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Volume: 118 No.65, FEBRUARY 26, 2021

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SIX CHARGED FOR CARE HOME CRUELTY

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

SIX women were charged yesterday with child cruelty in connection with the beating of a number of wards at the Children’s Emergency Hostel.

Last month a surveillance video showing children being beaten in a care home went viral on social media. After the footage became public, a number of employees were “relieved of their duties” pending the outcome of a police investigation.

Yesterday, Eloise Canter, 52, Carmetta Woods, 47, Natasha Pratt, 46, Occonelle Gordon, 25, Sabrina Smith, 61, and Shawn

Seymour, 42, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with 11 counts of cruelty to children.

The prosecution said the former staff members unlawfully physically abused nine boys and two girls in a way that caused them unnecessary suffering on September 22, 2020.

Seymour is accused of failing to report the abuse of the minors—who all range from ages seven to 11—to the appropriate officials on the day in question.

During the hearing, all of the women denied the allegations and the matter was adjourned for a four-day trial beginning on November 2.

SEE PAGE FIVE

THE Government is being threatened with “ejection” from the North Eleuthera Airport and other assets unless it pays almost $26m in compensation for their use over a six-decade period.

Attorneys representing 3,000 “common” land owners warned their clients will initiate legal action over the Government’s alleged violation of their

constitutional and property rights in taking their land without paying a single cent.

In a move that threatens to disrupt the $65m North Eleuthera Airport expansion, the Harbour Island Commonage Committee wants reimbursement not only for land that the present facility has occupied since 1959, but also the 450acre and 30-acre sections that were taken for wellfields and the district dump in the mid-1990s.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

SEE PAGE EIGHT

SANDS IS ON FNM TICKET

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement ratified five candidates for the next general election last night, including former Health Minister and Elizabeth MP Dr Duane Sands.

Other ratified candidates included North Andros and Berry Islands MP Carlton Bowleg, State Minister for Finance Kwasi Thompson in East Grand Bahama, who are both incumbents SEE PAGE THREE

ISLANDERS HIT GOVT WITH $25M CLAIM

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

TIME TO SAY BYE, LANISHA

SKY’S THE LIMIT Weather services project offers key to help Treasury

See page seven

LISA: I’M NOT RUNNING IN ‘22 ELECTION

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

SENATOR Lisa Bostwick-Dean said she did not seek the Free National Movement’s nomination for Seabreeze “for personal reasons”.

Her comment in the Senate came a day after an FNM insider said she was favoured as the party’s pick for the area.

SEE PAGE THREE

RAYTHEON and FAA confirm 594,000 flights used Bahamian air space in 2019.

A GROUP of Bahamian entrepreneurs have the “Green Light” for a $427M investment in what U.S. global Aerospace, Defence, Intelligence and Weather Contractor Raytheon Technologies has termed as the “ ‘First-ofIts-Kind Transformational, Aviation Climate, Meteorological, Navigation, 3D Terrain, Street and Chart Mapping & Severe Weather Sensing Network…….that exceeds those of any industrial nations” — providing Dr. Minnis Administration

with the components necessary to collect what is projected to be $300M in “Overflight Fees” from the 594,00 flights from each and every commercial, cargo and private carrier using Bahamas’ sovereign airspace each year.

Mr. Nicholas Rees, Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) financial consultant, told The Tribune that BACSWN would like to thank the Prime Minister & Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of

Works, Minister of Tourism & Aviation, Minster of Labour, Minister of National Security, the Cabinet Select Committee, Dr. Nigel Lewis, FNN Chairman Carl Culmer and last, but by no means least, Director Basden, Mr. Simmons and the entire Department of Meteorology for their unwavering support of such an ambitious undertaking.

Disclosing that considerable time, efforts and resources have been spent

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

THE SINGLE MOM WHO LOST HER JOB TO COVID

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Friday, February 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

A BODY is taken from the scene after yesterday’s shooting.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

Fifth person shot dead since Sunday

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was found dead yesterday morning with apparent gunshot injuries.

He is the fifth person to be murdered since Sunday.

Police press liaison officer, Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters told reporters at the scene that

the victim, who was shot several times about the body, is believed to be in his late 20s.

He said the deceased lived in the immediate area of the crime scene.

“Police received reports shortly after 9am this morning of a shooting incident that occurred on Marmalade Close off Wulff Road,” he said.

“On the arrival of the first responding officer, they met a male lying on the ground with apparent gunshot injuries to his body. EMS was called – they examined the body and pronounced it dead a short time later.”

He said no vehicle was seen leaving the scene. It was possible that the culprit fled on foot. There was no evidence at the time to

suggest that the incident is drug or gang related, he said.

He said police had promising leads.

“We’ve canvassed the area and the intelligence we have thus far is very promising and in due course the necessary actions will be taken and the matter may be brought before the court depending on the evidence

heard gunshots in her community on Monday night, she had no idea the bullets had struck her son, Anthon Percentie.

Percentie, 27, of Hutchinson Street, was shot after 8pm on Finlayson Street. The incident also left a woman in hospital in

serious condition.

Ms Johnson said her son was at Finlayson Street hanging out with friends.

She believed he was getting something to eat at the time of the shooting.

She said she had not seen her son all day because she was at work. The two lived together.

“One of my friends called me and told me he just got shot,” she told The Tribune.

“I was really shocked because... I heard the shots (going) off and didn’t even know that my son was getting shot at the time.”

Her son was taken by a private car to Princess Margaret Hospital.

His mother said she went straight to the hospital, but was not given any information.

“When I went straight to the hospital, I wasn’t able to see no doctor, no nurses, no nothing – I wasn’t able

‘I HEARD THE SHOTS - I HAD NO IDEA MY SON WAS THE VICTIM’

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

WHEN Chavon Johnson

that is gathered,” he said.

The deceased’s identity was not released by police.

However he was identified on social media as Kendino McDonald, a man who was arraigned for the murder of Via Caffe owner Albert Rahming in 2016. He was released on bail last year.

This killing pushed the murder count to 21 for the year, according to The

Tribune’s records.

When asked for the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s official count, ASP Peters said “that is not for public consumption at the moment”.

“You are aware of the protocols as in terms of how we deliver our message,” he said. “It comes through a certain protocol to give statistics.”

ANTHON PERCENTIE to get no information,” she said.

“My head was just pounding me. I left my son, my last son and my son who got shot, and then his girlfriend to the hospital and told them I was going home and if they needed me they could’ve called me.”

While at home, she learned her son had died.

“They tried to save him but they were unable to because the bullet pierced through his lung and he

had complications breathing and his heart stopped....

They tried to revive, but they were unsuccessful.”

She described her son as a quiet person, adding she did not know if he had any personal conflicts with anyone.

Percentie was one of four people shot on Monday, two of whom died, according to police.

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

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 26, 2021, PAGE 3

MINNIS: ROLLE NOT BEING DIRECTLY INVESTIGATED

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Lanisha Rolle is not being directly investigated after an internal audit he is said to have requested uncovered findings that led to the resignation of the Seabreeze MP. Asked if Mrs Rolle was directly a part of that investigation, Dr Minnis said: “No she is not.”

When asked to address

concerns about the lack of women representation in Cabinet following Mrs Rolle’s resignation and if a woman won’t be appointed to the Cabinet until after the next election, he replied: “I don’t know when the bell may ring, but the bell may ring tomorrow and you may not have time for that but those are matters we will address.

“And we always feel that we want to ensure that there are equal men and women not only in Cabinet but even if you look at the Office of the Prime

Minister; both my secretaries are females. “My Delivery Unit director is female. My communications director is female.

The individual in charge of my Bahamas Investment Authority – female.

Women are doing very well and I look forward to the day that we have our first Bahamian prime minister.”

His comments to the press comes after a letter to Governor General C A Smith with Mrs Rolle’s signature was leaked Tuesday, announcing her resignation from her ministerial post.

A statement released from the Cabinet Office confirmed the resignation later that day, noting that “certain matters have been brought to” Dr Minnis’ attention and are currently under investigation.

Yesterday, Dr Minnis did not reveal what those matters entailed.

However, The Tribune understands that when ministry officials and the board of the National Sports Authority became concerned that established processes and procedures were allegedly not being followed at their agencies,

they took their concerns to Dr Minnis on Saturday, February 13.

Dr Minnis is said to have then immediately requested a “lockdown” of the ministry, ordering that no cheques or contracts be issued.

The following day, Sunday, February 14, he asked Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson to launch an audit into the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and to report its findings within at most four days, this newspaper understands.

Dr Minnis received

the report from the ministry’s internal audit department on Thursday, February 18. The Office of the Auditor General is now auditing the National Sports Authority.

Mrs Rolle is the fourth minister to resign this term, joining Brent Symonette, Dr Duane Sands and Peter Turnquest. She was also previously the only woman in Dr Minnis’ Cabinet.

Iram Lewis, previously the minister of state for disaster preparedness, has been appointed the new minister of youth, sports and culture.

LISA: I’M NOT SANDS IS ON FNM TICKET RUNNING IN ‘22 ELECTION from page one

from page one When she was contacted about these reports on Wednesday, Mrs BostwickDean did not say much, except “I have no comment on this matter. It will all come to light when the ratification process is completed.”

On Wednesday, Senator Bostwick-Dean did not deny that she was being ratified, nor did Carl Culmer, chairman of the FNM, or Danny Sumner, chairman of the FNM Seabreeze Association. Instead, they offered no comment on the matter.

While making a contribution in the Senate yesterday, Mrs BostwickDean addressed the negatives of social media in spreading rumours and attributed it for getting word around about her “certain ratification”. She said she cannot run for public office at this time.

“I am going to show you how those forums (social media) are totally unreliable,” she said. “I understand that I am the candidate for Seabreeze. I assure The Bahamas I am not the next candidate for Seabreeze. I can tell you that unequivocally because I did not, for personal reasons, seek a nomination.

“I am a supporter of this government and I will continue to support this government and speak out in support of its policies, but for personal reasons I was unable to put myself forward for this term. But, I am sure, most of you probably thought so because of the reliable news feeds on social media<’ she said.

The subject of Seabreeze became a hot item over the past few days because the Member of Parliament for the area, Lanisha Rolle, tendered her resignation as the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture on Tuesday, leaving behind a cloud of public questions.

A statement from the Cabinet Office said the former minister’s resignation was accepted and that certain matters were brought to the Prime Minister’s attention and are

under investigation. Senator Bostwick-Dean wished the former minister well.

“I’ve heard my name in all kinds of ways and I’ve heard my family’s names.

‘What we want?’ ‘What we come here for?’ I am thankful to those who called and said, ‘I will support you if you go.’ I thank each and every person who made that call, but sadly at this time, I am unable to do so.

I thank those who would have come forward and offered their support,” Mrs Bostwick-Dean told the Senate.

“Whoever is the next candidate for Seabreeze, I wish them well. I wish the entire FNM slate well. We are saddened that in fact we have to look for a candidate in Seabreeze and we wish the former minister well.

Of course, as a woman I am concerned about the lack of a female presence at Cabinet. I am deeply concerned.

I hope that it is a matter that can be addressed.”

After Mrs BostwickDean’s speech, an FNM insider stuck by their story that she was previously favoured for candidacy in Seabreeze.

Senator Bostwick-Dean also elaborated on the lack of female presence in the Cabinet with Mrs Rolle’s departure.

She said, “I do understand the challenges with that decision as there are not many in the Lower House and indeed there is no room for someone in the House to become a seated Cabinet minister. Nobody told me that, my common sense told me that.

“I understand the challenge, but I would be remiss not to state my deep concern about the matter. I certainly hope that it is a matter that there can be some solution to, if not now, then when the FNM returns to governance.”

Senator Bostwick-Dean is the daughter of the first woman to be elected to the House of Assembly, Dame Janet Bostwick and former Senate President J Henry Bostwick. Her brother, John Bostwick II, was the FNM’s candidate for Bain Town in the 2012 general election.

and newcomers Vandea Stuart in Central and South Abaco and Courtney Coulibaly in Centreville.

This FNM has now ratified 30 candidates for the next election. The remaining nine candidates are expected to be ratified next week.

The question of whether Dr Sands would be renominated by the party was among those that hovered over the FNM’s ratification exercises.

The Tribune was told there were no objections to his ratification when his name was called at last night’s council meeting, which took place at Holy Trinity Anglican Church.

Dr Sands did not shy away from stinging criticism of the Minnis administration after resigning from Cabinet last May and he has at times delivered the kind of commentary that has caused parliamentarians to lose the support of their parties.

He has opposed Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ recent extensions of the COVID-19 Emergency Powers Order and he blasted the government’s handling of people who went missing during Hurricane Dorian.

Last night, he said it reflected well on the FNM that he was ratified despite his criticism.

FRONT, from left, Senator Kwasi Thompson (East Grand Bahama), Vandea Stuart (South Abaco), (back) Carlton Bowleg Jr (North Andros and The Berry Islands), Courtney Coulibaly (Centreville), Dr Duane Sands (Elizabeth).

“I think that I have made the party must now work address the needs of Bahait very clear that fundamen- to secure the support of mians in the digital age. tally I believe that the Free Bahamians.

“Duane Sands has been National Movement in its The FNM presented its instrumental in helping to origin and its execution five candidates in a state- upgrade our medical faciliover the years has demon- ment last night. ties and making sure The strated that it is a big tent “Carlton Bowleg has Bahamas is adequately that is built on the power delivered solid leadership resourced to maintain from dissension and an on infrastructure devel- healthcare as a top priority arrival to a consensus,” he opments throughout the for the government. said. “Sometimes that is a Family Islands, such as “The FNM is also proud pretty process but certainly refurbishing a number of to ratify new candidates, when you have the ability roads and bridges, installing Courtney Coulibaly who to be critical in a loving way, new water lines and estab- is an experienced engineer in a supportive way and the lishing new government and expert in infrastructure goal is nation building, I buildings,” it said. development, and Vandea think that augurs well for “Kwasi Thompson Stuart who’s successful the strength of our nation.” has led on both the digi- career in tourism and hosAsked if he expects a tal transformation of our pitality will bring important Cabinet post if the FNM government and on infra- perspective and fresh ideas wins the next general elec- structural improvements, to advancing the FNM’s tion, he said the issue is a creating a more modern agenda to help our tourism premature one, adding that government prepared to industry reach new heights.”

DISMAY AS ROLLE REPLACED BY A MAN THE local chapter of a regional advocacy group for women has raised concern about the resignation of Lanisha Rolle from Cabinet and her subsequent replacement by a male parliamentarian.

Yesterday, the Caribbean Women in Leadership Bahamas Chapter (CIWiL) expressed dismay about the development and said it is disappointed the government did not ensure women representation in Parliament was not further deteriorated.

Mrs Rolle, who resigned on Tuesday without giving a reason, was the only woman in Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ Cabinet. She has been replaced by Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis.

“The recent Cabinet appointment of a man, to fill the vacancy emanating from the resignation of Hon Lanisha Rolle, gives rise to grave concerns,” the group noted in a statement.

“Women face great challenges and barriers in political life and often must make more sacrifices than their male counterparts to continue their work of national service. We applaud women who accept the mandate for public service. We wish Mrs Rolle all the very best as she continues to represent

the people of the Sea Breeze constituency in the House of Assembly.

“CIWiL is extremely disappointed that the government did not ensure that the small percentage of women representation in Parliament and Cabinet, being 13 percent and 6 percent respectively, was not further deteriorated. By not replacing former Minister Rolle with another woman, the Cabinet of The Bahamas is without representation of fully one half of the electorate.

“This is extremely unbalanced and concerning, especially in these times of enlightenment when it is not only clear world-wide but also mandated by the many international conventions to which the government is a party, that equality in leadership is necessary for good governance and to ensure that women and girls are fully and properly represented.

“In this regard, we urge the Prime Minister to assess and monitor his party’s obligation, commitment and promise to the Bahamian people to increase the representation of women in parliamentary and Cabinet leadership.”

The group also urged all political parties to take note of these same

obligations in light of the pending general election.

“We urge compliance with the commitments made under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as other relevant United Nations summits and conferences, including the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and its Programme of Action, international frameworks and conventions such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5): to achieve gender equality and to empower all women and girls.”

The statement added, “CIWiL calls on the government of The Bahamas to not further disenfranchise the women and girls of The Bahamas by lessening our representation to naught, at the highest seat of decision making in the country. We absolutely have earned and deserve a place at the table.”

CIWiL is a non-partisan and independent nongovernmental organisation, established to monitor and strengthen the work of increasing women’s political participation in the region through advocacy, networking, research and capacity building.

‘LESS TALK OF ELECTIONS, MORE DELIVERING ON PROMISES’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

SENATOR Renard Henfield said the governing Free National Movement must focus on delivering on its promises, especially those made to certain segments of society, instead of talking about an election.

He said while the government has had some accomplishments, there is still more work to be done this term.

He made the remarks in the Senate during his contribution to debate on a Bill for an Act to Provide for the Protection and Sustainable Use of Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge, which was passed in the Senate yesterday.

“We have done well but this ain’t no time to talk about (an) election when we have promised so much and we have a lot more to do,” he said. “I’ve said it. I’ve said what I said. This isn’t no time for (an) election.

“We have promised so much, and we have so much more to do for our women and girls, for local governments in this country, for persons will disabilities, for young people in this country who have been arrested and given police records for small amounts of marijuana, for persons in this country who are suffering from illnesses that could be treated with medicinal marijuana, for new industries that we can create so we are no longer taxing our people the old way.”

He continued: “We can

create a medicinal marijuana (regime) from the Ontario, (Canada) model where everybody buys their hemp, cannabis, marijuana products from the government facility, which would then create revenue in the billions for (the) government while creating hundreds of entrepreneurs and thousands of employees.

“I can list many more transformative accomplishments in the last three and a half years as I’ve said,” Senator Henfield added, “I can also list a lot more that we should and could do hence my position that this is not time to talk about (an) election. Let us finish what we promised and let us deliver on it today.”

He is not the only public official to express these

sentiments.

Last week, Marco City MP Michael Pintard made similar comments.

The minister of agriculture said the government “without question” could have done many things better during its term in office, but maintained the party is the better choice for Bahamians.

At the time he suggested that it may be too early to begin election campaigning.

Instead, Mr Pintard said both he and his constituency’s executives have decided to continue to focus on the needs of the community.

“We’ve made a determination in Marco City to continue to do what we’ve been doing, which is one, to build a strong coalition that is made up of persons who have very little interest in

political parties, members of the Free National Movement who have every strong support in my estimation in Marco City, members of other political organisations who would’ve in the past supported the PLP or the DNA to build a coalition around dealing with common challenges facing the community.

“We will continue that campaign and we believe that after an election it’s not the time to watch colours.

That’s the time to solve what we have been mandated to.

“The second thing that we will continue to do is when we knock on doors our priority is to find out what are your challenges, how can we help you as a partner and meet those and how can we better serve you.

“It is entirely too tough

in the constituency for my primary business and focus to be asking persons to support me the next time when I still have some additional supplies, I am sourcing to help them plug a hole in the roof,” Mr Pintard said recently.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has repeatedly brushed off speculation about a snap election this year, despite predictions from the Progressive Liberal Party and House Speaker Halson Moultrie that one would be called soon.

This comes as both the FNM and PLP have been running campaign style ads and started the process of ratifying candidates. The next election is expected in early 2022.

PAGE 4, Friday, February 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Abaco clampdown after spike in cases

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE recent spike of COVID-19 cases on Abaco prompted Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to reinstate more restrictive measures on the island, including a new curfew and tighter travel guidelines.

Starting on Sunday, the island’s curfew will now be from 8pm to 5am instead of its usual 10pm to 5am curfew.

Those travelling from mainland Abaco to any other island will also be required to take a RT-PCR COVID test prior to travel in addition to following all the previous travel guidelines.

The tightened restrictions come as the country is still awaiting to receive its first doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is expected to arrive sometime this week.

“The vaccine is not here as yet but be assured that once the vaccine is here, the entire Bahamas will know that the vaccine has arrived,” Dr Minnis told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of a ribbon cutting ceremony for Edeen Farms.

“And we will organise for the police of the defence force to escort the vaccine to its proper final location and we would arrange for a 24-hour security by the defence force… and I will urge all Bahamians to accept the vaccine because

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff then we will decrease the rate of infection as is demonstrated around the world.”

In the meantime, Dr Minnis said the government will continue to work to keep the pandemic under control, pointing to officials’ need to address the slight uptick in cases in Abaco which he called “concerning”.

Due to rising infections there — particularly in Marsh Harbour and North Abaco — he said health officials have recommended stricter COVID-19 preventative measures.

According to Dr Minnis, the new measures will be enforced for a period of two weeks.

“We have survived this entire COVID pandemic because of strict rules we have introduced on each island and we tried to minimise the spread to all the other islands but I understand that Abaco is experiencing a slight

increase and that concerns us,” he said.

“The medical team has already mobilised and made all the necessary adjustments and their recommendation is that at this particular point of time, Abaco curfew should be readjusted from 8pm to 5am.

“And we intend to make that adjustment 8pm to 5 am on Sunday. That would give them time to make the necessary adjustment and all individuals leaving Abaco mainland to any other mainland in The Bahamas would have to get a PCR test done and this would be done for about two weeks.

“We feel that about two weeks with this strict type of protocol we would be able to control (cases on) Abaco and prevent it from spreading to other parts of The Bahamas. As you know, The Bahamas is recognised throughout the world for the excellent job that it’s been doing and essentially a COVID-free destination.

Therefore, we do not want Abaco’s experience that they’re having now to spread out to the other Bahama islands.”

Yesterday, the Ministry of Health said during the period of January 8 - February 23, there was a gradual increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases on Abaco.

Since February 23, 2021 there have been 48 positive COVID-19 cases on the island.

The ministry said there are 23 total cases in Marsh Harbour and 25 in Cooper’s Town for an overall total of 48.

Currently, there are no cases reported in Sandy Point while 11 tests in Abaco are pending.

“Moreover, it is noteworthy to mention that an analysis of the gradual increase in COVID-19 cases on the island of Abaco was completed,” the ministry said.

“It was discovered that a few cases of COVID-19 were found at the Murphy Town Primary School in Central Abaco; four positive cases originated from a construction site; and six cases were confirmed to have originated from the Marsh Harbour Clinic.”

Officials said contact tracing is ongoing and the relevant staff will be placed

in quarantine or isolation as required. The Marsh Harbour Clinic has undergone deep cleaning and sanitisation and remains open for service.

A team from the Surveillance Unit in New Providence has been dispatched to initiate contact tracing and to determine the level of exposure to the employees of the clinic and visiting clients.

In the meantime, three nurses have been sent as support staff to the clinic and two more nurses are expected to arrive soon.

“As it stands, there is a sufficient number of physicians on the island to manage the COVID-19 cases,” the ministry said.

Abaco has had 240 cases confirmed since COVID19 was first found in the community.

Yesterday, Dr Minnis sought to allay fears that

TOTAL CASES

the island is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak, insisting that such reports are not true.

According to Dr Minnis, the new cases are confined to certain areas on the island.

“At this point in time, we noticed that it’s confined to Marsh Harbour and the northern parts of Abaco. The central part is not affected but I want to assure the Bahamian populace that it’s not an outbreak in Abaco,” Dr Minnis stressed.

“We’re taking strict precautions because of the increase and we do not want it to go any further and we used this method in the past and it’s worked and we will use the method again. Now individuals may be concerned about the curfew but it’s about the welfare of the Bahamian populace.”

TOTAL DEATHS

8,507 179 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES WEDNESDAY 11 CASES ABACO 6 GRAND BAHAMA 4 NEW PROVIDENCE 1

Funeral Service For SIDNEY BILLY KELLY, 71 a resident of Behring Point, Andros & formerly of Lower Bogue, Eleuthera, will be held at Highway Church of God, Windsor Place off Soldier Road, on Friday, February 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Ronald Campbell.

Interment follows in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.

Left to cherish precious memories are: Nine Sons: Craig Kelly, Ryan Kelly, Laterio Kelly, Eliot Kelly, Rojay Kelly Sr. (deceased), George Kelly, Rashad Kelly, Ervin Kelly Sr., Lavell Albury. Six Daughthers: Uvanka KellyThompson, Rawver Kelly Wright, Cindy Kelly Johnson, Tonya Kelly, Beulah Coakley and Isabella Coakley. Three Daughterin-law: Margo Kelly, Margaret Kelly, Mayen Kelly. Three Son-in-law: Anthony Thompson Sr., William Wright Sr. & Jason Johnson. Four Sisters: Rev. Diane Ranger, Sherilynn Fernander (Julius Fernander) Ruby Kelly & Jerry Fisher. Three Brothers: Anthony Fisher, George Fisher (Donna Fisher) & Jerome Kelly. Three Aunties: Elaine Ingraham, Marcie Cash, Gladys Kelly. Three Uncles: Bishop Curtis Kelly, Dudley Cash, Clayton Kelly. Forty-Three Grandchildren: Tamika Clarke, Tazianna Kelly Morley (Michael) Tara Kelly, Sanjay Kelly, Ryan Kelly Jr. Valentino Kelly, Nikitar Kelly, Aaron Kelly, Anthony Thompson Jr. Antonnio Thompson, Rojay Jr., Tanisha Thompson, Tania Smith, Tanae Kelly, Tonnell Kelly, Trey Kelly, Tristian Kelly, Israel Kelly, Kellanno Kelly, Sabrea Kelly, William Jr. Nevaeh, Raven, Giselle, Jarvis Rolle, Ervin Jr., Erin, Kahlil, Anastacia Albury, Lavell Jr., Leigha, Keslesha, Marvin, Anthony, Nicholas, Brandon, Shane, Malik, Isaiah, Vale, Saloma, Malaika, Letecia Kelly & Kaiden Young. Fourteen Great Grand: El’shaddai, Carlton Jr., O’Neal, Ryann, Nikitar Jr., Nikita, Shakita, Kayden, Raynae, Mason, Caina, Prince Shawn, Anthony Greene III & Jordan Coakley. TwentyFour Nieces & Nephews: Jewel, Jade, Joette Fernander, Ladon & Lavado Wilmott, Antonio, Anthoneisha, Anthonette, Antonia Fisher & Simone Fisher, Gibson, Jerome, Judlicka Kelly, Inderi, Garvin, Miracle, Torsheih, Donald, Michele Johnson, Frankylnn, Sophia, Danaver, Dwayne & Donald, Ida, Petrol, Rhoda, Marilyn, Sherrel, Schmeckia. Numerous Other Relatives and Friends: Stephanie, Calvin McPhee & Family, Elizabeth & Robert Simms & Family, Belle, Coakley & Thompson Family, Rolle Family, Lloyd Family, Ingraham Family, Mr. Whitfield Johnson & Family, Pastor Christine Curtis & Family, Mildred Anderson, Terell Neely & Family, Wayne Clear & Family, Douglas Clear & Family, Diane Adderley & Family, Patrice Bain, Jarrett Ferguson & Family, Valentino Neely, Terry Neymour & Family, The Kelly Family of Lower Bouge Eleuthera, Behring Point and Cargile Creek Community, Pastor Lloyd Smith& Family, Marie Albury & Family, Mr. & Mrs. Wellington Wright & Family, Mr. & Mrs. Pierre & Family, The Johnson Family, Arabella & Wesley Johnson, Celeste Sweeting, Renae Belizaire, The Rigby Family, Ethlyn Kelly Rolle, The Kelly’s of the Stanley Cay Community.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 10-5:00 p.m. on Thursday.

TOTAL TESTS

67,324

HOSPITALISED

14

CASES IN ICU

1

RECOVERED

7,279

11 NEW CASES OF COVID CONFIRMED THE Ministry of Health reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Six of the cases are in Abaco, four are in Grand Bahama while there is one

in New Providence, according to the data released yesterday.

Fourteen people were in hospital as of Wednesday, with one in intensive care.

There are currently 996 active cases.

One hundred and seventy-nine people have died from COVID-19, with 15 deaths under investigation.

FORMER PM INGRAHAM CONTINUES TO RECOVER

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham continues to “convalesce and improve” in hospital, former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday.

Mr Ingraham was admitted to Doctors Hospital on Tuesday with COVID-19.

“Hopefully he stays on the same trajectory and has a complete recovery,” Dr Sands, who is one of his doctors, said.

“We hope that his hospitalisation is short-lived and he is released in a Bahamian couple of days.”

Mr Ingraham, 73, initially experienced shortness of breath and malaise and was diagnosed more than a week ago. The medical team taking care of him includes an endocrinologist, a kidney specialist, a pulmonary specialist and an infectious disease specialist.

The former North

Abaco MP is among the most prominent people in the country to catch COVID-19.

Others include opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis and Deputy Prime Minister Desmond Bannister, who have since recovered from the virus.

Attorney General Carl Bethel, in the Senate yesterday, wished Mr Ingraham a speedy recovery.

“We were deeply saddened to see the banner headlines in the paper today and we do wish him every success, a quick, speedy and full recovery and that his family similarly would soon have the benefit of having him come back the right way where he can continue his service to the Bahamian people because even though former prime ministers you may think they are not doing anything, one thing they always try to do is advise current prime ministers. They play a very

valuable role,” Mr Bethel said.

Last night, the Progressive Liberal Party sent prayers and well-wishes to Mr Ingraham.

“COVID-19 has taken its toll on many of our fellow Bahamians, disrupting the health of our nation,” a statement from PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell said.

“This virus is no respecter of persons and transcends our political divides. We have no doubt that PM Ingraham will defeat this virus with the same courage and tenacity he has exemplified over his career in public life.

“On behalf of our leader, Philip Davis and Mrs Davis, deputy leader, Chester Cooper and Mrs Cooper, our parliamentary caucus, officers and members, we wish Mr Ingraham and the many Bahamians battling this virus God’s speed.”

The statement said Mr Davis has been in touch with Mr Ingraham through text message.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 26, 2021, PAGE 5

AG: I don’t know what future will hold over oil

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel yesterday suggested that exploratory oil drilling could again take place in Bahamian waters, telling senators: “I don’t know what the future will hold.”

The leader of government business in the Senate was making a contribution to debate on the now passed Bill for an Act to Provide for the Protection and Sustainable Use of Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge.

Bahamas Petroleum Company announced earlier this month that it did not find commercial volumes of oil after drilling a well off Andros.

BPC’s drilling began on December 20, 2020 and ended Sunday, February 7, with the company completing its exercise within its projected 45-60 days window.

The Our Islands, Our Future coalition, which led environmental opposition to BPC’s oil drilling plans, said in a statement not long after the

announcement that it did not mean that The Bahamas’ environment, tourism and fisheries industries are “fully secured” against future exploration wells and similar activities. “…We don’t have minerals, no we don’t,” Mr Bethel said yesterday. “Certainly no oil it seems. I don’t know, maybe when they drill again they may find it, who knows.

“This is just an off-hand comment, I don’t know what the future will hold, but certainly in our marine resources we have more than sufficient to bless the world with.”

He added: “The Bahamas is like I say an aquatic amazon.”

However, he reiterated that the newly passed bill would ensure resources are not depleted while at the same time ensuring that there would be a shared benefit.

“At the end of the day (there) is no point in The Bahamas permitting what has occurred in Southeast Asia, the exploitation of its marine resources by all and sundry apparently to the point of extinction because

then nobody gets the benefit from it. So, the whole point is to have laws in place that can help to sustain and renew these blessings from heaven and protect marine and aquatic life because that is our job that is our duty.

“I always say the Lord made us the shepherds of the sea, we and our people, we have to take that shepherding duty very seriously.

“When we come now to look at this question of yet untapped resources they are largely our marine resources because we know of instances where the genetic knowledge of certain properties in certain life forms in our waters have been the basis of some great advancements in anti-cancer therapy, also in anti-inflammation therapy and some great advancements in anti-cancer therapy and also the cosmetic industry.”

He said the legislation also ensures there is full, frank and total disclosure of everything to do with any application for licenses to explore biological ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel. prospecting and research.

$1,800 FINE FOR MAN FOUND WITH $1,000 WORTH COCAINE

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 51-YEAR-OLD man, found with $1,000 worth of cocaine last week, was ordered to pay $1,800 to avoid spending six months in prison.

Police arrested Chesley Armaly after they found two ounces of the drugs in a folder in a truck he was driving on February 22.

He pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous drug possession when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

The prosecution said officers, acting on information, went to the Cable Beach area where they

observed the accused riding in a white Ford truck that matched the description of the vehicle given to them.

They then beckoned for the vehicle to stop and informed Armaly that he and the truck would be searched for dangerous drugs and firearms. During their investigation, officers found the cocaine in a brown paper bag that was hidden in a black file folder.

The accused was subsequently arrested and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit. When he was questioned in custody there, he admitted the offence and was subsequently charged.

During the hearing, Armaly’s attorney, Jomo Campbell, told the magistrate his client pleaded

guilty because he did not want to waste the court’s time. He also said Armaly’s business had come to a “complete halt” due to the pandemic and said he bought the drugs because he was “feeling pressured”.

In response, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said at 51, Armaly should have been beyond the point of “boyish curiosities”. As a result, she fined him and in default of the fine, he will serve a prison sentence.

She also placed the accused on probation for three months and ordered him to undergo chemical abuse counseling at a facility that would be determined by the Department of Rehabilitative and Welfare Services.

HAITIAN WOMAN WHO LIED TO IMMIGRATION FINED $1,500

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A HAITIAN woman who falsely told immigration officers that she had travelled to the country on a wooden sloop, although in fact she had entered by plane, was yesterday fined $1,500.

Claudelle Bien-Aime, 30, was charged with overstaying after officers found her living in Marsh Harbour, Abaco on February 20, beyond the time given to her to remain in the country.

The prosecution said the

accused also gave immigration officials a false answer when she was detained for questioning.

The court was told that a team of immigration officers conducted an operation in Abaco. When they approached Bien-Aime, she was unable to show proof of her status. As a result, they arrested her and took her to the island’s immigration office for further processing.

When they questioned the accused there, she told them she had arrived in the country by boat.

However, checks of the system revealed that BienAime arrived by plane in

September 2019 and was given permission to stay in the country until March 2020. The prosecution said the accused overstayed for a period of 11 months and three days.

After she pleaded guilty to the offences, Magistrate Samuel McKinney fined her $500 or one month in prison for overstaying and another $1,000 for lying to immigration officers. He said while he considered the fact that the pandemic made it difficult for people to travel during the early parts of last year, Bien-Aime had no excuse to justify her deceiving immigration officials.

RETRIAL ORDERED FOR MAN ACCUSED OF SEX WITH CHILD

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal yesterday ordered a retrial after it set aside a judge’s ruling regarding a man who was accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

The Crown recently appealed the trial judge’s order in the case of Joseph

Foulkes and yesterday, Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Maureen Crane-Scott and Roy Jones granted the request.

In their judgement they stated: “The learned judge’s ruling is set aside in its entireity... The matter is remitted to the Supreme Court for retrial.”

The panel said that as the matter would be retried,

no other details should be published until the case has been completed.

“In the interests of justice and until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings or further order of this court or of the Supreme Court, nothing shall be reported concerning the case except for the limited information specified in the judgment,” the appeal panel stated.

SIX CHARGED FOR CARE HOME CRUELTY

from page one

The accused were each granted $9,500 bail in the

interim.

Attorney Barry Seymour represents Canter and Smith, while attorneys Ian Cargill and Ryszard Humes

represent Pratt and Woods respectively. Gordon and Seymour were not represented by counsel during the arraignment.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr

PAGE 6, Friday, February 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

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What is being done to help women shine in politics?

THE issue of women in politics has been in the air lately – and has been brought back to the surface by the departure of Lanisha Rolle, who was the only woman serving as a minister under Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

She has been replaced in the role by a man, Iram Lewis, and it looks very much like Mrs Rolle will no longer be the representative for Seabreeze for the next election.

This follows a batch of announcements for candidacies for both the FNM and the PLP where women were vastly outnumbered by their male counterparts. The DNA, of course, is led by a woman, Arinthia Komolafe, but it remains to be seen how much of an influence that party will have over the next election campaign.

The news of Mrs Rolle’s departure has prompted the Caribbean Women in Leadership Bahamas Chapter (CiWiL) to express dismay, saying: “The recent Cabinet appointment of a man, to fill the vacancy emanating from the resignation of Hon Lanisha Rolle, gives rise to grave concerns.”

The organisation added: “Women face great challenges and barriers in political life and often must make more sacrifices than their male counterparts to continue their work of national service. We applaud women who accept the mandate for public service.”

It certainly seems as if we have gone backwards in The Bahamas from the time when Cynthia “Mother” Pratt served as Deputy Prime Minister.

The departure of Mrs Rolle has come with little protest from those she worked with – indeed there have been a number of comments about how difficult the minister could be to work with.

In terms of the representation of women, it seems the problem is not that the minister is departing – it’s that there are so few women in Parliament to take her place.

As noted recently by Tribune columnist Alicia Wallace, just 13 percent of Parliamentarians are women. A suggested quota of 30 percent has brought no action, and looks like it won’t be met

in the latest round of election candidates either.

Talk is cheap when it comes to ensuring broader representation – especially when not matched by action. In fact, it’s an even greater disrespect to acknowledge a problem then do nothing about it.

It certainly looks like a long road before another woman takes up the title of Deputy Prime Minister – and a longer one still before the country chooses its first female leader.

With questions in the air about a shortage of representation of women in each party, what is each organisation doing right now to correct that imbalance? The answer to that question – or the absence of an answer – will tell you a lot more about how seriously women are being taken by each party than any amount of words and promises for the future.

Over to you, party leaders.

Curfew caution

The spike of cases of COVID-19 in Abaco has led to a tightening of the curfew and travel guidelines. From Sunday, the curfew will start at 8pm instead of 10pm.

As we hope of course that the spike eases soon – with 23 cases reported in Marsh Harbour and 25 in Cooper’s Town – this is also a lesson to the rest of us, that hard-won gains can be lost again if we do not remain vigilant.

Some of the cases have been found at the Murphy Town Primary School, some at a construction site, and some originating from the Marsh Harbour Clinic.

It shows us how prevalent the virus remains in the country despite dwindling numbers in some locations – just as the news that former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham is also battling the virus is a reminder that it can reach any of us.

So keep following the advice of experts – keep wearing masks, keep washing hands regularly, and keep your distance from others.

Don’t give this virus a chance.

Greed and double dipping EDITOR, The Tribune.

LAST week, my friends came to visit me from the USA for a week of fun in The Bahamas.

They took their COVID tests before traveling here at $120 each ($360), they filled in their travel visas and paid the Government $60 each ($180).

They were here for five days and left on the sixth day.

As they left very early on a Monday, we had them take their antigen tests on Friday, so that it was completed and so they could use it to return to the USA. Sadly though, both medical testing sites in Grand Bahama, would not give my guests a copy of their antigen test. They said they would have to pay $50 for rapid tests and results ($150).

I thought this was not right and called the COVID-19 Tourism hotline, I was on hold for an hour and a bit, but finally got a nice young man who said that the medical centres should charge them $20 for a print out of the test, and confirmed it was the

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net same test Americans need to go home.

I was fine with the $20, called both places again and told them what the hotline attendant said. Both said they had not been told that, and promised to call and check with Tourism.

When I called back the next day they both said that they had nothing in writing and my guests would have to pay $50 each for the testing – even though they knew they had paid $60 for the Tourism Visa test.

Oh, and they would not print the test out for them either. (For those of you thinking they could use the email Tourism sends you, nope you can’t – as it just says you are negative, it has to show testing results) What made it even worse for me, was that when I took my friends to take the tests the lab we chose actually only gave them one test.

Even though they scanned in the Travel Visa forms’ QR codes, that means Tourism will

pay them for the test, and charged them $50 each for the emailed test results. So, they blatantly double-dipped on testing procedures. The worst part was, they did not care, and said: Sorry, nothing we can do.

Though our country relies on tourism as 85% of our nation’s income, these medical centres were fine with making guests visiting our country pay more money – total COVID-19 expenses were $690, on top of flights. Which also meant that there was less money that these tourists might have spent on a tour, a dinner, or on souvenirs.

I have reached out to Tourism, Ministers, and tagged a Facebook post to both offices of the Prime Minister and still no response or change to this situation here. If we are to get our tourism numbers to come back, we cannot rip off those wishing to visit our shores. This double-dipping makes it twice as expensive to get here – especially in Freeport it seems!

SARAH KIRKBY Nassau, February 25, 2021.

Law failure EDITOR, The Tribune.

YOUR

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

WHEN a law enforcement officer only knows one small part of the law we are in trouble.

Doing a final clear out of my business on Bay Street today, I brought my truck to collect the last vestiges of 75 years in business.

Although the block has at least four marked “LOADING ZONES” not one was available, because as is usual nowadays, they are

all used for all day parking.

As I had a lot of heavy stuff to load, I double parked in front of my store.

As I expected, a burly RBPF officer came across the road to tell me that I could not “block” the road.

Responding, I asked him why he had allowed people to block all of the loading zones on that side of the street. He never answered of course, despite my continued questioning, and insisted that I should circle

the block until I could find a parking space.

Disgusted, I drove off with my load and could only think that the poor sap is being paid today from the taxes being paid by the businesses of this country, but when we are all gone and Government can no longer borrow, maybe he won’t have a job anymore.

MONKEEDOO Nassau, February 25, 2021

THE THE TRIBUNE TRIBUNE

Friday, Friday, February February 26, 26, 2021, 2021, PAGE PAGE 7 7

TRACKS OF

594,000 FLIGHTS USING BAHAMAS’ STRATEGICALLY LOCATED ARCHIPELAGIC AIRSPACE PER ANNUM

Nassau

Map Not Drawn to Scale

Sky’s the limit from page one from page one collaborating

with

THE B HAMAS A LOOK AT OTHER NATIONS

vari-

provide its revolutionous partners and the ary Array Skyler DeptPhased of Meteorology, Mr. Radars which will be while conRees explained that nected to a owns myriadthe of other BACSWN Intelhighly advancedDesigns sensors, lectual Property of hydro-met buoys itand 3D said” WxSenseNet” selected Street, Terrain revolutionary Chart and Raytheon Phased Array Skyler Radars Mapping Drones LIDARS - connected to asites myriad of located at 109 across other Bahamian highly advanced senthe archipelsors, The hydro-met buoys and ago. data will be fed 3D Street, Terrain Chart and into BACSWN’s patent Mapping Dronesat 109 sites pending Convergence across the Bahamian archiCentre and Raytheon’s pelago. That data will be fed global Advanced Weather into BACSWN’s patent pendInformation Processing Convergence Centre and ing Systemglobal (AWIPS) to Raytheon’s Advanced assist the Government Weather Information Processminimizing the increasing System (AWIPS) so as to ing risks life threatening assist the of Government of The events impacting upon our Bahamas, NHC and NOAA nation, its the people, visiminimizing increasing risks as of well life-threatening events tors as the aviation, impacting upon our nation, its insurance, maritime and people, visitors wellway as the tourism sectorsasby of aviation, insurance, real-time situationalmaritime awareand tourism sectors of both ness and other ultra-long nations. weather products/ range Describing the real-time sitservices. uational awareness and other Describing this weather techultra-long range nology as “life saving”, products/services as “lifeMr ReesMr explained that saving”, Rees explained BACSWN has financing in that BACSWN has identiplace for a “unique, fied Island Global unparCapital alleled, ingenious vision” as its choice for an exclusive that will advisor. not only “I’m transform financial confident that the once the Heads our nation’s capacity to of Agreement is signed the detect, track and respond necessary will events be in to severe capital weather place to bring BACSWN’s at no cost to taxpayers and “unique, remote unparalleled, ingenprovide air traffic ious vision” to fruition added control to any of the family Mr. Rees island aerodromes “Not only do we intend to Mr Rees said the group’s transform our nation’s capacresearch the ity to detecthad trackshown and respond commercial, cargo and to severe weather events at private carrier could stated save no cost to taxpayers,” an estimated $1,000 by Mr. Adam Darville, VP Infraincreasing the build safety,a capacstructure, but facility ity andofefficiency the capable coordinatingofsearch 594,000 using providBaha& rescueflights operations, ing remote air trafficlocated control mas strategically services foreach any BCAA airspace and owned every familywhilst, island aerodrome.” day; also providing The group’s research, hyper-local forecasts and he said, has shown that for by other bespoke services increasing the safety, capacthe hotel, marina, insurity andwedding efficiencyand of the flights ance, boating using Bahamas sovereign sectors. airspace; commercial, cargo Andprivate Mr Rees saidcould the and carrier group’s proprietary near save as much as $1,000 per live Localfuel 3D Impact flightHyper through savings, Based will be wind Simulations assisted trajectories, especially useful inreductions dealing direct routings, with hurricanes, as the data in spacing, delays, weather gathered help to predict deviationswill and other maintenance related expenses; the location and extent of not to surges mention, storm and providing damage, bespokealso services to the aviawhile “reducing the tion, boating, dreaded codecruise of industry, impact hospitality, marine, by 50%”. insurance, This allowing media, navigation, ports & the authorities to better wedding sectors determine which islands “In the not-too-distant and communities future,” continued Mr.should Rees,

COUNTRY LAOS PEOPLES REPUBLIC

SRI LANKA * AFGHANISTAN ** UKRAINE *** (Note 1) SERBIA / MONTENGRO IRAN ****** IRELAND (IAA) PAKISTAN RUSSIA (SIBERIA) SWITZERLAND DUBAI (UAE) ****

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION & AVIATION RISK A Poor Landlocked, Communist State by Vietnam Marginal Location / Close to India / Safe Fair Location / Internal Conflict & Volatility Popular Air-Route Europe- Asia / AirSpace (CLOSED) Higher revenues from Ukraine Airspace Closure Key Corridor in Middle East / Air-Space (CLOSED) Straddles Transatlantic Routes to Europe/USA Strategic Location / Key Corridor / Relatively Safe Strategic Location / Key Polar Route to Asia Strategic Location / Key Banking Nation

AVG DAILY # FLIGHTS 11 FLIGHTS 125 FLIGHTS UNKNOWN 280 FLIGHTS UNKNOWN 540 FLIGHTS 871+ FLIGHTS 520 FLIGHTS 600+ FLIGHTS 1,654 FLIGHTS

Strategic Location Middle East / EmIrates

OVERFLIGHT RATE (2017-2019) YEARLY REVENUE (US$) $467 FLATE FIXED FEE $11 MILLION FIXED FEE( AirCraft type) $17 MILLION $900 FLATE FIXED FEE $33 MILLION UNDETERMINED $200 MILLION UNDETERMINED $106 MILLION US$ 0.004 Per Tonne/ 1 Km $237 MILLION $39.65 (Wgt x Dist) /100km $213 MILLION $273.00- $583.00 ( Wgt Only) $280 MILLION $128.40-$136.60 / 100km $573 MILLION $108.93 (Wgt x Dist) / 100km $263 MILLION

1,934 FLIGHTS

$105 SECTOR & $235 FIXED FEE

BAHAMAS (Note 2)

Stategic Gateway U.S./ Europe Cuba, Caribbean & L. America 2,122 FLIGHTS

CUBA / FAA POCKET THE REVENUE

NEW ZEALAND CUBA ***** IRAQ ** SPAIN (ENAIRE) YEMEN ITALTY ( ENAV S.p.A.) GERMANY ( DFS) FRANCE (DNSA) UK (NATS) UNITED STATES (Note 3)

Charges in Auckland Flight Information Region (NZZO)

2,740 FLIGHTS UNKNOWN UNKNOWN 5,472 FLIGHTS UNKNOWN 6,867 FLIGHTS 8,824 FLIGHTS 8,283 FLIGHTS 6,867 FLIGHTS TENS of THOUSANDS

Charging for its own airspace & Southern Bahamas Key Corridor in Middle East / AirSpace ( Civil War) Strategic Location / Colonial Power / EU State Fair Location but Civil War / AirSpace (CLOSED) Strategic Location / Colonial Power / EU State Strategic Location / Key EU State & Economy Strategic Location / Colonial Power / EU State Strategic Location / Colonial Power / Brexit Only Flights that don’t Take-Off/ Land in the USA

(Note 1 ) Air Space Corridor Closed after Missile Attack on Malaysia Flight #17 | SOURCES (1) * Sri Lanka News, Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva (2) ** U.S. Department of Defence, FAA & Raytheon (3) *** The Washington Post,(July 2015) ATC Reform News & U.S. Federal Register

$79.33 (Wgt x Dist) / 100km $439.00-$594.00. (Wgt Only) $450 FLATE FIXED FEE $79.65 (Wgt x Dist) / 100km $999 FLATE FIXED FEE $89.17 (Wgt x Dist) / 100km $79.33 (Wgt x Dist) / 100km $108.93 (Wgt x Dist) / 100km $95.30 (Wgt x Dist) / 100km $61.75 (Wgt x Dist) / 100km

$280+ MILLION ZERO REVENUE $239 MILLION Est $101 MILLION

UNDETERMINED

$1,075 BILLION

UNDETERMINED

$977 MILLION $1,224 BILLION $1,862 BILLION $1,019 BILLION $126 MILLION

(Note 2 ) Source: FAA Eastern Regional Task Force Report 2015

(4) **** GulfNews/ Business/ Aviation (2016) (5) ***** Cuba Report: Resolution 72/4 of the U.N. General Assembly (2018) (6) ***** Times of India Business Section

(7) Serbia & Montengro Overflight Revenue ( EuroControl)

Note 3 Cuba has been charging 'Overflight fees' - in contravention of Articles 1, 28 (Annex 11) of the Chicago Convention on International Civial Aviation (1944) for each and every commercial,cargo or private air-carrier using the southern third (1/3) of The Bahamas' sovereign, strategic airspace while the FAA has recently pocketed an astounding $755M - for flights that dont take-off or land in the US, but use Bahamian and other US Controlled airspace since 2006. In point of fact, we can find no demonstrable evidence that the FAA or Cuba have been delegated with authority for such nor have said entities ever remitted a penny back to the Public treasury

be evacuated. Management Hospital“Emergency ity industry executives and officials should have a much clearerplanners picture of theknow threats event will in facing communities advance whether rainacross and the length andweather breadthwill of other adverse our nation’s archipelago; likely impact their events, alongside forehe added, Hyper-Local thereby enabling casts and personalized when Apps them to reschedule detailing the probability of conditions are better. adverse weather conditions.

He added that utilizing BACSWN At the very least, the has completed its ofnegotalents and resources Raytiations theBCASWN Cabinet theon andwith another Select-Committee is partners the group and aims to “just waiting onthethe final transformational delivery review of climate, its Heads of ofaviation, meteoroAgreement” The weather project logical and real-time data will to the Office of 450 the that likely create Prime Minister,jobs NEMA, construction plusFAA, 300 NHC, NOAA and other entiadditional full-time posts. ties to help that reduce Promising the delays, Bahainflight people extensions, mian willemissions enjoy and “dreaded code of impact “real value over time” from by asinitiative, much as 50%”. the Mr Rees said Mr. Rees says that the group intends to offer BACSWN has completed its shares to thewith public due negotiations theinCabicourse (IPO). net Select-Committee and is Suggesting thatreview the group “awaiting a final of its is creating “a new dynamic” Heads of Agreement” by the when to a real-live Office itofcomes the Attorney Genaviation tracking,theclimate eral. Thereinafter, group hopesSevere to conclude our Heads and Weather Sensof Agreement ing, Mr Rees with said:Cabinet “I’m and NYC Island Global proud ofbased being asked to Capital -- headed by the legplay a part in an impressive, endary financier Mr. Andrew ingenious designed vision . from a napkin in –Farkas sprung Suggesting that the group Crooked Island. will be at the forefront of “The ingenuity of the creating “a new dynamic” system are bringing to when itwe comes to aviation

the table, climate not only does it tracking, and realtime severe weather Sensing, bring in life-saving techMr Rees as said:it“I’m proud to of nology relates been invited a part in weather, butto itplay empowers bringing an impressive, what thesuch minister of touringenious designed, isvision to ism and aviation trying fruitionsprungIt from a napkin to achieve. enhances in Crooked Island.

Rees the value of the Mr. services promises that the Bahamian that the Department of people will enjoy “real value Aviation ablethis to provide. over time”isfrom initiative Weather warnings areof virand that BACSWN is the tually mindsetnon-existent.” to offer shares to the Mr in due Reescourse said the public WxSenseNet will ofcreate “The ingenuity the asystem “unique we aresynergy” bringing towith the the table,Government’s not only bringsaviation in lifesaving technology it relates sector ambitions, asespecially to aviation and realthe levyingtracking of overflight time weather, but it that empowers fees on aircraft pass the Ministry of Tourismsov& through The Bahamas’ Aviationairto space execute manereign onitsroutes date fromCentral the Office of the to North, and South Prime Minister.

Mr Rees said America plus other major that BACSWN will create a global destinations. “unique synergy” with the The Federal Aviation Government’s aviation sector Administration ambitions, especially(FAA) the and other US regulators levying of overflight fees on have voiced aircraftlong so that they concern can pass about the efficiently lack of real-time safely and through weather data sovereign and situaThe Bahamas’ air space on their journeys’ to the tional awareness for planes US, Bahamian Gulf of Mexico Cuba in airandspace, from EU, UK, North, Cenwhich “creates a safety tral and given South the America and hazard” potential Caribbean. for sudden - and significant theatmospheric Federal Avi- Hopefully, changes in ation Administration (FAA), conditions.

US Coast Guard and air carAircraft separation, in riers will no longer voice particular, was identified concern about the “safety

as a special challenge that hazard” for flights operating in Bahamian space, given the Mr Rees airsaid would be lack ofby real-time weather data aided BACSWN’s plans. in areas prone to sudden - and “It’s weather data, weather significant -he changes in “We’ll atmostracking,” added. pheric Rees be ableconditions. to provide Mr advance said that BACSWN’s system is warning of potential areas uniquely positioned of concern as welltoasresolve realthese issues as well as weather time situation awareness deviations and the need for –increased therebyseparations providingwhich the FAA and crews with plagued ourflight overcrowded airaspace concurrent awareness of for some time the environment.

“We look forward to pro“Currently there is virtuviding advance warning of ally no areas aviation tracking, potential of concern as real-time weather real-time data of well as concurrent situation information awareness tobeing both inflight the FAA, to carriers flight provided flight and crews in crews our air space, due to a glaris virtually ing“ Currently, lack of this infrastructure no real time trackdespite our aviation nation strading, reliable or dling the keyweather air/sea data routes inflight information being between South Florida, provided to flight crews in Gulf of Mexico to Europe, Bahamian air space, despite Latin and Central Ameriour nation straddle the key can androutes Caribbean air/sea between South Mr Julian Rolle serves Florida, Gulf of Mexico to as Chairman Europe, Latinof the & Board; Central Adam as ViceAmericanDarville and Caribbean says president of Infrastructure, Mr. Glen Ward, VP Business Development.

Mr Montino Roberts, VP primary Technology goal is to of Our Information support Government of and Glenthe Ward, VP of BusiThe Bahamas to avail “We our ness Development. nation a ofnumber its sole, have of soverother eign and exclusive to Bahamians who areright assistcharge “Overflight Fees” for ing in various ways behind Air Traffic Control, Navigathe scenes until our Heads tion, Communication, Crash, of Agreement signed,” Search & Rescue,isHealth and

Mr said.as“We’re lookEMSRees facilities well as sector charges and aenvironmental ing at hiring number of levies,” continued persons in the Mr. veryRees. near BACSWN willtraining. charge users future to begin a “That fee for sets providing real-time us completely aviationthe tracking anddata meteapart; way the is orological and weather injected howservices, we’re although information able to the converge it will for be supplied to the Governuse by the average Bahament & FAA for free. Under mian company,partnership hotels, a public-private the marina industry,” he model, Mr Rees said there added.

“Anyone can check would be a revenue sharwhether it’s goingwith to rain ing arrangement the on Saturday, whether they Government should havethere’s the event.

“While lotThey of moving parts, can tie into thewe’ve data. got the talent, expertise, of “We’re going sources to bring funding, strategic partners this into communities and and the linedentreup to take it technology to Bahamian meet an aggressive 24-month preneurs to enhance their timeline inin order to reach approach the hospitality our initial and eventoperating planningcapacity. indusAt the moment, were in the try. And by us coming in process of standing up a Metewith a radar that orological Watchsystem Office while is fully funded we should waiting on the Office of the empower the Government Attorney General of In The to realise theBahamas interim. BACSWN’s what it deserves from the has already received backing sovereign air of space of the from Director the Departcountry. goal is towhose supment of Our Meteorology, calledthatproject the answer port objective.” to BACSWN Dept of Meteorology’s will charge prayers!a fee for providing users “ The design of thistracknetreal-time aviation work and is so meteorological advanced that ing we’ll be able to create nearweather services, although live Street Level 3D Impact the information will be supBased simulations in order to plied to the give citizens the Government most accurate & FAA for free. Under a and up-to-the-minute hyper

local warnings of any poten-

public-private partnership tial weather” stated Director model, Rees said Basden. Mr“Right now,there we would revenue sharing cannot be do athat because Doparrangement pler weather with radarthe areGovnot ernment as well as potential designed to do that,” he added payments the aproposed “If you tohave tropical national sovereign wealth cyclone moving and based on fund. how the models and the inforPraising support mation are the given, it can the tell group has received from the the various degrees and stages Prime Minister of damage, floodand andDioniwater sio D’Aguilar, minister of infiltration at various points and we could it more tourism anddescribe aviation, Mr accurately.

Rees said: “We feel we’re “Right we not justthere say very closenow, but are ‘flooding’, but we be able yet, and will be will guided by to graphically showand where the Prime Minister his the water levels will be on government. the“There’s houses and in a lotinfiltration of moving areas. We’ve My Doppler parts. got theweather fundradars,and mainly for me ing the(allow) technology to see what is approaching lined up. We’ve got eveThe Bahamas at a distance. rything in place ready to “Frankly, I can’t waiton to the see go, and are waiting what Director Basden, Mr. official go-ahead. We have Simmons and the rest of Met. funding up toa immeteam canlined do with system diately as soon as that’s thecome best in in the world!” everything is proceeding. chimed Mr. Mr. Adam We have a 24-month infraDarville. structure roll-out plan.”

“What will set us apart is plan has notBACSWN’s only being able to ingest already data from received a variety ofbacking sources, from Trevor Basden, direcbut the unique manner in tor of we the intend Department of which to visualMeteorology, said it ize such using who a augmented would enable engine” the agency reality gaming says to towardscanimpact Mr. “move Rees “Anyone check whether it’s going to rain He on based forecasting”.

Saturday!

We’re to added: “If you havegoing a tropiprovide the most accurate, cal cyclone moving, and immersive, 3D the interactive based on how models experience and the possible!” information are “We ithave of given, can atellnumber the variBahamians assistous degreeswho and are stages of ing in various damage, flood ways and behind water the scenes until our Heads of infiltration at various points Agreement is signed and plan and we could describe it on inviting other Bahamian more accurately. entrepreneurs “Right nowtowecollaborate will just with us on the design of other say ‘flooding’, but we will products/services for the hosbe able to even graphipitality and event planning cally show added where Mr the water industry,” Rees. levels be near on the houses “In thewill very future we and in areas.

My hopeinfiltration to hire a number of staff Doppler in order to weather send themradars, off for mainly (allow) for me to see specialized training!” said Mr. what Rees. is approaching The Bahamas in the distance.

The Tribune has learned “Once that Mr. the Juliansystem Rolle gets has into ThetheBahamas, this accepted post of Chairwill bethe theBoard; answer our man of Mrsto Eileen prayers!

This network will Dupuch-Carron is Executive Chairman, Mr. Adam be so advanced that it Darwill ville asme VP to of see Infrastructure, allow down to Mr. Montino of street level inRoberts, order toVP preInformation Technology, Mr. dict precipitation.

Right Glen Ward.

VP of do Business now I cannot that Development, Mr. weather Burton because current Rodgers, VP Governmental radar is not designed for Affairs and Portia Nicholson that.” of “IHiggs Johnson can’t &wait to see serves what as group’s legalMr advisors.

The Dr Basden, Simmons project that will likely create and the rest of his team 450 jobs construccan do during with atheBahamian tion phase with an estimated designed system that’ll will 300 full-time positions once be best in the world!” said BACSWN reaches its full Mr Darville. operating capacity.

PAGE 8, Friday, February 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Time to say bye, Lanisha A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA

THIS week, we said at her former ministry. goodbye to a minister, On top of that, The learned a new medical term, Tribune spoke with Bahaand prayed for a former mas Olympic Committee Prime Minister. president Romell Knowles, The biggest shock (so far) who opined: “The antics of of this political season came having to stand when she earlier this week when we enters a board meeting is learned the minister of not one that sports leadyouth, sports, and culture, ers were very comfortable Lanisha Rolle, abruptly with, nor is it an acceptable resigned. norm for us. And some that There remains much caused some sort of apprespeculation about what led hension about the type of to Mrs Rolle’s quitting her leadership that the minister high-profile post. displayed.”

The letter announcing Say what, now? the PM’s acceptance of The “word on the street” her resignawas Lanisha tion included ‘The antics of was not going to this cryptic line: receive her par“Certain mat- having to stand ty’s nomination ters have been when she enters for Seabreeze, brought to the a board meeting a stunning attention of the indictment for a Prime Minister is not one that sitting Cabinet and are under sports leaders Minister.

Her investigation.” fall from grace were very That’s saying is particularly a lot while not comfortable steep. She came saying much at with, nor is it on the scene as all. a divisive charan acceptable This newsacter five years paper reported norm for us.’ ago, injecting on an audit of herself into Lanisha’s ministry recently the row between former ordered by the Prime Min- Free National Movement ister, which added to the deputy leader Loretta Butpalace intrigue. ler-Turner and then party Then the Prime Minis- leader Dr Hubert Minnis. ter assured the public that Lanisha, back in 2016, Mrs Rolle is not directly proclaimed that the most involved in the investiga- senior woman in the party tions at that ministry. at that time needed to While we may not know ‘humble herself.’ Now it is (yet) the exact details of she eating a giant serving why Rolle is gone, it’s a safe of humble pie and having bet that this move was over- to bow out in a cloud of due to many. suspicion. In between, her To hear Bahamians tell it, comments on marital rape they were “popping bottles” and her decision to put her

LANISHA ROLLE MP, who has resigned as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, and, right, her father, Derek Thompson, who showed up outside Cabinet in her defence. face on sports medals further isolated her from many voters.

Except for her father, who made a passionate plea outside of parliament, not many came to her aid or defense.

The news of her departure is already getting stale. No one seems to care

except for social media sleuths speculating on why she got the boot.

It’s hard to see a political comeback for Lanisha.

Having accomplished little while generating a lot of animosity along the way, there are few bright spots in her service record. She came, she saw, she did not conquer. She was the lone female minister making this inevitable ‘Bye, Lanisha!’ sad, if not surprising.

LOCKER ROOM TALK Something is in the water over at the Cabinet. In the same week the only female member left unceremoniously, the PM bragged about “pumping iron” but not “laying pipe”. (Which, in full disclosure, I did laugh at. I know, I know. I’ll be in

confession about that soon).

To add to the “locker room talk”, the minister of health also put his foot in his mouth, referring to the Prime Minister as the “testicular head.”

Not one to take an L and move on, Minister Renward Wells doubled down on his misstatement by saying what he really meant to call his boss is the “tittitular head”. Which is not actually a thing, either.

Wells explained that he originally misspoke because... Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth sits on the Throne? Oh, and because it was his birthday.

Next time, Renny, say, “my bad” and nothing else. One verbal gaffe from a politician is funny, but another gaffe to explain the first gaffe will have people questioning if “yinne gat any sense”.

PRAYERS UP Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was admitted to the hospital and received treatment for Covid-19. The news came as a gut check to Bahamians who want to believe our fight with the coronavirus is over.

It is not.

At last report, “Papa” was convalescing comfortably, which is good news to Bahamians.

News of Mr Ingraham’s ailment also provided a moment of respite from political machinations, as most people came together to pray for his speedy recovery. Get well, Mr Ingraham. Even in illness, you continue to be a valuable, stabilising force in this country. We thank you for your service.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 26, 2021, PAGE 9

EVERY LITTLE BIT OF CARE HELPS IN THE LIFE OF A SINGLE MOM WHO LOST HER JOB TO COVID IF YOU want to measure the impact of COVID-19, you can find it in the bare cupboards at Alysha’s apartment. Or the empty space where the refrigerator used to go before she had to sell it to help keep a roof over her children’s heads. The signs of the pandemic are everywhere in this space – the stove parts on top of the pulled apart appliance that only needs $153 to make it work again, but right now in Alysha’s world, $153 might as well be a thousand.

We told you about Alysha (not her real name) a few weeks ago, a woman who was about to give birth and would be sleeping on the floor with her baby because through no fault of her own, a virus swept through the world and took with it the job she had at Baha Mar for the last seven years. And now she has no work and nearly no food and only an air mattress to sleep on. All she has is hope, trust and faith in God that somehow the landlord will be kind and she will not have to move out and sleep in the car with her 12-yearold son, her newborn and the two-year-old who has suffered one medical emergency after another.

She talks about him and her eyes light up. “He has a disability,” she starts slowly. “He’s had seizures, he had cardiac arrest at four months, he had a stroke, he walks with a turnedout leg and he is the love of my life.” Words are barely out of her mouth as the newborn, Kamala-O (in honour of the US Vice President Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama), three weeks old today, cries.

By Diane Phillips

She is hungry. It is time to feed. Alysha, fit and trim at 32, jumps up like an athlete and runs to the baby being cradled by Shonel Ferguson, Alysha’s MP, whose office we are in.

It’s thanks to Shonel that the baby has diapers and essentials and thanks to Shonel that Alysha sought help from Social Services and has an application pending for a stove and fridge, and thanks to Shonel that I first heard and wrote about Alysha and several readers responded, though so much more is needed.

A perky mother-of-two donated a family treasure, a wicker bassinette, along with a baby bath. A kindly gentleman packed up a generous supply of canned goods and non-perishables.

A stove repairman offered to provide labour to repair her old stove for free when she got the new parts.

Readers dropped off a few dollars.

Without a refrigerator or a working stove, every meal is a challenge. The little two-burner electric set-up is a temporary solution for cooking grits or rice or the occasional treat of eggs, so long as BPL keeps her power on. They were there to cut it off last week and she promised to pay something on it the next day.

“It’s hard, it’s tough every day and every night, but that is the harsh reality and

SAY YES TO TABLETS AND NO TO OIL WITH schools gradually re-opening for in-person classes, the demand for learning devices is as great or greater than ever as teacher expectation for full performance from every student increases even if education officials are reluctant to admit it.

When the Leno Learning Link began its campaign to assist the Ministry of Education to put a tablet in the hands of every student, the goal seemed so ambitious as to be almost impossible – 41,000+ tablets at $124 plus $50 connectivity for three months plus VAT, nearly $200 per student. Even at the reduced cost thanks to the partnership with ALIV which also programmed tablets for grade appropriateness, that meant raising almost $800,00.

Leno kicked the campaign off with a donation of $60,000, corporate and individual donors saw the need and wow. From a high of more than 41,000, the need for tablets now stands at 4,000, according to the Ministry of Education.

But next week as more schools open their doors, that’s 4,000 students who still need a learning device, 4,000 students who could be borrowing Grammy’s cell phone or sharing a device with a big brother or sister who says they need it more than their little

sibling does, 4,000 students who run the risk of falling even further behind.

Please, while you are primed for giving, dig a little deeper Bahamas and each one provide one and we will have put a tablet in the hands of every student.

We can do this. You can make it happen.

While we want a yes to tablets, let’s shout it out that we want no to oil. Just because BPC has capped off one well does not mean they are not eyeing other potential sites in The Bahamas.

The marine environment is not a craps game. We got lucky with no incidents in the first trial. Let’s not test our luck unnecessarily. There are a hundred ways we can make money with the marine environment. Businessman Mario Carey has outlined several already and others have ideas. The Blue Economy has already been named the most promising economy for the next decade and we are blessed with that. There are myriad ways to monetize the waters and marine life around us and earn real dollars while preserving those same resources. Or we could search for fools’ gold and gamble on one potential revenue earner with unknown benefits and huge risk. You decide, Bahamas.

IF ANYONE CAN, IT WILL BE THE TIGER WE’RE adding prayers and well wishes to the millions around the world for the Comeback King, Tiger Woods, a familiar face in The Bahamas where he feels like one of our own. The young Tiger first appeared as a regular at Atlantis and the Ocean Club, more recently at Albany and just this year virtually at a course in South Eleuthera.

The road to recovery following his horrific rollover accident along the California coast this week will be

filled with surgeries, physical rehab and more pain and agony than most would be able to stand. But if anyone can recover and even dream of returning to golf, it would be the Tiger.

Let’s let him know The Bahamas is behind him, swinging in his favour every stroke of the way. Whether he ever returns to golf or not, his legacy is established. Untold numbers of young boys and girls looked up to him and said to themselves, if he can do it, so can I.

I just have to keep going and praying and hoping to find work of any kind,” she says. “I’ll clean, I’ll do security. I just have to earn a living for my children. I worked seven years at Baha Mar since 2014 and I am so grateful for that. Even when they had to close, they kept me on in another capacity for two days a week so I had something coming in. Now, there is nothing. I don’t have one dollar.”

Rent is two months overdue. Her car is broken down, though, like the stove, the part is less than $160. The BPL bill is almost as high as the back rent.

And there is nothing left to sell.

“This is the real cost of COVID and we see it every day in Fox Hill,” says Ferguson, a Fox Hillian herself.

“No matter how much compassion we offer, no matter how many diapers we distribute to the desperate, the real answer is in the scientists’ and medical community’s hands. The people of Fox Hill who we see every day and take calls from until all hours of the night and morning are not failures. They did not lose their jobs because they were lousy at them or failed to

FOX Hill MP Shonel Ferguson with the baby of Alysha - who was left to sleep on the floor after COVID-19 cost her the Baha Mar job she worked at and left her with empty cupboards.

perform their duties. They are the innocent victims of a virus that has taken its toll on lives like Alysha’s yet we fully understand the need to put health care first. This is just the hidden side you don’t see unless you live where the Alyshass of the island live.”

As Shonel mentions her name, baby Kamala-O finishes feeding and falls

asleep. Alysha hands her over to me as she talks about her 12-year-old son for whom she has such high hopes. A student at CH Reeves, he, too, feels the brunt if not the burn-out.

He wants to study but his tablet is broken.

We are all a little broken, aren’t we? How do we pick ourselves up unless we do so the meaningful way, by

reaching out to help others who have less than we do, by deciding that this is one time we can make a difference? Amazing how giving makes the giver feel so good if they truly give from the heart expecting nothing in return.

If you want to help Alysha, please contact the Fox Hill Constituency Office at 603 2452.

PAGE 10, Friday, February 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

US bombs facilities in Syria used by Iraq-backed militia WASHINGTON Associated Press THE United States launched airstrikes in Syria yesterday, targeting facilities near the Iraqi border used by Iranian-backed militia groups. The Pentagon said the strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a US service member and other coalition troops.

The airstrike was the first military action undertaken by the Biden administration, which in its first weeks has emphasised its intent to put more focus on the challenges posed by China, even as Mideast threats persist. Biden’s decision to attack in Syria did not

appear to signal an intention to widen US military involvement in the region but rather to demonstrate a will to defend US troops in Iraq.

“I’m confident in the target that we went after, we know what we hit,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters flying with him from California to Washington. Speaking shortly after the airstrikes, he added, “We’re confident that that target was being used by the same Shia militants that conducted the strikes,” referring to a Feb. 15 rocket attack in northern Iraq that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a US service member and other coalition personnel.

Austin said he recommended the action to

Biden.

“We said a number of times that we will respond on our timeline,” Austin said. “We wanted to be sure of the connectivity and we wanted to be sure that we had the right targets.”

Earlier, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US action was a “proportionate military response” taken together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with coalition partners.

“The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and coalition personnel,” Kirby said. “At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to deescalate the overall situation in eastern Syria and Iraq.”

Kirby said the US airstrikes “destroyed multiple facilities at a border control point used by a number of Iranian-backed militant groups”, including Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada. The US has blamed Kataib Hezbollah for numerous attacks targeting US personnel and interests in Iraq in the past.

Further details were not immediately available.

Mary Ellen O’Connell, a professor at Notre Dame Law School, criticized the US attack as a violation of international law.

“The United Nations Charter makes absolutely clear that the use of military force on the territory of a foreign sovereign state is lawful only in response to an armed attack on the

defending state for which the target state is responsible,” she said. “None of those elements is met in the Syria strike.”

Biden administration officials condemned the Feb. 15 rocket attack near the city of Irbil in Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish-run region, but as recently as this week officials indicated they had not determined for certain who carried it out. Officials have noted that in the past, Iranianbacked Shiite militia groups have been responsible for numerous rocket attacks that targeted US personnel or facilities in Iraq.

Kirby had said Tuesday that Iraq is in charge of investigating the February 15 attack.

“Right now, we’re not

able to give you a certain attribution as to who was behind these attacks, what groups, and I’m not going to get into the tactical details of every bit of weaponry used here,” Kirby said.

“Let’s let the investigations complete and conclude, and then when we have more to say, we will.”

A little-known Shiite militant group calling itself Saraya Awliya al-Dam, Arabic for Guardians of Blood Brigade, claimed responsibility for the Feb. 15 attack. A week later, a rocket attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone appeared to target the US Embassy compound, but no one was hurt.

Iran this week said it has no links to the Guardians of Blood Brigade.

BRAZIL DEATH TOLL TOPS 250,000 RIO DE JANEIRO Associated Press

A HEALTHCARE worker injects a Guarani woman with a dose of China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Mata Verde Bonita village in Marica, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, yesterday.

Photo: Bruna Prado/AP

BRAZIL’S COVID-19 death toll, which surpassed 250,000 yesterday, is the world’s second-highest for the same reason its second wave has yet to fade: Prevention was never made a priority, experts say.

Since the pandemic’s start, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro scoffed at the “little flu” and lambasted local leaders for imposing restrictions on activity; he said the economy must keep humming along to prevent worse hardship.

Even when he approved pandemic welfare payments for the poor, they weren’t announced as a means to keep people home. And Brazilians remain out and about as vaccination has started up — but rollout has proven far slower than was

anticipated.

“Brazil simply didn’t have a response plan.

We’ve been through this for the last year and still we don’t have a clear plan, a national plan,” Miguel Lago, executive director of Brazil’s Institute for Health Policy Studies, which advises public health officials, told the Associated Press. “There’s no plan, at all. And the same applies to vaccination.”

Whereas other countries’ daily cases and deaths have fallen, Latin America’s largest nation is parked on an elevated plateau — a grim repeat of mid-2020. In each of the last five weeks, Brazil has averaged more than 1,000 daily deaths. Official data showed a confirmed death toll total of 251,498 on Thursday.

At least 12 Brazilian states are in the midst of a

second wave even worse than the one faced in 2020, said Domingos Alves, an epidemiologist who has been tracking COVID-19 data.

“This scenario is going to get worse,” Alves said, adding that the virus was spreading faster among the population. In Amazonas state, where the capital, Manaus, saw hospitals run out of oxygen last month, there have been more than 5,000 deaths in the first two months of the year, about as many as in all of 2020.

“It is the most difficult moment that we have had since the confirmation of the first case,” Carlos Lula, chair of the National Council of Health Secretaries, was quoted as saying Thursday by O Globo newspaper.

“We have never had so many states with so much difficulty at the same time.”

SPORTS PAGE 11

NCAA, PAGE 13

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021

GSSSA coaches, officials hoping they will be paid

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

W

hile they wait for the return of students to the classrooms and subsequently after-school sporting activities, Government Secondary Schools Sports Association coaches and officials are hoping that the Ministry of Education will pay them the monies owed for their services already rendered.

When contacted, Director of Education, Marcellus Taylor said they are aware of the situation

and are working towards an amicable agreement with the parties involved and, at the same time, they are seeking to restructure the programme so that there is more transparency in what they are all doing.

Apparently, Taylor said while they provide a stipend of $1,500 per sporting discipline for their physical education teachers to engage in the after-school activities, there are those who are trying to abuse the system.

“We’ve had to take a look at the programme because we know that there have been bills that have been inflated, in terms

of the number of games that the officials have been participating in and what they have presented to the ministry,” he said. “We are reviewing the matter and, in short order, we will make the necessary payments to the parties involved.”

Taylor, however, could not say exactly when the funds will be payable to the officials.

One official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said since 2018, they were not paid for working with the soccer programme in the schools. Another basketball official, who also wished not to be identified, said they are owed money starting in 2019.

“Some persons, who have since retired, are still waiting on their money,” one of the officials said.

“We have people who worked the last National High School Tournament in Grand Bahama in 2019 have not been paid yet either.”

One of the officials said with no activities, except for track and field taking place last year due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, they were hoping that the Ministry of Education would have paid them the money owed.

“We were owed our money from before the pandemic,” the official said. “No one seems to care. People work and they

deserve to be paid in a timely manner. We all need our money in these tough economic times.”

When contacted, GSSSA president Varel Davis noted that she’s aware of the arrears having submitted the worksheet on a timely basis, but the matter is out of her hands. She referred Tribune Sports to the ministry.

Evon Wisdom, who heads the Sports Division in the ministry, said they are looking into it.

He noted that the financial report has been submitted to the relevant authority in the ministry,

SEE PAGE 13

‘Buddy’ Hield scores nine, Knicks rout Kings 140-121

By DENIS P GORMAN Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Immanuel Quickley scored 18 of his 25 points in the first half, and Julius Randle had 21 points and 14 rebounds to power the New York Knicks to a 140-121 win over the Sacramento Kings last night.

Quickley and Randle were two of six Knicks players to finish in double figures in scoring as New York improved to 16-17.

Alec Burks had 24 off the bench, Derrick Rose finished with 18, RJ Barrett had 12 and Reggie Bullock chipped in with 10 as the Knicks had a season high for points.

While the Knicks cruised to their fifth win in their last seven games, Sacramento’s freefall continued.

The Kings (12-20) dropped their ninth straight, a stretch in which they have allowed 126.3 points per game.

De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points for the Kings, Harrison Barnes finished with 22, Marvin Bagley III added 19, Tyrese Haliburton canned 17 and Chavano “Buddy” Hield scored 9.

Barring both teams making unexpected runs to the NBA Finals, the Kings and Knicks entered the second and presumably final matchup of the season on significantly different trajectories.

Sacramento appears to be a team that is trying to learn about itself while the Knicks have clearly defined expectations as to how they play.

And that was on full display.

New York led 77-62 at halftime due to a team approach in which all but one player scored in the opening 24 minutes.

The Knicks shot 65.9% from the field (29 for 44), 52.9% from 3-point range (9 for 17) and knocked down all 10 free throws they attempted. Of New York’s 29 first-half baskets, 15 came off of assists.

In short, they were not a one-man gang — even if Randle and Quickley received “MVP” chants from the Madison Square Garden crowd.

New York extended its lead to as much as 18 midway through the third quarter after Randle knocked down a 10-footer with 6:59 left, but the Kings

Decius-Norius gets in shape for Bikini Physique Figure Fitness Classic

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AS she gets set to return to the NPC 2021 CJ Classic and Sunshine State Bodybuilding Bikini Physique Figure Fitness Classic next month, Serena Salis DeciusNorius is hoping to make an impression on her rivals in two different categories.

Decius-Norius will be heading to the classic at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, March 13 where her husband Jimmy Norius said the goal is for her to compete in the bikini and figure classes.

“We’re trying to have her break the record by becoming the first competitor to get six awards in the same show,” Norius said. “She got four awards in the show last year when she competed for the first time.”

In her debut at the classic last March, Decius-Norius competed as a bikini model, capturing the bikini A short class divisional title and was second in both the bikini

SERENA Salis Decius-Norius masters over 35 and the bikini novice, while getting third overall in the bikini open class.

“This year, we decided that it will be a better year.

I sense it in the air,” said Norius, the personal trainer of his wife. “She is trying to earn her pro card this year so we decided to get her in as many shows as we can.

“The more she competes, the more she will get sharper and the judges will

SEE PAGE 13

KNICKS forward Julius Randle (30) shoots against Sacramento Kings centre Richaun Holmes (22) in the second half last night in New York. Buddy Hield can be seen at right.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo) ended the period on a 22-11 run which was capped by Fox’s buzzer-beating layup.

New York opened the fourth quarter with a 20-7 run to stretch its lead from 101-94 to 121-101.

Burks capped the stretch with long 3-pointers on consecutive possessions.

The Kings wrapped up

their two-game New York City excursion by saying goodbye to one teammate and hello to new one.

Sacramento waived Glenn Robinson III on Wednesday and announced the signing of Norvel Pelle.

In 23 games with the Kings, Robinson averaged 5.3 points, two

rebounds, and 0.9 assists.

Pelle, waived by the Nets on February 16, averaged two points, 2.3 rebounds, and one block per game in three games with Brooklyn.

“It has been a tough couple days,” Kings coach Luke Walton acknowledged during his pregame availability.

COLLEGIATE BASEBALL PLAYERS MAKING IMPACT

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE 2021 campaigns are underway at nearly every level of play in collegiate baseball and several Bahamian players had early impacts with their respective programmes.

At the NAIA level, Wade Weinburger Jr had a career day for the Bryan College Lions in yesterday’s double header win over Montreat College in an Appalachian Athletic Conference matchup.

In game one, the senior outfielder powered his team’s offensive with a perfect 3-3 day at the plate, which included a grand slam, a two run home run, eight RBI and three runs.

In the top of the second, Weinburger hit a two-run shot to left centre to give his team an early 3-0 lead.

In the third, Weinburger blasted the first pitch he saw and hit a grand slam to left centre to give the Lions a 7-1 advantage.

He added a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and singled to centre in the sixth.

In the second half of the double header, the Lions took a 12-2 win.

SEE PAGE 13

SPORTS

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 26, 2021, PAGE 13

NCAA REVEALS COVID-19 CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR HOOPS TOURNEYS

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer TURNS out the top four teams left out of March Madness won’t have their bubbles burst quite yet.

Under a contingency plan released yesterday by the Division I basketball committees, those four at-large teams that don’t make the original field in the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments will be placed in order and serve as the replacement teams should any conference with multiple bids have a school that is unable to participate due to COVID-19 issues.

If the tournament begins without any withdrawals, the four would still be eligible to compete in the NIT. The contingency plan only applies to the short period between the announcement of the brackets — March 14 for men and March 15 for

women — and the start of games later that week.

Once a tournament begins, any team whose opponent is forced to withdraw would automatically advance to the next round.

If there are COVID-19 issues with a qualifying school leading up to the NCAA Tournament selection, conferences get to designate a replacement team and it will be seeded in the bracket based upon its own body of work.

Single-bid conferences likewise can choose their replacement provided the team has gone seven days without a positive test.

Due to the pandemic, the entire men’s tournament will take place in Indianapolis and the surrounding area beginning with First Four games March 18 at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette and Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The Final Four will take place

MISSISSIPPI guard Mimi Reid (2) shoots as South Carolina guard Destanni Henderson (3) defends during their NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., yesterday.

(Tracy Glantz/The State via AP) at Lucas Oil Stadium with the championship game scheduled for April 5. The women’s tournament, which

begins with first-round games March 21, will take place in San Antonio and neighboring cities of Austin

and San Marcos. The Final Four is set for the Alamodome with the title game April 4. The basketball

committees formulated their contingency plan based on four core tenets: • Once the bracket is released, it will not be changed or reseeded • it will attempt to ensure a full field before the tournament with no replacement teams once play begins • every participating conference should have at least one team in the field; • replacement teams should be the best teams considered for an at-large that still remain.

Many of the same rules were used by Division I competition and oversight committee to create a similar plan for winter championships such as wrestling and gymnastics.

The plan also covers men’s and women’s cross country and men’s water polo, which are fall sports but whose champions will be decided in March.

NETS guard James Harden (13) embraces guard Kyrie Irving (11) after Irving scored on a play during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic last night in New York.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Irving, Harden lead Nets to 8th straight victory NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving had 27 points and nine assists, James Harden scored 20 points and the Nets extended their longest winning streak since moving to Brooklyn to eight games with a 129-92 rout of the Orlando Magic last night.

The Nets have the longest current winning streak in the NBA and their longest since a franchise recordtying 14-game run late in

the 2005-06 season. They moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn in 2012.

This roll has come almost entirely without Kevin Durant. He missed his sixth straight game with a strained left hamstring.

They’re explosive enough with their other two AllStars, improving to 7-2 when Irving and Harden play but Durant doesn’t.

Landry Shamet added 19 points and nine rebounds

SERENA FROM PAGE 11 be able to see and recognise her. We will determine which category the judges like her more at when she competes in this show.”

Decius-Norius, who also got a chance to represent the Bahamas for the first time at the Central American and Caribbean Championships, will compete in the bikini short class, bikini over-30 and bikini over-35 and the figure novice, figure short class and figure over-35.

“I’m looking forward to her making the final in all six of them and making the top three in all of them,” Norius said.

“The way she’s been training over the past few months, I know we’ll be coming back on Bahamasair or JetBlue with six trophies.

“No one has ever done it before, not even in any show in the US. She wants to do better than me when I got four trophies in one show in the men’s physique open, men’s physique masters over-40, bodybuilding middleweight and masters with first place in all four of them in South Beach, Miami, Florida, in 2016.”

With a cross-over body that can compete in both categories that she’s entered in, Norius said they are not anticipating winning the overall title in both

for the Nets, who blew open the game with a 26-4 run spanning halftime. The NBA’s highest-scoring team reached 120 points for the 20th time, already tying a franchise record in only 34 games. Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic.

GRIZZLIES 122, CLIPPERS 94 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tyus Jones scored a

of them, but she will make her presence felt as a contender.

Although she’s chartering unfamiliar territory, DeciusNorius said she’s looking forward to the challenge ahead of her. “I know it’s going to be stressful, six times on the stage, to change into a suit, but I know I can do it,” she said.

“I will only be stepping on the stage one time for each class, so I know I can do it.”

Despite the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, DeciusNorius said her husband has made sure that she gets in the workout in their backyard, while she takes care of their dietary nutrients in the kitchen.

“He’s very, very tough training me in the backyard and in the sun,” she pointed out. “I feel good about my training. I know I am in good shape and will do very well.”

Decius-Norius said her dream is to one day go home and compete in Italy in front of her family and friends for the first time and also to join Norius in securing her pro card.

“I know I can’t eat any pizza or ice cream after this show because I have to continue my diet. I have another show in June,” she stressed. “I have to stay focused and physically prepared.”

Her performance in Florida at the CJ Classic will certainly determine what level of fitness she’s in for the long haul this year.

NAIA FROM PAGE 11

career-high 20 points, the Memphis defence held Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to sub-standard nights and the Grizzlies beat Los Angeles.

Dillon Brooks added 19 points for Memphis, and Jonas Valanciunas and Ja Morant had 16 each, with Valanciunas adding 15 rebounds. Jones was 9 of 11 from the floor, including 2 of 3 from outside the arc.

Leonard scored 17 points,

Weinburger went hitless, but drew a walk and scored one run.

The Lions are nationally ranked at No.21 with a record of 12-3.

Through 15 games, Weinburger is hitting .283 with 15 hits, four home runs, 19 RBI and scored 14 runs.

Also in the AAC, Devyn Munroe got his first stolen base of the season in his Truett McConnell Bears’ 7-4 loss to Montreat Wednesday night.

The Bears are 7-5 on the season and Munroe has started each game at third base, hitting .306 with eight RBI. His top game of the season thus far was a 9-6 win over Lourdes.

He tripled and went 2-4 with 2 RBI. Dominique Collie returned to the field to help the Webber International Warriors take a 2-1 win in a series over No.15 Keiser.

Collie opened the series with an RBI triple in the first inning of his team’s 4-3 win. He went 2-4 in the second game series, another 4-3 win for the Warriors.

Webber moved to 9-7 overall and 4-2 in TSC play.

In NCAA Division I, Duante Stuart and his Northwestern State University Demons have struggled to open the season but the sophomore infielder has been a bright spot thus far. Stuart drove in the Demons’ only pair of runs in Wednesday night’s 5-2 loss to the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks.

The Demons managed just a single hit through seven innings, but in the eighth, had a pair of hit

and George and Serge Ibaka had 13 points each, although George was stymied by a 3-for-12 shooting night, part of the Clippers shooting 41 percent.

The teams will complete the two-game set tonight at FedExForum 76ERS 111, MAVERICKS 97 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 23 points and nine rebounds,

batters and a Warhawks defensive error to load the bases. Stuart came through and doubled to left centre for his team’s only runs of the game.

The Demons were picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference preseason poll. They went 12-4 in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. As a true freshman, Stuart started all 16 games at second base.

He was one of three Demons to swipe three bases and finished third on the team in batting average with .281. He went on a nine game hit streak from February 16 - March 1 and doubled in three straight games from February 26-29.

In NCAA Division II, Pemron Burrows and the Texas Permian Basin Falcons have experienced postponements on back-to-back weekends.

This upcoming weekend’s upcoming series against St Edward’s as well as last weekend’s series at Texas A&M – Kingsville were postponed due to inclement weather.

In their lone series of the year, Burrows hit .300 with five runs scored and three stolen bases but the Falcons lost the three-game set 1-2 to Texas A and M International.

In a 6-5 opening day win, Burrows, the senior outfielder hitting in the leadoff spot, went 2-2 with two runs scored, two walks, two stolen bases, and was hit by a pitch.

In last year’s pandemic shortened season which was reduced to 21 games, Burrows led the Falcons in three categories - five stolen bases, 18 runs scored, and 11 walks. He was third on the team with a .368 on base percentage.

Ben Simmons scored 15 points and Philadelphia beat Dallas, Simmons and Embiid wrecked the Mavericks in the second quarter, and with each steal, dunk and drive showed why they were again selected as All-Stars and have led the Sixers to the best record in the Eastern Conference at 22-11.

Luka Doncic scored 19 points for Dallas.

GSSSA FROM PAGE 11 but they are just waiting on the payment to be distributed. Once they would have paid off their bills, Taylor said they will restructure the programme where they will work through the local associations or the federations in the distribution of the funds to the officials.

“We will invite the sporting associations or federations to make the application on behalf of the officials and we will disburse the funds to them so that they can distribute it to the officials,” he said.

“In that way, they will be responsible for the number of games that each official will participate in and they will determine which officials and who is paid whatever amount they deem necessary.”

The GSSSA is hoping to have the matter resolved as soon as possible as they are preparing to resume their after-school sporting activities this year in the midst of COVID-19 with the possibility of hosting a track and field meet.

But all of that hinges on when the students will fully return to the classrooms and can continue with some sort of normalcy.