FRIDAY i’m lovin’ it!
HIGH 87ºF LOW 77ºF
The Tribune
Volume:117 No.199, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2020
Established 1903
Weekend
WEEKEND: SHOW MUST GO ON FOR MODEL CONTESTANTS
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
arts music animals garden ing Literary Lives history
Weekend
Resort tells workers goal to launch next month not feasible THE Government’s tourism re-opening plans were yesterday dealt a major blow after Baha Mar told staff its October return was “not achievable” due to COVID-19 spikes here and in key US markets. The Cable Beach mega resort, and its Melia Nassau Beach property, hinted strongly they may not reopen until Christmas at earliest - and possibly not until 2021 - as they informed non-unionised staff they will receive 30 percent of their base salary as an
“ex-gratia” payment for up to a further 90 days. Daniel Lozano, the Melia’s general manager, told staff in a September 10 letter that the decision to further delay the property’s re-opening to an undetermined date had been driven by Baha Mar’s analysis of current COVID-19 infection rates both in The Bahamas and its key US tourism source markets. He added that Baha Mar’s initial expectations that COVID-19 would have been under control by October have not been realised. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
showcasing protesting pastors refusing to move off the pulpit during a Sunday service made its rounds on social media. Seven of them are listed as defendants in a lawsuit headed by Bishop Davis. In a hearing before Justice Ian Winder yesterday, the protesting pastors: Alan Strachan, George Carey, Vandera Carey, Cleo Cash, Inez Pinder, Ruth Miller and Dwight Strachan filed a counterclaim requesting the court to determine which members make up the church’s executive committee. SEE PAGE SEVEN
Pages 08 + 09
Looking hot Page 16
WE’RE BACK TO FANTASY FOOTBALL
SEE PAGE EIGHT
CLEARING CONFUSION ON DORIAN DONATIONS
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
DISASTER Reconstruction Authority Managing Director Katherine Smith yesterday maintained the agency received $109,000 in cash from the Hurricane Dorian pledge conference back in January. Mrs Smith said it is true that cash pledges amounted to more than $300,000, but only a portion of that money has been received to date. SEE PAGE FOUR
CHURCH LEADER ROW NOW MOVES TO SUPREME COURT By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A SUPREME Court judge is set to decide whether the pastoral board of Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries has the right to protest the appointment of the organisation’s newly assigned leader. The church is currently embroiled in a disagreement stemming from Bishop Rostin Davis’ recent appointment of his son, Trent Davis, as senior pastor of Golden Gates Assembly. In July, a video
ARTIST ON SHOW IN PARIS
Show goes on for ‘Oneofak ind’ model search
BAHA MAR SCRAPS OCTOBER OPENING
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Friday, September 11, 2020
AGONY OF LOSING TWINS AT PMH A WOMAN who lost her twins and nearly died herself during a C-section at Princess Margaret Hospital has spoken of how she begged for help. She wants answers from the hospital after the tragedy. See page three for the full story.
GB GROUPS CONDEMN POWER BILL PRICE HIKE
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A GROUP in Grand Bahama is criticising the island’s power company for being “heartless” over its planned implementation of an electricity rate increase, due to take effect next month. The Coalition for Concerned Citizens (CCC) is strongly opposed to a storm recovery and stabilisation (SRS) charge due from October 1, which SEE PAGE FOUR
CHINA DIPLOMAT ATTACKS US ‘ABUSE’ OF POWER By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net CHINA’s embassy in Nassau has accused the United States of “abusing” its power through a decision that prohibits American embassies from doing business with companies that use equipment manufactured by some Chinese manufacturers. The US Federal Communications Commission on June 30 designated several
Chinese telecommunication firms as national security threats, cutting off companies like Huawei and ZTE from billions of dollars in US subsidies because of their close association with the Chinese Communist Party. Companies in the Bahamas that provide services to the US Embassy in Nassau are now required to disclose their manufacturers. The Tribune recently received a letter from the
US Embassy requesting it disclose equipment manufacturer information. The implications of the US move in The Bahamas are unclear. Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and other local businesses have declined to comment on the matter. Yin Haigang, the counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, said yesterday “China deplores and firmly opposes the US practice of taking SEE PAGE FOUR
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
WHY ARE THE RIGHT WORDS SO HARD TO FIND?
SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Friday, September 11, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
DONATION TO PAY FOR 600 TABLET DEVICES FOR STUDENTS By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
LENO Corporate Services Limited has donated $60,000 to the Ministry of Education in support of its virtual learning platform. The donation is part of an effort to equip every child in The Bahamas with a virtual learning device - with students needing equipment to participate in online learning for the new term. During a press conference yesterday, Leno Founder/ CEO Sean Longley said the company’s partnership with the ministry is a result of the organisation’s commitment to give back to those in need. The move comes as the
organisation celebrates its tenth anniversary. “When we were about to celebrate our tenth year, we wanted to find something that was meaningful because we knew we were not going to do a celebration anymore so we had to come up with something,” he said. “One of the things we always wanted to do was to create a foundation that will give back through different genres like sports and the like and even before the foundation was started we actually were giving back as a foundation,” he said. “So, this falls right in line with what we’re trying to achieve. This is something that we want to do, and we’ve pledged to be the
leader as a national effort to try to put a device in every child’s hand.” Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd said the donation will allow for officials to purchase 600 tablet devices for students so that they have access to the tools they need to continue their education in a COVID-19 environment. He also said officials estimate that “somewhere between ten to fifteen thousand Bahamian (public school) students across the system would have a deprivation that is in desperate need of satisfaction.” Priority recipients are those on the ministry’s meal programme, Mr Lloyd added. “Our priority is geared
MINISTER of Education Jeff Lloyd, left, with one of the devices paid for thanks to Leno’s donation. Photo: Donovan McIntosh toward those students who are on our lunch programme because they have been vetted by the Department of Social Services as being of a certain socio-economic profile,” the minister said yesterday. “We have identified some 5,087 of such persons. Yes, a great many of them are in the Family Islands and of course we are sensitive to the needs of our Family Islands, including Abaco and Grand Bahama and in particular those in our southern parts of The Bahamas.
“So, that is our matrix at the moment in terms of order of priority.” Ajani Moss, a tenth-grade student at Queen’s College, told reporters yesterday the electronic devices will allow students to complete their work at home more efficiently. He said: “This opportunity for all students to have device inside their house would benefit a lot because not only will you be able to have a place where you could do all your work, but you’d be able to have a
place where you could store it, you could have a place where you could research everything and a place where you could contact your school all in one. “This would make working at home more efficient so that you could understand all your work just like school.” In addition to the donation, LENO will also be covering the advertising costs for wider community outreach to encourage others to support the educational cause.
MAN HEARD ‘POP’, THEN REALISED HE WAS SHOT A MAN is in hospital after he was shot while walking on Shrimp Road yesterday morning, police said. The man was walking on the street around 2am when he heard “a pop sound,” according to a police crime report. Moments later he realised that he received injuries to his left leg. “He was able to make his way to the Carmichael Road Police Station where
Emergency Medical Services were summoned,” police said. “The technicians examined the victim and found that his injuries were consistent with a gunshot wound.” The man was taken to hospital where his condition is listed as stable. In a separate matter, police arrested a man on Wednesday night in connection with a drug find. Shortly after 9pm,
officers from the Operations Unit while on routine patrol on Mason Alley off Market Street, noticed a man who aroused their suspicion. The officers conducted a field search of the suspect and recovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. He is expected to be formally charged in court soon.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 3
AN ULTRASOUND image showing the twins before their stillbirth. By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net WHAT was intended to be a routine C-section for Kayla Edwards-Dean, ushering in the birth of twin sons, ended in the tragedy of her almost losing her life and her twins dying. On August 18, the lives of Kayla Edwards-Dean and her husband, Tai Dean, were changed forever when she went to give birth at Princess Margaret Hospital. “I came from my private physician around three, four o’clock that evening,” Kayla Edwards-Dean said. “We started preparing because I had an elevated pulse and started to have some contractions. So I went into the hospital. My husband lifted my bag in the ward but no one is allowed to stay because of this COVID thing. A lady was there by the window and she asked, ‘What you come here for?’ I gave her my notes from my private physician and I gave her my discharge notes from PMH because I would have been on the ward about six days prior to that. And, then she told me to sit down. “My husband was already gone. He called to check on me while he was on the road and I was still sitting there. I advised him that the lady had taken my notes in the back to get me services or to see the doctor. Forty minutes later my husband, still on the phone with me, asked me if the lady had returned to serve me. I told him no. I went to the door to inquire and she told me to go and sit back down.” She alleged that this order for her to sit down turned into hours of sitting in extreme pain as her contractions got more extreme. She alleged that nurses and doctors passed her on that bench as she screamed out for help in pain, but no one really helped her. “Some nurses were passing me and I begged them for assistance,” she alleged. “Then a doctor was passing and I stopped her as well and she asked if I am the person with the twins. I don’t know what was happening in the back as no one was coming out to assist me. I went again to the door and asked for assistance, at this point I really needed to use the restroom. The same lady told me I could not use the bathroom there and ordered me again to sit down.” Mrs Edwards-Dean said the pressure of the contractions and desperately needing to use the bathroom made her approach the hospital worker again who allegedly told her she could not use the restroom there, but instead had to use it at an area past the Accident and Emergency Department. Mrs EdwardsDean said the 10 minute walk back and forth to the restroom worsened her condition.
“My membrane had already ruptured,” she continued. “My water bag had already burst. I could have been dilated to four or five centimetres but no one checked me. I told everyone that it took a while after the whole thing to compute in my mind the lack of service. . . I was in shock, and thought how could I sit down here and let this woman treat me this way? “What I am asking PHA is, is that the standard over here? How can I have been made to sit on a bench in full contractions until I started heavy breathing, throwing up and everyone going up in slow motion? I sat out there and I saw a doctor and told the doctor that I was having difficulty breathing and I was having full contractions. I was told once again to sit back on the bench. My husband was still on the phone,” she claimed. For the past few weeks the Maternity Ward at PMH has been hit with allegations about the standard of care there, with some people taking to Facebook to recount their experiences. On Sunday PHA managing director Katherine Weech told The Tribune she was aware of the complaints circulating on social media and said they are under investigation. Just after that, Minister of Health Renward Wells said he had not received any official complaint on any of the matters. According to Mrs Edwards-Dean, her ordeal continued when the nurses’
Mom tells of agony of losing twins at PMH shift came to an end and they started to pass her as they left. She said she reminded them that she was still there and even begged to lay on the floor as sitting on the bench in contractions was very uncomfortable. No one came to her aid, she said. Then came the tragedy. The twins she was expecting were stillborn. “After hours and hours the person eventually came out and ordered me to ‘come in the back,’” she continued. “They put me on a bed and they attempted to put an IV on me, I started to vomit. All of a sudden scans were ordered and it was noticed that I was not breathing properly. And, they checked the babies’ heartbeat. They said the babies were fine and put me to lay down and asked if I had anxiety. Someone asked me what my name was and then another suddenly remembered that I was in there before. Then they started asking me for my address. “They moved me to another bed and I begged them to put me to sleep as the contractions were coming quick and strong. I already knew they were giving me a C-section so I just wanted to go to sleep. I got upstairs and they put me to sleep and when I woke up, I found out that my children had died. They never gave me a reason how or why the children died.” After receiving the
horrifying news Mrs Edwards-Dean asked to use the phone to call her husband whom she had not spoken to before she went into the theatre. She was then moved to ICU as her lungs started to collapse and she was having issues with her heart. Those were lonely days for the mother of two as no family could visit her and she hardly saw any of the healthcare professions. It was not until after, she said, that she realised there was a sign on the door of the room where she lay that indicated suspicions of her being COVID-positive. “They asked me if I was okay and if I took in the death of the twins,” she continued. “I asked them how my twins died and they told me that when I was taken back to the ward, I would see the doctor. They brought the children for me to see, but I never saw the doctor and I never heard what happened to the children. They scanned me again as they said my breathing wasn’t getting any better. “They took me to ICU as there was an issue with my heart and lungs. Then I saw the doctor the next day. The doctor told me that the children were not breathing when they were born. I was also told that I had developed an infection. It would appear that the nurses thought that I had COVID and that’s why they hardly came to the room,”
she alleged. Mrs Edwards-Dean was moved back to the Maternity Ward. After nine days of her family applying pressure, she was afforded treatment by a new doctor and her family was able to get information on her. She was later discharged. She said she is now left feeling weak and broken. She recounted her harrowing ordeal in a recent Facebook post, which was widely shared. Since posting her ordeal, a petition against the treatment of mothers at PMH, originally started two years ago, was reignited and to date it has over 17,000 signatures with a goal of 25,000. An official letter of complaint, from the Deans, was sent to the Public Hospitals Authority which is said to be investigating the matter. While in opposition, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis raised concerns about the state of PMH’s Maternity Ward at the time. “The personnel and the babies, most particularly,
are being delivered in this unhygienic environment and the personnel have been complaining for a while,” Dr Minnis said in 2014. “They have now closed it …draped it off with plastic so they know it’s mould infested and they know the staff has been complaining repeatedly about the excess sneezing and the excess coughing and respiratory problems. And, the staff has complained repeatedly about how the babies are exposed to this. Why would you expose our personnel and our new born babies to this? “The government is obviously irresponsible and do not care; to have our personnel still exposed to this unhygienic area when the remedy is there and sitting so they cannot use an excuse that they don’t have money. What is more important? The lives of our medical personnel … our doctors … the lives of our babies.” Shortly after the 2017 general election, Dr Minnis promised a new child health and maternity wing.
PAGE 4, Friday, September 11, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
CLEARING CONFUSION ON DORIAN DONATIONS from page one
She clarified the issue yesterday after Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction Iram Lewis told reporters earlier this week that cash donations received by the DRA amounted to $364,000. However, this conflicted with what Mrs Smith told The Tribune last week. At the time she said officials still viewed the pledge conference as a success despite only $109,000 in actual cash donations. The conference saw 49 donors pledge $1.77bn in cash and services. “When the minister spoke about this $300,000 in cash that was pledged that was so, but what happened
is we received $109,000 of that cash that day,” Mrs Smith explained yesterday. “The other $200,000 or so we have not gotten that cash yet and that was pledged by a local donor in The Bahamas. “I think a lot of what’s going on with some of the monies not coming in has a lot to do with the COVID-19 (pandemic) and where companies find themselves.” She added: “Now having said that, the other thing I wanted to also indicate, the pledge conference may not have turned out to be a pledge conference where we got millions and millions of dollars, but I’ll tell you what has happened as a result of the pledge conference. “We have been able to
engage a lot of local and international donors now that we’re fully into this reconstruction process and so what is happening is we have the ability to seemingly engage more donors because they’re now in tune with what the needs of The Bahamas are.” Speaking of the conference’s successes, Mrs Smith said there have been promising results. Chief among these has been money donated for the two permanent storm shelters on Grand Bahama and Abaco. Mrs Forbes has previously told The Tribune officials hope to begin construction on these structures in October. “For example we have a donor who I’m working with to donate about 2,000 laptops for virtual learning
for the schools in the disaster zones in Grand Bahama and in Abaco. “We have a donor who has given $200,000 toward the construction of a community centre/hurricane shelter. We have another donor who’s given us $400,000 for the same project and we have a couple of other donors that are working with us on very specific projects and one of the things that we need to understand as well and we accept it as an authority (is) a lot of these donors will match their money with a particular project. So what we’ve done in the DRA we have structured gift agreements and concept notes so the concept notes would speak to a specific project. We send the concept note to the donor.”
The lion’s share of the amount pledged at the January conference came from the P3 group. “The total value of what was pledged is $1.77bn. Out of that $1.77bn, $109,000 was pledged in cash. So what you saw happening was we had a group that everybody knows, P3, a US-based firm who had pledged $1.675bn. That was for equity financing,” she said. “Then you had another maybe $92m in grants and another $34m.” Mrs Smith continued: “But what is key is $109,000 was cash. Of that cash was a $60,000 cheque that was written by a local Bahamian who wanted to help with the debris. “The other $58,000 were cheques that are on the
UNDP’s (United Nations Development Programme) account because they were the persons that basically served as sponsors for the event and had booths and that was the income and revenue that was received from those booths. Probably that doesn’t add up to $109,000 but there may have been one or two other small cash donations that would have taken you up to $109,000. “So the majority of the money that had been pledged was either equity financing, people had some grants and that’s really the long and the short of it.” To date, there remains no decision on whether the government will tap into P3’s proposal.
GB GROUPS CONDEMN POWER BILL PRICE HIKE from page one
THE GENERATORS being donated.
PASTORS DONATE GENERATORS A GROUP of pastors from the African Methodist Episcopal Church has donated more than 20 new generators to assist with Abaco relief efforts post Hurricane Dorian, which ravaged that island one year ago. Representing the group of pastors was Reverend Ranford Patterson, who handed over the donation to Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield, who is also the Member of Parliament for North Abaco. The event was held on Tuesday, September 8, on the church’s grounds. “Following Hurricane Dorian, a group of us visited Abaco to assess the damage there. Upon arriving there, we noticed that the power was off and so we wanted to do something tangible that would bring immediate relief to the people,” said Rev Patterson. “We decided that we would donate generators to assist in the efforts.” That first donation was made shortly after the hurricane last year. Mr Henfield said that he was touched by the gesture of kindness. “Reverend Patterson and the other pastors have
been engaged with us from the beginning,” said Mr Henfield. “I have been impressed with their quick response to the plight of the people of Abaco and have also been appreciative of the children’s party held by Rev Patterson and his colleagues from abroad.” Mr Henfield said that up to 85 percent of the island’s power has been restored but that is related to the grid itself. Residents would still need to have the infrastructure to tap into the grid; therefore, a fair number of people are without power as their homes are still in a state of disrepair. The minister said that the donation of generators is a timely one, which would bring necessary relief to affected families. The pastors who made the donation are: Marcus Davidson, Mount Olive AME Church in Fort Lauderdale; Pastor John White, Emanuel AME Church, Pembroke Pines, Florida and Reverend Patterson, Cousin McPhee AME Church, on Carmichael Road. Last Christmas, the pastors also hosted a party for children staying at the Kendal Isaacs Gym, which was a shelter for displaced victims.
will allow Grand Bahama Power Company to recoup $15.6m in Hurricane Dorian restoration costs, extending over five years. “We are totally against this SRS charge,” said Pastor Eddie Victor, founder of CCC. He stressed the island’s economy is not in a position to bear an increase in power costs at this particular time and called the move by the power supplier “heartless”. Also opposed to the rate increase charge is Rev Glenroy Bethel, founder and president of Families For Justice (FFJ). “The Grand Bahama Power Company has decided to profit from the victims of Hurricane Dorian. We will not accept this,” Rev Bethel said. In February, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the regulators of GBPC, approved the charge for implementation on April 1. However, after consultation
with the regulator, GBPC suspended it in March following the pandemic. “Delaying the implementation of the SRS charge is a measure we can take to support our customers during this challenging and quickly evolving time,” Dave McGregor, president and chief operating officer, said in March. “Given the fluidity of the current situation surrounding COVID-19, we can’t say at this time when the SRS charge will become effective. As we shared in February, we still have work ahead of us to complete restoration island-wide.” Pastor Victor claims GBPC does not care about its customers and is only driven by profits. He noted CCC met regulators and initially voiced its strong disapproval of the SRS charge following its approval in February. “We thought it would go into next year, come to find out it would be October 1. The economy is in no state to bear any further expenses,” Pastor Victor said.
“Our economy is being kept afloat by the million of dollars poured into it by the government, and by NGOs such as Samaritan’s Purse, the Red Cross, the GB Disaster Relief Foundation, and many other NGOs. “So, should customers take these monies that are helping them stay afloat and pay a power company for storm recovery and stabilisation charge? No way. It makes no economic sense. “Putting a further charge shows the heartless nature of this power company. It also shows they are being driven by profits.” Mr Victor said he believes the October 1 implementation shows the company is interested in corporate performance and trying to please its nonBahamian shareholders. “You could only milk a cow so far. The fact is this cow that is GB has been drying up and there is no more milk that you can get from it. “It calls for a strong partnership to say we can’t do this right now, and it
is obvious that EMERA/ GBPC is not a partner. We are totally against this SRS charge. “The state of the economy is not in a good place at all. We are at a place we have never been before, which calls for partnership in every sector to help bring necessary relief and true restoration that GB needs,” he said. Rev Bethel claims a notice was sent advising there will be a $50 to $52 increase on all business accounts. He also claims there will be an additional charge of $25 every month for Dorian overhead expenses, bringing the total to $77. CCC plans to hold a virtual town meeting on September 24, at 7pm on Facebook and Zoom, concerning the rate increase. In the meantime, Pastor Victor encouraged customers to save electricity and to consider the transition to solar. The Tribune contacted the company’s representative for a response, but none was received up to press time yesterday.
CHINA DIPLOMAT ATTACKS US ‘ABUSE’ OF POWER from page one
discriminatory and unfair measures on certain Chinese companies based on its domestic legislation. For a period of time, the US has abused its state power and used every possible means to smear and oppress certain Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE. Meanwhile, the US has been pressuring other countries to exclude Huawei and
other Chinese high-tech companies.” He added: “The allegations about the Chinese companies have no factual basis at all. The US claims that Huawei threatens US national security. But let’s take a look at the facts. Over the past 30 years, Huawei has developed over 1,500 networks in more than 170 countries and regions, having 228 Fortune 500 companies as clients and serving more than three billion people all over the world. Not a single cybersecurity incident like those revealed by Edward Snowden or WikiLeaks has there been. Not a single tapping or surveillance operation like PRISM, Equation
Group or ECHELON has there been. And not a single country has produced evidence of any backdoors in Huawei products.” The New York Times reported in June that “American officials have pushed countries around the world not to use Huawei’s networking equipment in their next-generation, or 5G, wireless networks.” The Chinese counsellor said: “Some American politicians have been incessantly pressuring other countries, making uninvited comments about their 5G development and openly coercing them into following its own will. This is hegemony in full display. The real reason
behind the animosity of the US towards Chinese companies has nothing to do with national security or democracy, freedoms or fairness. It’s just because they are Chinese companies and also front runners in their lines of business. “We urge the US to abandon its Cold-War mentality and zero-sum game mindset, stop politicising trade issues and oppressing Chinese companies. We hope all countries will commit to uphold a fair, just, open and non-discriminatory business environment and reject nationality discrimination in global scientific and trade cooperation as firmly as they reject racism.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 5
Family Islands want COVID details By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net FAMILY Island residents say they want more data from health officials to determine what type of transmission is happening in their communities causing COVID-19 cases to rise. Their comments come after health officials released Wednesday’s COVID-19 data, showing an increase in cases on several Family Islands including Inagua, Crooked Island and Mayaguana. The Tribune contacted several residents to get a reaction on the matter, many of whom said they were shocked to see the new cases. Inagua resident Giselle Fielder said the situation is particularly worrying because residents are being left “in the dark” about the island’s COVID-19 cases. Mrs Fielder said while she understands the need to protect the confidentiality of COVID positive
patients, locals should still be privy to certain information like the patient’s travel history and how many people are in quarantine on the island. “Nobody knows who’s infected and I’m okay with that because that’s none of my business, but I need to know who’s out there going to the foodstore, going to the gas station,” she said. “I need to know who should be in quarantine and how many are in quarantine and how are they conducting these contact tracing except going through the nurses and going through the doctors up here. But I need to know are they doing a good enough job?” Ms Fielder also claimed that a quarantine facility has yet to be identified for the island. “We’re abandoned,” she said. “We always get thrown under the bus. In Inagua, it’s like we’re not in The Bahamas and we get what’s left and it’s just so unfair because some of these people should’ve been under mandatory
quarantine.” On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health reported three additional cases for Inagua, bringing the total count there to 16. In response to the increased cases, Ms Fielder said she and her special needs daughter have been forced to remain at home and limit social interaction. “I’m extremely uncomfortable,” she said. “I wanted to go to church this coming Sunday and I can’t go anymore. I don’t know who’s going to be in church and yes, it is sad and I feel like we’re being neglected.” Crooked Island native, Edith Bain said locals are also concerned about the rise of COVID cases on the island, which rose to five after three new cases were recorded by health officials on Wednesday. With a population of some 300 people, Ms Bain said five cases are just way “too many” especially considering the limited resources on the island. “Five is too many for Crooked Island,” she said.
“We are on high alert because it’s spreading and we have to interact some way or the other. “We go to the same mail boat. We interact on the dock. We interact in the food stores, we interact with each other in the church so, of course, we would be concerned.” In Mayaguana, there is also a deep level of fear in the community due to the rising cases, which increased to three on Wednesday. Audrey Charlton, a resident in the community, said the only information she knows about the island’s COVID cases is what’s released on the daily health dashboard. In New Providence and other islands where press statements are often released about building sanitisations due to COVID-19 exposure, Ms Charlton said that is not the case on Mayaguana. “As far as sanitation and stuff, I don’t know,” she said. “The only information we saw was the number on
the dashboard and when I spoke with the nurse she said the police and the nurses are making sure that those persons are staying confined at home.” Still, the resident said locals would like to have more information about the cases and what type of transmission occurring on the island, causing an increase in infections. She told The Tribune: “Even with the first case. It’s like everyone is staying put so how did it get on the island? We didn’t have any plane and the mail boat dock, you had people wearing their masks? The workers on the mail boat, they wore their masks so how did it get there? “Where is their travel history? Who are they connected to? You know we hear little ‘sip-sip’ but we would like to have more information.” She said the situation is also concerning parents, who are now reluctant to send their children to school for possible face-toface instruction depending
on the ministry’s guidelines. Residents there have recently been upset over the Ministry of Education’s decision to amalgamate the public schools on Mayaguana. Officials have said that children on the island will be accommodated by one of the three models – complete virtual, complete face-to-face or a hybrid. Yesterday, Ms Charlton called for education officials to hold a meeting with parents in Mayaguana to hear their concerns before making a final decision. “At the risk of your children’s health knowing the expense and all that, it is safer to keep the children at home and do homeschooling. But the director has to do something. I think they owe it to the parents to come and meet and say exactly what is what,” she said. “You cannot save the government’s money at the risk of our children’s health. A parent’s responsibility is to make sure their children are healthy.”
to a friend which is how he was able to get advice on holistic therapy. “I made a tea that was prescribed, Chinese herbs, by an Eastern Chinese traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and I was expected to boil that as different herbs as a tea and I drank it,” he explained. Mr Farrington said within three days his symptoms were gone, but he still quarantined for 14 days and was tested after this period. Results didn’t come back that same day but eventually, he got a negative result. Now, he is feeling good and made a video about his journey with COVID-19 on his YouTube channel. Mr Farrington has performed at the Apollo theatre and in several plays in New York.
THE Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources has closed its headquarters for deep cleaning and sanitisation after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The office closed yesterday morning and will remain closed until Thursday, September 17 at 9am. A statement from the Cabinet Office said that during this period, all remaining outlets will remain open as usual, such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Marine Resources, the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation, BAHFSA, BAMSI and GRAC. The Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Unit has initiated contact tracing to determine the level of exposure to all employees, and all other protocols are being followed.
ACTOR TELLS OF HIS BATTLE WITH CORONAVIRUS By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN recording artist and actor has detailed his recovery from COVID-19, which left him zapped of energy and compromised his breathing. Jonathan Farrington, 30, tested positive for COVID19 back in July in New York City. Mr Farrington told The Tribune he was doing his best to wear a mask and social distance and doesn’t know exactly where and how he contracted the virus. “I had night sweats and then I had a fever and then I lost my appetite….I lost my taste,” he said of his symptoms, which developed in early July. “I lost
JONATHAN FARRINGTON my smell… My chest was very compromised in terms of my breathing. “It takes away your energy. So like you know you really can’t do much physically. All you want to
do is lay in bed all day. It’s that aggressive especially if you get the symptoms... the way I had it.” He suffered from these symptoms for approximately three to four days
before finding out he had the virus. The recording artist got tested on July 4 and got the positive result about three days later. According to him, testing was free and efficient. “I went on the line. What I did was I got the nasal and I got the blood work to see if I got any antibodies,” he said. Mr Farrington had to stay home, quarantine, and try his best to fight it off. He added: “I knew that there was really nothing that they could tell me. Only to just stay home and you know drink lots of water. They didn’t really give me any medical advice.” The actor did his own research and used a lot of natural remedies such as Chinese herbs. He spoke
MINISTRY CLEANING
PAGE 6, Friday, September 11, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,
jamaaltheartist@gmail.com
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991
EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,
C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-
Published daily Monday to Friday
Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES
News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax
(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348
WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com
@tribune242
tribune news network
What a difference a week makes THIS week started with optimism from Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar about an October reopening. It ends with the grim reality that the doors of one of our megaresorts, Baha Mar, will not likely open until Christmas at the earliest. Staff at the resort have been told they will receive 30 percent of their base salary for up to a further 90 days. While the resort says a further decision on reopening will be made next month, that pushes us towards the end of the year. It brings us to this – it’s all very well for the government to declare the country reopened, but it’s down to businesses to shoulder the consequences of that. Baha Mar is making its decision based on how controlled COVID-19 is – both in the US, our major tourism market, and here in The Bahamas. We can’t control the virus response in the US – but our own response here in The Bahamas is lacking, it would seem. Others too have raised eyebrows at Mr D’Aguilar’s optimism. A letter writer in yesterday’s Tribune poked holes in the minister’s rebranded quarantine, pointing out the impossibility of coming to visit from Canada and that it is so difficult that if they did not have connections with Nassau, they would not bother to come. Another Canadian responding to that letter on Twitter pointed out the absurdity that to go to their home in Davis Creek, Andros, she would have to stay 14 days in Nassau. “Very confusing,” she said. She’s right. There are three things we must do. One is to get the virus under control here in our own borders. Without that, nothing else matters. The second is to find a way to allow people in more freely from countries where the virus is under control without loading them down with restrictions imposed on those from countries where the virus runs wild. The third is to pay heed to the voices of businesses. If they are telling the government they are not ready to reopen because of the risk, no amount of promises from the government will make that risk go away. It’s not the government that will have to explain to hotel guests if an outbreak happens within the resort. We do wonder how much of this push to reopen is down to worries about the country’s finances, with Finance Minister warning of “a more troublesome scenario” if tourism doesn’t pick up
before the year’s end. There are no easy roads ahead, nor are there shortcuts to get us to our destination.
The price of power The cost of power has been on the minds of Grand Bahama residents for some time now. For those who haven’t been keeping track, residents have long warned of the high cost of power. The Grand Bahama Power Company has looked to increase those costs again – a charge to cover the costs of storm recovery, bringing in $15.6m over five years. Residents have protested. They have campaigned. The charge was delayed because of the impact of COVID-19 and yet, with COVID-19 still here and people struggling to pay their bills, the charge will take effect from next month. Pastor Eddie Victor has been tireless in his campaigning for a reduction rather than increase in energy costs and he spoke out against it again yesterday, saying: “We thought it would go into next year, come to find out it would be October 1. The economy is in no state to bear any further expenses.” He criticised Grand Bahama Power Company as being driven by profits, and branded them as “heartless”. “You could only milk a cow so far,” he said, “The fact is this cow that is GB has been drying up and there is no more milk that you can get from it.” It seems especially perverse for charges to go up in a year which has seen oil prices drop significantly. The price of a barrel of oil is down substantially on last year – has the power company been able to secure savings there to pass on to customers or to offset the costs of hurricane recovery? There is a feeling of a lack of partnership in Grand Bahama among many – and demanding more money might only result in more people being cut off when there is little cash to spare in the current crunch. The power company, and its Canadian owners, would do well to listen to its customers and, if there is a way to delay these charges, find a way to do so until the current crisis is over. People need money coming in if they’re to pay more money going out. That’s not happening right now. Time for a rethink.
Issues facing the world EDITOR, The Tribune. There are two issues I would like to address but I do so from a world weary cynical perspective: 1) As a race we profess to being highly educated, scientifically brilliant and it must be true we sent men to the moon 61 years ago? Yet as a race we cannot even agree on how to tackle COVID! COVID has become a political football kicked around by the left and the right. Astonishingly we have at the highest level in the USA and right down through governor level opinions that masks, social distancing and the like are a waste of time. A blind man could see this as nonsense. Because of this myopia the USA has over six million cases, if Florida was a country with 660,000 cases it would come sixth in the world in regards to overall cases. There are Americans dying that did not need to! Personally that would annoy me dying for stupidity’s sake. 2) The murdering of unarmed black men by US policemen shocks and disgusts every country in the world, except the USA! The latest staggering incident
of an unarmed black man, Jacob Blake, trying to get into his car in Kenosha and shot seven times in the back. The facts are simple if he were white he would still be alive. The young white guy, Kyle Rittenhouse, then a couple of nights later shoots dead two black protesters and then calmly walked through the police cordon with the AK47 over his head and was not even stopped by the police. Could you imagine if he were a black man with an AK47 over his head, yes he would be dead. Does their President try and intervene with positive soundbites, rub calming balm on the soul of America? No, he seems to fan the flames as he knows his base and it deflects attention from the huge elephant in the room his appalling handling of the COVID pandemic. The saddest part of all this is America can still not in the year 2020 seem to get past the fact that someone with a different skin colour is not necessarily the enemy! You hope that the world will progress with time, you hope that with education we could understand our diversity and differences are exactly what makes us so
brilliant and interesting. The world, however, is lurching towards populism, a right wing ideology which back in the day was called fascism. Loosely it sows distrust and drives wedges between countries and people – it’s all about hate. If you listen to Trump his speeches are all about hate and are negative in the extreme, the only positives you hear from him are about his own brilliance. As a cynic and with the growth of isolationist politics of the right making inroads into our collective psyche the conditions are ripening for World War 3. Hopefully the world will see the advantages of the middle way and see the rightwing resurgence as the danger it is. Does history teach us anything? 85 years ago another right wing populist Adolf Hitler made his play for power. Trump uses the Wall and the drug dealers, criminals and rapists from South America to get his base into a frenzy. Hitler used the Jew, the “less than human” same hateful/ hate fueled rhetoric. We all know. what happened next. THE REALIST Nassau, September 10, 2020.
United Bahamian people EDITOR, The Tribune. THE Bahamas is now a failed state in my view. The lingering effects of Dorian and the ongoing challenges of the Corona pandemic have exposed the fact that our ‘emperor’ has on no real clothes, but possibly a loin cloth. Our leaders, such as they are, across the board, are completely out of touch. For the past three years it has been reactionary governance and knee jerked responses. Dorian was a national disaster of unprecedented proportions. A year later, Abaco and Grand Bahama are still struggling to recover and rebuild. The administration has Failed Big Time in getting a handle on the post Dorian reconstruction efforts. The Minister of State for Disasters, Iram Lewis, is in deep and uncharted waters. Former Senator Kay Forbes-Smith, whose portfolio has yet to be fully defined much less explained, serves no real purpose and in fact there may be multiple levels of people tripping over each other. What about my brother Captain Russell down at NEMA? What is his real role? What is his compensation package like, compared to the Minister of State and the former Senator? Why do we need the three of them when disaster management and hurricane preparations should be a piece of cake? Our people are determined, but we have sorely lacked leadership ever since the rushed resignation of the former Prime Minister, the Rt Honourable Hubert A Ingraham. As a student of the Constitution I fully appreciate and understand why he felt it necessary to resign as party leader, that was a decision which has plunged The Bahamas into uncharted waters. We ended up with the Competent Authority which has proven to be anything but that. It is unfortunate that we have allowed naked partisan politics to dictate the development, such as it is, of our wonderful nation. The poor are getting poorer and the rich
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net are getting richer. Politics is now not about the citizens but rather about how much money or power one is able to accumulate. The interest and well being of the unwashed masses is now, as it has always been secondary. This was amply and painfully demonstrated over the last six months. The FNM did a great job during the first three months of the pandemic. It and the PM blundered, badly, when they prematurely reopened the borders thus allowing Bahamians unrestricted entry into the hot spot of Florida and equally unrestricted return to The Bahamas. Scores of Bahamians have died since then from Corona related and suspected deaths. Is there blood on the hands of this administration? The average Bahamian, thanks to the cockeyed public policy initiatives of the Competent Authority and his kitchen (or is the bush) cabinet over the last six months has been reduced to beggary and worse. The bread and food lines are unprecedented and many have been literally stripped of their dignity and selfworth. The administration brags about how it is spending one million dollars per week on feeding Bahamians. Is this what was expected or asked for. NO. The people of this wonderful nation must soon come to the certain realization that this crew, et al, means you all no good in the long run. We must come together as a people and craft our own solutions. May I suggest that we form a non-political and non-profit non-governmental organisation to be called and known as the United Bahamian People (UBP) Yes, you read correctly, UBP. The PLP is the logical alternative to the FNM and I suggest that all opposition forces and entities should fold themselves into that organization. This would include the lurching Democratic National Alliance.... DNA.....and the rest of
those rudderless entities. The time to stop playing Doll House politics is over. Ever since Minnis ascended to unexpected political power it has been and continues to be downhill for our wonderful nation. All Bahamians of good will are invited to join with me in getting out of this political rot. Some have asked if the Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, MP, can or will make a difference after he comes to power as Prime Minister. I say, yes, that with Brave we have a known character and his word is his bond. Not so with Minnis. I was a paid consultant to Minnis and many others back in 2015 when he was being savaged by Loretta; Duane; Theo Neeley and a handful of others. I advised him on the strategy for eliminating, once and for all, the heel biting detractors. So advised.....so done. Minnis, however, is, in my opinion an ungrateful son of all things. Case in point. Ingraham brought Minnis into front line politics and made him. Ingraham also ensured that Minnis would become the de facto, if not de jure leader of the rump FNM back in 2012. Yet, what was the first statement uttered by Minnis? ‘The Ingraham era is over......’ Well it now looks like the closing of the Minnis interregnum is at hand. Indeed, the handwriting is on the wall: ‘Minnis has been placed in the balance and has been found wanting’. There are three Trojan horses within the FNM who will be seeking to unseat Minnis before the scheduled general elections in 2022 (a good four ball). It really does not matter if there is a snap election. The Bahamas is no Trinidad & Tobago and, for sure, it is not Jamaica. A united Bahamian people is what is needed now, more than ever before, to show our clueless and inept politicians to the front or back door. We have got to take our country back from the parade of clowns, across the board. We are governed by little boys wearing Big boy’s pants. ORTLAND H BODIE Jr, Nassau, September 10, 2020.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 7
Church leader row now moves to Supreme Court from page one They further asked the court to examine their evidence to “interpret” whether a senior pastor could be “thrust upon” the organisation, or appointed through an election. Wayne Munroe, QC, heads the counsel for plaintiffs Bishop Davis, Donna Turnquest, Genesta Williams, John Rigby and Joyous Picstock. He said he wanted to examine the defendants as it related to the composition of the executive committee, since the governance of Golden Gates is “set out very clearly”. The church’s executive committee is formed by Bishop Davis who has the power to veto any decision the committee makes. The plaintiffs are claiming the pastoral board cannot make resolutions that could determine who is appointed as senior pastor, because they are not a part of the church’s executive committee. They argue only members of the committee –which only the plaintiffs are a part of – can appoint senior pastors. On the other hand, the defendants, who are represented by attorney Ramona Seymour, argue that Golden Gates was run by the pastoral board with Bishop Davis as the head since 2001. Despite this, they claim the memorandums and articles of the church only refer to an executive council and committee with no mention of a pastoral board. Mrs Seymour added the church has not held one election over the past 18 years to determine which members get to be a part of the committee and council. She said her clients want the court to determine “where the pastoral board fits in”, as well as order an audit of the executive committee to determine who gets to be senior pastor. “When you look at their actions and
MAN ACCUSED OVER BODY WRAPPED IN SHEET By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 34-YEAR-OLD man was charged with murder yesterday, days after a man’s body was found wrapped in sheet in the area of Bacardi Road. Charles St Luc also known as “Elmo” appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with the death of Patrick Rolle Jr on September 5. According to initial police reports, shortly after 8 o’clock that night, a concerned citizen informed officers that a homicide may have occurred on Blyden Road, near Bacardi Road. Acting on this information, officers proceeded to a track road off Bacardi Road, shortly after midnight on September 6, where they discovered the body of an adult male wrapped in a blue sheet. Police said Emergency Medical Services were contacted and pronounced the victim dead after examining the lifeless body. During the hearing, St Luc was not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to December 8 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until that time. St Luc, who is represented by attorney Tonique Lewis, has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
TRENT DAVIS, whose appointment as senior pastor of Golden Gates Assembly has prompted protest by the pastoral board. The Supreme Court is now set to hear the matter.
decision-making power, you would conclude they were a part of the executive committee,” she told the judge. “What is before you from the outset is there has been a breakdown in the church. The defendants stated they are not in agreement with the 2018 resolutions and their role is not the role the plaintiffs wish to box them in. “…We are asking the court to interpret the church’s memorandums
and articles to determine whether or not the plaintiffs and defendants acted properly and determine how the church ought to move forward”. Mrs Seymour said Pastor Davis already lost in a 10-3 vote among the pastoral board in 2018. She said the defendants are calling for an election where people who have been members of Golden Gates from January 28, 2020 can elect a senior
pastor. After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Winder said he would give Mr Munroe two weeks to respond to the defendants’ counterclaims. He also said the people who make up the executive committee and council, as well as the role of the pastoral board, will be determined as a preliminary issue during the next hearing. The matter continues on September 25.
PAGE 8, Friday, September 11, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
It’s back to fantasy football season A Comic’s View
By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA
EVEN though the days of COVID-19! COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we all know it, there is a ray of sunshine through the dark clouds. The NFL season kicked off yesterday, the best time of Watching the game at year. home has its advantages, Pandemic or not! However, I am totally but it’s also cool to watch it at a bar. You aware that other this wretched Don’t talk down. meet people, you pandemic will There’s a huge talk some trash, change the misconception have some way football drinks and is watched, at that woman wings galore. least for this don’t like Rewind and season. football or if repeat. Not all of Buy her your you are blessed they do, it’s favourite team’s like me to have because they jersey. It will a wife that actually give actually loves think one of her a reason football and the players is to get dressed enjoys watching ‘hot’ or they and ready to go the games and out on Sunday tailgating with like to see men with her favourme. So, to this in tight pants ite jersey, and end, here are a and great hair watch how she few suggestions accessorizes it to help you hit each other. with her own enjoy watching football with your signifi- unique flair. What is also hilarious at cant other in these crazy
THE BAR VS THE COUCH
KANSAS City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans yesterday and, right, Naughty sharing some NFL love with his wife. a bar is everyone celebrates at some point, high-fiving, dapping and chest bumping. I promise you it may take her a minute to figure out the game, but in no time she will have the touchdown celebration rituals down pat so much so you might think she was an ex-Dallas Cowboy cheerleader! (Yes I know, it was a shameless plug for my team.) In addition to all the fun awaiting you at the bar, have personal fun bets.
Doctors Hospital REDUCES PRICE OF RT-PCR COVID-19 TESTING FOR DOMESTIC TRAVEL In coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister and recognizing the critical importance of inter-island travel to the economy of The Bahamas, especially in the family islands, Doctors Hospital has agreed to absorb a reduced price for RT PCR COVID-19 tests when requested for the purpose of domestic travel. The new price will be $120.00 plus VAT. Applicants will be required to complete a digital form at www.doctorshosp.com and show proof of travel prior to receiving a travel card indicating their test status. All travel cards will be available within 24 - 48 hours for physical collection at Doctors Hospital's drivethrough facility at Blake Road. Please note that the pricing for non-domestic travel related testing is under review and may be subsequently adjusted to provide additional accommodations to Bahamians. Travelers can access the new test form at 8:00 a.m. Thursday September 10 2020. Details on availability and logistics will be available on our website at that time. w w w.doc torshosp.com I (242) 302-4600
Predict the score and (most importantly) play some drinking games!
SHARE THE FANTASY Get in a league together with your significant other. Teach her something, so that way when you’re actually watching the game she’s gonna want the points from the running back and quarterback. They like winners too, that’s why she’s with you. So let her follow along with your players and it will all make sense. It will also make her feel like she’s involved and helping you out. You will be surprised how fast she will want those fantasy points more than you do! Warning, don’t teach her too much like I did my wife, she’s won more leagues than me over the last three years. Zero bragging rights for me in our household.
RESPECT Don’t talk down. There’s
a huge misconception that woman don’t like football or if they do, it’s because they think one of the players is ‘hot’ or they like to see men in tight pants and great hair hit each other. (This might actually be true, but my wife swears it’s a misconception, so I choose to roll with that.) Have some patience and understanding and both of you will be enjoying football together for seasons to come.
CHEERING FOR THE ENEMY If this occurs it could be a red flag. Yes in some cases that makes it more fun.It might give the relationship a little
spark it’s been lacking. It’s good to fight a little bit over sports teams. However, if you argue regularly without football in the equation, tell her to invite her sisters or friends over to watch the game at home with her and you go to the bar and watch it with your boys! If she tries to put you through an inquisition, look her dead in the eye and say, “I’m doing it to save our relationship because I love you that much, no fighting over football.” Also, promise to bring her wings back and you should be fine. Hopefully this helps and you enjoy watching football all season long. If it somehow goes south for you, remember I clearly stated these were only suggestions!
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 9
Why are there so many words and the right one is still hard to come by? By Diane Phillips SOMEONE just told you we face on a daily basis that at this very moment during normal times. Now your perfectly fit, enviably that challenge is tougher healthy female friend is than ever, exacerbated by being airlifted to a Florida COVID-19 social distanchospital with a life-threat- ing measures. No longer ening heart problem. You can we get away with the simple act of popping our are flabbergasted. A man you work with eyeballs to show surprise loses his mother after a long or looking like a scorned battle with cancer. You are puppy to express remorse. Absent face-to-face flooded by feelings of syminteraction when we get pathy on steroids. At last, a happy shred information to which we of information. A young are supposed to respond couple shares the joyous without time to prepare, we news they are expecting and have to rely on the spoken word. So will welcome twins into the Expressing ourselves just when we thought the world next properly is one of pandemic April. the most daunting had dished Despite out just about the different challenges we face all the prestones of each on a daily basis sure we can of these meswe sages, there during normal times. take, realise that is a common Now that challenge having to thread. speak withNews does is tougher than out using our not come in ever, exacerbated face to show a vacuum. by COVID-19 social what we want Whether express happy, sad, distancing measures. to adds just tragic or startling, it arrives on the spot what we need – a little more packaged with an expecta- stress when we least need it. The practical process of tion of a response. In other words, it’s like this: Some- finding the right words sent one tells you something me on a quick tour around and there is only one thing lexigraphy. Personally, I required of you, say SOME- cannot imagine anything requiring more patience THING now, instantly. So why if there are more than editing a dictionary than 200,000 words in the but there is a gentleman in English language, minus Nassau who recently retired 47,156 which are obsolete, after spending decades is it so hard to find the doing just that. According exact word or phrase to to his wife, a friend of mine, express yourself? You can he never got bored. He only name state capitals, recall decided to retire because NBA three-pointers, reel one day he said he had seen off a mind-boggling slew of enough words. Back to the subject of trivia that absolutely no one words and finding the needs to remember. But when it comes right one. Obvious questo expressing yourself tion, how do authorities emotionally after being who count these things confronted with news that know how many words are requires the right words at in any given language? In the right moment, we are the case of English, they about as adroit as a two- use the number of entries in 2nd Edition of the 2020 toed sloth after dinner. Expressing ourselves Oxford Dictionary where properly is one of the for the first time COVID most daunting challenges appeared. The Chinese
POLICE and defence force officers visiting Abaco to listen to residents on the issue of crime - but did they really get the message?
GET SERIOUS ABOUT THE CRIME IN ABACO THE government has introduced tax breaks and concessions to encourage people to rebuild in Dorian-ravaged Abaco. That is all well and good and congratulations to those who recognised the need for incentives and those who are tempted to return and rebuild. But if the authorities and locals do not face up to the crime problem Abaco has, second homeowners language, interestingly enough, has the fewest words, 85,568, though Mandarin is the most popular language in the world. Amazing when you figure that the Chinese language has more than 100,000 characters, some 4,000 to 6,000 most commonly used, while the English language manages to configure more than 170,000 words with only a 26-letter alphabet. Where does all that information leave us when we are wondering how to choose the appropriate word when news is blasted at you and you only have words, not smiles and looks of sympathy to rely on for communication. As far as I can tell, it’s a lot like everything else COVID-19 has done to us. It makes us wish life could go back to pre-pandemic
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, CHANCES ARE 365 TO THE POWER OF ONE A HAPPY birthday next Tuesday September 15 to Leno founder and CEO Sean Longley and his son, who is turning 16. The chances of a father and son being born on the same day are one in 365, while the chances of a mother, father and child being born on the same day skyrocket to one in 133,000 or more than
ten times rarer than the chance of being struck by lightning which is one in 12,000. Information to pocket, just in case we ever get to a cocktail party again and need to make small talk, but seriously, Sean and son, happy day to both of you and hopefully, next year you will be able to celebrate together again.
will not return and local Abaconians will not grow their businesses or invest in its future like their ancestors did. Building supplies including tiles, lumber, plumbing fixtures, electrical wire and cable are going missing as soon as they are delivered to a job site. A shortage of supplies, cash and security is underlying the explosion of sticky fingers. There is no
normal when we only thought we had reason to complain and when it came to responding to information that was tragic we could greet it as we should, with a hug, and when it
sense trying to cover it up and make it pretty when it just isn’t. If Abaco is to rebuild and regain its reputation as the yachting capital of The Bahamas, a slowmoving living quilt where locals and second homeowners created a hometown feeling of blended cultures and friendship, its residents and officials must get serious about crime.
came time to respond to news that was joyous, well, a hug was good for that, too. Maybe, despite nearly 200,000 words, none is so powerful as the human
touch and no matter how thoughtful the sympathy card is, it can’t compare with the thoughts we express when our mouths are quiet and our arms are open.
PAGE 10, Friday, September 11, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
BIDEN: ‘I HOPE I DON’T TAKE THE BAIT’ IN DEBATE WITH TRUMP By ALEXANDRA JAFFE Associated Press WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden has said he’d “beat the hell out of” President Donald Trump over his comments about women if they were in high school. But on the debate stage, as opponents for the presidency, it’s a different story. When Biden and Trump meet in their first presidential debate later this month, Biden says he has one goal: “I hope I don’t take the bait.” “I hope I don’t get baited into a brawl with this guy, because that’s the only place he’s comfortable,” Biden said Thursday during a fundraiser.
Stage His comments offer a hint at how the former vice president is looking at the upcoming debate on September 29, in Cleveland, Ohio. Biden has previously said he plans to be a “fact checker” on the debate stage, and hold Trump accountable for any misstatements or falsehoods. But on Thursday night, Biden said that “people know what a liar” Trump is. “This is a guy who is absolutely tasteless. Completely tasteless. So pointing it out doesn’t do much,” he said. But Biden acknowledged that he expects the president to “say awful things about me and my family” during the debate to try to get a rise out of him — and the debate is almost certain to feature clashes about the two candidates’ families,
as such attacks have been central themes that have already played out on the campaign trail. The Trump campaign in particular has targeted Biden’s son Hunter for his ties to Chinese and Ukranian companies. And Biden has grown visibly angry at events in recent days about Trump’s reported comments calling fallen Marines “suckers” and “losers,” speaking about his son Beau, who served in the Delaware Army National Guard. Beau Biden died from brain cancer in 2015. And Democrats often criticise Trump for the use of his children in government positions and policy negotiations, as well as the financial benefit his family’s business has seen from the presidency. While Biden said he doesn’t want to get baited by Trump, he did express confidence that “I know how to handle bullies.” But Biden suggested his strategy in the debate will be focused more on drawing a contrast with Trump on competency and policy, and offering Americans an alternative to the Trump presidency. “The place he is most uncomfortable is on the facts. The place he’s most uncomfortable is in the area of what he’s going to do. The place he’s most uncomfortable is knowing the policy. He’s one of the most ill-informed presidents substantively that I’ve ever worked with,” Biden said. Biden added: “Everybody knows who Donald Trump is. I plan to tell them who I am.”
DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event with steelworkers in the backyard of a home in Detroit, Wednesday. (AP Photo/ Patrick Semansky)
PRESIDENT Donald Trump walks away from the media to board Air Force One for a trip to a campaign rally in Freeland, Mich., Thursday, in Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
TRUMP CAMPAIGNS IN BATTLEGROUND MICHIGAN AMID BOOK FALLOUT By JILL COLVIN Associated Press
FREELAND, Mich. (AP) — Amid a political crisis of his own making, President Donald Trump tried to refocus attention on the economy at a rally in battleground Michigan Thursday as he pushed to move past revelations that he had been determined to play down the danger of the coronavirus last winter despite describing it in private as “deadly stuff.” But the virus controversy followed him. Trump faced renewed pushback from officials worried that his rallies are growing in size and flouting public health guidelines intended to halt the COVID-19 spread. This week, the state of Nevada became the first to scuttle his plans for rallies initially set for Las Vegas and Reno. Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also raised alarms about Thursday’s event. Trump revelled in the crowd of several thousand, packed shoulder-to-shoulder in an airport hangar, mostly without masks. “This is not the crowd of a person who comes in second place,” Trump declared to cheers. Before departing the White House Trump denied he had lied to the nation and highlighted a surge in virus cases in Europe to contend that the United States is faring well. “I really do believe we’re rounding the corner,” he asserted.
SUPPORTERS of President Donald Trump watch as Air Force One lands at a rally held at MBS International Airport, Thursday, in Freeland, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Trump is grappling with fallout from a new book by Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward. In a series of interviews with Woodward, the president spoke frankly about the dangers posed by the virus — even as he downplayed them publicly — and admitted he had tried to mislead the public. The book, based on recorded phone interviews, has refocused attention on Trump’s handling of the virus, a subject he has tried to shift away from less than two months before Election Day. “Donald Trump knew all along just how deadly this virus is,” Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said in a virtual fundraiser. “He knew and purposefully played it down because all he was concerned about was his reelection, didn’t want to affect economic growth.” Congress’ top Democrats,
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, set the party’s theme on the subject: “Trump lied and people died.” But Trump, answering questions at the White House, insisted “there was no lie” in his often-dismissive public comments about the virus last February and March. He noted that he had limited travel from China, where the virus apparently originated, “so, obviously, outwardly I said it’s a very serious problem. ... That doesn’t mean I’m going to jump up and down in the air and start saying ‘people are going to die, people are going to die.’” Meanwhile, Trump has resumed an aggressive campaign schedule, despite growing resistance from local leaders who have expressed alarm at his insistence on holding large-scale rallies during a pandemic.
Supporters While the rallies so far have been held in airport hangars open to the air, they have been drawing thousands of supporters despite local restrictions. And the majority of attendees have refused to wear masks, even when mandates are in place. Trump has characterised the rallies as “peaceful protests” and White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said attendees were exercising their First Amendment rights. This week, the campaign pulled the plug on a pair of upcoming rallies in Nevada after the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority warned a company that planned to host the rally for 5,000 people at a private hangar that it would be in violation of the governor’s restrictions banning gatherings of more than 50 people and the terms of the company’s lease for the hangar. “You are hereby advised that you may not proceed with the proposed gathering,” the letter states. “Outrageous!” tweeted Adam Laxalt, Trump’s Nevada campaign co-chair. “This is unprecedented – to cancel an incumbent president’s campaign stop inside 60 days of a major contested election in a swing state. This isn’t over!” In Michigan, Gov. Whitmer did not try to scuttle the rally, but warned that such events “threaten all that sacrifice that we’ve made.” “If the rallies are like
those he’s held in recent days in other states, with lots of people close together without masks on projecting their voices, I’m concerned about it,” she said at a news conference Thursday morning. Michigan currently caps outdoor events at 100 people and mandates that attendees wear masks if they cannot consistently stay 6 feet away from people who are not part of their households. There is an exception, though, which states that nothing in the order can “abridge protections guaranteed by the state or federal constitution under these emergency circumstances.”
Rally It was a similar situation in North Carolina, where Trump held a rally this week that drew a mostly mask-less crowd of thousands. While an executive order currently limits outdoor gatherings to 50 people and mandates masks in public, the rally was technically legal under state pandemic rules that exempt certain gatherings where people exercise free speech, a spokeswoman for North Carolina’s governor said Wednesday. Still, the spokeswoman, Dory MacMillan, said such events “put people’s health at risk.” Michigan is a vital Electoral College battleground, which Trump won by only 10,704 votes in 2016, helping him breach the Democrats’ “blue wall” and putting him in office. While Trump aides had all but written off the state earlier this summer, they now say they have seen a tightening in recent weeks and believe they are in a better position than they were in 2016. But Democrats see optimism, too, having made major gains there in the 2018 midterms, winning every major statewide office and a handful of congressional seats as well. Both candidates have been paying frequent visits, with Biden traveling to suburban Detroit on Wednesday to make a direct appeal to blue-collar workers who might have voted Republican four years ago but now regret it. Trump has also tried to keep those voters’ support, and at his rally Thursday he pushed back, accusing Biden of supporting trade deals and policies that moved jobs to other countries, including China. “Joe Biden devoted his career to offshoring Michigan’s jobs,” Trump said, drawing boos from the crowd. “Biden supported every disastrous globalist sellout for over a half a century.” Michigan’s unemployment rate spiked at 24% in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It has since recovered to 8.7%, but Michigan has nearly 414,500 fewer jobs than it did when Trump was inaugurated. ___ Associated Press writers David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, Brian Slodysko in Washington, Bill Barrow in Atlanta, and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.
SPORTS PAGE 11
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
Lakers top Rockets for 3-1 series lead
LOS Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) reacts to a foul call during the second half last night against the Houston Rockets in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. He finished one assist shy of a triple-double and the Los Angeles Lakers topped the Rockets 110-100 to take a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series. (AP Photo/Mark J Terrill) SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 15
NFL SUNDAY PAGE 14
Chisholm and Marlins regain winning record By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
T
he Miami Marlins began a pivotal seven-game homestand against the Philadelphia Phillies with their first walkoff win of the season and regained a winning record in the standings. Jazz Chisholm went 1-4 at the plate with a walk and scored one run in his third consecutive start at secondbase and the Marlins defeated the Phillies 7-6 last night at Marlins Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Marlins improved to 20-19 on the season. Chisholm had an opportunity for late game heroics in the bottom of the ninth inning against Brandon Workman with runners on the corners and one out, but struck out. Workman threw knuckle curveballs on five of the six pitches in the at-bat. After a strikeout and a flyout in his first two plate appearances, Chisholm was walked in the sixth inning and advanced to third on a Jorge Alfaro single. He was left stranded on third after Corey Dickerson struck out swinging and the Marlins trailed 6-3. Following a Garrett Cooper walk to start the eighth, Chisholm sparked the Marlins’ rally with his single to left.
MIAMI Marlins’ Garrett Cooper (26), Jazz Chisholm (70) and Corey Dickerson, right, celebrate after they scored on a double by Starling Marte during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies, last night in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) He connected with Tommy Hunter’s 91 mph sinker on a 2-2 count. Dickerson followed with a single of his own to load the bases for Starling Marte. Marte doubled to right field to clear the bases and tie the game 6-6 headed into the ninth. The teams continue the series today at 5:10pm. Chisholm is expected to continue his role in the lineup after the Marlins officially announced starting secondbaseman Jon Berti was placed on the 10-day disabled list with an injured right finger.
Chisholm now has backto-back games with hits for the first time in his career and has scored four runs on the season. The unusual seven-game series between the Marlins and Phillies is due to the COVID-19 outbreak earlier in the season that postponed the previous matchup. In the previous series during the first weekend of the season, the Marlins won two out of three games. The Phillies fell to 21-19, just 0.5 game ahead of the Marlins in the National League East standings.
HIGH JUMPER DONALD THOMAS EAGER TO RESUME SEASON NEXT YEAR By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net EVEN as a late bloomer in the sport, Grand Bahamian Donald Thomas has surged on top of the Bahamian chart as a high jumper, having won every medal possible except for the Olympic Games. And while the Bahamian national record has also been excluded from his résumé, the former basketball player is eager to resume his season next year in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Thomas, 36, is currently in Auburn, Alabama where he’s working out for his return to competition after he had his setback last year with a third degree hamstring on his jumping leg that hampered his performance at the 2019
World Championships in Doha, Qatar. “Everything is on slow go because you have to be cautious with what you are doing so you don’t endanger yourself,” Thomas said. “For the mot part, I’m getting out there, still training. “I really don’t go anywhere unless I go to train or to the grocery store. I’m back to 100 per cent since the hamstring in May, which prevented me from training and competing the way I wanted to last year. I couldn’t put in the work that I wanted to.” With track and field put on hold since March when the coronavirus pandemic hit the world of sports, Thomas said he was looking forward to heading back to Doha to compete in his first meet this year and then another one in Rome.
HIGH jumper Donald Thomas does some weightlifting.
After Doha was cancelled, Thomas opted just to make the trek to Europe for the one meet in Rome. It would have been a good confidence booster for Thomas. But he decided to just focus on preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games, which was postponed in July to 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. “It gives me more time to prepare because the high jump is a confident event to compete in,” Thomas said. “Coming off an injury, you’re not just going to jump high. You have to work yourself back into jump shape. “I’m just determined to get back there. So the delay has given me more time to prepare for the Olympics.” At present, Thomas is being coached by Luis Pinilo from Cuba. While he normally spends a
couple months in Cuba under the supervision of Pinilo, Thomas video taped his training in Auburn and sent it to his coach to be critiqued. “I’m a veteran jumper, so I can take instructions very well,” Thomas noted. “That was one of the reasons why I’ve been so successful in the time that I’ve been competing in the sport.” While attending Lindenwood University as a member of their Lions men’s basketball team in January 2006, Thomas was faced with a dare from one of his team-mates that he couldn’t clear the high jump bar. Once he did, the 2002 Freeport Anglican High graduate decided to venture further into the sport and the rest, as they say, was history.
SEE PAGE 15
Tennis coach John Farrington continuing his career By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net TENNIS is back and so is Bahamian John Farrington as he takes advantage of the opportunity to continue his coaching career with a number of players on the international scene. The former national champion and Davis Cup player/captain, is currently working with touring players American Austin Krajicek from College Station, Texas and Franko Skugor from Croatia in a tournament in Kitzbuhel, Austria through Sunday when they will head to Rome for their next tournament before they prepare for the French Open at the Stade Roland-Garros in
Paris, France at the end of the month. Over the past year, Farrington was coaching Krajicek, who started playing doubles first time now with Skugor. The duo are seeded at No.4 at the Generali Open. “He works extremely hard and he is improving each and every day,” said Farrington, of Krajicek. “Franko just started playing doubles, so they have formed a great combination.” Krajicek, just after he and Skugor pulled off a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 win over Nikola Cacic and Dusan Ljovic from Serbia in their first round match on Tuesday, said they’ve had a pretty good year so far, despite the pandemic.
“We’ve got in a few days before Cincinnati and we had a good tournament there and we’ve gotten off to a great start here at this tournament,” Karajicek said. “We just have to stay healthy. If we can do that, I think we can do some damage.” As a coach, Krajicek said Farrington’s work ethic has rubbed off on both he and Skugor and they can’t help but improve. “We want to get the wins, so Franko and I are just dotting our Is and crossing our Ts. That’s what it comes down to, just putting in the work and adjusting to play the match. So it’s a great fit for us and we’re making it work.” With tennis slowly making its way back to the
international scene amid the coronavirus pandemic, Farrington said they are all excited about getting back on the court. “It’s different with no spectators. They are trying to keep us in a sort of bubble where we have to wear our masks, except for when you are on the court playing,” he said. “We’re tested just about every day or at least every other day, so they are trying to keep us all safe and healthy.” Krajicek, a 30-year-old southpaw, said the Covid19 environment is obviously different from what they are used to since he turned pro in 2012, but they’re making the necessary adjustments. “There are a few fans this week, so it’s starting to
look a little normal,” he said. “But it’s going to take some time wearing a mask everywhere and having to go through all of the protocols and having to get the acceptance letters from the various governments to travel to the countries. “We have to do what we have to do, but I think we are all enjoying it and excited to be back and playing in some tournaments. That’s all that we could ask for. We’re just delighted to
have John around as our coach. He helps to get us through the day off the court.” Since 1998, Farrington has been coaching on the circuit, having worked with such players as Bahamian Mark Knowles and his long time partner Daniel Nestor from Canada and later his partner Nenad Zimonjic from Serbia in addition to Bahamian Mark Merklein
SEE PAGE 13
Want to increase your Sales? Advertise your Business in The Bahamas leading newspaper in circulation, or on Tribune242.com. Call our Advertising Department on 502-2350/502-2394 for more information.
PAGE 12, Friday, September 11, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 13
SHORT OF NO. 24 AGAIN, WILLIAMS LOSES TO AZARENKA AT US OPEN By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams already was struggling to keep up in a fast-paced US Open semifinal when she stopped behind the baseline after a thirdset point and leaned over. She held that pose for a bit, then clutched at her lower left leg and asked for a trainer. While Williams took a medical timeout for a tape job for what she later said was an Achilles issue — her latest bid for a
24th Grand Slam singles title seemingly slipping away — her opponent, Victoria Azarenka, sat in a sideline seat, eyes closed, calm and composed as can be. After a delay of about five minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium, action resumed, and while Williams raised the force of her shots and volume of her shouts, it was Azarenka who finished off a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory to return to a major championship final for the first time since 2013. The loss left Williams just short of No. 24 yet again. She was
beaten in the finals of four of the preceding seven Slams, including at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and 2019. “Maybe I took a little too much off the gas pedal at some point,” Williams said. With her 39th birthday a little more than two weeks away, the question will become: How many more chances will Williams get? She did confirm afterward she’ll head to Paris; the French Open starts September 27. “Obviously, disappointed, but at the same time, I did what
I could today,” Williams said. “Other times, I’ve been close and I could have done better. Today, I gave a lot.” Williams said the leg issue wasn’t why she lost. “I don’t think that had anything to do with it,” Williams said. “Ultimately, it didn’t affect my play at all.” Azarenka won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013 and lost to Williams in the US Open finals those two years. She’s finally back in a title match at a major.
“It’s been seven years? That’s my favourite number. I guess that’s meant to be. I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” Azarenka said. “On the road to the final, you have to beat the best players and today was that day.” On Saturday, Azarenka will face Naomi Osaka for the championship in a meeting between two-time major champions who have both been ranked No. 1 in the past and have been by far the two best players since tennis resumed last month after a pandemic-forced hiatus.
HELPED BY NET, BAD CALL, NAOMI OSAKA GETS PAST BRADY IN SEMIFINAL By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — It wasn’t until Naomi Osaka got a little help from a fortunate net-cord and an incorrect line call that she finally was able to get the better of Jennifer Brady in a U.S. Open semifinal filled with fast serves and strong forehands. And now Osaka, still just 22, is one victory away from a third Grand Slam title. Osaka finally surged ahead midway through the last set with the only service break she would get last night -- and only she would need -- to beat Brady 7-6 (1), 3-6, 6-3, returning to the final at Flushing Meadows two years after winning the championship. The match was played with the retractable cover at Arthur Ashe Stadium shut, and rain loudly pelted the roof. That also created an indoor environment conducive to the clean hitting both women produced, the thud of racket-on-ball echoing off thousands of empty blue seats at a tournament closed to spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic. “It means a lot for me. I kind of consider New York my second home,” said Osaka, who was born
in Japan and moved to the United States as a child. “I kind of love the atmosphere, even though there’s no people here. I feel like this court kind of suits me well.” Suited both players just fine for most of the highquality semifinal. Osaka served at up to 120 mph; Brady reached 117 mph. And they pounded the ball once it was in play, too, particularly off the forehand side. “I just felt like I was sticking it out. It felt like we were trading serves,” Osaka said. “I tried to adjust a little bit on her serve in the third set so maybe that helped.” They combined for 70 winners -- 35 apiece -- to just 42 unforced errors, each as good as the other, and it took a bit of luck to swing things after 1 hour, 45 minutes. That’s when, at 2-1 in the third set, Osaka earned her first break point with a backhand that clipped the net tape and trickled over. She was able to convert the chance when she hit a deep return of a 110 mph serve, and Brady’s backhand in response was called long -although a television replay showed it actually caught a piece of the back of the baseline.
NAOMI OSAKA, of Japan, reacts after winning a point against Jennifer Brady, of the United States, during a semifinal match of the US Open tennis championships yesterday in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Brady did not challenge the ruling. Ashe is one of only two courts at the U.S. Open using line judges this year; to reduce the number of people on site, the tournament used electronic line-calling in the other arenas.
In Saturday’s final, Osaka will face two-time major champion Victoria Azarenka. Williams entered that semifinal last night, with an 18-4 head-to-head advantage over Azarenka, including 10-0 in Grand
Slam tournaments, with victories in the 2012 and 2013 US Open title matches. The only opponent Williams has played more often is her older sister, Venus; they’ve met 31 times. The men’s semifinals are today, with Dominic Thiem
vs. Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev vs. Pablo Carreño Busta. None of the final four men has won a Grand Slam trophy. The opening set of the first women’s semifinal came down to the tiebreaker and Osaka was superior, maybe owing to her greater amount of experience in such situations. She didn’t make a single error -- Brady’s lone point arrived via an ace -- and cooly closed it out with a 120 mph ace. That was the first set ceded by Brady in the twoweek tournament. But she also hadn’t faced anyone the calibre of Osaka. Osaka’s résumé also includes the 2019 Australian Open trophy and status as the first Asian tennis player to be ranked No. 1. In the second set, though, it was Osaka who blinked, and Brady who collected the first break of the evening. She went ahead 5-3 when Osaka missed a forehand on a 19-stroke exchange, then served it out. Heady stuff for Brady, a 25-year-old from Pennsylvania who never had been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament before this week.
Euro soccer leagues kick off congested, uncertain season By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer
GENEVA (AP) — Star players isolated from their teams. Games postponed or moved to neutral venues. Clubs at financial risk without fans in their stadiums. The coronavirus pandemic still figures to be soccer’s toughest opponent across Europe this season as England and Spain this weekend lead a wave of national leagues beginning a tightly packed schedule. After a 2019-20 domestic season that stretched beyond one year in some countries, barely more than eight months are now free for the 38-game leagues. In late-May, UEFA takes over the fixture calendar for club competition finals and the delayed 2020 European Championship. Most leagues across Europe defied doubts in the spring to emerge from a three-month shutdown and complete their seasons safely — albeit in empty stadiums that upended the soccer economy. Now they must do it again while working with public authorities even more closely to bring fans back to games. “They have understood that it is not over yet,” said Jacco Swart, managing director of the 29-nation European Leagues network. “They have to struggle and battle for this every day.” “The big question is when are we going back to normal and what is going to be the definition of normal by then?” the official from the Netherlands said in an interview. The unpredictability of season ahead can already be seen in leagues that have kicked off.
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain opened its league campaign without its stars and lost 1-0 at promoted Lens yesterday. Striker Ignatius Ganago finished powerfully in the 57th minute after thirdchoice PSG goalkeeper Marcin Bulka passed the ball to him instead of teammate Marco Verratti, who perhaps should not have demanded it on the edge of the penalty area. PSG made a late start to its domestic title defence without a slew of star players, including Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, who tested positive for COVID-19. PSG’s opener was delayed nearly two weeks to let players rest after their loss in the Champions League final last month. The Scottish standings are disjointed with Celtic and Aberdeen already two games behind schedule. The city of Aberdeen was locked down in August by public authorities when a local spike in infections was linked to nightlife. Several Aberdeen players who broke the rules were criticised by lawmakers. Swart said some teams could play games in neutral cities because of local lockdowns. Also, he suggested, “new kickoff times, maybe new match days, playing domestic league matches on days which have not been (used) regularly until now, can be foreseen.” The biggest upheaval to league programmes and standings could arise if a club enters bankruptcy, drops out and its results are wiped from the record. “In today’s situation, not only within football but within the entire economy, it would be unrealistic to
say that things like that could not happen,” Swart acknowledged. European club leaders have warned of a collective revenue shortfall of 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion) combined in 2020 and 2021. Hundreds of millions of dollars in expected income is being rebated to broadcasters for disrupted schedules last season. With so many clubs in smaller leagues relying on cash from matchday ticket and hospitality sales, the top focus is bringing back some fans. “Everyone is on the same page that we have one objective,” Swart said. “Football is becoming a real event again when we have the fans (in) the stands.” Fans will return in many countries within strict limits such as up to two-thirds of stadium capacity in October, ahead of a predicted winter rise in infections. “Hopefully, but I am not sure if that’s realistic, by the end of this season we can have full capacity again,” Swart said. With its special place in European culture, soccer has shown “a very good example for the entire society that we can deal, and we have to deal, with the new circumstances,” he said. Turkey and the Netherlands also kick off their seasons this weekend, followed a week later by leagues in Germany, Italy and Portugal. The unscripted drama at the core of soccer’s appeal will likely be matched off the field by the pandemic’s unpredictability. “We know one thing for sure,” Swart said. “What is the situation today will not be the situation in a couple of months’ time.”
BAHAMIAN tennis coach John Farringron (centre) with Austin Krajicek and Franko Skugor.
Tennis coach Farrington continuing his career FROM PAGE 11 and India’s doubles duo of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, Oliver Marach from Austria and Mate Pavie from Croatia. At times, he also coached Anastasia Rodionova from Australia; Alla Kudryavsteva from Russia and Sania Mirza from India on the WTA Tour and is currently working with identical twin sisters Nadia and Lyudemelia Kichenck from the Ukraine. “It was good to coach some players who were number one in the world and the goal is to get back to the level where I can
coach some players who can become number one,” said Farrington of Skugor and Krajicek, who are the highest ranked at No. 33 and 36 respectively. While he’s doing his coaching chores, Farrington is also keeping an eye on the up and coming local tennis players, including Justin Roberts, who at age 23 is currently ranked at 786 in singles and 936 in doubles. “I know he has a bright future ahead of him,” Farrington said. “So I’m keeping an eye on him and also Jacobi Bain, who attends Albury Academy and hits with some of the top players whenever they visit the Bahamas.”
Farrington, who resides in Asheville, North Carolina, is the son of former veteran tennis player and hotelier J Barrie Farrington; was the Director of Tennis at the One and Only Ocean Club for 14 years and competed in the ATP Tour for seven years. He was also an 11-time national champion in singles and doubles; has represented the Bahamas on the Davis Cup for 10 years and coached the Bahamas team of Knowles and Merklein at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and Knowles and Devin Mullings at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
PAGE 14, Friday, September 11, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
CRICKET: HISTORYMAKING TRINBAGO WINS TITLE
QB position in the spotlight for Dolphins-Patriots season opener By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill Belichick and Brian Flores have built their NFL coaching reputations on the defensive side of the ball. But it’s what will happen offensively for both teams that will be in the spotlight as the Patriots and Dolphins open the 2020 season. New England’s offence is expected to look different with Cam Newton at the helm following Tom Brady’s exit in free agency. Miami is turning to veteran coordinator and coach Chan Gailey to revitalise its attack with top draft pick Tua Tagovailoa waiting in the wings behind veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. Newton hasn’t tried to hide his giddiness since officially being selected as the starter at the end of training camp. After nine seasons in Carolina, including two final years disrupted by injuries, he said joining the Patriots is “a match made in heaven.” “Excitement level is on 1,000 (per cent),” Newton said. “I’ve been away from football really for a full year — 16 games. ... So I haven’t really had this whole process for a long time now.” That doesn’t mean he’ll be nervous though. “I don’t get butterflies. I give them,” Newton said with a smile. Fitzpatrick will start for the Dolphins on Sunday. But even he has described himself as a “placeholder” while the Dolphins groom Tagovailoa, who is working his way back from the hip injury that limited him to just nine games in his final collegiate season at Alabama. Still, Fitzpatrick acknowledged that “it
means a ton” to be the Week 1 starter. “It’s not something that I take for granted,” he said. “I’ve kind of gone back and forth and been the guy and not been the guy. I know how difficult it is to earn something like this. ... It’s the reason I still play.” All things considered, It’s not a bad consolation for Miami. The 37-year-old Fitzpatrick is 55-83-1 as a starter, but he was the Dolphins’ most valuable player last year. Flores said he isn’t concerned about if or when he’ll have to make a decision between Fitzpatrick and Tagovailoa. “I think it could happen at any position. It’s football. Guys get injured. Things happen,” Flores said. “So the entire team or the guys who are on the active roster have to be ready to go and Tua is part of that.” MAKING HISTORY Newton will become the first Black player in Patriots history to be the Week 1 starter at quarterback. Jacoby Brissett became the first Black player to start for New England in 2016, when he started Week 2 while Tom Brady was serving his four-game “Deflategate” suspension. “It’s a big deal. It’s really a big deal,” Newton said. “I understand who I am, I understand being an African-American in this time we have to be stronger and sticking with each other more than ever now. Yet this is a great feat to achieve but at the end of the day we have to make sure we’re using our platform for positive reasons, and that’s what I want to do.” ANDREWS RETURNS Patriots centre David Andrews may be one of the
NEW England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) throws a pass during an NFL football training camp practice on August 27 in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) most enthusiastic players on the field Sunday. That’s because it’s been more than a year since he suited up for an NFL game. Andrews spent the 2019 season on injured reserve after being diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs. It was a shock to the system for a player who had been one of New England’s most durable offensive linemen since joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Now cleared to play, Andrews said he is feeling gratitude and excitement to be back. “I just get chills thinking about it,” he said. RELOCATED Three of the Dolphins’ eight captains are newcomers who came from the Patriots: centre Ted Karras, linebacker Elandon
Roberts and linebacker Kyle Van Noy. They’re looking forward to facing their former teammates. “They’ve been talking trash the four years I’ve been there,” Van Noy said, “so I’m excited to see if we both can back it up.” Van Noy, Roberts and Flores all won Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, an achievement that stands out on a Miami team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2000. Van Noy said Flores has the Dolphins pointed in the right direction. “I know what winning looks like,” Van Noy said. “I respect Flo a lot. He’s doing a really, really good job. We’re not taking any shortcuts.” SUPPORT FOR FITZ Fitzpatrick, who begins his 16th NFL season
Sunday, has made a lot of connections while playing for eight teams. That became apparent with the outpouring of sympathy when his mother died two weeks ago. “There were a lot of people that reached out,” he said. “I’ve been feeling a lot of love lately in that regard — just people that want to let me know that they care about me, and they’re thinking about me and my family.” Flores said the embrace of Fitzpatrick is emblematic of the level of respect the team has for him. “Fitz embodies everything we’re looking for in a Dolphin,” Flores said. “He loves to play. He’s competitive. You can feel his energy on the field in practice and games. And he’s got leadership. Guys gravitate to him and follow him.”
TAROUBA, Trinidad (AP) — The Trinbago Knight Riders completed the first unbeaten season in the eight-year history of the Caribbean Premier League with an eight-wicket win over the St Lucia Zouks in yesterday’s final. The Knight Riders were 10-0 in the round-robin tournament and beat Jamaica in the semifinals on Tuesday, also at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Trinbago also won league titles in 2017 and 2018 and took the championship in 2015 under the team’s former name of Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel. Trinbago’s Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo had an unbroken partnership of 138 off 88 balls, the highest in the tournament this year and best ever in a final. The St Lucia Zouks put up what shaped as a competitive total, but lost seven wickets for 39 runs off the last five overs. Simmons finished with 84 not out and Bravo was unbeaten on 58 in Trinbago’s total of 158-2. St Lucia, 154 all out, was led by Andre Fletcher’s 39. Trinbago captain Kieron Pollard took 4-30 and Pakistan-born Australian legpinner Fawad Ahmed returned 2-22. Pollard was named player of the tournament and Simmons was voted player of the final.
TO ADVERTISE TODAY IN THE TRIBUNE CALL @ 502-2394
LIFE AT 40-PLUS: BRADY VS. BREES TASTIEST OF NFL MATCHUPS By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer LIFE at 40. Well, 41 and 43. How sweet it can be. In the first matchup of 40-plus quarterbacks in NFL annals, during one of the most anticipated openers the league has seen — though it won’t be seen by fans at the Superdome because of the coronavirus pandemic — Tom Brady makes his Buccaneers debut against that youngster
Join Us!
Drew Brees and the Saints. For now, all those doubts about the NFL actually starting on time can be shoved aside as the sporting world savors these two QB codgers. They are the top two in yards and TDs passing, and it’s the first game since 1998 (Dan Marino and John Elway) featuring the 1-2 career yards passing leaders. The matchup brought Brees back — way back. “It makes me remember back to 1999 when we played against each
other in college,” he said. “The Boilermakers traveled up to the Big House (Michigan Stadium). Unfortunately, that one didn’t end too well for us, but I think, little did we know, we would have the opportunities that we’ve had in the NFL. I’m sure I speak for both of us when I say that, I think we both pinch ourselves, the blessing and the opportunity to be able to play this long, play for so many great teams and with so many great players.”
You will be moving in the Right Direction
Secure Your Spot TODAY!
CALL: Charles Gaitor 502-2394 or EMAIL: cgaitor@tribunemedia.net
Brady stuck to the cliches, uh, basics. “I’m just happy to be playing and excited for the game this Sunday,” Brady said. “We’ve got a great opponent. Drew’s an incredible quarterback. We know they’ve got a great offense, but they’ve got a really talented defense, a lot of good young players, a lot of good veteran players. It’s a good mix. It’s a really sound scheme, so it’s going to be a great football game.”
The season opened last night in Kansas City with the familiar sight of Patrick Mahomes effortlessly leading the Chiefs up and down the field. The Super Bowl MVP threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns, Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran through the rain for 138 yards and another score. And the Chiefs began defence of their first championship in 50 years by beating the Houston Texans 34-20. (See page 17)
CALLING ALL: BREA Agents Contractors Landscapers Paint Suppliers Cabinet Makers Furniture Stores Alarm Companies Insurance Companies Financing Institutions
H ome Buyers’ Guide The Tribune
The Bahamas Source For Homes, Condos, Apartments, Lots & Rentals
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 15
Davis, Lakers run past Rockets for 3-1 West semifinals lead By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Anthony Davis was the biggest player on the floor, and the Houston Rockets had no answers. Davis had 29 points and 12 rebounds, LeBron James finished one assist shy of a triple-double and the Los Angeles Lakers topped the Rockets 110100 last night to take a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series. James had 16 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, who outrebounded the Rockets 52-26. Alex Caruso scored 16 points and Rajon Rondo had 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers, who held on after frittering away most of a big second-half lead. “Turnovers,” Davis said. “We had too many turnovers.” That was one of the few complaints the Lakers could make after Game 4. Russell Westbrook had 25 points and James Harden had 21 for the Rockets, who got 19 from Eric Gordon and 14 from Austin Rivers. The Lakers were up by 23 midway through the fourth, well on their way to a blowout win. That’s when Houston’s offence woke up. Westbrook made a corner 3 with 3:01 left, Harden got a steal and a pair of free throws on the next possession, and the Rockets put together a 18-2 run to get within 10396. The Lakers turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions during that stretch, unable to get anything going. Smartly, though, on the biggest possession of the
LOS Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis (3) reaches for the ball as Houston Rockets’ James Harden defends during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff game last night in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (AP Photo/Mark J Terrill) night as the clock ticked inside the two-minute mark, they went to Davis. Gordon, who stands about half-a-foot shorter than Davis, had no chance as the Laker All-Star scored in the lane to push the lead back out to nine and buy the Lakers a bit of breathing room. Caruso’s 3-pointer off a pass from James with 34.6 seconds left made it 108-100, and the Lakers escaped. This is how easy things were for the Lakers: In
the third quarter, James grabbed a defensive rebound, turned and fired a 70-foot pass — soccer throw-in style — to Davis, the ball sailing over the five Rockets who were jogging back on defence. Davis caught the pass in stride and laid it in for a score, the ball never touching the ground. And this is how difficult things were for the Rockets: They went 4 for 20 from the field over a 17-minute stretch spanning from late in the first
quarter to early in the third. James had only four points in those minutes, but the Rockets’ drought meant a three-point deficit ballooned to 21. The Lakers won Game 3 by holding Houston to 38 points in the second half — and set themselves up to win Game 4 by clamping down again, this time in the first half. It was 57-41 Lakers at the break, meaning Houston had scored 79 points in its last 48 minutes of basketball. For context: The Rockets had 79 points
in a two-quarter span on five different occasions this season. NO HOUSE Houston was again without Danuel House, while the NBA probes whether he violated conduct rules inside the bubble. “They’re investigating it and once it’s through they’ll tell us what the deal is and we’ll go with it,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “So, I can’t really comment on it.” House was held out of Game 3 as well.
ACES MAKE FRANCHISERECORD 10 3S IN 104-89 VICTORY OVER LYNX BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Angel McCoughtry scored 22 points on her 34th birthday and the the Las Vegas Aces made a franchise-record 10 3-pointers in beating the Minnesota Lynx 104-89 on Thurssday night for their fourth straight victory. Kayla McBride’s 3-pointer during a 13-4 run to open the fourth quarter was the record-setting 10th for the Aces, last in the league for 3-point attempts. They finished 10 of 18 from the arc, led by McBride’s 5-of-7 effort. McCoughtry added eight rebounds, six assists and went over 1,500 career made free throws, the third player to do so in WNBA history. McBride added 21 points, A’ja Wilson 20 and Jackie Young had all 17 of hers in the second half. Danielle Robinson made consecutive 3-pointers and the Aces closed the third quarter on a 9-4 run to lead 81-69 headed into the fourth quarter. Crystal Dangerfield scored 24 points and Napheesa Collier added 17, all in the first half, plus 11 rebounds and five assists for Minnesota (13-8), which lost its third straight. Second-place Las Vegas (16-4) has games remaining against third-place Los Angeles and league leader Seattle in the final weekend of the regular season as its vies for a top-two finish that would give it a bye into the playoff semifinals.
HIGH JUMPER DONALD THOMAS EAGER TO RESUME HIS SEASON NEXT YEAR FROM PAGE 11 Thomas, a four-time Bahamas national champion, went on to secure a medal in just about every major international competition he’s entered starting with a silver at the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic after he placed fourth at his debut at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. The year 2007 was Thomas’ breakthrough with his first national title as he went on to pick up a silver at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before he claimed the title at both the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, and the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany. After a deflated season in 2009, Thomas returned with a vengeance with his second national title and his first Central American and Caribbean Games crown in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Additionally, he claimed the Commonwealth Games title in New Delhi, India and capped off the year with a silver at the World (Continental) Cup in Split, Croatia. In 2011, Thomas ascended to the top of the podium as the Pan American Games’ champion in Guadalajara, Mexico with a leap of 7-feet, 7 1/4-inches. After a dismal showing at the Olympic Games in 2012 in London, England, Thomas came back and was ranked at number six in the world in 2013 after he finished sixth at the World Championships in Moscow, Russia with a performance of (7-7 1/4). Although he didn’t get any international acclaim in 2014, Thomas still posted a season’s best of 2.25m (7-4 1/2). In 2015 at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, Thomas earned a bronze medal (7-5 3/4) and the following year in 2016, he regained the national
title (7-5 1/4), but faltered at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro where he placed seventh (7-6). After getting a third place at the Doha Diamond League in 2017, Thomas suffered the chickenpox at the Paris Diamond League, which put a damper on the rest of his season. But a rejuvenated Thomas placed fourth at both the 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Great Britain (7-2 1/2) and the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia (7-5 1/4) before he clinched his fourth national title (7-3 3/4). That led to his second gold at the CAC Games in Barranquilla, Colombia (7-5 3/4); third place at the NACAC Championships in Toronto, Canada (7-5 3/4) and his triumph at the World (Continental) Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic (7-6 1/2). Having produced a lifetime achievement of 7-9 1/4 outdoors in 2016, which is off the Bahamian national record of 7-9 3/4 by Troy Kemp in Nice, France in 1995 and indoors of 7-7 3/4 in 2007 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, compared to Kemp’s record of 7-8 3/4 in 1994 in Nice, France, Thomas said last year’s offseason after the injury was to propel him back to stardom in 2020. But with the world’s biggest sporting spectacular being delayed until 2021 because of the coronavirus, Thomas said he’s rejuvenated in getting back to the top of the high jump world. “The Olympic Games is the one medal that I haven’t earned yet,” he said. “That’s one of the medals that I need. So the plan is to just continue to train straight through the rest of the year to be ready for next year. “Before the injury, I was a consistent 2.30m (7-6 1/2) jumper year in and year out. That injury last year was a humbling experience for me. I’ve learned from it and I’m looking forward to getting past this.”
EVEN as a late bloomer in the sport, Grand Bahamian Donald Thomas has surged on top of the Bahamian chart as a high jumper, having won every medal possible except for the Olympic Games. AND while the Bahamian national record has also been excluded from his résumé, the former basketball player is eager to resume his season next year in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. There’s talk about the Bahamas Government preparing to slash the subvention to athletes due to the state of the economy in
the country because of the coronavirus. But Thomas said he feels the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture under
Minister Lanisha Rolle and Director of Sports Tim Munnings are doing all they can to assist the athletes in preparation for
the Olympics. “I believe they are doing their best to make sure that the athletes get the assistance that they need,” he said. “As athletes, I feel we just have to go out there and perform so that they can give the assistance that we need.” As a native from Grand Bahama, Thomas said it’s even more of a strain on the government having to assist people who were adversely affected. “The key is to stay patient and listen to those in authority,” Thomas said. “They are the ones with the data, so we have to listen to them. You can’t just think about yourself, but rather your family members, especially those who are more vulnerable than you are. “We have to protect them and stay out of the way of the persons who are in charge. “We are all in this together and we need to come together and work as one to combat this virus.” Additionally, Thomas said there are still a lot of people hurting from the effects of Hurricane Dorian last year, including his family members and friends, some of whom were killed. “We, as Bahamians, are very resilient, so we’re doing the best we could to cope with all of this year,” he charged. “We will be back.” And like the Bahamian people, Thomas vowed that he will be back at full strength to pursue his elusive medal at the Olympics next year. “It’s the only medal I’m missing,” he pointed out. “I got Commonwealth Games, World Championships, CAC, Pan American, World Cup, World Athletic Final, World Tour, NACAC, multiple Pan Am and CAC medals. “So whatever it takes, I want to go to Tokyo and win the only medal at the Olympic Games that is missing from my trophy case.”
PAGE 16, Friday, September 11, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
SWITZERLAND’s Marc Hirschi celebrates on the podium after winning the stage 12 of the Tour de France cycling race over 218 kilometres from Chauvigny to Sarran yesterday. (Sebastien Nogier/Pool photo via AP)
TOUR DE FRANCE ROOKIE MARC HIRSCHI WINS LONGEST STAGE SARRAN, France (AP) — Tour de France rookie Marc Hirschi won the longest stage of this year’s race with a bold solo breakaway yesterday on a previously unused sharp ascent, making up for two previous near misses. The Swiss rider powered away on the Suc au May climb, new to the 117-yearold Tour. He extended his lead by racing with hairraising speed down the other side and held off pursuers over the last 25 kilometres (15 miles) to win Stage 12 by a comfortable margin in Sarran. It was the 22-year-old Hirschi’s inaugural victory at his inaugural Tour, after podium finishes on Stages 2 and 9. On the ninth stage, he also launched an early solo breakaway only to be caught by four riders near the end and then lost a sprint when he was overtaken in the final metres. “It’s hard to finds words. It’s my first pro victory,” Hirschi said. “I would never have believed that I could win here, a stage, at this age.” The Tour’s top contenders, including yellow-jersey wearer Primoz Roglic, were more than two minutes behind when Hirschi finished the 218-kilometer (135-mile) stage into the Massif Central, one of five mountain ranges scaled by this Tour. French rider Pierre Rolland placed second, 47 seconds behind. Hirschi covered the distance in just under 5 hours, 9 minutes. Roglic kept the overall lead, still 21 seconds ahead of Egan Bernal, last year’s winner from Colombia. French rider Guillaume Martin remained third overall, 28 seconds behind Roglic. The stage paid homage to France’s all-time favourite cyclist, Raymond Poulidor, by whizzing through his hometown where he died last November, SaintLeonard-de-Noblat in west-central France. Poulidor’s repeated failures to win the Tour conquered French hearts and earned him the moniker “Eternal Runner-up.” Poulidor finished a record eight times on the Tour podium from 1962 to 1976 but never won and never wore the yellow jersey. He died at age 83. Roadside spectators yelled “Allez Poupou!”
— Poulidor’s nickname — as Tour riders raced through his town, past his portrait. The stage was rolling and largely flat for the first hour after the start in Chauvigny but got progressively harder as it veered southeast into the lumpy Massif Central. The four relatively modest climbs of note were a foretaste of harder ascents that await today. Stage 13 is a start-to-finish rollercoaster of seven noted climbs. The 191 kilometres (119 miles) end with a short but furiously steep ascent of the Puy Mary, the remains of a once-giant volcano that is liable to force top contenders into battle. The final kilometres to the finish at 1,589 metres (5,213 feet) in altitude kick upward at a gradient of 15 per cent, plenty steep enough for the strongest riders to open consequential time gaps over any rivals who struggle. Roglic said he is bracing for “some fight and real racing.” “It’s a hard stage,” said the Slovenian former skijumper who won last year’s Spanish Vuelta and placed fourth at the Tour of 2018. Meanwhile, the Tour organiser confirmed yesterday that four teams which had staff members test positive for COVID-19 this week won’t automatically be sent home if another staff member is positive in the next battery of tests. Health rules for the race say teams can be sent home if they have two or more positive tests in a seven-day span. But race organiser ASO confirmed that the daycounter will be reset to zero when teams are tested again on the Tour’s second and last rest day next Monday. That clarification lifts a weight off Cofidis, AG2R La Mondiale, Ineos Grenadiers, and Mitchelton Scott, the teams that each saw a staff member test positive on the first rest day. Because they will all essentially be starting afresh in the next round of testing, a single positive test on Monday will not automatically trigger their exclusion, ASO said. Any team that registers two or more positives could, however, still be sent home. The battery of tests will be the last before the Tour finishes on September 20 in Paris.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 17
Chiefs begin title defence with 34-20 win over Texans By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Just about the only thing that looked familiar about the NFL’s long-awaited return last night was the sight of Patrick Mahomes effortlessly leading the Kansas City Chiefs up and down the field. The Super Bowl MVP thew for 211 yards and three touchdowns, Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran through the rain for 138 yards and another score, and the Chiefs began defence of their first championship in 50 years by beating the Houston Texans 34-20 on Thursday night before a socially distanced crowd of about 17,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill each caught TD passes for the Chiefs. They have won 10 straight dating to last season. That run includes a come-from-behind 51-31 victory over the Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Texans’ Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score, but he also was under relentless pressure and was intercepted once. David Johnson provided the biggest bright spot for Houston, running for 77 yards and a score. The world has changed dramatically in the seven months since the Chiefs hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in Miami. Within six weeks, the term COVID-19 had become a part of everyday life, the disease killing more than 900,000 people around the globe. The death of George Floyd at the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer in May
Keyes perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is often considered the Black national anthem, in a video designed to address racial inequality. The Texans had already left the field when the demonstration occurred. They remained there until R&B duo Chloe x Halle finished a virtual performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” then ran onto the field to a chorus of boos from fans. Some fans were still booing when the teams met at midfield and shook hands. The teams then stood together in a line that stretched from one end zone to the other for a moment of silence before the coin toss.
KANSAS City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes against the Houston Texans in the first half of last night. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) touched off the Black Lives Matter movement, which in turn has led to a summer of social unrest that has gripped the country. Against that backdrop came an NFL opener unlike any other: masks worn by everyone from fans to the coaching staffs; a series of videos raising awareness of social justice initiatives and encouraging the public to vote; and ultimately both teams locking arms in a display of unity prior to the coin toss. To the relief of many, kickoff finally brought 4 hours of normalcy. The Texans, who blew a 24-point lead against Kansas City in the playoffs, struck first when they
marched 80 yards for a touchdown. The elusive Johnson finished it off by scampering 19 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 lead. But just like that cold January day, the red-hot Chiefs quickly overcame their slow start. They tied it moments later when Mahomes threw a short touchdown pass to Kelce, then took the lead when they forced a quick punt and Mahomes found Watkins in the end zone. Harrison Butker capped the first half by kicking a chip-shot field goal that sent the Chiefs to the locker room with a 17-7 lead. Edwards-Helaire, their first-round pick, padded the
N E P O
UPON FURTHER REVIEW The Chiefs had a touchdown on their opening series brought back when the officials determined Demarcus Robinson failed to control a 36-yard pass from Mahomes in the end zone. They had another overturned when Watkins caught a 9-yard pass in the second quarter, though he wound up catching a screen pass for a TD two plays later.
lead in the third quarter. After ripping off an 11-yard gain early in the drive, the pint-sized dynamo out of LSU unleashed a wicked stutter-step before running 27 yards for another score. The Chiefs put the game away when rookie L’Darius Sneed picked off Watson’s jump ball in the closing seconds of the third quarter. Mahomes was bailed out of a fourth-down interception by pass interference in the end zone, then he zipped a dart to Hill streaking across the field for a 31-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. Watson threw a touchdown pass and ran for a TD later in the quarter to make the final score a bit more respectable.
SOCIAL JUSTICE The Chiefs lined up along the goal line about 30 minutes before kickoff and watched Alicia
SUPER CELEBRATION In a relatively muted celebration, the Chiefs unveiled their Super Bowl banner and presented the Lombardi Trophy to their fans — along with a 20-foot replica that was wheeled onto the field — about 15 minutes before the game began. INJURIES Chiefs: DT Khalen Saunders (elbow) left in the first quarter with an elbow injury. DE Alex Okafor hurt his hamstring in the third and did not return. CB Charvarius Ward left in the fourth quarter with a hand injury. Texans: RB Duke Johnson left in the fourth quarter with a leg injury. He did not return. UP NEXT The Texans play their home opener against the Ravens on September 20. The Chiefs visit the Chargers the same day.
FOR BUSINESS (CURBSIDE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE)
WE ARE PUBLISHING MONDAY TO FRIDAY • FOR CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING EMAIL: classifieds@tribunemedia.net OR CALL: 502-2398/502-2351 • FOR DISPLAY ADVERTISING EMAIL: tribads@tribunemedia.net OR CALL: 502-2394
CALL US TODAY TO HELP PROMOTE YOUR GOODS AND SERVICES
e n u b i RibTunSe The TrSPThOe Tr B1BUSINESS
A1M A IN
A13SPORTS
d 1903
Establishe
Y AY DA SD EN TUO M McCombo McChicken i’m lovin’ it! $5.00
HIGH 88ºF LOW 78ºF
4, JUNE
:117 No.13
VOLUME
HE
2 IBUNE ON TR N E tW S G .ne I N dia K A me E ne R bu / 7 @Btri busin 2 4ess
Best! d n A t s e g g Bi $3.27 SECTION E
9TH, 2020
NE 9, 2020
TUESDAY, JU
42.COM
$3.27
$3.28 R: $1
PAGE 15
Revenue unit makes $39m ‘fiscal impact’
Thursday, June 4, 2020
g in ok lo er nd Pi in st Ju s t e g r a t yalStar d to graduation Rofo trugglers D sar VIrw
Insurers: ‘Long battle’ over VAT is U T LO C A L O B A L L ed lv A reso us a call L I T Y - I T ’S ed’ firms: Givecushion ges ‘destabilis S TA I N A B I
D SU A LT H : F O O
$3.23
TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2020
LE’S PAPE
THE PEOP
CO
LD -
By BRENT STUBBS NELL Senior Sports Reporter By NEIL HARTess Editor RTNELL ribunemedia.net bstubbs@t Tribune Busin media.net By NEIL HA une trib ess Editor ll@ nhartne Tribune Busin media.net l nhartnell@ tribunen the midst of the era gen panBAHAMIAN ay voiced coronavirus HAMIAN and now BAdemic insurers yesterd long battle” parent for the rer’sprotest insuthe relief that “a ment over g in the ern etin liated gov targ the Floyd is h wit late George in several affi ent nt of ments panies Promin AT treatme St
I
SIR FRANKLYN
WILSON
Dorian • Chair ur m n gives $2.33m • Diversificatioortgage stake returns $1.683 • Distressed m do. to ng 0 tryi her $122,18 provided a furt boost. n told this
ce of Roy“The existen es us with an alStar provid Companies
O-FACE
EST
K PETER TURNQU
MP By YOURI KE ss Reporter Tribune Busine dia.net eme ykemp @tribun
of Ministry THE e Complince’s Revenu
KLAY’S STATUS UNCLEAR UNTIL THE WARRIORS ARE BACK TOGETHER
By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer FRANCISCO SAN (AP) — The Golden State Warriors expect to have a
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 19
STANIEL CAY ‘SOLD OUT’ FOR WINTER HOLIDAYS
By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net
A MAJOR Family Island resort and marina yesterday said it is “sold out” for the upcoming winter 2020 holidays with occupancy levels in the low to mid-60 percents for November and December. Sarah Swainson, the Staniel Cay Yacht Club’s
the current emergency orders, providing a safe place to comfortably quarantine for those who just can’t wait to get back to The Bahamas.” She added: “As previously mentioned, we have transitioned into the new normal, actively participating in the Clean and Pristine certification programme as well as implementing social distancing and sanitisation protocols from very early on. “That being said, the initial costs have already past for us, but ongoing costs for these protocols will remain as well as creating limited revenue due to social distancing and spacing requirements.” The Staniel Cay Yacht Club has benefited from the fact that the boating/
(SCYC) general manager, told Tribune Business: “Reopening of the tourism sector and moving towards the new normal is thrilling for all of us in the hospitality industry. “SCYC has been blessed to have remained open throughout the waves of lockdowns, with a few short closures following the Prime Minister’s orders, providing fuel to boaters and, under
yachting market is the one tourism industry segment that has never fully closed down following the June 15 re-opening. It has been aided by the fact that yachters can spend the mandatory 14-quarantine period on their boat or an island with less than 25 persons, thus enabling them to move around in Bahamian waters. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, on Monday said his ministry was recommending that hotels and their beach amenities be permitted to re-open from October 15, with tour, attraction and excursion providers to follow from November 1. “Thankfully we have an incredible customer base that have become family. We truly are so grateful that they have remained
committed to returning to SCYC,” Ms Swainson said. “Currently we have 62 percent occupancy for November, and 64 percent occupancy for December, with the peak holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s sold out. This again speaks to the commitment to travellers returning to the Bahamas.” Chris Morris, the Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina’s general manager, added: “We will be ready and want nothing more than to get employees back to work and guests back on property. It is not official, but we are hoping for October 15. “I would love to hear from Baha Mar and Atlantis to know they are on track for the same date. They seem to be a barometer for
THE WEATHER REPORT
5-Day Forecast
TODAY
ORLANDO
High: 90° F/32° C Low: 76° F/24° C
TAMPA
TONIGHT
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Showers and a thun‑ derstorm or two
Cloudy, a shower and t‑storm around
Some sun with a thunderstorm around
Mostly sunny
Mostly sunny
Sunshine and a few clouds
High: 87°
Low: 77°
High: 88° Low: 79°
High: 90° Low: 79°
High: 91° Low: 79°
High: 88° Low: 78°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
96° F
84° F
98°-87° F
101°-88° F
103°-89° F
100°-88° F
High: 91° F/33° C Low: 76° F/24° C
The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.
N
almanac
E
W
ABACO
S
N
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 83° F/28° C
6‑12 knots
S
WEST PALM BEACH High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C
7‑14 knots
FT. LAUDERDALE E
W
FREEPORT
High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C
N
S
E
W
High: 89° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C
MIAMI
High: 89° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C
6‑12 knots
Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 79° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 78° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 1.18” Year to date ............................................... 41.49” Normal year to date ................................... 26.47”
ELEUTHERA
NASSAU
High: 87° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C
N
KEY WEST
High: 89° F/32° C Low: 81° F/27° C
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C
N
S
E
W
4‑8 knots
S
6‑12 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
uV inDex toDay
The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
tiDes For nassau Low
Ht.(ft.)
Today
2:36 a.m. 3:19 p.m.
High
Ht.(ft.) 2.4 2.9
8:45 a.m. 9:53 p.m.
1.1 1.4
Saturday
3:39 a.m. 4:19 p.m.
2.4 3.1
9:47 a.m. 1.1 10:52 p.m. 1.2
Sunday
4:40 a.m. 5:16 p.m.
2.6 3.3
10:48 a.m. 0.9 11:46 p.m. 1.0
Monday
5:37 a.m. 6:09 p.m.
2.8 3.5
11:46 a.m. 0.6 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑
Tuesday
6:30 a.m. 6:59 p.m.
3.1 3.6
12:35 a.m. 0.7 12:41 p.m. 0.4
Wednesday 7:21 a.m. 7:47 p.m.
3.3 3.7
1:22 a.m. 1:34 p.m.
0.4 0.1
Thursday
3.6 3.8
2:08 a.m. 2:26 p.m.
0.1 0.0
8:11 a.m. 8:35 p.m.
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
6:55 a.m. 7:18 p.m.
Moonrise Moonset
12:51 a.m. 2:56 p.m.
New
First
Full
Last
Sep. 17
Sep. 23
Oct. 1
Oct. 9
CAT ISLAND
E
W
the country in the eyes of the tourism market. Unfortunately, they have not yet confirmed for good reasons. “As far as demand, it is hard to say. People want to come but are hesitant because of the unknown. Once we announce a date, we will ramp up our marketing efforts and do everything we can to get people to Cape Eleuthera.” Mr Morris continued: “We do anticipate a strong November and December based on indications of interest. If it were up to me, I would start today. I love this country. I want to get the Bahamian economy up and running as soon as possible, and I want my fellow Bahamians to get back to work so they may take care of their families.”
ANDROS
SAN SALVADOR
GREAT EXUMA
High: 84° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C
N
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C
E
W S
LONG ISLAND
tracking map
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C
7‑14 knots
MAYAGUANA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 85° F/29° C Low: 82° F/28° C
L
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C
GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C
N
E
W
E
W
N
S
S
4‑8 knots
6‑12 knots
marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR
Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:
WINDS SE at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots
WAVES 3‑6 Feet 4‑8 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑6 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑7 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑7 Feet 5‑9 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet
VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 86° F 86° F 86° F 87° F 86° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F
PAGE 20, Friday, September 11, 2020
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
Baha Mar further delays re-opening FROM PAGE 24 “To that end, we are once again providing all non-union, full-time associates an additional 90 days, 30 percent of base compensation as an ex-gratia payment, in addition to any payments being offered by the Government of The Bahamas’ Ministry of Finance emergency relief fund.” Mr Lozano said the Melia would continue paying health, life and accidental death insurance premiums on behalf of staff, and pledged to work closely with The Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) on the provision of benefits and financial assistance to unionised staff. He said a further update on a possible opening date would be forthcoming next month. A similarly-worded message was sent to thousands of Baha Mar staff by the mega resort’s president, Graeme Davis. “There are no perfect decisions in our current climate, but there are ones that allow us to put the well-being of those we care about first,” he wrote. “This is why I am announcing that the reopening of Baha Mar will be delayed further in order to preserve the safety of our associates, community and guests. While this is a great disappointment to us all, it is a choice we make with a heavy heart after a sober assessment of the current state of COVID-19 cases here in The Bahamas and in our key US markets.” Baha Mar’s decision, coming just days after Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, announced that his ministry is recommending all hotels and their beach amenities be allowed to re-open from October 15, will dilute the
BAHA MAR impact of the industry’s return to business. Sir Franklyn Wilson, the Arawak Homes and Sunshine Holdings chairman, last night described Baha Mar’s decision as “very troubling” given that K Peter Turnquest, deputy prime minister, said on Wednesday that any failure to “jump start tourism” before year-end will create “a more troublesome scenario” for the government’s economic and fiscal plans. “If you take a few statements made in the last 48 hours, it’s very troubling,” he told Tribune Business. “The fact that the minister mentioned the date of October 15, he didn’t say the hotels are going to open then. He said that’s the recommendation of his ministry to the government. “The minister of finance [Mr Turnquest] says the plans of the Ministry of Finance will really be challenged by the end of the year if things haven’t kicked in for the sector being opened from October 15. He said, if I understood it properly, that the Ministry of Finance did modelling on the basis something is going to happen by October/November. “Now [Baha Mar] is saying they will give 90 more days of ex-gratia payments. Presumably that’s saying to the Ministry of Finance you may want to update your modelling as you were projecting that by the end of the year there will be some impact from tourism.” Mr D’Aguilar could not be reached for comment
THE TRIBUNE despite numerous attempts yesterday, but earlier this week he told Tribune Business that the tourism and hotel sectors’ re-openings could not afford to wait or “be beholden to” the timelines that suited Atlantis and/or Baha Mar. However, The Bahamas’ two mega resort flagship properties are typically viewed as a bellwether, or gauge, of the strength and confidence of this nation’s hospitality industry by travellers and external observers. And many other Bahamas-based resorts often take their cue from Atlantis and Baha Mar, following their lead on re-opening decisions given that they are significant drivers of airline demand. Airlift supply at the time of the October 15 re-opening will likely be one element impacted by the Cable Beach resort’s move, with Atlantis also still evaluating its opening options. Just yesterday, Chris Morris, the Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina’s general manager, said: “I would love to hear from Baha Mar and Atlantis to know they are on track for the same date. They seem to be a barometer for the country in the eyes of the tourism market. Unfortunately, they have not yet confirmed for good reasons.” Given that Baha Mar has 2,336 rooms between its Grand Hyatt, Rosewood and SLS Properties, and the Melia has a further 694, the decision not to re-open in October takes almost 3,000 rooms out of New Providence’s hotel room inventory for a further month at least, and possibly the rest of the year. Baha Mar’s move further highlights the questions, uncertainties and obstacles surrounding tourism’s reopening. Yet The Bahamas has little choice but to get the industry moving as rapidly as possible, as the pace of its COVID-19 recovery - jobs, growth and the foreign exchange earnings that support the US dollar currency peg - is hugely dependent upon it.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 21
Bahamas First in 14.3% profit fall BAHAMAS First yesterday unveiled a 14.3 percent decline in total comprehensive income for the six months to end-June 2020 as reduced claims partially offset COVID-19’s impact. The property and casualty insurer, which joined the Bahamas International Securities Exchange’s (BISX) main equities listing board earlier this year, said in a statement that net underwriting income for the half-year had risen by $2m year-over-year to reach $15.2m Total comprehensive income of $1.8m, or $0.05 per share, was down on 2019’s $2.1m or $0.06 per share. A 1.7 percent year-over-year decrease
in top-line gross written premium was offset by an improvement in claims experience. Acknowledging that it had “experienced some deterioration in its general insurance portfolio” due to COVID-19’s economic fall-out, Bahamas First said the impact was somewhat softened by a 37 percent improvement in its claims experience compared to 2019. However, it suffered a $1.1m loss on its investments during the 2020 first half. Bahamas First added that operating expenses were slightly higher than 2019, although it provided no figures. It added that a major factor contributing to this
was the cost of currency conversion charges in relation to Hurricane Dorian claims. These non-recurring charges, which were about 15 percent of total expenses for the period, are expected to decline in the coming quarters. The insurer said its Cayman First subsidiary performed well during the 2020 first half, contributing heavily towards the company’s profit for the period. The Cayman Islands’ containment of COVID19 meant there was little
impact on Cayman First’s health claims experience, while gross written premiums in the Cayman general insurance segment rose slightly compared to 2019. Bahamas First said its equity attributable to ordinary shareholders increased to $59.4m, as opposed to $58m at December 2019. “The first half of 2020 presented many challenges which will continue to impact the group for the rest of the year and into 2021,” said Bahamas First chair, Alison Treco. “However, we
are fortunate to report that our performance figures to June 30, 2020, have held relatively steady compared to the comparative period in 2019. “Whilst the future is unpredictable, we do expect to see a negative impact from the high unemployment levels and closure of businesses due to COVID19, and we are making adjustments to minimise the potential adverse effects.” Patrick Ward, Bahamas First’s group president and chief executive, added:
“During these extraordinarily challenging times, I couldn’t be prouder of our employees, many of whom have transitioned seamlessly into a remote environment and remain committed to serving our customers and helping our company create value for our shareholders.”
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com
(242) 323-2330
THURSDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2020
(242) 323-2320
ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE: 2,087.28 | CHG: -0.14 | %CHG: -0.01 | YTD: -144.32 | YTD%: -6.47 BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.10 22.65 2.00 1.79 2.46 6.00 6.75 5.47 8.59 4.50 6.16 12.77 3.64 5.49 10.88 8.44 16.99 4.25 9.40 15.21
52WK LOW 3.13 20.91 0.67 1.75 1.67 5.40 5.39 2.00 5.05 3.62 5.60 11.05 2.71 2.64 9.60 7.10 13.04 3.20 8.00 13.90
PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00
1.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
1.00 10.00 1.00
1.00 10.00 0.90
SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Benchmark Bahamas First Holdings Limited Bank of Bahamas Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Cable Bahamas Commonwealth Brewery Commonwealth Bank Colina Holdings CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Emera Incorporated Famguard Fidelity Bank Focol Finco J. S. Johnson
SYMBOL AML APD BBL BFH BOB BPF BWL CAB CBB CBL CHL CIB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FCL FIN JSJ
Bahamas First Holdings Preference Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A Fidelity Bank Class A Focol Class B
BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB
CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00 100.00
52WK LOW 100.00 100.00
115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00
104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
SECURITY Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) + Bahamas First Holdings Limited
SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB
BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2015-1-3Y BGS: 2014-12-5Y BGS: 2015-1-5Y BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-3Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-3Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y
BAH29 BG0203 BG0105 BG0205 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0303 BG0307 BG0330 BG0403 BG0407
LAST CLOSE 3.51 17.43 1.62 1.75 1.67 5.40 6.75 2.99 5.10 3.73 6.10 11.26 2.23 5.30 10.21 8.44 14.30 3.97 8.97 15.20
CLOSE 3.51 17.43 1.62 1.75 1.67 5.40 6.75 2.99 5.10 3.73 6.10 11.26 2.23 5.30 10.04 8.44 14.30 3.97 8.97 15.20
CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.17 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 0.90
1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 0.95
LAST SALE 100.00 100.00
CLOSE 100.00 100.00
CHANGE 0.00 0.00
107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
VOLUME
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05
EPS$ 0.239 0.932 0.000 0.000 0.070 1.760 0.369 -0.438 0.140 0.184 0.449 0.722 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.203 0.939 0.631 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
VOLUME
DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.000 0.120 0.220 0.720 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.120 0.200 0.610 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
P/E 14.7 18.7 N/M N/M N/M N/M 18.3 -6.8 36.4 20.3 13.6 15.6 21.9 11.3 15.5 11.6 17.5 19.6 9.6 24.1
YIELD 4.84% 7.23% 1.23% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.85% 0.00% 0.00% 3.22% 3.61% 6.39% 19.46% 1.13% 3.27% 2.84% 3.78% 3.02% 2.23% 4.01%
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%
INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%
19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025
6.95% 4.00% 4.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.00% 4.50% 6.25% 3.50% 4.25%
20-Nov-2029 30-Jul-2018 16-Dec-2019 30-Jul-2020 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2018 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2018 15-Oct-2022
MATURITY
MUTUAL FUNDS
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE Property Development Services Ltd. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: (a) Property Development Services Ltd. is in dissolution under the provisions of the International Business Companies Act, 2000. (b) The dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 8 September, 2020, when its Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General. (c) The Liquidator of the said Company is Mr. Delano Aranha.
52WK HI 2.34 4.41 2.12 198.39 168.29 1.69 1.85 1.77 1.24 8.34 10.26 7.08 12.15 12.71 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79
52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.64 1.79 1.73 1.06 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20
FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund Leno Preferred Income Fund Leno Growth Fund Leno Diversified Fund Leno Global USD Bond Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Equities Sub Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - High Yield Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Alternative Strategies Fund Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F
NAV 2.34 4.41 2.12 196.40 163.60 1.68 1.81 1.76 1.07 8.30 9.90 7.08 11.27 12.71 10.23 N/A 8.93 11.27
YTD% 12 MTH% 2.54% 4.13% 1.12% 2.44% 1.38% 2.55% 0.65% 2.50% -1.88% 3.33% 1.10% 2.34% -2.43% 1.49% 0.34% 2.43% -11.07% -9.92% -0.45% 8.36% -3.20% 11.46% 2.10% 5.15% -6.17% 3.54% 2.92% 5.55% -4.66% -3.81% N/A N/A -4.20% 0.20% -8.60% -2.90%
MARKET TERMS
BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00
YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price
52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks
Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity
52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks
Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity
Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume
Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price
Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume
Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week
Change - Change in closing price from day to day
EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths
Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today
NAV - Net Asset Value
DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months
N/M - Not Meaningful
P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings
H & J CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. Registered Agent for the above-named Company TO TRADE CALL: CFAL 242-502-7010 | ROYALFIDELITY 242-356-7764 | COLONIAL 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225 | BENCHMARK 242-326-7333
NAV Date
31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020
PAGE 22, Friday, September 11, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
‘Frivolous’ lawsuits vex dive operator FROM PAGE 24 She added that Bahama Divers’ enforcement defence should have been its appeal to the Broward County court, and the Supreme Court did not have the power to hear it. Justice Charles noted that the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Act 1999, as well as common law actions, provide two routes for the enforcement of overseas judgments in The Bahamas. One unanswered question is whether Bahama Divers tried to claim insurance over Jeffrey Cramin’s death. Justice Charles’ judgment shows the company tried to add Summit Insurance Company, the carrier tied to Insurance Management, as a thirdparty defendant - which the insurer resisted - but no further mention was made of this and the two parties could not be reached for comment yesterday. Stuart Cove’s, meanwhile, has chosen the opposite approach to Bahama Divers by mounting a proactive defence to similar claims brought in the south Florida court this year by Alison Case, whose late husband, drowned on one of the company’s scuba diving trips due to alleged “negligence”. Mr Cove declined to comment as the matter is still before the courts, but Stuart Cove’s and its parent, Nassau
Undersea Adventures, which maintains an office in Florida, vehemently refuted the claims in their July 10, 2020, defence. Pointing out that Jeffrey Case had signed a Liability Release and Express and Primary Assumption of Risk form, the Bahamian dive operator said this “holds harmless and indemnifies Stuart’s Cove from any and all liability from the risks associated with the excursion that could result in his death. “Accordingly, plaintiffs are barred from bringing this action against Stuart Cove’s,” they added. “The cause(s) of death were not due to any action or omission on the part of Stuart Cove’s but due to conditions, events, occurrences neither known to, foreseen nor created by Stuart Cove’s. “Deceased was himself negligent, which was a substantial contributing cause of the incident resulting in his death, and therefore any right of recovery must be reduced to the extent of his comparative fault.” Michelle Cove, Stuart’s partner, told Tribune Business that neither The Bahamas nor its dive industry were “unique or being singled out in any way”. Taking a slightly more sanguine view, and noting that risk is present in virtually all participatory outdoor activities,
she suggested there were “no more or less” personal injury lawsuits than before. “With COVID-19 we’re going back and forth with the insurance company now as we will start with a smaller operation,” Ms Cove said. “We’re not operating because we’re in the middle of renewing our insurance, and we will not take the boat out without that in place. Our partners require it. “We just have to ensure we take the necessary steps for following safety standards and procedures, but also to follow the policies outlined by government agencies and regulators. The Bahamas has done a very good job because the Port Department has very high standards. “They come out and inspect all the boats and go through with a fine tooth comb to make sure we meet all standards and protocols before they issue a licence. I would say The Bahamas is becoming more rigorous in standards and safety protocols.” Voicing sympathy for Bahama Divers’ plight, she added: “I’m desperately sad that happened to them. They’re really nice people and an icon in the dive industry. It’s really unfortunate and I hope they return in another way. Competition is good, and it’s good to have multiple people on different islands.”
ACH Business Manager Position Description Bahamas Automated Clearing House Limited (B.A.C.H Ltd) TEAM MEMBER:
ACH BUSINESS M ANAGER
Location:
Bahamas Automated Clearing House Office Prince Charles Shopping Centre Nassau, Bahamas
Team Members
The B.A.C.H Team will be comprised of up to five (5) team members. The ACH Business Manager manages the team and the business. The ACH Business Manager reports to the Chair, B.A.C.H. Ltd.
Management Responsibilities
Recruit and lead the B.A.C.H. Team. Organise training for Participants and for B.A.C.H. staff. Organise appropriate additional expertise from Montran, World Bank, the Central Bank, and other consultants if and as required. Manage ACH project activities, liaising with all stakeholders, to ensure that all objectives are completed successfully on time, within budget and project goals are met. Participate in CBA committee meetings as required to gather and/or disseminate ACH related information. With the Assistant Business Manager, prepare monthly reports for the Board of Directors and Audit Committee. Produce revenue and expense budget for Board approval Perform detailed review of quarterly management reports and publish financial recap and forecast for the BACH Chair. Ensure all Financial Audits, IT Audits, Penetration Tests, and internal control reviews are passed with no High or significant findings. With the Assistant Business Manager, maintain corporate documents such as the System Rules and CBA Agreement. Develop functional/service options and additions, which the Automated Clearing House could provide. Manage ACH systems and services to meet regulatory, legal, and shareholder expectations with respect to confidentiality, availability, and integrity. Meet service level agreements with users and shareholders.
ACH Daily Management & Housekeeping Responsibilities
Daily running of the ACH service:
Start of day/End of day procedures
Cut offs
Participant support
Error and exception handling
Housekeeping functions such as:
Calendar and timetable maintenance
Managing participant access, accounts and parameters
Business continuity arrangements
Liaison between ACH and RTGS, ACH and participants
Management of the ACH team including setting performance targets, conducting performance and salary reviews. In all matters and at all times, comply with Bahamas confidentiality laws, Central Bank of the Bahamas regulations applicable to BACH, and BACH Information Security Policies. Presentations
Presentations to the shareholders at the AGM on performance v. key indicators, and future business plans.
Ideal Experience & Skills
Familiarity with good Payment Systems development and management policy and issues. Broad banking experience with a particular focus in Operations. Strong policy & procedure development experience. Excellent client liaison skills. Excellent analytical skills. Excellent organisational & time management skills. Excellent budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling and reporting skills. Strong experience in proactively managing teams to achieve high performance. Solid understanding of banking technology (so as to be able manage ACH technical staff as well as to ensure the robustness and continuity of ACH systems). IT Service Management skills and experience in meeting SLAs for Availability, Reliability, Confidentiality, IT Security, and Data Integrity.
Application Details
Successful Applicants can submit their cover letters and resumes to HRManagerinfo36@gmail.com. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. No telephone calls will be accepted. Deadline to submit applications is Friday, September 25, 2020.
Aliv chief: No ‘short term’ Huawei effect FROM PAGE 24
a factor in future network and technology-related decisions. With Huawei’s products having “proven to be fantastic 4.5G LTE technology for Aliv, he added that the mobile operator had repaid “substantial amounts” but not all - of the roughly $30m to $40m in vendor financing that the Chinese communications manufacturer provided it with to help launch its network and operations. “We’re keeping a close eye on the changes that are happening, but we don’t see see anything impacting us in the short-term, no,” Mr Blackburn told this newspaper on the US stance towards China and its stateowned companies. “It’s all Huawei,” he added of the network. “Obviously they were selected through an RFP (Request for Proposal) process before Aliv existed. The technology, and what was selected, was the best
Downtown Nassau needs ‘deep clean’ FROM PAGE 24
lockdowns and curfews, we did a product audit for Nassau, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands on what needed to be done and what needs to be repaired. Simple things, even to signage as we don’t have signage as we should have, and we know the difference that having signage does.” Acknowledging that downtown Nassau and Bay Street need a “deep clean and a coat of paint” before the cruise
in terms of an engineering road map and where they were. When making future decisions we will have a similar process.” Aliv’s rival, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), yesterday declined to comment on the US Embassy policy and whether it has Huawei products or those of any other Chinese company in its network. However, Mr Blackburn added that his company was “not even anywhere near” launching an RFP or making a decision relating to a fifth generation (5G) mobile network in The Bahamas. “In any of the technology and software we need, we will be following a proper process of selection and take into account all factors,” he said. “We will determine at the time what is the right decision. “The situation [with Huawei] is fluid and dynamic, and changes month-to-month, day-today. We’re happy with the performance of the technology we have in the network, and it has been proven to be fantastic 4.5G/Long Term
Evolution (LTE) technology for Aliv.” Confirming that Huawei had provided Aliv with around $30m-$40m in vendor financing, Mr Blackburn said “substantial amounts” had been repaid but the process was not quite complete. Huawei and other Chinese state-owned communications provider, ZTE, were designated as “national security” threats by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on June 30. However, some observers believe that superpower politics, and issues of trade, competitiveness and economic dominance - rather than national security - lie behind the US move. However, the Trump administration has applied significant pressure to other nations, including the UK, to ban Huawei technology from their 5G mobile networks on the basis that the company’s close links to the Chinese Communist Party and state security apparatus mean its products could provide a gateway for eavesdropping and spying by Beijing.
ships and tourists return, Mrs Jibrulu said: “The good thing is that the Nassau Cruise Port continues to be developed. Even through this period we can see work taking place. “The plans that are in place for Nassau Cruise Port, I believe that would create a natural renaissance for the downtown area, and yes, that is 18 months to two years ahead, but I am hoping as we start to see the changes taking place to the Port of Nassau and Prince George Wharf that people will say wow, if I want to remain in this game I will have to pull my socks up, too.”
Turning to the Family Island airports, Mrs Jibrilu said: “Knowing the importance of our Family Islands, and knowing the importance of business on our Family Islands, whether Abaco, North Eleuthera or Exuma, from the Ministry of Tourism point of view it is a priority that we get those airports to the level where they should be. “Marsh Harbour was the model. It was the one we held up to say this is what Exuma should look like, this is what North Eleuthera should look like for the volume of business. The government has a lot facing it.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 11, 2020, PAGE 23
Bring teams together to fight COVID dysfunction IAN FERGUSON BY
O
UR current circumstances, and disruption to the traditional workplace, have caused great upheaval in employee synergy for many companies. Some are working remotely, some are coming into the office or workplace, and everyone is fearful and suspicious about their colleagues’ health. The social crisis that we face, along side the health and economic ones, has taken a toll on teamwork throughout the economy. In his book, The five dysfunctions of a team, Patrick M Lencioni outlines critical concerns that companies have in the fight to remain relevant and viable. He lists these dysfunctions as: 1. Absence of trust 2. Fear of conflict 3. Lack of commitment 4. Avoidance of accountability 5. Inattention to results. He asserts that when a company identifies the root causes of poor teamwork, employee teams can develop specific strategies for overcoming each of them. Today I offer two critical suggestions for strengthening your teams considering our current COVID-19 situation: 1. Increase Employee Engagement
Most workplaces already seem challenged in trying to keep employees motivated and engaged with the company. An employee engagement programme aligns the company’s messaging with the interests and lifestyle of the worker. A fully-engaged employee will share work content on their personal social media platforms, and represent their brand well and often in personal and social settings. Find ways to incentivise your employees to connect with the company first, and the rest - as they say - is gravy. 2. Increase Employee Interaction The next crucial part of this equation is the work to foster meaningful employee interactions during this time. With so many now having the privilege of working remotely, isolation has become the great divider and destroyer of teamwork. Leaders must be more focused than ever before on virtual and periodic face-toface interactions with the entire team. No one can be left in the dark for too long. Find ways to get everyone talking, sharing and presenting in the virtual space. If iron sharpens iron, then the iron must show up. As your team members begin to engage each other more, ensure that you celebrate even small successes and victories with the wider workforce. Incentives and rewards count. Be transparent, open and inclusive. We are all looking with unnecessary suspicion at each other these days. Our workplace does not need to be another space that further
exacerbates this distrust. NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having
completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally,
providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@coralwave.com.
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
business@tribunemedia.net
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
$4.01
$4.01
‘Frivolous’ lawsuits vex dive operator By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A
PROMINENT Bahamian operator yesterday said the rise in “frivolous” personal injury lawsuits was reaching the point where “it’s not worth taking people diving any more”. Stuart Cove, principal of Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas, told Tribune Business that the increase in litigation was “taking the fun out of it” as clients sued for financial compensation even over instances where they were at fault and his firm blameless. Speaking after Tribune Business last week revealed how rival, Bahama Divers, was forced to permanently close after a $9m court award over a customer’s death was enforced against it, Mr Cove said he sometimes felt that insurance companies were too quick to settle claims that had no merit. “It’s a huge concern. We’ve seen a lot more,” he told this newspaper. “It’s always our fault if anything goes wrong, even if it’s not. And these insurance companies would rather settle than fight. That’s my take on it.
• Stuart Cove: ‘It’s taking the fun out of it’ • Bahama Divers’ fate a business warning • Failure to defend rights in US left it exposed “We’ve been through several of these over the years. It’s almost to the point where it’s not worth taking people diving any more. It’s a dangerous sport; let’s call it what it is. You’re going underwater, it can be rough, there can be currents and many of the divers aren’t as well trained as they used to be. “They’re getting older and less trained, and certainly more sue happy. It’s kind of taking the fun out of it. We’re doing everything we can to make a safe excursion, following all the safety standards and procedures, but our particular dive product can be quite dangerous.” Describing his company’s insurance coverage as “very, very good”, Mr Cove said increased premiums as a result of rising litigation volumes merely added to the cost of business for himself and other operators in the dive, snorkel and scuba sector. “Unfortunately they’d rather settle than fight, even when you’re in the right,” he told Tribune Business. “I
Aliv chief: No ‘short term’ Huawei effect By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
ALIV’S top executive yesterday said it sees no “short term” impact from the US government placing Chinese equipment off-limits even though its mobile network is “all Huawei”. Damian Blackburn, pictured, told Tribune Business that federal restrictions imposed on the US Embassy, which prevent it doing business with Bahamian companies that use Chinese-manufactured
equipment to supply goods and services, would not hurt its business as it does not have the Nassau diplomatic post’s account. Revealing that the mobile operator, which is presently 51.75 percent majority owned by the government, was “keeping a close eye” on the Trump administration’s policy to Huawei and other Chinese state-owned companies, Mr Blackburn said it was impossible to say whether this would be
SEE PAGE 22
Downtown Nassau needs ‘deep clean’ By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net
A TOP tourism official yesterday said Downtown Nassau needs a “deep clean”, as she blasted: “Is this a place I want to show to tourists?” Joy Jibrulu, the Ministry of Tourism’s director-general, speaking at a TCL Grouporganised webinar, said: “I work downtown and I get to see Bay Street every day. This is the capital and that is the main street of the capital.
“I have said it before, and I was surprised at the feedback I got, but I spoke for myself and I will as a Bahamian. Is that the place that I want to take people to and show them? Is this where we are proud of? A lot of work needs to be done, a lot of work, even from a cleanliness standpoint.” She added: “One of the things the Ministry of Tourism has done over the last few months is, during the
SEE PAGE 22
guess they’ve figured out a formula that after a certain amount it’s easier to pay out than fight because it costs them more. “But it really annoys me because there’s been some really frivolous lawsuits over the past few years when the clients were in the wrong yet the insurance company chose to pay them out. But it’s still a good business and I love it.” Matthew Whiteland, owner of Bahama Divers, last week argued that the incident that led to his firm’s closure - while “unfortunate and very sad” - did not stem from negligence on its part as it involved an experienced diver who was part of a larger group. However, the Supreme Court, in the October 2, 2018, judgment that enforced the US court award against Bahama Divers, provided a salutary lesson for Bahamian companies to take foreign litigation launched against them seriously and properly defend it - especially if the matter is before a US court.
Justice Indra Charles, in her ruling, found that Bahama Divers was the author of its own misfortune in that it was complacent and failed to defend itself against Marla Cramin, the deceased diver’s wife and representative of his estate, before the Broward County circuit court. She obtained an initial $6.779m judgment, together with $465,019 in statutory interest up to September 10. The interest charge was to run until payment, meaning that this continued to climb to a further hefty sum in following years. Bahama Divers’ use of Reservation Services International as its Florida-based marketing and reservations agent gave it Mrs Cramin and the estate a US nexus sufficient to bring the initial action, and Justice Charles said the Bahamian company “sat on its rights” and “could have been more proactive in those proceedings”.
SEE PAGE 22
$4.01
$3.95
Baha Mar further delays re-opening By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE government’s tourism re-opening plans were yesterday dealt a major blow after Baha Mar told staff its October return was “not achievable” due to COVID-19 spikes here and in key US markets. The Cable Beach mega resort, and its Melia Nassau Beach property, hinted strongly they may not reopen until Christmas at earliest - and possibly not until 2021 - as they informed non-unionised staff they will receive 30 percent of their base salary as an “ex-gratia” payment for a further 90 days. Daniel Lozano, the Melia’s general manager, told staff in a September 10 letter that the decision to further delay the property’s re-opening to an undetermined date had been driven by Baha Mar’s analysis of current COVID-19 infection rates both in The Bahamas and its key US tourism source markets. He added that Baha Mar’s initial expectations that COVID-19 would have been under control by October have not been realised, and the resort developer/ owner had to prioritise the health and safety of both guests and staff. “Difficult decisions must be made to protect those
who are most important to us,” Mr Lozano wrote. “This is why I am announcing that the re-opening of the Melia will be further delayed to preserve the safety of our associates and guests. “This is a decision that was not made lightly, and we understand that it may come as a disappointment to many. It is a choice that was made based on the most recent assessment of the current state of COVID-19 cases here in The Bahamas and in our key US markets.” He continued: “In June, it was our goal to re-open in October. That goal is not achievable under the current circumstances. Our expectation was that the virus would have been controlled by this point which, unfortunately, is not the case. “Please be assured that our desire and intent to open the resort as soon as it can be done safely, and in a way that allows our guests and associates to do so with the peace of mind we all yearn for in this tumultuous time.” Mr Lozano acknowledged the extra financial and mental stress the delayed reopening was likely to cause Melia staff, adding: “We understand that this kind of uncertainty is difficult to live with. We want to assure you that we are doing the best that we can.
SEE PAGE 20