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‘DON’T BE AFRAID’ PM urges public to accept vaccination as first rollout nears

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis made a strong appeal for all citizens to take the COVID-19 vaccine yesterday, insisting the country’s economic rebound hinged on widespread administration of the jab.

In a nationally televised address, Dr Minnis said when a large percentage of Bahamians are vaccinated, more of the country will be able to open up, adding this would spark more jobs among other economic positives.

WHAT CURFEW?

He said vaccinations will likely be a requirement by other countries to travel overseas and that cruise lines may also have the same stipulation.

While his address did not reveal specifically when the first vaccinations of 100,000 doses will arrive here, the Prime Minister said the government was expected to receive more details on the shipment today.

Dr Minnis said: “Vaccines are critical to ending the pandemic. In The Bahamas, there will not be a government mandate requiring you to take a vaccine.”

SEE PAGE FOUR

SOME Atlantis workers will return to work for the opening of The Royal on March 11.

According to the resort, those team members must test negative for COVID19 before returning to work.

There is also a requirement to submit to weekly testing in addition to following health and safety protocols, Atlantis said in a press statement yesterday.

With The Royal resuming guest room operations

on March 11, the resort will receive guests there, The Cove and Harborside Resort.

“We are delighted to welcome back additional team members to Atlantis and showcase the newly renovated Royal east tower guest rooms to our guests,” said Audrey Oswell, president and managing director, Atlantis Paradise Island.

“As a result of the comprehensive and effective health and safety protocols at Atlantis, we see even more pent-up demand from SEE PAGE THREE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A NEW lawsuit alleges the Water and Sewerage Corporation refused to pay Halsbury Chambers legal fees for its work with delinquent customers after WSC Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson rejected the firm’s advice about an unrelated defamation matter.

The firm –– whose founding partner is Branville McCartney –– is now suing WSC for $40,221.

SEE PAGE THREE

STAFF HEADING BACK TO RENOVATED ROYAL

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BRANVILLE AND GIBSON IN DISPUTE OVER ‘DEBT’

PROBLEMS PERSIST IN SCHOOLS REOPENING

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

WE ALL know the rules. Six feet apart, wear a mask, no large gatherings. It’s a message the Prime Minister has been hammering home since the COVID crisis began. But there’s always some who just don’t listen. They’ll do what they want and never get caught. If the virus strikes it won’t be them who ends up gasping for air in a hospital bed.

This was the scene The Tribune’s Insight investigators witnessed first hand on Friday on Paradise Island. Customers crowded at a bar ignoring every appeal that’s been made to keep themselves - and us - safe.

For the full story see Insight on Page 8.

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson yesterday said there is still a “lack of information” regarding the strategy the Ministry of Education plans to employ to ensure that teachers and students are able to work in a safe environment as face-to-face classes resume in several islands.

SEE PAGE FIVE

CLINGING TO LIFE FOR 36 HOURS A JAMAICAN national was rescued in the waters off Florida after 36 hours clinging to a boat that capsized as he tried to enter the US from The Bahamas, while six of his compatriots are missing and presumed dead.

Dailymail.com reported Captain Chase Cornell, a charter fishing skipper out of Fort Pierce, spotted the man on radar about 20 miles offshore and came to

THE JAMAICAN man found clinging to the capsized boat. his rescue on Friday in his employer’s fishing boat, the Southern Eagle.

“I slowed down to take a

closer look and found this guy clinging to his capsized boat,” Cornell wrote in a Facebook post.

“He had left Bimini with six others in attempt to make it across to the states when the boat capsized at 8pm Wednesday night.”

A Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce 45-foot response boat launched to the scene, received the

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR TAYLOR ON THE TRACK

SEE SPORTS

PAGE 2, Monday, February 22, 2021

Man found dead in pool of blood A MAN was shot dead in Grand Bahama last night.

Police were called to the scene of a shooting in the area of an Island Luck location in Freeport around 8.30pm.

Responding officers met a man lying on the ground in a pool of blood in front of the building.

Police did not release the victim’s identity however sources say he is Omar Penn, aka “Punch”.

Penn had survived shooting attacks before and was wounded in October 2018.

A man was later charged with attempted murder in connection to that incident.

Penn was also shot in early 2019 but survived the attack.

A police spokesperson said officers have no information that there will be retaliation after this killing but added there is always the possibility of such actions after violent events.

THE TRIBUNE

FORMER HOME OF SIR ALBERT MILLER DESTROYED BY FIRE

THE SCENE of last night’s shooting. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn He said police will do what they can to ensure this does not happen.

This is the first homicide

for the year on Grand Bahama and the 17th this year, according to this newspaper’s records.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FIREMEN were unable to extinguish the blaze that destroyed the former residence of Sir Albert Miller after two fire units failed to disperse any water, according to Jasper Hansen, son of the new homeowners.

Mr Hansen, who arrived at the scene before firemen, watched helplessly as his parents’ residence burned to the ground late Friday evening. His parents were not at home at the time.

On his arrival, he met the garage on fire. He said the first unit arrived a half-hour later.

“Well, I got here before the Fire Department even though I am at the other end of Freeport. So, it took them half-an-hour to get here. At the time, it was only the garage burning on that side of the house. My parents had gone out,” he said.

When the fire truck arrived, Mr Hansen said

that he was told it did not have enough pressure. “No water was coming out of it so they went back and sent another fire truck, and from what I can see no water was coming out of that either,” he said.

“Apparently, it was the same issue. So, no water was ever put on this fire.

Two fire trucks and no water,” he said.

Mr Hansen expressed disappointment over the situation. He said that a neighbour had called 911 and was put on hold by the dispatcher.

“I did call 911, but a lot of people did before me. Our neighbour, he was just put on hold. “Apparently, they (the firemen) tried multiple addresses before finding this,” he said.

“At the time when the first one came, it was only the outer room where the garage had caught fire, and since there was no water it expanded its way through the house.”

Mr Hansen confirmed that the residence was

previously owned by Sir Albert Miller, who lived there many years with his wife, Lady Laurie, before they died in 2015 and 2018, respectively.

The Tribune attempted to contact Fire Chief Floyd Bastian on Sunday for a response concerning Mr Hansen’s claims, however, he did not return a call up to press time.

When contacted, Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle said he could not respond to the claims.

Supt Rolle said the Police Control Room received a report of a structural fire shortly after 9.45pm on Friday at a residence situated in the Lunar Boulevard area.

“The Fire Department responded and met a single story fully engulfed. The fire was later extinguished, which totally destroyed the structure,” he said.

Supt Rolle said that the cause of the fire is not known, and investigations are continuing.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, February 22, 2021, PAGE 3

from page one

public capacity as the executive chairman of the Water & Sewerage Corporation.”

“Halsbury Chambers, given that it is supposedly home to ‘senior lawyers,’ should know the basic tenets of public law as it relates to one’s public role versus one’s private role.

As such, any instructions from ourselves to Halsbury Chambers were not in a personal or private capacity.”

Mr Gibson claimed Mr McCartney never told him that filing the writ against Mr Miller should be done in his personal capacity.

“I find it awfully interesting that Mr McCartney and Halsbury Chambers have sought to mesh these matters –– a move that appears especially spiteful and political in nature,” he said.

He also claimed that despite severing ties with Halsbury Chambers, evidence shows the firm has continued to do legal work for the corporation “without further instructions”.

“As recent as 16th September 2020, Halsbury Chambers sent an email to WSC stating that they appeared before the Supreme Court on September 14th, 2020. In response, (Mr) Donaldson reminded them that the relationship had been terminated earlier (January 2020) in the year, chided them for acting without instruction and reminded (them) that they were continuing to work on WSC’s behalf contrary to our instructions/decision,” he said.

Mr Gibson said the corporation will instruct its lawyers to file a complaint with the Bahamas Bar Association “given that Halsbury Chambers continues to act on our behalf without instruction and although their services were terminated.”

“Alas,” he said, “we made an egregious mistake when we accepted the solicitation of Mr McCartney and retained the services of his firm. In my capacity as the executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, I accept that responsibility and, when it became luminously clear that his firm was the wrong choice, my board and I terminated their services.”

Branville and Gibson in dispute over ‘debt’ In a statement yesterday evening, Mr Gibson linked the lawsuit to the “political season,” saying the “political savagery has begun”.

He called the release of the documents “a nasty, scurrilous, unfounded and vicious attempt to cause reputational and political damage,” noting that up to yesterday, WSC had not been served with copies of the writ.

The lawsuit says Mr Gibson engaged Halsbury Chambers to collect money from delinquent customers in January 2019 and that

by November 2019 the corporation had reduced its accounts receivables from $46m to $36m.

Mr Gibson allegedly requested the firm to initiate defamatory proceedings against Gregory Miller, the president of Apex Underground and Utilities Co Ltd, in July 2019.

The firm subsequently issued a demand letter that requested a public apology and a retraction of comments Mr Miller had made in the media.

After Mr Miller refused to comply, Mr Gibson allegedly insisted that defamation proceedings be initiated against him.

“Mr Gibson was of the view that the words spoken injured and lowered his reputation in the estimation of right-thinking members of the Bahamian public and otherwise caused him to become exposed to public ridicule which affected his influential position, as outlined on Adrian Gibson’s behalf in the said letter,” the lawsuit says.

Mr Gibson allegedly insisted WSC pay the legal fees for the matter and not him personally.

“The chairman,” the lawsuit says, “was advised that since the defamation action was personal in nature, that legal fees ought to be paid by him personally and not from the public purse.

“Thereafter, the chairman stopped all communication with the plaintiff and wilfully refused and/or neglected to pay legal fees regarding the collection of delinquent accounts from customers of

BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY, left, and Adrian Gibson MP. the 1st Defendant (WSC) as agreed.”

According to the firm, though WSC eventually paid $20,000 in September 2020, it concluded that “would have been its full and final settlement”.

The plaintiff alleges that, in fact, $40,221.07 is still due.

“The plaintiff has requested on numerous occasions for payment of the outstanding fees, but the 1st Defendant has neglected and/or refused to satisfy the outstanding amount,” the lawsuit claims.

Mr McCartney last night said he had sent “a personal note” one week ago to both the Prime Minister and Desmond Bannister, deputy prime minister and minister of works, who has ministerial responsibility for the Water & Sewerage Corporation, in which he warned his law firm would initiate legal action if the dispute was not resolved.

No response was received, even though the former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader alerted them that Halsbury Chambers’ statement of claim would detail why its fees had purportedly not been paid and the alleged connection to its advice to Mr Gibson that he - not the taxpayer or Water & Sewerage customers - should pay the costs associated with the defamation action against Mr Miller.

“I couldn’t get any type of response from him in terms of the matters we were dealing with, in terms of the outstanding payments,” Mr McCartney said, alleging that Mr Gibson “refused to

pay and stopped communicating” when Halsbury Chambers failed to move forward with the defamation action as he wished.

“We sent a note back in October 2020 asking for this to be resolved. Last week Sunday, I sent the Prime Minister a personal note. I sent it to Desmond Bannister, the deputy prime minister, as well. They are aware of the issue, but we have not got a response from anyone since October 2020 when we first brought this to their attention.

“I said that unless this matter was settled we would file an action against the Water & Sewerage Corporation. I said that in that action we were going to articulate why payment was owed on those outstanding legal fees. There’s been no response.”

Mr McCartney said Halsbury Chambers had initially acted “pro bono” on Mr Gibson’s behalf against Mr Miller, meaning it had not received a retainer or any legal fees before it sent a “demand letter” to the Apex boss calling on him to publicly apologise and retract criticisms he had made about several Water & Sewerage Corporation contract awards.

“Adrian wanted us to move forward with the writ,” he added. “We had the writ partially drafted and ready to go. But we said you cannot use the public purse or charge it to the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s bill. That was the last we heard from him.”

Mr McCartney and

Halsbury Chambers had argued that it was a personal dispute, and therefore they should be paid from Mr Gibson’s private financial resources and not the taxpayer or Corporation.

Mr Gibson is disputing that on the basis that the comments were made against him in his capacity as Water & Sewerage Corporation executive chairman.

The ex-DNA leader, meanwhile, argued that much of the $10m drop in the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s accounts receivables balance that was touted by Mr Gibson in November 2019 was due to his firm’s work in pursuing delinquent bill payers.

Receivables dropped from $46m to $36m, and Mr McCartney said: “We were the main ones. We were the attorneys for it. Quite a lot of that came from collecting from hotels and government agencies, those big accounts which owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in water bills. We were able to negotiate a number of settlements without having to go to court.”

In his statement last night, Mr Gibson said Mr McCartney approached him about soliciting services from his law firm “some years ago”.

“At that time –– having been somewhat acquainted with Mr McCartney prior to that and having considered his firm a small but reputable firm –– we accepted his solicitation to assist with our collection of receivables. We did not allow his political persuasion

–– having just been the DNA leader –– to impact that decision,” he said.

Mr Gibson said Halsbury Chambers did not collect $10m for the WSC “or anything remotely close to that figure”.

“Our concise internal audits show that, notwithstanding in excess of 100 delinquent accounts being assigned to him/his firm, Mr McCartney and his firm collected roughly $60,000 dollars whilst he/his firm in turn received a lot more compensation to the (tune) of nearly $200,000.”

Mr Gibson said he, the WSC board and the general manager of the company concluded the corporation was losing more by paying the firm than it was receiving from the partnership.

He said the corporation lost faith in the firm’s performance and decided to turn to its in-house teams.

“That $10m that I previously spoke of in the newspapers had very little –– if anything –– to do with Bran McCartney or his law firm but rather speak to our multi-pronged efforts at collecting of outstanding funds, at writing off bad debts and statutorily-barred debts and various other reviews and undertakings,” he said.

As for the defamation proceedings involving Mr Miller, Mr Gibson emphasised that he acts in a public capacity “at all material times,” insisting that “when false, defamatory and scurrilous commentary was made by one Gregory Miller, he did so in my

STAFF HEADING BACK TO RENOVATED ROYAL from page one

our guests to return to The Bahamas, which supported our decision to reopen guestroom operations at The Royal.”

Additionally, Bahamian residents will be offered an exclusive special “staycation” offer with rates starting at $125/night and includes a $25 daily resort credit plus complimentary parking.

Early last month, Atlantis placed multiple workers back on temporary furlough due to “unfavourable occupancy forecasts” for January 2021.

The Paradise Island mega resort, in response to Tribune Business inquiries, said “the lack of adequate airlift” and surge in COVID-19 infections

in key US source markets were “compounding factors” that had forced it to return some of the 2,500 staff it recalled for December’s opening to furlough status.

A message sent by Horatio McKenzie, the Atlantis executive director for human resources with responsibility for food and beverage workers, warned staff that some workers had to be placed back on temporary lay-off.

“As you know, the effects of the global pandemic in our major markets have continued to have an effect on our hotel operations,” Mr McKenzie wrote in his message at the time.

“In this regard, our occupancy percentages for January are not forecast to be favourable.

“In light of the

current environment, and the forecast decline in our occupancy levels, we have no choice but to return several of our food and beverage team members to furlough status effective January 4, 2021, until further notice.

“We will continue to monitor the occupancy forecast closely and, as it improves, we will roster our team members accordingly.”

While January was traditionally a slow month pre-COVID-19, falling between the Christmas holidays and the peak winter season ramp-up, Atlantis indicated at the time that it was grappling with pandemic events beyond its control.

While asserting that “Atlantis Paradise Island is not closing”, the resort

confirmed in a statement last month that it was “experiencing lower occupancy levels for January attributed to several compounding factors such as the lack of adequate airlift and the recent surge of COVID-19 in key markets.

“As a result, team members in several divisions are on temporary furlough for a few weeks. It is also not unusual for the resort to adjust staffing needs according to occupancy levels,” Atlantis added last month. “Both team members and the union have been notified of this decision. Atlantis remains extremely optimistic about its February and March bookings and looks forward to The Cove reopening on February 11.”

This episode, though,

THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER AFTER ‘ENGINE TRIP’

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THOUSANDS of homes in New Providence were left without power yesterday due to an “engine trip” at one of Bahamas Power and Light’s stations.

The company took to Facebook to notify their customers about the electricity failure and to inform them that a team was working diligently to restore power in the affected areas

as soon as possible.

Quincy Parker, BPL’s director of communications, said the outage was caused by a “fault on a transmission line out of Blue Hills Power Station which triggered an outage affecting all customers fed by the station.”

“This affects customers from Gladstone Road headed east,” he said.

“The Clifton Pier Power Station remains online, feeding western New Providence. We have teams en

route to Blue Hills at this time to begin restoration, and we estimate that all customers should be restored by about 3pm today. We thank our customers for their patience and apologise for the inconvenience.”

Power was restored in some areas after 3pm and BPL worked throughout the afternoon to complete the restoration process.

Earlier this month, New Providence residents were left without power for hours because of a “mechanical

failure” at BPL. The failure caused widespread power supplies to shut down in the eastern, central and western parts of the capital leaving many customers who work from home, due to COVID19, literally “powerless”.

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.

illustrated just how the re-opening of the tourism and hotel industry, and the rebound of the wider economy, will not simply

be a smooth upward trajectory amid COVID-19 but, instead, likely involve a series of bumps in the road.

PAGE 4, Monday, February 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

PM Minnis urges public to accept vaccination as first rollout nears from page one

TOTAL CASES

TOTAL DEATHS

“However, we strongly urge all who are eligible to get vaccinated.

“I will take the vaccine. I will urge family and friends to take the vaccine.

By getting vaccinated you will help the country to return to a greater level of normalcy.

“By getting vaccinated you will also help our economy to recover faster.

When a large percentage of Bahamians are vaccinated, we will be able to responsibly open up even more.

“More economic activity will be possible, leading to more jobs, more working hours, more family income, more small business activity and a return of more tourists in the months ahead.

“It is also quite possible that being vaccinated will be a requirement by other countries for you to travel overseas. Other countries may not allow you to enter their borders unless you have proof of vaccination.

“We are hearing that cruise lines may require their passengers to show that they have been vaccinated. Proof of vaccination may be one of the critical measures in helping the tourism industry to bounce back around the world.

“As a leading tourism destination, we must play our part and set an example for the world.”

He reiterated that vaccine administration in The Bahamas will be a huge operational and logistical challenge, but a plan to this effect is nearing completion.

“The National COVID19 Vaccine Distribution Plan is in the final stages of completion in preparation for the arrival of the

first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines. The AstraZeneca vaccine will be administered in two doses.

“These COVID-19 vaccines will be available free of charge. Between eight and 10 approved vaccination sites have been identified on New Providence. This includes drive-thru sites. Vaccination sites have also been identified on Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.

“Health officials and the National COVID19 Vaccine Consultative Committee are looking at additional platforms to distribute the vaccine in order to increase access to and ensure equity of distribution to all communities.

“There will be a focus on high-risk populations where COVID-19 has occurred.

Mobile units will be used to safely distribute vaccines to vulnerable populations in their communities. Vaccine appointment software is very near completion and is expected to be rolled out in advance of distribution.

“This will allow those who choose to take the vaccine to schedule their appointments digitally on their smartphone, tablet or computer.

For those without access to the internet or a device, appointment centers will be set up to provide assistance

with making appointments to receive the vaccine.”

Among the first priority groups eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on New Providence and Grand Bahama are healthcare workers; people over the age of 65; uniformed branch members; frontline workers; critical workers in high-risk settings and other essential service workers.

On the Family Islands, local medical teams will be assisted by mobile teams from New Providence where health teams will vaccinate all eligible residents who choose to take the vaccine at the same time. Dr Minnis said this means that everyone on the Family Islands will be vaccinated at the same time and the schedule will not follow the prioritised group rollout.

Regarding economic activity, Dr Minnis addressed what he called “reckless chatter” by some.

“Never in our recent history have we had to deal with disruptions of this scale. Thousands of people remain out of work. Hundreds of businesses are struggling to keep their doors open.

“Recently, there has been reckless chatter by some, suggesting that the country was on an economic precipice and that the country’s

GOVERNOR General C A Smith will self-quarantine despite testing negative for COVID-19 after an exposure at his office.

According to a press release, the Office of

the Governor General at Government House will be closed until Monday, March 1, due to COVID-19 exposure. The statement said Governor General Smith was tested and the result came back

negative.

“Contact tracing is being carried out by the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Unit and all established health protocols are being followed,” the statement said.

finances were in a depleted and chaotic state.

“At the same time, we are providing millions of dollars every month to support the special unemployment assistance programmes, the food programme, and business loans and grants, to Bahamian small businesses

on a scale never before seen in The Bahamas.

“My government developed and announced its ‘Resilient Bahamas’ plan during the most recent budget exercise. We have been faithfully executing this plan.

“And, we have provided

even additional funding to extend the food programme and the unemployment programmes which continue to benefit tens of thousands of Bahamian families.”

Dr Minnis said he will be presenting the mid-year budget in Parliament on Wednesday.

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

SIXTEEN people tested positive for COVID-19 after the Ministry of Health conducted a mass testing exercise at a workplace in Cat Cay last week.

One of the confirmed cases had a recent history of travel to the United States, health officials revealed.

In a statement, the ministry said a total of 175 individuals were tested at a Cat Cay workplace last Thursday. They added that all 16 of the employees who tested positive for the virus were asymptomatic.

The Tribune made several attempts to contact health officials and the general manager of the workplace in question for an update on the matter yesterday. However, no calls were returned up to press time.

According to the latest report from the Ministry of Health, although 15 deaths are currently under investigation, no COVID related fatalities were documented last week. This means that the current death toll still stands at 179. The country also recorded 92 new infections last week — bringing the nation’s total to 8,462. Six of those cases had a recent history of travel. The week

prior saw 83 confirmed cases.

Thursday and Friday had the highest number of confirmed infections last week, with 16 and 34 cases reported for those days respectively.

Nine additional cases were recorded on Saturday.

As the week progressed, the number of hospitalisations decreased despite some slight fluctuations.

There were 16 patients hospitalised last Sunday, 16 on Monday, 17 on Tuesday, 18 on Wednesday, 17 on Thursday, 15 on Friday and 14 as of Saturday. Only one person in the capital had to be admitted to the intensive care unit.

Last week, health officials

revealed that almost 30 percent of new positive COVID-19 cases recorded in New Providence and Grand Bahama over the past two weeks were identified as clusters – some of which were connected to the workplace and large social gatherings.

During the Health Ministry’s virtual press conference, Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan said four clusters had been identified by their contact tracing unit over the last 14 days. She also said that one particular cluster had as many as 26 cases.

“The second wave of the COVID-19 wave in The

Bahamas has been protracted now at 231 days and counting,” she said. “Our collective diligence and consistency in adhering to both public health measures and emergency orders have been key to our country’s incremental or phased reopening of the economy and it will aid us in getting to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The ministry urges all citizens and residents to keep their guard up and adhere to the recommended health precautions.

“Continue to wear a mask at all times whilst outside the home, keep physically distant and wash

your hands regularly,” the ministry said. “Remember, just because a person is not sick, does not mean that he cannot have COVID-19.

“If you have symptoms of COVID-19, do not wait.

First, contact your health provider.

While home remedies may work for a period, it is important to get tested and receive the proper care before symptoms become too difficult to manage. If you have been asked by the Surveillance Unit to get tested for COVID-19, please follow the advice and take the gold standard RT-PCR test.

Employees are encouraged to work from home.”

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis during his national address yesterday.

8,462 179

NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES BAHAMA 4 9 CASES GRAND ABACO 4

SATURDAY

NEW PROVIDENCE 6 ABACO 3

FRIDAY

34 CASES

BIMINI & CAT CAY NEW PROVIDENCE

TOTAL TESTS

66,420

16 10

HOSPITALISED

14

THURSDAY

16 CASES

NEW PROVIDENCE 13 GRAND BAHAMA 1 ABACO 1 PENDING 1

CASES IN ICU

1

RECOVERED

7,181

GOVERNOR GENERAL SELF-QUARANTINING

16 TEST POSITIVE AT WORKPLACE IN CAT CAY

AG: NO MORE WATCHING OTHERS BENEFIT FROM OUR RESOURCES

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel said Bahamians will no longer sit by

and watch others become wealthy from the country’s resources, but instead will also benefit.

He made the remarks during a brief Senate meeting on Friday.

The Senate held the

first reading of five Bills, including a Bill for an Act to Provide for the Protection and Sustainable Use of Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge. If passed it will allow Bahamians to reap the benefits

from the successful exploitation of the country’s flora and fauna.

Recently Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) engaged in a drilling exercise in Bahamian waters in search of oil. Bahamians,

including some government members, were up in arms about the way the deal was structured. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Minister of Immigration and Investment Elsworth Johnson said the deal was concrete and there was nothing the FNM Administration could do about it. BPC, after drilling for a few weeks, said no commercially viable oil was found.

There has also been renewed conversation about the country’s natural resources, with calls for Bahamians to benefit from any sale or export.

Just before the Bill was read for the first time, Senator Bethel said: “This Bill will for the first time in our history provide a means to fully regulate the exploitation of genetic and biological information being from the flora and fauna of the Bahamian eco-system throughout our country which has been utilised in the past by a bunch of cosmetic companies to make billions of dollars with not a cent coming to the Bahamian people.

“So this Bill, when we get to it, is for the benefit of every Bahamian. Every Bahamian will benefit from the wealth. These things are all written and controlled by the vested interest. You must only use it for this

reason or for that reason.

The devil is a liar! So I inserted in there that you can only use it for biological research or sustainability.

People who have traditional knowledge need to be directly compensated.”

His comments were met with heckling from senators opposite, leading him to further explain the benefits.

“If you tell a man ‘strong bark’ gives you good energy and he goes and finds a biological thing and takes that and makes ‘Viagra’ or something like that and then boom makes billions, that community, in this case, The Bahamas should be directly compensated the same way the people who exploited the product,” he said.

“If they can keep it as their profit, we can keep the traditional knowledge as our profit. We have added some other things in there as well like payments to the Sovereign Wealth Fund for the benefit of every Bahamian. If the companies can make a profit, I don’t see why the Bahamian people cannot make a profit.”

Following this, Senator Fred Mitchell paid tribute to BahamianAmerican actor, Sir Sidney Poitier who celebrated his 94th birthday on Saturday.

The Senate will meet this morning at 10am.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, February 22, 2021, PAGE 5

Problems persist in schools reopening from page one In a statement over the weekend, the Ministry of Education said schools in New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma have been given permission to resume face-to-face instruction on Tuesday using the hybrid or blended model.

Education officials also said while several schools will begin in-person instruction on the official launch date, some institutions will resume physical classes at a later date.

Yesterday, Mrs Wilson told The Tribune that the union is not certain about the health and safety protocols that have been specifically implemented for schools, as the Ministry of Education has “just generally said what the Ministry of Health will be doing”.

She also said 11 schools will not open in New Providence for face-to-face learning because of “incomplete school repairs”, or renovations that have not

been addressed as yet. She said these factors have “impeded” teachers and students from getting back into the classrooms on their various campuses.

“We have C W Sawyer that needs major repairs,” she stated. “They were using a hall at one of the local churches, so they are unable to access their school. An alternative site must be identified if they are to return to face-to-face (classes).

“Then we have Stephen Dillet Primary School that has no windows. It’s fully air conditioned and we know that based on the COVID19 protocols, you should be in a building that has proper ventilation. ... We are (also) monitoring Uriah McPhee and they have also devised a plan that the teachers, the students and the union believe can work. So, they have done a lot of protocols in preparation for the return of the teachers and students.”

She said there is also a “major concern” regarding students with special

NOT ALL PAY PROMISES TO NURSES MET

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Amancha Williams says about 60 percent of nurses who were owed COVID-19 overtime pay have now been paid and officials have promised money due for Hurricane Dorian work will be settled by the end of next month.

However, she told The Tribune that no nurse has received an honorarium that is due to them.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was said to have directed officials in the Ministry of Finance to ensure the issue was settled and told nurses this would be done even if it comes out of “his own salary”.

However, according to Ms Williams, the honorarium issue remains unresolved. She said nurses just want the two-year long issue to be over and done.

“It remains unresolved,” the BNU president said.

“About 60 percent of overtime for COVID-19 has been paid. When it comes to Hurricane Dorian pay, they say they will complete it at the end of March, but nurses in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas are still waiting on the honorarium.”

In an earlier interview, Ms Williams said officials had not complied with the request for a list of which nurses received money from the government. This has made it hard to account for the progress made.

“They have not sent anything direct to us so that we can mark (it) out, so we still don’t know if everything is being paid. The previous government, they’ve sent me print outs so that we can go through it manually and tick off and say it’s complete.

“Here, no one wants to give it to us. We asked and

we are still asking. Please send us a listing of everybody that you have already paid.”

She again echoed the concern that with COVID-19 vaccinations expected in the country soon, nurses are apprehensive to be a part of the administration of jabs with the issue of unpaid money lingering over everyone’s heads.

Earlier this month, after nurses protested twice, they finally met with the Prime Minister. “We went in the meeting and the Prime Minister met with us, him and his entourage, and the Prime Minister said if he has to pay with his own salary, he will make sure that nurses are paid,” Ms Williams said at the time.

“He has directed a finance officer to pay the nurses in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” she continued.

“Whatever he promised from July that would’ve been done must be done. It’s being orchestrated right now...”

Meanwhile, Health Minister Renward Wells recently told reporters the government has paid nurses $162,000 in overtime between March and September last year. He also told the House of Assembly that Public Hospitals Authority nurses have received their overtime but said there is some overtime paperwork issue regarding some nurses in the Department of Public Health.

“The nurses who work for PHA, every one of them has been paid their overtime.

When it comes to PHA all of the nurses that work in PHA have been paid... there is only one issue for the nurses in the Department of Public Service,” he told Parliament earlier this month.

He later told The Tribune that the process of validating overtime requests at the Department of Public Health was moving slowly due to the manual system.

WOMAN STABBED IN PARKING LOT A WOMAN is in hospital after she was stabbed during an argument with another woman in a parking lot on Saturday.

The incident took place on West Bay Street after 11pm.

Officers were told that two women were in the parking lot of a business when they started to argue.

This resulted in one of the women being stabbed several times in her back.

“The victim was transported to the hospital where she is listed in serious condition. The suspect in this incident is being sought by the police. Investigations into this matter continue,” police said.

Hours earlier, a man was shot while sitting on a porch. Police were called to the scene of the shooting on Flamingo Avenue off Farrington Road after 7pm.

On their arrival, the officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victim was taken to hospital, however, his condition is not known at this time, police said. “Initial inquiries revealed that three men were sitting on a porch, when an unknown male approached them from a western direction and opened fire on them, injuring the victim before fleeing the scene. Investigations into this matter continue,” police said.

needs. She said educators working at special needs institutions across the country want to know if there is going to be a “special protocol” put in place for their students, who they believe “should not be expected to wear a mask in school from 9am-3pm”.

“So hopefully, the education officials will consider the special needs students having a different timetable than the other schools,” Mrs Wilson said. “There’s also a concern about a sixday timetable and going through school fully from 9am-3pm, especially if the schools do not have the proper material and equipment.”

Mrs Wilson said the union has also raised concerns about plexi-glass shields being placed in the classrooms to protect teachers. She said to their knowledge, no “type of barrier” has been installed in any of the schools to date.

She also said BUT has created a “health and safety protocol checklist” to ensure that schools have

thermometers and proper signage on campus and to make certain that social distancing measures are being enforced in the various classrooms. She also said a team they have deployed will be checking to see if schools have access to the internet and if they have an allocated area that can be used as a sick bay for the “isolation of suspected COVID cases”.

She continued: “So Tuesday is really going to be a dry run to find out what is in place at the various schools for the face-to-face reopening and we will be monitoring all of the schools closely to ensure that there is a clean, safe working and learning environment for teachers and students.

“We’re hoping that we get a smooth start to the reopening of school face-toface on Tuesday morning.

It’s our hope that things will be in place, but as we speak generally, there is still a lack of information so hopefully in the Ministry of Education’s release, they may be able to clear up some of the

uncertainty that still lingers with parents and teachers and students.”

According to the ministry, each school will inform parents and guardians of their respective reopening date. Students are also encouraged to check their school’s social media platforms for more detailed updates.

“Parents and guardians are also advised that, if necessary, they may visit their child’s school to speak with an administrator,” the statement read. “In order to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 virus, parents and guardians are asked to do the following: ensure that the body temperature is below 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit; monitor for possible COVID-19 related symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell or taste, sore throat or a continual dry cough; ensure that each child has a face mask and if available, a personal hand sanitizer.”

The ministry said if the above-mentioned symptoms are evident in a

student or faculty member, or if the person in question happens to have close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID19, the pupil or staff member will be required to remain at home and seek the appropriate medical advice.

Parents and guardians are also being asked to follow the recommendations and regulations being enforced at their child’s place of learning, to aid with the “safe return of students to their respective schools and to ensure that each school is able to manage their administrative and instructional functions”.

The press release continued: “The ministry looks forward to the cooperation of all stakeholders in this regard. The public is also informed that further details on the resumption of face-to-face instruction will be provided by the Ministry of Education at a press conference to be held at the ministry’s headquarters building on Monday afternoon at 3pm.”

$30,000 GIFT TO ASSIST RAND HOSPITAL

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A $30,000 cheque donation by Scotiabank Bahamas Limited was made on Friday to the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport where major renovations are underway to restore the public health facility which sustained severe hurricane damage.

Roger Archer, managing director, said the institution wanted to contribute to the restoration efforts of the hospital, particularly to help purchase muchneeded equipment for the Paediatric Unit.

“We know it is really a difficult time over the last two years between Hurricane Dorian and COVID; the hospital has been doing excellent work and we want to continue to contribute to the efforts of the hospital.

“We want to ensure the hospital is in the position to help the community overcome COVID, and so this $30,000 will help with the purchase of a ventilator, oxygen monitor machine, and also two paediatric wheelchairs.”

Hospital Administrator Sharon Williams thanked Scotiabank for its tremendous support.

“It has been a year since the devastation of Hurricane Dorian, and we are well on the way to recovery

SCOTIABANK managing director Roger Archer presents a $30,000 cheque donation on Friday to the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama. Mr Archer was also given a tour of the Pediatric Unit, which is under renovations.

Photo: Preston Knowles Photography as you can see the facilities are much further in the restoration process. It is through the support of the Bahamas Government, and partnerships with companies and organizations like yourself that we are able to provide more effective care for the community of Grand Bahama.”

After the presentation, Mr Archer was given a tour of the hospital’s Paediatric Unit.

The Rand has been closed down for repairs

since September 2019 as a to the hospital. result of severe flood and He said the Beck Group, structural damage due to which designed the CritiHurricane Dorian. The cal Care Block at Princess facility, condemned as Margaret Hospital in New unsafe for occupation, is Providence, is the same undergoing renovations of company designing the more than $20 million. new hospital here in Grand Last week, Prime Min- Bahama. ister Dr Hubert Minnis “That’s a four-story toured the Rand to see the complex, but it would be progress of work. He said designed in such a way as that work is “progressing the population continues very rapidly” and noted to grow it would be able to that his government plans move to the fifth and sixth to move ahead with designs floor as it is necessary,” Dr for a multi-storied addition Minnis said.

McALPINE ‘AWARE’ OF FNM INTERVIEWS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PINERIDGE Member of Parliament Frederick McAlpine said he is “aware” of reports the Free National Movement is interviewing candidates in Nassau to receive a nomination to represent the constituency in the next election.

Although party insiders have said Mr McAlpine is not expected to receive a nomination due to his frequent clashes with the party and scathing criticism of the Minnis administration, the MP said he has not heard anything official from the party’s leadership.

Asked if he will run as an independent candidate, Mr McAlpine said he will not make an announcement on his future until the governing party makes an official decision.

“I’m aware who’s

offering, I’m aware,” he told The Tribune yesterday about reports several candidates were being interviewed for the Pineridge nomination. “I can’t say anything because I need them to do what they need to do first.”

When asked what he meant, Mr McAlpine said: “Whatever they are going to do, whoever they are going to choose, if they choose any.”

When told that it appeared the party would not ratify him as others were being interviewed, Mr McAlpine said: “That’s fine, but I can’t move until they do that.”

Asked how he felt about the situation, he said: “I don’t feel any way about it you know, because they have to do what they have to do and that’s fine...

At the end of the day it speaks that they are not bold enough to contact me or to say anything to me then that speaks to their

integrity as an organisation.

And also to their cowardice, not mine.”

Asked if he will offer as an independent candidate, the Pineridge MP said that decision will be made at a later date after he has discussed it with his family.

“They’re the party, they’re the organisation.

I am one man. If you ain’t running me, tell me you ain’t running me. I ain’t ga kill you for that, it’s your party, you’re the leadership but I am not going to say what I am going to do until they say what they are

going to do.”

He said he has not heard from party chairman Carl Culmer nor Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on the nomination, but said some Cabinet ministers have “reached out” to him.

“There are those who are of the view that they would prefer me to still stay there,” he said.

He also suggested he is politically viable in the area even without an FNM nomination, saying a recent poll showed he received about 80 percent approval from those surveyed.

PAGE 6, Monday, February 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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The vaccine can restore our health - and the health of our economy THE battle to develop a COVID19 vaccine has been won – now begins another battle, this time to convince people to take it.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday gave a national address in which he implored Bahamians to take the vaccine when they get the opportunity.

He said that when a large percentage of people have been vaccinated, the country will be able to open up more – and it will likely be a requirement for overseas travel and cruise lines.

Dr Minnis also warned against some of the misinformation circulating on social media – calling on people to rely on trusted news sources and official outlets rather than unaccountable comments on Facebook and Whatsapp.

The battle to win hearts and minds on the need to take the vaccine is one being conducted around the world.

In today’s article by Sir Ronald Sanders in Insight, you can read about the slow pace at which vaccines are being rolled out around the world, with the Caribbean likely to be a year behind Britain and the US in its vaccinations.

Sir Ronald also points out that churches whose leaders have been preaching against the vaccine are doing their followers no good – nor their countries.

Across in the US, churches are playing a key part in spreading the word about vaccinations. A divide has emerged in the rollout of vaccinations in the US, with residents of black communities making up significantly higher amounts of the COVID-19 deaths totals, but lagging behind when it comes to take-up of vaccinations. Officials in Washington are turning to the church and pastors to help close that gap, to convince people that the vaccine is the way forward.

The facts come down to this – to achieve herd immunity, the higher the percentage of people taking the vaccine the better. Without that immunity, the virus keeps spreading to people, it keeps thriving… and the country stays shut down. Neighbouring nations aren’t going to want to let people in from countries where the virus remains uncontained – and tourists aren’t going to want to come visit them either.

“Proof of vaccination may be one of the critical measures in helping the tourism industry to bounce back around the world,” warned Dr Minnis, who added that he would take the vaccine, that he would urge family and friends to take the vaccine and who said: “By getting vaccinated you will help the country to return to a greater level of normalcy.”

We can’t imagine many people are happy with things going on the way they are – so that’s the choice, take the vaccine, or stay as we are with curfews

and lockdowns and the fear of the virus taking away our loved ones.

Put like that, who would choose the latter?

Curfew inequality The Tribune today reports on large crowds at the Cabbage Beach Bar & Grill, which we witnessed operating in full swing after curfew with hardly a mask in sight.

There are many businesses which have abided by the curfew restrictions – even when to do so cost them financially. There are businesses which have kept their doors closed when it is hurting them every day – along with the hurt caused to staff who can’t come in and earn their wage.

So to see some businesses abiding by the rules and others seemingly not doing so is frustrating to say the least.

That frustration only increases when – as The Tribune did – those places operating outside the rules are reported to the police only for very little to happen.

The Tribune was there to see 85 cars along the road to the Cabbage Beach venue – including one bearing a red government plate, #GV0***.

We were there to see people shoulder to shoulder in the venue, we were there to note the absence of masks – and to see people smoking marijuana openly.

There was even an executive of a prominent corporation present – although he exited at pace.

Finally, shortly after his exit, a solitary police car arrived. None of the flashy COVID Ambassador vehicles in sight.

There was no rush to leave, and the police officers were seen chatting to management while drinking something given to them in white Styrofoam cups.

No fines were witnessed being issued, although a former PLP cabinet minister was seen taking his leave.

By the time The Tribune left, the crowd was still largely there – and we understand the party resumed.

In The Tribune, we have reported numerous court cases involving people breaking COVID regulations that tug at the heart – the story of the boy fined for selling coconuts, the story of a man fined as he went for water, and more besides.

It cannot be that there is one rule for one, and a different rule for another.

All of those in attendance should have known this was not appropriate – and some of those in attendance are connected politically enough to absolutely know this was wrong.

This will not be the last time The Tribune passes this venue – we hope the police will be taking a keener interest as well. If they do not, we will report that too.

Customs EDITOR, The Tribune.

I DON’T know if English Language Comprehension is the problem or if it is a matter of outdated legal terminology, but dealing with import brokers, who deal with Bahamas Customs, indicates that Bahamas Customs doesn’t understand the fundamentals of commerce today, particularly e-Commerce.

When I advise my freight forwarder of a shipment coming to them, (I usually send a copy or the order) they tell me that Customs will want an INVOICE. There are various definitions of the word “INVOICE” in books as

well as the Internet, but whichever one you choose, it will indicate that the INVOICE is a calling in of Money Owed but not yet paid.

A hundred years ago this is how commerce was conducted. You ordered your goods or services and the vendor or supplier would deliver them and then an INVOICE would be rendered, calling in the money. But with the advent of AMAZON and e-Commerce it is now very seldom that an order for goods or services is not pre-paid or paid up front.

Therefore, there is never a need to “call the money in” with an INVOICE, because the money is already in the

vendors bank account.

BUT Bahamas Customs STILL WANT AN INVOICE. What you typically get with e-Commerce is called an ORDER or ORDER Confirmation which itemises your purchases including quantity, unit price, extended price, Tax if any, shipping if any, and a total. Everything that used to be on an INVOICE (calling in the money) is now on an ORDER showing what you paid for.

Is it that difficult for Bahamas Customs to equate these two English Language terms?

BRUCE G RAINE Nassau, February 19, 2021.

COVID crime and choice EDITOR, The Tribune.

THERE were 73 people murdered in 2020, down from 95 person in 2019.

This gives a homicide rate for 2020 of 18. 6 per 100 000. This is still considered an epidemic. According to United Nation, Homicide rate of 10 per 100 0000 or above is considered an epidemic. it seems to me that The Bahamas elites value property and wealth more than people. I guarantee you if The Bahamas had a proper social safety net the homicide rate will decrease significantly.

Personally, I do not believe in welfare but believe in full employment.

I suspect that greed will not allow my utopian socioeconomic system where once a person is alive, he or she must get at least the basics.

I view socialism, capitalism and communism as the same system with slight variation. There is no way government is to be all powerful.

Conversely there is no way big business should be all powerful. The power must lie with the people so far, no system has successfully created that reality.

My request for a better social safety net is a compromise; the ideal is full employment. I plea for the marginalized because I could have easily been one of them except for luck and my love of knowledge more than anything else.

Secondly, I do have confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccines being produced because they have not been studied for long-term effect and the vaccine company have indemnity.

If they were safe and effective, they would be no need for indemnity. They have all the profit with no risk and that is a recipe

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net for disaster. It is a moral hazard.

There is no incentive for the Vaccine manufacturer to make sure the vaccine is safe because there is no consequence if they are not.

Pfizer expects to sell $15 billion worth of COVID19 vaccines in 2021, one of the world’s most lucrative drugs. They have not done any animal testing and other traditional safety requirement for any of the COVID-19 vaccines and because of the urgency of the COVID-19 crisis has been given emergency authorisation.

No one could scientifically claim it is as safe and effective as previous vaccines which many people have died from or been paralysed; although only a small percentage. There is only a 0.046 percent chance of dying from COVID-19 in The Bahamas.

As of February 4, 2021, there was 653 deaths and 12044 adverse events in the US according to the Center for Disease Control. The vaccine is not without risk.

The world’s second oldest person, 116-year-old, blind and uses a wheel chair French nun, sister Andre, recovered from COVID-19 on February 10, 2021, and said “I didn’t know I had it,”.

I understand the government push for vaccination in an attempt to get back to pre-COVID-19 condition but that is unlikely to happen even if everyone is vaccinated. The vaccination does not give immunity or stop the spread of COVID-19 but only lessens the symptoms and decreases the chance of death. There will still be mask and social distancing and other COVID-19 restrictions that hinder

economic activity.

This push to vaccinate reminds me of the two weeks to flatten the curve and almost a year and we are still wearing masks and social distancing and having curfew.

I believe it should be like marriage; those who want to take it, take it and it must not be forced. I have scientific issues with the vaccines but I realise that most people do not love science as much as me so it will be futile to discuss.

The vaccines are expected to give three months of protection; CDC states a person does not have to quarantine if they are within three months following receipt of the last dose in the series”.

Global elites will always move the goal post. Examine 9-11 restrictions, de-risking banking restrictions and now COVID-19 restrictions.

If they do not want people to travel or work without the vaccine, it would not change my mind because I value my life and heath over any material value.

I believe in natural immunity; I exercise, eat right and I am confident I can withstand COVID19. Freedom is not what government gives me. The attempt to reach heard immunity is unfair to those who are not at high risk because if the vaccine works people at high risk can take it and protect themselves.

Since the COVID-19 vaccines do not stop transmission what is the point?

Freedom is my choice because it is my life to live.

Maybe those at high risk of death can take the vaccine, if they choose?

“We are our choices.” Jean-Paul Sartre BRIAN E PLUMMER Nassau, February 20 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, February 22, 2021, PAGE 7

Six months in jail over drugs

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A REPEAT offender found with a quantity of marijuana was on Friday sentenced to prison for six months.

Police arrested Seven Hepburn, 26, after they found him with nine grams of Indian hemp on February 17.

He pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession during his hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Forbes.

That night, the court was

told, officers on mobile patrol in the Wulff Road area received a tip regarding a black Nissan Note.

After making inquiries, they came across the car on East Street.

The prosecution said when Hepburn, who was driving the vehicle, looked in the direction of the officers, he took off. After a brief car chase, he got out of his car and tried to flee on foot.

He was detained by officers a short distance away.

When they searched him, they found five small Ziploc bags containing a quantity

of suspected marijuana.

Hepburn was subsequently arrested and taken to a nearby station where he admitted the offence and claimed he had bought the drugs for his personal use.

The court was told that Hepburn had been convicted of drug offences of a similar nature on more than one occasion in the past.

During the hearing, his attorney, Tonique Lewis, told the magistrate that her client was the sole breadwinner for his family since his girlfriend who was currently pregnant with his child, was not working. She

also said that Hepburn had been incarcerated on his birthday and argued that that fact alone was punishment for his actions.

However, Magistrate Forbes noted that Hepburn had revived convictions for drug related offences over the last three years. He said it appeared that the accused had not learned his lessons from the fines he had received. As a result, he sentenced him to six months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Prosper, 23, was arrested after he was found with 12

grams of marijuana on February 17.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession when he appeared before Magistrate Forbes.

The prosecution said that around 6.35pm that evening, officers on mobile patrol in the Nassau Village area saw Prosper driving a grey Honda. They then beckoned for him to stop and told him he would be searched for dangerous drugs and firearms. During their investigation, officers found a clear plastic bag with suspected marijuana in Prosper’s right pants

pocket and a single joint in the accused’s right hand. He was subsequently arrested.

In an interview with officers at the Drug Enforcement Unit he admitted the offence and said he had bought the drugs for $15.

After accepting his guilty plea, Magistrate Forbes granted Prosper a conditional discharge on the agreement that he would attend drug counselling for one year. He warned him that if he failed to comply with the conditions of his release, he would be sentenced to three months behind bars.

NEARLY 30 FISHERMEN ARRESTED NEARLY 30 fishermen were apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force last week.

The RBDF apprehended the group of 15 Bahamians and 13 Dominicans who were onboard a Bahamian fishing vessel off Anguilla Cay on February 16. This followed the arrest of two Cubans off Anguilla Cay the previous day.

While on routine patrol, HMBS Nassau, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Samantha

Hart, boarded and searched a 62ft Bahamian registered fibreglass vessel named “Blue Water II” about a mile west of Anguilla Cay. Further investigation uncovered the Bahamian fishermen and the Dominicans onboard, along with a quantity of scaled fish and crawfish, two unlicenced compressors and a small amount of marijuana.

HMBS Leon Livingstone Smith, under the command of Senior Lt Ricardo McQueen, assisted in

escorting the captured craft to Nassau. All of the men were taken into custody and handed over to police and immigration officials.

Before this incident, HMBS Nassau apprehended two Cubans onboard a white converter craft in the vicinity of Anguilla Cay last Monday.

Both men were taken aboard the RBDF vessel and brought to Nassau where they were handed over to immigration officials for further processing.

CLINGING TO LIFE FOR 36 HOURS from page one

THREE INJURED AS PLANE CRASHES A PLANE crashed in waters off North Cat Cay shortly after takeoff on Saturday afternoon with three people on board.

According to the Air Accident Investigation Authority, officials received information about a downed plane near Cat Cay around 1.55pm on Saturday.

Preliminary information revealed a single engine

Piper PA28 aircraft, with United States registration N75392, had an engine malfunction that led to the plane ditching in waters off Cat Cay. Police said the plane experienced engine problems “several minutes after taking off” from the Cat Cay runway.

Three people were on board, including the pilot,

who were en route to Grand Bahama International Airport. The group all received injuries, however, they are not life threatening, police said.

They were seen at the public clinic in Cat Cay before being taken to Grand Bahama for medical evaluation.

An investigation is ongoing.

THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW CEO

survivor and transferred him to land and local emergency medical services.

Cornell and the fishing boat’s owner Peter Busch worked together to bring the man aboard.

The rescued man, a Jamaican national, was suffering from hypothermia and dehydration. Cornell and his friends wrapped him in warm blankets and contacted the Coast Guard.

Mr Busch, owner of Southern Eagle Distributing and chairman of the

board at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, was also on hand to lend assistance in the rescue.

It was unclear what happened to the man after he received medical care, or whether he was transferred into the custody of immigration authorities.

FIVE MEN ON FISHING TRIP RESCUED FIVE fishermen whose vessel experienced mechanical problems during a fishing trip were rescued by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and US Coast Guard.

According to the RBDF, the rescue took place on Thursday night.

“After the RBDF Operations Centre received a (distress) call on February 18, 2021 that a 50-ft fishing

vessel ‘Alexandria’ was experiencing mechanical problems, HMBS Lignum Vitae under the command of Sub Lieutenant Miska Clarke, along with a fixedwing aircraft from the USCG were dispatched to assist in the search efforts,” the RBDF said.

“The disabled vessel was eventually located approximately 50 nautical miles southeast of Kemp’s Bay,

Andros.

“According to the occupants, they left New Providence for a two-week fishing expedition on Tuesday, February 16, before experiencing mechanical problems (on) their journey. All of the occupants were in fair health when they were rescued.”

The disabled vessel and its five occupants were brought to Nassau.

TWO FACE COURT ON MURDER CHARGE

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were charged with murder in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Nelson Bevans, 28, and Jamal Brown, 35, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes charged with the death of Mario Duncan on February 8.

According to initial police reports, shortly after 4pm, officers were called to a tract road off Cowpen

Road, east of Golden Isle Road. When they arrived at the scene they discovered in the bushes the unresponsive body of a man.

Emergency Medical Services visited the scene and a short time later pronounced the body lifeless.

During the hearing, neither accused was required to enter a plea and the case was adjourned to May 18 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Bail was denied and Bevans and Brown were

remanded in custody until that time.

On Friday, Bevans was also accused of being in possession of a .9mm pistol and 10 unfired rounds of .9mm ammunition, which the prosecution alleged they had found in his home on February 14.

He denied the allegations and that matter was also adjourned to May 18 for trial.

Both accused have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING CAR GRANTED BAIL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

NEW NHI chief executive officer Christy Butler.

THE National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Christy Butler to the position of chief executive officer, following the planned departure of Graham Whitmarsh, managing director and CEO. Mrs Butler’s new appointment will commence on March 1.

Dr Robin Roberts, chairman of the board, said: “We are excited that Mrs Butler has agreed to serve in this capacity as we continue to work towards our transition to Universal Health Care.

“Mr Graham Whitmarsh was appointed interim managing director three years ago with the commitment that he would assist the board in identifying a Bahamian CEO to occupy the office. We feel that this appointment has accomplished just that.”

He added: “Mrs Butler’s extensive background in public health and management skills will continue to build up our recent successes and strengthen partnerships. We promised the community a Bahamian will occupy the position of CEO and here we are delivering on that promise. I believe Mrs Butler strong leadership experience is a great compliment to NHIA as we continue to improve and enhance our work in healthcare.”

Mrs Butler joined the authority in April 2019, serving as a member of the executive

management team as the senior manager of operations and the team lead for the Primary Care Transformation Office.

With more than 15 years’ experience working in healthcare leadership and reforms, Mrs Butler brings a wealth of knowledge in various public health disciplines with a focus on health policy and management. Mrs Butler previously served as a leader within the Patient Finance Department of Doctor’s Hospital.

“I am very excited about my new appointment,” said Christy Butler. “I believe in the vision and mission of NHIA. There is a great model here and a very talented team that uniquely positions it to capitalise on the changing environment in healthcare.”

A graduate of Kingsway Academy, Mrs Butler earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and later completed a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida.

The NHIA was established to achieve a shared goal of Universal Health Care. To date, NHI Bahamas has over 95,000 people enrolled.

For more information, visit www.nhibahamas.gov.bs.

A 25-YEAR-OLD man who denied stealing another man’s car and trying to pass it off as his own was on Friday granted bail ahead of his trial.

Police said Shawn

Roberts stole a man’s 2011 Nissan Cube on February 8. They also alleged that on the same day the accused produced a fraudulent bill of sale that listed him as the owner of the stolen vehicle.

Roberts was also accused of defrauding another man of $4,800.

28 MIGRANTS DETAINED POLICE in Abaco arrested 28 migrants for suspected illegal landing last week.

According to police, last Monday between 5am and 8am, police, Defence Force and immigration officials executed Operation “Crackdown”.

During the Abaco operation, several people were issued COVID-19 citations while 26 men and two women were apprehended for illegal landing.

They are suspected to be Haitian migrants and were transferred to the Department of Immigration for further investigation.

During his hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes, he pleaded not guilty to one count each of fraud by false pretences, possession of a forged document, uttering a forged document and stealing.

As a result, Magistrate Forbes adjourned his case to June 28 for trial.

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

It’s 10 o’clock on Friday night and on Paradise Island the party’s going strong

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net COVID-19 restrictions have, admittedly, crippled many businesses especially those in the entertainment sector. Yet it would appear the restrictions placed on businesses are seemingly being enforced on some while others get a free pass to do as they please.

For weeks now there has been much discussion about clubs operating outside of the COVID-19 restrictions in New Providence. Bahamians are not only said to be assembling in great numbers at these establishments, but there has been talk of no social distancing and masks not being a necessity. And, most alarmingly, these businesses are operating far past the 10pm curfew sometimes into the early hours of the morning without being shut down by law enforcement.

By Emergency Orders bars are still not allowed to operate and restaurants, food stores and other related businesses should be closed by 9pm to allow patrons and employees to be home in time for the 10pm curfew.

Recently, the National Security Advisor to the Minister of Health was on Paradise Island conducting a health and safety inspection when he noticed the Cabbage Beach Bar & Grill on Paradise Island in full swing after curfew with hardly a mask in sight.

Mr Robert DupuchCarron reported the matter to the police who, he said, seemed nonchalant about the whole matter. As a matter of fact, he said, he’s not aware of any followup.

Mr Carron went on to report the matter to the Minister of Health, Hon. Renward Wells. In frustration, Mr Carron decided to write the Minister of National Security, informing Marvin Dames how he reported the bar’s activities to Officer Rigby and the Officer-in-Charge of the Paradise Island Police Station several times to no avail.

“This isn’t about concessions under the Hotel Encouragement Act,” Mr Carron said. “This is about protecting our citizens and our tourist industry from the COVID-19 scourge sweeping the globe. Unless those living, residing or working on Paradise Island are exempt, we all need to play our part in protecting our nation.”

After many conversations with people who knew of the “after hours” revelry on Paradise Island, this writer, along with a photographer went to Cabbage Beach Bar and Grill last Friday night to see for ourselves whether the rules we’re all supposed to be following were being abided.

We arrived at Cabbage Beach Bar and Grill shortly after 9pm initially struggling to find somewhere to park. There were 85 cars strewn along both sides of the narrow road and adjoining corners. Noticeably, one of the cars parked directly in front of the establishment was a black, Ford Taurus government red-plated vehicle licenced #GV0***.

Prior discussions led to questioning whether or not Cabbage Beach Bar

PEOPLE attending Cabbage Beach Bar & Grill at the weekend and, right, a car with government plates at the location. Photos: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff and Grill was a part of the The photograParadise Island Beach Club pher and I settled where it would be allowed in at the edge to fully operate because of a filled table of being located in a hotel. to observe the before However, that was soon dis- scene pelled because the bar and us. The smell marijuana grill has its own entrance of to and no COVID-19 test was continued required as is required to dominate and approenter hotel properties on quite priately, the New Providence.

At the entrance, a secu- DJ switched music’s rity guard, after being very the firm and dismissive to a few genre and the speakers inebriated male patrons in belted out the tune, “One the immediate area, asked Draw” by Rita Marley. It me to look into my small was “Old School Night” the handbag. Satisfied, he then DJ said.

Stationed at the bar was put his metal detecting wand over the photogra- a prominent public corpher and myself and then poration executive. He ushered us on the walk way was enjoying himself with to another waiting security no mask on. Near to the bar was a well known exguard.

Security guard number Bahamas Air pilot. Quite a two administered a tem- dancer he was.

At about 9.45pm a slew perature check and after sanitizing our hands, of hard core, rugged young allowed us in. There we men came in and as time entered an open space filled advanced the crowd coming with picnic tables occu- in looked more and more pied to capacity with men like those men. A few of and women mostly in their them tried to enter through mid-thirties. In the spaces the exit, but a portly genbetween the picnic tables tleman, believed to be the others were gyrating to the manager, stopped them.

Some of the patrons sounds of extremely loud, soca music coming from there earlier, began to leave the DJ’s set complete with as the DJ announced the loud speakers. The crowd kitchen was closing, and was definitely shoulder to perhaps, they intended to shoulder – standing room be home before curfew. only – and being hyped by This announcement turned out to be a half-truth, the mic-friendly DJ. There was also a cov- because the grill was immeered area with a large bar diately lit and the raucous and other tables where all party continued.

At a few minutes to 10pm, seats were taken and the the corporation executive over flow patrons stood in between. As we mean- made a bolt for the exit, dered through the tables bumping directly into me and at least two hundred but with his eyes focused patrons, the smell of high on the ground. Just seconds grade marijuana perme- after he left police arrived ated the air. We saw a few one small Nissan police car patrons enjoying marijuana with lights flashing. Things joints out in the open while became interesting then as engaging in conversations the DJ turned the music down a notch or two, but with their peers.

The place was definitely the patrons were not leav“jumping” and only three ing. They continued to patrons wore masks; one drink and dance and eat of them being me. Now this from the grill. A few more is what the Chief Medical minutes passed and the DJ Officer should call a super- made a second announcement, this time telling the spreader event.

patrons with much urgency that they must “leave now to avoid fines”.

The police officers stayed in the car as if in a “Mexican Stand Off” while the DJ pleaded with the patrons to leave. The patrons were clearly confused by his pleas, as it was obvious they were used to staying there after curfew even with some arriving at 9:55 pm.

Tired of hearing the DJ’s voice begging them to leave, the patrons started filing out. Annoyed, one young patron was heard yelling at the top of his voice to his peers, “Dese niggaz jokin’! Let’s go to Duckie’s Bar!” Up to 10.40pm patrons were still “leaving” meanwhile the police officers finally came out of the car and started chatting with management while drinking a substance given to them in white styrofoam cups.

Lots of laughter occurred in that conversation and not one fine was issued to the establishment or any of the patrons. The crowd took over the narrow road and a former PLP cabinet minister clambered into his Mercedes jeep, trying desperately not to make eye contact with the eyes in the fleeing crowd.

After watching for a while and realising some of the patrons were just not leaving the area, we left. We were later told the party resumed after we left.

On the way home, at the corner of Nassau Street and West Bay Street, the police

had barricades set up and were visible, however no one bothered to stop and question me and by this time it was long after curfew.

First thing Saturday morning, I reached out to ASP Audley Peters, Police Press Liaison Officer, to inform him of what I had witnessed and to find out the rationale behind the police not being aggressive in shutting down the establishment and issuing finds. ASP Peters said he would have to find out what happened.

He returned the call to me later in the day and said, “I cannot comment right now because I don’t have all the facts. As far as the business establishment is concerned, I have to verify what type of business licence they have.

“Now with the actions of our officers, I had to speak with their commander and I am not getting clarity there either. Once I find out all of this I will call you back.”

ASP Peters did not call back.

Under Emergency Orders no business is allowed to stay open after 9pm and all citizens, besides a certain level essential worker, should be in their homes at 10pm.

Late Saturday afternoon, I called Cabbage Beach Bar and Grill and asked to speak with the manager on duty. A gentleman came to the phone identifying himself only as “the supervisor”. After I insisted

that he identify himself, he resisted at first and then tossed out the name, “Edgar Roberts”.

I asked him about the violations of the COVID restrictions witnessed and he begged to differ.

The supervisor said, “I am not aware of anything like this as we are quite compliant with the COVID regulations. The questions that you are asking, unless it is a legal matter, the only thing I will say is that we are complying with COVID regulations and that’s all I have to say about that.”

The conversation ended.

Many restaurant and bar owners have complained about overzealous police officers coming into their establishments and scaring patrons and issuing fines.

One man made a video which was circulating on social media complaining vehemently about being fined $500.00 for having a speaker outside of his eatery. He had no customers at the time. He said he was being fined for “running a discotheque” against Emergency Orders.

There were no overzealous officers at Cabbage Beach Bar and Grill on Friday night. It makes one wonder if rules in this country are only meant to be enforced on some while others get a pass.

There are 8,453 reported cases of COVID-19 in The Bahamas as of Saturday, February 20.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

INSIGHT

To conquer COVID, we must tackle inequality over vaccines

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

for compensation in the event of injury after taking the vaccine – a necessary set of rules that will hopeTHE day when vacci- fully never be needed in nations will begin in The practice.

Bahamas is getting closer.

As we prepare, we would As we look around the be wise to look to other world, of course, the pace nations to see how they of vaccinations is uneven have been distributing – to say the least. While the vaccine. There have the US is aiming to have been stories in the US, for enough vaccinations for 300 example, of people queumillion Americans by the ing for hours – sometimes end of July, other countries even having to come back – ourselves included – have another day after doing not had a single dose yet. so – and we really ought Just last week, the to ensure our system for UN Secretary General, administering vaccines is António Gutteres, pictured better than that. right, called out the richBy now, we ought to est nations of the world. have identified who will be He pointed out that “Just getting our vaccines first – ten countries have admin- with healthcare workers at istered 75 percent of all the front of the line. That COVID-19 vaccines. should be made public as Meanwhile, more than 130 soon as it is finalised, so countries have not received everyone can know when a single dose”. they might expect to receive The problem is of course the vaccine. that to defeat COVID-19 That should include a at all, we need to defeat it timetable for the Family everywhere. To that end, Islands once the vaccine is the UN has set up a group received, with the elderly to ensure all countries have and most vulnerable on the access to vaccines “regard- Family Islands getting priless of their wealth”. ority, especially We need on islands with only look to the ‘Just ten more limited problems being countries have healthcare facilexperienced ities.

Prevent administered by our souththe infections ern neighbour, 75 percent of rather than Haiti, where all COVID-19 have people political unrest fighting them has rocked the vaccines. without immedicountry for Meanwhile, ate access to the so long there more than 130 required care. seems no path We may be to stable govern- countries have late to the party ment – and how not received a when it comes reinvigorating the economy on Earth can a single dose.’ to getting the once more.

It won’t be the end of the focused vaccivaccinations nation problem themselves, but rocky economic road – the go ahead when there are that gives us the chance to closure of the Melia hotel stories of plots against the learn from others – copying for two years shows that – president, of police attack- the good and avoiding the but it will help us get back on our feet at last. ing journalists and more? bad.

The more we can do to Last week, The BahaFinally, one of those mas banned commercial inequalities may well work get on with vaccinations ourtravel from Haiti – said to in our favour. The United selves – and keep cases down be because the country is States looks finally to be to a minimum in the meanentering its Carnival season ahead of the game after time – the better we’ll be – but we know with the seemingly ignoring the prepared for when that day amount of travel, author- virus as it ran rampant comes. The clock is ticking ised or illicit, from Haiti across the country. The – and the day those vaccines to The Bahamas that even prospect of every Ameri- arrive in The Bahamas and once we have vaccinations can being vaccinated by start to be administered will for every resident here, the the summer gives us a goal be a landmark moment for virus won’t stop circulating to aim for in opening our our country. It cannot arrive without a vaccination pro- doors to tourists again, and soon enough. gramme there.

It may not seem that we LEGAL NOTICE can do much about the UN NOTICE plan – but we can. One part of the UN’s call was to make sure that all people LOFTUS GLOBAL LTD. are vaccinated, regardless of their status.

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: The executive director of UNICEF, Henrietta Fore, (a) LOFTUS GLOBAL LTD. is in voluntary said that it was important dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 for everyone to be vacci(4) of the International Business Companies Act nated – for us that includes 2000. people living in shanty towns or who might not (b) The dissolution of the said company commenced have the right paperwork. on the 17th February, 2021 when the Articles of Elsewhere, there are Dissolution were submitted to and registered by other signs that our counthe Registrar General. try is making the right steps towards vaccination. In the (c) The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit past week, there has been Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial confirmation of steps being Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, taken to protect the vacP.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas cine in case of power cuts, Dated this 22nd day of February, A. D. 2021 for example. Heaven help us if we finally get the vaccine and it gets destroyed _________________________________ by a BPL engine failure at Bukit Merah Limited an inopportune moment.

Liquidator Rules were also established

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 PAGE 9

PAGE 10 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Don’t take the vaccine and all you’ll do is prolong this crisis World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

PEOPLE in the Carib- to their individual wellbean who refuse to take being, their families, the vaccinations to counter wider community and the the corona virus will cause businesses from which they the COVID-19 pandemic derive a living. to remain longer in the At the rate at which vacregion, endangering lives, cines are currently available livelihoods, and entire and being rolled out in the economies. world, the Caribbean will Whatever genuine fears be behind Britain and the may exist, these people US in controlling the virus must be educated about the by at least a year. If a sigvalue of the vaccine to their nificant number of people own health and they must remain unvaccinated, the be encouraged by all influ- delay will be even longer. ential agencies Caribbean to take it. countries ‘At the rate at If they need cannot afford a which vaccines convincing, year, let alone a they should are currently more extended look at the available and period, to experience of suppress the other countries being rolled out virus.

Many where more in the world, economies are than 139 mil- the Caribbean already in dire lion people straits, poverty have taken the will be behind is expanding, vaccine and not Britain and the unemployment one of them US in controlling is rising, econohas died from miesaredeclining, the virus by at it. hospitals are The besieged and least a year. If churches, many more a significant whose leadpeople are ers have been number of dying. preaching This is why people remain against the vacat a meeting of cine, are doing unvaccinated, the Permanent neither their the delay will be Council of the followers nor even longer.’

Organisation their countries of American any good.

States (OAS) Similarly, the repre- on 17 February 17, all sentatives of trade unions, independent CARICOM who argue their members countries joined Antigua have the right not to take and Barbuda in promoting vaccines, might consider adoption of a resolution enlightening them about calling for equitable disthe benefits of the vaccine tribution of COVID-19

BRITAIN’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesdy last week holding a vial of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Cwmbran, south Wales.

Photo: Geoff Caddick/Pool via AP Right now, every coun- price. Hence, the dona- is even more precipitous. vaccines globally.

Action is necessary to try in the Caribbean is way tion of 570,000 doses of The year 2022 is unlikely to get vaccines into Caribbean behind developed countries the AstraZeneca vaccine get any better unless each countries so that at least 80 with which they interact by India to CARICOM country gets the virus under percent of the people can for tourism, trade in goods countries is a great relief. control.

The populations of be inoculated to build ‘herd and other commercial and The rollout has started in countries, immunity’. This is achieved social activity. For exam- a few countries. But, there Caribbean when a large part of the ple, at the time of writing are not sufficient stocks amounting to 20 million population is immune to the (February 18), Britain has to accelerate the inocula- people, are competing with disease. If enough people inoculated 23.7 percent of tion programme to get all 450 million people in Latin and another are resistant to the corona- its population with the first CARICOM countries to America virus, it will have nowhere dose of the vaccine; the U.S at least 80 percent of their 360 million in the US and 12.3 percent; Canada 3.48 population.

Canada to achieve 80 perto go and it will peter out. percent and many of the The main vaccine manu- cent inoculations. They countries in the European facturers have to be urged are also competing against Union almost 3 percent. to ramp-up their produc- 7 billion people globally.

No country in the Carib- tion at an affordable price. They cannot afford to bean has vaccinated more Concentrating on selling leave themselves behind – than 0.9 percent of their only to the rich nations will they must get themselves population. not eliminate the global inoculated.

The main reason for this pandemic.

A research Leaders and influencis that rich countries, repre- study, sponsored by the ers in every sector – the senting only 16 percent of US National Bureau of Churches, the trade unions the world’s population have Economic Research in and the media – have to bought, and are hoarding, Massachusetts, shows that support Caribbean gov60 percent of the available even if wealthy countries ernments that have tried vaccine candidates. This are fully vaccinated by the their best with scarce and means that 40 percent is left end of this year, but poor reduced financial resources for 84 percent of the global countries remain largely to manage the coronavipopulation, including the shut out, “the global econ- rus and now to inoculate Caribbean. omy would suffer losses against it.

This situation demands exceeding $9 trillion, a sum No Caribbean counurgent attention if the greater than the annual try can afford to be a Caribbean is to survive output of Japan and Ger- year behind the nations the already devastating many combined”. with which they interact effects of the COVID-19 What should worry for their livelihood and pandemic. That is why the every citizen and resident development.

Antigua and Barbuda initia- of Caribbean countries is • Responses and previtive at the OAS was strongly that their economies have ous commentaries: www. and fully supported by already declined so signifi- sirronaldsanders.com. other CARICOM nations. cantly that, even if there It is also why the resolution is recovery later in 2021 or (The writer is Antigua received full support at the in 2022, it will not be suffi- and Barbuda’s Ambassador OAS. Twenty-nine of the cient to return them to 2019 to the United States and the Organization’s 34 member levels.

Organization of American states, including the CaribForeign direct investment States. He is also a Senior bean, are among the over in the Caribbean declined Fellow at the Institute of 100 nations that have vacci- last year by more than 50 Commonwealth Studies at nated less than 1 per cent of percent. With many econthe University of London their people. omies across the region and Massey College in the The Caribbean needs in a state of prolonged University of Toronto. The greater access to vac- inactivity, the downward views expressed are entirely cines and at an affordable investment trend for 2021 his own).

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

INSIGHT

Has Earth been visited by an alien spaceship?

One Harvard professor versus everybody else

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 PAGE 11

A Private Graveside Service for LEROY HILTON ARCHER SR., 96 of Providence Avenue, will be held on Thursday, 25th February 2021 at Ebenezer Methodist Church Cemetery, Shirley Street. Officiating will be Rev. Milton Lightbourne.

Due to current Government regulations in respect of Covid-19, attendance is limited to twenty (20) persons.

AN ARTIST’s impression of the object ’Oumuamua.

By SIMON GOODWIN Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Sheffield A HIGHLY unusual object was spotted travelling through the solar system in 2017. Given a Hawaiian name, ’Oumuamua , it was small and elongated – a few hundred metres by a few tens of meters, travelling at a speed fast enough to escape the Sun’s gravity and move into interstellar space.

I was at a meeting when the discovery of ’Oumuamua was announced, and a friend immediately said to me, “So how long before somebody claims it’s a spaceship?” It seems that whenever astronomers discover anything unusual, somebody claims it must be aliens.

Nearly all scientists believe that ’Oumuamua probably originates from outside the solar system. It is an asteroid- or comet-like object that has left another star and travelled through interstellar space - we saw it as it zipped by us. But not everyone agrees. Avi Loeb, a Harvard professor of astronomy, suggested in a recent book that it is indeed an alien spaceship. But how feasible is this? And how come most scientists disagree with the claim?

Researchers estimate that the Milky Way should contain around 100 million billion billion comets and asteroids ejected from other planetary systems, and that one of these should pass through our solar system every year or so. So it makes sense that ’Oumuamua could be one of these. We spotted another last year – “Borisov” – which suggests they are as common as we predict.

What made ’Oumuamua particularly interesting was that it didn’t follow the orbit you would expect – its trajectory shows it has some extra “non-gravitational force” acting on it. This is not too unusual. The pressure of solar radiation or gas or particles driven out as an object warms up close to the Sun can give extra force, and we see this with comets all the time.

Experts on comets and the solar system have explored various explanations for this. Given this

was a small, dark object passing us very quickly before disappearing, the images we were able to get weren’t wonderful, and so it is difficult to be sure.

Loeb, however, believes that ’Oumuamua is an alien spaceship, powered by a “light sail” – a method for propelling a spacecraft using radiation pressure exerted by the Sun on huge mirrors. He argues the nongravitational acceleration is a sign of “deliberate” manoeuvring. This argument seems largely to be based on the fact that ’Oumuamua lacks a fuzzy envelope (“coma”) and a comet-like tail, which are usual signatures of comets undergoing nongravitational acceleration (although jets from particular spots cannot be ruled out).

SANITY CHECKS

He may or may not be right, and there is no way of proving or disproving this idea. But claims like this, especially from experienced scientists are disliked by the scientific community for many reasons.

If we decide that anything slightly odd that we don’t understand completely in astronomy could be aliens, then we have a lot of potential evidence for aliens – there is an awful lot we don’t understand. To stop ourselves jumping to weird and wonderful conclusions every time we come across something strange, science has several sanity checks.

One is Occam’s Razor, which tells us to look for the simplest solutions that raise the fewest new questions. Is this a natural object of the type that we suspect to be extremely common in the Milky Way, or is it aliens?

Aliens raise a whole set of supplementary questions (who, why, from where?) which means Occam’s Razor tells us to reject it, at least until all simpler explanations are exhausted.

Another sanity check is the general rule that “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence”. A not quite completely understood acceleration is not extraordinary evidence, as there are many plausible explanations for it.

Yet another check is the

often sluggish but usually reliable peer-review system, in which scientists publish their findings in scientific journals where their claims can be assessed and critiqued by experts in their field.

ALIEN RESEARCH

This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t look for aliens.

A lot of time and money is being devoted to researching them. For astronomers who are interested in the proper science of aliens, there is “astrobiology” – the science of looking for life outside Earth based on signs of biological activity. On February 18, Nasa’s Perseverance rover will land on Mars and look for molecules which may include such signatures, for example. Other interesting targets are the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

In the next five years, we will also have the technology to search for alien life on planets around other stars (exoplanets). Both the James Webb Space Telescope (due to launch this year), and the European Extremely Large Telescope (due for first light in 2025) will analyse exoplanet atmospheres in detail, searching for signs of life.

For example, the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere is there because life constantly produces it.

Meanwhile, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Seti) initiative has been scanning the skies with radio telescopes for decades in search of messages from intelligent aliens.

Signs of alien life would be an amazing discovery.

But when we do find such evidence, we want to be sure it is good. To be as sure as we can be, we need to present our arguments to other experts in the field to examine and critique, follow the scientific method which, in its slow and plodding way, gets us there in the end.

This would give us much more reliable evidence than claims from somebody with a book to sell. It is quite possible, in the next five to ten years, that somebody will announce that they have found good evidence for alien life. But rest assured this isn’t it.

• Originally published on theconversation.com

Left to carry on his legacy are his Children: Val Henry, Sharon Archer Wilson, Leroy and Joyanne Archer, Ingrid Archer, Leria Archer, Ricardo Hanna, Tanya Archer; Regarded Daughters: Gill Gibson Marche & Audrey Albury; Grandchildren: Bergent & Autira Newbold, Omar and Latonya Wilson, Barrington, Jordan, Leeanne, Carlise, Tarros Archer, Alexandria McKenzie, Kent Ward II, Nequan and Taquan Thurston; Great Grandchild: Caylen Russell; Nieces: Brenda Sands, Delores Adderley, Beverly ( Cornell) Mortimer, Alexie Medley & Family, Hatrice, Freanza & Vanessa Archer, Zenia Williams; Nephew: Keith (Barbara ), Godfrey ( Jenny), Glenn Archer, Charles Lockhart, Hartley, Keith ( Shan), Kevin, Brudenell Sheldon (Mitzi) Archer; Grandnieces and nephews: Keith Hammonds & Family, Dion Thompson & Family, Anishka Culmer & Family, Kara Miller & family, Gavin Williams, Tia Thompson, Delaune, Kia (Nolan), Kevin, Chrissy & Toby Archer, Deval Dean, Cayle & Cameron Mortimer, Bridgette & Mario Sands, Nicki & David Archer, Tiffany Petty, Ryan, Brandon, Cinnamon Archer, Keyvon Smith, Tancia Humes & family, Valentino, Norris, Keithtarus, Spencer Jr., Stephano, Lunkey, Masko, Shakkia Cash, Lasummer and Valkeisha Archer, Stoneé Godet, Kevin Jr.,Tevyn & Ariel Archer, Viola Archer, Gabriel Archer, Mericana, Vebata Thurston, Myracle Munroe, Kishahanna, Kianna, Katrina Jennings, Tyler Chisholm, Ronderkea Porter, Valeria Newbold; Sister-in-law: Winifred Richardson; Cousins: Louis Hanchell, Dorothera Roberts and Family, Rosamund Roberts Williams and Family, Sybil Archer and Family, Dorie Archer Strachan & Family, Jocelyn Archer Demeritte & family, Ronnie Archer & Family, Dianne Archer & Family, Family of the Late Eric Newbold, Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Eve; Special Friends and Other Family: Territa Joseph and Family, Jackie Gibbons, Audrey Fountain and family, Ella Whitfield, Louise Gibson & Family, Rosie Fernander Sumuda and Family, Patsy Carey and Family, Mr and Mrs Alfred Sears and Family, Victor Hutchinson, Mr and Mrs Ebenezer David, The Aranha Family, Mr and Mrs Robert Elliott, Ian Ramming, Bertram Cambridge, Ronald Dawkins & Family, Mr. & Mrs Busbee Davis, Harcourt Rolle, H.E. Lowell Mortimer, Addington Godet, Arnette Whyms, Ken Butler, Skeebo Roberts, Flora Sawyer, Marie Poitier, Rosemary Archer and Family, Rose Bailey, Dien Bailey and Family, Roosevelt Archer and Family, Iris Knowles and Family, Velma Burrows and Family, Pedro Roberts and family, Brenda Bowe and family, Ethel & Mena Grant and family. Blanche Moss and family. The Styles family, The Roberts family, The Wildgoose family, The Campbell family, Gladys Sands and family, Italia Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Hassan and family, The Johnson family, Gloria Pratt, The Sherman family, Winifred Ferguson and family, Alpheus Finlayson, Mike Sands, Holy Spirit Church family, Ebenezer Methodist Church Family, Archer Family Reunion, Moss Family, Ambry, Cherie, Monique, Jasmine, Adelai, The Chippingham family, The Gibson family, Patsy Nichols and family, Mr. and Mrs. Neville Albury and family, Keva and Donna Roberts, Dr. Robin Roberts and family, Dr. Tyneil Cargill and family, Joyce Bain and family, La Gloria Davis, Rosalyn North and family, Marina McCartney and Family, Sir Arthur and Lady Joan Foulkes, Gail and Lois Bethel, Marguerite Williams and Family, Henry Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Neville Wisdom and Family, Da Tamales, Fort Charlotte PLP Branch, Velma Burrows and Family, The Hanna, Strachan and Coakley Families, Pedro Perpall and Family, Rev. & Mrs. Edeburt Tinker, Stan Coakley, Evan Reid, Rudy Stubbs, Patricia Davis and Family, Beverly Pratt and Family, Hartley Wilkerson and family, Patricia Rolle and Family, The Samuels, Mr. & Mrs. Alkin Delancy, The Grants, The Hudson and Smith Families, Family of the late Agnes Albury, Family of the late Delores Bankston, Cyril and Neville Mackey, Fred Sturrup, Alfred Waldron, Franklyn Ferguson, Mr. & Mrs. Fritz Grant & Family, Franklin Thompson, Anita Allen & Family, Georgie Bethel & Family, Stephanie Dean & Family, Mr. Valentine Grimes and Family, Kim & Dr. Sythela DeGregory, Glender Knowles & Family, Laurene McDonald.

Please accept our sincere apologies for any names which may have been unintentionally left out. Dad loved all of you! – The Family.

May His Soul Rest in Peace!

Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street on Wednesday, February 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PAGE 12, Monday, February 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Washington turns to pastors over vaccine WASHINGTON Associated Press STATELY and deliberate, with a distinctive white streak in his black hair, the Rev Wallace Charles Smith started his Valentine’s Day sermon at Shiloh Baptist Church by talking about love and vaccinations.

“That’s what love’s all about. When you get a vaccination, you are saying to everyone around you that you love them enough that you don’t want any hurt, harm or danger to befall them,” he said. “In the spirit of love, keep at it until you get your vaccination.

That’s the only thing that’s going to erase this terrible scourge.”

The church was empty except for a camera crew and a tiny choir. Thanks to COVID-19, Smith’s Sunday sermons are now virtual affairs.

Still, health officials in the nation’s capital are hoping that Smith and other Black religious leaders will serve as community influencers to overcome what officials say is a persistent vaccine reluctance in the Black community. Smith and several other local ministers recently received their first vaccine shots.

Black residents make up a little under half of Washington’s population, but constitute nearly three-fourths of the city’s COVID-19 deaths. The District of Columbia is now offering vaccinations to residents over age 65, but numbers show that seniors in the poorest and blackest parts of Washington are lagging behind.

Officials partially blame historic distrust of the medical establishment, especially among Black seniors, who vividly remember medical exploitation horrors such as the Tuskegee syphilis study, where hundreds of impoverished rural Black men suffered syphilis effects with minimal treatment for decades as part of the medical study.

“We know we need to focus on Black and brown communities,” Dr LaQuandra Nesbitt, the director of the district’s health department, said earlier this month. “Let’s not give up on communities of color being interested in the vaccine. Let’s continue to answer their questions.

Let’s continue to be very thoughtful in how we answer their questions.”

The DC government is giving priority for vaccine registration to predominantly Black ZIP codes and

REGINALD HENRY, 69, of Washington, receives his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic at Howard University, in Washington. “I felt confident about getting the vaccine,” says Henry, who lives in a senior building, “because God helps those who help themselves.”

Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP running public information calling on religious leaders stand on the sidewalk out- only to be informed that frustration, made worse by campaigns, including the to help dispel vaccine fears. side the church with a sign all appointments had been the digital divide.

“Our role as clergy and as saying “Danger: COVID filled.

“I think there is a larger clergy vaccinations. The Lisa Chapman had to percentage of people who latest numbers show the faith-based leaders is to be Vaccine Say No!” The city’s community overcome both personal want to receive the vaccine gap is narrowing, but the optimistic and hopeful. We southeastern core of the say to our people that these influencer campaign is reluctance and logistical and have had challenges city’s Black community is vaccines are the gift of life. targeting more than just obstacles in order to sched- with scheduling appointule vaccinations for her ments and being able to still getting vaccinated at We believe in the science,” religious leaders. said Rev HB Holmes Jr. of Prominent Black Wash- parents, Walter Coates, 82, receive the vaccine,” he the slowest rate. said. “My fear is that some “There’s distrust in our Bethel Missionary Church ington figures such as and Rosa Coates, 80.

Vice President Kamala First she had to persuade of those residents have community. We can’t ignore in Tallahassee, Florida.

Holmes has gotten vac- Harris, local radio host them. simply given up.” that,” said Rev James Cole“I just wasn’t certain. I Smith, in his Valentine’s man of All Nations Baptist, cinated, and his church has Kojo Nnamdi and Doug Williams, a Super Bowl- wanted to wait and see for Day sermon, spoke not who was vaccinated along hosted vaccination drives.

“We knew that because winning quarterback for a while,” said Rosa Coates. just of the fear but also the with Smith. “The church, and particularly the Black of hesitation and reluc- the Washington football “But (Lisa) convinced me. logistical hassles of a conchurch, is essential. ... That’s tance that we needed team, have all received She just kept talking to me fusing process. trusted voices. So we their injections at southeast about it.”

“I know many of you what pastors do.”

Then it took waiting on have tried to get the vacColeman said he has brought together persons Washington’s United Mediworked to create a vaccine- of great influence in Black cal Center and used their hold for more than 90 min- cine, but there have been so positive atmosphere among and brown communities, public platforms to encour- utes, leaving the phone many challenges ... waiting on speaker and then leap- for hours, only to find that the seniors in his church. particularly from our com- age others to follow suit.

“I honestly believe that ing back on when a human what you thought was availBefore a recent Sunday munity, to say, you know, able is not there,” he said. morning sermon, conducted I’m going to take the vac- more people want to take answered.

“That’s a really long Given the community via audio conference call cine and roll up our sleeves it than don’t,” said hospital , elderly parishioners in and do that publicly.” he official Toya Carmichael, time to wait. I think a reluctance, city health who said several people lot of people do want to officials say they cannot Coleman’s church updated said.

In Washington, the Penn- have asked for the same get it. They just can’t get afford to frustrate or disone another on their that vaccinated through,” Chapman said. courage those seeking progress and congratu- sylvania Avenue Baptist nurse DC Council Member vaccination. lated those who had been Church has been designated Harris. a “faith-based vaccination But some DC officials Kenyan McDuffie laid part Nesbitt said a new regisvaccinated.

“There was some nerv- partner,” with a portable are insisting that simple of the problem at the feet tration model would go into ousness to overcome vaccination trailer set up cultural reluctance, while of the government. In an effect in March that would at first,” Coleman said. in the church’s parking lot real, doesn’t fully explain interview, McDuffie, who bring a further “equity southeastern lens” to the vaccination “People outside the Black twice a week. The vaccina- Washington’s racial vacci- represents community sometimes can’t tions have gone smoothly. nation lag. Interviews with Ward 5, called the city’s process. Also, officials have But showing that vaccine Black residents revealed a vaccine rollout “over- organised teams of “senior relate to that sensitivity.” inequitable” vaccine buddies” to go to Health departments skepticism transcends racial common set of complaints: whelmingly nationwide are dealing with lines, a white DC resident, seniors failing to navigate and said talk of vaccine the homes of seniors and the same challenges, and Kathy Boylan, crossed the the online registration reluctance was obscur- help them get through the other jurisdictions also are city on a recent icy day to system or sitting on hold ing a reality of vaccine online process.

THREAT OF LETHAL FORCE BY AUTHORITIES IN MYANMAR YANGON, Myanmar Associated Press

A CALL for a Monday general strike by demonstrators in Myanmar protesting the military’s February 1 seizure of power has been met by the ruling junta with a thinly veiled threat to use lethal force, raising the possibility of major clashes.

The call for a general strike was made Sunday by the Civil Disobedience Movement, a loosely organised group leading resistance to the army’s takeover. It asked people to gather together for the Five Twos - referring to the digits in Monday’s date - to make a “Spring Revolution”.

State television broadcaster MRTV late Sunday carried a public announcement from the junta, formally called the State Administration Council, warning against the general strike.

“It is found that the protesters have raised their incitement towards riot and anarchy mob on the day of 22 February. Protesters are now inciting the people, especially emotional

STUDENTS from the University of Medicine protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Sunday. teenagers and youths, to a confrontation path where they will suffer the loss of life,” it said in an English language text shown onscreen.

The spoken announcement in Burmese said the same thing.

Another part of the statement blamed protesters whose numbers allegedly included criminal gangs for violence at demonstrations, with the result that “the security force members had to fire back.” Three

protesters have been shot dead so far.

The protest movement has embraced nonviolence and only occasionally gotten into shoving matches with police and thrown bottles at them when provoked.

In Yangon, the country’s biggest city and commercial capital, trucks cruised the streets Sunday night blaring announcements that people should not attend protests Monday and must honor a

ban on gathering of five or more people. The ban on gathering was issued shortly after the coup but not enforced in Yangon. which for the past two weeks has been the scene of large daily demonstrations.

Many social media postings ahead of the scheduled nightly 1am cutoff of internet access service said security forces had set up roadblocks at strategic points in the city, including bridges and on streets

leading to foreign embassies. Information on Twitter accounts that have proven reliable in the past said that the normal blocking of internet access from 1am to 9am would be extended to noon in Yangon.

Earlier Sunday, crowds in Myanmar’s capital attended a funeral for the young woman who was the first person confirmed to have been killed in the protests, while demonstrators also mourned two other protesters shot dead on Saturday.

Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was shot in the head by police on February 9, two days before her 20th birthday, at a protest in Naypyitaw, and died Friday.

Mourners lined the entrance to a cemetery in the city as the hearse carrying her body arrived and was taken to a crematorium where more people had gathered. They silently raised their hands in threefingered salutes — a sign of defiance and resistance adopted from neighboring Thailand — as the black and gold vehicle rolled slowly past.

Inside the crematorium hall, the lid on Mya Thwet

Thwet Khine’s coffin was partially removed to allow a last glimpse of her head resting on a bed of red and white roses before she was cremated. Members of the crowd outside chanted “Our uprising must succeed!”

Elsewhere in Myanmar, protesters against the coup that ousted the nation’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, gathered again on Sunday.

Demonstrators turned out in force in Mandalay, the country’s second-biggest city, where security forces shot dead two people on Saturday near a dockyard where the authorities had been trying to force workers to load a boat. The workers, like railway workers and truckers and many civil servants, have joined the civil disobedience campaign against the junta.

The shooting broke out after neighborhood residents rushed to the Yadanabon dock to try to assist the workers in their resistance. One of the victims, described as a teenage boy, was shot in the head and died immediately, while another was shot in the chest and died en route to a hospital.