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AID boss says lack of English and Maths is harming job applicants

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A MAJOR Bahamian retailer says “the biggest obstacle” to its expansion is the lack of “basic Maths and English” skills among potential recruits as it aims to build a 200-strong workforce by June.

Jason Watson, Automotive Industrial Distributors (AID) president, told Tribune Business that many prospective hires are “unable to function in our environment” because they were scoring poorly on the simple entry test they were asked to complete.

Acknowledging that AID is far from the only employer affected by these struggles, he added that finding the right staff to expand the company’s workforce by up to 50 persons compared to pre-COVID-19 levels was critical to ensuring its $8.2m investment in new stores delivers the targeted returns.

“The biggest problem we really have is finding persons that are suitable,” Mr Watson told this newspaper.

“A lot of times, when we bring them in to be tested, the test scores may be too low so it’s difficult to hire those persons.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

IMMIGRATION Minister Elsworth Johnson said yesterday his ministry has been working in conjunction with other government agencies to address illegal immigration and shanty town concerns in Abaco, vowing officials will clamp down on the problem, but in a humane manner.

This comes after Works Minister Desmond Bannister with other government officials toured some parts of the Farm Road shanty town on Saturday.

Officials have estimated that between 1,000 to 2,000 illegal structures have been built there since Hurricane Dorian hit the island in 2019.

Speaking to reporters about the matter yesterday, Mr Johnson said while the government is committed to cracking down on unregulated communities, it has to do so in a careful manner.

“This is an ongoing exercise to deal with unregulated communities. As you very well know, there is still a matter before the courts SEE PAGE FIVE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said building work in the maternity ward at Princess Margaret Hospital has now been completed after a social media post went viral this weekend, showing unsanitary conditions.

Photos showing missing ceiling tiles and mould on the hospital’s ceiling were widely circulated on social media, sparking public outrage.

“I am not pleased at all.

Am I dog or Bahamian... in my own country,” said one maternity patient who posted the images on Facebook.

“I just have baby and (must) place her with all this (mould) and I can’t even breathe through this.

The water leaking from the roof. The bathroom (mould) over the toilet.”

SEE PAGE THREE

ABACO SHANTY TOWN ISSUE ‘WILL BE TREATED HUMANELY’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PHA SAYS SORRY FOR MATERNITY PROBLEMS

CUBANS LIVED ON COCONUTS FOR 5 WEEKS

I FEEL ABANDONED POLICE Sergeant Charleston Deveaux is now homeless and barely able to make ends meet after he says his salary was discontinued by the force following an injury he received on the job ten years ago. See page two for the full story.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

MILLER’S PLP NOMINATION IN DOUBT

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SOME Progressive Liberal Party supporters in Golden Isles say MP Vaughn Miller is so vulnerable in the constituency that he would lose the seat on the PLP’s ticket in the general election, a challenge for party leaders who are leaning towards giving him the nomination.

The four incumbents who

VAUGHN MILLER MP ran on the PLP’s ticket in 2017 have been guaranteed

a nomination, but The Tribune understands some insiders hope this doesn’t apply to Mr Miller, who resigned from the FNM in December 2019 and joined the PLP last September.

Mr Miller conceded he hasn’t been as visible a representative as he would have liked, noting yesterday that it is challenging representing a constituency that was the largest in the country by vote total in 2017.

SEE PAGE FOUR

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

THE United States Coast Guard rescued three Cubans who were stranded on an uninhabited Bahamian island for more than a month.

According to the US Coast Guard, the three people — two men and a woman — were not seriously injured, however, they were taken to a Florida hospital yesterday. A Coast Guard crew found them on Anguilla Cay, an island near Cay Sal Bank.

They reportedly survived on coconuts while stranded on the island.

SEE PAGE FIVE

THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM DOESN’T MEAN IT’S GOING AWAY SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Wednesday, February 10, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

I feel abandoned

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A POLICE sergeant says he is now homeless and barely able to make ends meet because he claims the Royal Bahamas Police Force owes him money after they discontinued his salary following an injury he received on the job ten years ago.

Police Sgt Charleston Deveaux told The Tribune he received his last pay cheque from the law enforcement agency in 2015, four years after being injured while on duty.

As a result of those injuries, Mr Deveaux said he now suffers from a medical condition called bilateral avascular necrosis, which leaves him unable to work.

“I was executing an arrest on a person, a young man for armed robbery and murder in 2011 and I was in pursuit of this individual, I ended up going over a fence and I injured my back and my lower hip,” he said.

“When I got injured, I was able to go to the clinic when I saw the doctor there and explained my injuries, how I got my injury and he told me that he would give me some medication, some days off and he told me he would get an X-ray done at PMH. “I did that and I got a couple days off and I came back to work and continued working... but my hip continued to hurt, my back continued to hurt and my mobility became diminished in 2012.”

He continued: “…So I went to Doctors Hospital in 2014 in the presence of the force’s medical doctor. I was X-rayed by a doctor there and she told me that I had damage to both of my hips and she asked me if I was in a car accident.

I explained to her what happened so she said, ‘yeah, you’ve developed a condition called bilateral avascular necrosis.’”

Since the diagnosis, the fatherof-two said his life has been dealt blow after blow – from losing his father to being told he would need surgery to correct the issue a few months later. Mr Deveaux said he also lost his mother and grandmother during the ordeal.

However, what was most shocking for the police sergeant was when he learned his salary had been discontinued from his place of employment allegedly without cause. Other officers who had been injured in the line of duty and stood down from the force maintained their salaries, he claims.

The situation, he added, left him unable to pay his monthly mortgage payments and he was recently evicted from his home, forcing him to sleep in his car.

“It was 2015. .. I was paying (my mortgage) $1,700 a month – no issues. I have been a member of the RBPF since 1988. I was not out for an inordinate amount of time and my medical records are legitimate and current, but these people stopped my salary arbitrarily in June 2015. In 2016, I went to HR and called them

to say ‘pay me my money’. They never did anything and I continued agitating.”

In an effort to get the matter addressed, the father-of-two said he met with then Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade, who he said promised him to assist with the issue.

However, Mr Deveaux said the problem was never rectified because Mr Greenslade left office shortly afterwards.

He said in December 2017 he contacted then Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson to little avail.

“So, I went to Mr (Marvin) Dames and he told me he would look into it and told me to bring my documents and he would deal with it. I did what he said and he turned me onto the acting permanent secretary for the ministry at the time.”

He added: “The acting permanent secretary heard my matter, he saw my documents and said he was going to turn me over to the HR manager (at the time) who would agitate from HR section of the RBPF to find out what’s going on.”

However, he claimed that the RBPF’s human resources manager later told him she was unable to access his documents from the RBPF’s headquarters.

Mr Deveaux said the final straw was when he received foreclosure documents for his home, a

situation that forced him to revisit the ministry to have the matter dealt with as soon as possible.

“Acting PS telephoned the COP and demanded my file,” he said. “Within 30 minutes it was produced. I was asked to give time for perusal of my file. The very next day, I was summoned by the acting permanent secretary and given a formal apology on behalf of Minister Dames and the ministry for the manner in which I was treated.

“Further, he asked me to format and produce a letter of demand (LOD) to the ministry outlining what I was owed by the government. After consultation with my legal team, I returned and gave the acting permanent secretary my LOD to my foreclosure hearing scheduled for the following week. He perused it with his legal team at the ministry. He then stamped it and endorsed it.

“I was asked to take the endorsed stamped LOD to my foreclosure hearing scheduled for the following week. (A judge) presided over my matter. He was given the LOD, read it and suspended his ruling in five months so the ministry could address the error in my matter.

“I (also) communicated with a (worker) at the AG’s office, civil litigation. He informed me that he was aware of the matter and that counsel addressing it was transferred and he reassigned it.”

POLICE Sgt Charleston Deveaux packing his belongings after being evicted.

To this day, Mr Deveaux said his matter has not yet been rectified, despite his many letters to various government officials over the years.

Mr Deveaux also said he is now homeless because he was unable to make his monthly payments for his home, a situation that forces him to sleep in his car.

“I got evicted because I was unable to pay my mortgage from 2015 because my salary was arbitrarily discontinued by the HR department of the RBPF while I’m still a serving member of the RBPF and while I’m still seeing a doctor who I’ve been seeing from 2014 until now about my condition.

“Since then, I have been sleeping in my car on the beach and in the neighbour’s yard. I’m long overdue for my surgery. I could literally barely walk right now and my condition is deteriorating day by day.

“I didn’t want my business out there and tried to address the matter as quickly and quietly as possible, but nothing is happening. I have given almost two thirds of my life for an organisation I love and to be treated in this matter is sad and sobering. I feel targeted.”

When The Tribune contacted an official at the RBPF’s human resources department on the matter, this newspaper was told “no comment”.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 10, 2021, PAGE 3

PHA says sorry for maternity problems from page one “This maternity ward is no joke, plus no damn ac (sic).”

Similar comments were posted online by Bahamian mothers, who cried shame on the government for allowing patients to experience childbirth under such deplorable conditions.

When asked to respond to the patients’ concerns yesterday, Mr Wells told reporters outside Cabinet: “The reality is I understand that the project was supposed to have already been brought to completion. It was some work that was identified about two weeks ago and the work is now completed.”

In a statement, the Public Hospitals Authority and Princess Margaret Hospital apologised for the conditions depicted in the photographs.

“The hospital wishes to apologise for the concerns raised regarding the environment pictured in the social media post and is pleased to advise that the corrective works have now been completed,” PHA said.

“PMH has taken additional action to ensure that messaging, signage, and protective barriers are implemented whenever corrective work or refurbishment projects are being carried out, in keeping with standard operating procedures.

“The mission of the Princess Margaret Hospital remains focused on delivering quality, safe and accessible care to the

communities we serve. We will continue to strive to improve the hospital experience for all our patients and their loved ones and we are grateful for the support of the communities we serve.”

This is not the first time the hospital – specifically its maternity ward — has come under fire, however.

Last September, several maternity patients alleged mistreatment and discrimination from nurses there due to COVID-19 fears.

At the time, Public Hospital Authority managing director Catherine Weech told The Tribune that PHA was investigating all the allegations, insisting that the organisation does not take such claims lightly.

However, she said management must do its due diligence before putting out public statements on specific claims.

Yesterday, Mr Wells also gave an update on the country’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, saying officials have already started educational campaigns to better inform the public.

He said: “The government, both the Ministry of Health and the vaccine committee would have spoken to a PR campaign.

You would notice that there’s already been Dr (Delon) Brennen and other doctors on the talk show circuit answering the requisite questions for the Bahamian people and we intend to continue to educate the Bahamian people on whatever it is, the information that they’re requesting and desiring in regards to

different vaccines and we’re also going to be putting up some billboards as well.”

As for when the country can expect to receive its first vaccine doses, Mr Wells maintained that health officials are still hoping to have vaccines in the country by the end of this month or by early March.

However, he said no one under the age of 18 will be administered the COVID19 vaccine.

This week, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar told Tribune Business that the government is “exploring” whether to adopt COVID-19 “vaccine passports” — showing that a person has been inoculated — in a bid to make two-way travel involving The Bahamas easier.

Yesterday, Mr Wells confirmed to reporters the Minnis administration is considering the matter.

He said: “We are looking at it, both myself and the Minister of Tourism. We are looking at the possibility of the kind of... health passport where you can say you were vaccinated and the information is put up on a digital platform.

“As you know The Bahamas has already been transformative, revolutionary, evolutionary in our approach to COVID. We were the first country to institute a health visa for folks to carry in and out of the country – a digital one.

“Now a lot of other countries are moving in that direction but we are also looking at elevating that platform to the possibility of doing the health visa passport for COVID-19.”

A PHOTOGRAPH showing missing ceiling tiles and exposed pipes in Princess Margaret Hospital.

THE SCENE of the latest murder on Monday night, the 16th murder of the year so far.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

MAN FOUND DEAD WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO THE FACE

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

KENDRICK FERGUSON

POLICE are investigating another homicide that occurred on Monday night – just a few hours after another man’s body was found on Cowpen Road.

The victim in the most recent killing was identified by sources as Kendrick Ferguson who is believed to be 25 or 26.

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, initial reports indicate that sometime after 11pm, police received reports of a shooting incident that happened on Lincoln Boulevard, in the vicinity of Homestead Avenue.

On arrival, officers found

a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the face. Paramedics took him to hospital where he later died.

A source said that the victim walked a while before collapsing in front of a yard after being shot.

The Tribune spoke to the resident of that yard who recounted Mr Ferguson’s final moments. Although the shooting happened after the island’s 10pm curfew, the commotion outside caused the resident to go outside where he made the grim discovery.

“When I hear all the noise outside when the gentlemen was saying ‘What happened to you Kenny?

What happened to you?’

“He was still moving and was trying to like turn on his side,” the area resident

explained. I ran outside to see what happened. When I came right by the door I saw his body was by the garbage bin like he was bleeding and trying to get back up off the ground because he had fallen.”

The resident knew the victim, but said Ferguson had not been around the neighbourhood in almost a month.

Nikato Sturrup, the deceased’s best friend, was in the area when the incident occurred, but was not where it happened.

He told The Tribune: “When I reached there, they had carried him because when I got the call last (night) I thought my boy was clowning when he tell me that. He said my best friend just get killed

and when I hear it last night I gone run. When I reach the scene where he was they had carried (him).”

He said hearing the news was not easy.

“That hurt me a lot when I heard that because every night before he goes home he always comes by me and last night he was home. I don’t know how he got back outside,” Mr Sturrup said.

He never knew his friend to have problems with anyone, but revealed that the deceased had recently started hanging out with a new group of people.

This killing marks the 16th murder this year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call police at 502-9991.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, February 10, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

‘Public Disclosure Commission needs to be made independent’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PUBLIC Disclosure Commission Chairman Myles Laroda says the group needs to be independent of the government, a change that will give the body the “teeth” it needs.

According to Mr Laroda, the law governing the commission has virtually gone unchanged since coming into force and should offer a remedy to modern day challenges.

The Free National Movement in its 2017 Manifesto pledged to amend the Public Disclosure Act to broaden its scope of application to include campaign finance reform and to make provision for direct referral to an independent prosecutor.

However, with a little over a year left in the Minnis administration’s term in office it appears the

needed changes to the Act have not been prioritised.

Asked recently about progress in this regard, Attorney General Carl Bethel said the government tabled a bill in Parliament that honours the FNM’s campaign promise.

But he said the real question was when the Integrity Commission Bill would be debated in the lower chamber – a matter “yet to be determined” he said.

Mr Laroda said this is an important step if matters of anti-corruption practices are to be taken seriously.

In fact, he said since 2017 there have been recommendations made to strengthen these kinds of laws.

“I know that they tabled the Integrity (Bill) that is supposed to repeal the Public Disclosure Act,” Mr Laroda said during a recent interview when asked about changes to the legislation. “I think I may have said in 2015 there was a report that made

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TOTAL TESTS

62,769

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HOSPITALISED

14

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2

RECOVERED

6,870

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

certain recommendations to strengthen our anti-corruption laws. I think that was in 2017.

“We would have made recommendations that the government follow those recommendations that were put in. At that time the Prime Minister had given his word verbally that he was in agreement with a lot of those things in the recommendation.”

He also said: “So this is very important. The Public Disclosure Act has not been updated. There have been a lot of changes that were done.

“There are certain positions in the public service that did not exist at the time, so we need to really have a piece of legislation to actually put teeth to this.

“The Public Disclosure Commission is like a department in the Cabinet office, but there should be independence. We should not be dependent on the government.

“A lot of its members who are subject to the Public Disclosure Act are the ones to be gazetting this information so there should be an update.”

The updates, Mr Laroda said, would clamp down on officials who are not compliant with the Public Disclosure Act. Mr Laroda told The Tribune that senior civil servants are less compliant with legally mandated disclosures than members of Parliament and senators.

Despite challenges sparked by COVID-19, he said both groups were largely in line with the demands of the Act. “There were some who requested extensions who were granted but the overall numbers were still very high,” he said regarding the submitted disclosures.

“Everyone did for the years 2017, 2018 and there is one outstanding former senator and one outstanding MP for 2019.

“So, 2020 letters have all gone out and they have up until before March 1 to submit those.

“We have had to send out letters for people who have been compliant but may need information and that’s not irregular. There may be situations where bank information or insurance information wasn’t provided or clarified, but in terms of the declaration forms they’ve all been done with the exception of the one former senator and MP.” Asked about the general compliance of senior civil servants, the chairman said: “There are still quite a few outstanding on that front.

“As a matter of fact, the politicians meaning the senators and the MPs seem to have been doing a much better job of sending in their declarations than some of the senior civil servants.”

The future of the Public Disclosures Commission

must also include a technological facelift, Mr Laroda told The Tribune.

“We are living in an age of technology now where forms should be able to be sent out electronically.

There should be a website giving out information and some of the things we are talking about commerce and moving into the modern age. The Act is still on an archaic stage.

“It needs a lot of modernising. Coming towards disclosure time the public only knows what’s going on as the reporters would call and ask questions about who all disclosed and who didn’t.

“But I think what’s missing is the actual information itself. Because the whole idea is to show what your worth was before you come in to show what it was during your period in office and to show your worth when you left. The public can make a determination from there on.”

MILLER’S PLP NOMINATION IN DOUBT from page one

“In terms of going throughout all the constituency, that has been a challenge,” he said. “It’s a very big constituency. Have I been as visible as I wanted to be? No. And of course, the process of moving from FNM to PLP was challenging because being in the governing party puts you in a more favourable position to assist people. Once you’re no longer in that group, everything changes and that’s one of the consequences of moving.”

Znovia Wright, a PLP supporter and area resident, said Mr Miller could “definitely lose this constituency”.

“He needs to be more active,” she said. “The last time he got in because of the situation at hand, meaning people were fed up (with the Christie administration), but I hope he doesn’t think that because he moved over it’s going to be an easy win.”

Ms Wright and PLP supporters like Brenda Rolle, 66, said they prefer former Golden Isles MP Michael Halkitis.

Mr Halkitis, however, has been chosen as the PLP’s St Barnabas representative.

Ms Rolle said although she is certain to vote for the PLP in the next election, convincing others in her house to support Mr Miller will be difficult.

“We are not really happy with Vaughn, we prefer Halkitis, but I will give him my support,” she said. “I doubt he could win. I spoke to (former Prime Minister Perry) Christie about this a couple weeks ago, (saying) that we are not happy with Vaughn Miller running in Golden Isles.

VAUGHN MILLER MP, right, at the welcome service held by the Progressive Liberal Party when he joined the party. He is pictured with Michael Halkitis who has secured a candidate nomination.

Former Cabinet minis- been on the ground since “I have ten votes in my house. If Halkitis was ter George Smith, who sits November and people have here, I wouldn’t have to on the PLP’s Candidates been very supportive.”

Henry Culmer, the PLP’s do too much persuading, I Committee, denied hearing wouldn’t have to campaign. negative chatter surround- Golden Isles constituency Now I feel like the PLP is ing Mr Miller, saying that branch chairman, supported going to lose this seat in barring something unfore- his view, but acknowledged seen, the party will choose that Mr Miller has not been Golden Isles.”

Brian Brown, a Coral him as its candidate in a notably visible or active representative.

Harbour resident and the Golden Isles.

“One other person has “I have watched the chairman of the FNM’s Golden Isles Constituency indicated interest but that interaction with him and Association since 2010, is has not seemed to gain the constituents of Golden the FNM’s standard bearer much traction,” Mr Smith Isles and I’m sure that at said. “There have been no the end of the day, I usuin the constituency.

A veteran of multiple serious challenges to him by ally see more positives than negatives,” Mr Culmer said.

FNM campaigns, he is said any other aspirant.”

Mr Miller said he antici- “Individuals who might to have solid ties to the community. In fact, he rec- pated challenges when he say he has an uphill battle ommended Mr Miller for switched to the PLP, know- and won’t be received well, the seat in 2017 after Keny- ing that he would get the you should ask how many atta Gibson withdrew his cold shoulder from FNMs of them do the door-toand some PLPs. door exercises with him. candidacy for Golden Isles.

“There are persons obvi- To no fault of Mr Miller’s FNM officials say Mr Miller – who won 56 per- ously who would oppose own, they really wanted cent of the vote that year me because I came from Mr Halkitis to stay here.

– met a fully functional the FNM, so there is that They feel that to accept Mr campaign apparatus when element,” he said. “There Miller is to reject Mr Halkihe came to the area, includ- are some persons who were tis and that is not the case.

“I still think he will be ing an active headquarters very supportive of Halkiand a team comprising poll- tis and we are dealing with successful. I think he has that and then there are enough time to reconnect ing division captains.

“All he needed was a some disgruntled persons, with some of these constitucoat to get inside the House but I feel they will join us. ents. I think he has to go and of Assembly,” one FNM The transition has been a resell himself and not expect difficult process, but we’ve to get in on the wave again.” supporter said yesterday.

MINISTER DISAGREES WITH PINDER ON SEVERANCE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net LABOUR Minister Dion Foulkes says he doesn’t agree with the position that companies should offer employees redundancy packages as a form of assistance to struggling workers.

Last week, Labour Director John Pinder told The Tribune he has suggested to some employers the need to offer severance pay to workers who are experiencing hardship due to COVID-19.

However, yesterday outside Cabinet, Mr Foulkes said while he understood the reasoning behind the suggestion, it was not something he would advise, pointing to the current economic climate.

“That’s a double-edged sword,” the minister said when asked if he agreed with Mr Pinder’s position.

“There are many businesses

that have temporarily laid off their staff.

“If they offer redundancy or pay them out severance pay, their employment will be terminated and there is no hope of them going back to work.

“The government is hopeful that the persons that were laid off for example at Atlantis and Baha Mar and now at Sandals, the majority of those persons are coming back to work and they are able to have gainful employment for years to come.”

He continued: “Now I understand why some persons want to be terminated to get the redundancy pay because the economic situation is dire now and people have to take care of their families. I get that and the government understands that, but it has to be a balance.

“The (emergency) order makes provision for redundancy not to be paid outside of 30 days after the order

ends. The current order ends at the end of May so we are not sure what’s going to happen after May, but at least until that period businesses will not be mandated to pay redundancies.

“Now certain companies are paying redundancies and terminating employees, but that isn’t something that I would advise for employers to advocate for because it terminates their employment, and I don’t think this is an environment where you would want to be without a job.”

Mr Foulkes also said it is difficult to accurately state the country’s current unemployment figure.

Mr Pinder has estimated the unemployment rate is between 38 to 42 percent.

“The workforce in The Bahamas is approximately 220,000 workers,” Mr Foulkes said. “The last unemployment assistance number was around 28,000 or 30,000 – the unemployment assistance programme

that National Insurance does in terms of the assistance the government is giving it’s around 28,000 or 30,000 persons.

“Now if you figure that in terms of percentage it will come down to a low percentage compared to 220,000 workers but that is not the right way to do it because you have structural unemployment and there are a lot of other things that go into calculating what the unemployment rate is.

“But since the pandemic started, I am confident based on the evidence that we see in the economy that the unemployment rate has drastically come down because as you know everything was at a standstill and most of the businesses they put their workers on temporary layoffs.

“That has now changed.

Most of the people are coming back to work so it’s very difficult to peg a percentage upon that.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 10, 2021, PAGE 5

Abaco shanty town issue ‘will be treated humanely’ from page one where strategic analysis was done out of localities, especially in New Providence,” he said before going into Cabinet.

“We went into Andros and the same thing was done by the minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, and I want to commend him and the cross-ministry collaboration on this effort to, in a humane way, address what is a growing problem.

“And so, what was done in Andros is that we were able to go and identify these locations in a dignified way, find out who are actually living there and so in Andros, we have compiled

all the names and so we are tactfully dealing with these individuals.

“The same thing is being done in Abaco where a team led by the deputy prime minister and he will speak more to it, is going through tactfully and (in) a humane way identifying these living arrangements and where there is breach of the code, you deal with it.

“Where there is breach of the Immigration Act, we’re dealing with it and so that’s just what’s happening and you know you have women and children and the whole thing about the possibility of trafficking and abuse and you want to get in there to be able to deal with it

holistically and in a humane way and that is what we’re doing.”

Before Hurricane Dorian decimated them last year, shanty towns across Abaco had more than 1,000 homes and an estimated population size of 3,500, according to government reports.

Two weeks after the storm hit, the government issued a ban on the construction of any new buildings in the four major shanty towns on the island.

Despite the government ban, unregulated homes continue to spring up.

During Saturday’s walkabout in the Farm Road community, The Tribune spoke to several area residents, many of whom said

they had work permits and a lawful right to be in the country.

Asked to respond to concerns about the amount of work permits being granted to Haitian migrants, Mr Johnson replied: “We’re working closely with labour (officials)... and that’s why digitisation is key. When you’re dealing with paper, it’s very difficult to trace and track all of these different things and so it’s revealing a lot of things about persons.

“And as a part of the public education, we are requesting from the permit holder their locality in terms of where they’re living and we are assiduously – the director of

immigration I want to commend him—we’re looking at applications, so, let’s say if you make an application, we want to know where you’re living.

“So obviously, we would not grant a work permit for a shanty town and I’ve told them publicly that I don’t like the fact that when I go into these areas, people are able to provide me with documents.

“Now if somebody applies for citizenship and they’re duly qualified for citizenship, you have to grant that if it’s not opposed to public policy and they’re a good and fit and proper person then you grant those young persons their citizenship.

“…But, we’re working on it and we’re working on it in a way that respects our international and constitutional obligations to the human person and that’s critical.”

Those wanting to apply for work permits in The Bahamas have to apply outside the country, according to existing policy.

He said: “With the few exceptions, you must be outside the country to make the applications and as I said… you don’t want Bahamians to be living in these conditions and we don’t want foreign persons to be living in these conditions and you don’t want anybody to be abused having to live in those conditions.”

CUBANS LIVED ON COCONUTS FOR 5 WEEKS from page one According to Local 10 News, Lt Justin Dougherty said a US Coast Guard aircrew first noticed “some unusual flags” on the island and flew back around to investigate when they spotted the three people waving at them.

“They were actually there for 33 days — more than a month,” Lt Dougherty, a spokesman for the US Coast Guard, said.

“To survive on coconuts; that is pretty extraordinary ... It was incredible. I don’t know how they did it. I am amazed that they were in such good shape when we saw them.”

After the Cubans were discovered, a US Coast Guard crew left Florida to fly over the area to drop off water, food, and a radio. When the USCG helicopter crew returned to rescue them, the Cubans said their boat had capsized in rough waters and they were able to swim to the island.

THE US Coast Guard over Aguilla Cay, left, and one of the Cubans pictured on the ground.

POWER OUTAGE AFFECTS HUNDREDS

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net HUNDREDS of homes in New Providence were without power for hours yesterday because of a “mechanical failure” at BPL. Early yesterday morning, widespread power supplies were shut down in the eastern, central and western parts of the capital leaving many customers who work from home, due to COVID19, literally “powerless”.

During the outage, BPL posted the following statement on its social media platforms.

“Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) is aware of outages in a number of areas as a result of mechanical failure. Our teams are currently addressing these incidences. Updates will follow.”

The Tribune contacted BPL’s director of communications Quincy Parker for further information, however he was awaiting word from engineers so he could not comment up to press time.

Melda Joseph lives in eastern New Providence,

works at a private bank and works from home. She was in the middle of a Zoom meeting when the outage occurred.

“We had an early morning virtual meeting,” Ms Joseph said. “We were right into the meeting when, poof, the power goes off. I was so embarrassed. I tried to get back into the meeting on my telephone, but I wasn’t allowed back in. It’s insane that in 2021, BPL cannot keep the power on.

It seems so backward.

“I had to write an email from my phone to advise the team what happened.

This is so sad. Every time you think things are getting better at BPL, it takes several steps back into darkness, literally.”

Shortly before the outage occurred, BPL placed a notice on its Facebook page advising the public that it would be carrying out “overhead maintenance” exercises for four hours, starting at 9am. However this was separate from the widespread outage that occurred as the notice indicated that the only areas that would be affected were Rosebud Street east of Eden Street, Christopher Street and surrounding areas.

Over the past few years, BPL has spent millions of dollars on engines to boost up generation so that its customers would not have the inconvenience of power outages or load shedding.

Although less frequent, the outages persist.

“I went straight to BPL’s Facebook page when my lights went off,” said Tamika Hall, a resident of central New Providence. “I saw where they said it was overhead maintenance. I called and asked if my area was included and they said no. They were quite rude, as a matter of fact, but I got the picture that the power cut was caused from something else.

“The inconvenience came because my little daughter is in virtual learning. When the lights went off, so did her class. I texted her teacher and told her what happened. She was having the same issues. All these promises from BPL and they still can’t get their act together.”

During intervals throughout the day, power was restored to most affected areas. BPL has apologised for the inconvenience caused and thanked its customers for their patience.

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PAGE 6, Wednesday, February 10, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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Lack of basic skills shows we’re failing students WHEN the national exam results came out in January, they were declared a success… by the Ministry of Education, at least.

Not so much of a success for the students involved, though. Their grades took a dive – but it was the fact the examinations were held at all that was deemed a success, given the difficulties with the pandemic.

Well done. Have a pat on the head. In the real world, of course, what matters is what the students can take with them when they go looking for a college place or a job – and those nosediving grades are a problem not just for the students, but for the companies that want to employ them.

Take AID, a long-standing Bahamian retailer. It has just expanded – no mean feat in these times of COVID-19 – and opened a new store in Harbour Bay. It is also aiming to reopen a reconstructed Blue Hill Road site in June, and a new store in Abaco – very much an investment needed on that hurricane-hit island.

So what was the company’s biggest obstacle? Finding workers who had “basic Maths and English”.

The president of AID told The Tribune: “The biggest problem we really have is finding persons that are suitable.

A lot of times, when we bring them in to be tested, the test scores may be too low so it’s difficult to hire those persons.

“It’s a big, big problem for us and everyone else. The level of education is a big obstacle right now. We have a lot of young people we’d like to hire, and the test we give is not too difficult, but if they don’t get a certain score we’re not able to hire them as they don’t have the basic Maths and English to be able to function in our environment.”

It sounds like a really simple, basic problem – and it is. Now of course schools aren’t just there to prepare people for work – they should be there to help a young person flourish in whatever avenue of life they find themselves in. But if we’re not even equipping them with the basics, then we’re failing them before they even get a chance to start.

AID isn’t looking for the highest of qualifications, just enough to get the job done. No rocket scientists or doctorates required. And if we can’t even provide that – at a time when unemployment is at an all-time high so there’s a glut of potential candidates – then what are we even doing with our education system?

Teachers should be showing this story to their students and saying you see, this is why it’s important. Parents should be telling their children that if only they master the basics they’re already one step ahead of their peers.

AID is not alone – many employers will tell the same story of finding it hard to recruit staff with the right skills. There are knock-on effects of that – businesses get held back, companies turn to foreign recruits, and so on.

But the seeds of that start in our education system. It’s not good enough – no matter how much officials may pat themselves on the back about holding an examination on time.

Disclosures reform The Public Disclosures Commission should be one of the jewels of our crown when it comes to fighting corruption.

It’s a simple matter – parliamentarians are supposed to declare their assets, so that there is a transparency about their finances.

There are deadlines to meet, and penalties that can be imposed if parliamentarians fail to do so. The Tribune has kept parliamentarians’ feet to the fire about the issue – even when it seemed the commission itself was moving in slow motion.

The commission chairman, Myles Laroda, wants the group to be independent of the government, to give it the teeth it needs. We would be more comfortable in encouraging such a thing if the teeth it’s already got were being used, but they seldom are.

The FNM had promised to amend the Public Disclosure Act in its 2017 manifesto… but that hasn’t happened. A Bill has been tabled, but no debate has been set.

Now a lot of this might seem like it’s an issue inside politics of little matter to the world outside – but it can play a part in ensuring politicians don’t use their post to make themselves richer. It can help to show if they’re serving you – or serving their wallet.

It doesn’t work right now the way it should – although it could if those in power paid the proper attention to it.

Is reform needed? Perhaps. But what is needed most of all is respecting the rules and imposing the penalties available if the rules aren’t followed. Coming up with a new set of rules isn’t going to make any difference if they just get ignored too.

Jamaal Rolle is on holiday

Resignation of Speaker Moultrie EDITOR, The Tribune.

SINCE the resignation of Speaker Halson Moultrie on February 4, I have received numerous calls and messages from members of the press, friends and other persons asking for my views on the resignation. So here goes.

Firstly, the Constitution is silent on the question of the removal of the Speaker of the House.

The Constitution intended that once a Speaker was elected, that person would serve in office for the entirety of the parliamentary term. I doubt that the framers of the Constitution could have ever envisaged the kinds of machinations that have occurred in the Bahamian House of Assembly.

Secondly, Article 55 (1) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to regulate its proceedings and each House is authorised to formulate rules of procedure to govern its business. In 2005 the House of Assembly drafted and introduced a new set of rules. Rule 52 (1) of the Rules of Procedure for the House indicates that a motion of censure or vote of no confidence can be moved against the Speaker. The Constitution left it up to each House to make rules to remove its presiding officer. Westminster traditions and conventions demand that the Speaker must resign and vacate the office if the motion of no confidence is successful.

Traditions and conventions of Westminster also dictate that only one motion for a no confidence vote could be moved in a single session of Parliament. The opposition moved a vote of no confidence in the Speaker earlier in the session which was amended by the FNM to say that the House did indeed have confidence in the Speaker. By amending the opposition’s Resolution of no confidence, the FNM took control and thus ownership of the Resolution.

This control and ownership precludes the FNM from moving an original Resolution of no confidence in

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net this current session. The problem in the Bahamas is that the ruling parties have abandoned the age-old tradition of regular prorogation of the Parliament.

Maybe this reluctance to prorogue Parliament in part is to prevent motions of no confidence being moved.

The Prime Minister has the option of proroguing the Parliament thus ending the current session which has endured since 2017, and starting a new session of Parliament when a new vote of no confidence could be introduced. This strategy has its own problems as we shall see later in this letter.

He could also allow him to continue as Speaker as an independent member of parliament until he decides to have the Parliament dissolved.

The Speaker’s resignation from the FNM and his decision to remain as Speaker of the House of Assembly is most unusual. In fact, it is the first time in my memory that I have seen that. His decision to remain in office is protected by the provisions of Article 50 (2) as his continuing in office is not dependent on his membership in a political party. The question then is does he have the moral authority to stay in office as Speaker?

I hold the view that if he had resigned from his political party upon being elected as Speaker, which I encourage all future persons elected as Speaker to do, this question would not have arrived. Having not resigned from the FNM upon his election as Speaker, he is bound by the dogma of his FNM party.

Moreover, the Speaker tried to make the claim in his letter that his resignation from his political party was a matter of principle. He made the charge that he could not remain affiliated with the FNM because the party was not committed to the “fundamental essentials of

democracy”, a very serious charge. But if those fundamentals of democracy were the real reason for his resignation from the FNM, then his continuing in office as Speaker remedies nothing. His resignation as Speaker of the House of Assembly, however, would have sent a stronger signal of his fidelity to those democratic principles he espoused.

The traditions and conventions of the Westminster system hardly conceived that a no confidence vote would ever be moved by the majority party that nominated one of its own members to be Speaker of the House. In case the FNM is considering this option, I wish to remind them of the “carnival” surrounding the Trinidad and Tobago ruling party’s attempt to remove Speaker Occah Seepaul from office. In 1995 Prime Minister Patrick Manning requested the resignation of the sitting Speaker of the House of Representatives Occah Seepaul after an allegation was raised that she had committed perjury in a court matter. Occah Seepaul was Trinidad and Tobago’s first female Speaker. The Speaker refused to resign and the governing party gave notice that it would move a vote of no confidence in the Speaker. The Speaker refused to put the motion claiming that it was out of order. The Prime Minister unable to remove the Speaker by parliamentary means put the country under a state of emergency and had the Speaker placed under house arrest. We hope the current situation in the Bahamas does not escalate to that extreme. But in this country, which is perpetually under a state of emergency, it must be very tempting for Prime Minister Minnis to add Speaker Moultrie to one of his many emergency orders and have Speaker Moultrie placed under House arrest.

MAURICE TYNES Nassau, February 9, 2021.

Vaccinating the elderly EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT WAS with shock and bitter disappointment – disappointment that almost brought me to tears, that I read that those of us over the age of 65 are going to be denied the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. I have looked forward to getting vaccinated for so long in order to feel safer going to the grocery store, pharmacy, etc, but also going through an airport and travelling on a plane.

Like everyone else, my life has been totally disrupted by this pandemic.

I am a Bahamian citizen, but I have family in the USA, including grandchildren whom I have not seen for over three years. They

were children when I saw them last, now they are teenagers.

I cannot agree with the rationale behind this decision as receiving the vaccine is, as I understand, entirely voluntary. I understand perfectly that only a small percentage of the volunteers during the testing phase originally were over 65, which I believe is the reasoning behind this decision.

However, if I am willing to take any risk that may be involved, surely that should be my decision. With the exception of France, I believe it is being given to senior citizens in most other countries. Not only that, but after front line workers, senior citizens get priority!!

Have we become a country that no longer cares for its elderly? In many, many homes it is the elderly who have been the primary homemakers, taking care of babies and children in order that single mothers can go to work. Supervising homework and being a source of discipline. Also, by denying us the vaccine, those of us who have worked long and hard all our lives are being denied some of the pleasures of retirement. Several items on my “bucket list” have already gone out of the window, and as I am not getting any younger, I may as well throw the bucket out as well.

JOANNA ROBERTSON Nassau, February 8, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 10, 2021, PAGE 7

Minister: Rape allegation against defence force officer ‘disturbing’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday called the rape allegation made against a Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer “concerning” and “disturbing”.

He said he hopes the investigation can be concluded soon “because we cannot allow the reputation of our agencies to be sullied”.

He also said while he is concerned about the allegation, he does not believe that safety in the workplace is a “problem” at the agency.

His comments came after the RBDF, in a statement on Monday, confirmed that an alleged rape involving an officer and marine had occurred in Mathew Town, Inagua.

The matter was turned over to police for further investigation. The alleged perpetrator is in police custody.

Asked yesterday if there was any concern within his ministry about the safety of RBDF officers as a result of the incident, the minister replied that he had none.

But he said law enforcement agencies will not tolerate such acts and allow those found guilty to go unpunished.

“Well, no concern about the safety of officers,” the Mount Moriah MP said outside Cabinet. “However, I am very concerned about the allegations. I have spoken to the Commodore at length about it and you never want to be

in a position where you’re working in any environment right and persons are making allegations of that sort that they’re being harassed or assaulted by colleagues especially those in superior positions.

“And so, this is very concerning to me. I’m not passing any judgement at this time. The matter is being fully investigated by police and at the end of the day, wherever the evidence leads, I am certain the police will follow. But, I’m very disturbed and we cannot have that kind of stuff going on in any business environment much less our armed forces.”

Responding to the matter Monday, RBDF Commodore Raymond King strongly denounced all forms of sexual violence, insisting the agency will not hesitate to take action against any of its employees found committing such acts.

He urged RBDF employees to remain disciplined and ascribe to the agencies “core values, sentries of customs, and military traditions.”

In view of the incident, the commodore also said that a fraternisation policy meant to discourage “consensual intermarriages and relations” is currently being reviewed by officials.

Mr King said in a statement on Monday: “…There is no fraternisation policy in the public service or the other uniform branches in the country to discourage consensual intermarriages and relations.

However, such policy is being given careful and deliberate consideration by the

MAN ACCUSED OF SEX WITH 16-YEAR-OLD BOY

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 59-YEAR-OLD man who was accused of having sex with a teenage boy was yesterday denied bail ahead of his trial.

Police said Williams Davis engaged in unlawful sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old boy sometime between October and December of last year.

Due to the nature

of the charge, he was not required to enter a plea and his case was adjourned to March 23 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

In the meantime, Deputy Chief Magistrate Forbes denied the accused bail and remanded him to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Davis, who is represented by attorney Jomo Campbell, has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

MAN BAILED IN FRAUD TRIAL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN who denied defrauding a local business of $2,000 was yesterday granted bail before his trial.

Jamaal Bethel, 35, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes charged with one count each of possession of a forged document, uttering a forged document and fraud by false pretences.

The prosecution alleged Bethel possessed and

YOUR

uttered a fraudulent $2,000 FirstCaribbean International Bank cheque that was drawn from the account of HR Business Solutions and made payable in his name in August 2018.

It is also alleged that the accused unlawfully obtained the cash by means of false pretences around the same time.

Yesterday, Bethel denied all of the allegations and his matter was adjourned to June 17 for trial.

In the meantime, he was granted $3,500 bail.

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

commander of the Defence Force at the time.”

Asked about his thoughts on such a policy yesterday, Mr Dames replied: “Fraternising policy or not, when you are employed, be it the private or public sector, you expect that you go into an environment where there is decency and respect for others no matter where they may sit in the business or an agency.

“But there are laws out there to deal with anyone who takes this position that an employee is a thing or an object especially those who are subordinates and so the law is sufficient to this point to deal with any matter of such nature and I expect that in any of these agencies, especially those that fall under my remit that the leadership will take the appropriate action to ensure that all employees are safe, but I am not concerned that this is a problem in the agency.

“However, I am concerned about the matter that had been reported a few days ago and I expect to see that that matter will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible because we cannot allow the reputation of our agencies to be sullied in such manner or any matter.”

MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, February 10, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Throwing money at a problem doesn’t mean it’s going to go away

By Alicia Wallace

LAST week, it was reported a woman was sleeping in a car with her children, including an infant. She was asked to leave her previous apartment after being allowed to live there rent-free for several months. She expressed concern about her children’s education, noting her daughter had fallen behind over the past year. She noted there were other people in the same situation, forced on to the streets.

As a result of the news story, a group of a people stepped in to assist the family. They secured a place for them to live and gave them food. They also said they were helping her to find a job. In many cases, community members have to work together to support others. One of the issues is that we rarely know what others are going through.

Sometimes, we have an inkling there is an issue affecting a large number of people, but without a personal account, few are moved to take action. Pride and the expectation of condemnation prevents people from sharing their stories

and asking for help. When we do hear a story, we begin to understand different realities.

Shortly after the news story of the woman and her children, there was a social media post about a man with two children who were homeless. The children were staying with someone during the day while he tried to make money by washing cars. If he earned money, he was expected to give some of it to the person keeping the children. The person posting did not have time for him to wash their car, so they shared the story to encourage other people to help him in any way possible. Several people responded, asking for his contact information. Hopefully, he is also receiving assistance.

People quietly give and receive assistance every day. Sometimes someone overhears their story or sees a need. They may notice the issue at work and, unable to help in their official capacity, refer them to the right person or organization. By whatever means, some people find the help they need, and the general

SOME of the packages being given out by Island Luck Cares in December - when long lines of people in need filled the roads outside the national stadium. public never hears about it. problems. It seems to be the be enrolled in and attend including people who are The stories we do hear are a way of many of our elders, school - now. unemployed, underemdrop in the ocean. likely because it was posWhen we are able to step ployed and retired.

My friend and fellow sible for them in times of up and offer assistance, it is People house family advocate Erin Greene plenty. Some of us have important we do not hesi- members in their living often talks about the impe- adopted the same method tate. Still, there is only so rooms for as long as they tus to solve our problems of responding to problems. much help that we can give. can. Others give money to by throwing money at We pay for it to go away.

The landlord in the first help people to cover their them as one of our biggest The electricity keeps story was only able to help rent. In cases of medigoing off? Buy a genera- the woman and her children cal emergencies, there are tor! Public transportation is to a certain extent. The cookouts, money transfers, too unpredictable for your babysitter in the second and GoFundMe campaigns. child, a university student, story offered to help, but We do what we can to help to use it to get to campus? also needs income. There each other. We try to make Buy them a car! is a limit to the support a little bit of money go a Yes, we do have the right people without financial long way. These are tempo— and often the need — to wealth can give. We need rary, case-specific solutions. use our resources to solve to address the issues — the Our $10, $100, and $1000 our own problems, but cycle of poverty, the fragil- contributions do not that’s a real problem. As ity of the economy and the address the issue. Most of Greene says, when we use system that has cut people us are so busy dealing with our money to solve our out and failed to provide cases that we do not have problems, we only solve support. the time to think about, them for ourselves. The It is not enough to book much less address, the sysissue is still there, affect- a month-long hotel stay for temic issues. ing other people, but we a family. A fridge full of Our individual problems have bought our way out of food for the week is only are symptoms. The money experiencing or even seeing the beginning. A job is, of we use to solve them mask it. Those who cannot afford course, a more longterm the symptoms. We need a to buy their way out of the solution for an individual real treatment plan. problem have to continue or family, but without We are now in election to live with it. building wealth, the same season. The Progressive It is not inherently thing can happen again. Liberal Party and Free bad to seek comfort for We saw it after 9/11, after National Movement have yourself. The electricity Hurricane Dorian, and both announced about half outages are frustrating. now during the COVID-19 of the candidates on their They hinder productivity, pandemic. slates. We should soon damage appliances and What about the people hear about the issues they other equipment, make it whose stories we do not claim to champion, but uncomfortable to be inside hear? What about those we do not need to wait for and affect our ability to who are turned away or their charters and manifesproperly care for loved receive insufficient sup- tos. We need to make our ones. It is not shameful port from the government demands and not be moved to put provisions in place agencies that are supposed by the empty, tired promto stop the outages from to help? Our assistance to ises of thousands of jobs. affecting your life. It is, a few people does noth- We need an administration however, important to rec- ing to change the systems that is prepared to conduct ognize the issue persists that create and sustain critical analysis of governand, should your personal this unnecessary struggle. ment systems and resident solution fail or turn out to We need an approach that needs, and to develop a be unsustainable, you will responds to immediate plan of action for filling experience the issue again. needs and reforms systems. that gap. We not only need Similarly, the assistance We need safe houses for better solutions, but details we give to a person or survivors of abuse. We need on budget and execution. family is necessary and shelters for the unhoused. After cycles and cycles of good, but the issues of We need rehabilitation pro- being duped and ignored, homelessness, unemploy- grams and support services we need to ask how election ment and the lack of a for people with addic- promises will be fulfilled. social safety net persist. tions. We need a system We need to demand that People need to eat - now. that is properly funded candidates, parties, and They need a safe place to and designed to meet the party leaders “make it live - now. Children need to needs of the vulnerable make sense”.

IN CASE YOU’RE INTERESTED...

Dispossession by Tayari Jone.

This Audible short story, from the author of the best-selling novel An American Marriage, is a story of motherhood, race, and loss. It has been so long since Cheryl has seen her son that when he promises a visit, she takes time off from work that she can’t really afford. She is a mover, and her job exposes her to the lives and possessions of other people. Her next job reminds her a bit too much about her own past.

Queen Sugar.

The television will be back with season five this month.

Now is a good time to start at the beginning if you have not watched the earlier seasons. The Bordelon siblings are very different — activist Nova, NBA manager and wife Charley and struggling Ralph Angel are all after something. They are brought together by a death in the family and have to work together to run the family’s sugarcane farm. If you’re a reader or want to become one, pick up the book by Natalie Baszile.

The television series makes quite the departure from the book, so prepared for that.

Cardi Tries.

This series, available on Facebook, is all about rapper Cardi B trying to do new things. She takes a dance class with Debbie Allen, tries race car driving, makes sushi, and practices basketball (yes, with the long nails) among other activities.

If you’re looking for something low-stakes to watch and have a good laugh, this series is worth a try.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 10, 2021, PAGE 9

CORONAVIRUS FIGHTING ROBOT AT FLORIDA AIRPORT GETS NEW NAME KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — A coronavirus-fighting robot that disinfects Key West International Airport’s interior spaces has a new name.

Florida Keys tourism officials announced the winner Friday of a social media contest to pick the name. Chelsea Atkinsm, of Bat Cave, North Carolina, submitted “R2Key2,” winning a three-night vacation for two in the island chain.

The competition, staged in mid-January, reached its 1,000-entry limit in less

than six hours.

“While naming the robot is lighthearted in its nature, what we make a priority here in the Keys is protecting the health of our residents and tourists,” said Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron, one of the contest judges and a tourism council board member.

Key West International was among the first U.S. airports to employ one of the unique robots, debuting it in December to augment other cleaning practices.

TECHTALK

AN ultraviolet light-emitting robot rolls in front of check-in counters at Key West International Airport in Key West, Fla. On Friday, the Florida Keys tourism council announced the winner of a contest to name the robot. “R2Key2” was submitted by Chelsea Atkins of Bat Cave, North Carolina. Key West was among the first airports in the United States to take delivery of the apparatus that is programmed to flood areas with UV light to kill COVID-19. (Steve Panariello/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP) Standing nearly 6 feet tall, “R2Key2” emits highintensity ultraviolet UV-C wavelength light designed to remove 99.9% of harmful airborne and surface pathogens including

COVID-19. After the airport closes to the public each night, it patrols autonomously for about two 1/2 hours to disinfect the terminal and other areas. The naming contest

was conceived by the Keys tourism council to increase awareness of the island community’s safety protocols to combat COVID-19, including mandatory masking requirements.

UAE SPACECRAFT ENTERS ORBIT AROUND MARS IN HISTORIC FLIGHT

By ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates swung into orbit around Mars on Tuesday in a triumph for the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission.

Ground controllers at the UAE’s space centre in Dubai rose to their feet and broke into applause when word came that the craft, called Amal, Arabic for Hope, had reached the end of its seven-month, 300-million-mile journey and had begun circling the red planet, where it will gather data on Mars’ atmosphere.

The orbiter fired its main engines for 27 minutes in an intricate, highstakes maneuver that slowed the craft enough for it to be captured by Mars’ gravity. It took a nail-biting 11 minutes for the signal confirming success to reach Earth.

Tensions were high: Over the years, Mars has been the graveyard for a multitude of missions from various countries.

A visibly relieved Omran Sharaf, the mission’s director, declared, “To the people of the UAE and Arab and Islamic nations, we announce the success of the UAE reaching Mars.”

Two more unmanned spacecraft from the U.S. and China are following close behind, set to arrive at Mars over the next several days. All three missions were launched in July to take advantage of the close alignment of Earth and Mars.

Amal’s arrival puts the UAE in a league of just five space agencies in history that have pulled off a functioning Mars mission. As the country’s first venture beyond Earth’s orbit, the flight is a point of intense pride for the oil-rich nation as it seeks a future in space.

An ebullient Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s dayto-day ruler, was on hand at mission control and said: “Congratulations to the leadership and people of the UAE. ... Your joy is indescribable.”

About 60% of all Mars missions have ended in failure, crashing, burning up or otherwise falling short in a testament to the complexity of interplanetary travel and the difficulty of making a descent through Mars’ thin atmosphere.

ABOVE: Emiratis celebrate after the Hope Probe enters Mars orbit as a part of Emirates Mars mission, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday. (AP Photo/ Kamran Jebreili) RIGHT: This illustration provided

by Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre depicts the United Arab Emirates’ Hope Mars probe. (Alexander McNabb/MBRSC via AP) A combination orbiter and lander from China is scheduled to reach the planet on Wednesday. It will circle Mars until the rover separates and attempts to land in May to look for signs of ancient life.

A rover from the U.S. named Perseverance is set to join the crowd next week, aiming for a landing Feb. 18.

It will be the first leg in a decadelong U.S.-European project to bring Mars rocks back to Earth to be examined for evidence the planet once harboured microscopic life.

If it pulls this off, China will become only the second country to land successfully on Mars. The U.S. has done it eight times, the first almost 45 years ago. A NASA rover and lander are still working on the surface.

For months, Amal’s journey had been tracked by the UAE’s state-run media with rapturous enthusiasm.

Landmarks across the UAE, including Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower on Earth, glowed red to mark the spacecraft’s anticipated arrival. Billboards depicting Amal tower over Dubai’s highways. This year is the 50th anniver-

sary of the country’s founding, casting even more attention on Amal.

If all goes as planned, Amal over the next two months will settle into an exceptionally high, elliptical orbit of 13,670 miles by 27,340 miles (22,000 kilometres by 44,000 kilometres), from which it will survey the planet’s mostly carbon dioxide atmosphere at all times of day and in all seasons.

It joins six spacecraft already operating around Mars: three U.S., two European and one Indian.

Amal had to perform a series of turns and engine firings to maneuver into orbit, reducing its speed to 11,200 mph (18,000 kph) from over 75,000 mph (121,000 kph).

The control room full of Emirati engineers held their breath as Amal disappeared behind Mars’ dark side.

Then it re-emerged from the planet’s shadow, and contact was restored on schedule. Screens at the space centre revealed that Amal had managed to do what had eluded many missions

over the decades.

“Anything that slightly goes wrong and you lose the spacecraft,” said Sarah al-Amiri, minister of state for advanced technology and the chair of the UAE’s space agency.

The success delivers a tremendous boost to the UAE’s space ambitions. The country’s first astronaut rocketed into space in 2019, hitching a ride to the International Space Station with the Russians. That’s 58 years after the Soviet Union and the U.S. launched astronauts.

Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s science mission chief, tweeted congratulations, saying: “Your bold endeavour to explore the Red Planet will inspire many others to reach for the stars.

We hope to join you at Mars soon” with Perseverance.

In developing Amal, the UAE chose to collaborate with more experienced partners instead of going it alone or buying the spacecraft elsewhere. Its engineers and scientists worked with researchers at the University of Colorado, the University of California at Berkeley and Arizona State University.

The spacecraft was assembled at Boulder, Colorado, before being sent to Japan for launch last July.

The car-size Amal cost $200 million to build and launch; that excludes operating costs at Mars.

The Chinese and U.S. expeditions are considerably more complicated — and expensive — because of their rovers. NASA’s Perseverance mission totals $3 billion. The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, is looking for Amal to ignite the imaginations of the country’s scientists and its youth, and help prepare for a future when the oil runs out.

“Today you have households of every single age group passionate about space, understanding a lot of science,” said al-Amiri, the chair of the space agency. “This has opened a broad realm of possibilities for everyone in the UAE and also, I truly hope, within the Arab world.”

• DOORDASH is buying automated food prep company Chowbotics to expand its fresh meal offerings.

San Francisco-based DoorDash announced the acquisition Monday. Terms of the deal, which closed late last year, weren’t disclosed.

Hayward, Californiabased Chowbotics, which was founded seven years ago, makes a refrigerator-sized robot called Sally that can store up to 22 prepared ingredients.

Sally uses those ingredients to make up to 65 salads, bowls and other meals at a time.

Prior to this year, Chowbotics had sold around 125 of its $35,000 robots, mostly to universities, medical centers and grocery stores. But the company said sales jumped during the pandemic as customers looked for touch-free ways to dispense food.

DoorDash said Chowbotics’ robots could allow its restaurant partners to offer more varieties of meals without having to expand their kitchen space. Other DoorDash merchants, like convenience stores, could also use it to expand into fresh food. Chowbotics CEO Rick Wilmer said DoorDash’s reach will help his company grow. DoorDash offers delivery from 390,000 merchants in the U.S., Canada and Australia and is the food delivery market leader in the U.S. DoorDash said Chowbotics’ staff are now DoorDash employees. But otherwise, Chowbotics will continue to operate independently and has no plans to change its name.

(AP) • TWO Georgia electric cooperatives say they and partners will invest more than $200 million to extend broadband internet to more than 80,000 customers in 18 counties between Atlanta and Macon.

Central Georgia Electric Membership Corp. and Southern Rivers Energy made the announcement Monday with Gov. Brian Kemp and others at the state Capitol. The two cooperatives will run fiber to all their customers and Conexon of Kansas City, Missouri will operate the service. Central Georgia EMC is investing $135 million and Southern Rivers is investing $53 million, with each owning the infrastructure and also using it control their electric grids. They will lease capacity to Conexon, which is investing $12.5 million and will offer accounts to customers.

“We struggled for years with poor connectivity, but looked at it as just another one of those things that many rural Americans lacked, like traffic lights, chain restaurants, or department stores,” said Southern Rivers President and CEO Michael McMillan. “But when schools closed, our children’s only access to education was via the internet. It became crystal clear that quality internet at an affordable price is not a luxury. It is essential.”

Monroe County and its school district will contribute $1.3 million in local funds.

The two cooperatives will start construction this year, beginning in that county. The first phase will be done in 12 to 16 months, officials said Monday, while full build-out is expected to take four or five years. The first customers could be turned on this summer.

“We build to every member,” said Conexon partner Jonathan Chambers. “We don’t leave anyone behind.”

PAGE 10, Wednesday, February 10, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

FIREFIGHTERS at the scene of the fatal helicopter crash in Calabasas, California in January 2020 that killed Kobe Bryant and eight other people.

Photo: Mark J Terrill/AP

Pilot error blamed for Kobe crash LOS ANGELES Associated Press

THE pilot who crashed the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, killing all nine aboard, made a series of poor decisions that led him to fly blindly into a wall of clouds where he became so disoriented he thought

he was climbing when the craft was plunging toward a Southern California hillside, federal safety officials said yesterday.

The National Transportation Safety Board primarily blamed pilot Ara Zobayan in the January 26, 2020, crash that killed him along with Bryant, the basketball

star’s daughter and six other passengers heading to a girls basketball tournament.

Zobayan, an experienced pilot, ignored his training, violated flight rules by flying into conditions where he couldn’t see and failed to take alternate measures, such as slowing down and landing or switching to

auto-pilot, that would have averted the tragedy. The NTSB said it was likely he felt pressure to deliver his star client to his daughter’s game at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy.

The agency announced the long-awaited findings during a four-hour hearing pinpointing probable

causes of what went awry in the 40-minute flight.

The agency also faulted Island Express Helicopters Inc, which operated the aircraft, for inadequate review and oversight of safety matters.

When Zobayan decided to climb above the clouds, he entered a trap that has

doomed many flights. Once a pilot loses visual cues by flying into fog or darkness, the inner ear can send erroneous signals to the brain that causes spatial disorientation. It’s sometimes known as “the leans,” causing pilots to believe they are flying aircraft straight and level when they are banking.

Trump impeachment trial begins in Senate WASHINGTON Associated Press

Private Service For ROSIE AGNES WILLIAMS, 68 who passed away on January 9th, 2021 at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, will be held at 12:30 p.m. at Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road on Thursday, February 11th, 2021. Officiating will be Father David Cooper.

Precious memories will remain in the hearts of her Daughters: Gina Russell and Nadia Mott-Coleby; Sons: Jamal Williams, Grade 1 Revenue Officer; Rev Dr. Roger Williams Sr.; International Chaplin; Marriage Officer, Lathor Thompson and Father David Cooper; Sisters: Brenda Higgs, Zanetta Deveaux, Valerie Strachan, Wanda Williams, Delray Pratt and Patty Sporleder, Adriann Lowe (of Fort Lauderdale); Brothers: Henry, Kaleph, Kennith, Peter Williams and Reckwill Pratt; Grandchildren: Gia Taylor, Nimyah Russell, Shaiyann and Lateisha Williams, Berenthia Marshall, Tnyah Barry, Asante Edgecombe (Angel Rose), Jah-mal, Jahmar, Jahmari and Roger Williams Jr., Karlee Jr. and Markayah Culmer; Grand-in-laws: Navy Petty Officer Airman Joshua Taylor and Adriel Marshall; Great grands: Zaylin Williams, O’niyah Cayard, Carter and Carson Taylor; Adopted sons: Devon Thompson and Karlee Culmer Sr.; Daughters-in-law: Dimitris Williams & Raquel Rolle; sister Lillymae Thompson; Nieces: Patricia Thompson, Thelcina Thompson Wesley Mcclinton, Veda Rolle, Shenique Rolle, Lashanda Thompson, Detra Penn, Laurie Neymour, Jackie Bodie & Khadeshua Curry; Nephews: Henry Brown Jr, Troy & Mark Williams; Uncles: David Williams (of Freeport) and Verthel Pratt (of Port Howe); Aunts: Rosie Dean and Dorthory Miller, Sisters-in-Laws: Princess Vivido, Thelcina Thompson, Elizabeth Smith; Brothers-in-law: Zenith Higgs, Herculean Thompson; Grand Nieces & Nephews: Azaria, Ayesha, Anzell Bowe, Channel, Shavonne, Lathoria, Ivy, Darenque Sharpe, Jordan Forbes, Renae, Lakeisha, Ashley, Azaria, Shenique, Terry Jo, Sharnette, Shakira, Sharnette, Joycelyn, Lamarr, Lashad, Steven, Lathor, Montano, Sherman “Big Boy”, Sherman “Small”, Javares, Carlton, Thorn, Tamiko, Shanado, Kevin, Holland, Gareth, Cleophas, Asharan, Ashton, Shavano, Lavardo, Jason, CN, Christopher, Steven; Numerous Relatives & Friends: The Most Honorable Prime Minister Hubert and Patricia Minnis, Leader of the Official Opposition the Honorable Philip and Ann Davis and Former Prime Minister the Right Honourable Perry and Bernadette Christie, The Right Reverend Laish Boyd Sr. and Joann Boyd, Elseworth Johnson, John Williams & Family, Nimoy Russell, Peter Gilcud, Maggie and Abraham Mackey, Deborah Neymour, Edith Anderson, Ethlean, Dickie, Dave, Ozzie and Floyd Neymour, Madge, Deloris and Yasmine Simms, Hartley Lundy, Paulette Burrows, Leanann Major, Florence Sturrup, Playdell Newton, Vivianna, Diann, Sylvia, Orion, Sherly, Ida, Agnes Williams, Bernard, Andre, Chris, John, and Pembroke Williams, Vanria Taylor, Monica Edgecombe, Pearleane Johnson, Mikeva Humes, Janelsa Hanna, Nina Knowles, Nikita Bastian, Timothy Dames, Michael Forbes, Rosemarie Coakley, Dora Walker, Sam Green, Cynthia Cooper & Family, Beryl Rolle, Kentrice Coakley, Alfonso Cambridge, Marsha Neymour, Majorie and Abraham Mackey, Debbie, Edith Anderson, Dave Neymour, Linda Curtis, Melrose Knowles, Glenda Williams, Tyrone North, Theresa Bailey, Demetria Pratt, Elcina Davis, Prophetess Wendy, Anwar Marsh, Elizabeth Collie, Erin Jacobson, Dillon Johnson, Val Cooper, Linda Curtis, Debbie Williams, Port Howe Community, Fresh Creek Community, Plantol Street Community, Commonwealth Blvd (The Yard, Gaza) Community and a host of family members, friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Viewing will be held in the “Serenity Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Road on Wednesday (TODAY) from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

HOUSE Democrats opened Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial yesterday showing the former president whipping up a rally crowd to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell” against his reelection defeat, followed by graphic video of the deadly attack on Congress that came soon after.

The lead prosecutor told senators the case would present “cold, hard facts” against Trump, who is charged with inciting the mob siege of the Capitol to overturn the election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Senators sitting as jurors, many who themselves fled for safety that day, watched the jarring video of Trump supporters battling past police to storm the halls, Trump flags waving.

“That’s a high crime and misdemeanor,” said Rep Jamie Raskin, D-Md, in opening remarks. “If that’s not an impeachable offence, then there’s no such thing.”

Senators agreed to consider the case, rejecting an attempt by the former president’s defence team and some Republican allies to halt the trial because he is no longer in office.

The vote was 56-44 on the question of whether the Senate has jurisdiction and could proceed.

Trump is the first president to face impeachment charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached. The Capitol siege stunned the world as hundreds of rioters ransacked the building to try

to stop the certification of Biden’s victory, a domestic attack on the nation’s seat of government unlike any in its history. Five people died.

Trump’s lawyers are insisting that he is not guilty of the sole charge of “incitement of insurrection,” his fiery words just a figure of speech as he encouraged a rally crowd to “fight like hell” for his presidency. But prosecutors say he “has no good defence” and they promise new evidence.

Security remained extremely tight at the Capitol on Tuesday, a changed place after the attack, fenced off with razor wire with armed National Guard troops on patrol. The nine House managers walked across the shuttered building to prosecute the case before the Senate.

Lead lawyer Bruce Castor said that no member of the former president’s defence team would do anything but condemn the violence of the “repugnant” attack, and “in the strongest possible way denounce the rioters.”

Yet Trump’s attorney appealed to the senators as “patriots first”, and encouraged them to be “cool headed” as they assess the arguments.

At one pivotal point, Raskin told the personal story of bringing his family to the Capitol the day of the riot, to witness the certification of the Electoral College vote, only to have his daughter and son-in-law hiding in an office, fearing for their lives.

“Senators, this cannot be our future,” Raskin said

through tears. “This cannot be the future of America.”

Trump attorney David Schoen turned the trial toward starkly partisan tones, the defense showing its own video of Democrats calling for the former president’s impeachment.

Schoen said Democrats are fueled by a “base hatred” of the former president and “seeking to eliminate Donald Trump from the American political scene”.

It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, in part because the senators were witnesses themselves. At his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump has declined a request to testify.

Presidential impeachment trials have been conducted only three times before, leading to acquittals for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and then Trump last year.

Timothy Naftali, a clinical associate professor at New York University and an expert on impeachment, said in an interview, “This trial is one way of having that difficult national conversation about the difference between dissent and insurrection.”

In filings, lawyers for the former president lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the House case, suggesting Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights and dismissing the trial as “political theater” on the same Senate floor invaded by the mob.

Presiding was not the chief justice of the United States, but the chamber’s senior-most member of the majority party, Sen Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

COVID LAB LEAK THEORY ‘UNLIKELY’ WUHAN, China Associated Press

THE coronavirus most likely first appeared in humans after jumping from an animal, a team of international and Chinese scientists looking for the origins of COVID-19 said yesterday, saying an alternate theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab was unlikely.

A closely watched visit

by World Health Organization experts to Wuhan — the Chinese city where the first coronavirus cases were discovered — did not dramatically change the current understanding of the early days of the pandemic, said Peter Ben

Embarek, the leader of the WHO mission.

But it did “add details to that story”, he said.

And it allowed the joint Chinese-WHO team to further explore the lab leak theory — which former US President Donald Trump and officials from his administration had put forward without evidence — and decide it was unlikely.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology is home to many different virus samples, leading to allegations that it may have been the source of the original outbreak, whether on purpose or accidentally.

Embarek, a WHO food safety and animal disease

expert, said experts now consider the possibility of such a leak so improbable that it will not be suggested as an avenue of future study. But another team member, Danish scientist Thea Koelsen Fischer, told reporters that team members could not rule out the possibility of further investigation and new leads.

China had already strongly rejected the possibility of a leak and has promoted other theories.

Embarek said the initial findings suggest the most likely pathway the virus followed was from a bat to another animal and then to humans, adding that would require further research.