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VOLUME:118 No.28, JANUARY 4, 2021
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Queen’s top honour for doctor leading our fight to combat COVID crisis By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net MORE than two dozen Bahamians have been recognised in Queen Elizabeth’s 2021 New Year’s Honours list for their outstanding service to the country, with health consultant Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis leading the list. The 2021 list celebrates 24 Bahamians from diverse backgrounds who have made significant contributions to various sectors in the country. Topping the special list was Dr Dahl-Regis, who was selected for Companion of Most Excellent Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) for her services to public and community health.
According to a Pan American Health Organisation biography, Dr Dahl-Regis was one of the first women to graduate in medicine in The Bahamas during the 1960s. She is credited as spearheading several ground-breaking health initiatives in the region and in 2010, she was appointed to lead PAHO’s International Expert Committee (IEC) for verification of the elimination of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Dahl-Regis has played a key role in the country’s national response, putting in place strategies, policies and procedures to help manage the health crisis.
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE US Coast Guard has suspended its search for a boat that left The Bahamas last week with 20 people on board, but failed to arrive at its planned destination in South Florida a day later. In a statement released on January 1, the American officials said they called off the search after rescue teams had covered 17,000 square miles over the course of 84 hours in search of the blue and white 29-foot Mako Cuddy Cabin vessel that may have been trying to smuggle people into the US. SEE PAGE FIVE
SEE PAGE TWO
LOW BOOKING SETBACK TAKES TOLL AT ATLANTIS By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
ATLANTIS last night confirmed it has had to place multiple workers back on temporary furlough with effect from today due to “unfavourable occupancy forecasts” for January 2021. The Paradise Island mega resort, in response to Tribune Business inquiries, said “the lack of adequate airlift” and surge in COVID-19 infections in key US source markets were “compounding factors” that had forced it to return some of the 2,500 staff it recalled for December’s opening to furlough status.
BUSINESSES’ FURY FORCE DELAY FOR NEW RULES
This newspaper has obtained a message sent by Horatio McKenzie, the Atlantis executive director for human resources with responsibility for food and beverage workers, warning staff that some will had be placed back on temporary lay-off with effect from today. “As you know, the effects of the global pandemic in our major markets have continued to have an effect on our hotel operations,” Mr McKenzie wrote. “In this regard, our occupancy percentages for January are not forecast to be favourable.
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
DR MERCELINE DAHL-REGIS, who has been named a Companion of the Most Excellent Order of Saint Michael and Saint George.
FIVE DEAD AS NEW YEAR ROLLS IN By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net AN 18-year-old woman was shot and killed at her home in Abaco on Sunday afternoon in an incident that also left her younger brother in hospital. While the victim’s identity was not released by police, close friends and relatives have identified her as 18-year-old Jilny Flereume, a Bahamian of Haitian
JILNY FLEREUME descent. She is the second person to be killed so far this year
and was fatally wounded in the Farm Road shanty town in Treasure Cay, Abaco. This is also the fourth fatality over New Year, with two men killed on New Year’s Eve, and another man shot dead on New Year’s Day. As The Tribune was going to press, there were reports of another murder, with a man shot dead in White’s Addition, in the Kemp Road area. SEE PAGE THREE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
THE Government made an abrupt about-turn within 48 hours in extending the deadline for corporate Bahamas to comply with “substance reporting” demands by one month to the end of January. Marlon Johnson, the Ministry of Finance’s acting financial secretary, confirmed the extension just two days after he informed this newspaper “there are no plans” to give thousands of businesses more time. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
Insight OUR ONLY WAY BACK TO THE LIFE WE KNEW
SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Monday, January 4, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Queen’s top honour for doctor leading our fight to combat COVID crisis from page one While she is no longer heading the COVID-19 task force team, she still serves as special consultant to the Office of the Prime Minister. Named Commanders of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) are James Mitchell Pinder for service to politics and business and Walter Wells for services to business and industry. Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Wells, president and CEO of Caribbean Bottling Company, said he was both surprised and humbled to learn he would be awarded the special recognition. “I was pretty surprised and obviously very humbled by the thought that someone would want to recognise me,” he said. “It would’ve been a matter of a couple of weeks that I was asked about it and so it’s not like I knew this was going to happen in September. “Certainly, I don’t think and I think most people don’t go through life expecting that someone is going to come along and pat you on the back and say ‘well done, my good and faithful friend of service’ so it was very much a pleasant surprise and obviously very humbling that someone would take the time to consider recognising me.” He also said the recognition serves as a great start for him in the 2021 new year.
Also receiving special distinction was Dr Charles William Diggiss, Fredrik Gottlieb and Jeffrey Williams, Bahamas ambassador to the Republic of Haiti. The three men were named Officers of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). Meanwhile, those named Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) include Charlotte Joanne Albury, Jason Matthew Albury, Reverend Remelda Carey, Captain Whitfield Neely, Grover Martin Pinder, Ruban Roberts and Chad Wilson Sawyer. For the British Empire Medal (BEM) honour, five women and four men received the award. These include Laura Benson for services to religion and community activities, Jeanette Davis for service to the community, Etienne Farquharson for services to business and community involvement; Chenena Gibson for service to politics and civil involvement; Neca Cecilia Knowles for services to business; Linda Mae Sands for services to community involvement; Gabriel Styles for religious work; Boynell Williams for services to community and Kenneth Robert Wood for services to business and politics. Awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for their services to the Royal Bahamas Police Force are Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashton Greenslade and Assistant Commissioner Loretta Mackey.
WALTER WELLS, who has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours.
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, January 4, 2021, PAGE 3
FIVE DEAD AS NEW YEAR ROLLS IN from page one
There were no further details of the White’s Addition shooting at the time of going to press. In the Abaco incident, police said shortly after 1pm, officers were called to a home in the community where they discovered a woman with apparent gunshot injuries to her head. Police added a male also received gunshot wounds to the body during yesterday’s incident and listed him in serious condition.
The Tribune understands that the victim is Jilney’s younger brother, aged 13. A man has since been arrested in connection to the incident. Police said: “Officers upon making further enquiries and following a significant lead, arrested a male suspect in the Murphy Town area, who is known to the victim. Officers upon searching the male also recovered a .9mm Smith and Wesson pistol with 38 rounds of ammunition.” According to wellplaced sources, the killer
is suspected to be the boyfriend of one of Flereume’s female relatives. Sources also said the incident came after an argument reportedly ensued between Flereume’s relative and her boyfriend. However, no details were provided by police. In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Alexis Denoye, a long time friend of the deceased teen, described her as a quiet spirit. “She was quiet, she didn’t say much but when you got to know her she
was very funny,” Ms Denoye said. “She just recently graduated from high school last year, Sherlin C Bootle. I’ve been friends with her since they moved into the neighbourhood five years ago and from then, I used to be by their house every day until after the storm when I moved back into Marsh Harbour….l m still in shock over the news.” News of Flereume’s untimely death also elicited a reaction from Bahamians on social media, with many calling
for an end to gun violence against women. Non-profit organisation Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM) said: “This madness has to stop. Women are treasures God put on this earth. Condolences and prayers are offered to the family and friends.” Sunday’s killing follows the murder of a Stapledon School physical education teacher, who was found dead in one of the classrooms on Friday, becoming the nation’s first murder victim for 2021.
However, it marks the first homicide for the Abaco community for the year. It also comes days after a single mother of seven was found dead following a suspected domestic dispute on the island. According to a relative, Angeleta Pritchard, who had just turned 36 on Christmas Day, was beaten to death in front of her four-month-old child at her home on Boxing Day. At last report from police, a man was in police custody, assisting with the investigation.
‘BROTHER’S DEATH LEAVES US HEARTBROKEN’ By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE sister of the teacher who was found dead in a classroom of a local government school on New Year’s Day said the news of his death has left their family shocked and heartbroken. On Friday, the body of a man was found lying in a pool of blood with apparent gunshot wounds in one of the northwestern classrooms of Stapledon School. While police have not identified the victim as yet, family members say he is 62-year-old Andrew Valdez, a physical education teacher at the special needs institution. Valdez’s death was the first murder of the year. A relative is said to be helping police with the investigation. Speaking to reporters at the scene of the incident, police press liaison officer Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters, said they received reports regarding the lifeless body of a male on the school’s premises
shortly before noon on January 1. “On their arrival, police were directed to a northwestern room where they found the body of a male lying in a pool of blood,” he said. “Emergency Medical Services were summoned and upon their examination of the body, they pronounced (the victim) dead.” ASP Peters said police are appealing to members of the public who may have any information regarding the incident to contact the nearest police station. He also said officials are currently following a “significant lead” that could possibly lead to the closure of the matter as early as this week. Yesterday, Valdez’s sister, Kim Stubbs, told The Tribune while the news of her brother’s death came as a “complete shock” to their family, they are comforted by the fact that police are questioning one of Valdez’s family members in connection with the matter. “Everybody is doing well after we heard that
they already have somebody in custody,” she told this newspaper. “I wouldn’t say his death was (a) targeted (attack) or a robbery, but they have one of his family members in custody already. The person is related to Andrew through his father.” Mrs Stubbs said she heard that a woman was involved in the incident, but said she wasn’t sure if Valdez’s death was the result of a bitter love triangle gone wrong. “Everybody’s coming along, we’re getting there and we’re getting better every day,” she said. “It’s just my mummy now who’s taking the news hard because she’s very old. She’s 83 and those two were very close, so what happened to him really left her heartbroken and shaken up.” Mrs Stubbs said Valdez was a coach at Stapledon School who lived in a “little apartment’’ on campus since he also worked as a security guard for the institution. She said she and her
daughter received the news of his death from his best friend. “His friend was on the phone when he came here and he asked us ‘Did y’all get the news as yet?’ So my daughter and I kept looking at him like ‘What news?’ “So he told her because he knew me and Andrew had a close bond and after he told my daughter, she told me. He said Andrew was the one they found in a pool of blood at the school. After that, we jumped in the car to go there, but after we got there, they said my brother’s body had already been removed.” Mrs Stubbs said despite the tragic way Valdez passed, his family will always remember him for his “goofy” personality. “He was the biggest and the sweetest brother,” she said. “And I’ll always remember the laughter and giggles we would get from him because he was just a clown. Andrew was kindhearted, loving and very, very smart -one of the most genuine people you could find on earth.”
ANDREW VALDEZ
COACH SPEAKS OUT OVER NEW YEAR KILLINGS By FARRAH JOHNSON And BRENT STUBBS Tribune Staff Reporters
POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding two shootings that claimed the lives of two men in separate incidents on New Year’s Eve. In the first incident, police said shortly after
8pm they received reports of gunshots being fired from a yard on Wilson Track. When officers arrived at the scene they were told a man was sitting at the back of his residence when he was approached by another man who shot him. The victim was taken to hospital in a private vehicle, but died of his injuries.
MAN SHOT DEAD HOURS AFTER DOUBLE MURDER By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was shot dead on Wednesday night just hours after a double homicide in the Pitt Road area. The Tribune understands the victim is Anthony Jennings aka “Bill”. Police said they received reports of a shooting after 10pm Wednesday on Malta Street and Guyana Court. The victim, after being shot, ran to a nearby residence for help. He was taken to hospital in a private vehicle, where he later died from his injuries. In September 2016, Jennings, then a Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer, was brought before Magistrate Constance Delancy on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition. According to a Tribune report at the time, the allegations stemmed from an alleged argument that occurred on September 25. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Then in December 2017, he and another man were arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court on firearm and ammunition related charges. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges. On Thursday, there was an outpouring of grief from family members and friends posting about Jennings. A woman who referred to the deceased as her nephew showed a picture of his Associate of Arts Degree in Law and Criminal Justice Studies.
ANTHONY JENNINGS The caption read: “My nephew ran a mobile car wash, worked in my store full time and still managed to go to school and earn his degrees. All he ever wanted was to be a lawyer.” This death came after a Wednesday morning shooting on Pitt Road. Assistant Commissioner Solomon Cash said police received a call of a shooting incident shortly after 7.30am and officers arriving on the scene discovered the bodies of two men. The victims were identified by relatives as Calvin Archer, 32, and Amal Hunter, 33. ACP Cash added one of the victims was suspected of being involved in gang activities and also small drug peddling. Hunter had been charged for murder in the past. Archer’s family, however, said he was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, and had just left his house to visit his child. Anyone with information on these shootings or any other crime is asked to call police at 919, 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477).
In the second incident, police said they were alerted by a Shot Spotter alert near Rupert Dean Lane off Poinciana Drive shortly after 8pm. While officers have not identified the victim, family members say he is 18-yearold Hollis Aranha. “Inquiries revealed that a male was shot several times about the body,” police reported. “He was transported to the hospital by a private vehicle and later succumbed to his injuries. Investigations into this matter continue.” A veteran basketball coach who said he recently spoke with the young teen about turning his life around before his murder, called on young men to cease the violence against each other. His comments came after watching a series of attacks over the past several months, especially in Bain and Grants Town.
WAYDE WATSON Wayde Watson, who has served as a mentor and community builder, said: “New Year’s Day is not as celebrated as it could be for families of the many young men of the Bain and Grants Town community who have lost their lives to gun violence. “As a coach, mentor and community leader in Bain and Grants Town, my heart is heavy and I am grieving
because too many young lives are being lost to senseless violence.” Mr Watson, a former assistant on the men’s national basketball team, has coached at all levels, winning three titles in the New Providence Basketball Association, a silver and bronze in the Bahamas Basketball Federation, eight in the Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association and three in primary school. But he said in all of his interactions with the community, one that stands out is a conversation he had with young Aranha before he was murdered, who told him that he was interested in doing something positive with his life. “Here was a young man, cognizant of his past failings, yet in the face of mounting obstacles still found the courage to pursue being a better person,” Mr Watson said. “And I vowed
to help him. Now it is too late. Today, he is gone.” Mr Watson said he is constantly reminded of the adage that “young men are called because they are strong,” but old men are to lead them. “We need our young men to build and rebuild our country, to lead, provide and be shining examples for their children,” he said. “However, this quest is being challenged as too many, 70+ this year, of our young men are dead as a result of violent crimes. “I am asking our young men to please put down the guns and seek other means to resolve their differences.” Mr Watson, who has also worked diligently with the CC Sweeting Cobras’ senior boys’ basketball team, extended his condolences to the families who have lost young men and is praying that God will strengthen them in their hour of bereavement.
PAGE 4, Monday, January 4, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
‘Highly likely’ new strain will reach The Bahamas By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A LOCAL infectious disease expert believes it is “highly likely” the new variant of COVID-19 already detected in some 33 countries will reach Bahamian shores. Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme at the Ministry of Health, Dr Nikkiah Forbes told The Tribune that as far as she is aware, The Bahamas has not yet identified the new variant in the country, but officials are actively monitoring the situation. This comes after Florida last week recorded its first case of the more contagious coronavirus variant, becoming the third US state to detect the new infection.
More than 30 countries have detected the new variant to date, which was first spotted in the UK. Yesterday, Dr Forbes said while the situation is concerning, it’s also only a matter of time before the country sees the new strain, especially with people still travelling. “Well, as far as I know, we haven’t recorded any new cases of the variant at this time but as we can see, COVID-19 itself is a perfect example of how quickly these viruses that are highly transmissible can be found in other countries and can be spread in other countries,” she said. “There are 33 countries at least that have recorded cases and with travel, definitely it is a concern to all countries. It’s highly likely that this new strain is going
to branch off to other countries, including The Bahamas. “So, as we currently said, it appears to be more transmissible, it accounts for about 60 percent of cases in London after the first cases were identified in the United Kingdom and there’s more of it in the upper airways and respiratory tract than other strains, but it’s not more deadly and it’s likely the vaccine is going to work.” Asked what sort of measures might be taken by health officials if the country were to detect the new strain, Dr Forbes said officials will use the same preventative strategies being utilised to prevent community transmission. “The good thing is the public health measures are going to be useful to
prevent transmission and so, first and foremost, we have to stress following the public health measures – that is mask wearing, not touching our faces, avoiding crowds and closed spaces and definitely we would have to ensure that we have capacity,” she said. “We know that there was increased hospital capacity in our last surge but it’s going to be very important when we look at preventive strategies to prevent transmission and again contact tracing, isolation to try and mitigate a surge related to this new more transmissible strain.” While several countries have already placed border restrictions on the UK since the new strain was reported, Health Minister Wells said The Bahamas does not plan to follow suit
at this current time. “We’re not seeking to close our borders again as a country,” he said last week. “The Prime Minister has spoken that we’re in a phase where we’re seeking to keep the economy open and keep the Bahamian people working and doing what we need to as a Ministry of Health, as a government, as a competent authority…” This comes as the country continues to see low COVID-19 numbers, with only 15 cases reported on Saturday – pushing the nation’s total to 7,914. Friday saw even fewer new infections being reported, with 12 recorded in total. Eight of those are located on New Providence, two on Grand Bahama, one on Abaco and one on San Salvador. COVID deaths,
however, have increased to 175. Dr Forbes said officials are anxiously waiting until mid-January to see if holiday celebrations will lead to an uptick in COVID-19 cases. She said: “So, absolutely we’re going to know within two to three weeks, it’s usually about one to two incubation periods where we know if an event has led to an increase or an uptick in cases.” Jamaica is among countries that have placed restrictions on travel from the UK in response to the new strain. That nation’s travel ban on the UK is set to end on January 31. The strain has been detected in Jamaica, however the island nation has more relaxed travel measures than The Bahamas.
ZNS ENGINEER DIES AFTER WEEK-LONG FIGHT WITH COVID By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
AFTER more than a week-long fight with COVID-19, ZNS technical engineer Valentino Obainyear died Thursday morning at the age of 62. His death comes a day after he spoke to The Tribune from his hospital bed, detailing his experience with the deadly virus. Obainyear said he tested positive for the virus on Christmas Eve, a situation that forced him to spend Christmas alone, away from his family for the first time in his life. “I was diagnosed last week, it was the day before Christmas,” he told this newspaper on Wednesday morning. “What happened was I thought it was just a regular cold and the feeling gone and you be back to normal, but I didn’t know it was COVID. I had to go to the hospital and they did the test and said ‘you have COVID.’” Obainyear was determined to win his battle with COVID-19 and have a successful recovery, even crediting his family and friends for helping him to keep a positive attitude during his time in hospital. However, the New Providence resident died the following morning after his interview with The Tribune. Obainyear, who served as technical engineer for the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas for
over 20 years, was remembered as a man who was devoted to his job and had a positive impact on all he met. “It breaks our hearts. Valentino was dedicated to his job, his profession,” said Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas General Manager Kayleaser Deveaux-Isaacs. “He was a good person. He was a person who loved sharing his talents. He loved to train youngsters. He always gave encouraging words and we’re going to miss him. “I’m still in a little shock, I have to say, but we’re grateful for the time that we’ve spent with him and shared his life with us here at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas and again, it’s been a rough couple of years but we will celebrate all that he’s contributed to the corporation over the years.” Tributes also poured out on social media by close family members and friends, who said he will be greatly missed. His daughter, Nikish Humes posted on Facebook: “My daddy left me this morning. I love you Valentino Obainyear.” Meanwhile, Fort Charlotte MP Mark Humes wrote: “What a tragedy to lose such a great gentleman like Mr Valentino Obainyear, my old media colleague and colleague at the House of Assembly. What a time in life we are in. Sincerest condolences to his daughter, Nikish, and the entire family on your sudden loss.”
The Kingdor National Parkinson Foundation, a non-profit organisation that Obainyear was a member of, also sent condolences. “Valentino was a very dedicated and hardworking member of the organisation. He was willing to lend his talents and his influence in the media business to help the foundation wherever he could have. He was a truly wellmannered gentleman whom we all loved. He will be greatly missed.” Before his untimely death, Obainyear issued an appeal for Bahamians to take the virus seriously. He said: “You have to take this COVID very, very seriously. A lot of people look around and feel as though it wouldn’t happen to them, it will happen to other people. But this COVID is real and it will attack you. “A lot of people talking (negative) about the vaccine saying the vaccine this and the vaccine that, but it’s not until you get it that you’d wish you had it.” Obainyear leaves behind a wife and several children. As of Wednesday, COVID-19 cases stood at 7,871 after an additional 14 cases were recorded. Of those cases, 1,416 are still active. According to official reports there have also been 170 virus related deaths, with 20 still under investigation. Obainyear’s death had not been added to the official tally up to press time.
VALENTINO OBAINYEAR
FIRST CASES IN SAN SALVADOR
SAN Salvador residents are on alert after the tiny island recorded its first two cases of COVID-19 over the weekend. Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Shon Smith, a resident in the community, called the cases concerning. He said before the island recorded its first case, most residents there were taking the COVID-19 threat seriously. However, as more months went by with the island being essentially COVID-19 free, he said some locals began to take more liberties and become more relaxed with the rules. “In some cases, the stores and businesses, they’ve taken the precautions of putting the safety measures in place like hand sanitizations, wearing of the masks, social distancing, those were in place but you know as residents, they get relaxed and the trend from time to time to not abide by (the rules).” With COVID-19 now hitting directly at home, Mr
Smith said locals are all now on high alert. He said the situation also applies for him and his family of four. “We are on high alert. We are taking the precautions,” he said. “We were concerned about it since we’ve first got word of it because everything’s got taken into high gear now even though we’ve been keeping precautions prior. It’s just now that we’re going to be putting more strain to abide by the rules and safety measures.” San Salvador resident Eunice Lightfoot added: “I am concerned and I hope it wouldn’t be anymore. I never used to go around people, but I plan to stay home more.” Another resident, Trevor Knowles also expressed some concern about the island’s COVID status, but noted the situation is not worth panicking over as the coronavirus cases are being reported worldwide. He said: “It’s no use to panic because COVID is all over the world now. There’s some concern but
everyone is just trying to protect themselves and wear their masks and wash their hands. “They are more on guard now because everyone is trying to protect themselves. It could be more cases, but I think the clinic is doing a good job testing people to ensure that everyone is safe.” The Tribune was told the island’s first case had a recent travel history. However, it is not clear whether the second confirmed case is a contact of the first. As of Saturday, total COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 7,914, with 1,448 of those active cases. The nation’s death count has also risen to 175 after four Grand Bahamians whose deaths were under investigation were concluded to be a result of COVID-19. Islands that have yet to record a confirmed case include Ragged Island, Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, Long Cay, Chub Cay, and Rum Cay, according to health officials.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, January 4, 2021, PAGE 5
Schools open? Why not tell the teaching union? BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson has accused education officials of not communicating about today’s reopening of schools. In a press release issued by the Ministry of Education on Thursday, officials announced that public schools will resume instruction today and that teachers are to report to work. In response, Mrs Wilson accused the ministry of not adhering to both parties’ industrial agreement and said her members will “not hesitate” to exercise their rights if needed. “I am convinced that the Ministry of Education has decided that they will not adhere to the industrial agreement which promotes industrial goodwill and harmony,” she said in a voice note released shortly after the ministry’s statement. “They have refused to follow agreed procedures and they negate the fact that they must consult. At the ninth hour, a press release was sent out stating that teachers are expected to return to school on Monday.” She said the union only wants education officials to communicate and consult, adding teachers have expectations of their employer, such as timely information and a safe, clean working environment. She referred to the “concerning” new strain of coronavirus that was spreading around the world which is said to be more contagious and which children may be more susceptible to catching. She said BUT wants
BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson at a previous press conference. to know if internet ser- the 14-day incubation our rights to ensure that vices and access have been period after the Christ- teachers and students are updated at all schools, mas holiday to see if protected in the workshe questioned where COVID-19 numbers will place and the learning are the laptops for teach- increase?” environment.” ers and if any changes had She said teachers have In its statement, the been made to school cur- endured a lot and exer- Ministry of Education said riculum since March 2020 cised much restraint in all government schools when school closures were 2020, but added teachers will reopen for instruction first announced due to have “rights” they will “not today, however students on COVID-19. hesitate” to exercise if the four islands, including New She also asked: “Did the Ministry of Education does Providence will not report Ministry of Health give not adhere to its industrial to school yet for face-tothe all-clear for schools agreement. face instruction. to open, based on what “If you do not follow the “Due to the current metrics? Based on what rules, then we will have no Emergency Powers Orders, information? What about other choice but to exercise students on the islands of
New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma will not report to a school site, but will log in to their school via the Department of Education’s virtual learning platform to attend school virtually. Students on the other islands will report to their school campus for face-to-face instruction,” a press release from the Ministry of Education said. “All school-based staff (i e teachers, school administrators and support staff) including those posted on
the islands of New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma, are expected to report to their school campus unless otherwise permitted by their principal.” In December, Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd told reporters it was possible face-to-face learning in public schools would resume in February. At the time, he said his ministry is working with the Ministry of Health to chart the way forward.
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A 29FT Mako Cuddy Cabin vessel similar to the one that went missing.
20 FEARED LOST AFTER SEARCH IS ABANDONED from page one
Last Monday, the boat set off from Bimini, but the Coast Guard District Seven Watchstanders received a report a day later informing them the vessel did not arrive in Florida as expected. Although officials have not identified any of the passengers, some 20 people were believed to be on board the boat. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the missing people,” Captain Stephen V Burdian, Seventh District Chief of Response, said in the
statement. “I encourage anyone with information about the people aboard to contact us as soon as possible.” The search was a joint effort between the US Coast Guard air and sea crews, the Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association. On Saturday, Chris Lloyd, an operations manager from BASRA, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel there were several factors that suggested the vessel may have been involved in a smuggling operation and had either
“evaded detection” or was overturned in rough waters. “It left Grand Bahama, we understand, with 10 people and went to Bimini and picked up more people and, already, 10 people is over capacity for that boat,” he told the publication. “To go to Bimini is totally the opposite direction of going to Lake Worth, so the purpose of going to Bimini is to pick up more people.” Mr Lloyd said weather conditions were also extremely poor when the vessel set sail. “It was awful, awful, awful weather with no boating whatsoever. When you’re overloaded and the
conditions are like that, things can happen terribly quickly.” Mr Lloyd, who told the publication his association regularly communicates with marine officials, said smugglers would opt to go to Lake Worth Beach because they believe there would be fewer law enforcement patrols in Boynton Beach or West Palm Beach compared with busier inlets in Broward or Miami-Dade counties. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the Mako Cuddy Cabin vessel to contact the District Seven Command Centre at 1-305-415-6800.
PAGE 6, Monday, January 4, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
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Dr Dahl-Regis deserves her honour IN Thursday’s Tribune, our columnist, Front Porch Simon paid tribute to the “expert, clear and steady leadership” provided by Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis as he hailed her as his person of the year. As the New Year ticked in, so it was revealed that her efforts in the fight against COVID-19 have been recognised by Queen Elizabeth, giving her the top honour in the list of Bahamians to be named in the New Year’s Honours list. Dr Dahl-Regis has been named a Companion of the Most Excellent Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) for her services to public and community health. Dr Dahl-Regis might not have expected to make such a public return to the stage at this time last year. But as COVID-19 spread, so her country called on her – and the honour is a reward for the efforts she has put in as a consultant during this, one of the worst times our country has ever endured. At first, she led the COVID-19 task force, later serving as a consultant to the Office of the Prime Minister. She had a hand in many areas of the response, including the contact tracing and testing. There were times when the Press might have sought more from her at briefings, but one thing is true – there was always a clear and steady message while she was at the helm about measures people could take to stay healthy and avoid catching COVID-19. The course The Bahamas has charted has not always been true, and mistakes have perhaps been made along the way, but we have been better for having Dr Dahl-Regis at our side. There are few nations the world over who have not put a foot wrong – but it’s not how you stumble, it’s how you pick up and carry on. We now, thankfully, have fairly low numbers of cases at present, and that is down to the efforts of medics, experts – and Dr Dahl-Regis. It is thanks, too, to the efforts of Bahamians the nation over in abiding by advice on how to protect ourselves and
those we love by keeping our distance, washing hands and wearing masks. This journey is far from over – and there is a risk of a new, more infectious strain too as we wait for vaccinations. Just as Dr Dahl-Regis has done us proud, and received her recognition accordingly, let us now do her proud, and keep doing all we can to keep those numbers low. Well done, Dr Dahl-Regis.
The price of life
Sometimes, it seems as if we treat life too cheaply. Last Monday, a boat set off from Bimini heading to Florida. It never made it. The US Coast Guard has now suspended its search for a boat thought to have 20 people on board. As you can read in today’s Tribune, prayers were sent to the families of the missing by a Coast Guard captain. Notably absent is any comment from our nation’s leadership. No call for prayers from our religious leaders, no comment from our political leaders. Twenty people gone, and the silence is deafening. An operations manager from BASRA suggested that this may have been a people smuggling operation – but whoever the people on the boat were, we should still mourn their loss. We should still acknowledge the weight of the loss of 20 people. We should grieve, pray – and then redouble our efforts to stop human smuggling operations. Cases such as this should not just be dismissed and forgotten. But will it? Will we see our leadership speak up? We shall see. The price of human life should not depend on who the person is or where they came from, on what it says in their passport or whether they have the appropriate documentation. Twenty people are likely dead. We should pray for those lost souls – and we should act to prevent losing more.
A legend we have lost EDITOR, The Tribune. OUR life journeys are seasoned with “Legends”. Yes, those special individuals who leave behind unforgettable impressions and meaningfully impact the lives of others. On Christmas Eve 2020, St. Augustine’s College (SAC) and The Bahamas lost a legend in every sense of the word – retired educator, the late Charles Martin Lashley. Through the medium of education and the world of English Language and Literature, he awakened the intellect and pushed the minds of so many young Bahamians. There are teachers and then there are legends like Charles Lashley – everyone’s favorite teacher, tough and demanding, yet inspiring. As a former student of his, I am privileged and grateful for the life lessons taught. With his unique sense of humor and calm demeanor he challenged all of his students to maximize their potential. He did not settle for mediocrity and grades were not given lightly. To this day I can recall receiving back my first
CHARLES LASHLEY essay assignment from Mr Lashley. I thought it was an excellent piece of work. He, however, thought otherwise and graded me a D+ (which was uncharacteristic of me). That experience was humbling and despite how good of a student I may have thought I was, I had so much more potential to be realized with hard work. During the remainder of my two years as a student of the late Charles Lashley, I dedicated an incredible amount of time
and effort to each assignment proofreading, restructuring, rewording and revising. My classmates and I would spend hours on the telephone, reading and critiquing each other’s work to meet the ‘Lashley Standard’. I rightfully earned every good grade thereafter. Life lesson learned! Undoubtedly, he brought out the best possible writer in each of his students. In retrospect, he prepared us to excel at university and/or professionally, setting us apart from others. There are countless Charles Lashley stories similar to mine. He remained special, even though I had not spoken to or seen him in a while. SAC is a better school because of dedicated teaching legends like Charles Lashley. The Bahamas is a better place because of his work, passion and love. In his honour, may we, his former students never forget that the F word is FOCUS! May he rest in peace. E. ANDREW EDWARDS Nassau, January 3, 2021
Drilling our own destruction EDITOR, The Tribune. THERE are three key points that need to be understood which negate any support for oil drilling in Bahamian waters: Emission of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels increases global average temperatures; the more we emit, the higher temperatures increase. Human actions have already caused 1C of global warming which has already resulted in impacts such as the historic Hurricane Dorian. If global warming exceeds 1.5C, small island states, particularly lowlying archipelagic states like The Bahamas, are at risk to a plethora of climate impacts that threaten our very existence. Permanent flooding of land, more intense hurricanes, loss of fisheries, reduced prospects for agriculture and reductions in tourism are all significant risks that come along with higher global average temperatures. Small island states have been fighting in the international arena at the United Nations to limit global average warming to 1.5C. In order to do this, all nations – including small islands – must sharply cut their emissions as soon as possible and commit to being carbon neutral. As a small island state that is amongst the most vulnerable nations in the world to climate change, The Bahamas facilitating oil drilling contributes to our own destruction. This
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net is akin to being in a sinking ship and begging others for help while simultaneously burning our flotation vests and drilling holes in the hull. Just last year, we saw the extreme devastation that Hurricane Dorian wrecked in our islands. The historic storm was an example of the increased intensity of hurricanes that are caused by climate change. The scale and devastation of Hurricane Dorian are more extensive than any previously experienced by Bahamians, and sadly are unlikely to be the last of these events. At the United Nations General Assembly, one month after Dorian, the Prime Minister stated: “I add my urgent plea to the cries and voices of many other leaders and citizens of the global commons, urging the nations of the world here assembled to treat the global climate emergency as the greatest challenge facing humanity….It is a challenge that, if not treated with the greatest urgency, will continue to ravage small island states, such as The Bahamas.” So the Bahamian government is well aware of the dire implications of climate change for our islands. They are well aware of the urgent need to act. And yet they seemingly have no power or desire to stop drilling. Fighting against climate
change is not only an act for other countries, it is something that we must also take part in. We have the opportunity to either contribute to a future where Bahamians have a chance of survival, or contribute to a future where it will be increasingly unlikely that The Bahamas will be a viable country to live in. The actions that we take have implications for generations of Bahamians to come. The short term and tenuous opportunities for some financial gain from drilling cannot compare to the long-term impacts that stem from this decision. The Bahamas has long touted that we are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, and yet are least responsible for causing it. However, proceeding with drilling negates this claim. We will be knowingly contributing to our own demise. We cannot ask United Nations and other countries for help when climate impacts occur when we are active contributors to the problem. We have also shown that we are unable to respond to these impacts on our own. We must therefore, stop the pursuit of oil in our waters and commit to addressing climate change not just in words, but in actions. DR ADELLE THOMAS CASUARINA McKINNEY-LAMBERT DR LISA BENJAMIN Nassau, December 31, 2020.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, January 4, 2021, PAGE 7
POLICE FORCE HOLDS CHURCH SERVICE Jailed for 15 months for loaded firearm By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 32-YEAR-OLD man who was found with an unlicensed firearm was sentenced to 15 months behind bars on Thursday. Prince Atherley was arrested after officers found a loaded 9mm pistol in his waistband on December 30. He pleaded guilty to possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal ammunition during a hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes. The court was told that that night, officers on mobile patrol near Cambridge Street observed Atherley sitting in a car. The prosecution said the accused appeared to look in the direction of the officers before acting in a suspicious manner. Officers then approached Atherley and told him he would be searched for dangerous drugs and firearms. During their investigation, they discovered the weapon,
which had eight unfired rounds of .9mm ammunition in it. Atherley was subsequently arrested and taken to the Central Detective Unit where he admitted to the offences in an interview with police. When questioned during the hearing, Atherley told the magistrate he could not give a reason to justify why he had the gun. He insisted it was his first time making the mistake and “promised” it would also be his last. In response, Magistrate Forbes told him that handguns were an offensive weapon which meant that if he had pointed it at someone and pulled the trigger, he would not be in control of what happened next. He also noted that the country had developed a violent culture specifically related to weapons that should not be in the hands of average citizens. As a result, he sentenced Atherley to 15 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
MAN IS ACCUSED OF DEFRAUDING VICTIMS By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 41-YEAR-OLD man who denied defrauding two other men of thousands of dollars was on Thursday granted bail ahead of his trial. Tomeko Bannister, also known as Tomeko Christie, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes charged with 14 fraud related matters, which the prosecution alleged he committed between May 2019 and December of this year. During the arraignment, Bannister was charged with seven counts of fraud by false pretences, four counts of acquisition of the proceeds of criminal conduct, two counts of deceiving a public officer and a single count of concealing the proceeds of criminal conduct. It is alleged the accused unlawfully obtained $5,300 from Jeffrey Deveaux on October 12, 2019. It
is further alleged that he defrauded the man of another $6,100 and $4,000 on October 15 and 16 of that same year. Bannister is also accused of defrauding Frederick Cargill of $17,000, which the prosecution believed he illegally obtained through a Fidelity Bank cheque in July 2019. He is also accused of unlawfully obtaining another $4,000 and $3,600 from Mr Cargill, which he was alleged to have stolen between May 2019 and January 2020. The prosecution said the accused also endeavoured to deceive two police officers to evade the requirements of the law on December 29. On Thursday, Bannister pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and his case was adjourned to March 31, 2021 for trial. In the interim, the accused, who is represented by attorney Jomo Campbell, was granted $9,000 bail.
TWO HELD OVER GUN FIND By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were arrested for possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition following a search by police of a residence in the Eight Mile Rock area. According to reports, sometime after 2am on December 31, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department went to a residence in Simple Village, Martin Town. While there, officers
searched the residence and discovered a .40 Glock pistol, with four live rounds of ammunition. Two men who live at the residence were arrested and taken into custody. In another matter, shortly after 6pm on December 31, officers of the Southwestern Division were in the area of Arden Forrest Road where they searched nearby bushes and uncovered a 9mm pistol. No arrest was made in that matter.
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THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force held its annual church service to commemorate the new year, with Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and National Security Minister Marvin Dames among those in attendance. Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
A season of goodwill you can’t be serious By FREDERICK SMITH QC THE people of Long Island awoke on Christmas Day with a present from Haiti! A small Haitian sailing sloop with dozens of human beings on board, landed in Clarence Town and were quickly taken into custody by Immigration and the proud residents of the island. The sloop was promptly burnt to a crisp. This “invasion” aroused the ire of the islanders. In social media, the Haitian Haters went wild and let loose a tirade of xenophobic vituperation. One would have thought the end of days was near for The Bahamas! As usual, always on the hunt to blame, they also turned their guns on the “Persons sympathetic to migrants” and I was of course named as one such “Sympathizer”. Below is a little contribution I made to the discussion... if it could be called that! I wished a Happy Holiday to my Friends and Family on what they called the “Wrong Island” for the humans who had the temerity and misfortune to land at Clarence Town. I specifically referred to “My Family” because some of them hate that I keep reminding them my grandmother, Millicent Knowles, was born at “Simms” on Long Island. I suggested “Persons sympathetic to migrants” are simply appreciating compassion for those who are less fortunate. I suggested that in this Christian moment celebrating Christ’s birth, that racial diatribes, xenophobia, hatred and nastiness towards one’s fellow human beings was probably not the greatest expression of Christ’s message. I continued to emphasize that much of the work that Human Rights Bahamas and I do, along with other alleged “sympathizers”, relates to respect for the rule of law and due process in The Bahamas. This was something I was proud to hear our Prime Minister, Dr. Minnis, pledge himself to when sworn in at Government House
Firstly, I don’t know who burnt the vessel, but if it was burnt on the orders of anyone from the government, that is firstly a crime and secondly unconstitutional in that it is a destruction of private property not in accordance with the law. After a trial, a court could order the condemnation, or the Comptroller of Customs could do it, but there is a “due process“ which should be followed. Secondly, I’m concerned as to whether or not flying a Magistrate down to Long Island and having a court hearing is really necessary and/or nothing more than form over substance. Will it be nothing more than a Kangaroo Court? Will these peopl really be getting a fair trial? Will they be properly advised as to what their rights are? May some of them actually have been born in The Bahamas and are simply returning home as many try to do? Often after having been illegally “expelled” - and I specifically use the word “expelled” - which everyone in The Bahamas is protected against by Article 25 of the Constitution, those persons try to return home. Very rarely is any human lawfully “deported“ in accordance with the Immigration Act. Will there be defence counsel appointed for them, just like there is a prosecutor persecuting them for the government? Or is this going to be a Justice Factory Processing Farce? What if they all pleaded not guilty? Will the magistrate give them bail? They are entitled to it! Everyone charged with an offence who pleads not guilty is entitled to bail. None other than our former Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal, Gonzalez Sabola, gave hundreds of “Haitians” bail after a raid in Pinders Point in Freeport decades ago in a case which I did. The law is clear. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty!
What would happen then? And, frankly, it really isn’t even necessary to have a court hearing. The Minister of Immigration under the Immigration Act, has powers to properly deport - not ‘expel”- people who have landed illegally. But there is a process which has to be followed I continue to harp on and emphasize “due process” because that is the only thing which will protect each one of us, Bahamian or not, when government overreach, abuse, fail to respect the rule of law. Let’s not forget the frequent reports we see of police brutality, illegal seizure of property by the government, beatings - pouring Tabasco into a young Bahamian suspect’s eyes for three days in Eleuthera false arrests, home invasions, immigration kidnapping of people off of the streets, holding people for up to nearly a decade in the illegal Carmichael Concentration Camp, denying them basic human rights, never taking people before a court of law to be charged after arrest, appalling prison conditions for thousands and thousands of our Bahamian sons of the soil, burning and bulldozing of organic communities like The Mud and Pigeon Pea in Abaco, political victimization, whole sale denial of women’s rights to have their husbands participate in the fishing industry, denying children born in The Bahamas of non-citizen parents the right, yes the right, to public education..... And the list goes on and on... Of things that can happen to any one of us, any Bahamian citizen, at any time and which all will acknowledge happens every day in one form or another in our beautiful country. The fight to respect the rights of humans/persons who are regarded as the lowliest, the illegal Haitian migrant, is in truth a fight to ensure, in the long term, respect for the rights of each one of us, for “all persons” in accordance with Article 15 of our Constitution. A breach of any one person‘s rights, which goes unchecked, or unchallenged, is a slow cancerous decay of all of our rights!
THE BOAT in Long Island on Christmas Day.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 PAGE 9
Bring on the vaccines as it’s our only realistic route back to a life of normalcy By MALCOLM STRACHAN IF I had only a dime for how many times I’ve heard 2020 called “the worst year ever” or “a year to forget”. Indeed, 2020 inflicted what seemed to be an unending loop of trauma on people all over the world. It wasn’t until the end of the year that we were all ready to remove our hands from our eyes to see the possibility of change in the near future as a result of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Yes, friends, we could have some hope that we can truly put 2020 and all the pain and heartache behind us. As confidence has grown that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines hold the key to unlocking a potentially non-COVID-19 future, whether you love the idea of taking the vaccine or not, getting back to life as we knew it before will always be an attractive proposition. Is there really an alternative? Perhaps our resorts can continue to remain open at low occupancy until the money dries up and then they’ll again become shuttered as a result of tourists opting for domestic vacations? And what option is there for families already pushed beyond the brink economically as poverty sweeps over our communities? Certainly, we can agree none of us want these scenarios. The fact is, our economy, as currently constructed, DOSES of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and UK-based drugmaker AstraZeneca are logged by a technical officer, as they arrive at the Princess does not allow for us to turn Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, on Saturday. The UK has 530,000 doses available for rollout from today. Photo: Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP up our noses at any weapon investment group activity during the holiday must prioritise the health of being used to defeat we can let out a sigh of to socialise and collaborate, an COVID-19. relief that the worst may be to maintain and strengthen based in New York, deter- season, and finally, how our economy and getting With over half of our behind us. This good news family bonds”, that are mined that 80 percent of its many people are vaccinated Bahamians back to work which is a collective responpopulation unemployed, is being trumpeted from still firmly rooted in us, he respondents who have never between now and then. However, as we’ve been sibility. Certainly neither many of whom work in the every nook and cranny, as believes people will regain been on a cruise, would avoid getting on a ship. living with COVID-19 for the government, nor the tourism industry as hair hoteliers and travel experts their confidence. This notion is supported Thankfully, as avid cruis- nearly a year now, compa- citizenry can take its hands braiders, around the consumer research ers are typically loyalists, nies in the cruise industry off the wheel at such a crustraw market ‘With over half world point by vendors, taxi to this year’s firm, Destination Analysts, when operations resume to - after a year of suffering cial point in our economic which has been survey- The Bahamas, we should record financial losses total- recovery. drivers, tour of our population summer With an election coming operators unemployed, many solstice as ing Americans every week still be able to depend on ling $32bn - have likely gone and as staff of whom work “the longest since March 15, 2020 and this very integral revenue to great lengths to innovate up next year, the Minnis in restaurants and bright- coming up with some very stream – “when” being the and save their businesses. administration is surely in the tourism downtown, est [day] of encouraging findings. Their operative word. Although How much the Centres for looking to accumulate some we ought industry as hair 2021”, as data reveals that 54 percent operators have been given Disease Control and Pre- wins and take advantage of to welcome it marks a of US travellers say they the green light to set sail vention buy into that will be what may become a genbraiders, straw anything period when would feel comfortable on March 1, much really a separate matter. But with eral sense of relief in the that signals a market vendors, most tour- with international travel as depends on developments promising results coming country. We’re certainly not there return to pre- taxi drivers, tour ists will a result of the COVID-19 of the new UK variant of on the vaccination front, yet, nevertheless, we’re pandemic likely feel vaccines by this summer, the virus. Additionally, they will survive. operators and as While we have certainly much closer than we have life. more confi- which would afford us an from a global standpoint, staff in restaurants COVIDdent about incredible opportunity to we are watching to see the had our challenges with the ever been. Let’s just contake advantage of what may implications of people’s cruise industry, as noted, we tinue to do our part. 19 has taken downtown, we international be an uncharacteristically the lives travel. higher arrival low season – of nearly ought to welcome The fingers crossed. two mil- anything that signals division And while the cruise lion people a return to prepresident of operations are expected to around the international rebound in 2021, the indusworld, and pandemic life.’ accident try has received a black eye although The insurance Bahamas only accounts company Chubb, John as a result of the horror last for a tiny fraction of that Thompson, when speaking year taking on the imagery number with 171 of our to USA Today, said travel of floating petri dishes own succumbing to the will obviously have a dif- being etched in the minds of virus, our economy remains ferent look going forward, would-be cruisers. In fact, a very much on life support. but as a result of a “deeply survey performed by SprinAnd as a new year dawns, human desire to connect, gOwl Asset Management,
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PAGE 10, Monday, January 4, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
UK WARNS OF MORE LOCKDOWN MEASURES
BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned yesterday that more onerous lockdown restrictions in England are likely in the coming weeks as the country reels from a new coronavirus variant that has pushed infection rates to their highest recorded levels. Johnson, though, insisted he has “no doubt” that schools are safe and urged parents to send their children back into the classroom in areas of England where they can. Unions representing teachers have called for schools to turn to remote learning for at least a couple of weeks more due to the new variant, which scientists have said is up to 70 percent more contagious. The UK is in the midst of an acute outbreak, recording more than 50,000 new coronavirus infections a day over the past six days. On Sunday, it notched up another 54,990 cases, down slightly from the previous day’s daily record of 57,725. The country also recorded another 454 virus-related deaths to take the total to 75,024. According to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the UK is alternating with Italy as the worst-hit European nation.
PRINCE ESTATE UNDERVALUED BY 50 PERCENT THE ongoing controversy over the money left behind by Prince when he died without a will is heating up again after Internal Revenue Service calculations showed that executors of the rock star’s estate undervalued it by 50 percent, or about $80m. The IRS determined that Prince’s estate is worth $163.2m, overshadowing the $82.3m valuation submitted by Comerica Bank & Trust, the estate’s administrator. The discrepancy primarily involves Prince’s music publishing and recording interests, according to court documents. Documents show the IRS believes that Prince’s estate owes another $32.4m in federal taxes, roughly doubling the tax bill based on Comerica’s valuation, the Star Tribune reported.
‘YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE’ SINGER DIES GERRY Marsden, lead singer of the 1960s British group Gerry and the Pacemakers that had such hits as “Ferry Cross the Mersey” and the song that became the anthem of Liverpool Football Club, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” has died. He was 78. His family said that Marsden died on Sunday “after a short illness in no way connected with COVID-19” and that his wife, daughters and grandchildren are “devastated”.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on Thursday after visiting his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP
Trump on tape presses official to ‘find’ votes ATLANTA Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump badgered and pleaded with Georgia’s election chief to overturn Joe Biden’s win in the state, suggesting in a telephone call that the official “find” enough votes to hand Trump the victory. The conversation on Saturday was the latest step in an unprecedented effort by a sitting president to pressure a state official to reverse the outcome of a free and fair election that he lost. The renewed intervention and the persistent and unfounded claims of fraud by the first president to lose reelection in almost 30 years come nearly two weeks before Trump leaves office and two days before twin runoffs in Georgia that will determine control of the Senate. Trump confirmed in a tweet on Sunday that he had spoken with Georgia’s secretary of state, Republican Brad Raffensperger, a day earlier. Audio snippets of the conversation were posted online by The Washington Post. A recording of the call was later obtained by The Associated Press from a person who was on the call. The president, who has refused to accept his loss to the Democratic president-elect, is heard telling Raffensperger at one point: “All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.” Georgia’s certified election results show Biden won the state’s November 3 election by 11,779 votes. The White House referred questions to Trump’s reelection campaign, which did not respond Sunday to an emailed request for comment. Raffensperger’s office did not respond to a text message seeking comment. Biden senior adviser Bob Bauer said the recording was “irrefutable proof” of Trump pressuring and
threatening an official in his own party to “rescind a state’s lawful, certified vote count and fabricate another in its place”. “It captures the whole, disgraceful story about Donald Trump’s assault on American democracy,” Bauer said. At another point in the conversation, Trump appeared to threaten Raffensperger and Ryan Germany, the secretary of state’s legal counsel, by suggesting both could be criminally liable if they failed to find that thousands of ballots in Fulton County had been illegally destroyed. There is no evidence to support Trump’s claim. “That’s a criminal offence,” Trump says. “And you can’t let that happen. Trump has repeatedly attacked how Raffensperger ran Georgia’s elections, claiming without evidence that the state’s 16 electoral votes were wrongly given to Biden. “He has no clue!” Trump tweeted of Raffensperger, saying the state official “was unwilling, or unable” to answer questions about a series of claims about ballot handling and voters that have been debunked or shot down by judges and election authorities. Raffensperger’s Twitter response: “Respectfully, President Trump: What you’re saying is not true. The truth will come out.” There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country, as well as Trump’s former attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed. Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states crucial to Biden’s victory, have also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states. Nearly all the legal challenges from Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges, including two tossed by the Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-nominated justices. The Senate runoffs pit Sen Kelly Loeffler against Democrat Raphael Warnock and Sen David Perdue
against Democrat Jon Ossoff. With the Senate up for grabs, the candidates and outside groups supporting them have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the contests, deluging Georgia with television ads, mail, phone calls and door-knocking efforts. Loeffler said she had not decided whether to join Republican colleagues in challenging the legitimacy of Biden’s victory over Trump. The Democratic candidates whose wins on Tuesday would help clear roadblocks for the new administration’s agenda awaited a campaign visit from Vice Presidentelect Kamala Harris. Trump has persisted in attacking top Georgia Republicans over his election loss in the state, raising fears that his words could cause some Republicans to stay away from the polls. “I believe that we will win on Tuesday because of the grassroots momentum, the unprecedented movement energy in Georgia right now,” Ossoff told CNN’s “State of the Union.” He said “it feels in Georgia like we are on the cusp of a historic victory.” Loeffler, when asked about siding with the growing group of Senate Republicans seeking to contest the Electoral College count, said she was “looking very closely at it, and I’ve been one of the first to say, everything’s on the table.” She told “Fox News Sunday” that “I’m fighting for this president because he’s fought for us. He’s our president and we’re going to keep making sure that this is a fair election.” Warnock, the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta who has continued to preach as he campaigns for office, seemed to allude to the runoff in a message delivered Sunday. He told viewers watching remotely due to the pandemic that they are “on the verge of victory” in their lives if they accept that God has already equipped them with the ability to overcome their adversaries. “When God is with you, you can
defeat giants,” said Warnock, who ended the early morning service by encouraging Georgians to vote on Tuesday. “It’s so very important that your voice be heard in this defining moment in our country,” he said. “I would not be so presumptuous as to tell you who to vote for.” Loeffler was appointed to fill a vacancy when Republican Johnny Isakson resigned his seat, and she will be in the Senate, win or lose this coming week, until the election is certified. Perdue’s seat will temporarily be vacant after his term expires on Sunday at the end of six years. Harris was scheduled to be in Savannah on Sunday afternoon. Trump and Biden plan last-minute, in-person efforts Monday to mobilise voters after more than three million people cast ballots early. The president continues to create turbulence for Loeffler and Perdue by questioning Biden’s narrow victory in Georgia and the reliability of the state’s election systems. Trump also tweeted that Georgia Gov Brian Kemp and Lt Gov Geoff Duncan, also Republicans, “have done less than nothing. They are a disgrace to the great people of Georgia!” The president last week called on Kemp to resign; the governor dismissed it as a “distraction”. Despite the attacks, Loeffler said she believed voters would heed Trump’s expected plea during his upcoming visit that they should turn out. “He’s going to tell voters the same thing: You have to get out and vote Georgia, because this is too important,” Loeffler said. Perdue, who is in quarantine after being exposed to a staff member with the coronavirus and won’t appear with Trump at Monday’s rally, said he would have joined the electoral challenge in the Senate if he had been in Washington. “I’m encouraging my colleagues to object. This is something that the American people demand right now,” he told Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”
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SOME HELPFUL TIPS BEFORE YOU DONATE:
4 You must have eaten at least once for the day.
4 You need at least 30 minutes between your last meal and donating blood. 4 You will need at least 10 minutes rest after donating blood. 4 You can donate blood every 8 weeks.
4 The Blood Bank will do FREE Pre-screening tests to make sure you are healthy enough to donate blood.
BECOME A REGULAR DONOR
PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE BLOOD DRIVES