesterday that after the Church of God held its 66th national youth convention between June 30 and July 4, a number of people tested positive for COVID-19, including
Agnes Nairn and Leonard Nairn Jr, both of whom died within 45 minutes of each other. The Ministry of Health reportedly told Ms Nairn’s son that she caught the virus during the convention. The development comes days after Christian Council president Delton Fernander expressed concerns with the restrictions outlined in the latest emergency powers orders that limits the time of religious services. In his statement, Bishop Moss said: “It is with sadness that as a Church of God family we mourn the death of persons who have contributed significantly to the sharing of the gospel throughout our denomination. Death is the archenemy of humankind as it removes from the terrestrial realm those whom we have come to know and love. In light of this separation, we are forced to grieve for such is the price we pay for having loved. “The leadership and national assemblies of the Church of God join in offering sympathy to those who mourn the death of loved ones and assure all affected families that you are in our prayers. As people of faith,
we know our times are in the hands of God and that death is the means by which we are brought into a fuller life in the presence of God. Our faith affirms that… ‘weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” “I would be remiss if I didn’t make special mention of the Nairn family, a fundamental cornerstone in the Church of God. The death of Mother Agnes Nairn has caused both me and my wife immense and immeasurable pain. Mother Nairn was a devoted and zealous member of Vision of Hope Church of God and the founding first lady who worked arduously, not only for her local assembly, but the national Church of God body at large. We also acknowledge, with great sadness, the passing of Leonard Nairn Jr, Vernmae Nairn and Lincoln Newbold. “Finally, we wish to assure all members, followers and the general public that we are adhering to all the guidelines recommended by the Bahamas Christian Council and approved by the Ministry of Health, and we will continue in this vein.”
MEN WHO DIED AT WORK NAMED By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AS investigations continue into a fatal industrial accident on Grand Bahama, two of the men killed have been officially identified by police. Supt Stephen Rolle reported the deceased men are Raulin Sanz Phipps, 29, of the Dominican Republic, and Ramy Hout, 30, of the United States. Although police have not
officially identified the third man, The Tribune understands he is David Dorvile, a Bahamian of Haitian descent who is believed to be aged 47 years. On July 27, three male workers were found unresponsive in a pit on a floating tank at City Services Ltd site. It is believed the men were exposed to toxic chemical fumes while working. The float tank, which was filled with scrap metal, was being prepared for
export when the incident happened. Supt Rolle had reported that initial investigations revealed the men went in the pit one at a time. When the first male did not return, the second individual went to search for the first male. When he did not return, the third male went down and he did not return. Investigations are continuing and police are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 4, 2021, PAGE 5
BOOK CLAIMS AALIYAH WAS DRUGGED BEFORE FATAL FLIGHT A NEW allegation in an upcoming book claims American pop singer Aaliyah was drugged before she boarded an ill-fated flight that led to her death along with eight others in Abaco, Bahamas nearly 20 years ago. The claim is revealed in a new biography called “Baby girl: Better known as Aaliyah” written by music journalist Kathy Iandoli. The book – which is set to be released on Atria books August 17- features comments from Bahamian Kingsley Russell, who claimed the pop singer refused to board the aircraft because it was
overloaded and also, due to her headaches. Then 13-years-old, Russell, whose family ran a taxicab in the Bahamas, was reportedly with Aaliyah’s team as a baggage carrier when his stepmother drove the team to the airport on that fateful day. Russell said after Aaliyah refused to board the plane, she went back to the taxi. However, he claimed that one of her team members stopped to check on her and later gave her a sleeping pill. According to reports, the pilot had initially expressed reservations about the aircraft’s ability to carry
eight passengers, including their luggage and other equipment. However, it was reported that the pilot eventually relented, and Aaliyah – asleep at the time, was carried onto the aircraft. “They took her out of the van; she didn’t even know she was getting boarded on a plane,” Russell said in the book. “She went on the airplane asleep.” It was reported that Iandoli reached out to Russell after watching a now deleted YouTube video he posted about basketball star Kobe Bryant’s death – which Russell claimed reminded him of watching
Aaliyah being taken onboard the plane while knocked out with sleeping pills. She told the Daily Beast, an American news website, that she always felt uneasy about the story of Aaliyah’s death, and felt closure after interviewing Russell. I remember when Aaliyah passed away, I was really upset,” Iandoli told the Daily Beast. “The story kept saying that she was adamant about getting on the plane. I was almost upset with her. Why did you want to get on that plane so badly? I remember wrestling with this, being like, ‘Well,
she wanted to get back to Damon Dash, she wanted to be with her team, and who wouldn’t want their stuff with them?” “The only thing I’ve taken with me is that after 20 years, I can finally say that Aaliyah didn’t want to get on the plane,” she added. “That makes me feel a little better, but not much. This didn’t have to happen. She should still be here, and I think that’s the saddest part about it.” The 22-year-old singer was killed August 25, 2001 after her charter plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour, Abaco.
AALIYAH
Pilots blamed for Abaco crash from page one to the press. Investigators have said the pilots lacked the type rating needed to fly the plane. The AAIA has concluded that the probable cause of the plane crash is the failure of the craft to climb as required. Contributing factors to the crash include the unfamiliarity of the pilots with the aircraft systems and the failure of the crew to configure the aircraft for proper takeoff. The AAIA said: “A trail of aviation fuel and pieces of the aircraft and avionics equipment from the flight deck, were left behind before the aircraft finally hit a small mound (hill), spinning, hitting several additional trees, breaking apart and bursting into flames. The aircraft came to rest at coordinates 26°45’21.50”N, 77°24’7.26”W, approximately 2,000 feet (.33 miles) from the end of runway 32.” “As this airport did not have a fire truck or crash and rescue personnel stationed on site, assistance with fire services were requested from the town. Two firetrucks from the township responded, however, due to the location of the crash, and no access road available, the trucks were unable to reach the crash site and assist in extinguishing the blaze. The fire continued unimpeded, dampened only by the intermittent downpour of rain, which did not aid in extinguishing the blaze, but rather, only limited the spread of the fire to surrounding bushes. The raging fire totally destroyed the aircraft and much of the control surfaces and components in the direct area of the blaze.” The flight was headed to Marsh Harbour as its final destination, according to the transire signed by the pilots. However, the AAIA said it is unclear where
DEBRIS in the aftermath of the crash. the aircraft was to travel because the destination in the flight plan differed from the destination approved on the Transire Form C38. The AAIA said: “A witness recalled that both pilots were sitting in the aircraft for about 40 mins before starting both engines and proceeding to runway 32 for departure. According to several witnesses, during the departure, there were cloud build-ups but no rain. “Eyewitnesses also stated that at the time of departure, N790JR entered the threshold of runway 32, accelerated down the entire runway, but never become airborne. Damages to the runway edge light and approach lights of runway 14 were noted, confirming eyewitness statements of the aircraft never becoming airborne. “A witness mentioned, ‘when present at the airport we look to see planes get in the air, noticing this did not happen. I called the baggage handler and we proceed down the runway, we saw white smoke as we
continue off in the bush was what appears to be an explosion.” “The aircraft landing gear left behind indentation on the surface of the ground about 60-80 feet from the threshold of runway 14. As the wing struck the approach lights, it created a hole in the left-wing, as evidence of fuel burn to the underbrush and fuel trail marks were evident and led to the crash site. Along its flight path, and closer to the mound that was struck, pine trees were dislodged, ground scarring was evident and pieces of aircraft and avionics from the flight deck and other debris were strewn about on the ground, leading up to the final resting place of the aircraft. “The tail of the aircraft which included the elevator, horizontal stabilizer, vertical fin and rudder (which control movements of the aircraft), was detached and lodged in between two pine trees, thereby separating the fuselage of the aircraft
ROTARIANS GO ON DRIVE TO PLANT TREES IN GRAND BAHAMA THE Rotary Club of Grand Bahama planted 20 breadfruit trees in East End, Grand Bahama, on Saturday as part of its first community service project, Plant a Tree, Eat for Free.’ President Rengin Johnson planted the first breadfruit tree in McLean’s Town. The last three breadfruit trees were planted at
the Freetown school grounds. Acting Permanent Secretary Joel Lewis (centre, seventh from right) and MOA officers, and RCGB members are pictured at the culmination of the tree planting project in the Freetown settlement. Photo: Rotarian Donovan Bowe
from the tail section. “During onsite inspection of the wreckage, there were still smouldering aircraft parts and components which hindered efforts to closely examine all
components of the aircraft. A search was made for the Cockpit Voice Recorder and/or Flight Data Recorder (which would have revealed a more accurate account of what
transpired) to no avail. All avionics and other components located in the aft section of the aircraft where recorders are housed, were all destroyed by impact and the post-crash fire. Most of the aircraft, with the exception of a few components and control surfaces that were strewn about, out of the direct path of the fire, was destroyed by the postcrash fire. “During documentation of the scene and wreckage, 2 undamaged locking pins, which were later identified as thrust reverser locking pins were discovered amongst the wreckage, out of the direct path of the fire. The locking pins are used as safety features to protect the aircraft against unseen mishaps when parked or not in use but must be removed before a flight as it can disrupt aircraft systems from functioning at its full capacity. (It could not be determined whether the pins were installed at the time of the crash or whether they were removed prior and thrown from the aircraft when the aircraft broke apart).
PAGE 6, Wednesday, August 4, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
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The vaccine is here - so get your jab while you can IF A shortage of supply has been your excuse for not getting vaccinated, then today you have no reason not to book your jab. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis welcomed the arrival of another 33,600 Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses yesterday. That’s still not enough to get us all the way to herd immunity – but it’s certainly enough to get on with the process. Those waiting for a second dose are urged to book as soon as possible. Those waiting for a first dose can book online but soon could even just go to a walkup centre. Why wait, though? Get it booked. As our politicians continue to try to secure more doses from overseas, it might be useful for them to show a high level of enthusiasm for the vaccine – the quicker we get through the doses we have, the more we can show that any doses given to our nation will be used rather than left to sit on the shelf. If you need any further encouragement, listen to the words of Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen, who has pointed out the likelihood of being infected with COVID-19 if you are fully vaccinated. He says less than five percent of people who are fully vaccinated have been infected with COVID. “Most startling,” he said, “is when we start to look at some of the issues that come with hospitalisations, when you look at the deaths, it shows you over and over again – that it is unfortunately individuals who have not been vaccinated who are suffering most from this. “The last time we checked there were no individuals who had been vaccinated who were currently being hospitalised.” None. Not one. There continues to be a lot of conspiracy theories about the vaccine, fuelled by unsourced posts on social media or hoax websites. But the
hard facts are simple. The vaccine helps to keep you out of hospital, and to keep you alive. The vaccine is here. Get it while you can.
Speaker’s platform
When the time comes for Halson Moultrie to depart his office for the last time, it is fair to say that we will reflect on an unusual period for the role of Speaker. Mr Moultrie’s latest idea is to hold “Open Parliaments” for the public each Wednesday, starting next week. The House will not reconvene until September 22, but Mr Moultrie plans to open the building to visitors, where discussions can be held with himself and Chief Clerk David Forbes. It might be tempting to indulge in a thought that this might spur an interest in civic education, in understanding our democracy – but at the same time, the Speaker has thrown an elbow at the Prime Minister over the continuation of Emergency Powers to prevent the spread of COVID, saying: “The chains fell off in 1833 but we are witnesses of new chains of bondage, guised as Emergency Power Orders that discriminate, infringe Bahamians’ constitutional rights and challenge the very essence of our being.” While he may protest such restrictions, we would hope Mr Moultrie intends to honour them for those who do attend his Open Parliament sessions. Either way, it wouldn’t seem the impartiality of the post is holding Mr Moultrie back. We hope those who do take up his offer find it enlightening – and that it is not just a platform for grievances to be aired or for Mr Moultrie’s campaign as an independent in the forthcoming election.
COVID demagogues EDITOR, The Tribune. I HAVE read and taken note of the PLP’s press release of 28 July, 2021 – addressing their official opposition position on COVID-19 in The Bahamas. The party leader, the Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis outlined about nine points to forward us out of this emergency. I want to talk about item number five which reads: Fifth, we need a dramatic expansion of testing and contact tracing. Positivity rates consistently over 20% are evidence we are not testing enough. When Family Islands with relatively small populations like Cat Island and Andros have cases, let’s test our way out of the outbreak, instead of locking everyone down. That has proven too damaging to our families and businesses. What’s the point of more testing if no plan is in place to effectively quarantine the resulting positive cases?
We live in a country where the majority of us reside in modest dwellings with other people, and in a lot of situations – we dwell with an extensive extended family. So, where do we go to isolate until we get the all-clear to enter society again? Most of us don’t have the means to effectually quarantine, so who is going to pick up the tab? Additionally, scientists have told us that COVID19 like the flu, is here to stay. So, why does the PLP believes that we can test our way out of this global pandemic? The dramatic expansion of COVID-19 testing and contact tracing is like expanding a wild goose chase in an arena where the majority of people are unvaccinated. Yes, the vaccinated and unvaccinated are catching COVID-19 it’s unstoppable just now. The only difference is, that the unvaccinated are feeling
One Bahamas EDITOR, The Tribune.
MY HEART, mind and prayers with the Bahamian people and the Bahamas dealing with challenging times COVID-19, ecomomic hardship and division among Bahamians. It is my prayer, hope and vision for A One Bahamas, a Bahamas where there would be no dishonesty, but trust. A Bahamas where there would be no disloyalty, but sincerity. A Bahamas where there would be no hatred, but love. A Bahamas where there
would be no injustice, but fairness. A Bahamas where there would be no degrading of one another, but respect for each other. A Bahamas where there would be no differences because of our sexual orientation, creed, race, religion or political beliefs. but being united together as One Bahamas. Wishing the Bahamas and Bahamian people onward, upward and forward to a One Bahamas. PEDRO SMITH Nassau, July 28, 2021.
the brunt of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID19. So, to propose more testing and contact tracing, does not address the big issue at hand – which is increasing hospitalizations and deaths; especially among the unvaccinated. The PLP has accepted that most COVID-19 transmissions happen indoors. They stated the following in their release: Beyond vaccines, there are ways to reduce the risk of contracting COVID, and we need to share, in detail, these risk mitigation strategies with Bahamians. For example, this is largely an airborne virus, and most transmission happens indoors. We’d like to see a public-private initiative to provide guidance and support for improving ventilation and air quality in workplaces, churches, homes and schools. The only way to reduce the risk of catching COVID – is to stay exclusively to one’s self, in my view. That’s almost impossible with the typical Bahamian, or human generally. We have to live with COVID-19, but we don’t necessarily have to die from it. Vaccination is our most important partner and tool in the COVID-19 fight right now. The PLP hasn’t accepted that fact and reality as yet, because it doesn’t fit in to their election campaign plans – in my humble viewpoint. For the PLP, It’s all about being the shameless demagogues of the COVID19 war in The Bahamas. DENNIS DAMES Nassau, July 30, 2021.
Pompey - a hero for our nation EDITOR, The Tribune. UNIVERSAL Negro Improvement Association founder Marcus Garvey, George William Gordon and Paul Bogle were the first three recipients of Jamaica’s Order of National Hero in 1969 – the year it was created by the Jamaica Labour Party administration via its National Honours and Awards Act. Six years later, under the government of Prime Minister Michael Manley of the People’s National Party, Samuel Sharpe was officially made a Jamaican National Hero. Bogle and Gordon figured prominently in the Morant Bay Rebellion of October 1865, some 27 years after the British Empire officially ended slavery in 1838 – four years after the apprenticeship experiment commenced, aimed at transitioning slaves to full freedom. Gordon, a wealthy Jamaican mulatto, was instrumental in getting Bogle a deacon position at the Stony Gut Baptist Church in Morant Bay, St. Thomas. Sharpe was the key figure in the Baptist War or Christmas Rebellion of 1831 -1832. This full scale rebellion involved 60,000 Jamaican slaves, and would lead to the passing of the Abolition Act in 1833 by the British Parliament. Sharpe, Bogle and Gordon were all executed by the British, who violently suppressed both rebellions, in some cases, killing scores of innocent slaves indiscriminately. The name John Edward Eyre comes to mind. Of particular interest to this writer are Bogle and Sharpe, as both reminds him of famed Bahamian slave Pompey. Unlike Bogle, who used violent means to achieve his goals, Pompey was nonviolent. Bogle’s violence would serve as an ominous precursor for Jamaicans. The first set of African slaves were brought to Jamaica by the Spaniards after the Arawak Indian Holocaust. Dubbed the Maroons, these Coromantee Africans, such as Tacky, Queen Nanny, Quao and Cudjoe, were far more aggressive than their African Bahamian counterparts. The Maroons’ protracted armed resistance to the British, known as the First Maroon
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net War, would lead to a 1739 treaty under Governor Edward Trelawny. It was the basis of this treaty that would lead to the Maroons assisting the British in capturing the fugitive Bogle. The British, in their 1739 negotiations with the Maroons, had granted the group autonomy in their own territories, with certain strings attached. One condition was that they were to return runaway slaves. Pompey, along with approximately 350 other African slaves, were owned by Lord John Rolle, a wealthy British aristocrat who was, for all intents and purposes, an absentee slaveowner. Rolle’s slaves resided on Exuma in the settlements of Rolleville, Mount Thompson, Steventon and Rolle Town. The Exumian slaves were the descendants of 150 Africans imported by Denys Rolle, Lord Rolle’s father, from East Florida in 1784. By 1825, the disgruntled Rolle was haemorrhaging £500 annually. The fiscally prudent decision was made to transfer his slaves to Trinidad, where they would earn their freedom. Coincidentally, Governor Grant, who approved the proposed transfer, was reassigned by the British government to Trinidad. Rolle had also entertained the idea of sending them to Cuba, Jamaica and Demerara. Rolle’s proposal was outright rejected by his slaves, who would engage in open rebellion. Under the command of Captain Thomas McPherson, the Second West Indian Regiment was promptly dispatched by Governor Lewis Grant in order to quell the rebellion. The slave ringleaders were forcibly transferred to Grand Bahama in 1829, according to historian Michael Craton. This rebellion, which occurred in 1828, apparently did not involve Pompey, as far as the historical records show. However, about two years later, the young slave would lead scores of slaves into hiding, after they got wind of A.J. Lees’ plans to relocate 75 of Rolle’s slaves to Cat Island to work for a plantation owner named
Thompson. Five weeks later, some 44 members of the group would steal Rolle’s salt boat, fleeing to New Providence, where they were apprehended, tried and convicted. According to Craton, Lees had misled the Colonial government about Lord Rolle owning real estate on Cat Island. It was under this pretext that he was granted official permission to relocate his slaves. Governor Carmichael Smyth ordered the slaves back to Exuma. He would also suspend Lees and terminate Police Magistrate Robert Duncombe and two justices of the peace, John Anderson and William Vass – men involved in the trial of the Rolle slaves. Subsequent to his return to Exuma, Pompey would receive 39 lashes for resisting the colonial administration in another rebellion, euphemistically called an industrial action by Craton. While it may be true that there were no violent Coromantee slaves residing in The Bahamas, the colony had its fair share of violent resistance, although not to the degree as the aforementioned Morant Bay and Christmas Rebellions. A classic case in point would be the Golden Grove uprising on the Hunter estate on Cat Island in 1831, in which a slave named Black Dick attempted to murder his owner, Joseph Hunter. Black Dick would suffer the same fate as Bogle, Gordon and Sharpe. Another lesser known slave rebellion was the 1787 Abaco Slave Revolt. Pompey’s activism played a minor role in the achievement of emancipation, according to certain Bahamian historians. In this regard, the Advisory Committee for National Honours should give serious consideration to enshrining Pompey as a Bahamian National Hero. If Bogle and Sharpe are deserving of such a prestigious recognition in their fight against institutional slavery, then surely Pompey is equally deserving of such an honour, as his mild rebellion represents a seminal contribution to succeeding generations of Black Bahamians. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama. August 2, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 4, 2021, PAGE 7
‘Use fake tests and you’ll get caught’ LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames has again warned people against using fake COVID19 tests, ahead of an impending travel policy requiring those who are fully vaccinated to have a negative test before arriving in the country. Speaking to reporters before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Dames said officers will be on high alert for such instances and warned those seeking to obtain forged documents will be caught. The new requirement comes into effect on Friday. “Law enforcement officers remain vigilant, and they are most certainly guided by the orders so whatever adjustments are made by the competent authority. The law enforcement will adjust accordingly,” Mr Dames said. “These are serious times and the actions that are being taken by the Competent Authority and this government is for the safety and security of the Bahamian people and all who visit this nation of ours and so I would say to all of those who feel that they want to do their own thing that there are consequences
for that, and we simply want to ensure that everyone remains safe. “These are some serious times, and we look around the world and we see the increasing numbers and persons are being hospitalised and are dying in the process. You know any responsible government will take the actions that we’re taking as a government. Mr Dames spoke after the Office of the Prime Minister announced on Monday that all fully vaccinated travellers coming to the country – including children between the ages of two and 11 – will be required to obtain a COVID-19 test (Rapid Antigen Test or PCR), with a negative result, within five days of arrival. For unvaccinated travellers, the requirements remain the same: those 12 years or older must get a PCR test within five days of arriving in the country. The new travel changes come at a time when cases and virus-related hospitalisations are surging again. Health officials have attributed the recent spike to a relaxed adherence of the COVID-19 rules, linking clusters to gatherings and other social events. This has prompted calls for better enforcement of
COVID-19 preventative measures among the law enforcement agencies. When asked to respond to these concerns last week, Mr Dames said police officers cannot do it alone and noted that Bahamians must take personal responsibility for their health. “It’s about personal responsibility, okay,” he told reporters at the time. “The law can’t be enforced if you’re in your home having a party, you know. We have to take personal responsibility. If we go to church, if we go to an event, it’s very important to wear your mask. “And … when you look at hospitalisations around the world, those persons, the vast majority, the 90th percentile who have been hospitalised are those persons who have not been vaccinated. “You know, these are serious times and it’s more than enforcement. Enforcement can’t do it by itself. Some may want to say that. I mean, if you see on a daily basis what law enforcement officers are doing, the amount of persons who have been fined, you know, it’s taking away from their core responsibility, unfortunately. “What is required here is personal responsibility and we must never forget that.
Oftentimes we abdicate our responsibility and put it on law enforcement. This is not a law enforcement responsibility here. This is my responsibility and your responsibility. And so, while law enforcement has its role, at the end of the day, it boils down to each and every one of us.” During a national address last Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis revealed that a new geofencing application will be introduced to replace the Hubbcat system in order to monitor people who should be in quarantine. Speaking on this yesterday, Mr Dames said: “The prime minister would’ve alluded to adding additional technology or more improved technology to ensure that we’re able to keep track of those persons who are supposed to be in quarantine and again, technology continues to improve in this area so we’re just looking at the best technology to ensure that we are able to keep track of these persons who are supposed to be in quarantine and those who continue to ignore the order. “This is serious business and we continue to work as a government to ensure that we’re doing all that we possibly can and humanely can to keep our people safe.”
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames.
CHILD WAS SITTING IN BACK SEAT NEXT TO $42K OF MARIJUANA By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net POLICE officers found two men and a young child riding in the Carmichael Road area with $42,000 worth of marijuana in the back seat, a court was told yesterday. Demetrio Rolle and Winston Gibson were charged with possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to supply after
officers found 42.2 pounds of Indian hemp in their car in February. When they first appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney Gibson pleaded guilty; however, Rolle denied the allegations and his case was adjourned for trial. When Sergeant 3362 Camrhea Braynen gave evidence yesterday, she said around 4.30pm on the day in question, she and her partner were
conducting inquiries in the Carmichael Road area. She said while on mobile patrol, they stopped a black Honda Civic with two male occupants. Sgt Braynen said they then ordered the men out of the vehicle and informed them they were suspected of being in possession of dangerous drugs and firearms. The court was told that the officers found nothing on the men when they
searched them; however, when they looked on the backseat of their car, they noticed a red and black box that contained five brown taped packages along with a crocus bag with three more packages of marijuana. As a result, the two men, who identified themselves as Rolle and Gibson, were arrested and taken to the Carmichael Road police station for “safe keeping”, while the drugs were
confiscated and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit for further processing. When Sgt Schivargo Mackey testified, he said when he and Sgt Braynen stopped the car they smelt “weed emanating” from the vehicle. He said when they searched the vehicle they found the box of drugs in the rear seat next to Rolle’s young son. Sgt Mackey said when he interviewed Rolle in custody, he denied all knowledge of the drugs.
When the officer was cross-examined by Rolle’s attorney, he said the accused insisted the drugs were not his when he was questioned and said he was only giving his cousin a ride. When asked, the officer also said Gibson told them he got the box of drugs from a “Rasta”. According to Sgt Mackey, the marijuana had an estimated street value of $42,000. The case continues on August 25.
MAN AWAITS PSYCHIATRIC TEST By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A MAN whose arrest by police was widely seen on social media was yesterday remanded into custody pending a psychiatric evaluation. Jeremy Archer, of no fixed address, appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis accused of assaulting and cursing two police officers
on July 29. The prosecution said Archer was approached by Police Constable 3947 Deleveaux and PC 3930 Hield after he was caught behaving in a disorderly manner. They said when the officers asked him to stop, he began using obscene language and resisted arrest when PC Hield and PC Deleveaux attempted to detain him. It is also alleged that Archer assaulted the two officers
during the incident. During his hearing, Archer appeared to be incoherent and rambled when he was asked to enter a plea to the charges. As a result, Magistrate Rolle Davis said he would remand him so that he can be evaluated at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre before he recorded his pleas. Archer returns to court on September 28 for the continuation of his case.
MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING CHILD By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN was charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with the rape of a minor. Aaron Williams was arrested after he was
accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl without her consent on July 29. Due to the nature of the offence, he was not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to October 8 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
In the meantime, the accused was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Williams, who is represented by attorney Nicolette Burrows, has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
BAR OWNER SOLD NUMBERS WITHOUT LICENCE By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAGISTRATE is set to determine the fate of a businessman who sold numbers at his bar without a valid licence. Emilus Nothelus, 52, was charged after he allowed his mini bar to conduct gaming activities without the appropriate licence on July 29. He admitted the offence during his hearing before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis. The court was told that officers, acting on information, went to Nothelus’
mini-bar on Charles W Saunders Highway. The prosecution said when officers visited the establishment, they were able to purchase a three-ball ticket. He said when officers executed their search warrant on the bar, they recovered three printers used to print off the lottery tickets. Nothelus was subsequently arrested. When he was questioned in custody, he admitted he was not given permission to “sell numbers” and admitted his current business licence only allowed him to sell wholesale items and liquor.
Yesterday, Nothelus was represented by attorney Miranda Adderley. She told the magistrate her client had no previous convictions and was forthright with the police from the beginning of their investigation. Ms Adderley also insisted Nothelus was remorseful and contrite for the “poor decision” he made. After listening to her plea in mitigation, Magistrate Rolle Davis accepted Nothelus guilty plea and adjourned the matter to August 5 for sentencing. The defendant’s bail was extended until that time.
COUPLE ARRESTED AFTER MARIJUANA FIND By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A FREEPORT couple were arrested by police following the discovery of suspected marijuana at a residence on Friday. Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle reported the
male and female residents of South Bahamia were taken into custody and are assisting police with their investigations. According to reports, shortly after 3pm on Friday a team of officers from the Predator Unit, acting on information, executed a search warrant at a residence
on Schooner Lane. Officers searched the residence and discovered 13 foil wrappings with suspected marijuana in a western bedroom. As a result, a man and woman were arrested. Supt Rolle said investigations are continuing into the matter.
Requiem Mass For Retired Crown Sergeant
Joseph W. Saunders of Sri’ Lanka Crest off Flamingo Gardens and formerly of Dunmore Town, Harbour Island who died on Wednesday, July 21st, 2021 will be held on Thursday, August 5th, 2021, 10 a.m. at St. Ambrose Anglican Church, Gladstone & Carmichael Roads. Officiating will be Reverend Father Dwight H. L. Rolle. Interment will follow in Western Cemetery, Nassau Street. Live Streaming Link at the Church and Cemetery: https://www.facebook.com/ ClicStudioPlus/live/ He is survived by his wife: Agnes Saunders; children: Patrice, Peter and Joni Saunders; adopted children: Cheresa Roach, Inell Maycock, Neca Octave and Alfred Campbell; grandchildren: Valencia Bowleg, Kai Wells, Patreka and Patiko Roach, Ashland Storr and Avery Davis; adopted crandchildren: Patreka and Pateko Roach, Ashland Storr & Avery Colby; sister: Katherine Rose (Wendell); sisters-in-law: Rose Marina Forbes, Elcina (Cleveland) Duncombe, Frances Butterfield, Phyllis (David) Johnson; nieces: Kayla Scantlebury (Sean) USA, Khori Smith (Renaldo) Staniel Cay, Kevinique and Rudia Saunders; niecein-law: Renae Saunders; nephews: Parrish Rose (Nathalie), Khamaal Rose (Diamond), Ulysses Saunders (Jacqueline) Grand Bahama, Kevin McGuyver Saunders; grandnieces: Kayniesha Saunders-Mackey, Katheryn McKenzie, Seannaya Scantlebury, Khole Rose, Janaye and Jayna Saunders, Jannean and Jonnell Saunders, Cheryll Saunders; grandnephews: Cohen and Cameron Rose, Shakhori Rose, Khamaro and Khamaai Rose, Dominic and Jamie Saunders, Moses Saunders and Darneiqo Cambridge; great grand niece: Khaithlyn Mackey; great grand nephews: Ulysses Saunders Jr. and Caesar Saunders, Sharad and Shahiem Bowe, Khaidyn Hepburn, Shiloh and Samuel Mackey; in-laws: Rose Marina Forbes & Family, Edmund Campbell & Family, Elcina and Cleveand Duncombe, Frances Butterfield & Family, Phyllis and David Johnson & Family; and a host of other relatives and friends including: Fr. Dwight & Rochelle Rolle, Dorothy and Percival Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. H.L. Rolle, Neville & Ives Curtis, Rosalee Curtis, Miriam and Delores Curtis, Ethelmae Moss & Family, Wilfred Hanna, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Rolle & Family Veta Brown and Suzette Hanna, St. Ambrose Prayer Ministry, Glinton, Miller, Newbold, Mackey and Ferguson Families. Friends may pay their last respects at East Sunrise Mortuary #183 Baillou Hill Road & Cordeaux Avenue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Please visit our website: www.eastsunrisemortuary.com to share your memories and condolences with family and friends. #183 Baillou Hill Road & Cordeaux Avenue, P.O. Box CB-12248, Nassau, Bahamas Telephone: (242) 323-EAST (3278), 326-4209 Email: eastsunrise@batelnet.bs
PAGE 8, Wednesday, August 4, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
We celebrate individual national successes but where are the goals we should all strive for? IT’S THAT time again. Many people are glued to their televisions, calculating time differences, pulling out their flags to wave, and preparing the honey and lemon to soothe throats after screaming at athletes who cannot hear them. Everyone wants to see their people bring home a medal. Bahamians have grown accustomed to the bragging rights that come with Olympic medals we have nothing to do with winning. The wins, we say, are for all of us. For days and days, people have been joking about what should be named after which Bahamian athlete, should they medal. It is always interesting to see people embrace and practice patriotism specifically when there is something to be won, and especially when it comes with bragging rights. It is even more interesting to see the way people suspend memory and understanding of imperfect systems, practices and people, put woes aside and hyper-focus on the goal ahead, completely in the hands of one person or small group of people. We do not know them, but they have that ability to win and have the same nationality as us, allowing us to win by association. The accident of being born in the same place somehow binds us together and allows us to share successes. There is nothing quite like celebrating the accomplishments of people with the same nationality. What else can get us to set aside differences and pause arguments, all to focus on the event at hand? For some reason, we do not do the same when it comes to issues of national concern. Party politics and partisanship are consistent distractions. The refusal to think critically and dedication to parties
By Alicia Wallace
and personalities impede countries. The surface reaprogress by blocking efforts sons are silly, ranging from some of us make to unite on who has the most beautiful common issues and press beaches to who is making for better laws and policies. souse the right or best way. We use this energy specifi- It would not be as bad if cally for wins on the global these engagements were stage. short, funny and enjoyUnfortunately, we cannot able for all, but they get seem to focus on winning as vile very quickly. Recently, a collective without throw- someone went so far as to ing jeers at others. In the make light of the genocide 2016 Olymof indigenous pics, when ‘Unfortunately, we people in The the US was Bahamas. not only dis- cannot seem to We have, appointed by focus on winning somehow, its loss, but as a collective learned to aggrieved treat the by Shaunae without throwing people with Miller’s win, jeers at others. the closest Bahamians experiences In the 2016 were quick to to our own “clap back”. Olympics, when with disdain. Under the the US was not This is most guise of patri- only disappointed evident in the otism, people treatment of bullied those by its loss, but Haitian people who expressed aggrieved by in The Bahaany negative mas. People Shaunae Miller’s feelings about who have not the win, taking win, Bahamians visited many it person- were quick to Caribbean ally. “CYC” countries or became the “clap back”.’ studied them popular confidently response, many people find- claim The Bahamas is supeing it funny, ignoring the rior. Is it the proximity to misogyny embedded in the the US? Is it because the term. Little mattered more Bahamian dollar is pegged than dominating that corner to the US dollar? These of the internet, shutting things seem to give an down any and all detrac- inflated sense of self. tors. This time around, Meanwhile, other counbefore we even got to the tries in the region are semi-finals, the arguments actively doing, publishing started with people in other and using research. They Caribbean countries. are having conversations Every few months, Baha- about removing the Queen mians on social media get from the position of Head into a ridiculous, pointless of State. They are becoming back and forth with people republics. They are working from other Caribbean together to grow and share
SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo in action for The Bahamas in the resources with Tokyo Olympic Games. about one another. ourThey are selves. actively calling for reparations and When are we most proud of making demands of “devel- ourselves and each other? oped” nations to support What are we prepared small island developing to fight for and against? states in combatting climate What do we value? What change. They recognize and do we consider important, but work for other celebrate their own creoles. We cannot really, hon- people to do? How do we estly say we are better see ourselves in relation to than other Caribbean other people? How do we countries. We have consist- think we are perceived by ently played at the edge of others? Bahamians on the interCARICOM, ready to reap rewards, but not prepared net are not particularly to fully participate. This is, interested in being seen as of course, the fault of poli- smart, friendly or justiceticians who refuse to make minded. It seems to be all the best decisions for all about jokes, and too much of us because they would Bahamian humour depends on humiliation. Similarly, rather get re-elected. The conversation around Bahamian pride (online) the Olympics, especially seems to be focused on compared with issues of what one person or a small national concern, could be group accomplished “for an interesting data set. Par- us all” and how that can be ticularly around the time used to belittle others. Everyone wants to be of the general election, it could tell us a few things funny, but with harmful
humour that is intertwined with a bully culture. Laughing at people who fall, laughing at children who are embarrassed, making a mockery of unhoused people, circulated videos of people being humiliated. This is what far too many people find funny and seek to replicate. We can do better - and we have. The evidence is in Bahamian stories, poetry, plays, commercials and music. Participating in bully culture is easy and any idiot can do it. Being truly funny is entirely different. The same goes for our engagement with one another. It is easy to be on the same team, against the rest of the world. To progress, we will have to, at the very least, find common ground and agree to the standard of living and human rights we should all be able to access. We need shared goals, aside from cheering athletes on to come back with medals.
Recommendations 1. Get more reusable masks. Buy them, make them, ask someone else to make them. Get them in a variety of colours and prints. Treating your mask like an accessory can make it more enjoyable to wear. You need a clean mask each day. If it gets wet, you need to change it. Make sure you have enough to be able to change them as needed. Be sure to encourage others to wear their masks, and to wear them properly. 2. Learn to apologize. A lot of people are incredibly bad at apologizing. Celebrities often give great examples of terrible apologies that we can learn from. Recently DaBaby decided not to apologize for his anti-LGBTQI+ nonsense and dangerous comments about HIV/AIDS. Festivals
started dropping him from their line-ups, and all of sudden, he was sorry. His apology was bad from start to finish and the part that really made it completely unacceptable was his decision to blame his nonsense on other people for not educating him. Before you apologize, make sure you know what you did wrong and that you are sorry for the harm you caused. You need to clearly state both of these things in your apology. You also need to commit to making amends and doing better. What are you going to do for the people you have wronged? Be sorry and say you are sorry. Acknowledge the harm you have caused and, if you affected specific groups of people, name them. Accept responsibility
for what you did. Do not try to share the blame with anyone else. Commit to doing and being better. 3. Journal every day. You do not have to write paragraphs. It does not have to be perfect. You may have just two sentences to put on the page one day, one word the next day and a full page on the following day. The length doesn’t matter. Give yourself a space to put your thoughts, dreams, commitments, worries and whatever else comes up during the day. Revisit old entries or destroy them. Do whatever you need to do with them. Your journal is a place to keep some things for yourself so you don’t have to share every single thought with the world. There are some that no one else ever needs to see or hear.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 4, 2021, PAGE 9
ROBOTIC POLICE DOGS: USEFUL HOUNDS OR DEHUMANISING MACHINES? By MATT O’BRIEN and JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) — If you’re homeless and looking for temporary shelter in Hawaii’s capital, expect a visit from a robotic police dog that will scan your eye to make sure you don’t have a fever. That’s just one of the ways public safety agencies are starting to use Spot, the bestknown of a new commercial category of robots that trot around with animal-like agility. The handful of police officials experimenting with the four-legged machines say they’re just another tool, like existing drones and simple wheeled robots, to keep emergency responders out of harm’s way as they scout for dangers. But privacy watchdogs — the human kind — warn that police are secretly rushing to buy the robots without setting safeguards against aggressive, invasive or dehumanising uses. In Honolulu, the police department spent about $150,000 in federal pandemic relief money to buy their Spot from robotics firm Boston Dynamics for use at a government-run tent city near the airport. “Because these people are houseless it’s considered OK to do that,” said Jongwook Kim, legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii. “At some point it will come out again for some different use after the pandemic is over.”
HONOLULU Police Acting Lt. Joseph O’Neal demonstrates a robotic dog in Honolulu, in May. Police officials experimenting with the four-legged machines say they’re just another tool, like drones or simpler wheeled robots, to keep emergency responders out of harm’s way. (AP Photo/ Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)
AN ILLUSTRATION of the SpaceX Starship human lander design that will carry the first NASA astronauts to the surface of the Moon under the Artemis programme. (SpaceX/NASA via AP)
BEZOS LOSES APPEAL OF NASA’S PLANS TO USE MUSK MOON LANDER By SETH BORENSTEIN AP SCIENCE WRITER
of business development at Boston Dynamics, said in an interview. “Most people are applying notions from science fiction to what the robot’s doing.” For one of its customers, the Dutch national police, explaining the technology includes emphasising that Spot is a very good robot — well-behaved and not so smart after all. “It doesn’t think for itself,” Marjolein Smit, director of the special operations unit of the Dutch national police, said of the remote-controlled robot. “If you tell it to go to the left, it will go to the left. If you tell it to stop, it will stop.” Earlier this year, her police division sent its Spot into the site of a deadly drug lab explosion near the Belgian border to check for dangerous chemicals and other hazards.
Interview Acting Lt. Joseph O’Neal of the Honolulu Police Department’s community outreach unit defended the robot’s use in a media demonstration earlier this year. He said it has protected officers, shelter staff and residents by scanning body temperatures between meal times at a shelter where homeless people could quarantine and get tested for COVID-19. The robot is also used to remotely interview individuals who have tested positive. “We have not had a single person out there that said, ‘That’s scary, that’s worrisome,’” O’Neal said. “We don’t just walk around and arbitrarily scan people.” Police use of such robots is still rare and largely untested — and hasn’t always gone over well with the public. Honolulu officials faced a backlash when a local news organisation, Honolulu Civil Beat, revealed that the Spot purchase was made with federal relief money. Late last year, the New York Police Department starting using Spot after painting it blue and renaming it “Digidog.” It went mostly unnoticed until New Yorkers starting spotting it in the wild and posting videos to social
TECHTALK
Friendlier media. Spot quickly became a sensation, drawing a public outcry that led the police department to abruptly return Digidog to its maker. “This is some Robocop stuff, this is crazy,” was the reaction in April from Democratic U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman. He was one of several New York politicians to speak out after a widely shared video showed the robot strutting with police officers responding to a domestic-violence report at a high-rise public housing building in Manhattan. Days later, after further scrutiny from elected city officials, the department said it was terminating its lease and returning the robot. The expensive machine arrived with little public notice or explanation, public officials said, and was deployed to already
over-policed public housing. Use of the high-tech canine also clashed with Black Lives Matter calls to defund police operations and reinvest in other priorities. The company that makes the robots, Boston Dynamics, says it’s learned from the New York fiasco and is trying to do a better job of explaining to the public — and its customers — what Spot can and cannot do. That’s become increasingly important as Boston Dynamics becomes part of South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Company, which in June closed an $880 million deal for a controlling stake in the robotics firm. “One of the big challenges is accurately describing the state of the technology to people who have never had personal experience with it,” Michael Perry, vice president
Perry said the company’s acceptable use guidelines prohibit Spot’s weaponisation or anything that would violate privacy or civil rights laws, which he said puts the Honolulu police in the clear. It’s all part of a year-long effort by Boston Dynamics, which for decades relied on military research grants, to make its robots seem friendlier and thus more palatable to local governments and consumer-oriented businesses. By contrast, a lesser-known rival, Philadelphia-based Ghost Robotics, has no qualms about weaponisation and supplies its dog-like robots to several branches of the U.S. military and its allies. “It’s just plug and play, anything you want,” said Ghost Robotics CEO Jiren Parikh, who was critical of Boston Dynamics’ stated
ethical principles as “selective morality” because of the company’s past involvement with the military. Parikh added that his company doesn’t market its four-legged robots to police departments, though he said it would make sense for police to use them. “It’s basically a camera on a mobile device,” he said. There are roughly 500 Spot robots now in the wild. Perry said they’re commonly used by utility companies to inspect highvoltage zones and other hazardous areas. Spot is also used to monitor construction sites, mines and factories, equipped with whatever sensor is needed for the job. It’s still mostly controlled by humans, though all they have to do is tell it which direction to go and it can intuitively climb stairs or cross over rough terrain. It can also operate autonomously, but only if it’s already memorised an assigned route and there aren’t too many surprise obstacles. “The first value that most people see in the robot is taking a person out of a hazardous situation,” Perry said. Kim, of the ACLU in Hawaii, acknowledged that there might be many legitimate uses for such machines, but said opening the door for police robots that interact with people is probably not a good idea. He pointed to how Dallas police in 2016 stuck explosives on a wheeled robot to kill a sniper, fueling an ongoing debate about “killer robots” in policing and warfighting. “There’s the potential for these robots to increase the militarisation of police departments and use it in ways that are unacceptable,” Kim said. “Maybe it’s not something we even want to let law enforcement have.”
THE federal government Friday rejected an appeal by billionaire Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin to get in on NASA’s plans to return astronauts to the moon by using rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX. NASA in April awarded the $2.9 billion contract for a lunar lander to the more established SpaceX, which also offered a cheaper price than the bids from Blue Origin and Dynetics Inc., a subsidiary of Leidos. The two losing companies appealed the contract to the Government Accountability Office on the grounds that there should have been multiple contracts and that the proposals weren’t evaluated correctly, but the agency rejected their request. The decision will allow “NASA and SpaceX to establish a timeline for the first crewed landing on the moon in more than 50 years,” NASA said in a statement Friday, calling a moon landing a priority of the Biden administration. Friday’s ruling found that even though NASA originally said it was going to give multiple contracts, it didn’t have enough money and that awarding only one contract was legal. Plus, it found NASA’s evaluation of all three bids “was reasonable, and consistent with applicable procurement law regulation and the announcement terms,” according to a statement by GAO lawyer Kenneth Patton. SpaceX’s bid had the highest rating while the other bids “were significantly higher in price” with the space agency deciding it couldn’t afford to give out multiple contracts as originally planned, the GAO announcement said. Blue Origin, which has been trying to get Congress to require a second lander contract, still hopes NASA will change its mind and provide “simultaneous competition,” said company spokesperson Linda Mills. “We stand firm in our belief that there were fundamental issues with NASA’s decision, but the GAO wasn’t able to address them due to their limited jurisdiction,” Mills said in a statement. “We continue to advocate for two immediate providers as we believe it is the right solution.”
PAGE 10, Wednesday, August 4, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Cuomo defiant after probe says he sexually harrassed 11 women NEW YORK Associated Press AN INVESTIGATION found that Gov Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed nearly a dozen women in and out of state government and worked to retaliate against one of his accusers, New York’s attorney general announced yesterday, hastening calls for the Democrat’s resignation or impeachment. The governor remained defiant, saying in a taped response to the findings that “the facts are much different than what has been portrayed” and that he “never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances”. The nearly five-month investigation, led by two outside lawyers, concluded that 11 women who said that Cuomo had touched them inappropriately, commented on their appearance or made suggestive comments about their sex lives were telling the truth.
Those accusers included an aide who said Cuomo groped her breast at the governor’s mansion and a female state trooper on his security detail, who said he ran his hand or fingers across her stomach and her back. Anne Clark, who led the probe with former US Attorney Joon Kim, said the allegations were corroborated to varying degrees, including by other witnesses and contemporaneous text messages. On at least one occasion, the investigation found, Cuomo and his senior staff worked to retaliate against a former employee who accused him of wrongdoing. “These interviews and pieces of evidence revealed a deeply disturbing yet clear picture: Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed current and former state employees in violation of federal and state laws,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said at a press conference yesterday. The investigation’s findings, detailed in a 165-page public
report, turn up the pressure on the 63-year-old governor, who just a year ago was widely hailed for his steady leadership during the darkest days of the COVID19 crisis, even writing a book about it. Since then, he’s seen his standing crumble with a drumbeat of harassment allegations, questions in a separate, ongoing inquiry into whether state resources went into writing the book, and the discovery that his administration concealed the true number of nursing home deaths during the outbreak. The revelations, most of which were initially made public last winter, led to a chorus of calls then for Cuomo’s resignation from many top elected Democrats in New York. US Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said after the report’s release yesterday that it reinforces a call for his resignation they first made last March. “No elected official is above
NEW York governor Andrew Cuomo
the law. The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor’s office. We continue to believe that the Governor should resign,” they said in a joint statement. While James concluded the investigation without referring the case to prosecutors for possible criminal charges, local authorities could use its evidence and findings to mount their own cases. The investigation’s findings are also expected to play an important role in a state Assembly inquiry into whether there are grounds to impeach Cuomo. Several Cuomo accusers called on the governor to leave office immediately. Some Democratic and Republican state lawmakers joined them, along with one-time Cuomo allies including county executives and leaders of leftleaning political groups. In his taped response, Cuomo apologised to two accusers: Charlotte Bennett, who said the
governor asked if she was open to sex with an older man after she confided in him that she had been a victim of sexual assault, and a woman he kissed at a wedding — an incident reported in a front-page story in The New York Times. Cuomo said he was hiring an expert to reform sexual harassment training for state employees, including the governor. But he denied other allegations as fabricated and lashed out at the investigative process, saying it was rife with “politics and bias”. He explained that he’s been physically embracing people his whole life, that his mother and father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, had done the same and that the gesture was meant to “convey warmth”. Cuomo’s lawyer issued a written rebuttal to the investigation’s findings, arguing in most cases that serious allegations, like the alleged groping, didn’t happen, or that his actions were misconstrued.
DESANTIS WON’T MOVE ON MASKS AS WARDS SWELL FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida Associated Press
FLORIDA Gov Ron DeSantis on Tuesday downplayed a spike in COVID-19 cases that’s shattered state hospitalisation records and strongly reiterated his vow not to impose a mask mandate or any business restrictions. With the much more contagious delta variant now spreading exponentially, Florida hit 11,515 hospitalised patients yesterday, breaking last year’s record for the third straight day and up from just 1,000 in mid-June. DeSantis said he expects hospitalisations to drop in the next couple weeks, asserting that the spike is seasonal as Floridians spend more time together indoors to escape the summer heat and humidity. DeSantis credited his response to COVID-19, which has focused on vaccinating seniors and nursing home residents, for the fact that fewer Floridians are dying now than last August. A year ago, Florida was averaging about 180 COVID-19 deaths per day during an early August spike, but last week averaged 58 per day. However, 2,400 COVID-19 patients are in an intensive care unit, and deaths general don’t spike until a few weeks after hospitalisations. “Even among a lot of positive tests, you are seeing much less mortality that you did year-over-year,” DeSantis said at a Miami-area press conference. “Would I rather have 5,000 cases among 20-year-olds or 500 cases among seniors? I would rather have the younger.” DeSantis also said “media hysteria” on the swelling numbers could cause
people having heart attacks or strokes to avoid going to an emergency room for fear of being infected. Doctors interviewed by The Associated Press acknowledged this happened during the early months of the pandemic, but say it’s no longer true, and that they’re treating the usual number of cardiac patients. White House press secretary Jen Psaki criticised policies in states such as Texas and Florida that have moved to block employers and proprietors from implementing mask or vaccine requirements. New York on yesterday became the nation’s first big city to announce it will require proof of vaccination at restaurants, shows and gyms. “Most Republican governors are doing exactly the right thing... and advocating for and taking steps to advocate for more people to get vaccinated. But if you aren’t going to help, if you aren’t going to abide by public health guidance, then get out of the way and let people do the right thing to lead in their communities,” Psaki said. Dr O’Neil Pyke, chief medical officer at Jackson North Medical Center in Miami, said many Florida hospitals are facing staffing shortages. Hospitals also report putting emergency room patients in beds in hallways, and some are again banning visitors or postponing elective surgeries. “They’re just coming in faster than we discharge them,” said Justin Senior, CEO of Florida Safety Net Hospital Alliance, which represents some of the state’s largest hospitals caring for low-income patients. Still, he said few hospitals will run out of room as they can convert non-traditional spaces like conference areas into COVID-19 wards.
SPORTS
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 4, 2021, PAGE 11
OLYMPIC volunteer Reimi Kusunoki holds up a sign at the Enoshima yacht harbour during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Fujisawa, Japan, August 1. Tokyo Olympians are exercising extraordinary discipline against the coronavirus. They are sealed off in a sanitary bubble that has made competition possible but is also squeezing a lot of fun from their Olympic experience. (AP Photo/ Gregorio Borgia)
Clean, repeat: At Tokyo Games, COVID-19 is Olympians’ chief foe By JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Holding each other tighter than lovers, the wrestlers smear each other with sweat, spittle and — when they inadvertently cut each other — sometimes blood. Lungs heaving, mouths agape, they huff and puff into each others’ flushed faces. On their glistening bodies, it’s impossible to tell their opponents’ fluids and theirs apart. Underscoring the health risks of such proximity: They are the only people in the cavernous hall not wearing face masks. Watching Olympic wrestling in the midst of the pandemic of a deadly airborne disease feels like being part of a virological experiment, a real-life study of droplets, aerosols and fluid dispersion. A germophobe’s nightmare, it’s a messy spectacle best observed from the stands where volunteers hold signs reading “keep physical distance” for non-existent crowds, barred from the Tokyo Games because of surging coronavirus infections in the Olympic host country where less than one-third of the population is vaccinated. But because wrestling is the most close-contact sport of the Olympics, it also speaks loudest of the all-out war against the virus that athletes have waged to get to Tokyo and, once here, continue to fight to stay free of infection and compete. Wrestlers are the Games’ equivalent of the canaries that alerted coal miners to noxious gases in the air of
closed-in mines. That even they say they feel safe going body to body in combat testifies to extraordinary efforts that Olympians are making to stay healthy, exercising a sanitary discipline that has made competition possible but has also squeezed a lot of fun from their Olympic experience. Which Brazilian wrestler Aline Silva says is a necessary price to pay. She hopes the Tokyo Games will serve as a counterweight to COVID-19 fatigue by sending a sobering message that until the virus is beaten, people everywhere should exercise greater caution and take better care of themselves and others. Brazil has the world’s second-highest COVID-19 death toll with 556,000 fatalities. “In Brazil, everybody knows that it is best to not be in parties and do things like that. But I don’t know why they don’t care, they do anyway,” Silva said. “So we need to show people that we need, right now, to be focused on doing our jobs as safely as possible.” The 34-year-old had set her sights in Tokyo on making amends for her failure to win a medal at her home Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. But when the pandemic struck, she decided to put wrestling on hold indefinitely, in part because it no longer felt safe but also to set an example that life couldn’t, shouldn’t, simply carry on as before. She has an uncle who spent 13 days in the hospital with COVID-19. Only this year, in a small bubble of athletes who were tested and lived together with limited
UNITED States’ Tamyra Marianna Stock Mensah, left, and Japan’s Sara Dosho compete during the women’s 68kg freestyle wrestling match at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Chiba, Japan. (AP) outside contact, did she resume preparations for the Games. “I believe that, right now, people should be thinking about lives. That matters more than any sport. But we are here, trying to beat this virus, too,” she said. “We need to do our part for everybody to survive. I might not die of COVID but I don’t want to pass the disease on to somebody that might die. A lot of people, I think, don’t think about that.” In Tokyo, Olympians can’t not think about that. They are sealed off in a giant sanitary bubble built with daily tests, oceans of sanitiser and strict restrictions on their movements. They are instructed not to mix with people outside their teams. They are
told to avoid hugs, highfives and handshakes — all deemed “unnecessary” by Games organisers — advice they often ignore in the heat and joy of competition. They cannot watch sports other than their own or wander around the city. The dining hall in the athletes’ village where most of them are confined has hospital-like cleanliness. Matilda Kearns, a water polo competitor from Australia, detailed the sanitary procedures in a TikTok posting. They not only sanitise their hands but also wear plastic gloves before touching food trays that have also been sanitised, she said. They then eat in small cubicles, which they wipe down with disinfectant wipes, separated by
see-through plastic screens that make meal-time chat “pretty difficult because it’s hard to hear through them,” Kearns said. She added that they also have an additional team rule “that once the mask is off, you only have 10 minutes to eat to reduce exposure.” Preventive measures extend also onto fields of play. Table tennis has barred players from blowing on the ball before they serve, which some used to do to rid it of dust, and from wiping sweaty palms on the table. Before the pandemic, players were only allowed to wipe themselves down with towels after every six points, to avoid slowing play. Now, they can use towels liberally, to avoid sweat on the table.
Players also must wear masks and gloves when selecting their stock of balls before matches. In badminton, when players need to replace a damaged shuttlecock, they now get a new one themselves from a dispenser, so they are no longer handled by the match official who used to distribute them. At the Olympic boxing arena, uniformed cleaners attack the ring between most fights to wipe down the ropes, corner pads and canvas of any sweat or blood, before the next pair of boxers forces them to do it all over again. In weightlifting, the bar is disinfected with surgical alcohol between lifts. Outside the Olympic bubble, fuelled by the more contagious delta variant, infections in Tokyo have logged new daily records and nearly tripled in the first week after the Games opened on July 23. Japanese officials say the surge is unrelated to the Olympics. Inside the Olympians’ bubble, infections have been limited. Since July 1, 222,000 tests on athletes and team officials yielded 32 positives, a strike rate of 0.01 percent, Games organisers say. Fully vaccinated and as careful as he can be, Finnish wrestler Elias Kuosmanen said he felt safe enough to shut off his mind to the risk of infection when he competed and got all sweaty in the men’s Greco-Roman heavyweight class. “We’re tested all the time, so I am pretty sure that the opponents and everyone are COVID-19-free,” he said. “I don’t need to stress about it.”
MARINERS BEAT RAYS FOR THE 6TH STRAIGHT GAME THIS SEASON ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) — Yusei Kikuchi went six effective innings, Abraham Toro and Jarred Kelenic homered, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 last night. Kikuchi (7-6) allowed two runs and six hits. The lefty had gone 0-3 in his previous four starts. Diego Castillo, the third Mariners reliever, worked the ninth to get his first Seattle save and 15th overall. The right-hander was acquired from Tampa Bay on Thursday. Seattle has won the first two games of the threegame series and is 6-0 overall against the defending AL champion Rays this season. Randy Arozarena homered for the Rays. Luis Patiño (2-3) took the loss. YANKEES 13, ORIOLES 1 NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Gil pitched six scoreless innings in his
major league debut, Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in four runs, and New York routed Baltimore. Gil (1-0) started in place of All-Star ace Gerrit Cole, who was put on the COVID-19 injured list before the game after testing positive for the virus Monday. The 23-year-old righthander allowed just four singles. He struck out six and walked only one. Gleyber Torres hit an RBI double in the second off Alexander Wells (1-2). Aaron Judge added his 22nd homer in the eighth. MARLINS 5, METS 4 MIAMI (AP) — Newly acquired Alex Jackson hit his first career home run, Nick Neidert earned his first big league win and Miami beat NL East-leading New York. Isan Díaz also homered, Bryan De La Cruz had three hits and Lewis Brinson had two hits and scored
twice for the last-place Marlins, who have won the first two of the four-game series. The Mets were limited to five hits by Neidert (1-1) and four relievers. New York has lost five of six. Neidert allowed three runs and three hits, struck out five, walked four and hit a batter in 5 2/3 innings. Taijuan Walker (7-6) took the loss. He lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, eight hits, struck out four and walked two. BLUE JAYS 7, INDIANS 2 TORONTO (AP) — Hyun Jin Ryu pitched seven solid innings in his first start for Toronto on Canadian soil, George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez homered in a win over Cleveland. Ryu waited more than a year and a half to take the mound as a home player in Toronto after signing an $80 million, four-year contract in December 2019.
The Korean left-hander retired the first six batters and struck out eight to help the Blue Jays win for the fifth time in six games since moving back north of the border on Friday. Ryu (11-5) allowed two runs and seven hits, and walked none. Right-hander Rafael Dolis worked a perfect eighth and left-hander Ryan Borucki finished with a 1-2-3 ninth. Cleveland right-hander Zach Plesac (6-4) lost for the first time since April 20. He matched a season high by giving up six runs while allowing a career-worst 10 hits. He walked none and didn’t have any strikeouts. Bobby Bradley and Harold Ramirez hit RBI doubles for the Indians. TIGERS 4, RED SOX 2 DETROIT (AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit his 498th home run and Detroit dealt Boston its fifth straight loss, a season high.
Cabrera added a single, giving him 2,944 career hits and moving him one ahead of Frank Robinson for 36th place all-time. Tigers starter Wily Peralta allowed two runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings, and five relievers combined to shut out the Red Sox in the final 4 1/3 innings. Kyle Funkhouser (5-1) earned the win and Gregory Soto pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 13 attempts. Garrett Richards (6-7) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in four-plus innings. Hunter Renfroe led off the second with his 17th homer of the year. PHILLIES 5, NATIONALS 4 WASHINGTON (AP) — Bryce Harper’s solo home run in the eighth inning against his former team was the difference in Philadelphia’s victory over Washington, the Phillies’ third straight win. Harper hit a 430-foot home run to
left-center off Javy Guerra, his 17th, for a 5-2 lead. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler (9-6) gave up a two-run homer to Josh Bell in the eighth. Wheeler allowed eight hits and four earned runs in 7 innings. Jose Alvardo pitched the ninth for his fourth save. Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Ronald Torreyes also homered for the Phillies. Washington starter Patrick Corbin (6-10) pitched seven innings, allowed six hits, four earned runs, struck out eight and walked one. His ERA is 5.74.
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Biles returns to competition with a bronze medal and a smile By JIM VERTUNO AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles returned to the competition at the Tokyo Olympics in style, and will leave with another medal. What colour it is really isn’t the point. That she delivered a tense, heartpounding routine on the balance beam and nailed it with a smile meant everything. Biles looked calm as she moved, turned and flipped across the beam. It was everyone else watching who held their breath. “I had nerves but I felt pretty good,” she said. Biles won the bronze medal when she drilled a slightly altered routine in front of a crowd that included IOC President Thomas Bach a week after taking herself out of several competitions to focus on her mental health. That move by the gymnast regarded the greatest in history had amplified attention on the importance of mental health in sports in general, and among Olympians specifically. “I was just happy to be able to perform, regardless of the outcome,” Biles said. “I did it for me, and I was just proud of myself for being able to compete one more time.” Biles changed her routine a bit while dealing with a mental block surrounding twisting. She used a double-pike dismount — no twisting required — to score a 14.000, which was ultimately good enough for third in the eight-woman final, behind China’s Guan Chenchen and Tang Xijing. Biles earned her seventh career Olympic medal and tied Shannon Miller for the most by an American in gymnastics. Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee of the United States finished fifth. The 18-year-old Lee won three medals in Tokyo, including silver in the team final and bronze on uneven bars. The U.S. men’s basketball team rode the slender shoulders and smooth shooting of Kevin Durant to
advance to the medal round with a 95-81 victory over Spain in the quarterfinals. Durant finished with 29 points. Jayson Tatum scored 13 and Jrue Holiday added 12 for the U.S., which will play either Australia or Argentina in the semifinals on Thursday. The American men have never failed to medal in all 18 of their previous Olympics appearances. For Durant, only one will do. “We’ve just got to finish it. Got to finish it,” Durant said. “We’re supposed to be here. For us, it’s about getting the gold.” It was the fifth time since 2004 that the top two programs in the most recent FIBA world rankings — the U.S. is No. 1 — had met in the Olympic quarterfinals or later, with the Americans winning each time. Ricky Rubio scored 38 points for Spain, which led by 10 in the second quarter before the U.S. turned the game with a 36-10 run to take control. FAST AND FURIOUS Karsten Warholm of Norway found his “perfect” race and smashed his own world record in the 400metre hurdles, finishing in 45.94 seconds to break the old mark by .76. One of the most anticipated races on the programme ended with some wondering if they’d just watched the greatest Olympic races ever. Second-place finisher Rai Benjamin of the United States finished in 46.17, also beating the 46.7 record that Warholm set just last month. The third-place finisher, Alison dos Santos of Brazil, finished in 46.72, which would’ve been a
SIMONE BILES, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women’s apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics yesterday in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
UNITED States’ Kevin Durant, left, and teammate Jayson Tatum celebrate their win in the basketball quarterfinal game against Spain at the 2020 Summer Olympics yesterday in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) world record five weeks earlier. “Sometimes in training, my coaches keep telling me this could be possible with the perfect race,” Warholm said of the prospect of breaking 46 seconds. “But it was hard to imagine it because it’s a big barrier, and it’s something you don’t even dream about.” He didn’t just dream it. He lived it. In other track and field events, Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica completed her second straight Olympic sprint
sweep, finishing the 200 metres in 21.53 seconds, the second-fastest time in history. Thompson-Herah topped surprise second-place finisher Christine Mboma of Namibia by .48, while American Gabby Thomas took bronze. This was a star-studded final, defined as much by who didn’t finish on the podium as who did. Thompson-Herah joins another Jamaican, Veronica Campbell-Brown, and Barbel Wookel of the former East Germany as
the third back-to-back champions in the 200. Armand Duplantis of Sweden won the Olympic gold medal in the pole vault. The 21-year-old clinched victory with a height of 6.02 metres and then raised the bar to 6.19 metres in a bid to break his own world record. Duplantis missed all three times when he tried to improve on the world record mark of 6.18 metres he set at Glasgow last year. MEN’S SOCCER FINAL SET Brazil and Spain each won to advance to men’s
soccer final with victories. Brazil is the defending Olympic champion. Spain hasn’t won the tournament since 1992 and last reached the final in 2000. Brazil and Mexico were scoreless through regulation and extra time before Brazil advanced 4-1 on penalty kicks. Mexico missed its first two attempts. Spain and Japan also were scoreless through regulation. Spain’s Marcos Asenio scored the game winner in the 115th minute. MAKING WAVES New Zealand’s Lisa Carrington started her gold medal march in canoe sprint with a pair of victories in the women’s kayak single 200 and the kayak double 500. Carrington has now won the 200 in three consecutive Olympics and hasn’t lost an Olympic or world championship in the event in a decade. She teamed with Caitlin Regal to win the 500 less than an hour after her fourth race. Carrington raced four times Tuesday in heat and wind at the Sea Forest Waterway in the semifinals and finals of the two events. She is also a medal favorite in the kayak 500 single and fours later this week. SPLISH SPLASH Xie Siyi and Wang Zongyuan gave China another 1-2 finish in Olympic diving, claiming gold and silver in men’s 3-metre springboard. Xie broke down in tears when the scores for his final dive were posted, a string of 9.0s and 9.5s that clinched the victory with 558.75 points. Wang came over to give his teammate a hug. The biggest drama was for the silver, but Wang nailed his final dive to finish with 534.90 and hold off Jack Laugher of Britain. SPRINT CYCLING Germany twice broke the world record on the way to beating Britain for the gold medal in the women’s team pursuit, while the Dutch knocked off the Brits to win the men’s team sprint at the Izu Velodrome.
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By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil won the women’s 10-kilometre Olympic marathon swimming event in Tokyo today. Cunha touched first in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 30.8 seconds, finishing ninetenths of a second ahead of defending champion Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands. Van Rouwendaal took silver in 1:59.31.7. Kareena Lee of Australia earned bronze in 1:59.32.5. Cunha won her first medal in her third Olympics. She was 10th five years ago in Rio de Janeiro and fifth in the 2008 Beijing Games. “We arrived here wanting, as much as you can, this medal,” Cunha said. “I said to my coach to win this race will be very difficult for my opponents because I want it so hard, so much, and I’m really well prepared.” American Haley Anderson finished sixth and her teammate, Ashley Twichell, was seventh. Cunha and Twichell traded the lead through the first five laps before the American dropped to fourth. Leonie Beck of Germany moved into first ahead of Cunha on Lap 6, when the top eight swimmers broke away from the field. They swam in parallel groups of four, with the Brazilian soon taking over the lead for good and slapping the overhead timing device to clinch the gold. “We are Latin people; we are hot, we are emotional
ANA MARCELA CUNHA, of Brazil, poses with her gold medal after winning the women’s marathon swimming event at the 2020 Summer Olympics today in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David Goldman) people,” Cunha said, “so The seven-lap race began I had to be very cold men- at 6:30am in an attempt to tally in the race to be beat the searing heat and focused. I knew I was pre- humidity. pared for that.” The air temperature Sporting green-and- during the latter stages of yellow hair resembling the race was 86 degrees the colours of Brazil’s flag, Fahrenheit (30 Celsius), Cunha smiled and signalled with 74 percent humidNo. 1 after getting out of ity that made it feel like 95 the water. degrees (35 C). After putting the medal The water temperaaround her neck, Cunha ture was about 84 degrees set down her bouquet on (29 C), under the allowthe podium and saluted the able limit of 88 degrees (31 flag with her right hand. She degrees C). later took a playful bite out The Odaiba Marine of her medal. Park course in Tokyo Bay Van Rouwendaal was featured a backdrop of among the top 10 before skyscrapers, the Rainbow beginning her move on Bridge and the nearby Lap 5. She worked her way floating Olympic rings. into third behind Beck and Alice Dearing, the first Cunha, and outswam Lee Black female swimmer to on the final lap to secure represent Britain in the silver. “I had to be smart Olympics, finished 19th. and I didn’t want to swim in She made news before the front because as the favour- Games with her bid to wear ite, people would maybe an extra-large cap designed pull me back,” Van Rou- specifically for thick and wendaal said, “so I tried to curly hair. stay second and third, and FINA rejected the cap, then saw Ana. It’s best to citing no previous instances let her stay in front, then in which swimmers needed maybe I could come back, “caps of such size and but it got really hard.” configuration.”
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Wednesday, August 4, 2021, PAGE 13
Bringing home the gold ROUNDUP OF OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS FROM AUGUST 3
TOKYO (AP) — A roundup of gold medals from Tuesday, August 3, at the Tokyo Games: TRACK AND FIELD MEN’S HURDLES Karsten Warholm of Norway obliterated his own world record in the Olympic 400-metre hurdles, finishing in 45.94 to crack the old mark by .76. One of the most anticipated races on the programme more than lived up to the hype. Secondplace finisher Rai Benjamin of the United States finished in 46.17, a mark that also beat the record Warholm set last month. This time, it was good for only second. Warholm flashed that trademark look of amazement when he crossed the line first. Alison dos Santos of Brazil finished third and six of the eight runners broke either a world, continental or national record. WOMEN’S LONG JUMP Malaika Mihambo of Germany took the top spot in the women’s long jump with a 7-metre leap on her final attempt and edged U.S. veteran Brittney Reese for the Olympic gold medal. Mihambo won the world championship title in 2019 and finished just off the podium in fourth place at the 2016 Olympics. The 34-year-old Reese now has back-to-back Olympic silver medals at the Tokyo Games and from Rio de Janeiro after winning the title at London in 2012. The four-time world champion had the chance to win with the final jump of the competition but couldn’t improve on her best mark of 6.97 metres. Ese Brume of Nigeria, who led after the first round and was in top spot again after the fourth, also finished on 6.97-metres and took bronze on a countback. WOMEN’S 200 METRES Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica completed her second straight Olympic sprint sweep, finishing the 200 metres in 21.53 seconds, the second-fastest time in history. Thompson-Herah topped surprise second-place finisher Christine Mboma of Namibia by .48, while American Gabby Thomas took bronze. Thompson-Herah joins another Jamaican, Veronica Campbell-Brown, and Barbel Wookel of the former East Germany as the third back-to-back champion in the 200. Thompson-Herah’s time is topped only by Florence Griffith Joyner’s run of 21.34 at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. WOMEN’S 800 METRES Athing Mu won the 800metre gold medal for the United States in her first Olympics after leading almost from start to finish. Mu was never seriously challenged down the home straight as she strode away to win in 1 minute, 55.21 seconds. Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson won the silver medal in 1:55.88 and Raevyn Rogers came from nowhere to clinch the bronze on the finish line and give the Americans a double celebration at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. The result confirms the 19-year-old Mu as the new star of the women’s 800. WOMEN’S HAMMER THROW Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland won the gold medal in women’s hammer throw at a third consecutive Olympics. The 35-year-old Wlodarczyk added the Tokyo title to her victories at Rio de Janeiro and London with a mark of 78.48 metres. Wang Zheng of China took the silver medal at
77.03 and Malwina Kopron ensured Poland had two people on the podium by winning the bronze medal at 75.49. MEN’S POLE VAULT Armand Duplantis of Sweden won the Olympic gold medal in the pole vault. The 21-year-old Duplantis clinched victory at the Tokyo Games with a height of 6.02 metres and then raised the bar to 6.19 metres in a bid to break his own world record. Duplantis missed all three times when he tried to improve on the world record mark of 6.18 metres he set in Glasgow last year. Christopher Nilsen of the United States took silver with a personal best of 5.97 metres. Thiago Braz of Brazil won bronze at 5.87 metres. BOXING WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT Sena Irie of Japan has claimed the first-ever women’s featherweight boxing gold medal with a unanimous decision over the Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio. Irie became the first female boxer to win a medal for Japan when she secured the first gold of the Tokyo boxing tournament by sweeping the third round on all five judges’ cards at the Kokugikan Arena. Irie’s crisper punches won over the judges in a bout with plenty of clinching. Petecio settled for the Philippines’ first boxing medal of any kind since 1996, but Manny Pacquiao’s home nation is in contention for at least two more medals in Tokyo. Featherweight was one of two women’s weight classes added to the Olympics in Tokyo. The women’s field also was expanded to 100 fighters from 36 in its first two Olympics. Italy’s Irma Testa and Britain’s Karriss Artingstall won the division’s inaugural bronze medals. MEN’S WELTERWEIGHT Roniel Iglesias of Cuba won his second Olympic boxing gold medal by soundly beating Pat McCormack of Britain in the welterweight final. Iglesias added Tokyo gold to his two previous light welterweight medals. He won gold in London and bronze from Beijing. He also fought at welterweight in Rio de Janeiro but lost in the quarterfinals. Iglesias largely controlled the final bout with superior footwork and technique against McCormack. McCormack was gracious in defeat as Iglesias celebrated Cuba’s first official boxing medal in Tokyo. Several more are already clinched. Aidan Walsh of Ireland and Andrei Zamkovoy of Russia claimed bronze medals. Walsh was unable to fight McCormack in the semifinals after he injured his ankle while leaping to celebrate his quarterfinal victory. CANOEING Cuba won a surprise gold medal in the men’s canoe double 1,000 metres, ahead of China and Germany. Germany had won the event at five of the last seven Olympic games and Sebastian Brendel had been in the German boat for gold medals in 2012 and 2016. But the race developed into a battle between Cuba and China over the final 500 metres. Cuba’s Serguey Torres Madrigal and Fernando Dayan Jorge Enriquez edged across the line to win by 0.2 seconds. The Cuban duo had won silver at 2019 world championships, but Cuba hadn’t medalled in this event at the Olympics since 2000. CYCLING WOMEN’S TEAM PURSUIT Germany became the first women’s pursuit team
kayak 500 single and fours later this week.
KARSTEN WARHOLM, of Norway, celebrates as he wins the gold medal in the final of the men’s 400-metre hurdles at the 2020 Summer Olympics yesterday in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
MALAIKA MIHAMBO, of Germany, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women’s long jump final at the 2020 Summer Olympics yesterday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) to beat Britain in an Olympic final, breaking its own world record with a time of 4:04.259 in track cycling at the Izu Velodrome. The team of Franziska Brausse, Lisa Brennauer, Lisa Klein and Mieke Kroege led the British by nearly 2 seconds by the midway point of the 4,000metre race and never looked back. The British wound up finishing in 4:10.607. Britain had won the gold medal the previous three Summer Olympics. The world champion Americans led the whole way in beating Canada for the bronze medal. MEN’S TEAM SPRINT The Netherlands romped past Britain in Olympicrecord time to win the men’s team sprint at the Izu Velodrome. The team of Jeffrey Hoogland, Roy van den Berg and Harrie Lavreysen stopped the clock in 41.369 seconds to easily beat the British, who had claimed the last three gold medals in the three-lap race. The British team of Ryan Owens, Jack Carlin and Jason Kenny led by the slimmest margins after the first lap but was unable to keep up the pace. The Dutch pulled after the second lap and wound up easing up across the finish line. The British finished in a time of 44.589 seconds. France easily beat Australia in the matchup for the bronze medal. DIVING Xie Siyi and Wang Zongyuan have given China another 1-2 finish in Olympic diving, taking gold and silver in men’s 3-metre springboard. The Chinese divers held the top two spots after both the preliminaries and the semifinals, and it was more of the same in the finals. Xie broke down in tears when marks for his final dive were posted, a string of 9.0s and 9.5s that clinched the gold with 558.75 points. Wang came over to give his teammate a hug. The biggest drama was for the silver, but Wang
nailed his final dive to hold off Britain’s Jack Laugher with 534.90. Laugher was only 2.05 points behind Wang going to the final round but overrotated his entry a bit, leaving him with the bronze at 518.00. Long the world’s dominant diving nation, China has been near-perfect at the Tokyo Aquatic Center with five gold medals in six events. GYMNASTICS WOMEN’S BALANCE BEAM Chinese gymnasts Guan Chenchen and Tang Xijing have swept the gold and silver in balance beam. American Simone Biles won bronze in the event, her first medal of the Tokyo Olympics. Guan took the gold with a score of 14.633, ahead of Tang (14.233). Biles (14.000) earned her seventh career Olympic medal — tied with Shannon Miller for the most by an American in gymnastics — by drilling a slightly watered-down version of her usual routine in front of a crowd that included IOC President Thomas Bach. MEN’S HIGH BAR Daiki Hashimoto of Japan picked up a third medal in men’s gymnastics. The Olympic all-around champion added gold on high bar by posting a score of 15.066. Tin Srbic of Croatia was second and Russian gymnast Nikita Nagornyy took bronze. The medal was the third for Nagornyy in Tokyo. MEN’S PARALLEL BARS Zou Jingyuan of China captured gold on parallel bars. Zou’s winning score of 16.233 was the highest on any event by any gymnast during the nine days of competition at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre. Zou topped qualifying with a score of 16.166 but went even higher in the finals, giving him a gold to go with the bronze he won in the team competition last week. Lukas Dauser of Germany grabbed silver after
posting a 15.700, just ahead of Ferhat Arican of Turkey, who took bronze. American Sam Mikulak, competing in his third Olympics, finished sixth in the eight-man final. The 28-year-old Mikulak is retiring following a career in which he won six U.S. titles. KAYAKING WOMEN’S New Zealand’s Lisa Carrington took two gold medals by winning the canoe sprint women’s kayak double 500 with boatmate Caitlin Regal, and the sprint 200 alone. In the double race, the Kiwis led by half a boat length at 250 metres and never let up their pace. Poland won the silver medal nearly a full second behind the New Zealand boat. Hungary took bronze. In the single, Carrington bolted out of the start and had a lead of half a boat length barely 50 metres into the race. She beat Spain’s Teresa Portela of Spain by 0.76 seconds. Emma Aastrand Jorgensen of Denmark won the bronze medal. Carrington is also a medal favourite in the
MEN’S Hungary finished 1-2 in the men’s kayak 1,000 as Balint Kopasz dominated the final 250 metres to pull away for the gold medal. Adam Varga finished second. Kopasz came in as the reigning world champion and was locked in a tough battle with Fernando Pimenta of Portugal over the first 750 metres before his final push to the win. Varga edged Pimenta by 0.047 seconds at the finish for the silver medal. WEIGHTLIFTING MEN’S 109KG Akbar Djuraev of Uzbekistan won gold in the men’s 109-kilogram weightlifting class after world-record holder Simon Martirosyan failed two lifts for the gold medal. Djuraev failed a clean and jerk at 234 kilograms but returned to lift 237kg and overtake Martirosyan for the gold medal spot with a total of 430kg. Martirosyan had two attempts for the gold but didn’t lock his arms out on the first lift. Arturs Plesnieks of Latvia took the bronze with a total of 410kg. WRESTLING WOMEN’S 68KG Tamyra Mensah-Stock of the United States defeated Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria 4-1 in the women’s 68-kilogram freestyle wrestling final to claim the second Olympic gold medal ever for an American female wrestler. Mensah-Stock defeated 2016 Olympic gold medallist Sara Dosho 10-0 in the 1st round and beat Feng Zhao of China 10-0 by technical superiority in the quarters. She defeated former world champion Alla Cherkasova of Ukraine 10-4 in the semifinals. Mensah-Stock joins Helen Maroulis as American women to win gold. Maroulis won the 53kg class in 2016. Cherkasova defeated Dosho in a bronze medal match. The other bronze went to Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan. MEN’S 97KG Russian wrestler Musa Evloev defeated Artur Aleksanyan of Armenia 5-1 in the Greco-Roman 97-kilogram final. Tadeusz Michalik of Poland and Mohammadhadi Saravi if Iran took bronze MEN’S GRECO-ROMAN 77KG Tamas Lorincz of Hungary defeated Akzhol Makhmudov of Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in the Greco-Roman 77-kilogram men’s wrestling final. Lorincz was a silver medallist in the 66kg event at the 2012 London Olympics. Makhmudov was competing in his first Olympics.
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Stephen Curry lands second $200m contract of his career with Warriors By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry has landed the second $200 million-plus contract of his career, reaching agreement on a $215 million, four-year extension with the Golden State Warriors yesterday that takes him through the 2025-26 season. Curry’s agent, Jeff Austin of Octagon, confirmed the new deal for the star point guard, who would have been entering the final season of his previous contract. Curry will earn $48 million for the 2022-23 season, then $51.9 million in ‘23-’24, $55.7 million in ‘24-’25 and $59.6 million in the final year of the deal. For this extension — first reported by ESPN — it was only a matter of when it would get done after the 33-year-old Curry produced one of his best seasons. He averaged 32.0 points, 5.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds and shot 42.1 percent from 3-point range for the Warriors, who lost in the play-in tournament to Memphis. The two-time MVP shined despite injured Splash Brother Klay Thompson’s absence for a second straight season. After the season ended, Curry thanked his
GOLDEN State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) gestures after scoring against the Nuggets to pass Wilt Chamberlain to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer during the first half of an NBA game in San Francisco on Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) teammates for all they did and fresh. He was limited while missing time because how we play, and that’s to allow him to be at his to five games during the of a bruised tailbone that really unlocked what I do best night after night, even pandemic-shortened 2019- bothered him down the best,” Curry said. “That when he had to spend long 20 season primarily because stretch. was huge, but God is good. “I appreciate everybody I’ve been blessed to be back hours in the trainer’s room of a broken left hand, then to keep his body healthy played 63 games last season out there committing to healthy and be able to just
play night in, night out at a high level and the work that goes into it, it pays off, and it’s something that I really, really rely on, especially at this point in my career. As the years go on, that is the difference maker for me.” In December, Curry noted he wanted to play until he’s 40 if possible and do so the whole way for the Warriors. Discussions had already begun then on an extension, he said, and now he has a new deal in hand well before he begins his 13th season. In July 2017, Curry received a $201 million, five-year deal that initially was the richest ever, until James Harden topped it with a $228 million extension from the Rockets. Considered overlooked and undersized after being drafted seventh overall out of Davidson in 2009, Curry has repeatedly proven the doubters wrong. He led the Warriors to five straight NBA Finals and championships in 2015, ‘17 and ‘18. “I’m really proud of what I put in to it, and the team, they know who they are, that help me and push me and motivate me,” he said. “I’m going to keep doing that until I can’t anymore. I don’t know how long that’ll be but that’s the differencemaker for me.”
AP SOURCE: DEMAR DEROZAN AGREES TO $85 MILLION DEAL WITH BULLS By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls made another major upgrade, acquiring high-scoring small forward DeMar DeRozan a day after adding point guard Lonzo Ball. The Bulls agreed yesterday to a three-year, $85 million contract with DeRozan as part of a sign-and-trade with San Antonio, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because teams cannot announce deals until Friday. It was not clear what the Spurs are getting in return. The move is another sign Chicago is serious about contending in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls finished 11th in the East at 31-41, two games behind Charlotte for the final playin spot. While they missed
the playoffs for a fourth straight year, it was their first season with Arturas Karnisovas leading the front office and Billy Donovan coaching the club. A four-time All-Star, DeRozan has averaged more than 20 points in each of the past eight seasons with Toronto and San Antonio. He scored 21.6 per game last year and shot just under 50 percent. But San Antonio missed the playoffs for a second straight season after an NBA-record 22 straight appearances. DeRozan, who turns 32 on Saturday, figures to form a high-scoring trio with Olympian Zach LaVine and two-time All-Star centre Nikola Vucevic, with Ball leading a revamped backcourt. Ball, a four-year veteran who turns 24 in October, is coming off his most productive season. In his second year with the Pelicans, he
averaged career highs in points (14.6 per game) and field-goal percentage (41.4) while averaging 5.7 assists. Drafted second overall by the Lakers out of UCLA in 2017, Ball has changed his shooting mechanics since being traded to New Orleans as part of a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. Ball hit a career-high 172 3-pointers last season while making a career-best 37.8 percent of his shots from deep. He agreed to a fouryear, $85 million contract with Chicago. The Bulls are sending guards Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple to the Pelicans. Chicago also agreed Monday to a four-year, $37 million deal with Lakers backup guard Alex Caruso. Caruso has played all four seasons in LA, averaging 5.9 points while shooting about 43 percent, and teamed with Ball their first two years.
BROOKLYN Nets’ Bruce Brown (1) defends against San Antonio Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New York on May 12, 2021. (AP)
Rubio’s trade to Cavs official as he drops 38 in loss to US By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Ricky Rubio’s Olympics ended on the same day his time with the Cavaliers began. The veteran point guard was acquired in a trade with Minnesota that was finalised yesterday, filling one of the Cavs’ biggest needs. Cleveland sent forward Taurean Prince, a rotational player last season, along with a 2022 secondround draft pick and cash to the Timberwolves for the 30-year-old Rubio, who has spent 10 years in the NBA. The teams agreed to the deal last week prior to the draft, but had to wait for league approval and because Rubio was in Japan playing for Spain at the Tokyo Games. As his deal to Cleveland was being finalised, Rubio scored 38 points in a quarterfinal loss to the US. Rubio’s point total is a Spanish men’s Olympic record, and the most ever scored in the games by an American opponent, topping the mark of 35 by Puerto Rico’s Butch Lee in 1976. The Cavs wanted to find a dependable backup point guard for Darius Garland
as well as a mentor to him and Collin Sexton. Matthew Dellavedova served in that role last season, but he missed much of the year after a concussion. Dellavedova recently signed a three-year deal in Australia. It’s been a busy few days for the Cavs. They drafted USC centre/power forward Evan Mobley, agreed with centre Jarrett Allen on a five-year, $100 million extension and are trying to add more talent in free agency. On Tuesday, the Cavs signed Mobley to his rookie deal. He’s on Cleveland’s Summer League roster in Las Vegas along with forward Isaac Okoro, who had a solid rookie season. Rubio averaged 8.6 points and 6.4 assists last season for Minnesota. He was back with the Timberwolves in 2021 after playing in Phoenix and Utah. He played his first six seasons with the Timberwolves, who took him with the fifth overall pick in 2009. The Cavs acquired the 6-foot-7 Prince from Brooklyn last season in the three-team deal that sent James Harden to the Nets. Prince averaged 10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 29 games for Cleveland.
SPORTS
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, August 4, 2021, PAGE 15
ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH, of Jamaica, reacts after winning the final of the women’s 200-metres at the 2020 Summer Olympics yesterday in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
ELAINE Thompson-Herah wins the final of the women’s 200-metres. (AP Photo/David J Phillip)
Thompson-Herah speeds to 2nd Olympic sprint sweep By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer TOKYO (AP) — It was billed as a star-studded race that anyone could win. So long as that person’s name was Elaine. Elaine Thompson-Herah blew away a much-decorated field in the 200 metres last night. The latest sprint star from Usain Bolt’s island country of Jamaica completed her second straight Olympic sprint sweep in 21.53 seconds, the secondfastest time in history. “It means a lot to me to be in that history, to be in that work-hard book,” said Thompson-Herah, who spent much of 2021 ailing with an Achilles injury and didn’t reach top form until she got to Japan. It marked the second time in four nights that Thompson-Herah has won a sprint and recorded a time that fell short of only the late Florence Griffith Joyner’s hallowed, 33-yearold world records. The 200 record is 21.34. In the 100 metres, Thompson-Herah started pointing at the clock a few steps before the finish line and finished in 10.61, which was good for the Olympic record but not Flo Jo’s overall mark of 10.49. In the 200, ThompsonHerah ran hard all the way through and stuck her tongue out as she pushed her chest forward at the
SHAUNAE FROM PAGE 16
the 2020 Olympic Games, she knew she just couldn’t go with the pack coming off the curve. “Coming off the curve, I felt my hamstring so I decided to shut it down, but hopefully I’m good,” said Miller-Uibo in a voice note from Tokyo. “I’m going to go back and get some treatment and we’ll go from there. Hopefully, I’ll be ready for tomorrow (today). The main thing is just making sure that we’re healthy and going from there.” Miller-Uibo, the 27-yearold double national record holder, was referring to coming back to continue the defence of her title in the 400. She got out strong in her first round heat 12 hours before the 200m final and with enough gap between her and her nearest rival, she was able to shut it down and jogged across the line in. Not the same in the 200. Running out of “no man’s land” in lane nine, Miller-Uibo again got out, but coming off the curve, the field caught and passed her. As she got onto the straight away, it was obvious that she didn’t have that zip that she’s accustomed to and wasn’t able to mount a comeback. “I just give God all the thanks and praise. We’ve been going through a
line. No questions this time about what would’ve happened if she’d left it all on the track. Both finishes, of course, equalled gold medals, and now Thompson-Herah will have at least four when she gets back to Jamaica. There’s a chance for a fifth if she competes in the women’s 4x100-metre relay this weekend. “By the Olympic finish, I’ll probably see what I’ve done,” said the 29-year-old, who grew up in Banana Ground on the southern side of the island. “At this moment, I’m just a normal girl.” She topped surprise second-place finisher Christine Mboma of Namibia by .48, while American Gabby Thomas took bronze. This was a much-accomplished field of finalists, defined as much by who didn’t finish on the podium as who did. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who beat ThompsonHerah at both distances in Jamaica’s national championships, finished fourth to barely miss out on her eighth Olympic medal. Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who focused on the 200 after winning gold at 400 metres in Rio, came in last after pulling up with a twinge in her hamstring. Thomas, the neurobiology grad from Harvard, ran a 21.61 at Olympic trials that staked her claim, however briefly, as the lot leading up to the games – a lot of injuries. Even up until this morning, I was in a lot of pain, but coming up to this evening, everything felt great,” Miller-Uibo also said in her voice note. “The injuries just got the better of me this year. We weren’t able to train as well for the 200 but we got in a lot of training for the 400, and once I feel okay in the morning, then we’ll be ready to go for the 400 semis.” While indicating all season long that her concentration was on the 200m, Miller-Uibo said her camp had planned to contest the 200/400m double, but they just never went public with it. Her camp had agitated for the International Olympic Committee to make a slight change in the schedule to give her at least a day’s rest in between the two events so that she could pursue the feat, but the request was not granted. No further conversation was had about the commitment to the mammoth task, but Miller-Uibo competed in both events in the lead up to the Olympics and, at one point, held the fastest times in the world in both races. The 200m just didn’t turn out the way she anticipated and now it’s up to her to come back and turn up the heat in her signature event in the 400m. That’s if she’s healthy too, she indicated.
ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH, of Jamaica, celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the final of the women’s 200-metres at the 2020 Summer Olympics yesterday in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) second-fastest woman in history. It completely realigned her thoughts about what was possible in Tokyo. She won the bronze by .07 seconds. “It feels amazing because I really worked for that one,” Thomas said. “I fought tooth and nail those last 30 meters.” While Thompson-Herah is drawing comparisons to Bolt, she joins yet another Jamaican, Veronica Campbell-Brown, along with Barbel Wockel of the former East Germany as
the third back-to-back champion in the 200. If Thompson-Herah’s win was no surprise, then Mboma’s second-place finish was a stunner that figures to bring one of sports’ thorniest issues back to the fore. Mboma moved to the 200 because she wasn’t allowed in the 400, which is her favourite event. Tests ordered by World Athletics found she and her teammate, sixth-place finisher Beatrice Maslingi, had high natural testosterone, which meant they fell under the same regulations that have
sidelined two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya of South Africa in the 800 meters. In the final, Mboma broke the under-20 world record for the third time in a week, and looked stunned when she crossed the finish line. “I came here for the experience,” she said. “Now I did better.” Another contender was the Ivory Coast’s MarieJosee Ta Lou. She opened the sprints last week with a head-turning 10.78 in the 100-metre heats – the
first sign that Tokyo could be a very fast track. It is, especially when ThompsonHerah is on it. Allyson Felix finally said hello to the Olympic track. She easily won her 400metre heat on the first step to what could be a women’s record — 10 Olympic medals. American Noah Lyles also said hi, but it wasn’t all great. After building a comfortable lead in the 200-metre semifinals, he put things on cruise control with about 15 metres left, only to be stunned to see Canada’s Aaron Brown and Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh busting it to the line to edge him out in a photo finish. Lyles had to wait a while to find out if he would earn one of two wild-card spots in the final. His run of 19.99 seconds was fast enough, and he insisted nothing was amiss. “No. I went to plan,” Lyles said. There will be no cruise control when he lines up Wednesday night in a field that will include Andre DeGrasse and 17-yearold American Erriyon Knighton, who played to the cameras and ran his hands across his nametag when he qualified. The world might get to know him soon. As for the women’s champ at 200 metres — she no longer needs an introduction.
SPORTS SECTION E - PAGE 16
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021
Curry, Page 14
SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO, of the Bahamas, warms up before competing in the final of the 200-metres at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
‘I felt my hamstring so I decided to shut it down’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
C
iting a hamstring injury that hampered her progress, Shaunae Miller-Uibo couldn’t gut it out with the field yesterday and had to basically jog to the finish line in 24.00 seconds for eighth place in the women’s 200 metres. She could only watch as Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah made history as the first double sprint champion in two consecutive games, running a national record of 21.53 to go along with her Olympic record in the 100m, pushing her second on the all-time list in both events behind world record holder Florence
Griffith Joyner (10.49 in the 100m and 21.34 in the 200m). Christine Mboma, one of the two 18-year-old competitors in the race from Namibia, stormed back in the final stage on the home stretch to surge into the silver medal spot in an under-20 Olympic record of 21.81. She and team-mate
Beatrice Masilingi, sixth in a personal best of 22.28, were limited to competing in just the 100 and 200m because of a high testosterone count. Not to be out-done in the celebrations was American Gabrielle Thomas, who came into her first Olympics as the fastest woman this year. She had to settle for the bronze in 21.87 as she left Jamaica’s 100m silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clinging to fourth place in 21.94. For Miller-Uibo, running the race just 12 hours after she easily won the first round of the 400m in her surprising quest for the 200/400m double in the Tokyo National Stadium at
SEE PAGE 15
ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH, centre, of Jamaica, poses after winning gold in the 200-metre final with silver medallist Christine Mboma, left, of Namibia, and bronze medallist Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David J Phillip)
Marlins edge Mets 5-4, ‘Jazz’ placed on the injured list MIAMI (AP) — Newly acquired Alex Jackson hit his first career home run, Nick Neidert earned his first big league win and the Miami Marlins beat the NL East-leading New York Mets 5-4 Tuesday night. Isan Díaz also homered, Bryan De La Cruz had three hits and Lewis Brinson had two hits and scored twice for the last-place Marlins, who have won the first two of the four-game series. Home plate umpire Stu Scheurwater ejected New York manager Luis Rojas before the bottom of the seventh. The Mets have lost five of six and are 8-11 since the All-Star break. The Mets were limited to five hits by Neidert (1-1) and four relievers. Neidert allowed three runs and three hits, struck out five, walked four and hit
JASRADO “Jazz” Chisholm Jr has been placed on the injured list. (AP) a batter in 5 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old righty was in his 11th game in the majors. Jackson’s homer put Miami ahead 1-0 in the second. Acquired from the Atlanta Braves on Friday at the trade deadline, Jackson drove a pitch from Taijuan Walker (7-6) over the center field wall. The Marlins increased their lead in the third on
Díaz’s solo homer and De La Cruz’s two-run single. The Mets got to within 4-3 in the sixth on Dominic Smith’s second sacrifice fly and J.D. Davis’ run-scoring double that chased Neidert. The Marlins padded their lead on Jorge Alfaro’s RBI double in the eighth. Anthony Bender relieved Neidert and got the last out in the sixth while David Hess and Richard Bleier combined to retire six straight. Dylan Floro allowed James McCann’s RBI double with two outs in the ninth before retiring pinchhitter Brandon Dury on a grounder for his fourth save. Walker (7-6) lasted 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander allowed four runs, eight hits, struck out four and walked two.