APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
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VOLUME 16 - NO. 14
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CUBAN DOCTORS FOR TCI by Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
T
he Turks and Caicos Islands will be joining the list of countries in the Caribbean and around the world that are sourcing medical staff from Cuba to help control the spread of the coronavirus. This was revealed by Governor Nigel Dakin who said authorities here are working with Cuba on sourcing medical staff both bilaterally and through Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) “channels”. The Governor also announced that an undisclosed amount of testing and protective equipment is on its way to Turks and Caicos Islands, but he did not say from where.
Since Turks and Caicos closed its borders on Tuesday, March 21st for 21 days, and as the grip from the shutdown and curfew tightens, the Providenciales International Airport is like a ghost town. The runway is clear, check-in counters are empty, screens are off, there are no flight and gate announcements, no passenger lines and no traffic.
Continued on page 2
New Chief Justice, Supreme Court Judge, Chief Magistrate sworn in The Chief Justice Hon. Mrs. Mabel Agyemang and Judge of the Supreme Court the Hon. Ms. Tanya Lobban-Jackson were sworn in by His Excellency Governor Nigel Dakin, on Monday, March 30th, 2020 at his office in Raleigh House, Providenciales. The Chief Justice, who arrived in the country on March 19th, assumed duties on April 1st, while Justice Lobban-Jackson officially started on April 2nd. His Honour Mr. Jolyon Hatmin, the new Chief Magistrate, started on April 1st. Supreme Court Judge, Her Ladyship The Hon. Governor Dakin said the Chief Justice Hon. Mrs. Mabel Agyemang Mrs. Tanya Lobban-Jackson Turks and Caicos now has a “a top appointment, Madame Justice confidence reposed in me.” team at the top of the Judiciary”. She added: “I inherit a He stated: “I can say that Agyemang, who is from Ghana, because the Acting Chief Justice, and was the first Chief Justice judiciary that has seen good days Justice Shiraz Aziz - who will now of The Gambia, said: “This is an and has made considerable strides work with the new CJ and Judge opportunity to serve, and it is one in ensuring that it meets the justice Jackson - has been exemplary while I do not take lightly. I am thankful needs of the Islands. I intend to “Acting” in the top job. With Justice’s to the Governor as advised by the build on the strides made, and to Agyemang, Aziz and Jackson on the Judicial Service Commission for introduce my own strategies aimed Supreme Court Bench we have a appointing me to this high office at improving access to justice, for strong team going forward and an with grave responsibilities. I pledge the judiciary to gain the confidence to do everything in my power to of the people in these Islands as uplift from two to three judges.” Commenting on her earn your respect, and merit the well as those who access our shores
Chief Magistrate His Honour Jolyon Hatmin for recreation and business. My aim is to build, with my team, a sound, credible judiciary, known for speedy and quality justice delivery which keeps pace with the times. The goal is to contribute our part in making the Islands safe, its people secure, and also to be recognised as a trusted place for business and investment. Once again, I am grateful for this opportunity to serve, and serve I will.” Continued on page 2
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
LOCAL NEWS
CUBAN DOCTORS FOR TCI
Continued from page 1
Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams confirmed that an official request was made to Cuba via the Embassy in Jamaica. “The request included a full list of TCIG’s staffing needs in terms of both physicians, registered nurses and other critical staff. The list provided was a joint submission from the Ministry of Health and the TCI Hospitals,” she told The SUN. “The Cuban Government has acknowledged receipt of the request and has advised that they will revert with a substantive response including advice on availability and specific terms and conditions. A request for additional support was also made to Public Health England and PAHO. Public Health has assisted thus far in the procurement of key supplies which should be on island shortly.” In terms of additional staffing, the Deputy Governor said TCIG carried out additional recruitment itself earlier this year and was successful in filling a number
technologists have been sent to different countries to assist in the fight against the coronavirus. These medical staff are drawn from an elite team of specialists from the Henry Reeve Emergency Medical Contingent, which was created by Fidel Castro and specialises in in rapid medical response to natural disasters and outbreaks.
Governor His Excellency Nigel Dakin of medical positions, however start dates for some of these positions have been impacted by travel restrictions both here and elsewhere. “Active work is ongoing in seeking to fill key additional medical positions that are needed to support our COVID 19 Response Teams,” she added. Since the COVID-19 virus reached pandemic stage, Cuba has sent more than 500 of its ace medical
Barbados recently announced that it signed an agreement with Cuba in relation to drugs and that a team Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams of 100 specialists Cuban nurses will technicians to help countries all arrive there shortly. According to reports, there around the world, including Jamaica, Barbados, Venezuela, Dominica. St. are about 90,000 medical workers in Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, Grenada, the country which has a population of 11 million. The average doctor Belize and St. Vincent. Italy, which is one of the in Cuba earns around US$100 per countries worst-hit by the deadly m0nth. Cuba has over the years virus, was one of the first to send for invested heavily in medicine, Cuban medical help. A statement on Cuba’s sending many of its citizens to train Ministry of Health’s website said 179 in places like Russia. doctors, 399 nurses and 15 health
New Chief Justice, Supreme Court judge, Chief Magistrate sworn in Continued from page 1
Her Ladyship The Hon. working with the Chief Justice Ms. Lobban-Jackson, a Jamaican Her Ladyship the Hon. Mrs Mabel who previously served as Chief Agyemang and His Lordship the Magistrate of the Turks and Caicos Hon. Mr. Justice Aziz at such an Islands, stated: “The Judiciary auspicious moment. In the midst is on the cusp of great things. I of the current pandemic, we are deem it an honour to be joining challenged to innovate, retool the higher ranks of the team, and continue to uphold the laws
Commissioner Botting warns against vandalism of the Grand Turk water distribution site Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force on Grand Turk are investigating following reports of vandalism at that the main water distribution site located on Hospital Road causing water service interruption to the area. Commissioner of Police, Trevor Botting in warning residents against vandalising water services extended to the area says, “You must be a heartless individual(s) to do something like this at such a time when water is essential.
Have a heart and think about the vulnerable people who need to access this service. Please desist from such despicable acts. Anyone with information on who may be responsible for this, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 (TIPS). You will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”. The Department of Water Undertaking in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation began repairs to have the service restored.
and advance the quality of justice at the same time. I firmly believe we are equal to the task and I am certainly enthusiastic about doing my part as we forge ahead.” His Honour Mr. Hatmin, who is from Guyana, stated: “I am grateful for the opportunity
to continue to serve the people of the TCI in this new capacity. I look forward to working with the relevant stakeholders in transforming the Magistracy by making it more efficient, modern and ensuring justice is not only done but seen to be done.”
Critically ill infant suspected of covid-19 passes away The public health team was The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is saddened to notified and a sample was taken advise that an infant passed away as a differential for posthumous shortly after admission to Cheshire overseas testing. Due to patient Hall Medical Centre. confidentiality no further details According to a statement can be released. from the TCI Hospital and TCIG, The Turks and Caicos the infant was transported to the Islands Government - Ministry facility via private vehicle on 2nd of Health Team commenced April 2020. She was admitted to the immediate contact tracing and inpatient unit around midnight persons identified in the process in critical condition. Although are required to undergo quarantine COVID-19 infection is statistically and/or screening as a precautionary rare in this age group, given the measure. The Department of presence of the pandemic and out Social Development has also of an abundance of caution, she been engaged as per protocol. TCI was classified as a suspected case Hospital and the Ministry of Health and met the latest case definition wishes to offer our most heartfelt of COVID-19. There were other condolences to the grieving parents. medical findings, which also could Further support and guidance have have potentially accounted for the also been provided. infant’s passing.
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GISLAINE PHILIPPS FORTUNATE
Location: Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands Is seeking a Labourer Duties: Perform tasks involving physical labour and cleaning at work sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types and a variety of other equipment and instruments Must be able to work three days a week Salary is $250.00 weekly Please Contact: 342-9188 This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder Interested Turks & Caicos Islander applicants must send a copy of their resume to the Labour Board
Location: Blue Hills, Millennium Highway, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Is seeking a Mason Duties: Duties: Layering building materials such as bricks, concrete, tiles and other construction materials To work 6 days a week Salary is $10.00 per hour Please Contact: 343-9313 This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder Interested Turks and Caicos Islander applicants must send a copy of their resume to the Labour Board
Location: 38B Leeside Avenue, Long Bay, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Is seeking a Domestic Worker Must be able to do general household cleaning, honest and hardworking To work 5 days per week Salary $6.25 per week Please Contact: 241-6277 This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder Interested Turks and Caicos Islanders are encouraged to apply directly and submit a copy of their application to the Labour Board
In South Caicos Is seeking a Labourer Duties include cleaning and maintaining a private home and the surrounding property Must work 6 days per week Salary: $ 6.25 per hour Please contact 331-1809 This position is currently held by a work permit holder Interested Turks and Caicos Islanders are encouraged to send a copy of their application to the Labour Board
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APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
COMPLIMENTARY PRACTICE FACILITIES The Club has a short-range warm-up net for golfers to help focus on the long game, and pitching area and putting green. All the practice facilities are maintained to the same high standard as the golf course, essential when honing short game skills. PGC has recently purchased a fleet of E-Z-GO® Freedom® golf carts. Unique features include GPS navigation providing yardages, an enhanced ride experience, and an automatic parking brake for added safety on slopes.
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APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Motorists using supermarkets as excuse to violate curfew 2020 which controls the movement and assembly of Motorists are using residents to control the spread the supermarkets as an excuse of COVID-19. to violate Turks and Caicos The twenty-four-hour curfew Island’s 24 hour curfew during was imposed and approved by this COVID-19 pandemic, His Excellency, Governor Nigel according to Inspector Kirton Dakin. Sutton, Head of the Royal Turks During the curfew, and Caicos Islands Police Force officers are placed at strategic Traffic Department. locations in communities While most of the roads across the country and vehicles in Providenciales were quiet on are being stopped by officers Tuesday March 31st, there were and drivers/passengers are quite a few cars around the Five being questioned. Cays roundabout but the police Individuals who violate were clamping down. the curfew are subject to During an interview questioning, an arrest or have Inspector Kirton Sutton, Head of the with The SUN, Inspector their vehicle confiscated. Any Traffic Department. Sutton said, “I cannot person who assaults, obstructs, congregation of people will definitely say that everyone is hinders or resists or uses now be (and congratulations cooperating fully. I don’t know any threatening or abusive to them on how strict they are if some persons are using the language or aids or incites any on numbers inside the store loophole involving going to other person to assault, obstruct, and distancing) so help them the supermarkets to be out on hinder or resist a Police Officer and help others by seriously the road because when you in the execution of his duty reducing the footfall. If you stop persons, the first thing under this regulation, commits are stopped by a Police Officer that they are saying is that they an Offence. on the way to the supermarket are heading to the supermarket. Meantime, in a national or vendor except to have your That’s one of the problems address on April 1st, Governor details taken including your there and we have to look at Dakin stated: “You are allowed address. You will need to be on that to see if we can tighten to go to the supermarket, bank, the road between your home along that line.” gas station or water provider. and the supermarket, bank, gas Sutton advised the Think carefully, this is not an station or water vendor or vice public to practise social opportunity for multiple trips. versa. Retain the receipt from distancing, even in the vehicle. Keep coming back to what we the supermarket, water vendor He added: “You’re need to achieve - a dramatic or gas station and keep it at not supposed to be sitting reduction of movement and home as proof you did indeed alongside each other in the interaction on the islands. This visit the outlet ion that day at front seat. You must sit on the is not a family outing. One around that time. The police opposite side in the rear of the person in the car, one person have to use their judgement vehicle. We are not just here to per family at the supermarket and will. Don’t expect to be enforce the traffic regulations, or outlet. If you really can’t able to say you are going to get but we are also here to educate achieve this - we are all ‘Gas’ when you have anything the general public.” different - you will need a other than close to an empty The Royal Turks and really good reason to provide a tank. I say this for the 1% who Caicos Islands Police Force Police Officer who will use their we know will not follow any (RTCIPF) enforced the curfew judgment.” guidelines and will just be given under the Turks and He added: “The permanently selfish looking Caicos Islands Emergency supermarkets are by far the to stretch the rules to suit Powers (COVID-19) Regulations place where the largest themselves.” By Todeline Defralien
Male patient who died at hospital tested negative for coronavirus The male patient who died at the Cheshire Hall Hospital on March 23rd, after being suspected of having COVID-19, tested negative for the virus, according to a joint statement from the hospital and the government. The press release said the family of the deceased was formally notified of the negative result and his passing is likely attributed to natural causes. The inpatient case was originally mentioned in a press release issued on March 25th 2020 to advise the public that a posthumous test result for the male was still pending at the time. “The Ministry of Health and TCI Hospital continues to extend our deepest condolences to the family on the loss of their loved one. To date, the Turks and Caicos Islands have no confirmed COVID-19-associated deaths,” the statement ended.
Three men arrested for violating curfew Three men were arrested, Thursday, March 27th, 2020 for breaching the National curfew aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19. The men, a 21-year-old, a 24-year-old and a 33-year old were rounded up on the streets after the mandatory curfew went into effect. The Curfew that began at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26th, 2020 and ends April 14th, 2020 encourages all residents, except for essential service workers to remain at home. Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said, “The first night of the curfew was observed by the large majority and for that, we say ‘thank you’. There were some who were a little late to get home and they were warned. However, everyone should be aware of the curfew and there is now very little room for non-compliance. Please make sure you are home by 8:00 p.m. or you are highly likely to be arrested and charged under the Emergency Powers. This is necessary to best protect the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. You have been warned, it is now your responsibility to comply”. The men will be given bail to return to the Police Station to be further dealt with. The Public is reminded that by violating curfew, you can be arrested with a criminal conviction and your car seized and confiscated.
Restaurants removed from list of essential services By Todeline Defralien Governor Nigel Dakin has removed restaurants and take-aways from the list of essential services, following complaints that curry favours were being given to IGA supermarkets whose three stores were previously allowed to sell food while all restaurants were closed. “We have removed takeaways, drive-throughs and restaurants from being described as an essential service. From the last few days it’s clear they aren’t - we can get by until the end of this period without them, wonderful as they are,” the Governor stated. “We do it based on medical and policing advice. With TCI Islanders and Residents being the sociable society we are, some risk becoming the equivalent of the local bar, the spot some meet and engage, and it also gives a license for movement we could not reasonably police. This covers every form of takeaway, no exceptions. There is the possibility of the Governor granting exceptions but I think that will be unlikely over this period of lockdown unless it’s in direct support of an effort to alleviate hunger.” Local businessman John
“Brother Will” Williams created a firestorm on social media last week when he went live on Facebook from the IGA Gourmet parking lot in Grace Bay to complain about the supermarket chain’s advantage over other restaurants. “This is very ridiculous in this country, I am tired of this type of nonsense I see every day we sitting down and let people spoon feed us everything. I cannot see how we can have IGA selling lunch and alcohol and little businesses like me who have license can’t sell this stuff. Something is wrong with that picture man! I don’t mind you selling groceries; it’s an essential thing we need it, but we don’t need you to sell no alcohol and we don’t need you to sell lunch because the groceries is lunch. Go home and cook. Something is really wrong with this,” said Williams He added: “I have to start thinking that this Governor t in this country is very terrible for us. He’s too friendly and people like that who are too friendly can set you up. He goes around and he smiles. He likes social media with everybody, he gossip on social media the same way girls do it. Something is wrong with that picture and I don’t think that he is doing that for free. Something really has to be
wrong with him.” He added: “You go in IGA now you can buy alcohol but you shut down Discount Liquors, you shut down Chef Nik but you can buy lunch. What’s wrong with letting me sell these things? What locals get for being a local in this country; nothing! All you get is a bunch of people coming here telling you what is best for you. This is ridiculous. I can’t understand this... This can’t be a man with knowledge and be smart and thinking you this and that, no you’re not.” Williams, who is an architect by profession and who also operates a bar, said, “You kill every local business in this country based on that. What you’re saying it has some moral to it. Sure, you can’t just let people go around and kill everybody, but the same measures you’re putting on IGA you could put for the local people. Out of this only one set of people making money, and one set of people going to end up with everything. Your decisions are poor, you’re not doing this thing on the right terms. Only one set of person making money in this country at this time and all of we gotta pay we bill. When we open up but you gone set back. Even if I gotta pay it six months,
Governor Nigel Dakin & John “Brother Will” Williams I still have to pay it. Give me a choice don’t just give me one choice where I gotta go to IGA, Sunny Foods and these establishments are strictly foreigners. Only locals got they small businesses and you kill them.” He added: “You put together a little stimulus package and the stimulus package only benefiting the foreigners. I feel that you are tricking our Premier in putting this stimulus package together and I think you trick her because I don’t think she can sit down and put this together like this and everything benefitting these people. I must applaud Washy for pointing this out to us.”
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
LOCAL NEWS
TCI in ‘hurricane mode’, says Premier The Turks and Caicos Islands is in “hurricane mode”, said Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, as she announced a stimulus package in response to the deadly Covid-19 virus. “As a Government in deciding on a stimulus package our goal was to ensure that we can help residents to survive even after this health crisis. Whether we want to accept it or not and through no fault of our own we have found ourselves in this situation which I can only describe as hurricane mode,” she stated. “As such we had to take a holistic approach in ensuring that we can survive in the long run. We have seen packages announced in other Caribbean countries and have reviewed them and have taken the position to offer a more comprehensive package which will not just include governmentassisted programs but also service providers in critical sectors.” She said the stimulus package is being proposed to “lessen the impact of the global crisis on residents”, while allowing the Ministry of Health to strengthen health policy responses.
“The TCI is a tourism dependent country and a fall out in tourism revenue will affect the workers and micro-small and medium enterprises who are directly involved in this sector as well as businesses that serve this sector,” said the premier, who is also Minister of Finance. “The rapid spread of the virus has dented the global growth outlook in our major source markets and they have lowered their outlooks. Also, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected negative growth for the Caribbean region. The ports of entry within the TCI have been closed to visitors, halting economic activities within the hospitality industry. Economic prospects are damaged.” She said it is estimated that the closure of businesses will affect approximately 10,000 hospitality workers, including, but not limited to, cruise sector businesses and workers, hotel staff, water sports operators, taxi drivers, restaurant employees, concierge services, spa and salon services); 1,261 self-employed individuals and approximately 2000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). “It is important to note that this stimulus-package is not intended
to replace all of the earnings and can never replace the earning of individuals or establishments. The intention is to ensure that as a Government we try our best to provide some assistance which can help in easing the financial pressure,” the Premier added. “As a Government we would want to do more. However, we are not sure how long this crisis will last and we must therefore be prepared for the long-haul. We will do our part in ensuring that persons are able to survive. If things get worst, we will take a further look at the capital program and other aspects of the recurrent budget to provide further injection,” she continued. “I must remind us that we are and will always be a resilient people and there is that ever familiar saying that “tough times don’t last; tough people do”. These are indeed tough times but I have confidence that we will use that level of resilience that we have used in the past whether for hurricanes or economic turmoil to take us through this test and I have no doubt that we will emerge victorious.” She said the stimulus package was crafted in the face of having to maintain
Premier Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson
Government’s obligations to its staff levels and the people of this country through the continued provision of critical services and as the Turks and Caicos Islands continue preparation for a new hurricane season in 2 months. She thanked the Governor and the UK Government for the approvals to relax the UK Framework Document, to allow a deficit budget and to seek a credit line.
STIMULUS PACKAGE SUMMARY Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson last week announced a stimulus package designed to offset the impact of the coronavirus. She said Government will run a deficit budget of $103.1million, draw on $73million savings initially, draw on an already in place loan facility of $15milliuon; secure a credit line facility while offering this $80.2million in the Stimulus Package with direct cash injection of $45million in grants and waivers.
funding is identified by MOF.
Additionally, a payment moratorium will be placed on 2. Government in its efforts existing TC Invest mortgages for to support the small business the period April to September community, has secured a 2020. This moratorium will be $10m fund that will provide offered to all mortgages holders cash grants to the MSME sector. who are not in arrears with The grants will be issued to mortgage payments. micro, small and medium sized businesses under what will 4. An increase of $5m be known as the Coronavirus for Concessions Under Business Assistance Grant. Refurbishment Policy (Currently The Coronavirus Business $10m): The Government has Assistance Grant will provide also revised the Refurbishment cash flow assistance by making Policy Concessions to support available sums of up to $2,000 villas who may wish to refurbish for micro businesses, $3,500 for during this time. Currently small businesses and $5,000 for TCIG has approved a total of Here is a summary of the medium sized businesses. $10million a year in concessions measures: relating to the refurbishment 3. Government has increased policy. Ministry of Finance 1. Some $15 million is to be made the social welfare budget by 100 has proposed that this annual available in direct assistance to percent. From this increased allocation be increased to $15m employees and self-employed amount an additional $500,000 for the period April 2020 to 31st within the hospitality industry has been added to the budgetary March 2021. that would have been laid off, allocation to further boost the seized operations or terminated home-help programme that is 5. TCIG will waive all charges for since March 16, 2020. It is being being managed through the water for the months of April – proposed that these individuals social welfare programme. The June 2020. No disconnections will be given a one off payment Home Help programme will would be carried out during of $1,200. This is in addition therefore be doubled to meet the period April to June 2020. to the payouts that they may be the needs of additional persons ($9.7m Write Off of Long receiving from their employers. that may become destitute Outstanding Water Arrear) The payment will be due to the fall out in global further assessed once additional economic activities. 6. Waiver of Duties (where
applicable) and CPF for basic food items and essential medical supplies: 7. A $4m Waiver of Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Tax for March and deferral of payments for 3 months: The Government will also waive Accommodations Tax (HRTT) for the month of March 2020 and will delay payments for May and June 2020. 8. Support for Tenants of the TCI Airports Authority: 9. Government has allocated $35.2m in new Development Fund Projects. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Development Fund allocation for FY 2020/21 has had to be revised downwards from approximately $47.5m to $35.2m. 10. Some $2m is being made available to the Ministry of Health to ensure that healthrelated spending is available to protect people’s wellbeing, take care of the sick, and slow the spread of the virus.
APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Opposition Leader Washington Misick responds to Stimulus Package
W
e have been instructed by the authorities to stay indoors and restrict our movements when we must leave within the established guidelines. The decision to close the country is not unique to Turk and Caicos. Most countries have adopted similar positions, and some have seen successful in flattening the growth curve of the disease. Coronavirus is no joke, this disease is very dangerous, if exposed to it you can be infected, you may become very ill and you could even die. It is for this reason I strongly advise that you listen and comply. To the persons designated as essential workers, we appreciate your sacrifice and that of your family, and pray for your safety and good health. Please ensure that you are always protected. Insist that you are provided with adequate protective gear in enough quantities to do your job. This is a real worry, and there has been no assurance of this from the authorities to the best of my knowledge. As stated on numerous occasions I have been consulted and am broadly in favour of the control measures put in place albeit late to protect and save the lives of the residents of our islands. I have also made several suggestions to support workers and others who have been impacted by the closure of businesses resulting from COVID – 19. I am happy that the Government has included some of the recommendations made by my team in their package of measures on offer. However, as much as I hate to be a dissenting voice, I am obliged for the sake of those who need an alternative voice to point out that all that glitter is not gold. I do so with the knowledge that many hardworking public servants have toiled over the last week to put the details of the Premier’s package together. My comments address policy which falls under the responsibility of the Premier and her Ministers. It is not an attack on your work or on the Premier’sservice to our country. I believe however, that there is a lack of a clear policy as to what her stimulus package is intended to achieve. One thing is clear though, it is insufficient to stimulate the economy, the relief offered will not be implemented quicklynor will it provide the level of assistance required to support a minimum standard of life for the desperate over the next 90 days. The 19th century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli is credited with the following statement: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” The Premier address to the nation yesterday included elements of all of them. In the first place the measures outlined by the Premier do not fit into the definition of an economic stimulus package but rather a weak attempt at economic stabilisation. She has no influence over interest or the supply of money. What she does have is influence over government spending and the measures announced will do nothing to increase
domestic demand, which is the driving force behind any economic stimulus measures. The figures below show that the actual cash injection is around $22 million, and a series of waivers, deferrals and budgetary provisions estimated by the government at more than $80 million. Included in that figure is the disingenuous insertion of a write off in the amount of outstanding water bills from eons ago totalling 9.7 million. This has no impact on revenue or cash flow and is a red herring to mislead the unsuspecting public.
By Hon. Charles Washington Misick Leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP)
In addition to the total measurable assistance to individuals and local business, the Government has extended a grace period for mortgages and loansthat it inherited from the former TC Invest for six months, and has received conditional guarantees from public utilities to suspend disconnections and the deferral of payments for qualifying individuals for the next ninety days. This is a social responsibility of these companies and we thank them for delivering. Banks make money by lending it and therefore the TCI Bankslike banks around the world is acting in their best interest by deferring mortgage payments for affected qualifying persons and providing credit facilities to viable businesses. Many small businesses will not qualify for bank assistance and could potentially go under – these are likely to be TCI owned businesses, since we seem to have a harder time than any other group getting bank funding. I see no logic in reducing the stamp duty and planning fees for the next 90 days. This is a gift to persons who have already made decisions and sign contracts on the expectation that they will have to pay these. If the government is serious about stimulating investment, and local consumption, it should maximise concessions that would increase domestic demand. While the government may get an initial cash boost from persons who may be incentivised to close on land transactions early to benefit from the concessions, it will be losing revenues that investors are already committed to pay, or risk walking away from funds already deposited. This concession is obviously a gift to special
interest supporters of the government at the expense of the ordinaryTurks & Caicos Islander. The 50% reduction in stamp duty to a wealthy overseas purchaser of say a 5 million condo results in a $250,000 gift to the purchaser – money that will not be able to be used for the benefit of Turks & Caicos Islanders. Contrast that to a payroll subsidy equivalent to $100 weeklyfor a hospitality worker. Where is the compassion or equity? We must ask ourselves, who is poised to benefit the most from the Premier’s package. Crucially, the government missed an opportunity to provide incentive for local and foreign investors to invest in the local housing market in which there is the greatest need for quality affordable homes to own and or rent. This is where property price concessions and stamp duty ought to be adjusted and would have an immediate impact on jobs and domestic demand. In addition, the natural and physical environment including government properties are in serious need of cleansing. Focusing on this while our visitors are away would create temporary jobs for persons who need employmentand improve the visual and natural environment to greet our visitors once the country reopens. Most of the measures and borrowings announced are to support the anticipated deficit over the next financial year, and in the absence of more details, require more time for analysis given that many of the benefits extended will only be available in the new budget and some of them will have very little impact on domestic demand including the uplift in refurbishment – while the right thing to do have little impact on domestic demand and spending. In the end, the success of the measures will depend on the rate of delivery. Based on the announcements by the Premier and the Government, TCI’s dysfunctional bureaucracy may yet snag timely delivery of relief. In the meantime, I wish all well and ask that all take the threat we face seriously and heed the warning of the authorities. May God preserve, heal and bless our land.
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APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
LOCAL NEWS
South Caicos Airport and combined services building get green light At a recent Cabinet Meeting, a number of projects continued to be “noted” under the Public Finance Management system, meaning that the projects had gone through the procurement process and a preferred bidder had been identified. Following this process, a contract is prepared and executed. Premier Sharlene Robinson, in speaking to this process, shared how elated she was to see the number of projects being noted which not only solidifies TCIG’s commitment to return monies into the local economy to provide employment while delivering on its critical capital program, but that many projects brought and continue to bring hope and pride across the Islands. Among them she is most excited about is the new South Caicos Terminal Building (Airport) which has finally progressed as well as a new home for the Fire Fighters and Air Traffic Controllers on Providenciales. “This is the best news that I can give the people of South Caicos who recently saw the destruction of the temporary structure loss to fire.” she stated. “A new Airport Terminal for South Caicos has been underway for over a decade and has seen serious challenges with an unfinished controversial structure and more recently the termination of a procurement process by former Governor John Freeman in early 2018 due to
flaws in the process. I am happy that my Government has been able to finally progress this Project to this stage where we are about to execute an agreement.” She said South Caicos is already enjoying over $10million in Government funded projects across the island and this now takes it over $20million in investments in the past four years. “There is much to be done on this island which has not enjoyed serious Government investment over many years. With a growing tourism sector, a new airport terminal will certainly lift the image of the island as we address day-to-day challenges of maintaining the island’s natural and man-made environment under District Administration. This project is scheduled to be completed in 18 months. In the main time we will seek to create a temporary facility that will suffice in the interim,” she stated. The Premier noted that the Airports Authority has seen an aggressive capital program over the past 4 years and it includes the purchase of Fire Trucks and modern equipment, repair works to the JAGS McCartney Airport on Grand Turk, major works to the Salt Cay Aerodrome and Terminal, the Fire Hall under construction in Grand Turk which will allow fire fighters there to have a home having loss their home since Ike, Office Block for Providenciales Staff and now soon to commence
Report from March 25th Cabinet meeting His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin, chaired the 8th meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday 24 March 2020,at the Premier’s Office, Hilly Ewing, Providenciales. All members were present. At this meeting Cabinet: •Were updated on work across the TCI government and the UK government to address and mitigate against any escalation of Coronavirus (Covid-19) in TCI. • Approved the implementation of a curfew from 8pm-5am over the night of Thursday 26 March and a 24 hour curfew to begin at 8pm on Friday 27 March until midnight on 14 April. • Approved the Emergency Powers (Covid-19) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. • Agreed business continuity and social distancing between Cabinet Members. • Approved amendments to the Health Professions (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 and Schedule 1 of the Health Professions Ordinance. • Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board on the award of the following contracts: i. PN 005280, Baggage Scanner for Customs (TR 19/82)
ii. PN 005483, DECR and Tourism Facilities – Purchase of Triple and Double Axel Trailers (TR 19/35) iii. PN 005515, Replacement Vehicles Phase 3 – District Administration/Prison (TR 19/92) iv. PN 005540, Equipment for PWD – Community Signs (TR 19/55) v. PN 005498, SSP, Detention Centre Upgrade vi. TCICAA 0080102, Automobile (TR 19/73) • Approved a contract for the President of the Labour Tribunal. • Approved the deferral of the Caribbean Examinations Council examinations to SeptemberOctober 2020; the suspension of the administration of the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment for 2020 and the automatic transition of the 2019/20 cohort of Grade 6 student to high school; the deferral of the Students Registration process to commence on 30th June 2020 subject to review; and the extension of the school year by two weeks so that school will close on 17th July 2020 instead of 3rd July 2020. Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Turks and Caicos Sun
Suite#5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 348-6838 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com Read us online at www.suntci.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce
Premier Sharlene Robinson
Combined Services Building for Firefighters and Air Traffic Controllers on Providenciales. She said the Authority continues its dialogue on a Joint Venture Proposal for the Airport on North Caicos and is advancing the early stages of work for a new Airport Terminal on Providenciales. As Minister with responsibility, I am happy to have been able to approve such critical investments and I must celebrate the TCI Airport Authority Staff for the remarkable achievements in capital investment that will enhance experiences for employees and the travelling public. “Persons will recall that the Air Traffic Controllers recently made national headlines and spoke of the fact that they were promised a new home since 2009 and we are happy to be the Government that will deliver. The
Graphic designer Information Technology and Production Manager: Kelano Howell Todeline Defralien Reporter
The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd. We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Combined Services Building for the fire fighters and air traffic controllers has also advanced to contract stage. This building will provide a more conducive work environment for these critical staff. The work of persons at and around the Airport is critical and we are happy to support them,” Premier Robinson concluded.
TCI Library free electronic resources The Department of Library Services recognize that the implementation of the 24 hour curfew due to COVID-19 was sudden and so many patrons would not have had the opportunity to get some additional reading materials. The Department would however like to inform all its members and the general public of a number of FREE online resources that are available to fulfil their Educational, Informational and Recreational needs. The main online resource is EBSCO which the Turks and Caicos Library Service maintains an annual subscription. The login details are as follows: EBSCOHost Log In Page: http:// search.ebscohost.com/ User ID: Password:
tcipublic OnlineLibrary@2020
Caribbean search, Learning Express, the Science Centre, Do it Yourself improvement and Master file complete Other Free Electronic Resources 1 . h t t p s : / / w w w . bigtimbermedia.com/ The publishing partners of Big Timber Media are offering free access to a variety of eBooks through to June 30. These bundles are web-hosted, which means accessing your eBooks requires an internet connection. 2.https://www.pdfdrive.com/ PDF Drive is a search engine for PDF files. It offers over 112 million e-books for free download. 3.https://openlibrary.org/ Open Library is a catalogue that provides access to 1.7 million scanned versions of books. These may be books in print or out of print.
EBSCO is a database containing the full text of over 6,000 scholarly and trade journals, magazines, and newsletters. The 4 . h t t p s : / / w w w. g u t e n b e r g . Library’s subscription presently org/ provides access to over 44,000 Project Gutenberg is a Library with e-books and includes databases on over 60,000 free e-books
APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
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TOGETHER WE WILL PERSEVERE
Guided by its corporate values and a spirit of giving, The Turks and Caicos Collection on Tuesday, March 31 at its Alexandra Resort made contribution of its luxury branded and designed hot/cold stainless-steel water bottles to the Police Welfare Association of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. Though a small gesture, the water bottles are a show of support for the well-being of our officers and a simple convenience offered to them.
We recognize that our Police Officers are working around the clock to ensure safety and observation of laws established to keep our islands and people healthy and now is a perfect time for us to demonstrate the values of TCC.”
Director of Public Relations at TCC, Wayne Garland in making the presentation to the Police Welfare Association and a small group of Officers, including the Acting Deputy Commissioner, Rodney Adams said, “We at TCC care deeply for people and for the communities in which we operate, and we have an essential role to play especially during this COVID-19 crisis.
Detective Robinson said “We are thrilled to have received such a generous donation. This gift will help to ensure that our officers save valuable time by having direct, personal access to both very hot or very cold liquids.” Det. Robinson went on to say that the donation was certainly unexpected but much appreciated and welcomed. He continued by saying,
Accepting the donation of over one hundred bottles on behalf of the Police Welfare Association, was its Deputy Chairman, Detective Sergeant Dalton Robinson.
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“Thank you TCC for supporting the men and women of the RTCIPF and for recognizing your law enforcement family.” TCC believes that as corporate citizens we should seek to harness our collective energies to help contain the spread of this virus and reiterates its support to the government and the Police Force as a partner in this fight. The Collection further wishes to commend our various communities for their support and adherence to the law. “To our Police Officers, words are inadequate in expressing our sincere thanks and gratitude to you for your tireless service and sacrifice.” TCC PR Director Garland ended by saying, “Moments of extraordinary challenge test our collective will, but also bring out the best of our collective humanity.”
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LOCAL NEWS
Deputy Governor Salutes All COVID-19 Essential Services Staff As we continue our COVID-19 - 21 Day Curfew in the Turks and Caicos Islands, I commend all residents for your overwhelming support and adherence to the guidance issued by Government and Health Officials. This is an unprecedented time in our country’s history; one that calls for strict measures to protect and prevent the loss of life, and we thank you for your support. As the Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service of the Turks and Caicos Islands, I take this opportunity on behalf of the Government and people of these Islands to salute and say thank you to our public service essential services staff that continue during this period to deliver key services on our behalf. First and foremost, I express our thanks and appreciation to our healthcare workers; those manning our hotlines providing advice and guidance to persons reporting symptoms; the doctors and nurses working in our clinics and hospitals to provide critical care to persons in need; the technicians in our laboratories collecting samples for testing; our Epidemiologist that compile daily statistics to feed to our joint Communications Team that works everyday to provide updates to the public.
Our Environmental and Public Health teams; our Permanent Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Director of Health Services who provide daily advice and guidance to policy makers, and our DDME, National Security and Senior Management staff that provide critical support to our Senior Leadership Team. To all of you, your contribution, dedication and sacrifice is greatly appreciated. As is the work of our Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, now supported by Immigration and DECR officials that continue to work to keep us safe. Our Radar, Immigration and Maritime Officers that continue to man our borders. Our Customs and Port Officers that continue to facilitate the clearance of goods shipped into the islands. Our Prison Officers that continue to report for duty at Her Majesty’s Prison. Our Teachers that continue to educate beyond the classroom. Our Water Service Department that continues to deliver key services to the public. Our Attorney General and staff that continue to draft key pieces of legislation, and our Treasury, Budget, Procurement, IT and Finance staff that continue to work on our financial year end procedures, while staff across all other sectors of Government
continue to be engaged from their homes in making sure that essential Government services across the entire country continue to run smoothly. Being a public servant is not always easy, but at challenging times I can truly say that the public service has always been heavily relied upon, and it is at times such as these when I am both proud and thankful to lead such a dynamic, hardworking and committed group of people that demonstrate such a strong level of devotion and duty to country. I salute as well private sector staff in our supermarkets, gas stations, pharmacies, telecommunications, electricity, water company and banks that are also performing vital services at this time. You have all truly epitomized the notion of service before self and for this we salute and say Thank You! There are no boundaries in the work that is set out before us, as it requires the full support and cooperation of us all. While our essential services staff work their best and hardest to keep us safe and healthy, we ask that you each continue to do your part by respecting and adhering to the guidance that has been provided, as it is the only way that we can
By Her Excellency Anya Williams
Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service
minimize the risk to staff that continue to work on all of our behalf and is the best way to show care and appreciation for the important roles that they are playing. Our success will be determined by how best we all work together to accomplish the goal at hand, so let’s all do our part! May God continue to bless, guide and keep you and your families in this Turks and Caicos Islands at this challenging time! Together We Can!!
FortisTCI announces measures to support customers during coronavirus pandemic FortisTCI has announced that the company will be implementing measures to assist customers in alleviating hardships that may be experienced as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic. Effective immediately, company will:
the
•Delay the 6.8% rate increase for 90 days •Suspend disconnections for 30 days •Suspend late fee charges for 60 days •Assist those most impacted with extended payment
company, Fortis Inc., was instrumental in helping to achieve this outcome.” He added: “Electricity is an absolutely essential service. Our most urgent and primary responsibility to the nation presently is to keep In announcing these the lights on.” company is new measures, FortisTCI The President & CEO Eddinton encouraging customers to Powell said: “These initiatives practice energy conservation will assist our customers at home as much as possible in these unprecedented at this time. Conserving and uncertain times. We energy will go a long way in are all in this together and helping customers manage FortisTCI is a long-term their electricity costs. needing strategic partner to people of Those the Turks and Caicos Islands. assistance, should contact These measures will help the company’s customer representatives our customers as they focus service on the growing pandemic at 649-946-4313 or email and economic threats in the customerservice@fortistci. weeks ahead. Our parent com. plans, on a case-by-case basis •Assist qualifying customers referred by the Department of Social Development
FortisTCI President & CEO Eddinton Powell
APRIL 3RD, 2020 – APRIL 10TH, 2020
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COVID-19 UPDATE: CUSTOMER SUPPORT MEASURES
With effect from Friday, March 27, FortisTCI has implemented the following measures to assist customers in alleviating hardships that may be experienced as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic. • • • • •
A delay of the 6.8% rate increase for 90 days Suspension of disconnections for 30 days Suspension late fee charges for 60 days Assistance for those most impacted with extended payment plans, on a case-by-case basis Assistance for qualifying customers referred by the Department of Social Development
“These initiatives will assist our customers in these unprecedented and uncertain times. We are all in this together and FortisTCI is a long-term strategic partner to people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. These measures will help our customers as they focus on the growing pandemic and economic threats in the weeks ahead. Our parent company, Fortis Inc., was instrumental in helping to achieve this outcome.” “Electricity is an absolutely essential service. Our most urgent and primary responsibility to the nation presently is to keep the lights on.” Eddinton Powell FortisTCI President and CEO Customers needing assistance, should contact the company’s customer service representatives at 649-946-4313 or email customerservice@fortistci.com.
2017 Winner
Allied Member of the Year
BCMS 681102
www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 |
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LOCAL NEWS
CIBC FirstCaribbean donates $250,000 to help countries purchase COVID-19 testing kits Bridgetown, Barbados, 30 March 2020 – Regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean is moving to assist countries across the region to purchase much-needed COVID–19 testing kits. The bank, through its charitable arm the FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation, will donate a total of USD$250,000 toward the purchase of the kits in the countries across its regional footprint. The bank will make the donation through its various operating companies across the Caribbean, including The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. Chief Executive Officer of the bank and Chair of the foundation Ms. Colette Delaney made the announcement noting: “testing was one of the main weapons in the arsenal against the spread of the disease”. She added: “community spread is one of the main ways the virus is transmitted and
testing is key to identify, isolate and treat those affected and limit its spread”. Ms. Delaney thanked the region’s “public health leadership, medical professionals and frontline workers and others involved in the essential work of keeping our communities safe and functioning during this very difficult time”. The donation follows the bank’s recent announcements of a suite of relief assistance to eligible clients including:
Wealth Management Clients effective for the 6 month moratorium period for existing loans and mortgages. •Credit card holders automatically benefitting from a payment waiver for three (3) months based on their current account standing.
Ms. Delaney noted: “Our response has been in the spirit of partnership that has always existed between the bank and the people of the region. This twopronged approach has allowed •6-month payment moratoria us to not only contribute to the on existing loans and national response in each of the countries in which we operate, mortgages. •Temporary revolving or but to directly assist our clients working capital financing who are affected”. options for our Corporate Ms. Delaney also noted Banking and Business Banking that many of the bank’s staff are choosing to make personal clients. •A special waiver of late donations to the various relief payment fees and default programmes in their islands interest to all eligible Retail, across the Caribbean and thanked Business, Banking, Corporate them for their generosity. “Our employees are Investment Banking and
CEO of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Colette Delaney
known for their calm and professional response, particularly in a crisis. We thank them for their generosity and commitment to continuing to provide service to our clients in these most unusual of circumstances.” CIBC FirstCaribbean has a staff of approximately 3,000 across 16 Caribbean countries.
Company insolvency and personal bankruptcy – the existing TCI regime by Tim Prudhoe
Attorney and Insolvency Practitioner
Hoping for the best, while preparing for the worst seems the right play in present circumstances. Sadly, it seems inevitable that the as-yet largely untested Insolvency Ordinance 2017 (in force 1 Jan 2019) and the underlying Insolvency Rules 2019 are soon to be put to the test. Although there remain pending some intended amendments to that legislation by way of the proposed Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2020, we at least have a good modern statutory framework within which to work as the TCI face the economic fallout of COVID-19. The Insolvency Rules lack standard forms for things such as a proof of claim, a director’s statement of affairs or a statutory demand but the legal profession and (now licensed) Insolvency Practitioners can help you navigate those practical issues. Where shareholders themselves have solvency concerns and no creditor petition is pending, like many other jurisdictions, the legislation allows for shareholder insolvency voluntary liquidation in conjunction with a consenting Insolvency Practitioner. Although that specific route avoids the need to advertise a windingup petition, there is still a notification and advertising requirement as to the fact of the liquidation. The current court Practice Direction (aka “operating procedure”) to cover COVID-19 impacts does not expressly include insolvency proceedings (either corporate or personal) as subject areas of work that can be heard on an urgent basis. That does not appear likely to change any time soon. There is currently a catch-up for “any other matter determined to be urgent” and when (it is not an “if”, but instead a when) the Court has to decide the issue then for the sake of the reputation of the jurisdiction that insolvency matters
will be viewed as within that catchup category. Reflecting understandable concerns of directors facing possible future claims of personal liability for trading during a period of insolvency as a result of the COVID-19 situation, overseas jurisdictions including England have imposed suspensions retrospect to before COVID-19 of “wrongful trading” allegations. In those jurisdictions this type of proactive move is hoped to stave off widespread director petitions for the winding-up of their companies for which they are director. There are also protective and “restructuring” options short of court involvement. Whoever you intend to advise you on these issues, they will obviously need as much information and documentation as possible of the company’s or your (depending on whether corporate or personal insolvency is the concern) financial obligations. In addition to the Official Assignee (liquidator of statutory last resort), there are currently 4 licensed insolvency practitioners showing on the TCI Financial Services Commission website. I am one of those name. Licensed as a result of their demonstrated experience and expertise in this area of work, if there is a viable way of helping you, 1 of the 4 of us is available to help try and do so. If may be that the practical extent of that help is the presentation of the necessary court application (for an order of winding-up or personal bankruptcy) but that in itself in the right circumstances offers peace in the of mind and the chance for a fresh start.
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION Regulating with Honesty, Integrity and Transparency
27 March 2020
NOTICE FINANCIAL SERVICES OPERATIONS DURING THE MANDATORY LOCKDOWN PERIOD The Commission’s in-office operations will be suspended effective 3:00pm on Friday, 27 March2020, in response to the lockdown announced by the Premier, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, on 25 March 2020. During the lockdown period, the Commission’s staff will work from home to continue to provide service to you, our valued clients. The Commission will be available to clients via telephone, electronic mail and video conferencing, and will continue its regulatory/supervisory mandate of monitoring and proactively responding to developments in the financial services sector during the lockdown period. During the lockdown period, the Commission can be contacted and/or regulatory and registry submission/applications be made via the following electronic mail addresses: • Corporate Registry: Registry@tcifsc.tc • Bank and Trust Department: BD@tcifsc.tc • Insurance Department: ins-applications@tcifsc.tc • AML Supervision Department: aml_supervision@tcifsc.tc • All other queries: fsc@tcifsc.tc The Commission will continue to communicate with you via electronic mail and through our website: www.tcifsc .tc P.O. Box 140 • Caribbean Place • Leeward Highway • Providenciales • Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 946 – 5314/941 – 8311 • Fax: (649) 941 – 3569 P.O. Box 79 • Waterloo Plaza • Waterloo Road • Grand Turk • Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 946 – 2791/946 – 2550 • Fax: (649) 946 – 1714 Website: www.tcifsc.tcEmail: fsc@tcifsc.tc
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LOCAL NEWS
Commissioner warns against sharing fake information Commissioner of Police, Trevor Botting is warning against the spreading of unverified information relating to COVID-19. According to the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 that came into operation on March 26th, 2020, no person shall publish or cause to be published, posted or re-posted, over any media platform inclusive of social media, any purported news or report, or purported statement of fact, knowing or have reasonable cause to suspect that the same:
DECR and Immigration Officers to assist the RT&CIPF with enforcing curfew restrictions Immigration and DECR Clayton Jennings, Asante Jones teams will hit the ground (Department of Environment and DECR Officers Anthony running as of today. Building and Coastal Resources) Officers Pinder, Trevor Watkins, a multi-agency team now is will be joining forces with Rodney Smith, Delroy Glinton important to build resilience Officers of the Royal Turks and and Curtis Been were sworn in policing both on land and Caicos Islands Police Force in as Special Constables by the sea. I am grateful to the in response to the Covid-19 Commissioner of Police, Trevor Government for providing this Curfew. This initiative is Botting on Monday, March much-needed boost. We expect the partnership to continue as to strengthen an already 30th, 2020. established partnership and Commissioner Trevor long as the curfew is active.” The five Immigration help tighten the monitoring of Botting said, “We have worked the curfew restrictions. with both the Immigration and Officers will be assigned to The five Immigration DECR Personnel in the past Response and Operation while Officers, Evenia Freites, but this time their assistance the DECR Officers be assigned Natasha Hall, Kirkford Gardiner, is even more critical. These to the Marine Branch Unit.
(a)is untrue or false; or (b)may incite public fear, panic or ethnic hatred Commissioner Botting said, “You are advised to refrain from spreading false and unverified information, rumours -FAKE news related to COVID-19. Spreading these untruths will cause unnecessary public panic. This is an Offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars or a term of imprisonment for three months, or to both such fine and imprisonment. I am asking you to please be responsible and only use authentic and official messaging from the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health should be your only source for COVID-19 information”. If you have information on anyone responsible for sharing fake news please contact Pofscovid19@tcipolice.tc.
List of licensed public service operators for use during Government approved times In an effort to assist individuals in need of transportation services during the TCIG approved times should they need to move during the curfew, the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the Ministry of Health and the Road Safety Department publish for your convenience a list of licensed Public Service Operators available to offer transportation.
PROVO WATER COMPANY LTD. We are currently seeking a qualified applicant to fill the position of Pipe Labourer: REQUIREMENTS: •Minimum of 3 years experience in waterworks and piping networks. •Must be in good health to meet the demands of physically challenging work •Must be available for emergency maintenance calls on evenings and weekends according to rotational schedule. •Must have a clean driver’s license WORK ENVIRONMENT: •Hot, dusty and muddy conditions including confined spaces •Active roadways and associated traffic noise levels •Remote locations JOB DESCRIPTION: The Pipe Labourer is responsible for: •Using hand digging tools to excavate and bury pipes and plumbing fixtures •Installing, repairing and maintaining pies, fixtures and other plumbing used for water distribution in residential, commercial and industrial connections. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO: 1.Fill pipes or plumbing fixtures with water or air and observe pressure gauges to detect and locate leaks. 2.Reads and follows installation plans and establish the sequence of pipe installations. 3.Measure, cut, thread and bend pipe to required angle, using hand and power tools or machine such as pipe cutters, pipe threading machines and pipe bending machine. 4.Use hand or powered tools to excavate trenches and ditches. 5.Cut openings in structures to accommodate pipes and pipe fittings, using hand and power tools. 6.Repair and maintain plumbing, replacing defective washers, replacing or mending broken pipes. 7.Attend Emergency callout when necessary. 8.Carry out all other duties as directed by the Supervisor. Salary Range: US$ 8.00 - $ 12.00 per hour All applications must be submitted by March 31st, 2020. Turks & Caicos Islanders need only apply. PROVO WATER COMPANY LTD. P.O. Box 39, Grace Bay Road Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Email: Recruitment@provowater.tc
Grand Turk Lucerne Freites-Francis 244-9067 Antonio Clarke - 231-1806 Antonio Fulford - 241-6243 Robert Forbes- 343-5311 Jamal Williams- 331-3449 Charles Glinton - 243-5886 Curtis Lightbourne- 231-3116 Andy Lightbourne- 244-4724 Trevor Missick- 241-8028 Sharad Garland- 242-3529 Providenciales
Ron Higgs - 246-1059 Bloniva Green - 246-6031 Samuel Handfield- 241-0985 Flint Handfield - 242-2240 Edith Morris - 442-0666 North and Middle Caicos Max Campbell- 231- 6285 Kindly note that these persons are licensed to offer public transportation services on each Island under which they are listed.
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LOCAL NEWS
The science behind COVD 19 and changes to the Regulations (Wednesday April 1st) This is our fifth day of lockdown and curfew. So far so good - and the first thing to say is thank you. We are collectively doing the right thing. It’s causing, we know, inconvenience and in some cases serious hardship. Most people I speak to understand instinctively why we are doing this but we thought we would use tonight to try and describe the underpinning facts of why we are doing what we are doing.
on - here in the Island, public and private, and that expertise we can draw on elsewhere, including some very eminent epidemiologists in the UK, tell us that TCI is doing all the right things to achieve this. We got ahead of it and we clamped down on it, and if we can hold the line we are going to not only get through but present an example to the world about how to do this. Separate to this there is a secondary benefit. The better the lockdown we achieve, the more chance there will be that we The Science: generate in the population a slowburn immunity that builds over If you can bear it, a quick time. These will be people who science lesson - because it’s the have in some way been exposed to science that is guiding us on this. the virus but have either had no You’ll have heard lots of people symptoms or very mild symptoms. describe ‘flattening the curve’. As It’s reasonable I think for far as I can, I want to describe to us to assume, given how large you what that means and why our tourist sector was, that the what we are doing does this. virus must have been on the All virus’s spread at different Islands before it was first properly rates. There is a scientific scale identified. Some immunity will of measuring infection - this isn’t have been starting to develop. random - so, for example, measles With testing - coming is ‘nine’ which means that we in from the UK and also being would expect one measles case to procured from the US - there’s infect nine others. For Influenza sophisticated modelling that can the infection rate is 1.3. If the rate explain this and as we reach a is ‘one’ then one person infects one tipping point we will know that. other person. A figure less than While there will continue to be ‘one’ means the disease is in decline cases in TCI, there will be sufficient and may die out. immunity in the population to COVID19 is thought to be prevent its rapid spread here. We around 2.2. Much less infectious will be seeking data to make smart than measles but considerably more decisions around this. infectious than influenza. What With the Territory having this means is that, on average, one developed its own immunity - with infected person passes it on to 2.2 the borders still closed - we can other people. As with all statistics start to restart the local economy that quote averages this means that and get money moving through there may be many people that and round it. Businesses will be only pass it on to one, and one able to open. Fear of each other person that passes it on to many, will subside. but as I say the global average is 2.2 Indeed, these Islands are You see this in the way small enough, the measures we COVID19 spreads. One person have all taken together restrictive infects two, two people infect enough, and the data we may be four, those four infect eight (in able to collect around immunity fact because it’s an infection rate important enough, that it may well of 2.2 it’s now starting to become be that TCI becomes an example more than simply doubling) so of how to do this - that does our let’s say that eight cases becomes brand - as an extraordinary place 17 and then 17 becomes 37. You and a healthy place to visit - no get the picture, we now have a very end of good. dramatic rise as we saw in Italy and It also allows us to start to in cities such as New York. It’s out see a medium term future where a of the cage and it’s spreading and tourist visiting TCI who we know is multiplying at a factor of 2.2. Not safe can come to an extraordinary good. destination that they know is not The number one purpose only beautiful, but is safe. But let’s of everything you are doing is to be honest with each other that’s change the maths on this spread. some way off in the future although What we need to do is bring this something we are working towards. down from 2.2 to certainly under 1.5, in truth we want to get it to Adjustment to the Regulations under one. But Below 1.5 we can start to impose ourselves on this Laws can help moderate virus and bring it under control. and guide behaviour but it’s by far We have to do that because our best when a people know why they medical services can manage a are doing something than be told much flattened curve but they to do something. Self-denial, selfcouldn’t possibly manage the sort discipline and good judgement are of increase I described as it grew at so much more powerful than say 2.2 the threat of vehicle confiscation. The good news is that all Please, err on the side of caution. the medical opinion we can draw Because you can do something
doesn’t mean you necessarily should do something. We said we’d keep everything we were doing under review and we have been. Broadly we think we are in the right place. Matters that have now become clearly the way to do things which haven’t caused enormous inconvenience but have severely cut down traffic and movement - we yesterday captured in law; so, for example, you may not drive to your place of exercise. We have removed takeaways, drive-throughs and restaurants from being described as an essential service. From the last few days it’s clear they aren’t we can get by until the end of this period without them, wonderful as they are. We do it based on medical and Policing advice. With TCI Islanders and Residents being the sociable society we are, some risk becoming the equivalent of the local bar, the spot some meet and engage, and it also gives a license for movement we could not reasonably police. This covers every form of takeaway, no exceptions. There is the possibility of the Governor granting exceptions but I think that will be unlikely over this period of lockdown unless it’s in direct support of an effort to alleviate hunger. It’s also now clear in the law that you have to be on a route from your home to your allowed destination (a supermarket is the best example). Much of this ‘law’ wasn’t required because people were demonstrating great common sense but it is a tidying up exercise for those who might take advantage, a week or so in. Beyond that we’ve kept matters very much as they are. It’s working. We had an interesting piece of false news start to generate today. It wasn’t malicious just wrong and it originated from a South African website - that isn’t a recognised authority on medical statistics. To be clear, we still have only 5 (five) confirmed cases in TCI. The authoritative way to know what our health professionals on the front line know - is the TCI dashboard that we disseminate daily and is on the MOH website. Please stick to TCI sources, we hold the data because we collect the data. We want the public to know. This wasn’t malicious or dangerous it was just wrong. There have though been several instances on social media recently that haven’t just been wrong they’ve been dangerous. Before focussing on the tiny number who are malicious amongst us, let me say something about the vast majority. This is not the time to stifle decent debate - indeed the future of these Islands are starting to be decided during this time in terms of whether we remain safe, recover,
By His Excellency Governor Nigel Dakin
and can once again prosper. But what this short period is not, is an opportunity for us to stigmatise anyone who has COVID19. For all you know you may be one of the fortunate that had it, suffered few if any symptoms, but passed it on to others. Or - if we all lose control of this through our casualness - it’s very probably true that it will be someone very close to you, who you love, that ends up with this virus. It doesn’t discriminate. If you see someone originating or spreading hate or misinformation, designed to cause fear, then there is now a Police Unit - well skilled in following leads across the internet - that you can report to. Their email is: pofscovid19@tcipolice.tc. That’s pofscovid19@tcipolice.tc Stopping the Sloops I’ll finish on one point I flagged yesterday on Social Media. A large sloop of many hundreds was turned around yesterday on the High Seas between here and Haiti. I was on a call today with the US Ambassador and US Coast Guard in Bahamas; the number of combined assets we have operating presently in this space has significantly increased. That frustrating battle continues every night - we should be more proud of those involved in this work tonight, than ever. But for those who can connect to Haiti do send them the message. You have our continued attention and you will be stopped. As of tonight we are okay. We are in a much better position than many others. In terms of health, we can see a route through this, not through hope but through understanding the science, determined to capitalise by doing this once and doing this right. That’s what you are doing TCI; you are a resilient lot and resilience is the order of the day for the next few weeks. The reward is there if we stay firm; as firm we must. Day five is drawing to a close and day six is soon to begin - soon we will be announcing the end of the first week. We can do this. Good night TCI
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Leader of the Opposition response to press statement by Governor HE Nigel Dakin April 1, 2020 Following from the Governor’s address last night, we in the opposition wish to congratulate him for his regular updates and responsiveness to several requests to facilitate certain essential and practical community needs and activities. We agree that closing all unessential operations last Saturday was the correct thing to do, especially, given the TCI’s vulnerabilities. It is encouraging that the number of confirmed infections has remained stable at five (5) cases and no deaths. May God be praised! The total effectiveness of this action can and will only be fully appreciated at the end of the self-isolation exercise. Last night the Governor reinforced his call and reminder to the public of the curfew guidelines to stay at home, practice social distancing and only come out for true emergency reasons and supplies. The opposition continues to support these measures. It was also encouraging to hear of the cooperation with the Bahamas and the US to deter the arrival of illegal vessels into, what is legally, a closed border; albeit porous. We also wish to thank the hard-working men and women in law enforcement for their bravery and dedication on our behalf. We in the opposition are required to do our jobs as representatives of the people, not only in good times, but especially during times of crisis. In this particular case, we are in a crisis unlike any that we or the world have seen before. Given that, we must point out where we see risk with major potential fallout for the public. We were expecting more from
HE’s speech to the country last night. One would have thought that the space between the TCI’s first confirmed case up until now, would have given the government enough time to consider various permutations and scenarios relating to the impact that an increase in the spread of the virus could have on our communities. The Governor said that he is not operating in hope, but on science. However, he presented no real evidence of that, especially, given what is happening in countries around us as well as in the US and Britain, itself. His assurances were more of a psychological placebo. This may be no fault of his, considering the UK’s preoccupation with its own devastation by the virus. The real story that must be told, to put our plight into context, are listed here: •TCIG operates two hospitals under a public-private-partnership (PPP) agreement. •TCI Hospitals are only secondary care facilities, with equipment and staff to match only a level 2 hospital. •They do not have any intensive care units (ICU), instead they have a single High Dependency Unit (HDI) and only the skills to manage a single patient at a time. •It has in place contracts with area hospitals to cover TCI patients requiring critical care. Jamaica and other countries, where we send our patients, have recruited Cuban doctors, because they themselves do not have the capacity to deal with the problem solely on their own.
Premier Contracting Services is seeking suitably qualified applicants to fill the following positions: Electric Lift Truck Maintenance Engineer As the Lift truck Maintenance Engineer, you will be responsible to provide proactive support to all battery/hydraulic operated lift trucks and cleaning machines. You will be required to ensure all systems are functioning and repair as necessary. Complete planned and reactive maintenance to ensure safety and reliability of equipment 24/7. Provide detailed reports for all works completed and ongoing to operations manager. Excellent communication skills are a requirement. Those with vocational college electrician’s diploma will only be considered. Experience in the following areas is required for this position; •Diagnose malfunctioning systems, apparatus, and components of all battery- operated equipment, using test equipment and hand tools, to l locate the cause of a breakdown and correct the problem. •Inspect all electrical systems and hydraulic and mechanical components to identify hazards, defects, and the need for adjustment or repair. •Advise management on whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous. •Test electrical systems and continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures, using testing devices to ensure compatibility, reliability, efficiency and safety of system. •Working knowledge of complex battery powered electrical systems and electronic controls with ability to diagnose and resolve issues. •Repair and maintain multiple hydraulic and mechanical components. •Experience with welding and fabrication a must •Working knowledge of electronic kitchen equipment. •Ensure inventory of parts is kept up to date. Salary $18,000 US to $23,000 US per annum dependant on experience. Staff accommodation option is available. If staff accommodation is not accepted no compensation will be provided. A bonus of up to 10% is achievable dependant on manager’s review Deadline for submission of application is April7th, 2020 Please submit applications with references and relative experience to: Ms. Edith Cox Suite 200 ‘Graceway IGA Main Office Complex Leeward Highway or by emailing to maintenance@khcapital.com Please Note: This Position is currently held by a Work Permit holder. Interested Belongers must submit their application to the Immigration Board
•TCIG does not have testing equipment, and the Bahamian people are complaining to their government about under-taking tests for the TCI. It is quite possible that, if cases there were to increase significantly, they may no longer be able to assist us. •TCI has no testing equipment, no Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), no respirators and no ventilators that the public is aware of. For a minor investment in equipment, the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre could have already been made operational. However, due to poor stakeholder management, this has not happened. Everywhere, countries (even those with a low number of confirmed infections) are making contingency plans to increase care giving capacity including beds and equipment. To date, TCI has not unrolled a real plan beyond home confinement to deal the potential spread of the virus. We do not believe in cursing the darkness without lighting a candle. We therefore make the following suggestions as interim measures that TCIG should consider as follows: recommission portions of Myrtle Rigby Clinic to care for non-critical and chronic illness patients, to make TCI Hospitals available to COVID-19 patients in the event it is required. Because of its modern design, TCI Hospitals have all the infrastructure needed to install new equipment needed to deliver care to the critically ill. The Myrtle Rigby Clinic has an operating room and a delivery room, with expedited contractual agreements these can be repaired and retrofitted within a short period of time utilizing the large cadre of contractors that are awaiting the lifting of the quarantine. We ask: Why not •Work with TCI Hospitals to upgrade the equipment for the testing for COVID-19 virus? •Follow the example of Italy and Jamaica and other Caribbean
By Hon. Charles Washington Misick Leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP) neighbours by recruiting, in conjunction with TCI Hospitals, Cuban doctors skilled in critical care – especially as it relates to COVID-19. TCIG Ministry of Health should expedite the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), respirators, ventilators and other life savings supplies. While, the enforcement of the protocols relating to the curfew appears to be adequately managed, especially on Provo, there appears to be a lack of stakeholder engagement as it relates to the medical side of the equation. Government should consult widely with the medical and health communities to formulate practical and forward-looking protocols relating to treatment of potential COVID-19 patients. In closing, we salute the bravery of our health professionals on the tip of the spear of this pandemic and appeal to TCIG to do everything possible to ensure that these brave, heroic persons are provided with every assistance and all the equipment necessary to be able to do their jobs as safely and effectively as is possible for all. May God bless our Turks and Caicos Islands, and may He keep us safe!
Over $800k worth of drugs seized by police Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have launched an investigation after drugs with an estimated value of over $800,000 were seized from a suspicious vessel. This seizure followed a report of a speed boat six miles off Providenciales. The Marine Branch officers onboard M/V Sea Pursuit were dispatched around 3.a.m. on Thursday, March 26th, 2020 and a blue thirty-one (31) feet speed boat was later discovered. The Marine Branch Officers made several attempts to stop the said boat, but the Captain refused; M/V Sea Pursuit gave chase. The illegal boat sped to shore and around ten (10) persons escaped into bushes. Further investigations by the RTCIPF Tactical Unit Officers and Forensic Support Unit Officers revealed six (6) black travelling bags containing an assortment of packages wrapped in plastic on board. A further count revealed 36 packages containing suspected cannabis.
Police Commissioner Trevor Botting The estimated street value of the said suspected drugs is $852,000. Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said “Despite our Officers being very focused on keeping people safe as part of the CONVID 19 response, they are also very focused on catching those criminals who seek to commit a serious crime. I want to reassure the public and warn the criminals, we are still crime-fighting and we remain resolute in keeping the TCI safe and secure.” The packages were seized for processing. Anyone with information on this incident can call Crime Stoppers Anonymously at 1-800-8477 or call 911.
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Benefits of weight training When most of decide to adopt a healthy lifestyle, it’s known that regular exercise should become a part of our routine. Some type of aerobic exercise such as dance or step classes, volleyball or running is usually included in our fitness plan. Many of us however, neglect weight training, seeing it as an exercise reserved for persons who are fitness or gym buffs or who train to attain a particular type physique. But weight training not only boosts those “show muscles” but also improves many aspects of our health. Lower your diabetes risk We all know that living a healthy lifestyle by managing our weight and eating a healthy diet can help prevent diabetes and control the condition if we are already diabetic. But weightlifting specifically, plays a significant role in reducing your risk. A study by the National Institutes of Health found that men who lifted weights for about five 30-minute sessions per week had a 34 percent lower risk of diabetes. Adding regular cardiovascular exercise slashed the risk by 59 percent! Stay heart healthy Those weight training sessions are also a great way to condition the heart. It has been shown that blood flow after 45 minutes of
moderate-intensity strength training can cause up to a 20 percent decrease in blood pressure and this effect lasts for about 30 minutes after the end of a training session. In fact, in persons who lift weights regularly, the effect extended up to an entire day after their last session, rivaling the effects of anti-hypertensive medications. Improve your balance Having well-toned, strong muscles improves our performance in sporting activities and everyday life. When we weight train, we don’t only work our larger muscles like our pecs but also smaller stabilizer muscles in your limbs and our core. This is especially important for people as they age as falls, partly due to poor balance, are the leading cause of injury-related death in adults over 65 especially when a fracture results from the fall. Beat osteoporosis As you age, you naturally lose muscle and bone mass. Bone loss starts in our 30s and physically inactive people can lose as much as 3% to 5% of their muscle mass each decade after age 30! This is of special concern for women. Weightlifting can help fight this. Just as our muscles adapt to the stress of weightlifting by becoming bigger and stronger, our bones also adapt by depositing bone
in areas that are stressed by weights, thereby producing stronger bones. Lift your mood It’s an accepted fact that when stressed, anxious or depressed, exercise is a good tool to help take the edge off. In fact, most persons are aware that aerobic type exercise such as running causes the release of endorphins which are mood elevators. However, when followed for 8 weeks, the effect of exercise on depressive symptoms in a group of women was assessed after regularly weight training or doing aerobic exercise. The effect on mood was the same for both groups. This suggests that the next time you’re feeling down, instead of going for a long run, maybe you could pick up that dumbbell instead. Fight weight gain Want to eat that extra piece of pizza or have that conch fritter without feeling guilty? Lift weights. Weight training is proven to increase overall body metabolism. The more muscle you gain in the gym, the more calories you burn doing daily activities. Of course, you should not believe that a diet high in calories and fat will all be counteracted by a half hour stint lifting weights, but improving your overall muscle density will help you
By Dr. Marsha Barnett
stay lean even if you cheat on your diet now and then. Look and feel better Weightlifting is the best way to get a lean, toned, fit body. With all the cardio in the world, without some form of resistance training to challenge the muscles, you won’t get very toned. Women tend to shy away because of fear of becoming bulky. However, lifting light to moderate weights will result in a lean body, not a bulky one. So, if you are looking to tone and shape your body, start lifting today.
Leading in times of crisis
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 When things are progressing well, we focused so much on the progress that we overlook an ineffective leader. In fact, most times we give the leaders credit for the progress when in fact they may have little or anything to do with it. Therefore, we can conclude that you can have a poor leader when things are going well but recognize them as great because of the success and progress that is taking place. On the other hand, you can have a great leader when things are in a crisis state but because things look so bad and our focused is on the ugly things associated with the crisis, the leader maybe consider ineffective when in fact that leader may very well be great and effective. It is not easy leading in times of crisis and at some point, all of us have faced crisis in our lives. Of course, we have never seen anything like this COVID 19 crisis. However, some people are facing crisis in their marriage and family. Some people are facing crisis in their health. Some people are facing crisis in their financial state. Some people are facing crisis in leading in the workplace. Sometimes this crisis is just too extensive and hard to handle, and we failed leading during our crisis. Perhaps that is way some
marriages failed, maybe that is why some health deteriorated and maybe that is why some people found themselves in a bankrupt state. Before I proceed, let me congratulate the Government particularly our Premier and the Governor on their efforts in leading the country during this time of crisis. Here are some tips for leading in times of crisis. Don’t be scare. Be calm.
In times of crisis, we need to get help preferably from experts. The experts can guide you and offer valuable information, information you perhaps never thought about. Therefore, do not be afraid to ask for help especially if you are in crisis that you never encounter before. You may have difference with individuals who can offer help but during crisis, it is time to put aside difference and embrace the right people who can help.
In times of crisis, we need to be calm. Even if you are afraid within, Be decisive and act do not show that you are afraid. Try your best to be calm and remember In times of crisis, be decisive. that God did not give you a spirit of Don’t be wishy washy as you may Fear. mislead your followers or your Remind yourself that being partners. You may not be able to afraid will not help the situation as please everyone but in a crisis, you it may expand the crisis. If you are a can’t be procrastinating or waiting leader and you are afraid ten imagine to see what others are doing. Just what your followers or partners will make a decision. be afraid too. Communicate as much as Be honest possible In times of crisis, tell the truth. Do not lie about the situation. If you do, the truth will eventually come out and you will not be trusted. The truth may hurt but it is better to tell the truth than to cover up. Connect with experts
During times of crisis, the rumour mill is so high. Many times, people are making their own assessments especially if they do not hear form the relevant people. Communicate as much as possible even it if means multiple times a day.
By Drexwell Seymour
Conclusion Leading in times of crisis requires one to be strong and not to be afraid. You can achieve this by having faith and knowing that God is on your side. Remember God will never leave you nor forsake you. Being in a crisis is a great opportunity to display your leadership ability. While no one wants to have crisis, having crisis from time to time can be great payoff for leaders. Leaders can be performing very poorly prior to a crisis and if they react effectively and properly, followers and partners may forget about the past and focused solely on the leader’s performance during a crisis.
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Former Premier Michael Misick’s statement on the stimulus package I sat back and waited to see what would the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands so-called stimulus package would look like. When it was announced, like other citizens I was curiously optimistic that it would provide the type of relief our people needed and deserved. However, after carefully analyzing it, the conclusion I draw is that it is smoke and mirrors. The reality is that there is not much in it for Turks and Caicos Islanders. While the gesture of $1200 at first sight may seem generous we have to put this into proper context. Firstly, this is a one-time payment and we don’t know how long this crisis will last. Secondly, it is targeting the hospitality workers in particular, unfortunately in our country 90 percent of the hospitality workers are not from here. Thirdly, the red tape that has been set to get this money will take a long time for anyone to get it if at all. Fourthly, the stimulus package for self employed persons and small to medium businesses are in the same category of being difficult to access. I am sure most small businesses NIB and NHIP contributions are not paid up to-date taking into consideration the private sector began closure amongst the usual hardship they endure. This alone is a disqualification from receiving aid from the Government. What is clear however and easy to access is the stimulus that provide for fifty percent (50%) reduction in stamp
duties and three months (3) exemption from Import Duties. In my view, this is unnecessary. Why are we are giving away monies that could me use to help the poor. We did not have a hurricane so there is no need for repairs? What is noticeable absent from the stimulus is help for the people that would need it the most. The poor, the unemployed, the old and the children. It is my view that all citizens should get this payment of $1200 whether working or not. Our elder citizens on old age pension should get it as well as a young mother without a job. There should also be made provision for children, free internet should be given to household for all students to be able to continue learning. Every Turks and Caicos Islander child in my view should get five hundred dollars ($500.00) payment. They too need food and supplies. Instead of giving stamp duties and duty free concession to the rich and the building materials company that will buy and stock up and not pass it on, I believe a better and needed way to help our citizens is for the government to forgive and forgo all back fees on government Land leases to Islanders and award them Freehold Title at no cost. Also all of the land that interim Government and the so call Civil Recovery Team have taken from Turks and Caicos Islands should be return so that islanders can build their dream home or business and be empowered. Why every time there is a stimulus we are left out and we subsidize the folks that are making millions of
dollars when the economy is good without giving much or anything back to the People and Country. This total disregard and contempt for us as a people can be seen plainly. Why is it that all the local business especially restaurants and take out are closed when all three (3) IGA Supermarkets is allowed to stay open to sell groceries and boil fish and grits while our brothers and sisters have to close their place of business. Why is the Wine Cellar closed while IGA is allowed to sell Rum, Wines and Spirits? Can someone answer these questions for me? Something is rotten in Denmark and it is not cheese. I say the law should be clear, if a category of business is exempt by law than let it be exempt. The system of having to apply to a committee for your business to be included on an exempt list leaves room for subjective selection rather than an open and transparent process whereby everyone is equal under the law. While I am writing it pains my heart to have seen the notice publish in the Gazette by the Minister designating the only sports complex that we have in Providenciales as a detention center. This cannot be allowed to happen. As the person with my ministers that was responsible for building this complex I am appalled that this would even be considered. This complex was build for the enjoyment of our citizens especially the young people. I call on the minister and
Michael Misick the government to reconsider their plans for turning the Gustavo Lightbourne Sports complex into a detention center whether it be permanent or temporary. There must be other suitable place that can be rented or purchase and use for this purpose. Finally, I say to citizens and residents alike as difficult as it may seem we have to stay safe and stay inside and avoid personal contact with others, the medical professional know best, let’s listen and abide by their advice. This virus is no joke and if it is not contained could have devastating effect on us as a country with the possibility of countless lives lost. We only need to see what’s happening in Italy, Spain and America. I know when we watch TV we sometimes think we’ll it’s happening there and cannot happen here but in this global village we live in nothing is far away anymore. So let’s abide by the curfew and the other emergency measures that have been put in place for our protection and safety. Let’s us be our Brothers keeper and keep each other safe and out of harm’s way. Continue to pray for the good lord to Bless and spare our Turks and Caicos Islands.
COVID-19 Address delivered by Hon. Edwin A. Astwood, Minister of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services I want to begin by thanking waiting area or room with a COVID-19 all our frontline Health Care Workers, case. and those frontline workers in Law – or – Enforcement, and all other Critical b) having direct contact with infectious Services Workers throughout the Turks secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being & Caicos Islands. I also want to thank coughed on) all the high level government officials for the countless hours they put in for Therefore, if we want to avoid protecting our Nation, and for providing getting in contact with this coronavirus, direction for our war on COVID-19. we must then avoid getting in close I want to briefly give some contacted contact with; not only persons information for protecting yourself and who tested positive for the virus or one your family during this time. who is a suspected case, but also those But first I am going to give that may be infected with the virus, and some information from our COVID-19 don’t know that are, we call that being Situation Report; the number of “asymptomatic”. confirmed COVID-19 Positive canes The Best, and most effective, remain at 5. An additional 9 samples way to avoid this coronavirus is to STAY were tested, and I am happy to report AT HOME. that all 9 were NEGATIVE. This is good Only, if absolutely necessary, news, but not news for us to become leave your home to get what is needed. In complacent. doing so one should continue practicing We all know by now that the the necessary Social distancing and hand virus is transported by droplets; when hygiene protocols, and one may put on a someone sneezes or caught. And we face mask for extra protection, and after know that the spray of droplets emitted completing the task; immediately return at these time can travel as far as six feet, home. or more. If you live with others, practice Social In Addition, we need to know Distancing in the house or apartment that droplets can be expelled whenever also. You need to protect your family, we talk or laugh in such a way that and can this by also putting in measures causes a light spray to be emitted. With like; assigned bathrooms, no sharing of these droplet, close contact is generally utensils, identify who prepares meals, needed for transmitted. These droplets identify the individual do the grocery can also contaminate surfaces like tables, shopping, having your cleaning and and door knobs by way of hands, which disinfecting schedules in place. can then be picked up by unsuspecting If someone in the home is individuals. showing mild symptoms, or has been Close contact is defined by the in contact with a known or suspected Center for Disease Prevention & Control case; institute the wearing of a face mask (CDC) as: in the home, and contact the health officials for further guidance. a) being within approximately 6 feet The CDC defines social (2 meters) of a COVID-19 case for a distancing in the following way: prolonged period of time; close contact “Social distancing means can occur while caring for, living with, remaining out of congregate settings, visiting, or sharing a healthcare facility avoiding mass gatherings, and
maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.” Some may ask “What is the reasons for social distancing”? What are the benefits to myself and my community? Social distancing is simply a public health practice that aims to prevent sick people from coming in close contact with healthy people, in order to reduce opportunities for disease transmission. With COVID-19, the goal of social distancing right now is to slow down the outbreak in order to reduce the chance of infection among high-risk populations and to reduce the burden on our health care systems and Frontline workers. “If social distancing can be successfully executed in the Turks & Caicos, then there will be far less people testing positive for this coronavirus, and far less people presenting with the COVID-19 disease; hence far less people needing hospitalization and critical medical care at any one time.” Therefore, we may continue to see increases in positive cases, unless, we allow the impact of our social distancing, and quarantine measures to run its course. I want to emphasize that; “The more we stay from each other, the less the burden will be on our health system, our health workers, and other frontline workers, and the less burden on our country on a whole.” We know that times of Crises push technology, innovation, abilities and adaptabilities. Hence this quarantine period also gives us time to greatly scale up our health care system so we can increase our ability to safely treat more people, and scale up our public Health system; so that we can do more
contract tracing, testing, isolation, and quarantine on a large basis, so that when we do come out of quarantine, and if there is another spike, we will be better equipped and experienced to quickly mitigate against this virus. We will continue to raise COVID-19 awareness, and in a later release I will focus on how our bodies can fight off the virus, but at this time I need to touch on a negative occurrence that is beginning to occur; we must resist and desist from engaging in Stigma and Discrimination. Stigma and Discrimination in any form is bad and unnecessary, but especially in relation to COVID-19 at this time. This is something that should be discourage by all. Instead, let us support, uplift, and encourage one and other, and we who have faith in God know that this too shall pass. I firmly believe that if we all act responsible, and if we work together, adhere to all the public health guidelines, and the social distancing measures that were instituted, we would have a real shot of defeating this coronavirus, and the Turks & Caicos Islands would survive this COVID-19 pandemic. May God continue to protect you, and continue to protect the Turks & Caicos Islands.
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The Cuomo show, Andrew and Chris, enliven coronavirus TV
With all their familial love and drama, the Cuomo brothers — Andrew during the daytime, Chris at night — have become compelling figures in the plague-driven landscape of American television. Andrew, New York’s governor, holds a near daily televised briefing on the epidemic, a mixture of statistics, aphorisms and advice together with prodding and praise directed at a fellow Queens, N.Y., native, President Donald Trump. Women and Democrats swoon. Chris has tested positive for coronavirus and done his primetime CNN shows this week while quarantined in his basement, describing his fever, chills and worries that his wife and children will catch the virus. Their worlds merged Thursday, when Andrew brought Chris into his midday briefing via remote link. Chris described a fever dream where his big brother, dressed in a ballet outfit, danced around him and waved a wand to make his sickness disappear. “Thank you for sharing that with us,” Andrew deadpanned. Both men have inherited a trait from their father Mario, like Andrew, a three-term New York governor: Neither will say something in 5 minutes when 20 will do. Both Fox News Channel and MSNBC grew tired of their banter and cut away to something else. Andrew, 62, has used his briefings to scold young New Yorkers about social distancing, closing playgrounds when basketball games didn’t cease. He’s talked expansively on people needing to keep their spirits up and is candid when he doesn’t know something. He offered detailed statistics Thursday on
hospital equipment, with the screen behind him flashing the cliche, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” He’s never been an orator like his dad. Yet some of the characteristics that cause him trouble as governor — his micromanagement, constant need to be in charge and, some have said, bullying — work well now, said Elizabeth Benjamin, host of the Albany, N.Y.based show “Capital Tonight” before it ended last year. “He is rising to the occasion for which he was made,” Benjamin said. “This is the kind of thing that he really excels at. This is not surprising to people who have followed him for many years.” Cuomo’s performance has some Democrats wishing he was a presidential candidate. He waves off such talk. Attacks on him from Trump’s most loyal ally in the media, Fox News’ Sean Hannity, indicate Cuomo has made a mark. They were wrapped into the best wishes Hannity offered to Chris on Tuesday. “My political differences with his brother and the fact that he’s lacked total preparedness and is screaming at the president ... that’s politics,” Hannity said. Chris Cuomo says he continues to appear on TV in order to put a human face on the story, so people understand his physical struggles. The dark circles under his bleary eyes Thursday made it obvious. “Nobody can sit on the sidelines right now, least of all somebody who has been blessed with a platform to talk about it,” he said Wednesday night. Viewers are intrigued. His show
This combination photo shows CNN news anchor Chris Cuomo at the WarnerMedia Upfront in New York on May 15, 2019, left, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaking during a news conference in New York on March 23, 2020. was seen by 2.8 million people on New York apartment to ride out the Tuesday, the day it was announced he epidemic. had tested positive. That compares Thirteen years separate the to the 1.1 million viewers his show brothers. Andrew was Mario’s rightaveraged in March 2019, the Nielsen hand man and enforcer during his company said. father’s election as governor in 1982 “He’s in a position where he and first term. Chris was 12 that year doesn’t have to describe it second- and has talked about how Andrew hand,” said Mark Whitaker, a former “raised” him. Newsweek editor and executive at Even though statistics show both CNN and NBC News. “He can Chris will recover from the virus, describe what he’s going through. Andrew revealed how much the I wouldn’t call it reassuring, but I diagnosis scared him. think it’s something that people “We’re talking about my want to know and to see and to hear.” little brother,” he said. “This is my Before his diagnosis, Andrew best friend. I talk to him several times appeared on Chris’ show a handful a day. Basically, spend my whole of times during the coronavirus life with him. It is frightening on a outbreak, most recently Monday. fundamental level. There’s nothing I Brother-on-brother news interviews can do. It’s out of my control.” is the sort of thing that makes Their byplay, which anyone journalism ethics experts queasy. with siblings can appreciate, In this case, it gives viewers approaches lounge act status. sitting at home a glimpse at the During his briefing dynamics of a family other than their Wednesday, Andrew sat next to a own. They’ve talked publicly about picture of his brother taken from TV, where their 88-year-old mother, mouth frozen mid-word. Matilda, should stay other than her
Those without broadband struggle in a stuck-at-home nation In Sandwich, New Hampshire, a town of 1,200 best known as a setting for the movie “On Golden Pond,” broadband is scarce. Forget streaming Netflix, much less working or studying from home. Even the police department has trouble uploading its reports. Julie Dolan, a 65-year-old retiree in Sandwich, has asthma. Her husband has high blood pressure. Dolan doubts her substandard home internet could manage a remote medical appointment, and these days no one wants to visit the doctor if they can help it. That leaves 19thcentury technology -- her landline phone. “That is all I would have,” she says. As schools, workplaces and public services shut down in the age of coronavirus, online connections are keeping Americans in touch with vital institutions and each other. But that’s not much of an option when fast internet service is hard to come by. Although efforts to extend broadband service have made progress in recent years, tens of millions of people are still left out, largely because phone and cable companies hesitate to invest in far-flung rural areas. Government subsidies in the billions haven’t fully fixed the problem. Many more simply can’t afford
broadband. U.S. broadband costs more than in many comparable countries — an average of $58 a month compared to $46.55 across 29 nations, according to a 2018 Federal Communications Commission report. Such disconnected people “already have to work harder to tread water,” said Chris Mitchell, who advocates for community broadband service at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. “I don’t think people appreciated the magnitude of the problem.” Even in cities, the high cost of internet access means many go without. Low-cost local alternatives such as libraries and cafes have shut down. In St. Louis, Stella Ashcraft, 63, lives from check to check and can’t afford internet. Her senior center, where she plays bingo, does puzzles and gets lunch five days a week, is closed. So is her church and the library where she checks email. She’s gotten texted photos of her newborn grandchild, but forget about a Zoom call to see the baby. “I feel very withdrawn, isolated, alone,” she said. There are no definitive numbers on those without broadband. The FCC puts the number at 21 million, but its data is faulty and most likely undercounts the problem.
An independent group called BroadbandNow pegs it at 42 million. The digital divide disproportionately affects rural areas, African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans on tribal lands. Phone and cable companies have pledged not to cut people off if they can’t pay bills and opened their Wi-Fi hotspots to the public. Some are expanding low-cost programs for poor people and lifting data caps so more people can get and stay connected. Millions of Americans working from home are learning to use online video in place of faceto-face meetings, but that’s not an option for those with only a trickle of data service. Brie Morrissey, who owns a building outfitted with broadband in Dublin, New Hampshire, would prefer to maintain social distance by working from home. But she keeps heading into the office for the connection, and as a result, is constantly cleaning the place -- wiping down door knobs, the bathroom sinks and “every inch of the building,” she says. Morrissey avoids other tenants and won’t rent space to anyone else. Most people recover from the virus, but the elderly and those with underlying conditions are more likely to get seriously ill or
Julie Dolan, chair of her town’s Broadband Committee, poses with her computer on the steps of her family’s rural home in Sandwich, N.H., Thursday, March 26, 2020. die. “I have to tell people to stay home and that we can’t accommodate them, which is a hard thing to do for a small business owner in a small town,” she said. “You obviously want to help. But following guidelines means for the most part we can’t.” Students, meanwhile, struggle with a “homework gap” when they can’t get or submit assignments, much less watch online lectures or participate in discussions. Online schoolwork is now the norm, but the millions of students who don’t have home internet or access to computers at home require creative solutions as schools shut down.
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If you don’t laugh, you cry: Coping with virus through humor Neil Diamond posts a fireside rendition of “Sweet Caroline” with its familiar lyrics tweaked to say, “Hands ... washing hands.” A news anchor asks when social distancing will end because “my husband keeps trying to get into the house.” And a sign outside a neighborhood church reads: “Had not planned on giving up quite this much for Lent.” Are we allowed to chuckle yet? We’d better, psychologists and humorists say. Laughter can be the best medicine, they argue, so long as it’s within the bounds of good taste. And in a crisis, it can be a powerful coping mechanism. “It’s more than just medicine. It’s survival,” said Erica Rhodes, a Los Angeles comedian. “Even during the Holocaust, people told jokes,” Rhodes said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “Laughter is a symbol of hope, and it becomes one of our greatest needs of life, right up there with toilet paper. It’s a physical need people have. You can’t underestimate how it heals people and gives them hope.” For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health
problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. Those are scary words and scary prospects. But history has shown that its heaviest moments are often leavened by using humor and laughter as conscious choices — ways to cope when other things aren’t working as expected. “There’s so much fear and horror out there. All the hand washing in the world isn’t going to clear up your head,” said Loretta LaRoche, a suburban Boston stress management consultant who’s using humor to help people defuse the anxiety the pandemic has wrought. “Some people will say this is not a time for laughter. The bottom line is, there is always a time for laughter,” LaRoche said. “We have 60,000 thoughts a day and many of them are very disturbing. Laughter helps the brain relax.” That explains why social media feeds are peppered with coronavirus-themed memes, cartoons and amusing personal anecdotes. Here’s Diamond posting a video of himself singing “Sweet Caroline” with the lyrics altered to say: “Hands ... washing hands ... don’t touch me ... I won’t touch you.”
There’s Fox News anchor Julie Banderas tweeting: “How long is this social distancing supposed to last? My husband keeps trying to get into the house.” Here’s Austin restaurant El Arroyo, still smarting economically from the outbreak-induced postponement of the South by Southwest music festival, turning its outdoor message board into a mock dating app: “Single man w/TP seeks single woman w/hand sanitizer for good clean fun.” And over here, see novelist Curtis Sittenfeld, sharing a photo of herself eating lunch in her wedding dress after her kids asked her to wear it “and I couldn’t think of a reason not to.” For centuries, laughter in tough times has been cathartic, said Wayne Maxwell, a Canadian psychologist who has done extensive research on “gallows humor.” The term originated in medieval Britain, where hangings took place in parks near pubs and patrons told jokes at the victims’ expense. “Even in some of the writings of ancient Egypt, there are descriptions of military personnel returning from the front lines and using humor to cope,” said Maxwell, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. But, he warns, there exists a
kind of comedy continuum: While humor can helpfully lighten things up, too much laughter and flippancy can signal a person is trying to escape from reality. There are also questions of taste. No one wants to poke fun at medical misery or death. Quarantining and social distancing, though, are fair game, and selfdeprecating humor is almost always safe — though LaRoche cautions that humor, like beauty, is always in the eye of the beholder. “It all depends on how your brain functions,” she said. “Give yourself permission to find humor. It’s almost like a spiritual practice, finding ways to laugh at yourself.” For those millions of parents struggling to work from home and teach their housebound children, she’s preaching to the choir. Witness this widely shared meme: a photo of an elderly, white-haired woman with the caption: “Here’s Sue. 31 years old, home schooling her kids for the last 5 days. Great job Sue. Keep it up.” Michael Knight, a 29-yearold musician and a caseworker for people with mental disabilities, has been breaking the tension by posting memes like: “They said a mask and gloves were enough to go to the grocery store. They lied. Everyone else had clothes on.”
Distance learning poses challenges for students, teachers Students and teachers at all levels of education are transitioning from classroom to computer as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise. Not every subject lends itself to a smooth transition to distance learning, as students and instructors have discovered. “I think we’re all really frustrated,” said Jordyn Wade, a fashion design major at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. “But we know that our professors are doing what they can in a really unprecedented situation.” Wade said that she and her classmates are now meeting remotely through Zoom, a video conferencing platform. Zoom allows students to meet virtually during a time when people can’t meet physically, but distance learning poses challenges for courses that require more than a lecture, like art classes and lab components of science classes. Students like Wade worked mostly with industrial grade equipment. “We kind of rely heavily on the school for supplies like sewing machines and the industrial equipment that can cost thousands of dollars,” Wade said. “Now we just stare at each other and they ask us,‘What can you guys do? Can you hand sew an entire jacket before the end of the month?’” Wade said that one of the most frustrating aspects of distance learning is not being
able to receive direct feedback from professors. `“We can’t ask our professors what’s wrong with the garment that we’re making, we can just send them pictures and hope they can figure it out from afar,” Wade said. Chloe Pallak, a student in VCU’s art program said that many of her projects are being graded on whether or not they are complete. “To get a grade for an assignment, you just have to do it,” Pallak said. “It really takes away the motivation of wanting to make art and not just complete the assignment.” Courses that include lab components, such as classes in environmental science, also face challenges as classes move online. Griffin Erney, an environmental studies major at VCU, said that distance learning prevents students from accessing lab materials that are typically provided in the classroom. “Before the class was online we would just do different activities and be provided with the materials,” Erney said. “Having labs online is more challenging, on top of all the work that we already have.” On Monday, Gov. Ralph Northam issued an order that closed down all K-12 schools in the state for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Davide D’Urbino, a chemistry and organic chemistry teacher at Clover Hill High School in Chesterfield County,
said he plans on using computer applications to supplement labs that cannot be completed in the classroom. He said the school division requested that teachers hold off on introducing new learning material. “The expectation was that you could teach new stuff, but then you have to go back in class and reteach it,” D’Urbino said. D’Urbino said teachers aren’t allowed to teach new material online because some students may not have internet access. He said he understands why the school division has placed these restrictions but said it “feels weird.” Distance learning has also presented challenges to teachers trying to adapt to lecturing online. “Some people say teaching is 75 percent theater, you just go out there and do improv. You can’t really do that online,” D’Urbino said. “It’s very difficult to intervene and correct course if you realize something isn’t quite working out.” Teachers have also scrambled for ways to continue instruction for students that lack access to the internet. Janice Barton, a 5th grade science teacher at Honaker Elementary School in Russell County, said that about half of the 60 students she teaches have access to the internet. She said the school is using Google Classroom, a web platform that allows teachers to share files with students through the internet.
For students without internet access, teachers create physical packets of learning content. “We’re working as grade levels, we’re going in and working together to put the packets together,” Barton said. “We have pickup days and dropoff days, and that’s how we are working and dealing with this right now.” Barton said the school uses phone calls, emails, and the app Remind, which allows teachers to send messages to students to keep in contact with parents and students. While local school divisions are tasked with making decisions on how to pursue distance learning, the Virginia Department of Education issued guidance to help divisions continue instruction. VDOE’s guidance to local school divisions includes offering instruction during the summer of 2020, extending the school term or adjusting the next, and adding learning modules to extended school calendars. Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane issued guidance regarding eight high school senior graduation requirements and will be issuing further guidance for half of those, which can not be waived outright. Two other graduation requirements -- training in emergency first aid and the completion of a virtual course -- require action by the General Assembly in order to be waived.
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Turks and Caicos Islands among more than 130,000 students across the Caribbean to benefit from FLOW’s Virtual Learning Platform Over 130,000 kindergarten, primary and secondary school students across the Caribbean will benefit from the Flow Study program FREE of charge from now through June 15. The Cable and Wireless Charitable Foundation (CWCF) in partnership with Flow and One on One Educational Services Limited joined forces to provide access to the comprehensive virtual education platform,which offers a wide array of educational content enablingstudents to continue their studies at home during the COVID-19 crisis. Students in Antigua & Barbuda, Anguilla, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobagoand Turks & Caicos will benefit from this initiative. The Flow Study program powered by One on One is available to all students across the Caribbean regardless of their network operator. Inge Smidts, CEO of C&W Communications, operator of the Flow brand, and Chairperson of the CWCF, said, “during these times of crisis we must join forces to ensure that our children, families and communities are supported. Given that parents are now faced with the reality of homeschooling their kids, we
wanted to find a way to support them despite which network they subscribe to.” Smidts added, “our primary concern is to ensure that students across the region continue to have access to the education they deserveand that there is minimal disruption totheir learning.” In Turks and Caicos alone, over 7,000 students will be impacted by this initiative. “Our students, like those from across the region, will be able to access user-friendly material to support their learning during and possibly beyond the curfew period. This initiative is a clear indication of Flow TCI and the CWCF’s partnership with the Ministry’s in our goal to create an environment where each learner can be successful. I express gratitude to the management and staff of Flow TCI and to the CWCF for coming alongside us during these extraordinary times,” stated Minister of Education, Youth, Culture & Library Services, Hon. Karen Malcolm. Hon. Malcolm added: “Children in public and private schools will benefit from access to the e-learning platform without having to concern themselves about a costly data package. Students who are sharing devices at home will not be at a disadvantage because they can log on the platform at any time and continue with their
learning tasks. The platform also represents a potential goldmine of digital instructional resources for teachers.” Students age 5 to 18 will have access to thecurriculum used in their schools. Access is available via Flow Study e-Learning servicesthrough the Flow Study mobile apps (Android), https://flowstudy.co/registration and Flow EVO - Flowon Demand. The ability to continue with classes is even more critical for students who are preparing for CSEC and CAPE. For instruction on how to sign up click here.Flow Inge Smidts, CEO of C&W Communications, operator Study offers: of the Flow brand, and Chairperson of the CWCF
•Over 500 video lessons spanning the CSEC curriculum •Access to digital courses for the K – 8 curriculum •Question bank and solutions with over 40,000 exam style questions and solutions for 35 subjects •10 years of past paper solutions for over 17 subjects •Digital encyclopaedia with over 9,500 digital animations and simulations for four subject areas •Virtual science labs with more than 500 digital laboratory simulations for science subjects and skills gap testing for over 30 subjects.
the partnershipwith the CWCF and Flow stating, “Education is a right and not a privilege. This is an important and strategic partnership for One on One and we are happy that the CWCF has stepped up once again to provide the funds needed to ensure that our students can continue to have access to their education. This is a platform developed by some of the best Caribbean teachers for Caribbean nationals. Our platform has the capacity to facilitate all students to learn at their own pace, anytime, anywhere and from any device. It is in times like these that we are reminded of the importance of having choices for access CEO of One on One, to education and the value of Ricardo Allen, commented on e-learning.”
Children continuing formal learning experiences in lockdown As the global village implement measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services supports our local efforts to ‘flatten the curve’, stem the spread of the virus, and protect the lives of the people of these beautiful shores. The Education sector is please to report that children are continuing their formal learning experiences through access to quality learning opportunities using online learning portals/platforms supported by video conferencing capabilities being used to enable teacher-student and student-student interaction in virtual classrooms while maintaining physical “Social” distancing. In addition to ongoing teaching and learning, the Ministry is pleased to announce an alternative approach to the assessment of learning for our children who are scheduled to complete their formal high school education in July 2020 and those children in Form 2 who are scheduled to write the Social Studies paper for the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) programme. The Caribbean Examinations
Council has proposed a revised for marking and the release of examinations strategy to yield valid examination results. In addition, it grades and minimize the disruption will provide an opportunity for the to the education system during these timely presentation of grades to unprecedented times. Consequently, facilitate matriculation to higher the Council has made the policy education or to access employment. decision to offer a modified This also minimizes disruption to examination process as follows: the 2020/2021 academic year. While the proposed revised 1. Administration of at least one administration schedule for the common paper (Multiple Choice May/June 2020 examinations is July Assessments); 2020, we continue to be guided by 2. School Based Assessments (SBAs) national protocols across the region. and Paper 032s (Alternative to SBA) Students and teachers in high for private candidates; and, schools are encouraged to utilize the 3. Award final grades based on CXC Learning Hub – our e-Learning the moderated SBAs and Multiple platform that provides learners and Choice Papers. instructors with a single access point to multiple resources geared towards The following are exceptions to exam preparation. The e-Learning the aforementioned process where hub is available at: learninghub.cxc. candidates will be required to org. complete additional components: The Ministry of Education • Modern Languages (Spanish, French notes the decision of Cambridge and and Portuguese) Pearson|Edexcel to cancel the May/ • Human and Social Biology June 2020 sitting of the International • Visual Arts General Certificate of Secondary This strategy will employ Education (IGCSE) examinations. the e-Testing modality (online Cambridge International will give and offline) in order to reduce an update on 31st March 2020 about the examinations administration how students will be assessed. processing time resulting in Pearson|Edexcel will update the shortest turn-around time their strategy as soon as this has
been agreed. What ever happens, both examining bodies have given their assurance that they will use a process that is appropriate and fair. Primary and high schools across the country continue to provide a virtual learning experience for their students. In the absence of virtual learning experiences students are working their way through lessons that were given to them in take home packages. Some teachers are being innovative in use of Zoom and other video conferencing apps to host live sessions for their students and to give individualized assistance where necessary. Teachers at one of our primary schools have also been facilitating sessions for to help parents with accessing the online platforms, uploading assignments and giving tips on how they can support their children through the curfew. The Department of Education has collaborated with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence to facilitate psychosocial help for parents and students who may need it during the curfew.
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A war on two fronts: Beat COVID -19 and secure our borders
Let us be frank with our people, we are at war. With Cabinet being our generals, led by the Governor and advised by the National Security Council and the Ministry of Health, we must use our strengths to win this war. Everywhere in the world it’s becoming clear that fighting this virus is not only fought by healthcare, but by the decisions of each and every individual to follow protocol whom I applaud, hence the decision to hold the line. When I say hold the line, I mean to prevent the spread of the virus. Given our present limited ability to effectively respond to a potential surge in COVID-19 cases, the right call was made to close our borders and impose a 21 day 24 hour curfew. I have no doubt that we as a people have the discipline, determination, and dedication to abide by the curfew and win the war against COVID 19. However, illegal entry into our country jeopardizes the success of the hard but necessary measures that we are abiding by. Presently the Dominican Republic has over 1100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and we have seen Haitian nationals returning
to Haiti trying to escape the virus outbreak in the DR. Haiti’s Health Minister said the country now has confirmed 16 cases of the coronavirus, and currently has 445 people in quarantine. Haitian nationals are increasingly worried about the country’s ability to fight the pandemic, which continues to claim lives even in nations with stronger health systems. There is also growing concern about the virus’ impact on an already fragile economy. Within the first four days of our nationwide lock down, the battle to combat illegal entry seems to be poorly fought. Having had a fast boat seized with nearly $1 million of illicit drugs and dangerous ammunition on board, and subsequent successful landings of two sloops with an untold number on board, the question remains, what are our leaders doing to win the battle against illegal entry? To make matters worse, it is alleged that someone went as far as damaging the RTCIPF CCTV equipment in the Northwest Point area. This truly feels like an invasion at a time when we are most vulnerable while the country
is tucked away in isolation, we are trusting our leaders to protect us and to preserve this great nation but how long can we hold our trust when they are failing repeatedly? This is not a time of fear, this is not a time of reservation, ‘‘this is a time of “war”. War against the virus and war against an illegal invasion. Strong leadership requires strong decisions. While I am aware that the Governor has war time experience, and I see the value in this, this is no time for the Minister of Immigration to “duck”, this is no time for the Premier to “duck”, this is no time for Cabinet to “duck”. Step up to the plate or leave the table, the government is not a meal ticket it is a chance to deliver and when you cannot deliver you should do the honorable thing. On a side note but very relevant and critical to our economy and our people is the issue surrounding small businesses and their ability to sell food. I can assume the rationale behind the Governor’s decision to limit vendors, however he and his team of advisors must consider the consequences (both intended and unintended) of such a decision. I
By Jamell Robinson
would like to say to the Governor, if you are going to use your emergency powers, use it all the way. If you are going to limit the pool of vendors, in addition to giving concessions on certain goods then fix the price of those goods. If you are going to take over the market, then take it over all the way! To our people, I say continue to stay home; to front liners, I say be brave and stay safe; to our leaders, I say LEAD and to us all I say Pray for Turks and Caicos Islands. * Jamell Robinson is a PNP At Large Candidate in the next general elections.
When being nice and being happy meet The challenges we currently face in the Turks and Caicos Islands require a new mindset, and approach to how we relate, and do business with each other. Many are confused and worried. And this could lead to mental and psychological challenges which affect the way we think, what we do, and how we do it. But it does not have to be this way. As citizens, we have reserves of personal, and can do power, which can change situations for the better, and keep them this way. And being nice which brings mutual happiness is the key to this. But what is it to be nice? It is being human. Showing courtesies. Having a healthy regard for others. And carrying a pleasing, approachable demeanor in our interactions with each other. Being nice is contagious. Repayment of the same nice treatment is a sure thing, which makes the parties involved experience not only the softer, gentler aspects of who they are, but enriches their feelings of being happy. B eing happy is therefore an off-shoot of being nice. When I go for a walk, I often wave to drivers that pass by, and they immediately toot the horn in appreciation. Many times several drivers toot their horns even though I do not particularly know them. This shows their sense of satisfaction at being recognised, and whatever negative mood they might be in loses its hold by a mere wave of the hand of another. This is followed
by experiencing a sense of happiness and joy, which tells them they have been validated, and that they are somebody. They are also being just plain nice. When we are nice towards each other, happiness and a new strength spring up between us to our mutual benefit. So no virus or any other type of evil can defeat us. While lecturing at the University of the West Indies, I was invited by Sheffield University in the United Kingdom to lecture on one of their graduate courses they ran in St. Lucia for teachers there. My flight was somewhat late, but on checking in at the hotel where our group stayed, I found my colleagues were sitting around the dinner table actually waiting for me. When I approached them, they all stood up as a sign of welcome, and did not sit until I did. I felt respected and valued, since although I was about to work with this group, I had never met any of them before. The fact that they were so nice made me feel happy inside, which shows the relationship between being nice and being happy. Another instance when being nice and being happy came together, was when I was a graduate student at London University, and had an appointment with my supervising Professor. He met me at the entrance to his office, and with a very pleasant demeanor, invited me in, and asked politely if I would like a cup of tea. Even before discussing the
business of my visit, we exchanged ideas, which gradually led to talk about the chapter of my thesis I had previously given him to review. He spoke in encouraging terms, as we moved to discuss what the next chapter would be about. This was all done in a civil manner. After I had completed the entire research project and handed it in to him, I went to see what his response was. He left the project with his secretary with a note attached to it which read, “Tell him it is fine.” Throughout this episode, the very nice way in which I was treated impacted me profoundly, and left me with an immensely happy feeling. It shows more broadly the connection between being nice and being happy. I left self-assured that my objective had been realised. A further proof of this is an experience I had in Jamaica. Here, on one occasion I waited near the police station at the airport on the vehicle that was supposed to pick me up. It took a little while, so in the mean time I entered the station, saw the senior officer, told him of the situation, and asked if he could dial the number of the person who would pick me up. This senior officer had a very pleasant personality, spoke in a very gentlemanly and cultured tone, and was eager to help. He was nice and friendly. He dialed the number, and I spoke to the person who was to come for me. I did not have a sim card, and this officer directed me to a business place at the airport where
By Oliver Mills
I could acquire one, and said that if my driver came in my absence, he would tell her where to find me. I was very happy about the concern and cooperation showed by this officer, which is further confirmation that being nice and being happy are interrelated. And that they meet and reinforce each other in social situations. The driver did come while I was at the business establishment. She had an amazing story about how this same senior officer was very civil to her, and said something else that astounded me. This senior officer gave my driver permission to park in a no-parking zone, while she came to make herself known to me. And she spoke glowingly of how nice he was, and how he made her feel special and so happy by allowing her to park in a no parking zone. Niceness produces happiness. And continues to do so. Being nice and being happy is not a contradiction. It is one and the same
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LOCAL NEWS
LOCAL NEWS
Turks & Caicos Islands on 24 hours lockdown T
he Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday March 28th begun its 24 hour curfew which ends April 14th, 2020 This lock down is to control and prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Residents have been advised
to “shelter in place” and remain confined cases in the Caribbean. Authorities say is to their place of residence (inclusive of we do the right things, it can remain that their yard space) to avoid contact outside way. of their family. These pictures by Earlson Robinson The Turks and Caicos Islands has capture the lockdown. one of the lowest numbers of Coronavirus
No activity in Salt Mills, Grace Bay.
All screens of at Providenciales International Airport.
Check in counter empty at Providenciales International Airport.
SUNtv reporter Todeline Defralien interviewing Inspector Kirton SuttonHead of the Traffic Department accompanied by another member of the Police Force during the 24 hour lock down.
Popular Mango Reef restaurant in Turtle Cove closed.
No activity in Turtle Cove Marina.
Residents line outside Grace Way IGA.
Shoppers wearing masks as they continue to stock up on goods and practising social distancing.
Grace Bay strip empty during the lock down.
No activity at Le Vele Plaza in Grace Bay, Providenciales.
Empty FirstCaribbean bank at the Grace Bay branch.
Alice & Alice Shopping Plaza closed in the Downtown area.
Construction at the 12 – store Ritz Carlton at a standstill.
Inspector Kirton Sutton- Head of the Traffic Department pictured with another member of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
World famous Grace Bay beach with no one in sight.
Jack’s Fountain along Grace Bay closed
The Wellington Plaza on Aviation Drive, Providenciales
Charlie’s Variety Store closed on Aviation Drive.
Officers patrolling the streets ensuring persons cooperate with the 24 hour curfew.
Cheshire Hall Medical Centre closed in Providenciales, only accepting emergency patients
Officer of TCI Police Force questioning a resident on the road during the curfew.
No long lines, just a few persons entering FirstCaribbean bank on Leeward Highway.
Morris Plaza closed in the Downtown area
Officer of TCI Police Force advising a resident to go home.
The popular Sweet T’s Restaurant closed in the Downtown area.
Motorists coming out of Five Cays being questioned by Officers of their route
Chris Phillips, General Manager for IGA giving an update on SUNTV following the curfew.
Kishco on Leeward Highway closed.
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HOW TO PAY YOUR FORTISTCI BILL
Dear Valued Customer, As the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold, FortisTCI wants you to know that we are here for you. We are following our robust business continuity plans, and our employees are working around the clock to keep the lights on. For those working to keep their bills as current as possible, we are offering more ways to pay while our customer service centers are closed. My Online Account
The online customer web portal is accessible 24 hours a day and allows you to monitor your daily consumption, view your account balance, and pay your bill using a credit or debit card. To register, log onto www.fortistci.com, select the ‘My Online Account’ tab, and click ‘register now’. You will need your meter number and account number.
Pay Online Using a Local Bank
If you bank with FirstCaribbean, ScotiaBank, or RBC, you can pay your bill online using their online bill payment option. You must register through your bank and should speak with a bank representative for more information. Payments are posted within 48 hours.
Payment by Cash or Check
Customers who cannot pay online using a credit card, debit card, or their bank account, can pay their bills by check or cash at the following authorized payment agent locations: • Provo – Any Graceway Supermarket location • North & Middle Caicos – At BETCO (Bernie Handfield), Bottle Creek • South Caicos – At Seaview Market, Stubbs Road
Payment options for Grand Turk and Salt Cay customers will be announced shortly. Customers are reminded to adhere to all curfew stipulations as outlined by the government and should only access the above essential service locations at times prescribed in the law. If utilizing an authorized pay agent to make a bill payment, have your bill on hand at the time of payment.
Questions? Email or Call for Account Updates
If you have questions or need account information, you can email us at customerservice@fortistci.com, or call 649-946-4313. Our customer service representatives are available Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Sincerely, FortisTCI 2017 Winner
Allied Member of the Year
BCMS 681102
www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 |
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ENTERTAINMENT
Elton John-led concert raises $8M; Rihanna ups aid
Elton John appears after performing his nominated song, “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” at the Oscars in Los Angeles. From finding ways to help others cope to sheltering in place to canceling events, here’s a look at some of the ways the entertainment industry is reacting to the spread of the coronavirus, which most people recover from but can cause severe illness in the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions. CONCERT RAISES MILLIONS The Elton John-led starry benefit concert that featured Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys on Sunday has raised nearly $8 million to battle the coronavirus. The musicians performed from their homes for the hourlong event that aired on Fox and iHeartMedia radio stations. The money will go to Feeding America and First Responders Children’s Foundation. Other performers included Tim McGraw, H.E.R. and Sam Smith, who sang “How Do You Sleep” in a cappella form. Dave Grohl sang “My Hero” from his studio in Hawaii, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong strummed his guitar to “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” while Camila Cabello sang “My Oh My” from Miami with a guitar assist from beau Shawn Mendes. The event took place during the time slot that was to belong to the iHeartRadio Music Awards. Procter & Gamble donated $500,000, which Fox Corporation matched. YouTube, is streaming the concert on iHeartRadio’s YouTube Channel.
CNN’s Cuomo, with coronavirus, completes show from basement A bleary-eyed Chris Cuomo, on CNN by remote link the night saying he wanted to be a cautionary before, also used the personal story tale for his audience, anchored to warn others during his press his CNN show from his basement briefing Tuesday. He noted that Tuesday after testing positive for the he had scolded Chris for having coronavirus. their 88-year-old mother, Matilda, Via remote link, he visiting Chris’ home two weeks ago. interviewed Illinois Gov. J.B. “It’s my family, it’s your family, it’s Pritzker, an emergency room nurse all of our families,” he said. “This and CNN medical correspondent Dr. virus is so insidious, and we have to Sanjay Gupta, who expressed worry keep that in mind.” about one of Cuomo’s symptoms. Chris Cuomo said he “Brace yourself,” Cuomo thought his mom would be safer told viewers, “not for a hoax. But at his house than in her New York for the next few weeks of scary and City apartment, but his brother painful realities. This is a fight. It’s persuaded him to have her stay going to get worse. We’re going to at his sister’s place in Westchester suffer.” County. Cuomo looked pale, his Some competitors, eyes watery and red-rimmed. He including Sean Hannity and Geraldo took a few deep breaths to compose Rivera of Fox News Channel, and himself. He repeated himself. Even Joy Reid and Ali Velshi of MSNBC, Gupta said he didn’t look good, and sent best wishes to Cuomo through said he’d call later to talk about a social media Tuesday. tightness Cuomo was feeling in his He said he appreciated the chest. sympathy from well-wishers but The 49-year-old newsman, tried to deflect it. whose brother, New York Gov. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to Andrew Cuomo, has logged just as keep doing the show,” he said. “But much television airtime lately with who knows?” daily briefings on how the disease One of the most unsettling is affecting his state, said earlier things about the disease, he said, that he knew it was a matter of is hearing from doctors that there time because of how often he was really isn’t much he can do now exposed to people. He said he’s except “suck it up.” staying in the basement of his Long “The best medicine is not Island home to protect himself from to get it — prevention,” he said in a his wife and children. pre-show discussion with colleague The New York governor, Anderson Cooper. who appeared with his brother Most people who get
CNN news anchor Chris Cuomo at the WarnerMedia Upfront in New York the virus have mild to moderate symptoms and recover. But for older people, and those with underlying medical conditions, the disease can be dangerous. More than 3,000 people have died in the U.S. alone. Andrew Cuomo, 62, and the CNN anchor are sons of the late New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, and that teasing big brother-little brother dynamic often enlivens their appearances together. The governor called him his best friend. “He is going to be fine,” he said. “He’s young, in good shape, strong — not as strong as he thinks he is, but he will be fine.” Chris got a measure of revenge Tuesday night, referring to his brother as “Captain Banana Hands.”
Need a laugh? SiriusXM launches channel for female comics
RIHANNA OPENS HER PURSE AGAIN Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation is donating $1 million in grants toward COVID-19 response — a number that is being matched by Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation. The combined $2 million will support undocumented workers, the children of frontline health workers and first responders and the incarcerated, elderly and homeless populations in New York City and Los Angeles. Last week, the Clara Lionel Foundation gave $5 million to the response efforts against the coronavirus, with the money going to food banks, testing, healthcare worker training, virus prevention and distribution of critical respiratory supplies. SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME POSTPONES GALA Mariah Carey, The Isley Brothers and the Eurythmics will have to wait a year before they get inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Hall has rescheduled its annual gala to June 10, 2021. It was originally to happen June 11 but the coronovirus has wrecked most springtime and summer gatherings. Others who made the 2020 — now 2021 — class include Steve Miller, The Neptunes — a production team comprised of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo — Rick Nowels and William Stevenson. Songwriter Paul Williams will be receiving the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award and Universal Music Publishing Chairman and CEO, Jody Gerson will receive the Abe Olman Publisher Award. CMA FEST 2020 CANCELED The Country Music Association announced Tuesday that it will not hold its annual CMA Fest in Nashville this year. The event draws thousands of country music fans every year. The festival, which has been held for more than 40 years, is held in June and features several stages over a four-day weekend.
This combination photo shows comedians, from left, Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, Whoopi Goldberg and Joan Rivers, whose comedy will be featured on a new SiriusXM comedy channel called She’s So Funny debuting on April Fool’s Day. The midst of a global forced many employees to work at Aidy Bryant, Amy Schumer, Pamela pandemic might seem like an odd home. Adlon, the Original Queens of time to launch a radio channel “We’ve been lucky,” he said. Comedy and others in the first week. devoted to female comedians, but “We did a fair amount of planning There’s a real renaissance now in executives at SiriusXM believe that through the years.” comedy done by women, Vaughn it’s precisely the right time. SiriusXM also announced said. Listenership at the satellite that starting Tuesday, it is opening “The talent is going to radio company’s eight current up streams of all of its programming speak for itself,” he said. “There’s comedy channels has been up, and for free online, through May 15, as just a lot of good stand-up out there the company feels that it is filling a a gesture to people at home because today. More so, I’d say, than at any need with people stuck at home. of the virus. point in human history.” The channel, dubbed She’s Among the current Sirius Comic Kathleen Madigan So Funny, debuts Wednesday at 7 comedy channels are ones featuring said the new channel could give a.m. Eastern — the morning of April the works of Kevin Hart, George important exposure to many Fool’s Day, naturally. Carlin, Jeff Foxworthy and Larry comedians. What she doesn’t want “We have a lot of people the Cable Guy. There’s a “raw” is for SiriusXM to use the channel who are very scared,” said Scott channel for comics who work blue to essentially put female comics in Greenstein, president and chief and a clean one for those who a box and reduce their exposure on content officer at SiriusXM. “You don’t. The She’s So Funny channel other channels. have a lot of people who want to is an outgrowth of a listener “I don’t think they’d do feel OK in a difficult time, to have a survey revealing people wanted to that because they still need us for little humor and try to laugh.” hear more from women, said Jack the other channels,” Madigan said. The number of people Vaughn, senior vice president of “They still need Wanda Sykes and listening to SiriusXM’s comedy comedy at Sirius. Margaret Cho.” channels online this year is up 80% Much of the material will She hopes that She’s over last year, said the company, be culled from recorded routines So Funny will give exposure to which doesn’t have ratings for the by the likes of Moms Mabley, Joan comedians from outside of the satellite portion of its distribution. Rivers, Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, United States. Madigan is also That’s through March 22, which Tig Notaro and Whoopi Goldberg. encouraging young comics to not includes a little bit of the shut-in The channel will also showcase wait until they have an hour’s worth period. emerging talent like Rachel of material to record something; Greenstein said Sirius has Feinstein and Jo Firestone. instead, they should submit a suffered no service interruptions Interviews or specially- 15-minute tape of their best material due to the virus outbreak that has made messages will come from to the channel.
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HEALTHY
LIFESTYLE New York City deaths top 1,000 with worst to come
New York authorities rushed to bring in an army of medical volunteers Tuesday as the death toll in the city from the coronavirus climbed past 1,000 and the wail of ambulances in the otherwise eerily quiet streets became the heartbreaking soundtrack of the crisis. As hot spots flared around the country in places like New Orleans, Detroit and Southern California, New York was the hardest hit of them all, with bodies loaded onto refrigerated morgue trucks by gurney and forklift outside overwhelmed hospitals, in some cases in full view of passing motorists. And the worst is yet to come. Across the U.S., Americans braced for what President Donald Trump warned could be “one of the roughest two or three weeks we’ve ever had in our country.” The White House projected 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. before the outbreak is over. Meanwhile, European nations facing extraordinary demand for hospital intensivecare beds are putting up makeshift hospitals, unsure whether they will find enough healthy medical staff to run them. London is just days from unveiling a 4,000-bed temporary hospital built in a huge convention center to take non-critical patients so British hospitals can stay ahead of an expected surge. In a remarkable turnaround, rich economies where virus cases have exploded are welcoming help from less wealthy ones. Russia sent medical equipment and masks to the U.S. Cuba sent doctors to France. Turkey dispatched masks, hazmat suits, goggles and disinfectants to Italy and Spain. Worldwide, about 900,000 people have been infected and over 44,000 have died, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, though the real figures are believed to be much higher because of testing shortages, differences in counting the dead and large numbers of mild cases that have gone unreported.
Cruise ships are docked at PortMiami, Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Miami. The U.S. recorded over 190,000 infections and more than 4,100 deaths. In New York, at least 78,000 people have volunteered as medical reinforcements, according to state officials. The group includes recent retirees who are willing to go back to work, health care professionals who can take a break from their regular jobs and people between gigs. Few have made it into the field yet, as authorities vet them and figure out how to use them, but hospitals are expected to begin bringing them in later this week. Health care workers who have hit the ground already, many brought in by staffing agencies, have discovered a hospital system becoming overwhelmed. “I have never seen so many human beings in an ER at one time in my entire life,” said Liz Schaffer, a nurse from St. Paul, Minnesota, who had her first shift Tuesday at Mount Sinai Hospital. “Shoulder to shoulder. It is a sight I never thought I would see. Patients are dying every day. Every single day.” With New York on nearlockdown, the normally bustling city streets are so empty that a single siren, to some, is no longer the easily ignored urban background noise. “After 9/11, I remember we actually wanted to hear the sound of ambulances on our quiet streets because that meant there were survivors, but we didn’t hear those sounds, and it was heartbreaking. Today, I hear an ambulance on my strangely quiet street and my heart
breaks, too,” said 61-year-old Meg Gifford, a former Wall Streeter who lives on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The region rushed to set up extra hospital capacity at the mammoth Javits Convention Center, on a Navy hospital ship and in the indoor tennis center that hosts the U.S. Open. Elsewhere in the U.S., federal, state and local officials tried to end a standoff over whether two cruise ships with sick and dead passengers may dock at Port Everglades, Florida. More than 300 U.S. citizens are on board. Two deaths have been blamed on the virus, and nine people have tested positive, the Holland America cruise line said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that the state’s health care system is stretched too thin to take on the passengers: “Just to drop people off at the place where we’re having the highest number of cases right now just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.” Trump said later that he would speak with his fellow Republican. “They’re dying on the ship,” the president said. “I’m going to do what’s right. Not only for us, but for humanity.” In Southern California, officials reported that more than 50 residents of a nursing home east of Los Angeles have been infected and two have died. Cedar Mountain Post Acute Rehabilitation in Yucaipa has been told to assume that all of its patients have the virus, health authorities said.
Europe’s hospitals among the best but can’t handle pandemic As increasing numbers of European hospitals buckle under the strain of tens of thousands of coronavirus patients, the crisis has exposed a surprising paradox: Some of the world’s best health systems are remarkably ill-equipped to handle a pandemic. Outbreak experts say Europe’s hospital-centric systems, lack of epidemic experience and early complacency are partly to blame for the pandemic’s catastrophic tear across the continent. “If you have cancer, you want to be in a European hospital,” said Brice de le Vingne, who heads COVID-19 operations for Doctors Without Borders in Belgium. “But Europe hasn’t had a major outbreak in more than 100 years, and now they don’t know what to do.” Last week, the World Health Organization scolded
Should you wear mask in public if not sick with coronavirus?
countries for “squandering” their chance to stop the virus from gaining a foothold, saying that countries should have reacted more aggressively two months ago, including implementing wider testing and stronger surveillance measures. De le Vingne and others say Europe’s approach to combating the new coronavirus was initially too lax and severely lacking in epidemiological basics like contact tracing, an arduous process where health officials physically track down people who have come into contact with those infected to monitor how and where the virus is spreading. During outbreaks of Ebola, including Congo’s most recent one, officials released daily figures for how many contacts were followed, even in remote villages paralyzed by armed attacks.
After the new coronavirus emerged late last year, China dispatched a team of about 9,000 health workers to chase thousands of potential contacts in Wuhan every day. But in Italy, officials in some cases have left it up to ill patients to inform their potential contacts that they had tested positive and resorted to mere daily phone calls to check in on them. Spain and Britain have both declined to say how many health workers were working on contact tracing or how many contacts were identified at any stage in the outbreak. “We are really good at contact tracing in the U.K., but the problem is we didn’t do enough of it,” said Dr. Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases physician at the University of Exeter in southwestern England.
A man wears a mask while crossing in front of the Stockton Street Tunnel in San Francisco, Sunday, March 29, 2020. If you’re not sick with the new coronavirus, should you wear a mask in public? Global health authorities say no. Amid a shortage of masks, the U.S. is sticking with that advice but Tuesday, President Donald Trump suggested people who are worried wear a scarf. That shortage is so severe that the Joint Commission, which accredits U.S. hospitals, said Tuesday that if facilities can’t provide proper masks, health workers are allowed to bring their own from home. Front-line health workers have the greatest need for masks. And when people are sick, wearing a mask helps lessen the chances of infecting others. In places where relatives care for the sick at home, the World Health Organization also has recommended they wear a mask. But “there is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit,” Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO’s epidemics chief, told reporters Monday. “In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite,” he added, noting risks from an improperly fitted mask or touching the face while taking it off or putting it on. For months as the COVID-19 crisis grew and masks disappeared from store shelves, U.S. health officials have agreed. The virus is believed to spread mostly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, and thus the main advice has been to keep your distance — staying 6 feet away — in addition to frequent hand-washing and not touching your face. Health workers who may be doing procedures that generate tinier particles are supposed to get high priority for tight-fitting filtering masks. “Seriously people - STOP BUYING MASKS!” Surgeon General Jerome Adams wrote in a February 29 tweet. “They are not effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk.” But mask-wearing has long been common in some countries during respiratory outbreaks, especially in parts of Asia. As questions grow about whether people sometimes can spread the virus before realizing they’re sick -- which social distancing is supposed to address — increasingly people ask what it would hurt to wear some form of mask in public. Trump said Tuesday that his scientific advisers made clear the general public shouldn’t be competing with hospitals and health workers for scarce masks of any type. His solution: “Use a scarf if you want,” Trump said at the daily White House briefing. “It doesn’t have to be a mask. It’s not a bad idea at least for a period of time.” Earlier in the day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, had told CNN that once there are enough masks, there might be “some very serious consideration” about broadening the mask recommendations. For now, the advice posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website: “If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a face mask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a face mask).”
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LOCAL NEWSNEWS CARIBBEAN
NEWS NEWS
Jamaican NYC hospital worker beats coronavirus — and returns to work
Respiratory therapist Raeburn Fairweather A respiratory therapist at Brooklyn’s Maimonides Medical Center got infected with the coronavirus — but was able to fight it off and eagerly returned to the front line. Raeburn Fairweather, 47, told The Post that his fever spiked to 104 degrees during a two-week ordeal of battling the deadly disease. “The Tylenol would not bring it down. My body felt like it was falling apart,” he told a reporter granted access inside the hospital. “Headaches were immense. They were making my eyeballs feel like they were on springs.” Fairweather — who said the respiratory illness temporarily robbed him of his senses of smell and taste — also described coughing up “thick, white mucus during Day Three — and that carried on until Thursday of last week.” “If your body cannot fight, you will not make it,” he warned. “It wears your body down.” While Fairweather was beating the virus, the married father of five — four of whom are adults — quarantined himself in an extra room in his family’s Canarsie rowhouse, and used a bathroom that his wife and 11-yearold son avoided, he said. Neither of them has shown any symptoms, he said. The native of Jamaica said that in addition to Tylenol, he treated himself with traditional Caribbean home remedies made with turmeric, garlic and ginger. Fairweather — whose job includes the hazardous task of inserting and removing ventilator tubes from the tracheas of coronavirus patients — said Wednesday that his symptoms appeared shortly after a grueling, triple shift at Maimonides on March 17.
US sends warships to Caribbean to stop illegal drugs The US says it is sending warships to the Caribbean to stop illegal drugs. “We must not let the drug cartels exploit the [coronavirus] pandemic to threaten American lives,” President Donald Trump said. The move comes a week after the US charged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and other senior officials in the country with “narco-terrorism”. It accused them of flooding the US with cocaine and using drugs as a weapon to undermine the health of Americans. A $15m (£12.5m) reward was offered for information leading to Mr Maduro’s arrest. The Venezuelan government called the US deployment a “diversion” from the current pandemic spreading around the US - and the world at large. The US military deployment will further escalate tensions between the two nations. Washington has long accused the Venezuelan president of leading a corrupt and brutal regime, a charge he has repeatedly rejected. It backs the opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who declared himself interim president last year. But the US deployment comes two days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered to lift crippling sanctions against Venezuela if Mr Maduro and Mr Guaidó agreed to a powersharing deal. Under the US plan, Venezuela’s left-wing president would “step aside” and a transitional council would govern until fresh elections. The US imposed its latest round of sweeping sanctions against Venezuela last year in an attempt to force Mr Maduro to step down. However, Mr Maduro has so far resisted all attempts to
remove him from power. What is the new deployment about? President Trump made the announcement at the White House on Wednesday. “Today, the United States is launching enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere to protect the American people from the deadly scourge of illegal narcotics,” he said. Mr Trump added that the US was co-operating with 22 partner nations, enabling the US Southern Command to “increase surveillance, disruption and seizures of drug shipments and provide additional support for eradication efforts which are going on right now at a record pace”. “We’re deploying additional Navy destroyers, combat ships, aircraft and helicopters, Coast Guard cutters and Air Force surveillance aircraft, doubling our capabilities in the region,” the US president said. The Venezuelan response came swiftly, as expected. “Donald Trump today tried to divert attention... by creating an escalation of statements and an escalation with Venezuela,” said President Maduro. “We’re going to stay
here in peace... attending to the pandemic, controlling the pandemic.” What is the US argument on drugs? The charges against Mr Maduro and 14 members of his inner circle were announced on 26 March and include narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering and corruption. US Attorney General William Barr accused Mr Maduro of conspiring with a faction of the Colombian Farc rebel group “to flood the United States with cocaine” and “devastate American communities”. Mr Barr said the Colombian rebels had “obtained the support of the Maduro regime, who is allowing them to use Venezuela as a safe haven from which they can continue to conduct their cocaine trafficking”. “Maduro very deliberately deployed cocaine as a weapon... to undermine the health and wellbeing of our nation,” US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said. He accused Mr Maduro and his top aides of running a “narco-terrorism partnership with the Farc for the past 20 years”.
US attorneys general fight Trump’s efforts to undermine asylum protections for Caribbean immigrants A coalition of 19 attorneys cooperative agreements with the general from around the United federal government.” “Not only does the rule States has challenged the Trump Administration’s efforts to harm asylum-seekers, but it deprives potentially undermine asylum states of the valuable economic protections for thousands of contributions made by immigrants — including asylees and asylumCaribbean and other immigrants. In an amicus brief supporting seekers — who join workforces across the plaintiffs in U.T. v. Barr, the the country, start entrepreneurial coalition pushed back against an ventures, and pay millions of interim final rule in which it said dollars in taxes each year,” said the the US Government is “effectively coalition in a statement. ignoring asylum claims by sending New York Attorney General people — many of whom are fleeing Letitia James, who is leading violence and persecution — to third the coalition fight, said “the countries that have signed asylum president and his administration
are once again showing their lack of compassion and humanity by endangering the safety of asylumseekers fleeing for their lives. “Instead of making it harder for immigrants to flee persecution, danger, and great peril, the administration should be welcoming these individuals, who provide extraordinary contributions to America’s culture and economy,” she said. “Our coalition will continue fighting for these asylumseekers and the founding principles of our nation which have always Letitia James welcomed immigrants.”
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Cayman’s borders could be closed for months Cayman’s borders could be closed to travellers for several months, the territory’s leaders acknowledged Monday. The islands may have to wait for a vaccine or for universal testing before allowing visitors to return, public health officials warned. Though an emergency British Airways flight has been arranged for next week to allow people to evacuate the UK and return to Cayman, there is no prospect of passenger travel resuming in the near future. According to the Cayman Compass, Premier Alden McLaughlin acknowledged that opening the borders was still a long way off and that Cayman’s key industries of financial services and tourism would be hard hit for a long time. “This is going to be a much longer-term event than most people actually grasp,” he said. “It is going to be quite a while before we can bring visitors back here.” The number of reports of
All passenger flights in and out of Cayman are suspended. the virus is rapidly growing in the US, which has become the new epicentre of COVID-19. Asked what it would take before Cayman could allow visitors back, the premier referred questions to the health experts on the panel at Monday’s press briefing. Dr. John Lee, Cayman’s chief medical officer, said science would likely dictate the timing of when the borders
could reopen. “I think the answer is probably going to come from science and developments around testing and vaccination. I don’t see this disease burning itself out through the entire world for quite some time, but if we get to a point where we can test people and know if they are immune to it, that is a point where we could relax a lot of the
things we have in place,” Lee said. McLaughlin noted that no country in the world could survive with closed borders for too long, but he warned it could be next year before the world economy returned to normal. He said Cayman’s tourism and financial services sectors would be badly hurt in the process. “We are between the devil and the deep blue sea,” he said. The premier said he drew some comfort from the fact that every country in the world was facing the same issue. Cayman’s air border closed Sunday, 22 March, for an initial three weeks. McLaughlin has already stated that the closure will most likely be extended for at least another three weeks, and his comments Monday suggest it could be significantly longer. Cruise ships were banned for an initial 60 days, a week before the air closure, but there is little prospect of that ban being lifted within that time frame.
Royal Caribbean extends operations suspension due to coronavirus The coronavirus pandemic, compelled Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL to extend the halt of global cruise operations — Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. With continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding global health concerns, the company’s cruise brands have suspended their operations, leading to cancellation of departures until Sept 1. However, the company is providing guests with the flexibility of receiving full credit fare that can be transferred to a future sailing date in 2020 or 2021. It also offers confidence to its customers by allowing cancellations 48 hours
prior to any sailing. The coronavirus outbreak, which is spreading at an alarming rate, infected more than 800,000 people worldwide and the death toll has crossed 42,000. Notably, the company’s decision is in sync with the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global crisis. Notably, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean, Richard Fain stated, “Guests are reacting positively to our Cruise with Confidence policy, because it enables them to make informed decisions and to better manage complicated travel plans during this unprecedented time of uncertainty.” President Trump has put
restriction on passengers travelling from 26 European countries to the United States. Trump stated, “We made a lifesaving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe.” Clearly, bookings for the broader business are going to be negatively impacted thanks to travel restrictions to contain the spread of the contagion. Other major cruise operators that have been affected are Carnival Corporation CCL and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. NCLH. So far this year, shares of Royal Caribbean have plummeted 75.9% compared with the industry’s decline of 58.8%.
Mastercard champions effort to raise limits for contactless payment transactions across Latin America & Caribbean Mastercard announced today it is championing a move to increase the contactless payment limits across Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region as people look for safer ways to pay in the wake of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The initiative is in line with similar actions taking place around the world as health officials recommend social distancing and a growing number of merchants are encouraging consumers to pay with contactless over cash to avoid contact. Mastercard has been spearheading the transition to contactless for over 15 years globally. In LAC, the company has worked with the transit, retail and fast service industries to expand the use of contactless payment technology in an effort to enhance security, convenience and speed in the payment experience for cardholders. These efforts have resulted
in an exponential growth of the use and acceptance of contactless payments across the region. Today, 75% of point of sale terminals are ready to accept contactless transactions in LAC, while in 2019 contactless enabled cards grew fivefold versus 2018. Now, Mastercard is working with industry partners to enable a raise in the contactless payment limit to 50 USD. This would allow cardholders to make higher value payments versus limiting them to a pre-defined low-value payment limit. For example, consumers today might be limited to purchasing only 25 USD worth of household goods with their contactless cards without the need to enter their Personal Identification Number or PIN into the keypad. Once the limit is raised to the Mastercard recommended 50 USD, they can purchase more of what they need with the security, speed and touch-free
experience expected from contactless payments. “Mastercard has been leading the expansion of contactless payments in LAC for a number of years now. The initiative to raise contactless limits comes at a time when cardholders need it the most to stay safe and adhere to social distancing requirements,” said Walter Pimenta, Senior Vice President, Products & Innovation, Mastercard Latin America and Caribbean. “Today’s announcement reinforces our consumercentric approach – providing consumers with freedom of choice in how they pay and peace of mind when they pay. We are working rapidly with our industry partners to guide and support them through this effort.” Cardholders should look for the contactless symbol on the front or back of their credit or debit cards to determine whether they have a contactless-enabled
card or can add their debit or credit card to their mobile wallets on their contactless-enabled devices to tap and pay where contactless payments are accepted. Mastercard’s effort to raise CVM limits is one of many efforts the company is leading to do its part for its employees, customers and cardholders. Most recently, the company announced a partnership with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust to accelerate the development and access to treatment for COVID-19. Together, the companies committed up to $125 million in funding to speed-up the identification, assessment, development, and scaling of treatments. In addition, Mastercard employees around the world have engaged in its employee donations match program to help communities around the world.
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PM Rowley says Trinidad not following Caribbean countries and declaring state of emergency Trinidad and Tobago recorded its fifth death, the second within a 24 hour period, from the coronavirus (COVID-19) but stopped short of announcing plans for a state of emergency (SOE) or a curfew to help curb the spread of the virus. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, speaking at the daily news conference put on by the Ministry of Health, said Trinidad and Tobago is also considering releasing prisoners in a bid to curb the spread of the virus but had no intention of following the methods being
adopted by some Caribbean islands to implement the curfew and the SOE. “It is one of the tools available to the government if the circumstances warrant it and if the outcome if an improvement of the circumstances of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. We are not dealing with fashion and anxiety,” Rowley told reporters. “We have been taking steps. Our intention steps of exaltation based on what advice we got, the nature of the problem and based on the advice we determine what is the
Grenada Declares 24-Hour Curfew The Grenada government has imposed a seven-day 24-hour curfew beginning on Monday night as it warned that persons were ignoring earlier measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). “Every time you break or ignore guidelines to quarantine when you have been exposed, you are potentially taking the life of one of our citizens. Maybe you are prepared to take the gamble, but unfortunately it’s not only to your detriment. You are endangering the lives of each of us,” Health Minister Nicholas Steele said in a radio and television broadcast on Sunday night. Steele said that Grenada’s security was being compromised in a way that it has never been before by COVID-19, the coronavirus that is blamed for more than 18,000 deaths worldwide. He said the curfew would remain in effect until April 6 and that “during this period, every person shall remain confined to their place of residence, inclusive of their yard space, to avoid contact outside of their household, except as provided in the regulations or as may be authorised in writing by the Commissioner of Police. “Lives are at stake. Your life is at stake. Your grandmother’s life is at stake. Your father’s life is under threat. My life and that of my family are under threat, and so is my neighbour’s. Whole families stand to be wiped out. From the halls of the palace to the seat of prime ministers, to the village slums, COVID-19 has shown that it respects no one,” Steele said. Grenada has so far recorded nine cases of the virus and Steele told the nation that several people have not been complying with the regulations which were designed to convey the seriousness of the threat posed by the virus. Police have so far arrested several people violating different sections of the regulations which on summary conviction is liable to a fine of EC$1,000 and to imprisonment for 12 months. Steele said that the government is not in the business of gambling with the lives of Grenadians, adding “everything else pales in comparison to the health and well-being of a nation. This is not about economics. It is about saving lives. It is about public health, public safety and public order.” Under the new regulations, the government has banned visits to the beach, the closure of all businesses as well as shops to remain open only from 8: 00 a.m. to noon on specific days and that people will only be allowed to purchase groceries in their own parish. In addition, private cars could only carry one passenger and no hired vehicles will be used to transport groceries and that no more than one person per seat in vehicles carrying employees.
most appropriate state response.” He told reporters that if the situation “is deemed to be that we need to be more interventionist and that intervention will put us in a better situation then the government has no difficulty in doing it.” Rowley said he has spoken on numerous occasions about the demand for a “lockdown” to deal with the situation, noting “in our neighbouring territory of Grenada, there is a 24 hour seven day curfew. Any government could do that, but it might suit that situation, question
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is, is that what is best for us under our circumstances. When we get to that bridge you will be the first to know,” he added.
Cayman Police note spike in domestic violence Domestic violence reports have started to increase as Cayman continues its lockdown in response to COVID-19. Police Commissioner Derek Byrne, speaking at Monday’s coronavirus briefing, said his team has noted a “spike” in reports. He said on Sunday night there were seven incidents of domestic violence, two of which were recorded as alcohol-related. “We’ve dealt with them. It is a small spike one night over the past two weeks, so we’re going to keep a very careful eye on that for individuals who might be in an unsafe home situation,” Byrne said. With Cayman in lockdown, seeking safe haven may present a problem for those needing shelter from abusers. However, both Byrne and Ania Milanowska, executive director of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, have said shelter space is available. The commissioner said when it comes to the availability of government’s isolation facilities, victims will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. He said cases are reported to the National Emergency Operations Centre, and the
survivors of domestic violence, their homes are the most dangerous. “The isolation, unemployment, financial stress and spending a lot of time under the same roof as the abuser, makes the survivors even more vulnerable,” Milanowska said in the statement. “Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviour in a relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control Police Commissioner Derek Byrne over another intimate partner. addresses the media during a Isolation from family and government COVID-19 daily press friends is one of the tactics used conference. by the perpetrator.” This, she said, is why it is very Crisis Centre remains open. important, especially at this “People can report, seek time, to have a safety plan in assistance, and it’s dealt with on place. a case-by-case basis. Those are “Pack a bag with things we’re watching very, very important documents, change carefully internally, in terms of clothes and essential child and family protection,” of medication. Have our 24/7 crisis Byrne said. line number on speed dial, 943 Milanowska said the 2422,” she advised. “Ask your Crisis Centre admitted two new clients over the weekend. family member or a friend to “Presently, I have four adults and check on you regularly via eight children [at the centre],” phone, email, text message, and have a code word ready, so they she said. In a statement to the know that even if you are saying Cayman Compass, she said, for that everything is fine, by using most people, homes are the this special word you are asking safest places to be during the them for help – they can call 911 COVID-19 crisis. However, for for you,” she said.
Haitian Compas Festival Postponed Until 2021
Haitians at a compas festival The Haitian Compas Festival, which was scheduled to take place on May 16, 2020, at Mana Wynwood, Miami, has been postponed. Organizers of the festival say that the decision was made in light of the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state of Florida, and the wider country. The many public emergency declarations and the social distancing directives saw
the realization of the festival, authorities for guidance and which pays tribute to Haiti’s May there is no higher priority for 18 Flag Day commemoration, as us than the health, safety and simply “impossible.” physical well-being of each of The new date for the you and your families.” festival is May 15, 2021. For those of you who “We understand how already purchased tickets, they crucial it is that Compas fans will be “honored and transferred have time to make important to Haitian Compas Festival decisions and plans,” organizers 2021.” Date changes will be said. “But you understand, this reflected on Eventbrite later this is totally out of our control. month. We continue to defer to the
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A record 10 million sought US jobless aid in past 2 weeks More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — doubling a record high set just one week earlier — a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Combined with last week’s report that 3.3 million people sought unemployment aid two weeks ago, the U.S. economy has now suffered nearly 10 million layoffs in just the past few weeks — far exceeding the figure for any corresponding period on record. The stunning report Thursday from the Labor Department showed that job cuts are mounting against the backdrop of economies in the United States and abroad that have almost certainly sunk into a severe recession as businesses have shut down across the world. “This kind of upending of the labor market in such a short time is unheard of,” said Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a progressive think tank. Further signs of a surging wave of layoffs are likely in the coming weeks. Seth Carpenter, an economist at Swiss bank UBS, estimates that
about one-third of last week’s claims had been delayed from the previous week, when state offices that handle unemployment benefits were overwhelmed by a surge of online and telephone claims. Yet many of those offices are still struggling to process all the claims they have received, suggesting more claims will be pushed into the following week. The magnitude of the layoffs has led many economists to envision as many as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April. That would be more than double the 8.7 million jobs lost during the Great Recession. The unemployment rate could spike to as high as 15% this month, above the previous record of 10.8% set during a deep recession in 1982. Employers are slashing their payrolls to try to stay afloat because their revenue has collapsed, especially at restaurants, hotels, gyms, movie theaters and other venues that depend on face-to-face interaction. Auto sales have sunk, and factories have closed. Roughly 90% of the U.S. population is now under stay-athome orders, which have been imposed by most U.S. states. This
Africa faces an ‘existential threat’ as virus cases spread Some African countries will have more than 10,000 coronavirus cases by the end of April, health officials projected Thursday, as the continent least equipped to treat serious infections has an “enormous gap” in the number of ventilators and other critical items. While cases across Africa are now above 6,000 at what has been called the dawn of the outbreak, the continent is “very, very close” to where Europe was after a 40-day period, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. John Nkengasong, told reporters. The virus “is an existential threat to our continent,” he said. All but four of Africa’s 54 countries have cases after Malawi on Thursday reported its first, and local transmission has begun in many places. Nkengasong said authorities are “aggressively” looking into procuring equipment such as ventilators that most African countries desperately need, and local manufacturing and repurposing are being explored. “We’ve seen a lot of goodwill expressed to supporting Africa from bilateral and multilateral partners,” but “we still have to see that translate into concrete action,” he said. The World Health Organization doesn’t know how many ventilators are available across Africa to help those in respiratory distress, regional director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti told reporters. “We are trying to find out this information from country-based colleagues. ... What we can say without a doubt is there is an enormous gap.” Some countries have only a few ventilators. Central African Republic has just three. A small percentage of people who are infected will need ventilators and about 15% may need intensive care, said WHO official Dr. Zabulon Yoti.
trend has intensified pressure on businesses, most of which face rent, loans and other bills that must be paid. The reversal in the job market has been dizzying. Four weeks ago, weekly unemployment claims amounted to only 211,000, near a 50-year low. Since then, they have jumped 30-fold. “Four years of jobs gains have evaporated in the span of two weeks,” said Daniel Zhao, an economist at the jobs website Glassdoor. Requests for jobless aid soared in all 50 states last week. In California, nearly 900,000 people sought benefits, almost four times the previous week’s figure, and equivalent to 5% of the state’s workforce. In Michigan, jobless claims more than doubled last week to 311,000. In Florida, filings tripled to 227,000. In South Dakota, they quadrupled to 6,645. How long the waves of layoffs last — an unknown — will be a key factor in determining the depth of the recession. Some companies are maintaining ties to laid-off workers, in hopes of rehiring
Unionized hospitality workers wait in line in a basement garage to apply for unemployment benefits at the Hospitality Training Academy in Los Angeles. them once the coronavirus outbreak passes. Relatively swift rehirings would help the economy rebound quickly. But if business shutdowns persist into the late summer or fall, many smaller businesses will likely go bankrupt. That would make it harder for workers to find jobs and would prolong the downturn.
U.S. paying Russia for entire planeload of coronavirus equipment: U.S. official The United States is paying Russia for a planeload of medical equipment sent by Moscow to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, a senior Trump administration official said on Thursday, clearing up confusion as to who footed the bill. It had been unclear whether Russia had sent the 60 tons of equipment as a gift or whether it had sold the shipment of ventilators, masks, respirators and other items following a phone discussion between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump, asked about the shipment at a White House news briefing, said he was happy to take delivery of it. “I am not concerned about Russian propaganda, not even a little bit. He (Putin) offered a lot of medical, highquality stuff that I accepted. And that may save a lot of lives. I’ll take it every day,” he said. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow had paid half the cost with the other half picked up by Washington. But the senior administration official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the United States paid. “The United States is purchasing the supplies and equipment outright, as with
A Russian military transport plane carrying medical equipment, masks and supplies lands at JFK International Airport during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, New York, U.S., April 1, 2020. deliveries from other countries,” the official said. “We appreciate Russia selling these items to us below market value.” The official did not give an exact cost. The State Department did not respond to requests for more information. The plane arrived on Wednesday at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and the gear was to be inspected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make sure it met U.S. quality standards. New York is at the center of the pandemic in the United States, struggling to
treat or bury casualties and the state’s governor has grimly predicted that the rest of the country would soon face the same misery. Critics of Putin were angered by the shipment because they said Russia was experiencing severe shortages of the same items. Putin, with the country reporting 3,548 coronavirus cases and 30 deaths, on Thursday extended until April 30 a paid non-working period across Russia to reduce personal contact just a week after the Kremlin said there was no epidemic.
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U.S. offers to lift Venezuela sanctions for power-sharing deal, shifting policy The Trump administration on Tuesday offered to begin lifting Venezuela sanctions if the opposition and members of President Nicolas Maduro’s Socialist Party form an interim government without him, marking a shift in a U.S. policy that has failed to end his grip on power. With the South American nation squeezed by low world oil prices, a spreading coronavirus pandemic and a U.S. economic pressure campaign, Washington moved to a more toneddown approach aimed at promoting fair elections as soon as this year to end the political crisis there. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally announced the administration’s power-sharing “Democratic Transition Framework” for Venezuela, which proposes for the first time a “sequenced exit path” from tough U.S. sanctions, including on the vital oil sector, if Maduro and his allies cooperate. But it will be no easy task to draw Maduro or his associates onto a path of political reconciliation with opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognized by the United States and more than 50 other countries as the legitimate interim president. Maduro has held onto power despite repeated U.S. efforts to oust him and shown no willingness to seriously negotiate an end to his rule. As such, Tuesday’s announcement could be seen as a bid by the administration to cut its losses and move on. Under the U.S. proposal, both
Maduro and Guaido would step aside and neither would be part of the transitional government. The initiative comes less than a week after the U.S. government took a more confrontational tack, indicting Maduro and more than a dozen other current and former top Venezuelan officials on charges of “narco-terrorism,” accusations he dismissed as false and racist. Maduro’s staying power has become a source of frustration for President Donald Trump, U.S. officials have said privately. Maduro retains the backing of the military as well as Russia, China and Cuba. But the Trump administration hopes an energy dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia that has contributed to the plunging price of oil - Maduro’s main financial lifeline - and the growing coronavirus threat will help make Maduro and his loyalists more pliable. The U.S. proposal, which Abrams said was approved by Trump, calls for the opposition-controlled National Assembly “to elect an inclusive transitional government acceptable to the major factions.” A council of state would govern until it oversees elections, which Pompeo said the United States hoped could be held in six to 12 months. Though the administration has never wavered in public about its support for Guaido, he has struggled to muster the street protests of his first few months as opposition leader. Ordinary Venezuelans, weighed down by food
shortages and hyperinflation, have increasingly expressed disappointment at his failure to achieve a change of government. Venezuela’s foreign ministry dismissed the U.S. proposal as “an effort to win geopolitical advantage in the midst of a frightening global pandemic.” Abrams, in a conference call with reporters, called the Venezuelan government’s response “totally predictable.” QUESTIONS ABOUT MADURO’S FUTURE In an apparent softening of tone, Abrams told Reuters that while Maduro would have to step aside, the plan did not call for him to be forced into exile and even suggested that he “could theoretically run” in the election. Pompeo insisted that “Nicolas Maduro will never again govern Venezuela,” but said the administration hoped he would take the U.S. proposal seriously. “If the conditions of the framework are met, including the departure of all foreign security forces,” Pompeo told reporters, “then all remaining U.S. sanctions would be lifted.” With experts deeming OPEC member Venezuela among the countries that could be hardest hit by the coronavirus, Guaido proposed over the weekend the formation of an emergency government of members across the political spectrum.
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a news conference at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, March 12, 2020 The U.S. plan seeks to build on the effort by Guaido as well as a failed round of negotiations between the two sides in Barbados last year, which the Trump administration dismissed at the time. The proposal represents a significantly less bellicose tone from the administration’s pronouncements since January of last year, when Guaido invoked the constitution to assume a rival interim presidency, arguing that Maduro’s 2018 re-election was a sham. Maduro calls Guaido a U.S. puppet. Asked whether the new proposal indicated the United States was backing away from Guaido, Pompeo said the administration remained “supportive of the work that the rightful president of the Venezuelan people, Juan Guaido, is engaged in.”
Dutch marijuana back on sale, but No proof drug touted by Trump is don’t forget to wash your hands effective against coronavirus: EU The European Commission said on Tuesday there was no evidence that a drug touted by U.S. President Donald Trump as a potential miracle cure against COVID-19 was effective against the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Trump had said that hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, could be among “the biggest game changers in the history of medicine” for its potential effects against COVID-19. “The efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19 patients has to date not been proved,” a spokesman for the European Pubs and bars at the famous Leidseplein have closed their doors in response to a rapidly expanding Commission said on Tuesday, relaying coronavirus outbreak, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 15, 2020. an internal opinion from the European Medicine Agency. While most of the Netherlands “It’s a choice between two evils The spokesman said there was struggles through the coronavirus because you can say ‘close the coffee lockdown, marijuana smokers received shop’ but then we know one thing for also no evidence either of the positive the welcome news that “coffee shops” sure, that the illegal trade will come effects of chloroquine, another malaria drug, which is also being tested for its selling the drug have reopened for back.” takeaway orders. At the Jetset coffee shop in possible use against COVID-19. The U.S. Health and All businesses selling cannabis the eastern town of Nijmegen, safety Human Services on Thursday listed and hashish were ordered to shut, along precautions have been introduced to with sex clubs and saunas, when the protect buyers and sellers from possibly hydroxychloroquine as a protected medical resource after Trump signed an Dutch government imposed on March infecting each other. executive order to prevent its hoarding 15 measures to curb the COVID-19 “We can refuse entry to coughers and price gouging. epidemic. and sneezers” and “Hand sanitizer A limited reopening has been required on entry” signs outside read. allowed to avoid black market drug “We have a whole bunch of deals and ensure supplies of medicinal people using it for medicinal purposes: cannabis. With coronavirus regulations pain relievers, people with multiple prohibiting gatherings of people, sclerosis, people with chemotherapy A Japanese destroyer and a however, buyers are no longer permitted who really benefit from it,” said Stan Chinese fishing boat collided in the East to stay for a smoke. Esmeijer, owner of the Kronkel coffee China Sea on Monday night and no one “What we saw is that people shop next door to Jetset. was injured, Japan’s defense minister rushed to the coffee shops to buy “It also gives a bit of relaxation. said, but China said a fisherman was something,” Nijmegen Mayor Hubert Especially in these times, it’s nice that hurt and suggested the Japanese vessel Bruls said in an interview. you also have moments when you can was to blame. “We decided the next day, along relax. One person uses a drink for that The collision occurred about with the government, that people can at and the other a joint,” he said. 650 km (400 miles) west of the Japanese least pick something up.” The Netherlands allows the sale island of Yakushima, Defence Minister Bruls said Dutch authorities of small quantities of cannabis in a policy Taro Kono said on Twitter on Tuesday. wanted to avoid driving the sales aimed at managing crime and health The crash opened a hole of underground to an unregulated black risks. Usage rates are far lower than in more than a meter in length above market. many other countries. the waterline of the destroyer, the
U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the daily coronavirus response briefing in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 30, 2020. Hungary, a European Union member, last week banned the commercial export of hydroxychloroquine. “As Hungary is one of the world’s largest exporters of this ingredient, the protection and medical supply of the Hungarian population is now a priority,” the government said.
Japan says destroyer and Chinese boat collided; China says one hurt Shimakaze, Kono said. “No personnel were injured and no one from the Chinese fishing boat was missing. We are checking details,” Kono tweeted. China confirmed the incident saying it was under investigation and a Chinese fisherman was hurt. “China has expressed concern to Japan on Japan’s naval vessels being active in that area, and impacting safe navigation of China’s ships, in China’s coastal waters,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
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WORLD NEWS
UK’s Prince Harry and wife Meghan bid farewell to royal roles Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan posted their last message as working members of Britain’s royal family on Monday before officially embarking on new careers without their “Royal Highness” styles. Harry and Meghan shocked Queen Elizabeth and the other Windsors in January by announcing plans step back from their royal roles. A later deal brokered by the 93-year-old monarch means they will go their own way from April. So from Wednesday, the couple, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will be free to pursue new careers, earn their own money and spend most of their time in North America. But they will no longer be able to use the word “royal” in their branding or carry out official duties and have agreed not to use the style of HRH - His or Her Royal Highness. Harry, 35, the queen’s grandson and sixth in line to the throne, will remain a prince but relinquish his military appointments. “While you may not see us here, the work continues,” the couple said in the last message to their more than 11 million followers on their sussexroyal Instagram page.
“We look forward to reconnecting with you soon. You’ve been great! Until then, please take good care of yourselves, and of one another.” Harry, and Meghan, a former actress, married in a lavish ceremony in May 2018, a wedding which was heralded at the time as infusing a blast of Hollywood glamour and modernity into the monarchy, and making them one of the world’s biggest celebrity couples. Their son Archie was born a year later, but by then relations with the media and with Harry’s elder brother Prince William were becoming strained, and in January they announced plans to step back from their royal roles. It provoked a crisis, and in a subsequent deal thrashed out with the queen, her son and heir Prince Charles and William, it was agreed the couple would have to give up their royal jobs altogether. As a result, the couple will no longer use their sussexroyal handle on Instagram nor update their SussexRoyal. com website. The Sussex Royal Foundation, which they were setting up, will be wound up. However Travalyst, a sustainable tourism initiative launched by Harry which had been the foundation’s
main initiative, will continue as an independent non-profit body. The couple will now focus on their family for the next few months while “developing their future nonprofit organization”, a statement from their office said. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would prefer that in the immediate weeks and months, the focus remains on the global response to COVID-19,” the statement said. SECURITY Their last public appearance came earlier this month when they joined other senior royals at the annual Commonwealth Day service in London. After that they returned to Canada where they had spent most of their time in the last four months, and a royal source confirmed they had now moved to the Los Angeles area. Meghan, 38, who starred in TV legal drama “Suits”, was raised in the area and her mother Doria still lives there. Since their exit deal was announced, there have been questions over who would provide their personal security which media have estimated costs millions of dollars a year.
Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive for the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain March 9, 2020. Canada had already said it would not provide security for them after they relinquished their royal jobs and on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that the United States would not foot the bill either. However, a spokeswoman for the couple said they had no plans to ask for any public funding for their security, adding: “Privately funded security arrangements have been made.” Meghan’s first post-royal job will be to narrate a nature documentary “Elephant” for Disney which will be released on April 3 and will raise money for an animal welfare charity. “For now, there will be no additional information on their next steps,” the statement from their office said.
Portuguese immigration officers arrested on suspicion of killing Ukrainian
No scandal here: Mexico president defends meeting mother of drug lord ‘El Chapo’
Portuguese police said on Monday they had detained three immigration officers on suspicion of killing a 40-year-old Ukrainian man who attempted to enter Portugal illegally through Lisbon’s airport earlier this month. In a statement, Portugal’s criminal investigation police agency, the PJ, said the alleged crime was committed at a temporary detention center at Lisbon’s airport run by the country’s immigration and border service SEF. PJ said the victim arrived on March 10 and was killed on March 12 after he “allegedly caused some disturbances” at the center. The three SEF workers were believed to be responsible for his death, the statement said. SEF confirmed in a statement that three of its officers had been detained on suspicion of murder, adding the director and deputy director of SEF’s Lisbon Border Directorate had suspended their duties with immediate effect as result of the incident. “SEF has been collaborating with the authorities involved in the investigation since the beginning and took the needed disciplinary measures,” it said. Portugal’s internal affairs minister said the government had ordered an inquiry into what happened. Police said the suspects would appear before a judge to answer questions, but did not provide details on when the appearance would take place. It was not immediately clear whether the three men had appointed lawyers yet to represent them.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday defended his weekend handshake with the mother of drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, calling her a “respectable old lady” and seeking to cast his critics as the principal menace to the country. In a 30-second video posted on Twitter on Sunday, Lopez Obrador could be seen approaching Maria Consuelo Loera’s car, parked on a dirt road on the outskirts of Badiraguato, a mountainous municipality in the northwestern state of Sinaloa. Surrounded by onlookers, Lopez Obrador told Loera she need Consuelo Loera, mother of the Mexican drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, leaves from not get out of the car, they shook the U.S. embassy after requesting a humanitarian visa so she can visit her imprisoned son, in hands and after a brief exchange he Mexico City, Mexico June 1, 2019. told her he had “received her letter.” Guzman was for years boss who is in a maximum security U.S. drug charges. The Sinaloa Cartel caused of the Sinaloa Cartel, a powerful prison. “This depends on the Lopez Obrador’s government criminal organization blamed for the deaths of thousands of people United States government, the considerable embarrassment last in Mexico ranging from rival gang U.S. embassy. I believe that for October, when security forces members, ordinary citizens, police humanitarian reasons she should briefly surrounded and captured the be allowed to go with caregivers, notorious drug lord’s son Ovidio and members of the armed forces. Guzman in Culiacan, the capital of Critics on social media sanitarians, doctors,” he said. The leftist leader said Sinaloa. asked what kind of message the Cartel gunmen responded encounter, videotaped by part “conservative” opponents, were of the entourage that regularly trying to use the encounter to hurt with prolonged bursts of gunfire in the streets after Ovidio’s arrest. accompanies the president on him. Accusing them of To avoid bloodshed, the weekends, was meant to send. Questioned about the hypocrisy, he said the corruption he government ordered Ovidio’s release, meeting at his regular morning identifies as their legacy is a much sparking widespread criticism of news conference, Lopez Obrador bigger threat to the country than a Lopez Obrador’s security policy, and was unrepentant and quickly 92-year-old woman “who deserves angering some military leaders. Lopez Obrador saw blamed “adversaries” for trying to my respect.” After questions by reporters Guzman’s mother on a visit to a make a “scandal” out of it. “Sometimes, because it’s about the meeting, Lopez Obrador rural area of Sinaloa where the my job, I have to shake hands with promised to publish the letter from government was building a new white collar criminals who haven’t Loera, saying: “We have nothing road that would pass near El Chapo’s even lost their respectability, how to hide ... there’s nothing that can birthplace. The president said he went to meet Loera after hearing am I not going to greet an old lady embarrass us.” Guzman shipped tons she wanted to greet him. who leaves her hand outstretched?,” of drugs around the world and The 66-year-old, who he told reporters. In the video, Lopez twice embarrassed the Mexican has flouted the advice of his Obrador could also be seen talking government by escaping from own government not to engage in physical contact during the to one of El Chapo’s lawyers, Jose prison. Captured for a third time coronavirus crisis, dismissed the Luis Gonzalez Meza. Lopez Obrador said Loera, a in 2016, he was extradited to the suggestion that he should not be “respectable old lady,” wrote to him United States in 2017 and sentenced shaking hands with an elderly to ask for help in getting permission to life in prison by a U.S. judge last woman at risk of contagion. from U.S. authorities to visit her son, year after his conviction on multiple
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Extroverts (and introverts, too) face quarantine challenges Within days, Vicktery Zimmerman had figured out how to connect with friends and family even as she and her husband shelter in place at their Chicago home. There are the FaceTime calls. There’s the movie night (remote, of course) with another couple. There are plans for a game night. Whatever it takes to keep the 30-year-old self-professed extreme extrovert and public relations specialist from, as she puts it, “spinning in circles.” Justin Zimmerman, 32, her introverted husband, is bemused — and amused — by it all. “Now it’s become a thing where people are FaceTiming us all day, every day to say ‘Hi,’” the doctoral student said, laughing. “I’m like, ‘You really don’t have to.’” The self-isolation designed to arrest the coronavirus’ spread has turned the tables on many norms — like living life outside the four walls of home, gathering socially at the drop of a hat and having everyday social interactions with anyone from your local barista to the guy at the corner store. But even in pre-virus times, there were people for whom those things were more pressure than pleasure: introverts,
Vicktery Zimmerman works from her home in Chicago during the coronavirus-related order to shelter in place. those who largely get their energy his home. He just wanted a moment of from inside themselves and selected interaction. interactions with people, as opposed to “It’s mind-boggling to grasp how much extroverts, who obtain it from outside I need to be around other folk,” said themselves. Bellmore, 47, who works in IT in Mount The quarantines and distancing Pleasant, Michigan. have upended that. It’s a relief for some “My wife actually said to me last introverts who now don’t need excuses week: `For someone like you, this must for why they don’t want to be out — and, be hell.’” equally, a struggle for extroverts seeking It’s been a relief for David Choi, a 34-yearout social connection in a world where old Los Angeles musician who is an that’s suddenly a limited commodity. avowed introvert even as the demands of Eric Bellmore, an avowed professional musicianship required him extrovert, found himself yelling a to be networking and making the social greeting across the road to someone he rounds. didn’t know when he went for a jog near The demand to quarantine, he
Singapore court upholds colonial-era law that criminalizes sex between men Singapore’s high court upheld on Monday a rarely-used law that criminalizes sex between men, dismissing three appeals that argued it was unconstitutional. The ruling follows challenges to the colonial-era law by activists emboldened after India’s decision to scrap similar legislation in 2018. Previous repeal efforts in the socially-conservative city-state in 2014 also failed. “The High Court dismisses all three applications,” Judge See Kee Oon said in a summary of the case published by the court. “Legislation remains important in reflecting public sentiment and beliefs,” it said, adding that non-enforcement of the law against consensual male homosexual activity in private did not make it redundant. Bryan Choong, one of the three men who challenged the law, said he was disappointed by the
ruling. “But my eyes are firmly on the road ahead,” he said. The Attorney-General’s Chambers did not immediately comment. Previously, it has said prosecution under the law would not be in the public interest. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has previously said that society in Singapore “is not that liberal on these matters”. However, after the Indian decision, a prominent Singapore diplomat urged challenges to the city-state’s law, while Law Minister K. Shanmugam said a “growing minority” wanted it repealed and that laws should keep pace with societal change. Polls have also suggested changing attitudes towards homosexuals, and a perceived softening in tone from some establishment figures. The applicants in Monday’s cases had argued that
UK’s Prince Charles, 71, out of self-isolation and in good health British heir-to-thethrone Prince Charles, who had tested positive for coronavirus, is out of self-isolation after seven days and is in good health, his spokesman said on Monday. Last week, his Clarence House office revealed that Charles, 71, had been tested after displaying mild symptoms of the virus and had been in self-isolation at his Birkhall home in Scotland where he had Britain’s Prince Charles looks on during a continued to work. visit to the London Transport Museum, in After consultation with London, Britain March 4, 2020 his doctor, he is now out of selfisolation, Clarence House said. He will resume meetings and take exercise in accordance with government and medical guidelines. However, his wife Camilla, who tested negative for coronavirus, will remain in self-isolation until the end of the week in case she too develops symptoms. Buckingham Palace has previously said Queen Elizabeth, who left London for Windsor Castle on March 19 along with her 98-year-old husband, Philip, is in good health.
Section 377A, which provides for jail terms of up to two years for a man found to have committed an act of “gross indecency” with another man, was unconstitutional. The law does not apply to lesbians. Rights groups had said Singapore’s decision had wider implications for Asia, where social attitudes are conservative. “In declining to strike out this archaic and discriminatory law, the court has reaffirmed that all gay men in Singapore are effectively unapprehended criminals,” Téa Braun, director of the London-based rights group, Human Dignity Trust, said in a statement. There have been concerns around growing intolerance toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Muslim-majority neighbours like Malaysia and Indonesia.
says, “gives you an excuse to stay home which is what you want to do in the first place.” The world generally has been a place where extroverts are rewarded and introverts get a side-eye, says Lisa Kaenzig, the highly extroverted dean of William Smith College. She has studied introverted learners for years. But the quarantines have changed those assumptions, she says. While everyone shares in the anxiety and worry over the virus, the actual demand of staying home and limiting social interaction has felt like a boon to the introverts she’s spoken to. “All of the things that make the world harder for them as introverts, the world is better for them right now. They’re adapting much more quickly,” she says. One introvert she spoke to was actually leery of the post-quarantine return to socializing, Kaenzig said, not looking forward to being swarmed by effusive extroverts looking for hugs of greeting. For some introverts, though, there has been a struggle with the idea that staying home is a matter of government demand, that there’s no option of going to a cafe or coffee shop if they did want some human interaction.
Longview, Washington, company scammed out of $160K A Longview, Washington, wireless network supplier lost $160,000 of equipment to someone suspected of posing as an international construction company, according to a police report. Last Mile Gear reported the apparent scam to Longview police on Wednesday, The Daily News reported. A company official told police it thought it sold the products to North Carolina-based Turner Construction Co., so it shipped the supplies to two locations on the east coast, according to the report. The equipment has since disappeared. And when Last Mile called the construction company, a representative said Turner “did not and has never purchased” from the Longview supplier, according to the report. “It appears this was a scam, and Turner Construction information was used without permission by the perpetrator,” said police Sgt. Chris Blanchard. Police are working with the company to gather more details, Blanchard said. As of Thursday, the locations of the equipment shipments were unknown.
Plane explosion in Philippines kills eight, including two foreigners A medical evacuation plane exploded during take-off in the Philippine capital on Sunday, killing all eight passengers and crew, including an American and a Canadian, officials said. The plane, owned by a Philippines-registered charter service Lionair, had been bound for Haneda, Japan, but burst into flames at the end of the runway around 8 p.m. (1200 GMT), Manila’s main airport said. Indonesian carrier Lion Air issued a statement making clear that it is unrelated to Manila-based Lionair.
Video footage showed a huge plume of smoke rising into the night sky as fire crews doused the fuselage with foam. The twin-jet West Wind 24 plane was carrying three medical personnel, three flight crew, a patient and a companion, Richard Gordon, a senator and head of the Philippine Red Cross, said on Twitter. “ U n f o r t u n a t e l y, no passenger survived the accident,” the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said in a statement. An investigation by the Civil Aeronautics
Authority of the Philippines was under way, MIAA said. The runway has been closed temporarily, affecting an arriving Korean Air flight that was diverted to Clark airport in northern Philippines, said MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal. The aim is to reopen the runway about two hours after midnight, he said in a press briefing. Monreal confirmed that an American national and a Canadian citizen were among those killed, but could not provide further detail. The six others were all Filipinos, he said.
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TECHNOLOGY
Urgent question from small businesses: When will aid arrive?
When will the money arrive? That’s the urgent question for small business owners who have been devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. They’re awaiting help from the $2 trillion rescue package signed into law Friday. But with bills fast coming due, no end to business closings and an economy that’s all but shut down, owners are worried about survival. Millions of owners face April 1 due dates for rent, mortgage, credit card and other payments. Some have been granted leniency from landlords and lenders. But even then, there are other business and personal bills that are owed. And employees — at least those who haven’t been laid off — must be paid. “How quick can we get these funds?” says Adam Rammel, co-owner of Brewfontaine, a bar and restaurant in Bellefontaine, Ohio, that’s now limited to takeout and delivery service. His revenue is down 60%. Yet he has eight staffers, down from his usual 25, whom he must pay. “Relief can’t come soon enough — we’re a cash business with small margins,” says Rammel, who is looking to Small Business Administration loans. He needs the money despite receiving some concessions from his banker. Freelancers and people whose gig work has vanished are also anxious about having to wait. “I need to pay my electric bill and the mortgage,” says Krista Kowalcyzk, whose Southwest Florida photography business has come to a halt as weddings have been canceled and customers have decided against having portraits shot. She feels somewhat reassured that she can receive unemployment benefits. But while she waits, “I am terrified that not only do I have no revenue coming in, I have also been asked for thousands of dollars in refunds.” At companies small and large, from
restaurants and retailers to sports and entertainment venues, revenue has essentially dried up. The same for the businesses that support those companies. Even employers that are still operating have lost business as their customers have became too cautious to continue doing business. The rescue package signed into law Friday provides for Small Business Administration loans to companies as well as to sole proprietors and freelancers. The loans can be used for payroll, mortgages, rent and utilities, with those amounts forgiven and payments deferred. It will also supply small loans that can, depending on an owner’s credit score, be approved quickly. Employers can receive tax credits for retaining workers, though not if they have obtained one of the SBA loans. Many owners are also seeking separate SBA economic injury disaster loans. And the Federal Reserve plans to set up a program to lend directly to small business owners. In addition, freelancers are now eligible for unemployment benefits. And owners can be eligible for the $1,200 per person payment that’s available to many Americans depending on their income. Whatever the source of funding, how fast it arrives at businesses across the country is sure to have a significant impact on the economy. Slightly more than half of American workers are employed at businesses with 500 or fewer employees. Every lost job means another person will struggle to pay rent or other bills. Unpaid bills, in turn, cut revenue for other businesses. Layoffs are mounting, and most analysts forecast that the economy will shrink significantly in the April-June quarter, with some estimating a a 30% annual plunge for the quarter. That would be deepest economic contraction for any quarter in records dating to Word
Businesses may get COVID-19 relief loans as soon as Friday Small businesses seeking loans through the government’s $2 trillion coronavirus relief package could receive money as soon as Friday April 3rd. That prediction came Tuesday from senior administration officials who spoke to reporters about the details of the loan program. Companies will be able to submit applications on Friday. Because the government is using an approval process that has been stripped down from the one used for traditional business loans, the money can be available to borrowers the same day, the officials said. The officials spoke with reporters on the condition of anonymity because the details have not been officially made public. The loans are available to small businesses ranging from sole proprietors and freelancers to companies with up to 500 employees. The money is intended to help companies that have suffered massive revenue losses due to the outbreak, including restaurants across the country forced to shut down. The loans are being guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. They provide for deferred payments and offer the prospect of forgiveness if the money is used to retain workers or hire back those who have been laid off. Companies can borrow up to $10 million at an annual rate of 0.5% based on their payroll costs as well as their expenses for rent, mortgage interest and utilities. They will need to provide documentation of those expenses, the officials said.
Linda DeFrancesco stocks shelves with her farm’s own salsa, spreads, veggies and salsa at DeFrancesco Farm Stand in Northford, Conn., Thursday, March 26, 2020. War II. In the week that ended March 21, roughly 3.3 million people applied for unemployment benefits — more than 10 times the number for the previous week and nearly five times the prior record high. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the small loans would be available starting Friday, and in an interview with the Fox Business Network, Mnuchin said he hoped to release loan forms later Monday. Katie Vlietstra, an executive at the National Association for the SelfEmployed, an advocacy group, says she’s concerned about the lag time between application and approval for even the small loans that are intended to have the fastest turnaround. Most small companies have only 15 to 30 days of cash on hand, she said. There are also worries about potential logjams at the SBA. The agency’s inspector general’s office found that the SBA failed to quickly
turn around thousands of loans after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area in 2017. (The SBA didn’t immediately respond to a request for information about handling an influx of applications.) John Arensmeyer, CEO of the advocacy group Small Business Majority, says he’s concerned that the loans will be processed through the SBA’s traditional business loan program, which relies on banks to handle the initial applications. “Banks have to retool their technology to do this,” Arensmeyer says. “It’s going to be months before this money gets out there. How many people are going to be able to maintain payroll, hoping to get this money?” On its face, the rescue aid appears to address some of the most vital needs of small businesses, notably their ability to maintain or hire back furloughed workers eventually. The issue is whether it will come quickly enough.
U.S. grocers add plexiglass sneeze guards to protect cashiers from coronavirus Kroger Co, Walmart Inc, Albertsons and other grocery sellers are installing plexiglass partitions at checkout counters to protect cashiers from the highly contagious coronavirus. The shields are designed to block virus-containing droplets released by coughing, sneezing and speaking - that might otherwise hit cashiers, who interact with dozens of customers during their shifts. Supermarkets are among the essential businesses that will continue to operate even in places under strict stay at home orders during the coronavirus outbreak, which has so far sickened nearly 160,000 people and killed over 2,900 in the United States. Kroger - the largest U.S. supermarket chain with nearly 2,800 stores including Ralphs, Harris Teeter and Food 4 Less - is installing the partitions at all cash registers, pharmacy counters and Starbucks kiosks. The partitions and floor decals telling customers how far apart to stand while they wait to pay will “promote physical distancing”
Assistant store manager Jesus Alvarez rings up groceries from behind a new plexiglass barrier at Ralphs Kroger grocery store after California issued a stay-at-home order in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 30, 2020. in checkout lanes, the company said in a statement. Albertsons Companies said it has almost completed the work at its more than 2,200 stores, including Safeway, Jewel-Osco and Acme. “This is an extra step to protect our associates who are in constant contact with the public and provide our customers with extra reassurance as well,” Albertsons’ Chief Executive Vivek
Sankaran said. Walmart, which sells more groceries than any other U.S. retailer through its roughly 4,800 U.S. stores, said in a tweet that the effort is part of “finding new ways to help bring peace of mind to everyone who steps through our doors.” Amazon.com Inc’s Whole Foods and regional supermarket chains like Publix, Meijer, WinnDixie, Giant Eagle and H-E-B also are putting up the protective barriers.
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Ford, GE to produce 50,000 ventilators in 100 days Ford Motor Co said on Monday it will produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days at a plant in Michigan in cooperation with General Electric’s healthcare unit, and can then build 30,000 per month as needed to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus. Ford said the simplified ventilator design, which is licensed by GE Healthcare from Florida-based Airon Corp and has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, can meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients and relies on air pressure without the need for electricity. Officials in states hard hit by the pandemic have pleaded with the Trump administration and manufacturers to speed up production of ventilators to cope with a surge in patients struggling to breathe. Hospitals in New York already are using one ventilator to sustain two patients. New Orleans has a fraction of the ventilators it needs for a surge of COVID-19 patients, Louisiana officials
said. On Friday, President Donald Trump said he would invoke powers under the Defense Production Act to direct manufacturers, including Ford and General Motors Co, to produce ventilators. On Monday, the head of the United Auto Workers and other officials compared the auto industry’s effort to build ventilators to Detroit’s conversion to bomber production during the World War Two. Ford said it plans to begin production of ventilators at a plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, deploying 500 United Auto Workers employees. It said it plans to start production at the facility the week of April 20. That is roughly when New York officials expect the peak of COVID-19 cases to hit their state. Ventilators built by Ford, GM and others could be used in other parts of the United States where the peak case
loads are expected later. GM said Sunday it plans to produce up to 10,000 ventilators a month by this summer at a plant in Kokomo, Indiana. The Ypsilanti workers will be stationed at a safe distance apart and will be screened for symptoms of coronavirus infection before they enter the plant, Ford officials said. “We’re using and deploying a whole host of technologies to keep workers safe,” said Adrian Price, director of global manufacturing core engineering for Ford. The safety procedures will be adapted from work Ford and the UAW have been doing to prepare for the automaker to reopen other U.S. factories, Price said. Separately, GE and Ford engineers are working together to boost production at a GE plant in Madison, Wisconsin, of a GE ventilator, different from the model licensed from Airon. GE expects to double ventilator
J&J, Moderna sign deals with U.S. to produce huge quantity of possible coronavirus vaccines The U.S. government has cut deals with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) and Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) and said it is in talks with at least two other companies to prepare them to produce massive quantities of coronavirus vaccines even before safe and effective ones become available. There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines specifically for COVID-19, the respiratory disease that has killed more than 35,000 people and infected over 745,000 globally in just a few months. No vaccine is expected to be ready for use until at least 2021, as they must still be widely tested in humans before being administered to hundreds of millions, if not billions, of people to prevent infection. On Monday, J&J announced a $1 billion deal with the U.S. government to create enough manufacturing capacity to make more than 1 billion doses of a vaccine, and its shares closed up 8% at $133.01. It has chosen a candidate but will not begin testing it in people until September. Moderna, which this month began very early tests of its vaccine candidate in people, also signed a deal with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The arrangements are part of the federal government’s effort to encourage drugmakers to be able to produce massive amounts of COVID-19 vaccines even before any are proven to work. The J&J effort will be funded in part by about $420 million from BARDA. The agency told Reuters it also plans to spend an unnamed amount to ramp up manufacturing for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Moderna shares rose 1.4% to $30.48. BARDA ultimately plans to support five or six experimental vaccine candidates, with the hopes of having two or three successful ones, BARDA director Rick Bright said in a phone interview. Experts have estimated it could be 12 to 18 months before a safe and effective vaccine wins regulatory approval. “Government and industry
Johnson & Johnson Chief Scientific Officer Pharmaceuticals Paul Stoffels. is working in unprecedented ways,” J&J Chief Scientific Officer Bright said. The hope is to work “as Dr. Paul Stoffels told Reuters the quickly as possible and manufacture company had to start ramping enough of it for us and the rest of up manufacturing capacity now, the world in a very short timeframe.” even before it has a signal that its The agency plans to take experimental vaccine candidate over manufacturing of Moderna’s works. vaccine candidate to enable the “That is the only option for Cambridge, Massachusetts-based us to get it on time,” Stoffels said of biotech to focus on testing it in the early 2021 target. J&J hopes to larger trials. have data proving its vaccine works BARDA hopes to speed by the end of this year. up the back end of the vaccine J&J has a manufacturing manufacturing process, which plant in the Netherlands that can involves ensuring that they are make up to 300 million doses of made and packaged according to vaccine, Stoffels said, but that standards set by the U.S. Food and “absolutely will not be sufficient for Drug Administration. the world.” The company is also ‘A LOT OF RISK INVOLVED’ scouting for manufacturing plants in other parts of Europe and Asia There are dozens capable of making the type of of coronavirus vaccines in vaccine the company is working on. development, according to the Stoffels said J&J’s vaccine World Health Organization. But it will be based on the same is still not clear that people develop technology used to make its Ebola lasting immunity to this virus, or vaccine, which has been widely used what it will take for a vaccine to be in people. The company believes it protective. will prove safe. “What you need to do is In lab studies, it has take an assessment of what the most produced strong neutralizing likely candidates are and invest at antibodies to the virus - the type risk in those,” said Seth Berkley, chief needed to make a successful vaccine. executive of the Global Alliance for In addition to the Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). investments in J&J and Moderna, The earlier you make that Bright said his agency is in talks decision, the more likely you are to with at least two other large vaccine have manufacturing in place, but makers, but declined to make them the less confident you are about public. whether the vaccine will work, BARDA is interested in Berkley said. working with a broad range of Typically, decisions on vaccine technologies and with whether to move forward with a companies that have proven track vaccine are made after safety trials records, Bright said. and preliminary efficacy trials have “There’s a lot of risk been completed. involved in making a new vaccine, J&J said it will begin a lot of risk in going quickly,” Bright human testing in September, with said. “Wherever possible, we need an eye toward having a vaccine to understand and mitigate that ready under an emergency use risk.” authorization in early 2021.
The front grill logo of a Ford pickup truck is seen in this photo taken in Carlsbad, California November 5, 2014. output from the Wisconsin plant during the second quarter, Tom Westrick, GE Healthcare’s vice president for quality, said during a call with reporters on Monday.
Grandparenting goes digital as virus keeps older adults home A few weeks ago, Debbie Cameron saw her grandsons most days, playing the piano, making after-school snacks or singing nursery rhymes with the baby in her Chandler, Arizona, home. Then the cornavirus crisis hit and the boys were suddenly gone. Cameron is 68 and has asthma, making her one of the people most at risk of getting seriously ill or dying. Now she sees her grandchildren from behind the glass of a window or a phone screen. “Looking at them through the window and not being able hug them, it’s just a dang killer,” she said. For grandparents all over the world, being protected from the pandemic has meant a piercing distance from their loved ones. While children don’t seem to be getting seriously ill as often, they can be infected and spread the virus. It’s been a jolting change for many. Cameron and her husband, both retired teachers, usually watch their older grandchildren, aged 8 and 11, after school and their 7-month-old baby grandson four times a week. One of their three daughters is due to have another child in July. But as the effects of coronavirus spread, the family decided that caring for the boys was too risky. While most people who catch the disease suffer from symptoms like fever and cough and recover in a few weeks, some get severely ill with things like pneumonia. COVID-19 can be fatal, and older people who have underlying conditions like Cameron are the most vulnerable. So instead of chasing after little boys, she’s doing puzzles, listening to old radio shows or watching the Hallmark channel, trying to fill the hours in her much-quieter house. “I just go day by day, and when the dark thoughts come in I try and do something to take them away,” she said. “I cry. Sometimes I cry.” Still, she feels lucky she doesn’t have to leave the house to work, and that she has close family ties. Sometimes she re-reads a letter her mother wrote her father while he was deployed to the Philippines during World War II, laying out her raw emotions about how much she missed him as she cared for their first child without him. “My mother is a really strong woman, and in this one she was struggling,” she said. “If my mom did that, I can do this.” The sudden change has been challenging for kids’ parents too, many of whom are trying to work from home and balance childcare. Cameron’s daughter Julie Bufkin is at home with her 7-monthold son, Calvin, working from home as a project coordinator at Arizona State University while her husband goes into the office as an analytical chemist for Intel. She’s been taking webcam calls and answering emails while breastfeeding the baby and trying to keep him entertained, even after coming down with a fever and headache, symptoms similar to the new coronavirus. In line with the advice of public-health officials, she stayed at home to recover and wasn’t tested for the virus, since she’s young and healthy and didn’t become seriously ill. She’s now on the mend, but it only deepened her mother’s feelings of helplessness.
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NBA expresses interest in The Bahamas
The National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States was one of the first major sporting leagues to suspend play because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no concrete date as to when it will resume, but this Friday, it was revealed that there are considerations to finish the season in The Bahamas. According to ESPN Senior Writer Brian Windhorst, various ideas have floated around between players, team owners and league executives on how to resume the season. “One [option] is to consider using a sprawling casino property in Las Vegas, where everything could be held under one roof. Others have suggested playing in The Bahamas where a ballroom could be converted into a playing court specifically for broadcast. There has even been talk of taking over a college campus in the Midwest, where reported cases of COVID-19 are lower for the moment,” Windhorst wrote. The Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) is the local body in charge of sanctioning basketball activities in The Bahamas. President of the BBF Mario Bowleg said that he has not heard from any of the NBA executives directly. “That is just talk in the wind right now,” said Bowleg. “It is an idea that has been tossed about by players and media personnel. Executive members of the NBA have not brought that to any reality. I know how to reach them and they know how to reach me. If that was to be the case, a call would have been made to me. If that turns out to be the
Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield and Phoenix Suns guard Ricky Rubio (11) reach for the ball. case a call would be made to myself and executives of the federation for our sanctioning and approval.” Windhorst mentioned the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) which has been out of commission since January 24. The CBA has had a difficult time finding a place to finish their season. It was to resume this week, but it has been delayed to April or early May, Windhorst stated. “The top challenge facing the league is creating a safe environment for players, coaches, referees, support staff and technical operators. An environment that, in the early stages of resuming the season, might not include fans. It might not include travel. It might not even include an arena,” Windhorst wrote
U.S. Open venue to host 350-bed temporary hospital amid coronavirus pandemic
about the NBA. The CBA, according to Windhorst, has discussed playing in other cities where there is a low volume of cases. Players would be monitored. If that plan works out without a hitch, Windhorst said the NBA could certainly consider that option amongst other options. On Friday, March 27, the Bahamian borders were closed to all incoming passengers, whether Bahamian citizens, legal permanent residents or foreign visitors. Planes can only come empty to pick up passengers and leave. With such rigid measures in place, Bowleg said that it is up to the government to make a decision on whether or not the NBA comes to The Bahamas.
“When you think about what’s happening right now, that is not only the decision of the federation but also the decision of the government. This present government wants to safeguard and protect the Bahamian citizens as does every country who has closed its borders from international persons traveling in and out. We may have a low affected number of persons, but we also must think to protect ourselves. We don’t want to open our borders too quickly,” Bowleg said. “I know that the guys have been tested to ensure that they are not positive of COVID-19 but there’s a lot that comes into play.” There is no time frame as to when the NBA will resume. Windhorst stated that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban speculated last week that the NBA may be resuming in mid May. `As of yesterday, the United States had over 125,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus COVID-19 – the highest of any country in the world. Italy is second with 92,472 cases. The Bahamas had 14 confirmed cases as of Sunday. The NBA suspended its regular season on March 12 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert received a positive test result for COVID-19 before tip-off between the Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Several other players around the league tested positive after that. Gobert, fellow Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell, who also tested positive, and the rest of the Jazz’s roster and personnel were cleared by the Utah Department of Health on Friday.
Brady to wear No. 12 with Bucs; Godwin switches to 14
Tom Brady celebrates winning the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. February 3, 2019. The TB12 brand will live on in definitely going to keep it,” Godwin said. Roger Federer of Switzerland hits to Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan in a first round match on day two of the Tampa, Fla. “But we’ll see how that goes. I think just 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of respect for what he’s done, what A portion of the Billie Jean King New York City Emergency announced Tuesday that quarterback he’s accomplished, just kind of the career National Tennis Center is set to transform Management (NYCEM) informed the Tom Brady will wear No. 12 with his new he’s built for himself...you’ve got to kind into a 350-bed temporary hospital on USTA of its plans on Monday, after team, just as he did for 20 seasons with of lean into that respect, you know?” Tuesday, the USTA said, as the coronavirus previously telling the organization that the New England Patriots. Godwin’s agent, Tory Dandy, outbreak strains resources in New York the tennis center was a potential venue Wide receiver Chris Godwin told The Athletic there was no City, which as been dramatically affected for auxiliary medical care. had worn No. 12 since 2017, when the compensation from Brady for the jersey by the pandemic. “The site is likely to be non- Buccaneers selected him in the third number. The site of the U.S. Open and Covid patients, and we will evaluate round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s “Gave it to him out of respect,” the crown jewel of American tennis, the based on need,” NYCEM spokesman switching to No. 14. Dandy said. venue has been thrust into the fray amid Omar Bourne said. Wearing No. 12, Brady won Godwin has fared well while a medical crisis that has gripped the He added that the city is six Super Bowl championships in New wearing the No. 12 jersey, recording world and brought professional sports to “actively working to identify spaces that England. 179 receptions for 2,700 yards and 17 a sudden and indefinite halt. can be used to expand hospital capacity The Buccaneers’ website said touchdowns during his three NFL seasons Chris Widmaier, spokesman for throughout the five boroughs,” but did Godwin and Brady spoke on the phone and also while excelling in college at the U.S. Tennis Association, which owns not elaborate. after Brady signed his two-year deal with Penn State. The 24-year-old was selected the tennis center, told Reuters that the News of the Flushing Meadows the Bucs on March 20, and Godwin told to the Pro Bowl in 2019. conversion of an indoor tennis facility facility comes a day after New York began team reporter Casey Phillips he’d give up Other players to wear 12 in on the venue would begin Tuesday. construction on a 68-bed field hospital the number to the NFL legend. Buccaneers history include quarterbacks “We’re here to help – no two in Central Park, as the city strains to “Obviously, if he doesn’t want it Doug Williams, Trent Dilfer and the ways about it,” Widmaier said. “New York accommodate the volume of patients at or isn’t making a big deal about it, I’m McCown brothers — Luke and Josh. is our home, we’re all in this together.” its medical centers.
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WORLD SPORTS Durant, Young highlight players-only NBA 2K tourney on ESPN
Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant watches during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles. Kevin Durant and Trae Young will lead a 16-player field of NBA players in an NBA 2K20 tournament airing on ESPN. The NBA, the players’ association and 2K announced the NBA 2K Players Tournament on Tuesday. Play begins Friday, and the winner of the week-long competition will receive a $100,000 donation to a coronavirus-related relief effort of their choice. Player have been seeded according to their NBA 2K player rating -- from Durant’s 96 down to Derrick Jones Jr.’s 78 -- and tenure. Durant, the Brooklyn Nets star who sat out this NBA season due to injury, will face Jones in the first game Friday night. Other matches will air on ESPN2. The championship is set for April 11. Participants will each select a pool of eight teams prior to the tournament and can only play with each club once throughout the tournament. Rounds one and two will be single elimination, and the semifinals and finals will be best-of-three. The other matchups include Young vs. Harrison Barnes, Hassan Whiteside vs. Pat Beverley, Donovan Mitchel vs. Rui Hachimura, Devin Booker vs. Michael Porter Jr., Andre Drummond vs. DeMarcus Cousins, Zach LaVine vs. Deandre Ayton and Montrezl Harrell vs. Domantas Sabonis. The NBA has been shut down since March 11, the night that Utah center Rudy Gobert became the first player in the league to have a positive diagnosis for the virus revealed. The league is still discussing scenarios for resuming play once allowed.
Mickelson ‘working on’ potential rematch with Woods American golfer Phil Mickelson got fans excited in the midst of a virtual halt to live sports by the coronavirus pandemic when he hinted at a rematch with longtime rival Tiger Woods. Mickelson was asked on Twitter about the possibility of a round of golf against Woods being live streamed in the near future, and the left-hander replied here: “Working on it.” When another fan tweeted to Mickelson asking him not to “tease”, the 49-yearold responded: “I don’t tease. I’m kinda a sure thing.” Woods and Mickelson first squared off in an exhibition match under the floodlights at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas in November 2018. Mickelson, whose tally of five major championships is well shy of the 15 held by Woods, ended up winning the match and the $9 million payout on the fourth playoff hole.
Phil Mickelson waits to tee off on the 11th hole during the first round of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course. Last October, Mickelson interaction. said he would be interested in “(The partners) could be playing with Woods again. other athletes, that would bring “I really enjoyed it,” he a certain element, too.” told South China Morning Post. The PGA Tour season “I hope that Tiger and currently remains suspended I will do more events like that until the end of May, while in the future with partners, the Masters and the PGA because we didn’t have enough Championship have both been talking between us and I think postponed over coronavirus that a partner will have more concerns.
Federer wows fans on Twitter with video of trick shots Roger Federer delighted fans by posting a video on Twitter on Tuesday, which shows him executing some trademark trick shots against a wall in the snow. The 20-times Grand Slam champion last played at the semi-finals of the Australian Open, where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic, before undergoing keyhole surgery on his knee in February. He is supposed to return to playing in time for the grasscourt season in June. “Making sure I still remember how to hit trick shots #TennisAtHome,”
Federer tweeted along with the video, which showed the Swiss moving around seamlessly amid snowfall. The video has already garnered over 3.85 million views and shows Federer hitting between-thelegs “tweeners” and behindthe-back shots. The tennis circuit is currently halted with the men’s ATP Tour and the WTA, which runs the women’s circuit, suspending all tournaments until June 7 after countries started Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates after locking down borders to winning the exhibition match against Spain’s contain the coronavirus Rafael Nadal . pandemic.
NFL team owners vote to expand playoffs to 14 teams The NFL is gearing up for a normal season and playoffs — with two additional wild-card teams in the Super Bowl chase. NFL team owners voted Tuesday to expand the playoffs by one team in each conference for a total of 14 next season as they continue to plan for the 2020 season to begin on time. During a conference call to discuss league business after the annual meetings were canceled due to the new coronavirus, the owners also awarded one of those extra games to CBS and one to NBC. Threefourths of the 32 owners needed to approve the change, and the vote was unanimous, football operations chief Troy Vincent said. As for opening the season on Sept. 10 as scheduled, NFL lead counsel Jeff Pash said: “All of our focus has been on a normal traditional season, starting on time, playing before fans in our regular
stadiums and going through our full 16-game regular season and a full playoffs.” That would include the two stadiums still under construction in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, plus international games in England and Mexico. “I expect that international games will be part of our schedule for this year,” Pash added. “We’re optimistic just as we expect conditions in the United States to permit playing a full season that that will be the case for our international partners as well. Obviously, that’s something that we’ll have to work closely with the authorities, public health and other government authorities in those other countries to make sure it’s entirely safe.” Contingencies are being discussed for all potential interruptions caused by the coronavirus. As for the first expansion of
the postseason field since 1990, when the NFL went from 10 qualifiers to 12, only the teams with the best record in the AFC and NFC will get a bye under the new format; the top two teams in each conference skipped wild-card weekend in the past. The seventh seed will play No. 2, the sixth will visit No. 3 and the fifth will be at the fourth seed for wildcard games. Three games are set for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 9-10 — pending the NFL schedule going forward as planned; that schedule likely will be released on May 9, according to Brian Rolapp, the league’s chief media and business officer, to give the NFL “flexibility.” CBS will broadcast one of the new games on Jan. 10 at approximately 4:40 p.m. EST. The game will also be available via live stream on CBS All Access. A separately produced telecast of the game tailored for a younger audience
NFL vice president Troy Vincent speaks to the media during an owners meetings in Key Biscayne, Fla. will air on Nickelodeon. NBC, its new streaming service Peacock and Spanishlanguage Telemundo will broadcast the other new game on Jan. 10 at approximately 8:15 p.m. EST.
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Wimbledon canceled for 1st time since WWII because of virus Wimbledon was canceled on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, the first time since World War II that the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament won’t be played. Britain imposed a nationwide lockdown just over a week ago, and the All England Club announced after a twoday emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. That hadn’t happened since 1945. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club’s grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12. Instead, the next edition of the tournament will be June 28 to July 11, 2021. Also Wednesday, the ATP and WTA announced that the men’s and women’s professional tours would be suspended until at least July 13, bringing the number of elite tennis tournaments affected by the coronavirus to more than 30. The top tours already had been on hold through June 7. Lowerlevel events on the Challenger Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour also are called off through mid-July now. Wimbledon first was held in 1877 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of two stretches: from 1915-18 because of World War I, and from 1940-45 because of World War II. “It has weighed heavily on our minds that the staging of The Championships has only been interrupted previously by World Wars,” club chairman Ian Hewitt said in a press release, “but, following thorough and extensive consideration of all scenarios, we believe that it is a measure of this global crisis that it is ultimately the right decision to cancel this year’s Championships, and instead concentrate on how we can use the breadth of Wimbledon’s resources to help those in our local communities and beyond.” Wimbledon joins the growing list of sports events called off completely in 2020 because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
‘The Last Dance’ look at Jordan’s last title starts April 19
A security guard inside the main gates to Wimbledon as it is announced the the Wimbledon tennis Championships for 2020 has been cancelled due to the coronavirus in London, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. That includes the Tokyo Olympics — which have been pushed back 12 months — and the NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments. Wimbledon is the first major tennis championship wiped out this year because of the coronavirus. The start of the French Open was postponed from late May to late September. Shortly after the news came from Wimbledon, the U.S. Tennis Association issued a statement saying it “still plans to host the U.S. Open as scheduled,” from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 in New York. Wednesday’s decision by the All England Club means Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep will not get a chance to defend their Wimbledon titles from 2019. “We are going through something bigger than tennis and Wimbledon will be back!” Halep wrote on social media. “And it means I have even longer to look forward to defending my title.” Serena Williams retweeted the club’s message about the cancellation and wrote: “I’m Shooked.” The move also takes away what might have been one of Roger Federer’s best chances to try to add to his 20 Grand Slam titles, including a record eight at Wimbledon. Federer, who turns 39 in August, is currently
recovering from knee surgery and planned to return in time for the European grass-court circuit that now has been erased from the calendar. In a statement last week, the All England Club said that postponing the two-week event would not come “without significant risk and difficulty” because of the grass surface. The club also said then that it ruled out “playing behind closed doors” without spectators. Hundreds of thousands of people have caught COVID-19, and thousands have died. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough, but also milder cases of pneumonia, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Regular day-to-day life has come to a halt in many ways in many parts of the world in recent weeks, and sports has reflected that. The NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball are on hold indefinitely; the Kentucky Derby, Masters and Indianapolis 500 were pushed back several months until September; England’s Premier League and other club soccer competitions are currently suspended; the European soccer championship — scheduled to end in London on the same day as the Wimbledon men’s final — was postponed from 2020 to 2021.
NFL plans full season, starting on time A full regular season plus months. For that reason, the without any coronavirus-related league expects to start the 2020 delay is the current expectation of season as scheduled with the Kansas City Chiefs opening Week the NFL for the 2020 season. A schedule is to be 1 on Thursday, Sept. 10. released on or before May 9, which “That’s our expectation. is later than usual but not cause for Am I certain? I’m not certain I’ll be concern, executive vice president here tomorrow. But I’m planning and general counsel Jeff Pash said on it,” Pash said Tuesday. NFL vice president Tuesday. NFL officials said Tuesday Troy Vincent said the league is that all offseason programs have investigating options in the event yet to be canceled. Any further games are delayed. Vincent fielded extension of the executive multiple questions about playing mandate to avoid gatherings of 10 in front of empty stadiums and or more people could jeopardize said the plan is for a “full” and the offseason schedules for all 32 “normal” regular season. teams. Playing without fans is However, the possibility being weighed by the NBA, NHL of a shortened season was not and MLB. discussed Tuesday when owners More pressing is the 2020 approved playoff expansion as NFL Draft, which is being held outlined in the new Collective as scheduled April 23-25 but not Bargaining Agreement. in Las Vegas, which was awarded While the timeline for the the event and had planned for a NBA, NHL and MLB are currently live production including players uncertain during the coronavirus being introduced over the water pandemic, the NFL regular season near the Bellagio fountains. is not scheduled to begin for five- Prospects were invited by Vincent
The NFL logo is pictured on a football at an event in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., November 30, 2017. to participate “live” and other guests, including college coaches, will be added to the studio broadcast. The league is finalizing protocol for picks and the process of a remote draft. Pash said teams could be granted extra time between picks to ensure communication regarding trades can be made to and from all necessary parties.
Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan dunks during the slam-dunk competition of the NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago. The documentary looking at Michael Jordan’s last championship season with the Chicago Bulls is set for release nearly two months sooner than expected with no sports to air due to the coronavirus pandemic. ESPN and Netflix announced on Tuesday that the 10-part documentary series called “The Last Dance” will air next month will run in the U.S. over five consecutive Sunday nights starting April 19 and running through May 17. There will be two hour-long episodes on each of those nights, airing back-to-back at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern. ESPN was originally planning to release the documentary in June, when this season’s NBA Finals were to be played but those plans were accelerated. “April 19th can’t come fast enough. I CAN NOT WAIT!!” Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James tweeted upon hearing news of the series’ long-awaited release. The series will include never-before-seen footage from that season, one where the team chased its sixth championship in a span of eight years. “As society navigates this time without live sports, viewers are still looking to the sports world to escape and enjoy a collective experience,” ESPN said in a statement. “We’ve heard the calls from fans asking us to move up the release date for this series, and we’re happy to announce that we’ve been able to accelerate the production schedule to do just that.” The documentary is nearly a quarter-century in the making. It was born in the fall of 1997 when Jordan, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and coach Phil Jackson allowed an NBA Entertainment film crew permission to follow the team all season. ESPN said the series includes “extensive profiles of Jordan’s key teammates including Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Steve Kerr,” along with Jackson. “Michael Jordan and the ’90s Bulls weren’t just sports superstars, they were a global phenomenon,” said Jason Hehir, who directed the series. “... For nearly three years, we searched far and wide to present the definitive story of an era-defining dynasty and to present these sports heroes as humans.” The series will air in the U.S. on ESPN and internationally on Netflix. Subscribers on Netflix can view two new episodes on each Monday from April 20 through May 18, all of them dropping those days at 3:01 a.m. Eastern time.
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