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VOLUME:117 No.69, MARCH 2ND, 2020

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‘We won’t take risks with virus’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the government will not “take any chances” with the deadly coronavirus and will use all the resources needed to protect residents from the disease.

“Public health is an absolute priority,” he said at a press conference yesterday following meetings with local and regional officials.

“We take this outbreak very seriously.”

He spoke on a day the Caribbean recorded its first case of the COVID-19: a 62-year-old Italian man who arrived in the Dominican Republic on February 22 without showing symptoms.

For now, the Bahamian government is not restricting travel from Italy but is warning residents against non-essential travel to that country, Iran and South Korea — all countries experiencing outbreaks of the disease. Travel restrictions related to China have been in effect since January 30.

“As a husband, father and grandfather, the outbreak of COVID-19 is a matter of grave concern,” Dr Minnis said. “As a doctor it is equally concerning. I have instructed this government and its health officials in particular to do everything in our power to combat, communicate and if needed contain this health risk.”

A MAN screamed “I got shoot, I got shoot” moments before drawing his last breath in the country’s latest police-involved killing.

Police said officers were on Washington Street off Balfour Avenue when their inspection of a black car led to the deadly encounter.

“A male came from the vehicle, armed with a firearm and pointed it in the direction of the officer,” police said in a statement.

“The officers being in fear of their lives discharged

their service weapons in the direction of the male, who ran to the rear of a home, where he was discovered deceased. A 9 millimeter pistol was recovered.”

When The Tribune visited the area yesterday, most residents this newspaper spoke to said they were asleep when the incident happened. However Charite Gilles, 60, said he had just decided to check his car outside his home when he heard the man screaming.

“When I heard that, I said it makes no sense, I peek and see what’s going on, so I went back inside and SEE PAGE THREE

3 FIREMEN INJURED IN ELDERLY HOME FIRE

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

POLICE in New Providence are investigating after arsonists reportedly set fire to and destroyed an unoccupied building at the Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged yesterday morning.

According to police reports, shortly before 5am Sunday, Fire Services officers responded to the home after receiving reports that an unoccupied building on the property was on fire.

While firefighters were attempting to extinguish the blaze, the building collapsed, injuring three officers.

The injured officers were taken to hospital where they are listed in stable condition.

None of the residents of the home was injured during the incident. Police suspect the incident is an act of arson.

SEE PAGE 11

DEFENCE FORCE TO RECRUIT EXTRA 500

SEE PAGE FIVE

SUSPECT KILLED AFTER ‘AIMING GUN AT POLICE’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HOME

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

PARADISE LOST?

A BAHAMIAN businessman with plans for a $2m Paradise Island project to restore the derelict lighthouse at its western end has claimed he is being “marginalised”. Toby Smith, of Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club Company, said yesterday he is being treated like a “second class citizen” to make way for Royal Caribbean, which is also seeking Crown land on the island. See Business section for the full story.

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday said his ministry is working towards increasing the number of Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officers to at least 2,000 by the year 2022.

Speaking at the RBDF’s annual church service yesterday, the minister told officers the government recognises the force’s need for additional “human capital” to effectively carry out their duties.

SEE PAGE SIX

FAMILIES GRIEVE FOR MURDERED WOMEN Insight

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are holding two men for questioning in connection with the shocking double murder of a mother and daughter that has rocked the tight-knit community of Salt Pond, Long Island.

Two days after they were reported missing, the bodies of Melissa Hui and her mother Jane Harding were found in the quiet settlement.

Ms Harding’s body was found on Friday around 10am and Ms Hui’s body was found around 3pm, according to Superintendent Harvin Curtis.

Ms Harding, he said, was partially nude. Chief Superintendent of Police Solomon Cash said yesterday it is uncertain whether the women were sexually assaulted, adding that postmortem analysis will now be conducted.

The Tribune understands

that two men, one 19 and the other 26, are in custody as police conduct a homicide investigation.

Nearly everywhere Ms Hui went, her mother followed.

They shopped together, ran errands together and lived together in the small settlement of Salt Pond.

“Melissa didn’t believe in leaving the mummy,” an elderly relative, who did not want to be identified, SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

REMEMBERING THE TRAGEDY OF 39 LOST SOULS PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Monday, March 2, 2020

FROM left, Whiteley McKinney, Jeffarah Gibson and Nico Scavella.

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THE TRIBUNE

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

TRIBUNE TRIO WIN PRESS CLUB AWARDS THE Bahamas’ leading journalists gathered at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday night to celebrate this year’s winners and nominees in the Bahamas Press Club’s fifth annual media awards.

Special honour on the night was made to Ed Bethel who received The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is in honour of the late Sir Etienne Dupuch, regarded as the crusading journalist who served as editor of The Tribune for more than 50 years. The award was presented by Mrs Eileen Dupuch Carron, The Tribune’s Publisher/Editor.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham received the 2019 Trailblazer Award as the person responsible for opening The Bahamas’ airwaves to allow private broadcasting and later in 1994 in allowing Cable Television.

Also among the night’s winners were members of The Tribune’s Editorial team.

Our winners were: Jeffarah Gibson for the Lesley Higgs Feature Writer of the Year award; Whiteley McKinney for The Kenneth Nathaniel Francis Award for Newspaper Design and Composition and Nico Scavella, Best News story, Print.

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, Publisher/Editor of The Tribune, presents the Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award to Ed Bethel.

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HURRICANE DEATH TOLL RISES TO 74 THE official Hurricane Dorian death toll has risen to 74 after police in Abaco and Grand Bahama recovered four unidentified bodies in late January and early February.

According to a press release from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abaco police recovered the remains of three unidentified bodies - one in The Mudd and two on Powerline Road on January 31, February 3, and February 6, respectively.

Also, the police on Grand Bahama recovered the remains of one unidentified body on

January 20, bringing the total number of deceased persons recovered since the passing of Hurricane Dorian to 74.

Of those victims, 63 are from Abaco and 11 are from Grand Bahama, NEMA said.

While recovery efforts are ongoing, inquiries about missing persons should be made at the Central Detective Unit in New Providence and Grand Bahama, and at the Abaco police station located in the Government Complex in Marsh Harbour.

At last report, more than 200 people were reported as missing.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 2, 2020, PAGE 3

JANE HARDING, left, and Melissa Hui, who are both missing.

Families grieve for murdered women from page one recalled yesterday. “Like the Bible says, so shall you live, so shall you die. They went together.”

Ms Hui, 34, worked at the community gas station.

She was the breadwinner and her mother, 62, took care of the household needs, washing the clothes, cleaning the house and preparing the meals, residents said.

Betty Miller, 53, owns a convenience store in the community of fewer than 100 people.

She said she will miss Ms Hui’s frequent visits to her store. The 34-year-old, she said, frequently talked about wanting to improve her life and was especially interested in building a house on a property she had acquired.

“She was always smiling and was quiet,” Ms Miller said. “It feels like a link is gone.”

In small communities like Salt Pond, the residents are all familiar with each other and have family linkages.

‘I am deeply saddened and troubled by what has occurred. To have their lives abruptly taken for reasons we will never understand has truly shaken our community to the core.’

Adrian Gibson MP Another elderly relative of the victims, who declined to give her name, said the violent deaths of two people everyone knew from they were young is especially difficult.

“It’s usually a quiet settlement, that’s all we were ever used to since I knew this place. We never experienced anything like this,” she said.

This is the first homicide in Long Island since 2017. Though murders are rare on the island, the ones

that occur are typically gruesome, shocking and happen to people residents least expect.

In 2017, Eleanor Dean, 54, was hacked to death.

Her husband, Philip Dean, 61, was charged with her murder.

In 2015, a retired doctor, Harry Geoffrey Harding, 88, was found stabbed to death in his home.

And in 2014, Andrea Carroll, 53, was found dead in her house with her hands and feet bound.

Adrian Gibson, the Long Island MP, said he met family of the deceased women to express condolences.

“It was an emotional and heart wrenching visit,” he said yesterday.

In a statement released on Friday, Mr Gibson said he was troubled by the murders.

“I am deeply saddened and troubled by what has occurred,” he said. “To have their lives abruptly taken for reasons we will never understand has truly shaken our community to the core.”

LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson.

SUSPECT KILLED AFTER ‘AIMING GUN’ from page one called the police,” he said, adding that the area was soon swarmed by officers.

Mr Gilles said two men on the scene were arrested by police. However, those

arrests were not mentioned in the police press release.

Saturday’s incident was the second police-involved killing in a week.

Last Monday police said officers foiled an alleged attempted robbery of Royal Bank of Canada, killing one

man and injuring another suspect.

Chief Superintendent of Police Solomon Cash said when police approached a vehicle, an armed man exited and began shooting, causing officers to return fire. Police said a weapon

was recovered from that scene but no police or civilians were hurt.

Last week, National Security Minister Marvin Dames said that, while the incident was unfortunate, criminals will lose when they confront police.

WOMAN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN NIGHT CLUB SHOOTING A WOMAN is in critical condition in hospital after she and a man were shot on Sunday.

According to a police report, shortly after 1am the victims were at a night club on Nassau Street when an unknown gunman entered the club, opened fire on the patrons, then escaped.

The injured man and woman were taken to hospital, where at last report, the woman was said to be in critical condition. The man was treated for a minor injury and discharged.

New Providence police are also looking for a man

who stole a woman’s car on Saturday night.

Shortly before 11pm, a woman was standing next to her vehicle on the Eastern Road when she was approached by an armed man who robbed her of a blue Nissan Versa, licence # AR8486, and escaped.

Police have also recovered an illegal firearm from the streets of New Providence.

Shortly before 9pm on Saturday, South Central Division officers acting on intelligence, conducted a search of an abandoned vehicle on Lincoln Boulevard and recovered a

Remington 870 shotgun and one round of ammunition.

Investigations are ongoing.

Anyone who may have information that can help

these investigations is to contact the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991/2, Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 4, Monday, March 2, 2020

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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Getting ready for the coronavirus THE coronavirus has come to the Caribbean – but thankfully not yet The Bahamas.

The announcement of a case in the Dominican Republic, an Italian man who arrived there last month without showing symptoms, only serves to reinforce the need for vigilance here at home.

A total of 67 countries now have at least one confirmed case of the coronavirus – and as a nation that thrives on tourism, welcoming visitors from all nations, the obvious concern is that one of those arrivals on our shores will unwittingly bring the virus with them.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was keen to reassure Bahamians that the government will not take any chances. That word “doctor” at the front of his name helps – this isn’t a case, unlike some other nations, where you’re not sure that the leader understands the problem. As a medical man, Dr Minnis realises the risk.

No further travel restrictions have been introduced yet – only the Chinese travel ban remains in place, although Bahamians are urged against non-essential travel to Italy, Iran and South Korea.

The announcement that the country has 50 testing kits for the virus is less reassuring – that number is due to increase with more on order, but that seems a very small number so far given the huge number of visitors arriving each day.

The country’s chief medical officer assures the public that 50 is enough for testing people who have symptoms and the history of travel through infected countries – but the case in the Dominican Republic was a man who didn’t have symptoms when he arrived. What then?

Travelling through US airports recently reinforced the sense of concern in the public – with many people wearing face masks as they waited for their flights.

Beyond the testing kits, the Ministry of Health assures us that there are ample supplies of protective equipment for medics who have to deal with those with symptoms – and work has begun to prepare the hospital for a possible outbreak.

In short, the government is saying it is on the way to being ready. We hope that is the case.

For ourselves, there are measures

we can also take. Wash our hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand rub or with soap and water. Keep your distance – the World Health Organization recommends a metre (three feet) – from anyone coughing or sneezing.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you cough or sneeze, either use a tissue that you dispose of immediately or use your bent elbow. Most of all, stay informed, and stay home if you feel unwell – and telephone first of all for medical attention. Employers can encourage staff with symptoms to stay home too if they present symptoms to avoid spreading it throughout the workforce.

There is a lot that the government can do to try to limit the virus if it does reach our shores – and we’re sure there is more that can be done yet by authorities. But we can also play a part ourselves.

Who will lead the recruits?

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force is to increase by a third of its current number – from 1500 to 2000 by 2022.

The announcement came from National Security Minister Marvin Dames – though curiously he was not very specific about why the country needed an extra 500 marines.

The obvious answer is to deal with immigration, and he did point out that the southern border remains a top priority. The extra 500 troops will add to new radar tools and the purchase of ships under the last government to try to catch illegal migrants before they land.

He also spoke about the acting commander “working on promotions” for members of the force, another sign that current commander Tellis Bethel probably isn’t returning any time soon from his enforced vacation. The last we heard of him from Mr Dames was that he might be out of office until April. We suspect that he’ll be gone a lot longer than that with the way that Mr Dames reassigns senior officers returning from vacation.

We hope, for the sake of the new recruits he envisages arriving in the marines in the next two years, that he doesn’t neglect the need for experienced heads to teach the arrivals how to get the job done.

Bahamian work ethic EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHILE it could be argued that Bahamians, on average, are not into certain type works, such as gardening and housekeeping, that aversion should not be used as the standard to judge the Bahamian work ethic. Yes, many of our people who are employed are a bit on the lazy side, or so it would seem, but I place it all down to a lack of training and job skills, which should be taught in our senior and high schools. Our skills gap is directly affecting our people’s employment opportunities.

McCartney used to be MInister of State for Immigration under the Ingraham regime. Apart from numerous photo ops , I am at a difficulty to figure out just how effective, if at all, he would have been while holding that post. When he held sway, did he and the Department of Immigration ever voice their concerns over this skills gap and the need for Bahamians to understudy foreign employees? Was a real census ever conducted of the alleged illegal immigrants in our wonderful nation?

After quitting the DNA in a huff and a puff McCartney faded into political oblivion, apparently by choice.

Last year rumours surfaced

that he was being courted

by Minnis and the FNM to return to the fold. I cannot speak for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) but I would urge the leader, the Hon. Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, MP (PLP-Cat Island) to let the FNM deal with him.

The PLP is on the march to 2022 and needs no distraction and mega ego-minded individuals to enter the ranks of the party. We are all able to recall the fiasco created by the then Christie-led party adopting and embracing Renward Wells and the now vanquished Dr Andre Rollins. Those individuals were on a run all to themselves.

McCartney says that the work ethics of Bahamians is bad and that they are not taking advantage of opportunities in the job market!!

Where are these jobs, my brother? If you know where they are all you have to do is do the media and social circuits and inform those lazy and unmotivated Bahamians as to where they are. They would, I am sure, be grateful in the extreme!

He also opined that the country lacks Bahamian workers who are qualified.

If this is the case, successive administrations, inclusive of himself, are to be blamed.

We have allowed our educational and technical trade

institutions to grow and decline in a Topsy-Turvey manner now some say that a large number of Bahamians lack the “work ethic”!

I was particularly insulted when the man who would/ could have been Prime Minister, stated that Bahamians did not wish to become housekeepers, especially live-in ones. Most of the perceived elites here in New Providence, inclusive of those in the so-called gated communities, simply love their Filipino and/or Jamaican maids!

McCartney used to be closely involved in the education industry and he should be aware that our leaders have failed many of our children and young adults by promulgating cock-eyed education schemes and pie in the sky National Development plans. The silly season is upon us and I fully expect individuals, myself included, to come up with all sorts of ideas to facilitate nation building and the growing of national and individual productivity. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H. BODIE, Jr. Nassau, February 29, 2020.

Lack of property payment EDITOR, The Tribune.

PROPERTY owners of land acquired by the Government of the Bahamas over ten years ago are still awaiting payment.

Please allow me a space to voice my concern with the Government of The Bahamas refusing to settle with the owners of multiparcels of land acquired by the government in 2009 during the New Providence Road Improvement Project for the extension of the Sir Milo Butler Highway to connect with Cowpen Road (also known as Corridor 41).

I have written numerous letters to the Office of The Prime Minister (OPM), to both the Right Hon Perry Christie and the Most Hon Dr Hubert Minnis. During the last Christie Administration, a final price was negotiated for my property, however, payment was never received. With a change of government in 2017, I delivered another letter to OPM requesting resolution and giving background information on the acquired land, despite the fact that Prime Minister Minnis was Minister of Health during the time of acquisition and therefore fully aware of the acquisition and the lack of settlement. The current Minister of Works and Member of Parliament for Carmichael, the constituency where the properties are located has yet to address this matter with affected constituents.

To date, ten years later

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net some property owners have still not received financial settlement.

During the Prime Minister’s mid-year budget contribution on Monday, February 24, 2020, he spoke about giving Bahamians Crown Land for development thereby providing an opportunity for individuals to make investments and own a piece of the proverbial pie. It is always good to give a helping hand, and, I daresay, a duty of any government to provide opportunities for its citizens.

So, Mr Prime Minister, what about the property owners of Corridor 41 who made the sacrifice to purchase a property, invest in the development of said property, only to have the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas acquire it during the last Rt Hon Hubert Ingraham’s administration (2007-2012) and to this day, the government, which is continuous by law, has refused financial settlements to some of the private property owners. A few choice property owners received payment from both Mr Ingraham and Mr Christie’s administrations.

The question now is why did the others not received payment? Is it a question of cherry-picking who a government thinks might be a supporter? I should hope not as governments should deal evenhanded and fair with each citizen.

Where is the opportunity for these private property owners to settle this long standing matter so that they are in a position to take advantage of other investments to provide for their families?

Is it not hypocritical for a government to preach the importance of law and order and at the same time the right to own private property afforded to citizens in Article 27 of the Constitution of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Land Acquisition Act stating payment should be made at time of acquisition are being denied by the same so-called law and order government?

The property owners are requesting settlement for their private property that the government decided to compulsorily acquire. These properties were never on the market for sale. After ten years, is it not time to settle this matter and allow each party to move on? This is now abuse of power by consecutive governments of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas from 2009 to today, February 26th, 2020 and beyond, until this matter is concluded. I am sure the government has contact information for each property owner.

I thank you for the opportunity MERCIANNA MOXEY, MD MPH Property Owner Corridor 41 Nassau, February 26, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 2, 2020, PAGE 5

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, right, and Health Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

‘We won’t take risks with virus’ from page one Dr Minnis said CARICOM leaders discussed management of the virus via video conferencing yesterday, “including strengthening existing protocols for seaports, and aligning best practices in the region”.

“Leaders also considered whether a regional rapid response team should be reestablished to provide assistance across the region

to countries that are in need,” he said.

Dr Pearl McMillan, chief medical officer at the Ministry of Health, said because the virus has spread to more than 50 countries, “there is heightened awareness that the possibility of the introduction of COVID-19 into The Bahamas can become a reality.”

She said as of last week an in-country laboratory capable of testing for the virus has been established.

The country has about 50

diagnostic testing kits, she said, with more on order.

“We have enough in country to do the required testing to determine whether someone who presents with the symptoms, some respiratory symptoms and the necessary epidemiological link (and) the history of travel, we can test,” she added.

According to Dr McMillan, officials are finalising a plan for managing people who need hospital care and will designate community

clinics for evaluating people who do not require hospital care.

She said the Ministry of Health has ample supplies of personal protective equipment for frontline staff.

Asked about the sufficiency of hospital beds, ventilators and isolation spaces to deal with an outbreak of the virus, she said officials have begun bringing hospital preparedness up to the required level.

“What we know is that in

most cases thus far from the China experience, about 80 percent will not require hospital care,” she said.

“For the 20 percent we are putting in place facilities for isolation. We would’ve actually identified on the hospital compound a modular facility that we can use to ensure we can isolate should we need to and provide the necessary level of care.”

Dr Minnis said Cabinet ministers who were scheduled to travel to areas

experiencing outbreaks have had their travel plans cancelled.

Up to press time last night, there were 88,590 reported cases of the coronavirus and 3,050 deaths.

More than 45,000 people have recovered from the disease, which has a mortality rate of about two percent, according to reports.

Last night, the Ministry of Health said the number of people in local quarantine had dropped to two.

REPORT TO OUTLINE MINNIS GOVT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THE government has released its first progress report today, which outlines some of the Minnis administration’s major accomplishments since coming to office in May 2017.

Entitled “Investing in People & Communities,” the first report focuses on Bahamians and the communities in which they live, supported by the government’s commitments to equip tomorrow’s Bahamians with tools for self-determination, a press release from the Office of the Prime Minister noted.

Future reports will focus on other aspects.

The progress report will share information “regarding successful initiatives in education and technology, health, conservation and land reform, steps taken to lessen our national carbon footprint and remediation and repairs to the Clifton Pier Power Station,” OPM said.

Among the accomplishments highlighted is the increase in access to free tertiary education at the University of The Bahamas (UB) and the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) for qualified students.

“For students attending UB or BVTI, more than $21m has been made available for the academic year 2019-2020 to provide

free education to qualified applicants, in addition to a $500 monthly allowance to Family Island students of both institutions.

“The transformation of the New Providence Landfill into an ecology park and model of environmental leadership is also highlighted in the report.

Residents in the neighbourhoods surrounding the landfill were long plagued with smoke and other airborne pollutants resulting from many dump fires. The hazardous fires have since been extinguished, with the risk of future incidents being greatly reduced.

“In keeping with the mandate to establish an environmental park, tyres are now being shredded for recycling purposes including creating roads in the new ecology park. Organic materials, including cardboard and green waste, are also being shredded and turned to soil.”

The report will also reference the Over-the-Hill Community Development Partnership Initiative, which was launched to transform and restore innercity areas.

“The footprint of the first phase of the project covers the area bound by Nassau Street at the west, Poinciana Drive and Wulff Road at the south, Collins Avenue to the east, and Shirley Street, West Hill

Street and Delancy Street at the north. This target area has seen improvements as a result of several community-led cleanup campaigns that have led to cleaner and safer public spaces and parks.

“A branch of the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) has opened at the Edmund Moxey Youth and Community Centre as a resource for aspiring entrepreneurs from Over-the-Hill communities,” OPM noted.

“The area has also been designated a special economic zone with concessions in business license fees, and stamp and real property tax, among other reductions. So far, residents have been approved and have been able to take advantage of concessions in the amount of just over $1 million. The government is confident that such programmes and their strategic implementation will serve to benefit many Bahamians, particularly young people.”

In the press release, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the country “must foster an environment that ensures the growth of upstanding, fully productive citizens of a Bahamas not only for the near term, but for the foreseeable future”.

He added: “A future where we are all able to fully embrace what

is rightfully ours along with all those attendant responsibilities. A future where we have the capacity and the capability to realize the fullest

potential of our dreams.”

The “Investing in People & Communities” Progress Report is available as an insert in today’s editions of local newspapers, and

digitally at www.opmbahamas.com and all Office of the Prime Minister social media platforms, including Facebook @opmbs and Twitter @opmthebahamas.

PAGE 6, Monday, March 2, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

ATTENDEES at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force church service.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

Defence force to recruit extra 500 from page one “Acting commander of the defence force, officers and marines, your organisation has grown from 47 members in its embryonic stages in the late 1970s, to 250 shortly after becoming an official entity by an act of Parliament in 1980, to today standing at just over 1,500 strong,” he said.

“The force is earmarked for continued growth and an intake of 120 recruits are expected to enlist within the ensuing weeks.

MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames.

“Your force compliment but we are aware of your is performing exemplary, demand for additional

human capital required to adequately achieve your mandate. Therefore, we are supportive of your needs to increase your force’s strength to at least 2,000 by the year 2022.”

Mr Dames said the government is also committed to ensuring that “succession planning is in place for the next generation of officers and marines”.

“In terms of maritime interdiction operations, officers and marines spent 1,513 days at sea and conducted 801 boardings and it continues,” he furthered.

“Through joint operations with national and regional partners, there was an increase in migrant arrests by 33 percent. Illicit drug arrests surpassed 2018 figures by some 50 percent. Illegal firearms arrests increased by some 92 percent and ammunition confiscation increased by some 14 percent, compared to the statistics in 2018.”

Officers were also commended for their relief efforts in Abaco and Grand Bahamas since the passage of Hurricane Dorian last September.

“I am reliably informed that some five months after the passage of the storm over 100 of your men and women remain deployed in Abaco and more than 30

in Grand Bahama and are projected to continue their deployment until adequate recovery and security stability are achieved in both places.”

Mr Dames said the government has pledged to do whatever is “necessary” to ensure the RBDF is equipped with the tools and manpower needed to “cushion natural disasters”.

He also announced that the force is transitioning into a “new era of modernisation to address current threats” and encouraged officers to embrace the shift.

“The security of the southern border of the Bahamas remains a top priority for our government as it understandably creates a choke point in enforcement efforts,” he said.

“Towards this end, in April of 2019 the country’s first long-range radar was installed and commissioned. “...This is a necessary component in the fight against illicit activities, extends the force’s literal line of sight and allows patrol vessels to concentrate their efforts on deep water quadrants.”

Mr Dames explained that the radar improves the RBDF’s maritime domain awareness at a “strategic location” in the country.

He added that a second radar will be erected in Nassau “within several months” and revealed that officials are currently discussing plans for a third and fourth radar system.

According to the minister, acting RBDF Commander Raymond King and his team are also “working on promotions” for members of the force.

“It is hoped that very shortly you will have a promotional exercise,” he told officers.

“And to those petty officers and below, a promise that we made as a government since coming into office that we will extend your years and give you an additional five years of service.

“I want to just tell you at this point, that the Cabinet would have approved that amendment to the legislation and I hope to lay that shortly before the honourable House of Assembly.”

Insisting the country was grateful for the RBDF’s service, he encouraged officers to continue working diligently.

He also applauded officers for their search and rescue efforts, disaster relief operations and for providing security assistance to more than 20 government and non-government agencies.

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

We must not turn a blind eye as the body count mounts around us

By MALCOLM STRACHAN THE police-involved killing of a young man who was a suspect in a bank robbery last week has likely already fallen off everyone’s radar.

And why not – isn’t it just another young thug - just like the rest of them? A bunch of lawless young bandits driving up the crime rate and making our communities less safe? Sure, that’s one way to look at it.

But what about the fact these are Bahamian young men, who at some point or another lost their way?

Far too often, we as a nation toss away so many of our youths. In particular, society moves on from those who grow up in impoverished circumstances. Those young men grew up, in many cases, without a father, or surrounded by a plethora of unhealthy relationships – these all contribute to why the country is the way it is.

But what about the part we play as a society?

The fact of the matter is we all have to live and ‘Far too often, we co-exist in our as a nation toss little country. away so many of Especially those of our youths. In us who live on particular, society the nation’s moves on from most populous island of those who grow up New Proviin impoverished dence – our circumstances.’ little seven by 21 stretch of land has turned into a “gangster factory”. They’re growing up unloved and unvalued in areas where a violent culture is pervasive his demise. But rest and mental health issues assured, if we continue to are a sign of weakness. dismiss this culture that has Who is supposed to make it taken over our youths, the results will continue to be out of there unscathed?

Have any of you who fatal for many – criminals have been so quick to judge and civilians alike.

Something we should ever thought about who you would have become all consider is that when had you grown up in their a young person dies, we neighbourhoods, or were only view it as an issue of national security. Howliving their lives?

I have also been guilty of ever, should we not also forgetting the plight of our be trying to intervene with young men. But somehow, what is happening with our the words of Shawn Adder- youth?

Perhaps a more meanley, the father of Nashorn ingful question we can ask Adderley – the young man killed by the police is what is the status of our in a botched bank robbery country’s youth policy?

That certainly would serve attempt – struck a chord.

When the grieving father as a compass and guide this was interviewed by the conversation.

Aside from the fact its media after his son’s death, current iteration began he said: “Listen to me, I under the former admintalk to my son. I don’t cloak istration, there’s not much my son. If he’s wrong, I updated information availlet him know he’s wrong. able. This reflects poorly on But if you live that life, or the government and Minyou choose that life to live, ister of Youth, Sports and that’s what you choose.

Culture Lanisha Rolle, who “[B]ut right now the for all intents and purposes, system needs to try give has been silent in the area these youths a chance, man. of youth violence.

Need to try find some way Make no mistake, this is to help these youths, man. not an attack on the minisTry help them. ter. Rather, this is merely a “Because all they’re demand to see more from doing is fighting them her. Harnessing and develdown, that’s why they’re oping the athletic abilities retaliating. No one’s trying of our young people is no to help them.” doubt important. Yes. So Sure, we can take our is cultural appreciation. typical approach and dis- However, the one area of miss Mr Adderley’s plea. her portfolio that requires We can judge him and his immediate attention has, as wife’s parenting, or lack far as the Bahamian people thereof. Or we can be a can touch and feel, left community and really try much to be desired. to get to the root of some of With so many young men our problems as a country. dying under the age of 25, Nashorn Adderley was so many young women one of us – a Bahamian. becoming pregnant in their Despite whatever deci- teens, so many children not sions he made, that does graduating from school or not change the fact he was are unemployed, we have born and educated in this to begin asking ourselves country, and for whatever how our lack of policy is reason, made decisions that perpetuating the cycle. unfortunately resulted in Far too often, when

THE SCENE after a police shooting on Mackey Street after a failed robbery. The shooting left Nashorn Adderley dead.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh government changes, pol- wayward ourselves or know devices they may end up in make some radical investicies that can improve the someone that was – and can the Bahamas Department ments in our nation’s youth. country are left to gather attest to the value of having of Corrections or dead on This should be the thrust dust. But I beseech the an adult focus on them. our streets. we want to see from the Bahamian people - this is That said, we know what But have we seen what government. not a yellow, red or green doesn’t work. We know their potential outcomes Otherwise, many more issue. Rather, it is an aqua- that throwing a youth away can be under a bipartisan young people are going to marine, black and yellow when they are still young youth policy with an action grow up misguided, hurt, issue. and malleable can result plan and a budget to sup- lost and lacking in empathy These young men are our in that same youth stick- port it? for their fellow man. sons. ing a gun in your face. We If we want a different Who wants to live in a Many of us were know that left to their own result, it will require us to nation like that?

PAGE 8, Monday, March 2, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

A haunting story of

39 lost souls

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas and Haiti have a complicated relationship that spans the scope of centuries.

Yet, while both islands share a long history that can be traced all the way back to the Haitian Revolution, in recent times, the link between the two Caribbean nations has been mainly characterised by one issue: illegal migration.

Indeed, it is common to hear news of local immigration officers apprehending illegal migrants hailing mostly from our neighbours in the south.

Still, one maritime operation that is seldom discussed in the country is the interception of a sloop which ended in the death of 39 Haitian nationals three decades ago.

It is a story which has just been retold in a new play - Diary of Souls - by Ian Chinaka Strachan.

On July 10, 1990, 30 men and nine women – desperate for a better way of life – lost their lives when their “unseaworthy vessel” capsized in choppy seas while under tow by the Bahamas

Defence Force.

The lost souls were buried in a mass grave on an uninhabited cay one day later.

At the time, The Tribune reported that HMBS Yellow Elder arrived at Staniel Cay to assist HMBS Marlin which had intercepted 209 Haitians in a sloop on July 8 – two days before the tragedy unfolded.

Yellow Elder spotted a second vessel with 106 Haitians on board, but the 108-foot vessel could not get to the Haitian sloop because the water was too shallow.

This forced officers to use an inflatable boat to take a tow line to the Haitian vessel.

An eye witness said that all of the Haitians crowded to one side of the

vessel while it was under tow, causing the vessel to capsize.

In all 39 people drowned and 67 others were rescued.

The bodies of the dead were retrieved and put in an “inflatable tent-like raft”.

Those who survived were taken on the Yellow Elder and Marlin with the 209 Haitians who were originally apprehended.

There, the men and women were separated and given food and water.

While it is uncertain what prompted the Haitians to crowd to one side of the boat, Defence Force officers believed the migrants were trying to get into the smaller boat, despite the fact that it would have been impossible for all of them to fit.

While it is not clear how long they were at sea, initial

reports also indicate that their food supply had run low and they were very hungry.

Those who survived told witnesses that food was rationed on the capsized vessel and the women were given priority. It was also reported that one man was injured in the face when he attempted to get more food.

The majority of the migrants – some barefoot, some shirtless – were visibly weak to onlookers.

On the day of the incident, Fenrick Sturrup, formerly a US Coast Guard cutter, was dispatched from the Defence Force’s Coral Harbour base to assist Yellow Elder and Marlin with their operation.

By the time the 95-foot vessel had arrived at Staniel Cay, the commotion had died down and the

lifeless bodies of the Haitian migrants were taken to Bitter Guana Cay –a cay just southward of Staniel, recognised by its “peculiarly shaped white cliff”.

The bodies were laid out on a beach on the cay where they were prepared for burial.

Randy Curtis, an undertaker from New Providence, was taken to the cay to embalm the bodies.

“Some residents from nearby Black Point helped dig a large grave. The embalming and burial started at noon on July 11 and it was not finished until almost sunset,” The Tribune reported.

“Sheets were soaked in buckets of embalming fluid and the bodies were wrapped in the sheets and stacked in the grave.

“Embalming fluid was poured into the grave (and) the bodies were covered with a layer of sand. The life

Pictures from 1990 record the day when 39 Haitians died when their boat capsized in choppy seas.

raft which held the bodies was drenched in fluid and placed over the sand (and) covered with more fluid and another layer of sand.”

At the mass burial, a short prayer and scripture was read by a local priest while the first body was lowered into the four-foot deep grave. Nothing else was said until the final body was lowered.

There were no loved ones to identify the deceased or mourn their tragic deaths. There were also no grave stones, as far as it is known.

The incident, which gained international attention, prompted leaders of Miami’s Haitian community to urge the US Government to “help exhume and identify the bodies of the illegal immigrants” who were buried in the mass grave.

There was no response from the Bahamian government.

THE TRIBUNE

ARMED off-duty police officers take cover during and exchange of gunfire with army soldiers as they protest over police pay and working conditions, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, last month.

Photo: Dieu Nalio Chery/AP ON February 20, the UN Security Council received a grim report of deteriorating human rights and collapsing rule of law in Haiti. The troubling situation includes widening malnutrition, kidnappings for ransom, rapes and gang violence.

And, while all of this is happening, the courts in the capital Port-au-Prince have been closed since September 2019, and President Jovenel Moïse, unable to secure Senate approval for a government, has been ruling by decree.

For every country in the world, apart from the most failed of failed states, the closure of courts to arbitrate disputes, try criminals, protect citizens from abuse and, generally, to dispense justice, would be a frightening development. Neighbouring countries and others that proclaim deep commitment to human rights worldwide would have condemned this situation and demanded action to remedy it.

Further, the unchecked power of a president to rule entirely as he wishes would create consternation within democratic countries and among democratic nations of the global community.

The situation is particularly alarming in Moïse’s case since in the Presidential election of November 2016, he received less than 20 percent of the voter turnout which was not large and that followed a series of postponed and controversial elections. He was not a leader elected with overwhelming support.

Monday, March 2, 2020, PAGE 9

As Haitians suffer the world stays silent World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

Yet, there has been deafening silence on Haiti.

Apart from the UN Special Representative, Helen La Lime, the principal external interlocutors in Haitian affairs, the US, Canada, the European Union and the Representative of the Organisation of American States (OAS), have sought no action to curb the downward spiral into increased violence and a growing movement by groups of Haitian people to take the law into their own hands.

Disappointingly, the OAS Secretary-General, Luis Almagro, who has needed no urging to condemn governments in Venezuela and Nicaragua for violations of human, civil and political rights, has not seen it fit to bring the troubling situation in Haiti to the attention of the Permanent Council of the OAS. Instead, on February 24, in the wake of popular protests, including by the police, Mr Almagro chose to tweet that he condemns violence and “advocates for the solutions that the country needs”. Mr Almagro is capable of much more than such a trivial response to Haiti’s continuing descent into recession, with at least 4.6 million Haitians facing

a humanitarian crisis. To be clear, Mr Almagro should bring charter violations of all states to the attention of the OAS – Venezuela and Nicaragua which he has done, but others too.

None of this is fair to the people of Haiti. It is no wonder so many of them believe they are a nation to which the global community prefers to blind its eyes while their suffering continues.

Of course, the lack of any consideration of Haiti in the OAS is tied to the support of the Moïse government for the positions of the governments of the US and the Lima Group on Venezuela, and the backing of the US government for the re-election of Luis Almagro as the OAS Secretary-General.

The government of Haiti’s vote is vital to the achievement of 18 votes required to achieve these purposes.

The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the UN, José Singer, starkly pointed out the chaos in Haiti to the UN Security Council meeting on February 20. There is, he said, “a deep constitutional crisis, rampant violence fuelled by illicit traffic and the excessive accumulation of small arms, weapons and

IT’S ALL OUR JOB TO KEEP TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE It is our job, our duty to keep our children safe. Our responsibility is to teach them basic safety and crime prevention.

• Help your children learn their full name, phone number (including area code), and address.

• Teach children how to call 919 or 911.

• Teach them how to identify “safe” adults, like a police officer, security guard or a teacher.

• Explain to them that they should never accept a ride, food, or gifts from someone unless you approve.

• Take logical safety precautions in public, like accompanying younger children to the bathroom.

• Teach your children the power of “no”. No one has a right to touch them if it makes them uncomfortable, and you will never, ever get angry if they tell you that someone has touched them, despite what that person might threaten.

• Designate a safe spot in your neighbourhood, like a trusted friend’s house, to go to in case of emergency.

• Evaluate your neighbourhood for areas of safety concern – wooded areas, poorly lighted areas, etc. – and teach your children to be safe or avoid the area altogether.

Independence All children step out on their own at some point, whether it is to walk to the bus stop or run to a friend’s house. Part of our parental responsibility is teaching children how to stay safe when we are not around.

• Encourage your

Police advice

By SERGEANT NATHALIE RANGER

children to use the buddy system – walk and play with friends or classmates.

• Teach your children to avoid solitary areas, like alleys and vacant buildings.

• With your children, map out the safest routes to the bus stop, stores and friends’ houses. Explain that they should not take shortcuts and should always stick to this route.

• Explain the importance of alertness even if they are listening to music or chatting with a friend, your children should be aware of their surroundings.

• Never talk to strangers (unless they are designated “safe,” like police).

• Teach your children that if they sense danger, it is okay to yell “help!” and find a safe adult.

They do not need to feel embarrassed.

• Ask your children to check in when they get home from school, if they are planning to stay late, if they go to a friend’s house, etc.

• Listen up. Let your children know that they can always talk to you without shame or embarrassment.

Take their concerns and complaints seriously.

• Emphasise words and mediation over violence.

Tell your children to always speak with an adult if they

see children or adults with knives, guns or other weapons.

Avoiding Sexual Abuse Do not be embarrassed to speak to your children about their personal space and rights to their own bodies.

• Help your children understand that no one, not even a relative or authority figure, is allowed to touch them in a way that makes them uncomfortable.

• Talk to them every day.

Listen to their concerns and observe unspoken discomfort.

• Encourage conversation.

• Never shame or punish your child for confiding in you.

• Do not force children to sit on someone’s lap, or to hug or kiss someone if they do not want to. This helps teach them that they have control over their own bodies.

• Remind your children not to talk to strangers.

• Keep alert to warning behaviours that could indicate sexual abuse. These may include increased anxiety, sudden hostility, and secretiveness, and can extend to physical symptoms such as bedwetting, nightmares and genital irritation or pain.

ammunition, which has Chastenet, the Prime Minissignificantly contributed ter of St Lucia. CARICOM to the spread of organised received no reply. Subsecrime including gangs”. quently, the CARICOM The Dominican Republic Secretary-General, Irwin government is gravely con- LaRocque, again wrote cerned about events in Haiti proposing that a technical because refugees fleeing the mission be sent to Port-aucountry regularly cross the Prince. That too met with land border of the island deafening silence. that Haiti and the DominiSo concerned were the can Republic share. He CARICOM leaders about lamented the dissolution of the worsening situation in the UN Peace keeping force Haiti that the current chair, last October – a regrettable Prime Minister Mia Mottley development on which I of Barbados, was mandated commented publicly. to speak with President The government of The Moïse by phone during the Bahamas also has similar recently held CARICOM reasons to be concerned, par- summit in Barbados. Moïse ticularly as its islands have did not attend the meetbeen the reluctant recipi- ing, sending instead his ents of Haitian refugees, appointed Foreign Minisand there is now popular ter, Bochit Edmond, who demand to send them back arrived on the last day of the to Haiti, especially after the meeting. It is left to be seen hurricane ravages last year whether this second attempt to Grand Bahama and the by CARICOM to engage Abaco Islands.

Haiti will yield any results.

In July 2019, the The UN Special Repre15-member Caribbean sentative, Helen La Lime, Community (CARICOM) told the UN Security Counattempted to play a role in cil of the failure to reach a resolving the deteriorating political settlement in Haiti. situation in Haiti.

She said: “Despite progress The community sought regarding the nature of the the agreement of Moïse reforms to be undertaken, to send a team of Heads including that of the Constiof Government, led by tution, political actors have the then chair, Allan yet to settle on a formula

that would lead to the designation by President Moïse of a consensual Prime Minister and the formation of a new government. The lack of agreement on this matter, as well as on the remaining length of President Moïse’s term, threatens to needlessly prolong a situation that has already lasted too long.”

While she did not say it, a big part of the impasse in reaching a solution is that the opposition parties do not trust the interlocutors who have been trying to broker a settlement.

They might have more confidence in CARICOM, but first President Moïse must agree to CARICOM engagement with all political players in Haiti.

• Response and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own.

PAGE 10, Monday, March 2, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

WHO’S OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS ON ABACO HOPE TOWN, ELBOW CAY Resorts, Restaurants:

Abaco Inn is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

242.815.1114 . Special Event coming up: Save the date: Reef Ball at Abaco Inn Saturday, March 21, 2020.

Tickets can be purchased on FRIENDS website: www.friendsoftheenvironment.org Celebrate Abaco resilience!

Reservations: Friends of the Environment cha@friendsoftheenvironment.org or Abaco Inn info@abacoinn.com Cap’n Jack’s is open Friday-Sunday 6pm-9pm.

242.475.2927 Hope Town Inn & Marina office@hopetownmarina. com dockage is available for boats right now. Water is available on the dock and limited electricity. Mooring balls are also available. Offseason rates from now until May. On Da Beach Bar & Grill open for lunch and dinner., Open 4 – till…, Monday - Friday, 12-till…

Saturday-Sunday, Turtle Hill Villas are available for rent. Call 416.797.1124, 4 2 bed/2 bath fully equipped villas, 2 3bed/3bath fully equipped villas, 2 pools bar/ restaurant Mackey’s Takeout- open 242.810.0767 7am-2pm, 5pm-8pm every day except Sunday Willie’s Kitchen & Bar – open 242.802.5754 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner Thirsty Cuda – Tentative opening date June 2020

Business Highlights:

Abaco Pure Water - call for delivery 242.475.0946 Captain Plug’s Adventures (Stafford Patterson) 242.577.0273 – open Islandboy Excursions 242.808.1789, islandboyexcursions@gmail.com – open Cat’s Paw Boat Rental – 242.577.0517- open

Abaco’s rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Dorian continues apace. Here, abacobuzz.com provides the latest update on what’s happening on the island.

Local Boy Fishing Charters - open HT Fuel Depot MondayFriday 9:30am-12:00pm

Medical, Emergency:

Nurse.

Gloria 242.577.4257 Elbow Cay Restoration Association - website coming soon

Transportation

G&L Ferry running 242.577.0611. Charter and schedule.

Elbow Cay Cart Rentals – open Hope Town Cart Rentals – open Island Cart Rentals – open (242) 577-0317 info@ islandcartrentals.com Lighthouse Cart Rentals – open (242) 475-2625 rabby111482@yahoo.com Getaway Cart Rentals – open (242) 357-6672, getawaycarts@yahoo.com

Shops:

Abaco Inn Gift Shop - open Hope Town Canvas hopetowncanvas@gmail. com Open daily.

Lighthouse Gift Shop - open

GREEN TURTLE CAY Resorts, Restaurants:

Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina Marina is being rebuilt; the beach bar

is coming along well. Hotel rooms, the restaurant, the decks under reconstruction.

Projected opening date: Christmas 2020 and a big New Year’s Eve party!

Green Turtle Club – opening March 1 and they have a new phone number 443.912.5839.

Harvey’s Island Grill – tentative opening date – end of March.

McIntosh’s Restaurant and Bakery open 8am -3pm serving breakfast and lunch.

Dinner is served from 5pm8pm. Open seven days a week.

Pineapple’s Bar & Grill Open every day for drinks and snacks Sundowners Thursday night is Movie night, Serving drinks and Bar food 2 Shorty’s Takeaway Restaurant open for lunch and dinner Turtle Crawl Café is open 242.727.4129 Wednesday – Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday 7am-9pm, Friday – Saturday 7 am – 11pm

Business Highlights:

Arawak Adventures open island hoping or fishing charters 242.577,4394, dcfar821@gmail.com Brendal’s Dive Centre & Water Sports opens March 2.

D&P Cart Rentalsopen for golf cart and bike rentals.

Green Turtle Cay Ferries - open Harbour View Cart Rentals - open Kool Karts - open Plymouth Rock Liquors and Café. Open 9am-4pm Monday - Saturday, serving breakfast, lunch.

Roberts Hardware – open Sea Side Cart Rentals open seasidecarts@gmail. com. Open daily. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or you can call 5775497, we are located in the village of New Plymouth and rent four passenger golf carts. Our office is temporarily located at Shortys Cottage - by the ferry dock.

Sunset Marine and Boat Rental - open

Sid’s Groceries - open The Thirsty Turtle - open

GREAT GUANA CAY Resorts, Restaurants:

Grabbers Bar, Grill – soft opening March 4, beach bar.

Nipper’s Beach Bar & Grill - Construction and clean-up are underway.

Orchid Bay Yacht Club and Marina open serving fuel Monday-Friday, half day Saturday. Open for Dinner Thursday – Sunday at Clydes. Work will begin on the docks shortly.

Sparky’s at Baker’s Bay – open Mama’s Take Away open. Island limited menu.

Business Highlights:

Dive Guana – open Donna’s Golf Cart Rentals - open Fig Tree Wine & Spirits - Open Monday -Saturday 6am-4pm Guana Cay Grocery Store Open Monday – Saturday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

MARSH HARBOUR Vacation Rentals/ Resorts:

Abaco Beach Resort – Restaurant opening April 1, for breakfast, lunch and dinner Calypso Hills Hideaways is open 9am-10pm, hotel, restaurant and car rentals.

Bay Street Suites (Marsh Harbour) vacation rentals.

Call (242) 577-0016

Restaurants:

Greta’s Café – open, breakfast and lunch only, inside security at the airport.

Dis We Style, open, right around the corner from the Government Building – take out food.

Hungry Again, open, – take out food. Take out restaurant located in Cherokee Sound, open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, Saturday. 242.458.2191 Joyce’s Kitchen - open (Central Pines) lunch only 242.475.3962 Jamaican style food Julia’s Kitchen open (Central Pines) 242.823.8864 Lovely’s Delight open in Marsh Harbour.

242.802.6375 Nana’s Kichen (Marsh Harbour) is open.

242.559.8862 Nancy’s Seaside Restaurant, Sandy Point is open.

242.475.9413

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

Spicey’s Kitchen (Murphy Town) is open.

Sheva’s Take-Away Murphy Town is open 242.808.5361

Business Highlights:

Abaco Gas 242.551.5248 Abaco Groceries is open 7am- 4pm MonSat 242.577.2014 or 242.577.1260 Abaco Hardware is open Abaco Neem products available Abaco Signs, Printing, & Embroidery is open Abaco Island Pharmacy - open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, Saturday, 9am-1pm Abaco Health Services Dr. Hull Mobile Service Agape Family Dental Centre is open. For appointments what’s app 242 825 3691 Batelco is open in Maxwell’s Bahamas Power and Light PR company 242.302.1413 and 242.302.1516 BTC due to open Feb 29 in Maxwell’s The Chemist Shoppe (prescription service) is open in Maxwell’s Caribbean Veterinary Centre - twice/month- Dr Hanna WhatsApp or call 242.821.3647 Commonwealth Bank Bahamas - sub-branch at Maxwell’s Supermarket!

Cruise Abaco – opens April 1 Frederick’s Agency is open at their temporary location inside Maxwells, call 242 818 1011 Maxwell’s Supermarket & Home Store. Open Monday to Saturday: 8am to 6pm. Sundays: 8am to 2pm.

Integrated Medical Centre Monday - Saturday, 9am-3pm.

Jimmy’s Wine and Spirits - Open Monday- Saturday 10am - 6pm 242-603-2629 M&R Electric 242.475.1672 or 242.577.0313 serving all cays REV Cable Bahamas has opened a sub-branch at Maxwell’s, RBC cash machine government building Sea Shell Museum (Cherokee) is open World Central Kitchen - launched a series of farmers’ markets to distribute free fresh produce for families to cook at home Taxi Service: Peter Pratt 242 825 9325 Taxi Service Vince 242.475.9696 Donna’s Taxi Service 242.475.7766 Taxi Service Fabian 242.477.5699

MAN-O-WAR Restaurants:

Hibiscus 242.577.8007.

Café Open

Monday - Saturday, closed on Sunday.

Dips and Sips – open MOW Heritage Museum and Coffee Shop open 7am-11am

Business Highlights:

Albury’s Sail Shop - mini’ Sail Shop is open across the road where the Sail Shop was! Open every day except Sunday.

Joe’s Studio 242. 577.0338 Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 11:30am1:30pm. Please call first.

Man-O-War Grocery 242.

807.0440 Open MondayFriday 8am – 6pm, Saturday 8am – 7pm, closed on Sunday.

Man-O-War Hardware Open Monday - Saturday.

Russell’s Convenient Store – Open 9am-3pm and 6pm-9pm Mon- Sat, Sunday 5pm-9pm serving hamburgers and hot dogs 242.577.6544

NO NAME CAY Restaurants:

Big O’s - opening later this month.

SOUTH ABACO Resorts, Restaurants:

The Blackfly Lodge (Schooner Bay) open for business The Sandpiper Inn open for Breakfast (8am-10am daily) lunch (12:30pm-3pm daily) and dinner (7pm9pm Thursday-Sunday) Pete’s Pub & Gallery open - Thursday Pizza & a Movie serving 6-9pm, Friday Night Happy Hour & Sushi 4-9pm, Saturday lunch 12-4pm, dinner 6-9pm, Sunday lunch 12-4pm, dinner 6-9pm.

Rental cottages available.

The Abaco Club on Winding Bay – open.

Abaco Yacht Club at Little Harbour – open The Delphi Club - open.

Call 242.577.1698 Dinner family style Tuesday – Sunday, book by 2pm on the day Oeisha‘s Resort, Sandy Point 242.577.0230. Rooms available. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for groups only.

Business Highlights:

Da Bush ‘N Da Beach, Nature Tours and Taxi Service 242 825 3427, or 242 829 3322

TREASURE CAY Resorts, Restaurants:

Abaco Tours & Activities - open Bahama Beach Club is still closed for reconstruction. Projected opening date - Christmas 2020.

Café Le Florence - open

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 2, 2020, PAGE 11

More than a third of Grand Bahama now has potable water after hurricane

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama water potability has reached 34 percent, according to the Grand Bahama Utility Company.

In an update released on Friday, the company also reported that it has engaged the services of a Florida firm to test the water of all its well fields to assess its quality.

This comes some five months after Hurricane Dorian devastated the island in early September, and compromised the island’s

freshwater supply when a surge of seawater flooded the island’s well fields, resulting in salty tap water.

Geron Turnquest, general manager of GBUC, said the company has engaged Florida-Spectrum Environmental Services Inc, a certified full-service testing laboratory, that will collect water samples from all well fields to test for water potability.

He said the laboratory will conduct a full spectrum of tests to assess the chemical and biological analyses of the water.

According to the company, “steady progress” is being

made towards restoring and improving water quality on the island.

The GBUC began the process of chlorinating the water to ensure that it is free of bacteria and other contaminants.

“Although salinity levels were 9000 ppm (parts per million) immediately post Hurricane Dorian, due to focused efforts the current levels are 2500 ppm, showing steady progress toward meeting World Health Organisation standards,” the company reported in a statement.

Remington Wilchcombe, engineering manager of

GBUC, said the team continues to labour in the well fields to install new potable wells, while simultaneously conducting intentional flushing and restoring existing wells into the system.

“As a result of this effort, residents across the city of Freeport are being provided with fresher water.”

In its long term plan for sustainable utility, Mr Turnquest said the utility company is taking “the hard lessons learned from Hurricane Dorian and incorporating resiliency improvements.”

“This includes the strategic placement of new freshwater

wells in areas that proved to be more resistant to salt intrusion and flood surge impact and the elevation of our pumps. Additionally, we have made capital investments in technology for automation of our pumps and systems,” he added.

The company, he stated, is also evaluating the best business case for a scalable reverse osmosis plant, and has improved its hurricane contingency planning.

Philcher Grant, the company’s director of customer solutions, said these resiliency improvements are underway and are ongoing as part of their long-term

strategy.

“Hurricane Dorian had a catastrophic impact to both the private and commercial sectors alike. We understand the frustration of our residents, and the team at GBUC has been working diligently, with executive leadership, on developing and executing this plan.

We thank the public for their continued patience as the GBUC team works to restore the best quality water to our island at an affordable price,” she said.

During an initial update in January, Ms Grant had estimated complete water potability by May.

TACKLING PINEWOOD FLOODING ONE COIN AT A TIME

By FARAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

ABOVE and below, Bahamian representatives meeting for negotiations with the European Union.

BAHAMAS AND EU SEEK TO WORK TOGETHER THE Bahamas and European Union (EU) have concluded their 2020 political dialogue with assurances from both sides of good relations and a commitment to working together to address common problems.

The high-level meeting came in the context of the ongoing negotiations to settle on a successor to the expiring Cotonou Agreement, which underpins the relationship between the EU and The Bahamas.

Officials from both sides met on February 28 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nassau to discuss the political dimensions of relations, as required under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement.

The packed agenda covered cooperation in the international arena, human rights, environmental issues and climate change, anti-money laundering, blacklisting and the sustainable development goals. The Bahamas also provided the EU an update on Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts and accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield said, “Having had a fruitful and candid dialogue, I am very optimistic about The Bahamas’ future relationship with the EU. Having established an embassy in Brussels will allow us to deepen our ties and work towards mutually agreed outcomes.” He also thanked the EU for the rapid response and support in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. He expressed appreciation to the EU ambassador for her commitment and

collaboration during her tenure as the EU high representative to The Bahamas.

EU Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska said: “These meetings are important to get a direct pulse of the relationship, and on behalf of the representatives of the EU member states, I am happily reporting that the reading coming out of today’s talks is ‘we’re strong’. The Bahamas has had a rough past year due to Dorian but that has not shaken commitments and it’s that resilience that will drive our approach to tackle some of the problems of our times. It’s also my last meeting before my tour ends so it’s a great

opportunity to say thanks to my Bahamian partners.”

The Cotonou Agreement is the overarching framework for EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the most comprehensive partnership agreement between developing countries and the EU. The agreement seeks to promote and expedite the economic, cultural and social development of the ACP states, with a view to contributing to peace and security and to promoting a stable and democratic political environment.

Mr Henfield chaired the meeting.

RESIDENTS of Pinewood hosted a coin drive on the weekend to help raise funds to address the community’s chronic flooding issue.

The initiative, spearheaded by long-time resident and farmer Jerad Darville, was meant to inspire the community to come together to achieve a “communal good” and improve an “otherwise condemned subdivision.”

“We’re trying to raise money for a water truck as a temporary solution for the flooding issues that have plagued Pinewood for many years under every government,” Mr Darville told The Tribune on Friday.

“Even though we understand that this is not the permanent fix, we also understand that we have hurricane season (soon) approaching and the government has already stressed that there is no money inside the budget for them to be able to assist us.”

Mr Darville said instead of complaining, the community has decided to take a “solution-based approach” and come together to raise funds for a water truck.

He explained that the vehicle would allow residents to “re-route” water that settles in the community after heavy rainfall.

“Once the waters rise, we’re going to dispatch the pump truck, suck out the water and displace it so that we could alleviate the environmental issues with the water settling,” he explained.

“The water would then be re-channeled and utilised to irrigate small Pinewood community farms, provide public access to free water and the like.”

According to Mr Darville, Pinewood struggles with flooding because the drains in the area are not “properly maintained.”

He said he believed the water pump truck would help to remove settled water and stop it from seeping into people’s homes.

“Every time it rains the water level rises,” he said. “And when the cars drive through the area, they often push water back into the homes.

“So we are looking to eliminate that problem, as well as (to address) damage to the structures of the home due to water settling for so long.”

The coin drive began on Saturday, but the initiative will continue until the community reaches its $120,000 goal.

With the Central Bank announcing plans to soon discontinue the one cent coin, Pinewood residents are urging people to donate their one cent and other small coins to “help add to their pool of pennies.” They are also encouraging schools, churches and civic groups to donate.

3 FIREMEN INJURED IN ELDERLY HOME FIRE from page one

Francis Ledee, president of the senior citizens’ home, said while none of the residents was hurt, she is still troubled by the incident.

“I’m pained to know the seniors had to go through this, but God is still good,” she told The Tribune.

“The night supervisors and staff called me around a quarter to five this morning to say that the third building on the property was on fire (and), of course, I rushed down there.”

Mrs Ledee said when she got to the scene, she found out that men had come to

the property and stopped to the office in the first building, before going to the “very back” and setting an abandoned building on fire.

“They set fire to it and it severely burned the place,” she said.

“They were all senior people – some of them they were even blind – but we thank God we were able to get them to that front building in one piece and out of the smoke and trauma of it all.”

Asked whether she believed the senior citizen’s home was specifically targeted, she added: “Honest to goodness absolutely. I think it was Wednesday or Thursday night of last week

I got a call from the night supervisors saying that two or three young men came very silently to the front building and started to rattle the front door of the ladies dormitory. “...In the second incident, they went to the second building (and) they did the same thing. When they couldn’t get access to any of the two buildings by the doors, they took our outside chairs and they just tumbled them and threw them all over the place.”

Speaking about the extent of damage to the building by the fire, she added: “That building is completely gone. That was a very bad fire, my gracious.

Three police officers had to go to hospital, I think the raft hit one or two and the other one was taken there for breathing in smoke.”

Still, Mrs Ledee commended the officers for working diligently to ensure that the flames were extinguished.

She also said she spoke with the seniors at the home to see how they were processing the incident.

“My first duty was to talk to them and watch how they reacted and there are not any complaints. They look okay (but) that’s all I can say for the time being because such traumas could have later effects, but there were no (reactions) up to

the time I left.”

In a press release yesterday, St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright also condemned the act of arson, describing the incident as disturbing.

“This morning’s sinister and cowardice act of arson at the Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged in the Oakes Field community is deeply troubling and should enrage every Bahamian,” he said.

“We are ultimately grateful that there were no lives lost and no injuries to any of the residents of the home.

Our continued prayers remain with the three courageous officers who were injured during this morning’s blaze and we thank

them and their families for their service and bravery.”

Mr Cartwright said he had spoken with officials and the home’s administrators “regarding the incident and ongoing security measures.”

He also assured his constituents that the matter was under “intense investigation”.

“We join with all in the Oakes Field community and Bahamians everywhere in condemning this reprehensible, hateful and deliberate targeting of our nation’s most prized possession, our elderly,” he said.

“May God continue to cover them and keep them.”

PAGE 12, Monday, March 2, 2020

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Monday, March 2, 2020, PAGE 13

STRAW MARKET TO STAY CLOSED UNTIL END OF WEEK

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Nassau Straw Market will remain closed until Saturday due to incomplete remedial work on stalls, according to the Ministry of Public Works.

The market was initially expected to reopen on Saturday, February 29, after a week of repairs.

However, that deadline has changed “due to

incomplete work to the stalls.”

In a statement, the Ministry of Public Works said the Straw Market Authority has requested and received permission for the closure of the site for another week.

When contacted for comment yesterday, Rev. Esther Thompson, president of the Straw Business Persons Society, said vendors agreed at a meeting on Friday to extend the closure period

after initially being upset by the process.

“Well, according to them, they (Straw Market Authority officials) were ready because they said the work that needed to be done was not life threatening so they could have done it while the vendors were in the market,” she told The Tribune.

“Half of the stalls were repaired and the other half were not repaired so we decided that we would give

them another week to prepare all of the stalls so when the vendors go in, all of the stalls would be completed.”

In the letter issued by the SMA, vendors were told that the Straw Market would close at 8pm on Saturday, February 22, and would re-open on Saturday, February 29 at 7am.

Vendors were asked to remove all merchandise, and personal items from their respective stalls on or before

Saturday, February 22.

The letter also advised that no vendor would be granted access to the Straw Market building or surrounding patio from February 22 until its scheduled re-opening.

It was noted that any items left in the market after the designated closing time would be “discarded without further notice.”

Some vendors were initially upset over the closure,

saying they were given short notice about the remedial work.

Mrs Thompson had previously said she felt the market’s closure was a ploy to get rid of vendors.

However, Works Minister Desmond Bannister in denying this allegation, said it was necessary to close the site to address health and safety challenges, such as corroded pipes and a termite infestation.

The future’s digital for the classroom

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net THE Ministry of Education has officially launched a digital mobile classroom initiative for public primary schools supported by the Organisation of American States.

The ProFuturo educational programme was made possible by the OAS, which paid nearly $120,000 for the necessary kits. The initiative will start in 24 schools in Nassau and will then move to the Family Islands. Equipment for digital classrooms such as tablets, laptops, projectors will be supplied as well as training for educational professionals to use the digital mobile classroom.

Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd said at the launch on Friday that it was with great pride that his ministry will continue to advance the digitisation of Bahamian schools.

He said the ministry aimed to have a fully digital, 100 percent internet connected smart school system in The Bahamas by the beginning of the 2021 school year. In September 2018, the ministry started to put in place the foundation for its ‘virtual classroom’

MINISTER of Education Jeffrey Lloyd at the launch of the digital classroom initiative on Friday. and had embarked on a $17m ‘One Network’ project to upgrade schools and satellite offices to accommodate the fibre optic system.

Mr Lloyd explained: “We now decided that we wanted our education system to be 100 percent digitised within a year today. I can say that we are well on our way even though we did not meet that target, we are well on our way to ensuring that 172 schools in our commonwealth be smart schools and that the remaining 50 or so buildings will be all a part of One Network project.

“It’s what the student

wishes, student desires, student wants. This is why technology is so important and this is why the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goal number four which speaks about personalised and individualised learning and an equitable and an inclusive access for all students wherever they happen to be in the world, in particular in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to have this same quality of education that any other student has.”

Steven Marquant, a representative from ProFuturo

Spain, said the foundation has launched its initiative in such countries as Belize and St Lucia as its representatives are committed to collaborative efforts for

inclusive education.

“Today with the launch of this alliance in the Bahamas we are all doing just that – joining forces to improve education and fortify the teachers,” he said.

“I am convinced that ProFuturo will be able to bring great benefits to this country ensuring inclusiveness in the use of accessible ICTs (information and communications technology) and empowering teachers and children with 21st century skills.

“In The Bahamas, we’ll be acting together to bridge the education gap and digital divide. We expect to positively transform the teaching and learning experience of the 250 teachers and 7,500 students in the 24 primary schools of New Providence.”

OAS country representative Phyllis Baron commented on the organisation’s “exciting programme” in Nassau and its commitment to ensure Bahamian children have access to educational growth tools.

“The programme will ensure that the students now have access to digital content and interactive material to enhance their learning experiences,” she said.

“We are aware that technology has become one of the greatest drivers in the social and economic development worldwide and that technology enabled learning is a must to reform the educational curriculum and so we wish to pursue sustainable development in our region.”

PAGE 14, Monday, March 2, 2020

BIDEN WELCOMED IN SELMA AS DEMS COURT BLACK VOTERS SELMA, Alabama Associated Press JOE Biden received a warm reception on Sunday in this crucible of the civil rights movement as he and other Democratic presidential hopefuls appealed for black support in a town where demonstrators were once beaten for marching for the right to vote.

Themes of fighting voter suppression, providing the poor with a way up and defeating President Donald Trump took centre stage at events marking the 55th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday”, the day in 1965 white police attacked black marchers in Selma.

This year’s commemoration came two days before Alabama Democrats join voters in more than a dozen states in the Super Tuesday cluster of primary elections.

Just hours after strong support by black voters in South Carolina lifted Biden to his first primary victory, the former vice president spoke during the morning worship at historic Brown Chapel AME Church.

Quoting the Rev Martin Luther King Jr, former President Barack Obama and the Bible, Biden said the country has moved the wrong way under Trump.

“We’ve been dragged backward and we’ve lost ground. We’ve seen all too clearly that if you give hate any breathing room it comes back,” he said.

Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who split endorsements of leading black political groups in Alabama with Biden, received a lukewarm reception during a ten-minute talk at the pulpit. Bloomberg highlighted his ability as mayor of New York to work with activist Al Sharpton, seated a few feet away.

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France closes Louvre as virus hits 67 countries PARIS Associated Press

CORONAVIRUS cases surged in Italy, and France closed the world-famous Louvre Museum on Sunday as the deadly outbreak that began in China sent fear rising across Western Europe, threatening its tourism industry.

The number of countries hit by the virus climbed past 60, and the death toll worldwide reached at least 3,000.

New fronts in the battle opened rapidly over the weekend, deepening the sense of crisis that has already sent financial markets plummeting, emptied the streets in many cities and rewritten the routines of millions of people. More than 88,000 around the globe have been infected, with the virus popping up on every continent but Antarctica.

Australia and Thailand reported their first deaths on Sunday, while the Dominican Republic and the Czech Republic recorded their first infections.

Italian authorities announced that the number of people infected in the country soared 50 percent to 1,694 in just 24 hours, and five more had died, bringing the death toll there to 34. France raised its number of reported cases to 130, an increase of 30 from the day before, and said it has seen two deaths.

The US government advised Americans against traveling to the two northern Italian regions hit hardest, among them Lombardy, which includes Milan. Major American airlines began suspending flights to Milan.

Countries with at least one confirmed case of coronavirus

TOURISTS, some in masks, queue to enter the Louvre museum on Friday.

Photo: Rafael Yaghobzadeh/AP The travel restrictions against Italy and the rising alarm in France could deal a heavy blow to the countries’ tourism industries.

Spring, especially Easter, is a hugely popular time for schoolchildren to visit France and Italy.

“We had already registered a slowdown of Americans coming to Italy in recent days,” Bernabo Bocca, president of Italy’s hotel association, said in a statement Saturday. “Now, the final blow has arrived.”

Tourism accounts for 13 percent of the economy in Italy, with its world-class art museums, archaeological sites and architectural treasures. More than 5.6 million Americans visit Italy every year, representing 9 percent of foreign tourists.

Iran, Iraq and South Korea, among other places, also saw the number of infections rise. Cases in the US climbed to at least 74 with the first death in the United States reported on Saturday — a man in his 50s in Washington state who had underlying health problems but hadn’t traveled to any affected areas.

Panic-buying of daily necessities emerged in Japan, where professional baseball teams have played spring-training games in deserted stadiums. Tourist attractions across Asia, Europe and the Mideast were deserted. Islam’s holiest sites have been closed to foreign pilgrims. And governments have closed schools and banned big gatherings.

China South Korea Italy Iran Japan France Germany Singapore Hong Kong Spain USA Bahrain Kuwait Thailand Taiwan UK Malaysia Australia Switzerland UAE Canada Iraq Norway Vietnam Austria Sweden Macao Israel Lebanon Netherlands Croatia Greece Finland The United Nations said yesterday it is releasing $15m from an emergency fund to help countries with fragile health systems contain the virus.

“We must act now to stop this virus from putting more lives at risk,” UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said. The aid “has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people”.

In France, the archbishop of Paris told parish priests to put the Communion bread in worshippers’ hands, not in their mouths.

French officials also advised people to forgo the customary kisses on the cheek upon greeting others.

The Louvre, home of the “Mona Lisa” and other priceless artworks, closed after workers expressed fear of being contaminated by the stream of

Oman Mexico Pakistan Philippines Azerbaijan Czechia Denmark Georgia Iceland India Qatar Romania Algeria Belgium Brazil Russia Afghanistan Armenia Belarus Cambodia Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Estonia Ireland Lithuania Luxembourg North Macedonia Monaco Nepal New Zealand Nigeria San Marino visitors from around the world. Staffers were also concerned about museum workers from Italy who had come to the Louvre to collect works by Leonardo da Vinci that were loaned for an exhibition.

The Louvre, the world’s most popular museum, received 9.6 million visitors last year, almost three-quarters of them from abroad.

“We are very worried because we have visitors from everywhere,” said Andre Sacristin, a Louvre employee and union representative. “The risk is very, very, very great.” While there are no known infections among the museum’s 2,300 workers, “it’s only a question of time,” he said.

The shutdown followed a government decision on Saturday to ban indoor public gatherings of more than 5,000 people.

TRUMP AFTER US DEATH: NO REASON TO PANIC WASHINGTON Associated Press

SEEKING to reassure the American public, President Donald Trump said there was “no reason to panic” as the new coronavirus claimed its first victim inside the US. The White House also announced new restrictions on international travel to prevent its spread.

Trump, speaking on Saturday only moments after the death in Washington state was announced, took a more measured approach a day after he complained that the virus threat was being overblown and that his political enemies were perpetuating a “hoax”.

“This is very serious stuff,” he said, but still insisted the criticism of his administration’s handling of the virus outbreak was a hoax.

Trump appeared at a hastily called news conference in the White House briefing room with Vice President Mike Pence and top public health officials to announce that the US was banning travel to Iran and urging Americans not to travel to regions of Italy and South Korea where the virus has been prevalent.

He said 22 people in the US had been stricken by the new coronavirus, of whom one had died while four were deemed “very

ill”. Additional cases were “likely,” he added.

Trump said he was considering additional restrictions, including closing the US border with Mexico in response to the virus’ spread, but later added: “This is not a border that seems to be much of a problem right now.”

“We’re thinking about all borders,” he said.

Travel to Iran is already quite limited, though some families are allowed to travel there on a visa. It is one of the seven initial countries on Trump’s travel ban list, which means travel from Iran also is already severely restricted.

Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there was “no evidence of link to travel” abroad in the case of the man who died. The patient was described as being in his late 50s and having a high health risk before contracting the virus. Redfield said the CDC mistakenly told Trump in an earlier briefing that the victim was a woman.

On Friday, health officials confirmed a third case of coronavirus in the US in a person who hadn’t traveled internationally or had close contact with anyone who was known to have the virus. The US has about 60 confirmed cases.

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TWO CHARGED WITH MURDER

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWO Grand Bahama men were charged in the Freeport Magistrates’ Court on Friday in connection with the island’s third murder.

Ricardo Jones, 27, of Strafford Way, and Tyreke Antonio Mallory, 21, of Scott Avenue, appeared before Magistrate Rengin Johnson.

Mallory was charged with the murder of Frithzon Kersaint. It is alleged that

RICARDO Jones and Antonio Mallory outside court.

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn he killed Kersaint in Freeport on February 23.

Jones was charged with abetment to commit murder in relation to the same incident.

Mallory was represented by Paco Deal of Carlson Shurland & Co. Neither man was required to enter a plea to the charges, which are both indictable offences.

Because the Magistrates’ Court cannot grant bail for such offences, Magistrate Johnson informed the accused men that bail was denied however they can make a bail application to the Supreme Court.

The case was adjourned to May 19 when it will proceed by way of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Monday, March 2, 2020, PAGE 15