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Volume: 118 No.58, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

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FNM CHIEF COOLS TALK OF ELECTION

STOP PAYING LIP SERVICE TO WOMEN IN GOVT

SEE PAGE EIGHT

Culmer insists party has no signal for early dash to polls

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement chairman Carl Culmer says he’s had no indication that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will call an early general election despite widespread speculation to the contrary.

Mr Culmer said that while it may seem Dr Minnis is gearing up to ring the bell earlier than 2022, it has always been the FNM’s practice to begin campaign preparations as early as two years before an election.

The chairman went on to express his disappointment in House Speaker Halson Moultrie, who recently resigned from the FNM, for his prediction that Dr Minnis will call a general election in June of this year or shortly thereafter.

Mr Moultrie has said the government cannot go beyond the mid-year budget exercise without finding alternative ways to raise revenue in the form of more taxes. He said this would adversely affect the government’s chances of re-election.

SEE PAGE THREE

RESIDENTS CRY FOUL OVER AIRPORT EXPANSION PLAN

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Government’s repeated failure to settle a 60 year-old grievance has put the planned North Eleuthera airport expansion in peril from potential legal action by over 3,000 “common” land owners.

Attorneys acting for the Harbour Island Commonage Committee, the owners’ representative, said their

clients will use legal channels to recover what they believe is due to them after failing to receive a single cent from the Government for the decades-long use of up to 730 acres of their land.

Richette Percentie, of KLA Chambers, urged the Minnis administration to “reach common ground” rather than provoke a legal battle that could delay the airport expansion.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

HOW ON EARTH DID YOU MANAGE THAT?

THAT’s no place to park a truck - a waste truck ended up in the sea yesterday opposite Traveller’s Rest on Bay Street. Pictures of the truck quickly circulated on social media as people wondered how it wound up in the water. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

CIVIL SERVICE JOBS WILL REMAIN SAFE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government does not plan to send public servants home to reduce public expenditure given the economic fallout from the pandemic, Public Service and National Insurance

Minister Brensil Rolle said.

“The government took the carefully considered position that during this pandemic and in this environment, the only persons who are steadily employed are government employees and they will support SEE PAGE FOUR

REOPENING - BUT IT’LL BE A LONG ROAD BACK

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net ENTERTAINMENT businesses such as Galleria Cinemas and Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace will soon join THE TRIBUNE the Fusion Superplex in

reopening to patrons as the country creeps to normalcy.

For their owners, the chance to restart operations provides a glimmer of hope after months of uncertainty, even as the road to profitability promises to be long A9TECH PAGE and difficult.

SEE PAGE FOUR

BPC AIMING TO PRESS AHEAD

AT ELECTRIC CAR SHOW IN THE DRIVING SEATTECHNOLOGY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Petroleum Company yesterday alarmed environmental activists by indicating it has not given up on The Bahamas following a surge in

interest from potential joint venture partners.

Casuarina McKinney, the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation executive director, said she was “very concerned” after the oil explorer informed international capital markets it had received

BAHAMIANS of all ages fell in love with electric vehicles over the Valentine’s Day weekend. Easy Car Sales, the only distributor of EVs in The Bahamas, showcased a wide range of BYD 2021 models to hundreds of interested shoppers at the Mall at Marathon.

This was the first 100 percent electric car show to be held in the country, and it was a big hit with the public who discovered the benefits, and the fun, of driving electric.

Test drivers loved the stylish design, enjoyed the smooth, powerful ride and were impressed by the luxury features and latest technology. According to Easy Car Sales, EVs are much cheaper to own than gas cars and require very little maintenance. To find out more and to book your personal test drive in an EV please visit: www.easy242. com.

Photos: Dante Carrer

numerous inquiries despite its failure to locate commercial oil quantities with the Perseverance One well.

BPC said that data gleaned from the well dug west of Andros will “more accurately inform and direct” its future plans.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

IN DRIVING SEAT AT ELECTRIC CAR SHOW

SEE PAGE NINE

IN NEVADA DESERT, A TECHNOLOGY FIRM AIMS TO BE A GOV

By SAM METZ Associated Press/ Report for America

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — In the Nevada desert, a cryptocurrency magnate hopes to turn dreams of a futuristic “smart city” into reality. To do that, he’s asking the state to let companies like his form local governments on land they own, which would grant them power over everything from schools to law enforcement.

Jeffrey Berns, CEO of Nevadabased Blockchains LLC, envisions a city where people not only purchase goods and services with digital currency but also log their entire online footprint — financial statements, medical records and personal data — on blockchain. Blockchain is a digital ledger known mostly for recording cryptocurrency transactions but also has been adopted by some local

THIS illustration shows a proposed “smart city” in rural northern Nevada. A cryptocurrency company that owns 67,000 acres in rural northern Nevada wants state government to grant technology companies power to form local governments on land they own. Jeffrey Berns, CEO of Nevada-based Blockchains, LLC, wants to build a ‘smart city’ run on blockchain technology on the land his company purchased in 2018. (EYRC Architects/Blockchains LLC via AP)

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THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 17, 2021, PAGE 3

FNM chief cools talk of election from page one Based on his circumstances, his experiences and analytical expertise, he “reached a conclusion that the election must be called very soon”, Mr Moultrie said on a local radio show.

So far both Dr Minnis and Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis have released campaign advertisements 15 months ahead of May 2022.

“As you are aware and he is aware of it, as the Constitution states that the election has to be called by the PM,” Mr Culmer told The Tribune. “The Speaker,

he can have an opinion, but he doesn’t determine when the election will be.

“I am disappointed in my good brother. The way he is carrying on you never see any other Speaker behave in the manner that he is behaving. A Speaker is supposed to be neutral and the guardian and the person with the highest standard for the government. The way he is going around I have never seen that before. It’s shocking me and it’s very disturbing the way he’s behaving.

“I would expect more from him than he is showing us and the Bahamian society.”

He continued: “As normal during 2017 we were prepared two years in advance. We have our paraphernalia. We have our theme. We had our t-shirts, flags, our candidates on the ground working, so this is the same thing.

“The FNM always prepares at least a year and a half to two years out.”

Mr Culmer also hit out at critics of his party’s ratified candidates and government spending.

The party on Monday night confirmed an additional eight candidates.

They were all incumbents, including Frankie Campbell for Southern Shores,

by a hefty margin over the incumbent who is there now and anybody else who wants to run.”

Asked how his bid for the ratification was going, he responded, “You are saying ‘in my bid for Tall Pines?’

How can it be a bid if I was the MP there from 1987?

You need to go interview Darville to see if my people are with him.

“When the polls close at 6 o’clock, you will hear the count. That is all I can tell you. Now go and call Darville and see what he has to say.”

The Tribune contacted Dr Darville who said although he is hopeful, now is not the time to elaborate on who will get the ratification as the process is ongoing.

“I am doing what I have to do and I am sure Mr Miller is doing what he has to do,” Dr Darville, former Pineridge MP, said. “We are going through a democratic process and until that process is completely resolved, I won’t comment on it. The process is not completed.

“It’s an internal party issue. Mr Miller and I are pending for the Tall Pines constituency. Until that process is completed by the National General Council, I really don’t have much comment to offer as far as what his future or my future will be for Tall Pines. I am hopeful that at the end of the day, I am chosen.”

Yesterday, PLP chairman Fred Mitchell said there will be no announcement on the issue until a final decision has been made.

“The Candidates Committee has reached the point of making a recommendation, so there will be no announcement at all until such time as the National General Council has made a decision,” Mr Mitchell noted.

The Tribune spoke with some PLP members who are a part of the Tall Pines constituency.

Although somewhat concerned about a split in votes if Mr Miller ran as an independent, they seemed convinced Dr Darville will get the ratification and the overall win.

Tall Pines resident Michelle Wilson says she is “rocking with doc”, coopting the slogan Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis used in the 2017 general election to show her support for Dr Darville.

“We have our own ‘rock with doc’ in Tall Pines. We are supporting Dr Michael Darville in Tall Pines,” she said. “We the PLPs of Tall Pines have our own little caucuses outside of those who want to be ratified and we have discussed the matter and most of us have agreed and intend to put our weight behind Dr Michael Darville.

“No offence to Mr Miller, but he has had his time. It’s time for new blood in Tall Pines. The PLP also needs new faces and new ideas and unstained reasoning.

Dr Darville is our guy. It all comes down to a vote from the National Council and I strongly feel it will be Dr Darville.”

Marie Brown is of the same view.

MILLER: I HAVE SUPPORT OF TALL PINES

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE battle for the Progressive Liberal Party’s nomination for Tall Pines is heating up, with former area MP Leslie Miller adamant that he has the support of the area despite indications that PLP Senator Dr Michael Darville is the front-runner.

Yesterday, Mr Miller repeated his belief that he will be victorious come Election Day whether or not he is chosen as the PLP’s candidate for the constituency.

Both he and Dr Darville were tightlipped about the race, but Mr Miller insists that no one can stop him from offering himself as a candidate even if he is not ratified by the PLP. “No one can stop me from running. Who is going to stop me? I am with my people and they are with me and that’s all I can tell you,” he said.

Political observers say that some PLPs are up in arms as they feel Mr Miller is being slighted and will not receive the nod for candidacy from party leader, Philip “Brave” Davis.

Mr Miller, known as “the Potcake”, has represented Tall Pines for quite some time in the past and has developed a good rapport with the constituents. However, he lost his re-election bid in the PLP wipeout in 2017.

“If I was to run independent, I will win,” said Mr Miller. “We will win

Michael Pintard for Marco City, Iram Lewis for Central Grand Bahama, Adrian Gibson for Long Island; Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe West Grand Bahama and Bimini, Reuben Rahming for Pinewood, Rickey Mackey for North Eleuthera and Shanendon Cartwright for St Barnabas.

The FNM has ratified 25 candidates for the next general election — 19 incumbents and six newcomers.

“Contrary to the narrative the PLP is trying to put out there the FNM has done much over the last few years and our MPs have worked hard. I was

listening to one of their surrogates talk on one of the talk shows about the money spent,” Mr Culmer said.

“It’s amazing the nonsense they come up with.

“When you look at the monies the government has paid a week to feed Bahamians during the pandemic when the whole world is suffering. When you look at what has been spent to restore the islands to some kind of normalcy, how could someone be so brassy to ask where the money was spent?

“The money had to come from somewhere to try and restore Abaco and Grand Bahama and the whole Bahamas during this

pandemic.

“We have fed and paid people. That money had to have come from somewhere,” Mr Culmer said.

Dr Minnis has also repeatedly brushed off speculation of an early election.

While in Grand Bahama last week he was asked when that island’s candidates would be announced.

Dr Minnis replied, “Oh, I don’t know yet. I don’t even know when’s the election.

Election is officially due May 2022.”

Asked about the possibility of a snap election, Dr Minnis said: “Oh, I haven’t heard it.”

FORMER Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller.

“Dr Michael Darville is going to come out on top,” she said with confidence.

“Watch! This constituency needs a fresh face. Something new. Now to answer your question about Leslie Miller being an independent candidate in the area if Dr Darville gets the nomination... That will pull some votes from the PLP, but I still feel that at the end of

the day, Dr Darville will be victorious. The FNM is finished around here for sure.

Done!

“We are trying to be as courteous as possible in this selection process. The PLP is different from the FNM. We don’t have cannibalism in our party. I think Mr Miller will be angry, but I do believe he will get something else to do once

the Progressive Liberal Party becomes government whenever this snap election is called.”

A PLP insider told The Tribune that Dr Darville is favoured by the party to receive the nomination for Tall Pines. Dr Darville represented the Pineridge constituency in Grand Bahama between 2012 and 2017.

PLP AIMS FOR COMPLETE SLATE OF CANDIDATES BY END OF MONTH

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis said the PLP hopes to ratify all its candidates for the next general election by the end of this month.

“We are still deliberating,” Mr Davis said yesterday before the party held a meeting of its Candidates Committee.

On Monday, the Free National Movement ratified eight more of its candidates, bringing its total number of confirmed candidates to 25.

The nominees, all

incumbents, include Marco City MP Michael Pintard, Southern Shores MP Frankie Campbell, Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis, West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe, Pinewood MP Reuben Rahming, Long Island MP Adrian Gibson, St Barnabas MP Shannon Cartwright and North Eleuthera MP Rickey Mackey.

“These public servants have demonstrated their love for the country through their unwavering commitment to its advancement in their respective areas of

work in government and their communities,” the FNM said in a statement.

“They will be among those at the forefront with the leader of our party, Dr Hubert Minnis, in promoting world-class education for future generations of Bahamians and revamping infrastructure to support additional industry and investment, which will ultimately lead to more new jobs and opportunities for Bahamians. This coupled with challenging the status quo through transparency and accountability, as well as the diversification of our economy, are paramount to

ensuring a better future for our country.”

In a statement yesterday, the PLP said the FNM’s ratified candidates “do not represent fresh new ideas but are largely the same old crew under Dr Minnis who led us to destruction and into the mess we find ourselves in today.”

The opposition party added: “The PLP also takes grave exception to the drivel, rubbish and untruths contained in the statement.”

Earlier this month, the PLP ratified 18 candidates for the next election. The candidates include party chairman

and former Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell in Fox Hill, former Attorney General Alfred Sears in Fort Charlotte, former State Minister for National Security Keith Bell in Carmichael, and former State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis in St Barnabas.

Others candidates include Senator Clay Sweeting in South Eleuthera, Senator Jobeth Coleby-Davis in Elizabeth, Leslia Brice in Seabreeze, Jomo Campbell in Centreville, Wayde Watson in Bain and Grants Town, Jamahl Strachan in Nassau Village, Mario Bowleg in Garden Hills,

Zane Lightbourne in Yamacraw, Bacchus Rolle in South Beach, Wayne Munroe in Freetown, Ronald Duncombe in Killarney, Tyrell Grave Young in Long Island, Basil McIntosh in MICAL, Mckell De’Angelo Bonaby in Mt Mariah and Leonardo Lightbourne in North Andros & the Berry Islands.

The candidates who won an election under the PLP’s banner in 2017 - party leader Philip Davis, Deputy Leader Chester Cooper, Glenys Hanna-Martin and Picewell Forbes - have been guaranteed a nomination, The Tribune understands.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, February 17, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Reopening - but it’ll be a long road back from page one “I believe that working with our partners we can break even in the short term but the road to profitability will take a while,” Chris Mortimer, president of Galleria Cinemas, said yesterday.

Mr Mortimer said the theatre will reduce the price of its adult tickets from $10 to $7 for as long as the emergency powers restrictions are in place.

“We’ve done this so it’s a little less expensive for people who want to come and take a break from COVID-19,” he said.

Leslie Miller, owner of Mario’s Bowling, offered a bleaker assessment for the future of his business.

“I don’t think anyone in this country, after the losses we’ve suffered over the past eight months, thinks we could break even,” he said.

“I don’t even think about getting a profit and ain’t nobody even thinking about making money. As long as the bank don’t dump ya, that’s success. This (is) the time to get the staff back on their feet. If you could pay the bills and BEC don’t turn ya off and give you a break, that’s great, but it’s the staff that we (are) focusing on, keeping them employed

GALLERIA Cinemas plans to reduce its priceson reopening. and trying to swim above the fray.”

Mr Miller said Mario’s Bowling will reopen today with 58 of its 120 employees.

The company, he said, received permission to

reopen after inspectors connected to the Office of the Prime Minister visited the establishment recently.

“When (they) came in, they were so shocked when they saw the magnitude of the place, as if they were

never in there before,” he said. “They said they didn’t know what the problem was, why we hadn’t been allowed to reopen yet. The problem was they never (came) in here to look at the size of the place. That

CIVIL SERVICE JOBS WILL REMAIN SAFE from page one

their families. So that is the reason why no civil servant got a deduction or was furloughed during this time,” he told reporters yesterday.

“We understand the seriousness of these times and we just took the position that it was in the best interest of us and the service that we keep at least some persons employed and persons that we selected were public officers.”

He also said: “…Approximately just over 1,000 individuals leave the public service every year and we have not increased that number and we’ve not increased the number of

persons entering the public service and so individuals are trying to at this time keep a job.

“This is the environment in which we live and we are not encouraging individuals at this time to separate except in those agencies where they’re having difficulties.”

It is not clear how many people are currently unemployed. Labour Director John Pinder has estimated the country’s unemployment rate to be around 38 to 42 percent.

However, the figures were not backed by Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, who told reporters last week that it’s difficult to accurately state the country’s current unemployment rate.

Mr Foulkes also said he believed that the nation’s unemployment levels were “drastically” down given the fact that many people have returned to work since the start of the pandemic.

Yesterday, Mr Rolle said more than $200 million has been paid out by the National Insurance Board to provide income support and unemployment assistance to workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said never in the country’s history has the social support agency expended such an amount of funds to provide economic aid to hurting Bahamians.

“Never before in the history of The Bahamas has any government agency

spent as much as NIB on income support and unemployment assistance,” he said. “I looked at numbers yesterday which suggest that when you look at the entire income support and unemployment assistance programme, some $219 million has already been spent and that does not include an additional $10 million that will come in the month of February so it could easily say that roughly in terms of income support alone, Bahamians have benefited to some degree (by) nearly $230 million.”

This comes as the hotel industry staggers to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with one major resort recently announcing plans to close its operations

NEW DIRECTOR FOR NIB TO TAKE OFFICE ‘SHORTLY’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE government has officially selected a new director for the National Insurance Board who is expected to “take office shortly”, according to NIB Minister Brensil Rolle.

The new director will replace Dr Nicola VirgillRolle when she vacates the post at the end of this month.

Mr Rolle would not reveal the name of the new selection, but said the appointee is a man who has experience in accounting.

“We’ve selected a new director for NIB,” Mr Rolle said before going to Cabinet. “The Cabinet Office is going to announce this week who he is and he’s intended to take office shortly thereafter.”

When pressed for further details, he said: “He has

been selected by the Cabinet and I cannot preempt the Cabinet. He comes from an accounting background so there is some degree of understanding on agencies and the need to manage funds and income.”

Dr Virgill-Rolle’s resignation was confirmed in late November. She has served as the NIB director for more than two years.

In a previous interview with The Tribune, Mr

Rolle admitted that he did not take Dr Virgill-Rolle seriously when she first revealed she was considering resigning.

Once her decision was made official in writing, Mr Rolle said the board sought to dissuade Mrs VirgillRolle, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Dr Virgill-Rolle will leave NIB to become the next executive director of Lyford Cay Foundations.

really bothered me because there was no need for us to close down because we have everything in place.

Our employees (are) out there starving. One hundred dollars per week, no one could live off that.”

Mario’s Bowling will reopen 30 of its 50 bowling lanes. Other amenities, including access to its games room and skating rink, will also be available.

The facility can hold up to 5,000 people.

“Once you reach a certain point, we will stop letting people in to follow the distancing rules,” Mr Miller said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mortimer was awaiting official permission from the OPM to reopen his business up to press time yesterday.

“We’re ready to open,” he said. “What we’re doing is just, we thought that the government’s position was they would make a general announcement with respect to the industry which they didn’t make. What we’ve done is we’ve applied, and I expect very shortly to have the waiver as well. We will be reopening for films to the Bahamian public very shortly.”

Galleria Cinemas will allow 33 percent of its occupancy capacity, Mr Mortimer said.

“Our largest theatre holds 300 people. We will ensure customers adhere to the required protocols.

There will be separation of rows so people don’t sit together in consecutive rows, there will be space in between. If there are families, they will sit together as long as they abide by the protocols,” he said.

Mr Mortimer said the theatre hasn’t determined how many of its staff will be brought back to work.

One issue he is seeking clarity on concerns concession sales, he said.

“The competent authority has indicated no indoor dining can take place which effectively means no eating inside the establishment.

Our business is about concessions sales. Ideally, we want to make sure that that is indeed included. Even if it isn’t, we’re going to reopen to show films to the Bahamian public,” he said.

The Tribune has previously reported that Fusion Superplex had immediately started the process of recalling furloughed staff upon receiving a letter from the competent authority, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, dated February 12, 2021, allowing the facility to reopen.

TOTAL CASES TOTAL DEATHS

8,383 179 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES MONDAY 7 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE

TOTAL TESTS

64,769

7

HOSPITALISED

13

for two years as it undergoes renovations.

The situation has forced many redundant workers to continue relying on the government’s unemployment assistance programme, which has been extended until the first quarter of 2021.

The programme initially began in March 2020 and has been extended several times to help those still in need.

According to Mr Rolle, an additional $10m has already been allocated by the government for the continuation of the programme.

As to what will happen when the initiative comes to an end, the NIB minister

CASES IN ICU

3

RECOVERED

7,071

said officials are hoping that more hotel properties and businesses will begin to reopen by then.

“That is a concern,” he told reporters. “We anticipate that industries will be coming back. We understand that they will be coming back slowly, but I think the Bahamian public also appreciates that the government has extended income support much longer than we believe was possible.

“If you look back at the history of income support in the country, we anticipated that we would’ve gone to June. It’s now almost 12 months of solid income support from the government and NIB.”

DISPLACED VOTERS MUST REGISTER IN NEW CONSTITUENCY

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

VOTERS who have relocated after being displaced

by Hurricane Dorian will have to register to vote in their new constituency, National Security Minister Marvin Dames suggested yesterday.

Last week, House Speaker Halson Moultrie told reporters that members of the Constituencies Commission were still deciding how they will accommodate voters in Abaco and Grand Bahama displaced by Hurricane Dorian.

The commission chair said he believed that recommendations should be made on the matter, possibly allowing these displaced people to choose to vote in the area they lived in before the storm.

When asked about the issue yesterday, Mr Dames

maintained that the law is the law, suggesting that storm victims who have moved to another area for more than six months will still need to make constituency transfers.

“Listen, again the law is pretty clear on that now and we can’t circumvent the law,” said Mr Dames.

“We would have spoken to that, I think, a few weeks ago but the law is really clear on persons who would have been out of their jurisdiction for, I believe it’s like six months, and how they ought to be treated. So, if and until the law is changed then we have to abide by the law.

“I’m not going to speak to that any further but right now, there are laws on the books as to how anyone being out of their constituencies for a specified period, how they ought and what they’re entitled to do and supposed to do.

“I can’t begin this process of speculating and making assumptions and misleading persons. Right now, we have laws that govern how we ought to conduct ourselves and we all have to comply with the law. That’s why we create laws.”

People who registered for the 2017 general election and who have not relocated for a period of 90 days or more shall remain registered as a voter on the continuous register unless their name has been removed from the register by the parliamentary commissioner, according to acting Parliamentary Commissioner Lavado Duncanson.

However, qualified Bahamians who are not on the 2017 register or who have moved to an address different from the one on their purple voter’s card will need to visit a Parliamentary

Registration Department centre to register or transfer their registration to a new polling division or constituency where they now reside.

Several voter registration centres opened this week.

Mr Dames said while the process to register first time voters is going smoothly, officials still have to work out several “kinks”.

“I mean we’re rolling it out and obviously when you’re beginning to roll it out for a new cycle you’re going to have a little minor issues, (but) no major issues,” he said.

“I got an update from the (acting) parliamentary commissioner yesterday (Monday) and things are going pretty well. They have to certainly work out some kinks here and there but what is good is that I think what you’re going to see is a greater

level of efficiency this time around.”

Mr Dames attributed officials’ success so far as one of the benefits of having a permanent register.

He maintained that compared to previous years where voter registration numbers totalled over 100,000 people, this year the numbers will be much less as a result of the newly passed Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Act. The legislation allows for a permanent voter register to be established for the first time in the country, meaning people who registered to vote for the 2017 election will not need to register again.

Some 20,000 first time voters are expected to register this election cycle.

Mr Dames told reporters: “We’re looking at probably registering between now and the next general election between 20,000

and 25,000 voters. That’s nothing compared to the hundred and eighty plus thousand and so this should be smooth sailing.

“But what I’m hearing from the parliamentary commissioner is that things are flowing and people are coming in but again as I’ve said before that in this cycle—now and the next general election—you’re looking at 20,000 and 25,000 voters.

“So, we shouldn’t be faced with that onslaught of all of the issues around trying to register 180,000 plus persons and this is why we’re pleased with the direction in which we’re heading and there are a lot more changes certainly in the pipeline and we would’ve looked at the amendments to the Act and so in time we hope to reach a point where our system is totally modernised and that’s the objective.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 17, 2021, PAGE 5

Chinese businesses hard hit by pandemic

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net THE Chinese Community Association of The Bahamas said some members reported up to a 50 percent reduction in business amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

While presenting food donations to the Bahamas Red Cross yesterday, association member Susie Chan revealed that for some time people were being discouraged from patronising Chinese establishments.

Her comments came when asked how relations were with members of the association and Bahamians.

“Well, initially when it (the pandemic) first started, even before we got (the virus) in The Bahamas in March... there was already some talk about ‘Oh don’t eat from the Chinese. Don’t buy from the Chinese. They have COVID. Their people (are) going home.’

“To be honest the flights had already been stopped, so people had already been stuck in Nassau. They weren’t able to travel for the traditional going home for the Chinese New Year.

“Most of the (Chinese) people that live in The Bahamas or work in The Bahamas, they’re here.

They don’t travel back to China like that quickly because it’s quite far away.

Business, of course, has been affected. Some people say up to 50 percent, but they just hold on. Trying to look towards being positive, cutback wherever they can on spending, and just wait it out.”

As the virus rages around the world, there have been international reports that the pandemic has caused racism towards Asians due to COVID-19 originating from Wuhan, China.

Ms Chan thinks moving away from stereotyping will probably be helpful with Bahamian and Chinese relations.

She added: “We’re here to do better for The Bahamas. We’re here to stay.

We’re Bahamians, but people don’t realise this.

Even though we look different, we’re born and raised in The Bahamas.

“I was born and raised here all my life. So you know it’s not like because you look Chinese you’re not Bahamian. So there’s a difference and I’d like to

FOOD being delivered to the Bahamas Red Cross yesterday by the Chinese Community Association.

Photos: Racardo Thomas

FOOD DONATED

BY CHINESE COMMUNITY THE Bahamas Red Cross received more than $5,000 worth of food yesterday from the Chinese Community Association.

The Red Cross’s director general Sean Brennen said the donation will go a long way to help those in need.

“The Red Cross, we are a humanitarian organisation where we rely on the generosity of groups such as our friends here as well as corporate Bahamas as well as individuals,” he said.

get that message out.

“Personally I don’t feel any tension, but I know people go on social media

“So the contribution is significant in that it saves us having to raise those funds to go and purchase items necessary. The donation today will be used in our kitchen facility as early as tomorrow to help meet the needs.”

He said there are feeding programmes in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco which the group is looking to expand.

“What this COVID-19 has taught us is... the need that exists. The human

and they say nasty things, but I look past that. I forgive them because it’s just being ignorant.”

need for people to donate towards feeding programmes such as this.

“People are hurting, we know that this pandemic has had devastating impacts as a result of the economy. People are not working as they once

She also took time to dispel one misconception about where the food is sourced for local Chinese

did.”

The association’s committee member Susie Chan said the donation was made to mark the Chinese New Year, which started last Friday.

She said the association has made similar

restaurants. “We all get from the wholesalers, buy from the wholesalers. It’s not like we import the food from China

donations in the past.

“We’ve helped with Dorian... We’ve worked with the Red Cross. We’ve worked with NEMA. We’ve been doing a lot of donations constantly and trying to do what we can,” she said.

because most perishables are bought from the US as we all know. It doesn’t come from China,” Ms Chan said.

CALL FOR PEOPLE TO BECOME BLOOD DONORS IN GB

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Blood Donors Society of Grand Bahama indicated that there is a dire need for people to become blood donors to help maintain adequate blood supply at the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama.

Lededra Marche, president of the BDSGB, said the organisation established a blood registry so that people can register to become voluntary donors.

“It is filling up, but not as fast as we would like it to,” she admits.

According to Marche, the typical shelf life for blood is about 30 to 42 days. After

LEDEDRA MARCHE that it is discarded, hence the need for voluntary donors.

To reach its target, the BDSGB is establishing partnerships with corporate Grand Bahama, civic and service organisations to boost participation by

organising major blood drives and fundraising events on Grand Bahama.

While speaking recently to members of the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama, Ms Marche was asked whether persons infected with COVID-19 are allowed to donate blood once they are cured.

She explained that screenings are conducted by medical lab professionals to determine whether persons are fit to donate blood.

Ms Marche noted that persons can give blood about three to four times a year or every three months.

“One pint of blood can save three lives, she said.

It only takes 30 minutes a day to change someone’s

life forever – it’s literally a matter of life and death.

And sadly, we don’t think about it until we or a loved one is in that position.”

Besides the fear of needles, she said there are a few myths that discourage people from giving blood.

She noted that most people tend to think that once blood is given it would be around forever until it is used. “That is just not the case, you cannot keep blood beyond 42 days. It is discarded…they cannot keep it any longer,” Marche said.

She also said that persons with tattoos can also donate blood if they had it for more than a year, as well as persons with underlying

conditions on the advice of a medical doctor.

Ms Marche said donors must eat a full meal one hour before giving blood.

To raise awareness among the youth, the organisation’s outreach arm intends to visit the high schools to encourage young people to become blood donors.

“Our intention… is to speak to seniors about making that one on their bucket list once they turn 17. At age 16 they must have parental consent,” she said. So that is one of our goals to have them realise how important and vital it is for them to become blood donors at an early age,” she said.

“We are grateful to those in corporate GB who have joined our fight, but we have only scratched the surface and we need support. We are forging ahead to increase our registry by having corporate GB and their employee commit to giving blood on a monthly rotation,” Ms Marche said.

The organisation’s goal is to initiate a 24-hour help desk and hotline to provide donor procurement care to assist families on GB. However, its ultimate goal is to secure a bloodmobile to go into communities to make it easier for persons to give blood.

“It is a costly venture, but we know as a community we can do it,” she said.

AIRPORT WORKERS ‘TO RECEIVE OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS’ THE government has agreed to pay all outstanding money owed to Airport Authority employees over a six-month period starting in the March pay period, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation said last night.

The ministry said it is aware of concerns being raised by Airport Authority employees through the Bahamas Public Services Union, about certain sums of money to be paid

as a part of the industrial agreement.

In a statement issued last night, the ministry said it is committed to honouring all agreed terms of the industrial agreement, and this has been communicated.

“The current financial constraints we face as a result of COVID-19 and its impact on our economy did not make it possible to honour these payments, and we ask for the continued patience of the Airport

Authority and its employees as we rebuild our economy stronger and continue to demonstrate our promise to protecting jobs,” the ministry said.

“The Airport Authority generates its revenue from the air-traveling public by way of collection of security and related travel fees at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) and our 28 Family Island airports.

“Despite a steep decline

in revenue to only a fraction of what is required to honour our commitments, we have retained all of our 600 plus employees on full pay, notwithstanding the fact that the majority are working a significantly reduced workweek. Specifically, all employees, with the exception of the airport screening and security departments, have been working approximately 20 hours weekly, with full pay, and during

the peak of the pandemic, most were not required to work at all as the airports were closed or operating on extremely limited schedules.”

The ministry said the government is committed to keeping public service employees on staff despite the economic hardship from the pandemic.

“The Airport Authority is no different, and we are fully committed to honouring all obligations.

As demonstrated, we have strongly resisted furloughing employees and/ or terminating anyone because of the pandemic as we see the engagement of all of our employees as a part of the solution on our road to recovery and maintaining economic stability,” the ministry added, asking staff and the union for “patience” as they exercise their rights in protesting or making any other public statements.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, February 17, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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Long saga still left unresolved THIS is a long story – 60 years long in fact.

An issue has been ongoing in Eleuthera over common land. For decades now, some of that land has been in use as an airport and a civil waste site by the government – a total of 730 acres all told.

It dates back to the 1950s, when a decision was made to build an airport on a portion of 6,000 acres subject to a commonage grant. Even back then, residents felt their property rights were being violated, but construction began amid promises of compensation from a portion of landing fees – promises that went unfulfilled.

The airport expanded in the 1970s, and more land went in the 1990s for a garbage dump and other facilities.

The upshot of it is that the whole matter has gone unresolved for decades – so why is it news again now? Another expansion was planned for the airport, increasing from an initial 450 acres to 550 acres and finally to 658 acres. Talks were held about a partnership between government and the Harbour Island Commonage Committee, and things were looking good… for a while.

Then talks went quiet in the spring of last year – and the government instead decided on a compulsory land purchase.

No partnership. No settling of decadesold grievances.

There seems to be little reason forthcoming about why the talks collapsed or why the government changed course – but it has left more than 3,000 landowners with a say in the matter without a deal and without an explanation.

Good luck to the FNM candidate in the Eleuthera constituency in the election with all of that to explain to win over voters.

The matter is not yet over, and inevitably it seems the courts will play a part in the final outcome.

But the whole saga is one of Bahamian people being brushed off for decades – not only by different governments but even dating back to before independence. Is it any wonder so many

people feel so powerless when dealing with government, or that it makes little difference which party is in charge when either one ignores calls to deal with an issue for year after year after year?

The government could, of course, come forward and explain it’s reasons for it’s decisions in this matter – why it chose to end the discussions, why it chose not to go forward with a partnership, and what it intends to do to resolve issues left so long outstanding. With money tight amid the pandemic, it might even find a partnership an attractive option to revisit.

Either way, this still hasn’t been sorted out – and with an election in the wind, it seems unlikely to be resolved this side of whatever election date is chosen.

Oil decision

After the celebrations from activists after the Bahamas Petroleum Company struck out in its search for oil at its first well, the realisation has settled in that the firm has not gone away.

The company is still talking about further exploratory drilling in its other four fields for which it has licences, adding that data from its well west of Andros will “more accurately inform and direct” its future plans.

With even the Prime Minister saying he is against oil drilling, there is, however, now a pause before the prospect of a second well – and the company must submit its renewal applications by the end of next month. Its current licences expire at the end of June.

A court case also rumbles on – and it is clear that BPC isn’t backing away just yet.

The government needs to be forthcoming about how it will handle the licence application process – and whether it is minded to approve or reject those, not least of all because of the public interest in the matter.

Will the government bet on oil, or will it back the environmental activists? It’s a big decision – and it’s coming very soon.

The Bahamas and COVID vaccination EDITOR, The Tribune.

TO BRING this pandemic to an end, a large share of the world needs to be immune to the virus. The safest way to achieve this is with a vaccine. Vaccines are a technology that humanity has often relied upon in the past to bring down the death toll of infectious diseases.

As of today, the USA has applied at least the first vaccine dose to 16% of its population. In the UK the percentage is 23% and even our tiny neighbour to the

south the TCI has managed 16%.

We are stuck at 0% and are now being told that the first vaccines might not arrive here until the end of March.

Even more disturbing is the Vaccination Committee’s cruel and stubborn refusal to follow best practices around the world and prioritise the elder population, who are at far more risk from serious illness or death. At first they were even talking about excluding the over-65’s altogether!

By not including older

persons in the first priority group, they are continuing to demonstrate their apparent disdain for the elders of The Bahamas. As one prominent person already commented in the local Press, it appears as if they want the older people to just die off.

This cannot be right, and needs urgent and compassionate reviewing by no less a person than the Competent Authority.

AEQUITAS Nassau, February 16, 2021.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

All is not right in the world EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN THE nineteenth century poet Robert Browning wrote that “God’s in his heaven, all’s right with the world.”

I firmly believe that God is still in his heaven, but certainly today all is not right with the world.

Half listening to the international news this morning, I was shocked to hear CNN announce that the Republican Party condemns and seeks to purge members who aren’t supporters of the much disgraced former president Donald Trump.

Mr Adam Kinzinger, a six-term congressman, is apparently considered enemy no. 1 – not only by his Republican party, but by his family!

Just imagine two days after Mr Kinzinger had the courage to express his decency and high standards by condemning a man not worthy to lead the party of good old Abe Lincoln, he received a two-page letter from 11 family members accusing him of being in cahoots with “the devil’s army” for making a public break with the former president Donald Trump.

“Oh my, what a disappointment you area to us and to God!” they wrote.

“You have embarrassed the Kinzinger family name!”

In an interview with the press a cousin said that she wanted “Adam to be shunned.”

Shunned for what – for upholding truth, honesty and the rule of law? If this is the moral standard of Mr Kinzinger’s family, then he should keep his distance and rise to the top by being true to his high standards.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Here in the Bahamas, at least, Mr Kinzinger, you are someone of whom we are proud.

Imagine there is another coward in the Republican party who is hiding behind the shield that there was no violence because there were no guns. Not only is that a lie – there were not only guns, but explosives of every description. But because he was not aware of guns being present, he did not vote to impeach.

However, a few years ago members of a US sports team was condemned because they refused to stand for their national anthem. Instead they knelt during the playing of the anthem. They were accused of showing disrespect to the US flag.

And yet on the attack on the capitol on January 6, it was this highly respected flag that was used as an instrument of destruction and injury in the attack, which spectators watched in horror satisfied that the instigator was none other than Donald Trump. And so you can be condemned in the US for disrespecting the flag by quietly kneeling instead of standing to the National anthem. Yet in the recent attack on the Capitol it was this same sacred flag that was used as an instrument of destruction against democracy!

Come on Americans, you can’t have it both ways!

And then as I listened I heard the newscaster say that a motorcade had been arranged by Trump

supporters — one of whom was Fox News no less! — to escort this disgraced man from his Mar-a-Largo resort to God knows where………

I was so angry, I turned the TV off, while I fumed that this man who, in my opinion should be facing a judge and jury, was now being treated as if he were still president!

I am surprised. No I am shocked. In my humble opinion — and I am certain in the opinion of many decent citizens we are also shocked at the miscarriage of justice now being enacted in the USA. In my opinion, Mr Trump should be standing in front of a judge and jury, not being driven in a motorcade to his new abode as if he were still president of the United States! It’s an absolute disgrace!

Anyway, Mr Kinzinger, take heart. At least here in the Bahamas there is a large group who admire you for publicly standing up for your principles. This does not say much for your 11-family members.

However, you are the one who does their name proud. Keep up the good work, remain true to your principles. At least you will be the one to go down in the history books for your decency and commitment to true democracy.

As for the 11 family members, they will have to live with their own consciences — at least one in the family had the courage to rise above the crowd and stand by his principles. We wish him good fortune.

TRUE BAHAMIANS Nassau, February 16, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 17, 2021, PAGE 7

Fake lawyer who smuggled drugs is jailed

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 25-YEAR-OLD woman who pretended to be a lawyer so she could smuggle a cell phone and more than $2,000 worth of marijuana into the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services for an inmate was yesterday sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Police said Warnika Russell, 25, was arrested after she presented a fake Bahamas Bar Association ID in the name of Ashley Evans to officers at the prison on February 12.

The prosecution said the beautician used the fraudulent card to get into the prison undetected between September and November of last year, before she was finally caught by officers after she attempted to smuggle 12 packages of marijuana into the facility.

Yesterday, Russell was charged with 12 counts each of possession of a forged document, uttering a forged document and pretending to be an attorney at law, in addition to two counts of possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to supply and a single count of taking a prohibited device into the prison.

She admitted all the

offences when she appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes.

The court was told that officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit received information regarding Russell pretending to be a lawyer by the name of Ashley Evans to smuggle drugs into the prison.

They went to BDCS where they confiscated the fake BBA ID and arrested Russell.

When they searched her at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station, officers found $2,600 worth of marijuana taped to her abdomen. When questioned she told them her real name was Warnika Russell. She said she was paid $3,000 to smuggle the drugs and cell phone into the prison for an inmate named Stephen Greene.

During the interview, Russell also told officers that she had another $1,600 worth of Indian hemp at her home that was stashed in 11 packages she had hidden in two clothing baskets. The accused said she agreed to commit the crimes because she was struggling to make ends meet after falling on hard times.

During the arraignment, attorney Ian Cargill—acting as a friend of the court— told the magistrate that Russell was an unemployed beautician with no income

who was the sole support of a five-year-old boy. He said that “desperate people do desperate things” and also noted that Russell had cooperated with police from the onset of the investigation because she was remorseful for her actions.

Yesterday, Russell also said she was “struggling” and “made a bad choice” by attempting to smuggle the contraband into the prison.

In response, Magistrate Forbes told the accused that while he sympathised with her financial plight, there were legal avenues she could have taken to get the relief she needed.

He also noted her actions were especially heinous as a prisoner could have used the cell phone she smuggled into the department to contact and intimidate a witness and potentially interfere with the proceedings of a trial.

Magistrate Forbes said Russell also jeopardised the safety of officers and court staff, saying an inmate may have come to court under the influence of the drugs she smuggled and acted out in the precincts of the court.

As a result, he sentenced the woman to 15 months behind bars.

He also said he was amazed that she got away with the acts for as long as she did.

WARNIKA Russell outside court yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

MAN ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING WIFE IS GRANTED BAIL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who denied assaulting his wife with

a firearm was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial.

The 45-year-old was accused of threatening to kill and assaulting his

estranged wife with a handgun on February 13.

The prosecution argued that the accused also harmed the woman with the deadly weapon

at the time of the incident.

He denied all of the allegations during his hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew

Forbes and the case was adjourned to June 21 for trial.

In the interim, the accused was granted $6,000 bail. He was also ordered

to relocate from his existing matrimonial home and told not to come within 100-feet of the complainant until the matter was resolved.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, February 17, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

It’s time to stop playing lip service to women’s role in government

By Alicia Wallace

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day is less than a month away and the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations follows closely behind. The themes for these events focus on women’s leadership. UN Women noted that “in addition to persistent pre-existing over the years. Guyana social and systemic barriers remains only country in the to women’s participation region with a quota and 36 and leadership, new barri- percent of parliamentarers have emerged with the ians are women. In The COVID-19 pandemic” and Bahamas, 13 percent of parjuxtaposed this with the liamentarians are women. fact that women have been In addition to being a clear on the frontlines of the statement on the state of COVID-19 crisis serving in The Bahamas with regard many capacities. to gender equality and It has been said, over and women’s political particiover again, that countries pation broadly, it is also led by women — including an indictment on the Free New Zealand and Ger- National Movement which many — have had stronger, won 35 of 39 seats. If the more effective responses party had committed to and to COVID-19. Women’s followed through with a leadership and participa- 30 percent quota, it would tion in decision-making are have been the first admincritical. istration to achieve this Last week, a series of (already low) goal. meetings were held with It appears we are heading CARICOM ministers and into the next general eleccivil society members in tion poised to, yet again, preparation for the 65th fail to come close to gender Commission on the Status parity in parliament.

Two weeks ago, the of Women. Agreed conclusions are the result of this Progressive Liberal Party annual UN convening. For announced the ratificaexample, the 2019 theme tion of 18 candidates, was “Social protection sys- Leslia Miller-Brice and Jobeth Colebytems, access to public services ‘The Progressive Davis the only women among and sustainable Liberal Party, them.

The infrastructure Free National forgenderequal- then, has Movement ity and the 11 percent announced the empowerment representation ratification of of women and 17 candidates, girls.” Agreed of women and conclusions the Free National including 11 incumbents, included reaf- Movement has Senator firmation to 16 percent. Both Jennifer Isaacscommitments Dotson, Felicia made in the parties have a and ratification and long way to go...’ Knowles Miriam Emmaadoption of nuel the mechanisms only women such as the Convention on the Elimination of All forms among them. This week, of Discrimination Against it announced eight more Women (CEDAW), con- incumbents including Pakedemnation of all forms of sia Parker-Edgecombe.

The Progressive Liberal violence against women Party, then, has 11 percent and girls, recognition of the representation of women importance of improving and the Free National public services and infraMovement has 16 percent. structure to enhance the Both parties have a long safety of women and girls, way to go, and they certainly and recognition of the rela- need to ensure candidates tionship between universal are fit for leadership with access to social protection gender competencies, not and reduction of inequality just checking boxes on the through the eradication of surface. poverty.

The Progressive Liberal The CARICOM state- Party, in its announcement, ment has not yet been mentioned the “mandaadopted by Member States. tory training module” its Many hours of work have candidates participated gone into the drafting and in. It included Bahamian revision of the statement history, party history and which is aligned with this parliamentary procedures. year’s theme - “Women’s There was no mention of full and effective participa- more practical training on, tion and decision-making for example, engaging conin public life, as well as the stituents, assessing needs, elimination of violence, for understanding international achieving gender equality mechanisms, or human and the empowerment of rights. all women and girls.”

All political parties We, in the Caribbean, should include mandatory have had many conversa- training for prospective tions about political quotas candidates that directly

relate to the work they will do as Members of Parliament and may be appointed to do as cabinet ministers.

Political parties should also demonstrate their commitment to gender equality by instituting a political quota, not of only 30 percent, but of 50 percent which is more proportionate to the population. The issue of political quotas will likely be referenced in both the CARICOM statement and the agreed conclusion of the Commission on the Status of Women next month.

There are rumours of an early election, but there is no telling when it will be called, especially with a Prime Minister who clearly relishes his ability to confuse and surprise the country. We do know, however, that a general election looms ahead and the options before us are subpar.

The current administration has shown little interest in fulfilling its 2017 campaign promises. The talk about transparency and accountability was, obviously, just talk. Everyone is speculating about the election date when the seventh page of the Free National Movement’s Manifesto claimed the administration would “amend Regulations to the Constitution to establish an independent Boundaries Commission and a fixed date for General Elections”. It also promised fixed terms for Prime Minister, a recall system for non-performing Members of Parliament, and establishment of an ombudsman office among many other actions left undone.

Unfortunately the Progressive Liberal Party has proven to be as lazy an opposition as the Free National Movement was from 2012 to 2017. What now?

The Free National Movement will tell us it needs another five years to complete its work. It will blame Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic for its failure, ignoring that this is the job it signed up for, crises and all, and that its performance was just as abysmal before those two events. The Progressive Liberal Party will consistently tell us that it is not the other party and point out all of the foibles and failures we already know about.

They will both come to us with the usual list of things to do. More jobs, better education, less crime.

Promises, promises, promises. Will the same people

making the same promises under the same banners be enough?

We need to demand more. Promises are not enough. In fact, they are nothing. We need evidence of their values and commitments, and they need to have been evident before election season. We need to see their commitment to youth and women demonstrated in the composition and behaviour of their slates. We need to see their familiarity of candidates with their constituencies, understanding

of issues impacting constituents, human rights competencies, and their priorities as part of a potential team of legislators.

We have seen, in the aftermath of Dorian and during the COVID pandemic - and in the themes and content of international meetings and events - that women’s political leadership and participation in decision-making is critical to the development of countries, regions and the world. Gender equality (Goal 5) has, since the adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, been recognized as central to all of the goals and critical for their achievement.

The focus on women’s leadership and decision-making at this year’s Commission on the Status of Women is important, relevant and instructive. We need to pay attention to the candidates being announced and the communities — not just physical constituencies — and ideologies they represent. The majority of remaining candidates ought to be women. If they are not, we know the party leaders and the people pulling the strings are not paying attention, are incapable of or unwilling to recruit and train more diverse candidates, and lack commitment to equality and sustainable development.

The CARICOM statement focused on the theme of “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls” will be adopted in the coming days. It will help to shape contributions by Member States in the Latin America and Caribbean preparatory

THE LEADERS of New Zealand and Germany, Jacinda Ardern and Angela Merkel.

meeting, and that will influence the agreed conclusions at the end of the 65 session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The Bahamas will be a part of the process and will make its commitments there.

Political parties need to be mindful of this and ensure that their practices are in alignment with what they promise. In fact, taking a position, with action, on this issue of gender parity in parliament as a political party would demonstrate a serious commitment, challenge other parties to do the same, and may transfer to the next administration.

Now is a good time to show women voters, all voters, and the world that learning has occurred and is resulting in transformation.

For voters, it is important to remember that no administration will have what the political parties and candidates do not have.

We have to pay attention to the people named as candidates, why they have been chosen, and what they claim to bring to the party and, possibly, the next administration. We do not choose them ourselves and we are not privy to the favours that may be incurred or repaid by their ratifications, so we have to question, assess, and challenge. We have to demand answers to our own questions, and not the ones they design for us in their ads and other promotional material. In this moment, we need to demand the names of the remaining candidates, debates and other opportunities to hear directly from them, and proper representation including, of course, gender parity.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 17, 2021, PAGE 9

IN THE DRIVING SEAT AT ELECTRIC CAR SHOW BAHAMIANS of all ages fell in love with electric vehicles over the Valentine’s Day weekend. Easy Car Sales, the only distributor of EVs in The Bahamas, showcased a wide range of BYD 2021 models to hundreds of interested shoppers at the Mall at Marathon.

This was the first 100 percent electric car show to be held in the country, and it was a big hit with the public who discovered the benefits, and the fun, of driving electric.

Test drivers loved the stylish design, enjoyed the smooth, powerful ride and were impressed by the luxury features and latest technology. According to Easy Car Sales, EVs are much cheaper to own than gas cars and require very little maintenance. To find out more and to book your personal test drive in an EV please visit: www.easy242. com.

Photos: Dante Carrer

LUXURY CAR BRAND JAGUAR TO GO ALL ELECTRIC BY 2025

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press

IN NEVADA DESERT, A TECHNOLOGY FIRM AIMS TO BE A GOVERNMENT

By SAM METZ Associated Press/ Report for America

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — In the Nevada desert, a cryptocurrency magnate hopes to turn dreams of a futuristic “smart city” into reality. To do that, he’s asking the state to let companies like his form local governments on land they own, which would grant them power over everything from schools to law enforcement.

Jeffrey Berns, CEO of Nevadabased Blockchains LLC, envisions a city where people not only purchase goods and services with digital currency but also log their entire online footprint — financial statements, medical records and personal data — on blockchain. Blockchain is a digital ledger known mostly for recording cryptocurrency transactions but also has been adopted by some local governments for everything from documenting marriage licenses to facilitating elections.

The company wants to break ground by 2022 in rural Storey County, 12 miles (19 kilometres) east of Reno. It’s proposing to build 15,000 homes and 33 million square feet (three million square metres) of commercial and industrial space within 75 years. Berns, whose idea is the basis for draft legislation that some lawmakers saw behind closed doors last week, said traditional government doesn’t offer enough flexibility to create a community where people can invent new uses for this technology.

“There’s got to be a place somewhere on this planet where people are willing to just start from scratch and say, ‘We’re not going to do things this way just because it’s the way we’ve done it,’” Berns said.

He wants Nevada to change its laws to allow “innovation zones,” where companies would have powers like those of a county government, including creating court systems, imposing taxes and building infrastructure while making land and water management decisions.

The prospect has been met with

TECHTALK

THIS illustration shows a proposed “smart city” in rural northern Nevada. A cryptocurrency company that owns 67,000 acres in rural northern Nevada wants state government to grant technology companies power to form local governments on land they own. Jeffrey Berns, CEO of Nevada-based Blockchains, LLC, wants to build a ‘smart city’ run on blockchain technology on the land his company purchased in 2018. (EYRC Architects/Blockchains LLC via AP) intrigue and scepticism from Nevada lawmakers, though the legislation has yet to be formally filed or discussed in public hearings. Most in the Democratic-controlled Legislature are eager to diversify Nevada’s tourism-dependent economy, but many fear backlash against business incentives as they struggle to fund health care and education.

This proposal differs from the big tax rebates they have grown wary of offering, like the $1.3 billion given to Tesla to build its northern Nevada battery factory or the billions New York and Virginia offered Amazon to build new corporate headquarters.

But it raises deeper issues about increasing tech companies’ grip on everyday life at a time when antitrust regulators and Democrats in Congress allege tech giants like Facebook and Google are controlling markets and endangering people’s privacy.

Blockchains LLC and so-called innovation zones were a key part of Gov. Steve Sisolak’s January State of the State address, when he outlined plans to rebuild a more diversified economy after the coronavirus pandemic.

Sisolak, whose campaign and affiliated political action committee

received a combined $60,000 from the company, said the proposal would transform Nevada into “the epicentre of this emerging industry and create the high-paying jobs and revenue that go with it.”

The governor’s office declined to comment further on innovation zones. But with Sisolak’s backing, the idea could garner serious consideration in the Legislature.

“I don’t know enough yet to say whether I’m comfortable with this as the next step or not. But, look, it’s a big idea and Nevada has been built on big ideas, so let’s hear it out,” said state Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, a Republican who sponsored blockchain-related legislation in 2017 and 2019.

If lawmakers back the proposal, technology companies with 50,000 acres of land (200 square kilometres) that promise a $1 billion investment could create zones governed by three people like county commissioners.

The draft legislation says two of them initially would be from the company itself.

In Storey County, which is home to Tesla’s factory, officials are waiting for more information before offering opinions but say questions still need

to be answered.

Commissioner Lance Gilman, who owns the Mustang Ranch brothel and bought most of the county’s land to turn it into an industrial park decades ago, has supported luring technology companies to the area and growing its population. But Gilman, who worked in marketing for Blockchains LLC from 2018 to 2019, said there are many unknowns about ceding control to a new jurisdiction that falls within county borders. “(The bill) wants the host county to let it form, become successful, not pay them very much money, and eventually let them take over the whole county and all the operations, if it becomes successful,” Gilman said. “If it doesn’t become successful, who becomes responsible for all the stuff that was built in the meantime?”

The county’s master plan doesn’t permit residential development in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, where most of Blockchain LLC’s property lies, but it allows for 3,500 homes in Painted Rock, a subsection of the company’s 67,000 acres (271 square kilometres).

Berns said officials told him in an informal discussion two years ago that they weren’t interested in zoning for more homes, a meeting that former County Manager Pat Whitten confirmed. Berns understands that elected leaders in Storey County may not want an experimental city in their backyard but believes the idea should be a state decision because of its potential to “singularly define Nevada going forward.”

“We bought 70,000 acres of land in the county. What did they think we were going to do?” he said.

The former consumer protection attorney said the idea was born from how he sees government as an unnecessary middleman between people and ideas.

“For us to be able to take risks and be limber, nimble and figure things out like you do when you’re designing new products, that’s not how government works. So why not let us just create a government that lets us do those things?” Berns said.

LONDON (AP) — Struggling luxury car brand Jaguar will be fully electric by 2025, the British company said Monday as it outlined a plan to phase out internal combustion engines.

Jaguar Land Rover, which is owned by Indian conglomerate Tata Motors, hopes the move will help turn around the fortunes of the 86-year-old Jaguar brand, which for many epitomises class but has struggled in recent years.

The switch to an electric future will involve moving car production from JLR’s Castle Bromwich factory east of the central England city of Birmingham to nearby Solihull.

Chief Executive Thierry Bollore said the firm is “exploring opportunities to repurpose” the Castle Bromwich plant, leading to speculation it could be used for battery production.

Jaguar Land Rover also said that the far more profitable Land Rover brand will produce its first all-electric model in 2024 as it, too, phases out internal combustion engines.

“We have all the ingredients at our disposal to reimagine the business and the experiences our customers seek, to reimagine to benchmark of luxury,” Bollore said.

The move was welcomed

by British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps as “a huge step for British car manufacturing.”

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the British car industry’s lobby group, said the announcement represents “an injection of confidence” into the sector, which has suffered over the past year during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Its roadmap to a future that is built around sustainability, with electrified and hydrogen models as well as investment in connected and digital technologies, aligns with government ambition and increasing consumer expectations,” said the SMMT’s chief executive, Mike Hawes.

However, he said the U.K. will need to improve its competitiveness in light of the “fierce” global competition going on in the shift to electric cars, not least from the likes of Tesla.

“Government must ensure advanced manufacturing has its full support, with a policy framework and plan for growth that reduces costs, accelerates domestic battery production and electrified supply chains, and incentivises R&D and skills development,” he said.

TOP PAID iPHONE APPS: 1. Minecraft, Mojang 2. Avatar Edit, 云峰 和 3. Procreate Pocket, Savage Interactive Pty Ltd 4. Bloons TD 6, Ninja Kiwi 5. Heads Up!, Warner Bros.

6. Geometry Dash, RobTop Games AB 7. Plague Inc., Ndemic Creations 8. Monopoly, Marmalade Game Studio 9. HotSchedules, HotSchedules 10. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Rockstar

PAGE 10, Wednesday, February 17, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

At least 16 dead in US winter storm OCEAN ISLE BEACH, North Carolina Associated Press

A WINTER storm that left millions without power in record-breaking cold weather claimed more lives Tuesday, including three people found dead after a tornado hit a seaside town in North Carolina and four family members who perished in a Houston-area house fire while using a fireplace to stay warm.

The storm that overwhelmed power grids and immobilised the Southern Plains carried heavy snow and freezing rain into New England and the Deep South and left behind painfully low temperatures. Wind-chill warnings extended from Canada into Mexico.

In all, at least 16 deaths were reported.

Other causes included car crashes

CITY of Richardson worker Kaleb Love breaks ice on a frozen fountain in Richardson, Texas. and carbon monoxide poi- Biden’s administration said notice of the dangerous soning. The weather also delays in vaccine shipments weather, and a tornado warning was not issued threatened to affect the and deliveries were likely.

North Carolina’s Brun- until the storm was already nation’s COVID-19 vaccination effort. President Joe swick County had little on the ground.

The National Weather Service was “very surprised how rapidly this storm GN- 2505 intensified ... and at the time of night when most people are at home and in bed, it creates a very dangerous situation,” Emergency Services Director Ed Conrow said.

In Chicago, a foot and a half (46 centimeters) of new snow forced public schools to cancel in-person classes for Tuesday. Hours earlier, along the normally balmy Gulf of Mexico, cross-country skiier Sam Fagg hit fresh powder on the beach in Galveston, Texas.

The worst US power outages were in Texas, affecting more than four million homes and businesses.

More than 250,000 people also lost power across parts of Appalachia, and another quarter million were without electricity following an ice storm in northwest Oregon, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility outage reports. Four million people lost power in Mexico.

Texas officials requested 60 generators from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and planned to prioritize hospitals and nursing homes. The state opened 35 shelters to more than 1,000 occupants, the agency said.

More than 500 people sought comfort at one shelter in Houston. Mayor Sylvester Turner said other warming centers had to be shut down because they lost power.

After being without power since Monday, Natalie Harrell said she, her boyfriend and four kids began sheltering at a Gallery Furniture store in Houston. Harrell said the warming center at the store, owned by Jim McIngvale, has provided people with food, water and power to charge essential electronics.

“It’s worse than a hurricane,” Harrell said. “I think we are going to be more days without light, that is what it seems like.”

Utilities from Minnesota to Texas implemented rolling blackouts to ease the burden on power grids straining to meet the

Photo: LM Otero/AP extreme demand for heat and electricity.

Blackouts of more than an hour began around dawn Tuesday for Oklahoma City and more than a dozen other communities, stopping electric-powered space heaters, furnaces and lights just as temperatures hovered around minus 8 degrees.

Oklahoma Gas & Electric rescinded plans for further blackouts but urged users to set thermostats at 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius), avoid using major electric appliances and turn off lights or appliances they are not using.

Nebraska’s blackouts came amid some of the coldest weather on record: In Omaha, the temperature bottomed out at 23 degrees below zero overnight (minus 30 Celsius), the coldest in 25 years.

The Southwest Power Pool, a group of utilities covering 14 states, said the blackouts were “a last resort to preserve the reliability of the electric system as a whole.”

The outages forced a Texas county to scramble to administer more than 8,000 doses of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine after a public health facility lost power early Monday and its backup generator also failed, said Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

County officials distributed the doses at three hospitals, Rice University and the county jail because those places had large groups of people available where they would not have to drive and with appropriate medical personnel on hand.

“It feels amazing. I’m very grateful,” said Harry Golen, a college sophomore who waited for nearly four hours with his friends, much of it in the cold. He was among the last people to get the shots, which otherwise would not have reached students until March or April.

Texas officials said more than 400,000 additional doses due now will not arrive until at least Wednesday because of the storm.

The tornado that hit Brunswick County was an EF3 with winds estimated at 160 mph, the weather

service said on Twitter.

Three people died and ten were injured when the tornado tore through a golf course community and another rural area just before midnight Monday, destroying dozens of homes.

Sharon Benson, 63, said her roof was damaged and her garage door blown off.

Windows were shattered and nearby trees were uprooted.

“The sky lit up and there was a lot of pop-pop-popping” and thunder, she said.

Authorities in multiple states reported deaths in crashes on icy roads , including two people whose vehicle slid off a road and overturned in a waterway in Kentucky on Sunday, state police said. A Mississippi man died after losing control of his vehicle, which overtuned on an icy road Monday night near Starkville, Oktibbeha County coroner Michael Hunt said Tuesday.

In Texas, three young children and their grandmother died in the Houston-area fire, which likely began while they were using a fireplace to keep warm during a power outage, a fire official said.

At least 13 children were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, the hospital said in a social media post, which warned that families were “going to extreme measures to warm their homes” with propane or diesel-burning engines and generators as well as gas ovens and stovetops. One parent died of the toxic fumes, pediatrician Phillip Scott told Fort Worth television station KTVT. Other Texas deaths included a woman and a girl who died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in Houston at a home without electricity from a car left running in an attached garage, and two men found along Houston-area roadways who likely died in subfreezing temperatures, law enforcement officials said.

In west Tennessee, a tenyear-old boy died after falling into an ice-covered pond on Sunday during a winter storm, fire officials said.

Several cities had record lows: In Minnesota, the Hibbing/Chisholm weather station registered minus 38 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 39 degrees Celsius). Sioux Falls, South Dakota, dropped to minus 26 Fahrenheit (minus 26 degrees Celsius).

Air travel was also affected. At midday, more than 2,700 US flights had been canceled, led by more than 800 at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and more than 700 at Bush Intercontinental in Houston. Authorities pleaded with residents to stay home Tuesday.

About 100 school systems closed, delayed opening or switched to remote classes in Alabama, where forecasters said conditions might not improve until temperatures rise above freezing Wednesday afternoon.

TYLER PERRY, CLINTONS ATTEND MEMORIAL FOR CICELY TYSON NEW YORK Associated Press TYLER Perry and Bill and Hillary Clinton were among the attendees of a private memorial service for Cicely Tyson at Harlem’s famed Abyssinian Baptist Church.

Gospel singer Bebe Winans sang “Stand” — a request from Tyson before her death — and a letter was read by rocker Lenny Kravitz, who was a close friend.

“The ceremony was beautiful. It was very Cicely

Tyson: It was formal, it was humorous, it was sad, it was glorious,” said Larry Thompson, Tyson’s manager for more than 40 years.

Abyssinian Baptist’s pastor, the Rev Calvin O Butts, said Tyson was an example of “a life well lived and an example of how we all might live”, adding, “She was as much an ambassador for peace and love as anybody I can think of.”

He noted that Tyson’s service fell during Black History Month, giving us “another illustration of

some of the great people who have contributed to American arts and culture”.

The memorial service Tuesday came a day after hundreds of admirers of the pioneering Black actor lined up outside the church for a public viewing. Some said they had come from as far as Atlanta or Los Angeles to be there.

Her casket was carried to a hearse by six pallbearers in white tie and tails.

Tyson died on January 28. The New York-born actor was 96.