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VOLUME:117 No.81, MARCH 18TH, 2020

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ALICIA WALLACE: THINK WHAT FAMILIES HAVE TO DO

SHUTDOWN PM to unveil package of drastic measures to stop virus spread

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will today announce extraordinary social distancing policies that businesses, churches and social groups must comply with as the country fights potential spread of COVID-19, according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen.

The policies will be “consistent with measures” applied to schools throughout the country, he said, and will be enforceable by law enforcement officials.

Dr Brennen could not say when the measures will take effect.

DOW YEST NTOWN ERDA Y AFT NASSAU ERNO ON

The Tribune understands the prime minister will table an emergency powers bill to cover health, economic, social services and national security issues. Acting on advice from top healthcare professionals, he will forbid gatherings that do not ensure people are kept at least three to six feet apart, Dr Brennen said.

The measures will see The Bahamas join a growing list of countries taking unprecedented steps to prevent spread of the easily transmissible novel coronavirus, a disease that has burdened healthcare systems of even some developed countries.

SEE PAGE THREE

...BUT REPORT LEAKS OUT BEFORE MINNIS SPEAKS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net AN apparent draft of the government’s proposed emergency bill to tackle the coronavirus crisis leaked late last night.

The very detailed document captured the wide-ranging powers the government would have in an emergency. It

was leaked hours before Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was expected to give his address in the House of Assembly. The document, the Emergency Powers (COVID 19) Regulations, appeared alongside an unsigned proclamation of emergency declaration and a Parliament resolution.

The draft says the prime minister would SEE PAGE THREE

IT was all very quiet in Downtown Nassau yesterday Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

• Minnis pleads for end to panic buying • School exams may be moved back • Wholesalers report stores’ pandemonium

• WSC urged to reconnect all users • Officials trace • Hotels hold 30 in contact off on staff with woman layoffs • Enough food • Courts to supplies for up suspend new jury trials to 3 months

COVID-19: LATEST NEWS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 18, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

TESTING IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN NEW PROVIDENCE, SAYS SANDS

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net TESTING for the novel coronavirus is only available in New Providence, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands revealed yesterday.

Dr Sands made the statement outside Cabinet when asked by reporters about the level of preparedness to deal with the virus if a possible case were to arise on the Family Islands.

“All testing is done in New Providence,” Dr Sands said. “So, let me say that I know that there’s many important questions that the public has and you can rest assured that from the very highest level, that we will attempt to make sure that these answers are given even if it means having to repeat it several times.

“And, we’re going to remain available to answer the questions although not necessarily in the timeframe that they’ve posed.”

His comments to the press came after the country recorded its first case of COVID-19 on Sunday. It is not clear whether the government has any plans to send any diagnostic tests for the virus to the Family Islands.

However, Dr Sands maintained yesterday that all concerns related to fast-spreading pandemic will be addressed by government officials in the House of Assembly today.

“I know that this is very important for the public and we want to be sure to let the public know that tomorrow morning in the House of Assembly, a number of ministers will speak pointedly and deliberately to the national response to COVID-19,” he told reporters.

“And, I know that there are many, many questions and we are going to answer every single one of them but at this point, some of the information that is being requested is not going to be revealed until additional field work is done. “…The prime minister would have outlined the plan and

tomorrow in the honourable House of Assembly, we will give another update and we would like to make sure that the message is not being distorted.”

Other updates, according to Dr Sands, will include additional information on the government’s plans to expand the size of the COVID-19 hotline.

The Ministry of Health launched the COVID-19 hotline recently.

Asked by reporters if Bahamians were calling the hotline, the minister said: “They have been and I think we’re going to be expanding the size of the hotline because we would like people to have access to reliable information so we’re expanding the number of phones available.

“And again, when I give my update tomorrow, I’m sure that all of that will be included,” he added.

Up to press time, the latest Ministry of Health COVID19 dashboard revealed that 11 people are now in quarantine, with one confirmed case in the country. Speaking about the patient’s condition yesterday, Dr Sands said she remained in stable condition.

“We’re going to be providing the public with an update and I can assure that the public health team is doing all of the necessary surveillance and contact tracing, but we will be providing an update very shortly,” he said.

But, in the meantime, the health minister is urging members of the public to use reliable sources for accurate news about the virus.

“There’s a lot of misinformation, I think the prime minister was very clear that the public should listen to reliable sources,” he said.

“So, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health, the chief medical officer and the official teams of the Ministry of Health, if you didn’t hear it from us then I would ask you to question the reliability and the veracity of the message that you’re hearing.”

AIRPORT IS OPEN AND FULLY OPERATIONAL LYNDEN Pindling International Airport remains open and fully operational, the Nassau Airport Development Company has advised.

“The airport is not closing in the foreseeable future,” NAD said in a brief statement yesterday. “We are continuing to monitor the global spread of COVID-19 and are working closely with local health

officials and our airport partners to ensure the safety and security of all LPIA users.”

Travellers are advised to contact individual airlines for updates on flight schedules.

A list of all airlines and their contacts can be found on LPIA’s website. For the latest information on the airport operations, visit www.nassaulpia.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, PAGE 3

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has urged people to stop panic buying, saying he has been assured the nation has “at least a one to three months’ supply” of food and import shipments are continuing as normal.

This was outlined in a statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, after Dr Minnis met with wholesalers and suppliers at his office.

Panic shopping began immediately after the announcement of the country’s first case of COVID-19 on Sunday, with crowds queuing in shops for food and water.

Even before a case was confirmed, store owners and pharmacies reported that cleaning supplies, disinfectant and hand sanitiser were flying off the

Minnis urges people to stop panic buying shelves faster than they could be restocked. This has left some shoppers unable to purchase essential items for their households.

“There is no need for it,” Dr Minnis noted in the press release. “I want to assure the population that we have at least a one to three months’ supply of food on the island and shipping continues as normal.”

Dr Minnis met with representatives of Super Value food stores, AML Foods,

as well as local wholesale distributors including pharmaceutical wholesalers and suppliers. The statement noted that medical supplies are “also healthy with a two months’ supply in stock and more supplies en route,” according to the wholesalers. Household supplies, such as cleaners and disinfectants, are expected to be on the shelves within days and wholesalers intend to build stock above the normal levels.

Like the prime minister, Michael Fields, chief financial officer of Lightbourne Trading, says there is no reason for Bahamians to panic. “The problem is the hoarders,” Mr Fields stressed. “They are buying everything. There is no need to do that. Everything is pretty much normal for us. We have shipments coming in. Some suppliers have increased production of goods.”

Mr Fields was present at

the meeting with the prime minister yesterday. “We are in good shape,” Mr Fields continued. “The Prime Minister’s Office is also assisting us. The prime minister asked that all those at the meeting give his office a list of items that are priority in order to get clearance from customs etc. I feel we are going to be alright so this panic shopping and hoarding must stop.

“Believe it or not, there are people out there buying

lots of blood pressure medicine and other medicines.

We must remember these things have expiration dates. It makes no sense to hoard them. They will expire on you and cause more harm than good.

There will be no issue getting medicine,” Mr Fields said.

Dr Minnis also said price gouging will not be tolerated and anyone found doing so would be prosecuted.

REPORT LEAKED ONLINE from page one

IT was all quiet in Downtown Nassau yesterday Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

PM to unveil package of drastic measures to stop virus spread from page one Ministers throughout the government are expected to outline key policies affecting their portfolios, with close attention paid to the government’s economic response to the crisis.

The Bahamas has just one confirmed case of COVID-19, a 61-year-old New Providence woman with no recent travel history, suggesting community spread of the disease.

However, Dr Brennen said an enforceable social distancing policy is needed to “minimise acute rise in numbers of infections”.

Some businesses have already started implementing distancing measures: Royal Bank of Canada and Lowe’s Pharmacy, for example, are limiting the number of people allowed into their buildings at the same time.

Countries like Jamaica

have limited the number of people who can gather together in a setting. But Dr Brennen said this approach does not accomplish social distancing goals as precisely as limiting how closely people can be in contact with each other. “If you say a number like a limit of 100 and you put 100 people into a 20 by 20 room, there is no way to say those people will be more than six feet away from each other, though if you put them in a stadium they will be further apart,” he said. “The number of people at gatherings is not our concern––how far people are spaced is the bigger issue.”

Dr Brennen said businesses should have staff work from home or in less crowded office spaces.

Churches are being discouraged from having large mass services.

Dr Nikkiah Forbes, the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease

Programme director, said social distancing polices will help “flatten the epidemic curve.”

“That would give us the opportunity to slow down the infection and when you slow down infection, you do not overwhelm the ability of the country to respond,” she said yesterday. “We don’t know the future but there is a lot we can do today to keep ourselves, families and country safe. The story of COVID-19 in The Bahamas is going to depend on what we all do and what we do today in terms of prevention measures and how seriously we take them. We can learn from other countries that have widespread transmission that if we cannot continue business as usual we can flatten the curve.”

Dr Brennen said the Ministry of Health’s surveillance team has made 30

contacts of the 61-year-old with the coronavirus selfisolate. He said officials are going to their homes or teleconferencing some of them to make sure they are where they should be.

“We go and check on the persons, we check their temperature…any suggestion they are not adhering to the self-quarantine we have ability to use Ministry of National Security resources,” he said. “We haven’t had to do that for the most part as of today.”

He added that at least 20 people in the country have been tested for the coronavirus.

Meanwhile Dr Forbes emphasised what residents should be doing to prevent spread of COVID-19.

“There has to be hand-washing, not touching your face, keeping distance of at least three feet between you and other people. That’s an arm’s length, you shouldn’t be able

to touch. Avoid gatherings where it can be avoided and if it cannot be avoided, there should be one person for every two seats. If you are sick, stay home.

“You can get guidance from the phone hotlines.

If you’re sick, there are measures. We are calling it self-isolation. That means stay in the home by yourself. If possible, use a bathroom that is for you. If that is not possible, use the bathroom after everyone else and clean the bathroom with a disinfectant. There should be one part bleach to ten parts water. If you’re coughing, put your tissues in the bin and wash your hands afterward. Don’t cough into your hands. Clean hightouch surfaces. If you get sicker and think you need to see your doctor, please call your doctor ahead of time,” she said.

A FORMER police officer and owner of a private security firm has urged Bahamians to exercise extreme caution in the coming weeks, projecting a spike in crime as a result of unemployment due to COVID-19.

Elston Bain, a 16-year veteran of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and now CEO of Tactical Private Investigators, sounded the alarm following news of massive staff reductions, closures of shops and attractions, cancellations of events and even a temporary closure

to a popular restaurant at Arawak Cay. “We have all been dwelling on messages of caution relative to staying healthy,” said Mr Bain, who founded the security company. “While we are focusing on avoiding becoming infected by the fast-spreading coronavirus, we need to spread the message to exercise caution against what will inevitably be an increase in personal and property crime as a result of a sudden spike in unemployment.”

With governments across the globe warning against non-essential travel, cruise

ships that normally deliver five million passengers a year to the port of Nassau are now parked.

“Many who will feel the impact first already struggle to make ends meet,” said Mr Bain. “They live paycheck to paycheck and in hard times like these – which hit especially hard because there was no warning – and they still have families to feed, they may act in desperation. That can lead to a wide range of criminal activity.”

Mr Bain urges extra vigilance and offers these tips. “Even if you own

expensive jewelry, do not wear it at this time. Do not wear anything flashy.

If you have a safe at home, make sure it is well concealed and bolted to a wall or floor,” said Mr Bain, a former detective corporal. “If you arrive home and anything feels out of place, trust your instinct, absolutely do not proceed inside and risk confronting someone. Go to the nearest police station and ask an officer to escort you home, same thing if you think you are being followed. “ The one advantage, said Mr Bain, about this time of

year – daylight saving. “If you walk or jog, you have more hours of daylight in the early evening to do so.

Please do not jog in the dark, you are only making yourself more of a target,”

Editorial View - Page 6

have the power to prohibit the assembly of two or more people in a public place in any area specified in the interest of public health safety.

Where isolation has been imposed, he would be able to require the closure of all educational or religious organisations that cater to the general public in specified areas.

He would be able to establish a curfew, ordering everyone within an area to remain within doors between specified hours.

It would also be an offence to assault, obstruct, hinder, resist or use threatening or abusive language against an authorised person executing his or her duty, according to the draft.

The document says: “No person shall publish or cause to be published, posted or re-posted, over any media platform inclusive of social media, any purported news or report, or purported statement of fact, knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect that the same is untrue or false or may incite public fear, panic or ethnic hatred.”

According to the draft, health officers would be empowered to keep people in isolation if they believe a person is or may be infected with the coronavirus and the government would be able to require essential services, including water for public use.

The government would also be able to waive rules governing how goods and services are procured.

PM Hubert Minnis

FORMER POLICEMAN WARNS OF CRIME SPIKE

IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE TRIBUNE NEWSDESK, EMAIL NEWSROOM@TRIBUNEMEDIA.COM

he said. “Be as vigilant with your attention to your surroundings as you now are with washing your hands.

This, too, shall pass and we just want to get you through it as safely as possible.”

PAGE 4, Wednesday, March 18, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

ABACO CLINICS TAKING EVERY PRECAUTION

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net

CLINICS on Abaco are taking precautions to ward off the spread of the novel coronavirus. “We are taking every precaution here on the island of Abaco,” said clinic administrator, Velty Parker-Carey.

“Our clinics are ready to go. When staff and patients arrive at the clinics, they have their temperature taken and of course they are given sanitiser to use.

“If a person presents with a high fever, they are escorted to other areas and the necessary examinations are given. That is staff and patients alike. No one is exempt from this.”

Abaco is still reeling from the massive destruction Hurricane Dorian brought in September 2019, hence the heightened need for officials to take precautions.

Mrs Parker-Carey said there are separate entrances and exits for those who have flu-like symptoms, isolating them from others who are visiting the clinics and of course the staff who work at them.

“I am just in from Nassau and I am very pleased with the way the Ministry of Health is handling things,” Mrs Parker-Carey said from Abaco.

“We are all on the same page with the precautions. All of our clinics are open here on the island of Abaco. Our government complex is open as well

and the necessary precautions are also being taken there also. The only thing closed on this island are the schools.”

Mrs Parker-Carey said the only thing she was not pleased with was the lack of sanitiser at the airports as she travelled from Nassau to Abaco. She admitted she could not be 100 percent sure sanitiser wasn’t somewhere in the airports, however, she saw no evidence of it being there as she travelled.

Meanwhile Michelle Pinder, an Abaco resident, said Abaconians are getting prepared as best as they can. “We are hopeful that the coronavirus does not come this way,” Ms Pinder said. “Dorian still has us all messed up. We have

not recovered from that as yet and now this. The good thing is that we are not panicking here. I must admit we are like Nassau, buying up all the grocery in the stores. We are not doing this because we are panicking. We are stocking up on grocery just in the event that the boat service is stopped, and we can’t get any supplies coming in.

“It’s best to be prepared.

We have Dorian as our reminder. I pray the virus is contained. I think it’s best for us to just shut down our borders like what the other countries are doing. I would feel safer, then. Abaco can’t take anymore.”

Percy Scott, another Abaco resident, said he is unsettled by the presence of the virus in the country, but

Unions fear large cut in working hours for members

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE union representing hotel workers in the country yesterday predicted widespread work day reductions in view of the global COVID-19 pandemic, while warning that things could get worse before they get better.

Darren Woods, Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union president, told The Tribune yesterday that work reductions were expected, adding thousands of people in the hotel sector should not panic.

He said union officials were working on a contingency plan, with a large part of it to be hashed out at a meeting with government at some point today.

However, Mr Woods said it was difficult to say how long the slump could last.

The union chief’s words came a day after the closure of Club Med on San Salvador this week was confirmed – the fall out from government’s travel restrictions on parts of Europe. Around 90 percent of that hotel’s guests are from that region, Mr Woods said.

Baha Mar also told this newspaper yesterday that it was adjusting the staff complement to match operations while the Sandals resort said it was monitoring the situation daily.

On Monday, Atlantis asked its staff members to either take two weeks unpaid leave or take earned vacation days due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hilton hotel on Bay Street sent a similar letter to staff on Tuesday, Mr Woods confirmed.

“I think everyone should be working reduced days,”

HOTLINE NUMBERS The Ministry of Health has established hotline numbers for persons who have: • travelled to COVID-19 affected countries; • been in close contact with persons who travelled to COVID-19 affected countries; • experienced respiratory symptoms; • sought advice on medical care.

The hotline numbers are: • 376-9350 8.0 am – 8.0 pm • 376-9387 8.0 am – 8.0 pm • 376-9357 Additionally, for medical professionals who would like advice on management of patients, contact the Surveillance Unit through the following telephone numbers: • 502-4776 • 502-4790 • 397-1021 • 502-4737 • 502-4728 For updated information on COVID-19, visit the Ministry of Health’s website at www. bahamas.gov.bs/health or the Bahamas Ministry of Health Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MOHBahamas/.

the BHCAWU president said. “We anticipate all of the hotels are going to follow suit once there is a reduction in the flights or any act of God. Based on our contract, there will be reduced days.”

He also said: “This is nothing out of the norm.

This would happen even if it were September. But it just so happens that something now has caused it and so now we have to adjust to what it is.

“We are still in talks with them and there is a meeting with government officials tomorrow to kind of map the way forward because we need to kind of get an understanding and it’s hard to forecast how long this is going to be for.

“But you have to project something so you could know what it is that you want to do, when you want to do it (and) how you want to do it because something has to be put in place. You need to know from each agency, the employer, the union and the government what is going to be in place for workers across the country because this is not

he is confident that Abaconians are resilient and can withstand any storm.

“No virus can take us down,” Mr Scott said. “We are getting prepared should it come this way. We survived Dorian which was the most frightening thing any human could go through, so we are being mature about this thing. We are taking the necessary precautions, here in Abaco, and that’s it.

That’s all we can do. Nothing less and nothing more.”

The Tribune contacted Abaco’s local government office, however, the telephone appeared to be out of order.

On Sunday, health officials reported the country’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 in a 61-year-old New Providence woman

who had not travelled outside the country in the past 20 days. Those affected with COVID-19 can show symptoms of high fever, cough and shortness of breath.

The elderly or those with chronic diseases are more susceptible to becoming severely ill from this disease. As a precaution, the Ministry of Health advises the public to wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds regularly; use hand sanitiser regularly, stay home when sick and cover one’s mouth when coughing or sneezing.

BAHA Mar told this newspaper yesterday that it was adjusting the staff complement to match operations only going to be limited to the hotel sector.

“This will matriculate over to other sectors because there are a lot of sectors that rely on the hotel sector. You have hair braiders, you have jet ski operators, you have taxi operators, the restaurants, this is going to be widespread, unless something happens rather quickly.”

Given the challenge in predicting how long the pandemic will affect the nation’s number one industry, Mr Woods said workers should brace themselves.

“What we would say to them is don’t panic at this time. We would say don’t do anything at this time until we kind of see where this thing is going or how long it’s going to last because they still have this week’s payroll and next week’s payroll. So this is at least two weeks out before there is any affect on them financially and so by that time whatever has to be discussed and whatever we are working on we will be able to see how phased in the relief is going to be,” he said.

“But we expect something to happen. Let’s use all our efforts to concentrate on this because you don’t want to be running around. We are hoping it doesn’t get worse but it might get a little bit worse before it gets better, but all of the stakeholders are meeting to try and put some contingency plans in place to roll out relatively as quick as possible.”

Baha Mar is also said to be experiencing fall out from COVID-19.

Yesterday, Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vicepresident of government and external affairs, said the mega West Bay Street resort had experienced considerable slow down of bookings.

However, the only official decision made in response to date has been to adjust staffing levels to operations, Mr Sands said.

Asked whether there had been reservation cancellations, he said: “Cancellations are not the issue, the issue more so is bookings.

They have slowed down considerably.”

Despite this, Mr Sands reiterated that Baha Mar had not come to the point where it would perhaps follow recent measures taken by Atlantis. “…Hotel occupancies fluctuate on an annualised basis,” he explained. “You are aware that we have our peak season and we have our off peak season. We have hurricane season and we’ve always adjusted our manpower levels according to the demands of our business.

“We are not at any point at this time to make any other decision regarding manpower needs and when we do do that we will advise our associates that we have come to that point, but we are not there yet.”

Meanwhile at the Sandals resort, Sheryl McGaw-Douse, group manager of communications and public relations, in a brief email said: “Sandals resort is assessing the situation daily as the care, health and safety of our team members and our guests are foremost in our minds at this time.”

HAITIAN REPATRIATIONS TO CONTINUE

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AN immigration official has maintained that Haitian repatriation exercises will continue despite Bahamasair revealing Haiti has suspended most flights coming into the country with the exception of the US and Cuba due to coronavirus fears.

Tracey Cooper, managing director of the airline, said at a press conference yesterday the airline suspended planned flights to

Haiti, adding this would affect the country’s immigration measures.

“Unfortunately for repatriation, once the government says we cannot come into the country obviously that will affect our repatriations as well. Obviously, that will be spoken to from our government and to the government of Haiti, but as for Bahamasair and its regular flights, presently those are suspended flights,” he said.

However Bahamasair chairman Tommy

UB COURSES NOW ONLINE IN yesterday’s Tribune we reported University of The Bahamas had was ending on-campus classes and moving to online teaching during the coronavirus crisis. While the story said this the accompanying headline should have made clear classes were continuing, not ending. We are happy to make this clarification.

Turnquest told The Tribune he could not say explicitly that repatriation exercises to Haiti have been suspended. “We don’t know,” he said. “If the government of the Bahamas gets clearance from the government of Haiti for a repatriation flight, obviously Bahamasair will do it.”

When contacted, Director of Immigration Clarence Russell told The Tribune: “The Bahamas government is unaware of an official closure of the borders of Haiti and we are expected to carry out repatriation…. the honourable minister will make a statement very shortly.”

The Tribune contacted the Haitian embassy in Nassau but a call was not returned up to press time.

Mr Turnquest revealed there was a Bahamasair

flight into Cap-Haitien yesterday morning, but the protocols on future travel were unclear.

“After they (Bahamasair) landed, we got a call from the airport authority in Haiti saying they were currently in a meeting and they’ll let us know later today what their position’s going to be on international travel,” the chairman said. “…..Whether we’re able to go into Port-au-Prince tomorrow (Wednesday) and Saturday remains to be seen but it’s unlikely that that will happen.”

Bahamasair flies into Haiti three times a week and on average carries roughly 35 to 45 passengers per round trip on a 50-seat aircraft. It has been reported that Haiti also closed its border with the Dominican Republic.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, PAGE 5

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

NIB TO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO VIRUS VICTIMS

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT ts-cartwright @tribunemedia.net

THE National Insurance Board announced it will offer assistance to workers who have contracted the novel coronavirus or are quarantined due to exposure to the virus.

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net CHIEF Justice Brian Moree announced that the judiciary will postpone new criminal jury trials until April 14, try to wrap up ongoing Supreme Court criminal cases in the next seven days and limit the number of people in court rooms.

The measures, among others, are part of the judiciary’s “coronavirus mitigation protocols”.

Mr Moree said the first phase of the mitigation plan involves enhancing cleaning regimes, placing hand sanitising stations at strategic locations and increasing vigilance and control at the entry points of all court buildings.

He added that judicial officers would also be adhering to social distancing policies and use video conferencing, telephone conference calls, online conferencing video applications and disposition of applications on the basis of written submissions whenever that is possible to limit in person hearings.

“When an in person hearing cannot be avoided, we have imposed the following restrictions: attendance in courtrooms will be limited to persons who must be there and press representatives subject to maximum numbers imposed under these protocols; at least three feet will be maintained between persons in the courtroom whenever possible; and the duration and frequency of the in person hearings will be limited by the presiding judicial officer.”

Mr Moree said these protocols – which would take effect today through April 14 – will be adopted to reduce the number of people frequenting the court buildings.

Regarding the criminal side of the Supreme Court, Mr Moree said partly heard criminal trials before a sitting jury would be completed unless the judge adjourned the case for reasons unconnected to the coronavirus protocols.

“All of these cases should be dealt with within the next seven days,” he said.

“This is to avoid the need to dismiss the jury and start the case again which we do not want to do.

NIB also announced workers who are temporarily laid off due to the economic impact from COVID-19 will be eligible for unemployment benefits.

To qualify for the sickness benefit, a person with COVID-19 must have paid at least 40 contributions, among other requirements. For those

temporarily laid off due to the virus, they should first satisfy the Department of Labour’s conditions for registration, be under 65-years-old and have paid 52 weeks in contributions.

The Tribune spoke to a representative from NIB’s Public Relations Department to get further information on the

benefits and also to find out if agency would adjust entry to the public the near future, however the employee directed this newspaper to NIB’s website and Facebook page, saying additional information would be posted there.

The Tribune also made several attempts to speak with the NIB director,

OPPOSITION Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said because of the coronavirus crisis, the Water & Sewerage Corporation and Bahamas Power & Light should reconnect customers disconnected over arrears.

WSC announced on Monday that it will temporarily suspend disconnections.

Mr Davis also suggested banks institute a temporary halt on foreclosures, adding lending institutions should be patient over loan payments during this ordeal.

Mr Davis said yesterday: “The Water & Sewerage Corporation was correct to hold disconnections. It would also be correct and effective to also consider the reconnection of those whose supply have been disconnected as water is an essential component to adequate hygiene. It is also our view that it would be correct and effective if BPL would proactively support this national containment effort by similarly following the policy of the Water & Sewerage Corporation.”

Mr Davis also said: “The National Insurance Board must provide temporary

earned vacation or two weeks unpaid leave.

So far over 7,000 people have died due to the virus.

However over 70,000 have recovered. The COVID-19 virus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on March 12 and is particularly dangerous to the elderly and those with chronic diseases.

Courts to suspend new jury trials and try to wrap up cases

CJ Brian Moree “New criminal jury trials in the Supreme Court will be suspended until April 14, 2020 when the position will be reviewed on the basis of prevailing circumstances.”

Mr Moree also said arraignments will continue by video link to the Remand Court at Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

He also said bail applications heard by judges will proceed “on the basis of a video link with the Remand Court at the correctional facility together with the lawyer who is involved in court before the judge.”

“In this way, we hope to avoid or at least minimise transporting inmates of the correctional facility to the courts for obvious reasons during this period when we are all dealing with the coronavirus.”

Mr Moree said urgent bail applications will be heard by a judge with the lawyer alone in the courtroom or by video conference with

a lawyer in their office. “If the accused person is in court, the presiding judicial officer will adhere to social distancing procedures in order to protect those persons in the courtroom.

“For case management conferences, where the accused is in custody, these applications will be heard by video link with the Remand Court at the correctional services facility with the lawyer in court.

“Where the accused is on bail, these case management conferences will be heard by video conference whenever possible.”

As it relates to the civil side of the Supreme Court, Mr Moree assured that partly heard trials will be completed.

Still, he explained that social distancing procedures will be followed and witnesses will give evidence by video conference.

New civil trials before the Supreme Court will also proceed by video conference.

“If this is not possible, the judge will decide if the trial can proceed by in court hearing provided there are no more than 12 persons in the courtroom and social distancing procedures can be followed,” he said.

“The trial will be adjourned for a date after April 14, 2020 if such procedures cannot be followed.”

According to Mr Moree interlocutory applications also will be heard by video link, telephone conference or disposition on the basis of written submissions.

He said if none of those options is possible, the judge will determine

if the hearing is to be adjourned to a date after April 14 or proceed on the “basis of social distancing procedures.”

Mr Moree said arraignments and first time pleas in the Magistrate’s Court will proceed subject to social distancing procedures, with no more than 15 persons allowed in the room at one time.

He added that all hearings were going to be sequenced “under the oversight of the police,” to avoid overcrowding and congestion.

“Bail applications before the magistrate or variation of bail applications will proceed under the same guidelines as applicable to arraignments,” he continued.

“Thirdly, new trials on the criminal side of the Magistrate’s Court will be suspended in criminal cases, juvenile cases and coroner inquests until March 30, 2020 when the position will be reviewed. A determination will be made at that time with regard to the future course of these trials.”

Mr Moree said that first pleas in traffic cases in the Magistrate’s Court will proceed, but no more than 20 persons would be allowed in the courtroom at a time.

He also said new trials in traffic cases will be suspended until March 30, when the position will be reviewed.

“Part heard criminal trials and inquests by the coroner will proceed in the Magistrate’s Court subject to social distancing procedure. One, where the

DAVIS URGES WSC TO RECONNECT CUSTOMERS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

Nicole Virgill-Rolle, however she could not be reached up to press time.

Meanwhile, amid the threat of the potentially deadly virus, government offices remain open to human traffic and to date, civil servants have received no notice to stay home. On Monday, Atlantis staff were asked to consider taking

unemployment assistance.”

NIB has said those laid off due to the crisis can apply for unemployment benefit and those who are quarantined can apply for a sick benefit. “(There should be) assistance to small and medium sized enterprises and hotels that will be immediately affected and may be forced to reduce working hours and in some cases lay off staff,” Mr Davis said. “The Central Bank must strongly consider easing credit and lowering the cost of capital. Arrangements must be made with financial institutions to temporarily halt foreclosures and demonstrate forbearance with customers regarding loan payments. Measures must be taken to ensure that consumers aren’t being taken advantage of by price-gouging.”

Meanwhile, an infectious disease expert said during the PLP’s press conference yesterday that The Bahamas will inevitably have to lock down the country to contain the novel coronavirus by demanding some people work from home and that certain businesses remain closed for a period.

Jamaica, which has 12 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus,

implemented strict social distancing measures on Wednesday––ordering all non-essential employees in the private and public sector to work from home for seven days, banning public gatherings of more than 20 people, including for funerals and weddings, and closing all bars, nightclubs and other areas of entertainment.

Dr Melissa Ford, who said she once served in US army medical command as an infectious disease and pulmonary department healthcare worker, said this is where The Bahamas is headed even though the country still has just one confirmed case of the disease.

“We do have to

PLP leader Philip Davis

remember that unlike other countries, our country has been deemed by the Ministry of Health to be 75 percent obese and we do carry a lot of co-morbidities and chronic illnesses that will make rapid transmission of this disease catastrophic for us,” she said.

“We only have one case and we’re very fortunate for that. However, there might be several true cases out there that we haven’t confirmed yet and that’s going to be a growing concern for the country. As numbers rise and they will rise in my belief as they have around the world, it will become more important to really examine isolation and mandatory containment and this we found around the world globally has been what has been crucial in the reduction of new cases worldwide. We’ve examined all the data continuously and we find that really, really containing the population is going to be imperative in order to put a cap on the transmission rate of the disease at least until we can as a country come together and get everything in preparation to fight this war that we are going to face.”

accused or any one of them where there is more than one accused is in custody; two, juvenile cases where all the parties, witnesses, and lawyers are resident on the island where the court is sitting subject to social distancing procedures.

“All other part heard criminal cases will be suspended until March 30, 2020.”

Mr Moree said only the press and persons who must be in attendance at the trial will be allowed in the courtroom.

He added that there would be no new coroner inquests until March 30, although he said voluntary bills of indictment procedures will continue as usual.

As it relates to the civil side of Magistrate’s Court, Mr Moree said that new and partly heard civil trials will be suspended until March 30.

“Urgent applications in cases where hearings had been suspended can be made by application to the chief magistrate and in appropriate cases where she is satisfied that the matter is sufficiently urgent, she will direct it to be dealt with again on the basis of our social distancing policies,” he said.

“All travel by magistrates on circuit to the Family Islands will be suspended

until April 14, 2020 when the position will be reviewed.”

Mr Moree insisted the circumstances surrounding the implementation of the mitigation protocol is “very fluid and dynamic.”

He explained that the judiciary will respond with necessary changes to these procedures as “developments warrant on the ground.”

Mr Moree said the purpose of their intervention methods was to ensure that the courts are able to “maintain their operations.”

He insisted it was “not a viable option” to completely close the criminal justice system and added it was “very difficult” to shut down the civil justice system. ºHe added that while there is a need to upgrade the judiciary’s “technology platform,” he believes that they do have the capacity in all of their criminal courts and in “many of their other courts” to conduct video conferencing hearings.

Mr Moree said while the suspensions will cause a backlog in the judiciary’s system, officials will make “every effort” to ensure that displaced cases and applications get “first priority” during the rescheduling process.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, March 18, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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No easy solution for Prime Minister to choose AROUND the world, governments are trying to work out how to respond to the coronavirus outbreak.

This is not a calamity affecting a single nation, this is affecting the whole world.

Even those nations where there has not been a single case yet – though 165 countries have now reported at least one – will feel the economic effects.

Today, we find out the path Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis intends to take. He will have no shortage of examples to follow from around the world.

Yesterday, the UK pledged to guarantee around $400bn in loans to business to keep them solvent while the effects of coronavirus are felt. In France, President Emmanuel Macron said “We are at war” with the virus and restricted movement apart from essential activities such as food shopping, while promising support, suspending utility bills and rent for small businesses. Italy was making funds available to postpone mortgage, loan and tax payments.

Even in the US, President Donald Trump talked of sending cheques directly to citizens to give emergency financial aid after former presidential candidate Senator Mitt Romney proposed $1,000 cheques to Americans.

Not so long ago, talk of a universal basic income in the US was greeted with shrieks of horror about a slide to socialism, and now citizens might receive cheques from their government.

So when Prime Minister Minnis speaks today, he will have no shortage of proposals being put forward from around the world that he might draw upon – and no easy path to choose to implement his ideas.

No matter whether you approve of what Dr Minnis has done in government so far or not, it must be said he has had to face difficult times in office. First, there was edging The Bahamas away from the prospect of a further credit downgrade, then there was the horror of Hurricane Dorian, that claimed Bahamian lives and blew a hole in every budget plan.

Now he faces the twin task of managing the health of the nation from the virus itself and the finances of a nation built on tourism as airplanes stop flying and cruise ships stop sailing. There is no easy prescription for the doctor to write.

His first task will be to announce his

new proposals on social distancing.

These will be enforceable by police – but as citizens we should not trouble officers who will have bigger tasks to deal with at this time. We should willingly comply to help fight the spread of the coronavirus. It’s nothing less than our national duty.

On Sunday, as word spread of the first case of coronavirus on our shores, there was the bizarre sight at supermarkets of people panicked enough to stock up on groceries to excess yet still not alarmed enough to stop hugging the friends they saw in the aisles. It’s as if only half of the message has been getting through to people.

The new rules, it seems, will forbid gatherings that do not ensure people are kept at least three to six feet apart – though we shall see when Dr Minnis speaks the detail of that. Credit to the businesses that have already started to implement distancing measures – such as the Royal Bank of Canada and Lowe’s Pharmacy – such common sense will help to limit the chances of infection.

We hope other businesses and churches will follow suit. We hope citizens will take on board the need for such protection and follow the rules – while also ensuring they regularly wash hands, wipe surfaces and for goodness sake, stay home if you feel any symptoms of being sick.

Beyond the distancing measures, we need to face up to the economic reality that lies ahead. This situation is probably going to mean more borrowing, for individuals and all the way up to government. Some people will find themselves out of work, or taking time off without pay, and those people are going to need to eat, need to have shelter, need to have the support of their fellow citizens.

To get through, some are going to need to spend now and pay back later – we hope investors and institutions are ready and willing to help with that.

This is not going to be over tomorrow, or next week, or next month. Our immediate steps are to protect lives, but our next steps will be to protect our future.

It is no easy path that Dr Minnis has to tread – but we should do all we can to follow the new rules. This is no time to get in the way and make things more difficult.

We must worry about the poor EDITOR, The Tribune THE Federal Reserve took its rate to zero and additional $700 billion in stimulus on March 15, 2020.

The Federal Reserve balance sheet will be at its peak of $4.5 trillion. This will be done by purchasing assets – in this case, $500 billion in Treasury securities and $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities. The purchases will begin right away, with $40 billion in purchases set to take place on Monday, March 16, 2020.

About 40% of the world economy is at zero or a negative interest rate. That means money is like your septic tank of little value interest rates tell the value of money. To understand how we got here I need to give a summary of global economic history.

From 1870 to World War 1 the gold standard was the prescription to facilitate global trade due to the Industrial Revolution. After the Great Depression in the 1930’s the creation of maximum employment or full employment was the prescription for the global economic ill.

The New Deal, where

government creates employment for the populace, in the United States exemplifies this prescription. This created inflation around the world as the worker’s union pushed for higher wages. This created the global middle class as real wages increased globally. From 1980 to 2008 the prescription was to control inflation which was popularised by neo-liberalism.

This made capital superior to labour because labour cost increase was seen as the main cause of inflation. Real income stagnate for growth was driven by debt. Credit cards became commonplace. This is not sustainable as the great Recession of 2008 proved.

This crisis was a debt crisis triggered by subprime mortgage default. After 2008 to the present the prescription is low interest rates and creating liquidity by, for example, quantitative easing and other complex money creation. The ineffectiveness of this prescription will be proven as we are going into a global recession that the Covid 19 virus pricked the bubble.

I assert capitalism, socialism and communism are

diluvian (outdated) – 80% of the world lives on less than $10 a day. The poorest half of the population lives on $2:50 a day. 1.3 billion people live on a $1.25 a day. The world’s 2,153 billionaires have more wealth than the 4.6 billion people who make up 60 percent of the planet’s population, reveals a recent report from Oxfam International.

It is government policies that create inequality globally and locally. Taxation is “wealth favoured” globally and locally.

More than 49,425 people in the Bahamas live in poverty and thousands live in extreme poverty, that’s 12.5 percent of the country’s population who don’t have access to a decent way of survival. I am not concerned how rich the richest Bahamians are; I am concerned about the people who are living like sub human. This is immoral and must change. Crime and murder is a result of the oppressed trying to survive; turn the needy into the greedy. No justice, no peace.

BRIAN E PLUMMER Nassau March 16, 2020

No place for party politics EDITOR, The Tribune IF one were to peruse the annals of modern Bahamian history, dating back to the era of the United Bahamian Party, when the Bahamian Colony first achieved internal self government from England in 1964, one would be hard pressed to name one other PM who has had the kind of challenges Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is currently faced with.

Indeed, after watching Hurricane Dorian plow through Abaco and Grand Bahama in September 2019, leaving scores of dead Bahamians and Haitians and over $3 billion in damages in its wake, Minnis now has to contend with the COVID19 disease, which has been dubbed a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, and its far-reaching implications for the entire Bahamian economy, especially in Nassau and Paradise Island. Tribune Business has stated that Dorian has “produced a near fivefold increase in this year’s deficit to $677.5 million, and a projected $1.5 billion debt increase over the next six years.” This gloomy economic forecast means that the Bahamian welfare net (AKA NIB and Social Services) will be stretched too thin if conditions don’t improve.

With Atlantis requesting its employees to take two weeks unpaid leave; Norwegian, Carnival,

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises all suspending trips for the next month, in addition to the downturn in business on Bay Street (which now resembles Freeport), a catastrophic recession seems inevitable. According to Tribune Business, even Club Med on San Salvador will close its doors for one month, which will negatively impact the economy on that Family Island.

Whatever one’s opinion of Minnis is, all objective Bahamians would have to agree that the PM is walking on uncharted territory.

Former Prime Ministers Hubert Ingraham, Perry Gladstone Christie, Sir Lynden O Pindling and Premier Sir Roland Symonette had never faced a crisis of this magnitude – never. Granted, Ingraham had to guide The Bahamas through the global crisis left in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the US in 2001 and the Great Recession in 2008, owing in part to the collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. But both crises were separated by seven years, the former occurring during his second administration, while the latter occurred during his third non-consecutive term. Conversely, Minnis is having to contend with

two earth shattering crises within a span of a mere six months. Christie had the mammoth challenge of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004, but both hurricanes had nowhere near the number of casualties as Dorian - which was simply an unprecedented storm. Pindling faced the 1973 OPEC Oil Crisis and the First Gulf War in 19901991. In my opinion, both crises pales in comparison due to any number of factors, population increase and the urbanisation and socio-economic advancement of so many Family Islanders and Nassuvians being three of them.

What’s more, both crises had an interval of 17 years between them. That interval afforded Pindling an opportunity to take a deep breath. Providence hasn’t given Minnis this luxury.

The time for partisan politics must now take a back seat, as this COVID19 crisis has the potential of crippling this country.

Members of the Progressive Liberal Party, Democratic National Alliance and Free National Movement must all set aside their political swords and spears for the good of the country and pray for the PM of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. We are all in this together!

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama, March 17, 2020.

Leave this crisis to the experts EDITOR, The Tribune WE have listened to and read so much about Covid19 that the brain is totally confused about the whole affair. We have experts and experts, Government officials, health officials all adding their two cents to the issue how to wash you hands, how to sneeze, what to sing while washing your hands and how not to hoard loo rolls and other necessary products and so on.

Most of us who are just ordinary beings trying to live in this complicated world just have to listen to this continual buzz some good and some foolish. Can you imagine being confined

to your house, apartment or sleeping bag on the street for four months. I understand that politicians are supposed to lead but unfortunately we have few leaders amongst our politicians today but they think they know ALL. And remember every time a politician takes a decision he is looking over his shoulder at the next election, especially I am afraid Mr Trump.

Shoot from the hip and see how many votes I can get.

This crisis should be left to the Medical professionals to figure out what is best for us all and how to live to survive the “bug”.

Although we have lost over 6,000 unfortunate

souls since the virus struck in January, how many unfortunate souls have we lost to other diseases during that period so we can put this in perspective before we all die from boredom, anxiety, lack of exercise or starvation. And almost every soul we do lose to Covid has “underlying health issues” but we never hear what issues. Anyway I wish you all the best and thought that the two ladies from PMH presenting at the Press Conference on ZNS on Sunday were excellent.

PATRICK H THOMSON Nassau March 17, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, PAGE 7

Jamaican woman charged with 19 counts of fraud

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A JAMAICAN woman who attempted to gain Bahamian citizenship by assuming the identity of another woman was charged with 19 counts of fraud yesterday in Magistrate’s Court.

Marlene Stephens, 43, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney charged with possession of false documents, fraud by false pretences, deceit of a public officer, uttering a forged document and making a false declaration of marriage.

The defendant denied all the charges and the matter was adjourned to May 14.

FIRE AT CHURCH

THE fire service was called to Zion Church on Cowpen Road, South Beach last night where a two-storey building at the rear of the church was on fire.

It is alleged that Stephens had a Bahamian passport bearing the name Lakera Poitier at the National Insurance Board (NIB) on March 11.

It is also alleged she had a Bahamian birth certificate for a female child born to Dorothy Poitier on June 16, 1982, a marriage certificate bearing the names Lakera Poitier and Frantz Saint-Louis, a Bahamian voter’s card and an NIB smart card bearing the name Lakera Poitier while at NIB that same day. Stephens was also accused of obtaining an NIB smart card on February 9, 2015 bearing the name Lakera Rolle by means of false pretences.

She was further charged with fraudulently obtaining

a renewed NIB smart card in the name of Lakera Poitier on March 11.

It is alleged that Stephens also possessed an NIB smart card bearing the name Lakera Rolle while at the Parliamentary Registry Department on January 11, 2017.

The defendant was also accused of attempting to deceive the acting registrar of the Registrar General’s Department Office on September 10 and 16, 2018 and making a false declaration to a marriage officer on September 18, 2018.

Stephens was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until trial, however she has the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

MARLENE Stephens outside court yesterday

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

NOTICE TO: MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WORKERS’ CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT UNION LIMITED A Special-Call Meeting will be held on FRIDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2020, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the BAHAMAS PUBLIC SERVICES’ UNION (BPSU)HALL, East Street south (across from Esso gas station); for the sole purpose of electing a NOMINATION COMMITTEE re: the upcoming 40th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (scheduled for Friday, May 22nd, 2020).

All ELIGIBLE members are invited to attend!!

PAGE 8, Wednesday, March 18, 2020

C

OVID-19 is forcing us to change the way we live. It demands that we change our behaviour in order to stop the spread of the virus. We are not yet taking it as seriously as we should. We should not have waited for a confirmed case before taking action, especially when we have thousands of people moving in and out of the country, directly engaging with a large proportion of our population through the tourism industry. We are behind and rushing to make decisions when we could have been far ahead, learning from the experiences of China, South Korea, Italy and Spain. Finally, we are making adjustments, but it is coming slowly. We are not being given much time for transition. We have to be ready for sudden changes.

It should not, however, fall completely on us.

The government has a responsibility to ensure everyone has a reasonable chance to get through this, and that means introducing feminist policy rather than making sweeping changes that leave gaps that increase the vulnerability of people who were already vulnerable. They need to give us the tools to survive their decisions. As an example, we can look at the decision to close schools. The closure of all schools was a good call. That said, it should have come with a comprehensive plan to manage all of the components that are missing as a result of the closure. It needed to consider the safety of children, the income of parents, food security and education.

This is no village We have created a culture of selfishness. We do not care as much about our neighbours as we like to pretend. We do not live in little proverbial villages.

We expect people to take care of themselves or suffer the consequences of their inability to do so. We also

THE TRIBUNE

Closing schools was easy but where was the planning for what families did next?

The

Alicia Wallace column expect them to do it quietly. This was made clear by the comments on one of the livestreams of the prime minister’s address on Sunday night.

The prime minister made the announcement at eight o’clock on Sunday night that schools would be closed for one month starting the next day. This gave parents and guardians less than 12 hours to make other arrangements.

People, obviously unprepared and unsure of what to do, commented on the video to ask what they were supposed to do with their children. Others responded that those children were their problem to deal with, the prime minister need not figure out their lives for them and they should let the same person who watches the children while the parents party watch them – no one.

The responses were rude, callous and evidence of the erosion of the moral fabric we pretend to have in this society. People are uncaring.

Not only that, but we have a limited understanding of the responsibility of governments, and we have gone for such a long time without the government properly providing the services and resources it should, depending heavily on nongovernmental organizations, that we are ready to accept it and ridicule others for daring to even question it.

Schools meet more than educational needs Schools are primarily the site of education, but they are also providers of supervision, safety, lunches and routines. School closure does not just mean children will not be at school, potentially spreading the virus. It means many children will be without adult supervision. Parents and guardians have to be at work. Working from home is not a common option here and, even at this time, employers refuse to consider it.

The foolish idea that people are only working if you can

PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis addresses the nation regarding the coronavirus crisis on Sunday, alongside acting Minister of Health Jeffrey Lloyd see them working prevails.

This makes it impossible for people to ensure their children are safe when out of school. Add to this low wages and high cost of living and it is not difficult to see how many cannot afford to pay a sitter.

Children are, no doubt, currently at home alone with instructions to be quiet and not let anyone know they are there, or given responsibilities like taking care of the younger children and walking to a neighbourhood store to purchase food. Parents and guardians are forced to trust family members and friends to drop by and check on their children, hoping they do not, instead, cause them harm. We cannot close schools without making commensurate adjustments to worklife.

There are children on lunch programmes. The number is limited and the criteria strict, so it is obvious these children need to be provided with free lunches. What will they eat when they are at home?

They receive free lunches at school because their families cannot afford to feed them otherwise. This does not change when they must now be at home. How can we close schools without thinking about the nutrition of the children who will be behind closed doors?

The disruption in children’s education must also be considered. We all know what happens after a school break when children have not reviewed their work.

When they return to school, teachers have to go over old material with them. We cannot have them at home with no curricula to follow and expect them to return in a month and prepare for exams in a few weeks.

What will be done to ensure their education continues? Every child does not have internet access, so virtual school will not work for everyone. Will teachers

prepare packages with review material and schedules for them to follow?

Who will assist them if they need help? Will there be radio programming to occupy, educate and entertain them while they are at home, and guide them through their days?

These are only three consequences – changes in safety, nutrition, and education - of the closure of school in isolation. The government has not put any measures in place to support families through this change. There has been no announcement of assistance for families that have no one available to stay with their children free of charge and no money to pay someone to do it.

There have been no arrangements made for people to pick up or receive deliveries of the lunches that would have been provided at school.

The government is making decisions and leaving gaps.

These gaps are huge, and they are directly linked to poverty, hunger and child safety.

If this is an indication of the actions the government intends to take in the face of COVID-19, we are in trouble. We have to speak up now. We have to pay attention to the gaps, point them out, recommend solutions. If we fail to do this, we fail ourselves and our communities. We do not want to be left wondering why there are so many reports of sexual violence or cases of malnutrition in the weeks to come.

How do we make feminist policy?

Have you ever been in a running club? Or a cycling club? One of the strongest runners or cyclists is always at the back. They could go faster, they could be in the front and they could finish first. Clubs, however, are

PUBLIC NOTICE MR. WINSTON BERNARD MILLER, LAST KNOWN ADDRESS, #15 SIR LYNDEN ESTATES, SEA BREEZE, NEW PROVIDENCE, IS URGENTLY REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER, AT THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SERVICES & URBAN DEVELOPMENT, JOHN F. KENNEDY DRIVE, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

not about that. They are about building community through the enjoyment of an activity, and part of being in community is making sure everyone is safe and no one gets left behind.

Someone is always at the back, making sure the slowest, least skilled, or newest person is in their sight.

Feminist policies leave no one behind. They consider the most vulnerable people, put them to the front and design policies that will work for them. This is different from typical policymaking which focuses on the majority and sees vulnerable people as outliers.

If the policy will not work for the people with the greatest need and who are the most marginalised, it will not work. It will create greater gaps, and we do not need that.

We need to close the schools. Okay, let’s think it through. Who are the students with the greatest need? We will need to consider those from families with low incomes, those with specific learning needs, those with no one to care for them during school hours, those with disabilities, those with medical needs, etc.

We still need to close schools, but what programmes and services can we implement to ensure they are not left more vulnerable? These could include stipends for caregiving, lunch drop-offs, modified lesson material and scheduled visits from a medical professional.

Beyond this, we need to look at other household needs like the ability to work from home and increased food stamps or stipends. Feminist policy identifies existing needs, anticipates the needs that would arise from the proposed change, and directly addresses those needs.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Unit shared an assessment of potential challenges and solutions arising from the COVID-19 crisis, from food (in)security to economic (in)equality, and the necessary response on through its social media channels.

It is important for everyone – government actors, non-governmental organizations, advocates, employers and citizens – to review, consider and act upon the recommendations made in the chart the SDG Unit produced.

It is designed to help us to move forward without leaving anyone behind, and we should all be committed to that.

We, the Bahamian community, have to do this together to survive.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, March 18, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

MAIN picture: an Emergency Army Unit attend the train station in Granada, Spain yesterday: right, from top: A volunteer checks the body temperature of passengers arriving at a railway station in Peshawar, Pakistan; Officers check papers at a control point at the Champs Elysees in Paris; Trucks are jammed on the motorway A4 near Bautzen, Germany.

Trump pushes for $1trillion package WASHINGTON Associated Press IN A massive federal effort yesterday, President Donald Trump asked Congress to speed emergency checks to Americans, enlisted the military for MASH-like hospitals and implored ordinary people — particularly socially active millennials — to do their part by staying home to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

His proposed economic package alone could approach $1 trillion, a rescue initiative not seen

since the Great Recession.

Trump wants checks sent to the public within two weeks and is urging Congress to pass the eye-popping stimulus package in a matter of days.

As analysts warn the country is surely entering a recession, the government is grappling with an enormous political undertaking with echoes of the 2008 financial crisis.

At the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed the Senate would not adjourn until the work was done.

“Obviously, we need to

act,” McConnell said.

“We’re not leaving town until we have constructed and passed another bill.”

But first, McConnell said, the Senate will vote on a House-passed package of sick pay, emergency food and free testing, putting it back on track for Trump’s signature — despite Republican objections. “Gag, and vote for it anyway,” he advised colleagues.

It was a signal of what the GOP leader called the “herculean” task ahead.

Senators gathered at an otherwise shut-down Capitol as Americans across

the country were implored to heed advice and avoid crowds. Young adults, in particular, are being urged to quit going out because even seemingly healthy people can be spreading the virus that causes the COVID-19 illness.

Even so, presidential primary elections unfolded in Florida, Illinois and Arizona. Ohio’s was called off hours before the polls were set to open.

After a savage drop at the start of the week, the stock market rose as Trump and aides sketched out elements of the economic rescue

package at a briefing. Economists doubted that would be enough to stop millions of jobs losses, even if in the short term.

Bigger than the $700 billion 2008 bank bailout or the nearly $800 billion 2009 recovery act, the White House proposal aims to provide a massive tax cut for wage-earners, $50 billion for the airline industry and $250 billion for small businesses. The amount that would be sent out in checks Americans is not yet disclosed. The White House said it liked GOP Sen. Mitt Romney’s idea for $1,000 checks, though not necessarily at that sum and not for wealthier people.

“This is a very unique situation,” said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, exiting a private briefing of Senate Republicans.

“We’ve put a proposal on that table that would attract a trillion dollars into the economy.”

One GOP leader, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, told reporters afterward it “could be” up to $1 trillion.

HOSPITALS FEAR SHORTAGE OF VENTILATORS Associated Press US HOSPITALS bracing for a possible onslaught of coronavirus patients with pneumonia and other breathing difficulties could face a critical shortage of mechanical ventilators and health care workers to operate them. The Society of Critical Care Medicine has projected that 960,000 coronavirus patients in the US may need to be put on ventilators at some point during the outbreak.

But the nation has only about 200,000 of the machines, by the organisation’s estimate, and around half are older models that may not be ideal for the most critically ill patients.

Also, many ventilators are already being used by other patients with severe, non-coronavirus ailments.

Hospitals are rushing to rent more ventilators and manufacturers are ramping up production. But whether they can turn out enough of the machines at a time when countries around the world are clamoring for them, too, is unclear. “The real issue is how to rapidly increase ventilator production when your need exceeds the supply,” Dr Lewis Kaplan, president of the critical care society, said. “For that I don’t have a very good answer.”

WASHINGTON MEETING DANGEROUS, SAYS OAS AMBASSADOR SANDERS A GROUP of ambassadors to the Organization of American States, a multilateral body for the Western Hemisphere, is objecting to a decision to move forward with a long-scheduled meeting in Washington on Friday to elect its secretary general, arguing that the session will contradict health recommendations issued by the White House to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Several nations are officially requesting a postponement of the meeting

at the OAS’s Washington headquarters because many of the delegates are over 65 and have pre-existing health conditions.

“To proceed with this meeting in circumstances where the president of the United States has said that no gatherings should be larger than 10 people and the CDC has warned against anything over 50 people is extremely dangerous, reckless and irresponsible,” said Ambassador Ronald Sanders of Antigua and Barbuda.

BIDEN PULLS FURTHER AWAY FROM HIS RIVAL WASHINGTON Associated Press

JOE Biden swept to easy victories in Florida and Illinois yesterday, increasingly pulling away with a Democratic presidential primary upended by coronavirus and building pressure on Bernie Sanders to abandon his campaign.

The former vice president’s third big night in as many weeks came amid tremendous uncertainty confronting the Democratic contest as it collides with efforts to slow the spread of the virus that have shut down large swaths of American life. Polls were shuttered in Ohio, and although balloting went

ahead in Florida, Illinois and Arizona, election workers and voters reported problems.

Biden’s quest for his party’s nomination now seems within reach. “Our campaign has had a very good night and is a little closer to securing the Democratic nomination,” Biden said after his latest two primary victories.

Also yesterday, Trump formally clinched the Republican presidential nomination against minimal opposition — a measure of good if not unexpected news for a White House trying to cope with the public health and economic crisis sparked by the coronavirus.