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HERD IMMUNITY

BY THE SUMMER Health Minister issues upbeat forecast saying we’re near finish line

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said he believes The Bahamas will achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 by the time the country enters the summer season.

Herd immunity occurs when enough people are protected through vaccination or having had the virus.

Speaking to reporters before a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Mr

Wells, pictured, said: “Through the COVAX facility we’re supposed to get over 100,000 doses of the vaccines. We are right now looking at ways that we can source more AstraZeneca but given the fact of the amount of Bahamians who have already been exposed to COVID, you do the math, it says a lot of Bahamians have already been exposed based on the fact that we are about 8,700 positive.”

SEE PAGE THREE

COVAX VACCINES WILL ARRIVE BY WEEK’S END

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

THE Pan American Health Organisation said yesterday that regional member states, including The Bahamas, can expect to receive their COVAX generated vaccines by the end of this week.

PAHO Director Dr Carissa F Etienne gave the

update during the organisation’s weekly COVID-19 briefing.

The Bahamas, since last week, has been doling out doses of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine to healthcare workers, the elderly and other priority groups.

More than 1,500 Bahamian citizens have been vaccinated so far.

SEE PAGE THREE

PEOPLE STILL THINK HOUSEWORK IS A WOMAN’S JOB?

SEE PAGE EIGHT

US ACCUSE BROKER OF OPERATING ILLEGALLY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER Bahamian broker/dealer has been charged with making “millions of dollars” through violations of US federal law.

Guy Gentile and MintBroker International were this week accused by the Securities & Exchange Commission of operating as an unlicensed broker/dealer from their Bahamas base.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

IDB WARNS GOVT MUST ‘BE BOLD’

FOLLOW OUR LEAD

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

DOZENS of people lined up at the Loyola Hall yesterday to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. Ms Campbell, pictured, told The Tribune she felt fine after taking the vaccine. See page three for more.

Photo: Racardo Thomas

‘NO ONE TOLD COMMISSIONER TO ACT’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday defended the police investigation that caused several Democratic National Alliance (DNA) members to be held in custody on Monday, emphasising politicians must be subjected to the law like everyone else.

Mr Dames, pictured, said

Police Commissioner Paul Rolle “was well within his rights” on how he handled the matter.

He knocked the “usual

suspects” of critics who appeared outside the Central Police Station to blame the Minnis administration for what happened, saying they did not know the facts.

“The law applies to all of us, regardless as to how we may think, or how we may feel,” he said.

Mr Dames said Commissioner Rolle told him DNA Leader Arinthia Komolafe and others lacked a permit

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

THE Government has been urged to “be bold” with reforms including more than doubling annual infrastructure spending to between $600m-$700m.

The Inter-American Development Bank called for infrastructure spending of 4-5 percent of Bahamian gross domestic product.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY

AMERICA’S CUP TEAM HELPED BY VIRTUAL SAILOR

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 24, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

JEFFERY Albury happy to have taken the vaccine.

RALPH Dickbrown speaking to The Tribune after taking the vaccine.

Photos: Racardo Thomas

Some elderly are still not ready for vaccination

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net DESPITE having priority access for COVID-19 vaccinations, some residents and staff of care homes for the elderly say they are still not ready to take the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine.

Dr Sinyma Capron, head of the Good Samaritan Senior Citizen’s Home, said residents’ unwillingness to receive the jab stems from fears about the potential side effects of the vaccine.

The situation is also compounded by some patients’ relatives being apprehensive about their loved ones being inoculated.

“You have some who (are) taking it but some of the relatives and some of the residents here, some of them said they are not taking it. They said that’s a ‘no’ for them,” she told this newspaper yesterday.

“I think the set with them hearing things and watching things on the TV, that’s probably what caused some of them not wanting to take it because they say all these side effects what they gone have and then some have medical issues and they don’t know what’s going to happen down the line.”

For staff members, there is also a sense of hesitation.

“We have five (workers) here. I don’t think none gone take it because they ain’t too sure like that. They have to make their mind up to do that,” Dr Capron said.

Asked if officials plan to launch an educational programme to better inform patients, Dr Capron said she doesn’t believe it would be helpful as some of the patients are plagued with dementia and other health issues.

Last Wednesday, the country launched its national COVID-19 vaccination programme after it received 20,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine from the Indian government. More than 1,500 people have received their first shots of the vaccine to date.

Those eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the first phase includes: healthcare workers, residents and staff of eldercare

homes, people age 60 and older, staff of the uniformed branches, etc.

On Sunday, the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee said mobile units will be used this week to vaccinate residents and staff of eldercare homes and the non-ambulatory in both New Providence and Grand Bahama.

When The Tribune contacted officials from several eldercare homes yesterday to see how many people had been vaccinated so far, this newspaper was told that none of the workers or residents have yet been vaccinated.

Dr Capron said officials are waiting for approval from relatives for patients to begin the vaccination exercise. The facility is home to about 24 patients.

She said: “We had a Zoom (meeting) with the Ministry of Health because all the (senior) care homes was connected to a meeting (yesterday) morning and they had it on Zoom, but they say we have to get a consent form first and they will be sending a form to us for those who want to take the vaccine and then they will have to sign the forms and so we told some of the relatives already, when they get that completed, they’ll sign the forms.”

A similar situation is also being experienced at Unity House, which houses about 25 patients.

The facility’s head supervisor, Judith Smith said: “We are waiting response from their family members because (an official) already asked them and they told her they will let her know if they decide for us to get them vaccinated.

“I know I am going to reach out to some of their family members myself because I want them to have it. I think it’s better for them to have it. I know I want to take it but I have a health condition.”

Yesterday, The Tribune visited the Loyola Hall vaccination site on Gladstone Road, where dozens of people were seen lined up waiting to get their first shots. Many, including senior citizens, told this newspaper they felt fine

after taking the vaccines and also encouraged other Bahamians to take it.

Ralph Richard Dickbrown, 68, was one of them.

“I’ve been telling my friends all over The Bahamas. You have to get it.

It ain’t going. It’s coming.

You need it. Ain’t nothing wrong with it,” he said.

Mr Dickbrown said his decision to get vaccinated was influenced by his desire to have his life returned to normal.

“I need to move,” he said.

“I’ve been home for almost two years now. My couch done sink in. I just want my life return to normal. I haven’t seen my grandkids in almost two years and my grandson in Eleuthera is always saying ‘Papa, when could I come to Nassau or when you coming to see me.’”

Cleomio Burrows, 77, was also vaccinated yesterday, saying the move has taken “an edge of fear” off her.

However, Ms Burrows said while she may be vaccinated, she has no intention of letting her guard down and urged others to do the same.

“You must be cautious and you just can’t go out there and burst out there and say ‘I’m vaccinated and nothing can happen. No, we still have to keep our social distancing, we still have to wash our hands and do whatever else we have been doing so we’re only protecting ourselves should something happen and the vaccination will serve its purpose.”

Reverend Father James Moultrie, priest at St Agnes Anglican Church in Grant’s Town, said after getting his vaccine: “I feel excellent. I get the flu shot every year but only it was not as bad as getting the flu shot.

I encourage (everyone) to get vaccinated.

“Every time I have an opportunity to give a message, I encourage it. Everybody should get vaccinated. That’s how we’re going to get herd immunity.”

The country has almost 9,000 recorded COVID-19 cases, however less than 1,000 of those are active.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 24, 2021, PAGE 3

Herd immunity by the summer from page one “Along with our vaccination programme, I do believe that by the time we enter the summer, that The Bahamas would have entered and we would’ve reached our desired herd immunity which means that the country will be able to move in a more positive direction.

“We just want the Bahamian people to continue to adhere to the health protocols. We are in the final stretch of this global race.

We are in the final stretch of this 400m race as I like

to put it. We’re in the 100m, we’re coming to the finish line.”

Asked about when the next batch of vaccines will reach the country, Mr Wells said: “Bahamians can be assured that just like we brought in vaccines that we are going to get additional vaccines and continue our wonderful, excellent vaccination programme that is now underway in The Bahamas.”

The wait for additional vaccines comes as rich, developed countries have been accused of hoarding the jabs.

“In the international community it is cause for concern,” Mr Wells said.

“There is supposed to be global solidarity. The discussions are taking place at the level of the leadership, the global leadership as to how it is we are going to see more fair and equitable distribution of vaccines.”

Mr Wells noted the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been proven safe and effective.

He said he would examine new reports that AstraZeneca released outdated information from its vaccine trial to US authorities.

MINISTER of Health Renward Wells.

COVAX VACCINES WILL ARRIVE BY WEEK’S END from page one

However these vaccines were part of a 20,000 dose gift from the government of India.

Asked when the COVAX organised vaccines—which the government has paid for—will reach the region, Dr Etienne had good news.

“This is a preoccupation of many countries in our region,” she said. “I want to assure you that PAHO is doing all that it can to accelerate access to vaccines in our region. Following PAHO’s negotiation with COVAX facility, we have ensured that 21 countries in the Americas will receive their first deployment of vaccines by the end of this week.

“And, in early April, all countries in our region will be able to receive their first deployment of vaccines.

This is good news, but supply is limited and the amounts deployed represent in many and most cases a small percentage of the countries’ population.”

Dr Etienne said even though there have been improvements, the region is still experiencing high COVID-19 infection numbers.

“So despite some progress our region has been and remains the epicentre of (the) COVID-19 pandemic with many countries reporting high mortality,” she continued. “We all know that vaccines are our way out of the pandemic, but only if we have more equitable access to vaccines to cover more than 70 percent of our adult

BRENT Symonette helping citizens at Loyola Hall yesterday as they prepared for their vaccinations. population. As a region we need to work together and explore different mechanisms to expand the core of vaccines available.

“If the supply is limited and rich countries are buying it up then that limits our possibility of getting adequate vaccines. PAHO will continue to play a coordination role to make this happen, but we need to count on the solidarity

of our member states. We must explore all options together. We need to seek donations by countries who will have surplus vaccines.

We need to be able to share vaccines through loans of vaccines – and this is not new in the region of the Americas.”

The PAHO director revealed that over 1.2 million people became sick with COVID-19 in the

Americas, and more than 31,272 people died because of the virus.

She continued, “More cases were reported in the region last week than the week before, which means that despite the gradual rollout of vaccines, millions of people remain at risk of illness and death. We must continue to take COVID19 seriously. Cases have started to plateau across the

Photo: Racardo Thomas US, Canada and Mexico, although the state of Ontario in Canada reported a rise in cases the past two weeks.

“Over the same time period, the US states of Minnesota and West Virginia have reported increases in deaths. In the Caribbean, a majority of cases were reported

by Jamaica, where they have risen steadily for several weeks. Cuba is also

reporting an increase in cases, along with Aruba, Curaçao, and Antigua and Barbuda. What I’ve just described is an active public health emergency.”

Dr. Etienne said the coronavirus is not receding, nor is the pandemic starting to go away so precautions are still necessary.

“Vaccines are coming, but they are still several months away for most people in our region,” she said. “Until they arrive and until most of the population is vaccinated, we must continue to do what works – wear a mask, maintain your distance, avoid large gatherings, and follow the guidance of your local health authorities. This is especially important with holidays coming up in many countries.

“People cannot let down their guard by engaging in close contact with others. As the virus surges and hospitalisations rise, we urgently need to scale up vaccinations among our most vulnerable populations.

“I am pleased to report that 33 of our 35 member states have started immunisations and over 155 million doses have been delivered in our region, so far.”

She said PAHO is working closely with Haiti and Cuba, which are the two remaining countries in the region that have not yet started to vaccinate its citizens.

Dr Etienne informed the weekly briefly that the COVAX facility has delivered 2,161,800 doses to the region so far and 1.2 million additional doses have already been procured.

D’AGUILAR HOPEFUL OF UPTICK IN ARRIVALS BY END OF YEAR

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar says he is encouraged by recent spring break travel numbers, adding he is hopeful the country will experience a “substantial” uptick in visitor arrivals by the end of the year.

While admitting he was unsure if arrivals would return to the high of 2019, the minister said the country was well on its way to better numbers after a COVID-19 induced slump in 2020.

A turnaround, Mr D’Aguilar told reporters

yesterday, hinged on vaccinations both here and in the United States.

“Everybody is saying that there is an enormous amount of pent up demand even in the United States, they can’t even seem to wait to get the vaccine,” the minister said. “They (are) ready to travel. Travelling is up substantially.

“People are getting a little bit ahead of themselves in their quest to enjoy themselves post-pandemic.”

He continued: “We didn’t think that as many people would get vaccinated in such a short period and so I’m very encouraged, very optimistic that once the United States gets to the

70 or 80 percent that (Chief Medical Advisor to the US President) Dr (Anthony) Fauci always goes on about herd immunity and I think we are a little bit slower than them. Everybody has to get on board and discount all this anti-vaccine talk and get vaccinated and we have to get the supply to do it.

“I think we’ll have a very robust result. I am hoping by the end of the year we should see a substantial, I don’t know if we’ll be back at 2019 that was a record year, but certainly well on our way to get there. But I am certainly feeling a lot better now than I was three or four months ago.”

Mr D’Aguilar said spring break numbers also encouraged him about this year’s performance.

“What we’re noticing and the best way to gauge it is to look at the number of applications on the Bahamas health visa (site) and every month we’re seeing an increase and certainly now in March and April, based on the numbers that we are seeing passing through there and also based on the numbers that the hotels are reporting to us. As we’ve always said we expect the numbers to increase through this year and as more and more people get vaccinated in

the United States you see they are doing it at a phenomenal rate.

“They’ve got lots of vaccines. People are getting vaccinated at a phenomenal rate and studies have shown that when people get vaccinated they want to travel. So, it’s now up to us to get vaccinated and that’s why I said persons in the tourism industry should be given preferential treatment.”

As things pick up, the minister said hotels will have to consider if receiving the vaccine for staff is a requirement for employment.

He was asked if hotels had expressed any concerns

about workers being inoculated.

“They (hotels) are anxious for their staff to get vaccinated. So, we first of all from the government side and the Ministry of Health have to provide the vaccines and then we have to undergo an exercise to encourage the staff as much as possible to do it willingly.

“What they end up making a requirement for employment at that hotel would obviously be their decision to make.

“You will see that the cruise companies are making sure or insisting that all of their staff and all of their guests are vaccinated.”

LEGAL CHALLENGE TO EMERGENCY POWERS ORDERS DENIED

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Supreme Court has denied a judicial review application that seeks to challenge the competent authority’s Emergency Powers Orders, with Justice Indra Charles ruling that a constitutional motion would be the appropriate route for the applicant to take, not a judicial review.

Dwight Armbrister, owner of D’Waters Cafe at Arawak Cay, alleged that

he was adversely affected by the Emergency Powers Orders of July 27, 2020 and August 4, 2020.

According to Justice Charles’ ruling, Mr Armbrister alleged that the competent authority’s decisions “were not reasonably justified in accordance with Article 29(2) of the constitution; were ultra vires Article 29(2) of the constitution; were not reasonably required to meet the legislative outcome; were not rationally connected to the purpose of enacting the orders; and

had the effect of limiting certain fundamental rights under the constitution with no reasonable relation between the objective which is being sought to be achieved by the emergency order.”

Justice Charles said “courts have determined that judicial review applications which are substantially constitutional matters ought to be refused.”

Franklyn Williams, the lawyer for the government, argued that the grounds for the judicial

review challenges the constitutionality of the emergency orders even if the breach of a specific right was not alleged.

He also argued that Mr Armbrister failed to pursue an alternative remedy provided by Article 28 of the constitution.

Justice Charles wrote: “Mr (Nicholas) Mitchell, appearing as counsel for the applicant, submitted that the enactment of the pandemic and lockdown orders were not reasonably justifiable because: (i) they were ultra vires

the power vested in the competent authority under the constitution, (ii) they were not reasonably required to meet the legislative outcome, and (iii) there was no rational connection between the orders and the purposes for which they were implemented. The orders, Mr Mitchell, minimally impair the constitutional rights and freedoms of business owners at Arawak Cay.” Ultimately, Justice Charles agreed with Mr Williams.

“What Mr Mitchell

has skillfully done is to rephrase what are, at their core, allegations of breaches of constitutional rights,” she wrote. “Despite that clever approach, at the end of the day, the applicants’ complaints are grounded in Article 29 of the constitution.”

Justice Charles did not order costs in the case, noting courts should be hesitant to do so when judicial review is sought in good faith.

Attorney Nicholas Mitchell appeared for Mr Armbrister.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, March 24, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

FORMER Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller.

Miller tight lipped over independent candidacy

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net FORMER Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller would not reveal yesterday if he still plans to run as an independent candidate after being snubbed for a nomination by the Progressive Liberal Party. However, he expressed his desire to still help the Bahamian people and work with those who seek out his assistance.

Meanwhile, the party’s Tall Pines candidate Dr Michael Darville said there is “no bad blood” between the two of them and called Mr Miller his “personal friend”.

When asked yesterday if he will do anything that is necessary to help the

YOUR

PLP win the next election, Mr Miller answered: “No doubt about it. I will do all in my power to see that there’s some positive change taking place in this country to enable our people who are (catching) so much hell today to advance themselves to get a better life. I’ll put my life on the line for that (cause).

“Under the PLP, I’ll put my life on the line for that (cause)... That people of this country are given a break, that they’re given a refuge from what they’re under now. I don’t know if y’all know what’s going on but as I went door to door in my constituency – the pain and suffering that our people are going through. It is so

significant…it is so harmful to their welfare.”

Still, he would not say if he plans to run for office as an independent, something he had previously threatened to do if he was not selected by the PLP. “You will be the first one I will tell. I promise you that,” he said yesterday.

Asked if the party has assured him that if the PLP wins the election officials will use his experience to their benefit in some way, Mr Miller said “not to my knowledge.”

He added: “Maybe you may tell me. You may know more than I know.”

Mr Miller said he has been working with Leslia Brice – his daughter and the party’s candidate in Seabreeze.

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

“I am working with her - doing an excellent job up here. Just finished cleaning up every single lot in addition to that just cleaned the whole perimeter of 50 percent of the place called Seabreeze…. I’ll work with anybody who would approach me to work with them.”

Last week, Senator Dr Michael Darville was ratified as the PLP’s candidate for Tall Pines. He was expected to be selected as he had been campaigning in the area for some time.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Dr Darville said while the race for the nomination was “aggressive”, he is sure Mr Miller will work with him to advance the PLP’s agenda.

“We were in a very very aggressive race and during that particular race things would be said but at the end of the day Mr Miller is a PLP like myself who’s engrafted in the philosophy of the party, understands very well the democratic process, and I’m very confident in short order we will join forces and he will work very closely with me to ensure that I become the next member of Parliament for Tall Pines.”

Dr Darville added: “Me and Mr Miller have been in communication for some time. My ratification process was only a matter of I think days or probably two weeks now. Now that I’m ratified the discussion between me and Mr Miller is ongoing.

“I would allow Mr Miller when he’s ready to speak directly to the media as to where we are with those, but from those discussions I feel very confident that me and him can work together in the best interest of the residents of Tall Pines and to be able to have that camaraderie as PLPs to ensure that the Progressive Liberal Party not only wins the Tall Pine constituency but form the next government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. I believe that he is that type of individual who is engrafted deeply in our party and will make a strong contribution to the country by way of the Progressive Liberal Party when we win the next general election.”

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

Darville explained what the PLP hoped to cover under this plan.

“We’re speaking about selective catastrophic care,” he said. “If you understand National Health Insurance and the staged approach that we talked about, initially the first stage was universal primary healthcare for all Bahamians with no payment at point of service. The second step was selective catastrophic care.

“The reason why that’s important is because when you begin to provide Bahamians with primary healthcare, you begin to find diseases that are in a more advanced stage and those individuals need to be referred to the public institution who do not have insurance... and so there will be a bottleneck and it is important that these individuals have access to these procedures and we must find a way to (do this) more effectively and we believe catastrophic healthcare will provide that avenue but it is first selective catastrophic healthcare before we move directly to universal

healthcare for all in the country.”

When asked how this will be paid for, he noted the country is in the midst of an economic downturn as a result of COVID and the shocks from natural disasters.

“The step forward must be well thought out. We must be able to present the need in order for us to take National Health Insurance from (its current state) to the next level and it is a discussion that must be with the Bahamian (public) so that they could begin to understand the importance of accessing proper healthcare.”

During his remarks, Switcha CEO Mervin Sweeting noted the need for better healthcare in the country.

“Healthcare is a problem because far too many times I would’ve had to personally help my employees to go to private doctors because of the inefficiencies from the public healthcare system and the timeframe and the general wellness of care,” Mr Sweeting said.

DARVILLE: WE WILL ROLL OUT CATASTROPHIC HEALTH CARE SENATOR Dr Michael Darville has recommitted the Progressive Liberal Party to rolling out catastrophic health coverage under National Health Insurance if the party wins the next election.

Dr Darville spoke of the plans as several PLP candidates toured the Switcha manufacturing facility on Gladstone Road yesterday and spoke of the PLP’s economic plan, which is focused on expanding manufacturing and business.

“It was the Progressive Liberal Party that launched National Health Insurance in its first phase and God willing with the opportunity and the support of the Bahamian people, we intend now to expand National Health Insurance to incorporate catastrophic care and to be able to provide necessary services for Bahamians throughout our country,” Dr Darville said during the event.

On the sidelines, Dr

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 24, 2021, PAGE 5

Former DNA leader says arrests a travesty

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net FORMER Democratic National Alliance leader Branville McCartney has questioned whether members of the party acted according to police’s recollection, adding if it were so, the group would have been arrested on the spot.

Mr McCartney was referring to Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle’s assertion that on March 3, members of the DNA had “pushed on officers” in an attempt to gain entry to the House of Assembly. Officials have said the group did not have a permit for their March 3 protest.

On the same day, police allege members of the DNA had also unlawfully assembled at Parliament Square, but the Commissioner said he made the decision to pursue the issue later.

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, the former Bamboo Town MP said the arrests of nine DNA members, including leader Arinthia Komolafe, was a “travesty to democracy”.

The group was released after several hours of questioning at Central Police Station on Monday. After police contacted both Mrs Komolafe and DNA chairman Omar Smith last week, the group went to the station for questioning. Once there, they were arrested.

“Certainly it was a travesty to democracy for what happened to the DNA and Mrs Komolafe,” Mr McCartney said yesterday.

“To me that reeks of politics and it’s a damn shame that something like that is happening and that the police are being used to facilitate it when it in fact we have so many issues

going on regarding crime and murders. It’s obvious as to what happened.

“I am flabbergasted that this would have happened in this day and age.”

Mr McCartney further raised the question of the group’s conduct when his attention was drawn to the Commissioner’s account of what took place three weeks ago.

“Don’t you think if there was some pushing they

would have been locked up at that time? Come on, man.”

It’s a situation that showed “obvious” bias, Mr McCartney said, adding it led him to offer Mrs Komolafe words of encouragement through WhatsApp. “I would tell you that I was in court yesterday (Monday) and when I came out and I saw what was happening on social media

and I sent Mrs Komolafe a WhatsApp note encouraging her to stand firm and continue to stand for what is right and what is good for the Bahamian people.”

With several political parties gearing up to contest the next general election, Mr McCartney said now is the time for groups to band together.

“I do think that there seems to be quite a number of political parties vying

for this election. I would say that there is strength in numbers and if it is at all possible for those parties to look at each other and see how they can work together under one umbrella in going up against those other parties, the PLP and FNM. “You do have fragmented groups all of which would have their particular support, but if you could bring all of that support together, I think it would have a

significant impact in this election so that is something that I would advise.

“You won’t agree with everything that each particular party would go on but it’s the foundation of your belief, the benefit of moving this country forward for the benefit of the Bahamian people, putting the Bahamian people first and ensuring that we have a better way of life - a more comfortable way of life, reducing the cost of living, using our natural resources to benefit the Bahamian people.

“I think if you have those fundamental values, I think you should make an attempt to get together and become a large force to contend in this next election.”

Asked why it took three weeks to act on this matter, Commissioner Rolle said Monday that by law he is allowed a timeframe of one year to take action where misdemeanours are concerned.

“I have a year,” he said during a press conference at Police Headquarters after the DNA members were released. “I am saying Parliament was still meeting and I didn’t wish to interfere with that. So, that’s really all there is to it. There is nothing political about it. I don’t see colours.

So, whether it’s red, yellow or green, everybody is treated the same. I believe my record on that is straight forward.”

The group was not charged, with Commissioner Rolle saying he had yet to make a determination as to whether anyone will be arraigned in court.

The investigation is continuing and will be wrapped up in a matter of days, he told reporters. If convicted the offences warrant fines and/or prison sentences.

wrong or I wanted a confrontation on the day of Parliament,’ so within his legal rights as the Commissioner of Police he decided to proceed summarily…

He then went on to tell me that he waited for this period until things kind of died down, reached out to the leader of the DNA and the others and said ‘Listen, I don’t want any confrontation here, I don’t want any big press around this, but I want to resolve this matter. Can you come so that we can have the matter resolved?’ Then I guess she decided along with her group to call the press and others joined in, you know, we have groups of the usual suspects who will come out, not having the information but who come out and say they’re standing for justice.

“We had a young man that went before the courts a few weeks ago for raping any number of women and I saw no one coming and standing up against that.

You have young men daily who are arrested and some may say they ought to have been given a break. I saw no one coming out to stand up against that. What are we saying? That the Commissioner should be very selective in how he applies the law? He had a year to do what he had to do. He made the decision that he would do it three weeks later.”

Mr Dames said no politician directed Commissioner Rolle to take the actions he did. He knocked the press for not demanding

proof before printing the claims of those who said the arrests were prompted by political interference.

“The Commissioner acted in good faith,” he said. “The Commissioner made it clear that he acted alone, in his capacity as Commissioner of Police.

We often speak about the independence of the Commissioner. Well there you have it. Whether you like his decision or not, the question remains, did he break the law? Did he abuse his authority? These are the questions that we must be asking.”

Speaking to reporters outside Cabinet yesterday, Attorney General Carl Bethel said he was surprised by what happened to the DNA supporters but was disturbed by the criticism surrounding the matter.

“I was as surprised as anybody else in The Bahamas by the events that occurred yesterday,” he said. “It is though disturbing to me - the suggestion that is implicit in a lot of the criticism - that there is a class of Bahamians, namely the political class, who are immune to the rule of the law.

“We understand that there is a distinction between a political action and crime, no question of that, but there may be instances - as has been shown elsewhere quite recently - where political action may cause alarm.

The appropriate agency to determine that is the police by an appropriate

investigation.

“I have no personal view as to whether a line was crossed, that is not my job, nor do I encourage anybody to speculate on the

matter. The appropriate constitutional authority to determine whether a law was broken is the police.

They are the investigating arm of the state. Once

they have made their determination, they will make that to a constitutionally independent public prosecutor, the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

EMMANUEL and Arinthia Komolafe exiting the police station.

Photo: Racardo Thomas

‘NO ONE TOLD COMMISSIONER TO ACT’ from page one

when they protested outside the House of Assembly several weeks ago.

“According to the Commissioner,” he said, “they marched without a permit, they were told by officers they were obstructing traffic along the way before they got to Bay Street and they were repeatedly told by officers not to obstruct traffic. They continued.

They came downtown and I believe that there was another demonstration taking place at the same time by the taxi drivers, a peaceful demonstration with a permit.

“The leader of the DNA and her team did not have a permit but that wasn’t the bigger problem, according to the Commissioner.

The bigger problem was this, that they proceeded to overrun the officers and take over Parliament and I believe that there are video clippings to that effect but I saw nothing from the media expressing dismay about (the behaviour of) persons who are seeking leadership in this country.

“The law does not apply to some but does not apply to others. We had a clear example that day. You had the taxi drivers that applied for a permit and they demonstrated peacefully. You had another group who did not apply for a permit and who probably did not see the need to apply for a permit and try to overrun Parliament.

But we are willing to overlook that and to say that someone’s rights are being infringed upon?

“The Commissioner, he expressed this to me, what he went on to say, he said ‘my officers did not take action that day because I did not want it to appear as if, you know, I was doing something

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PAGE 6, Wednesday, March 24, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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Talk of herd immunity is premature Talk of herd immunity is premature THE sun always shines in the world of Renward Wells.

As he drives to work, we suspect rainbows fill the skies and mermaids wave to him from the seas. Everything is wonderful – at least in his reality.

The Health Minister said he believes The Bahamas will achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 by the time the country enters the summer season.

Bold talk!

Bullishly, he said: “Through the COVAX facility we’re supposed to get over 100,000 doses of the vaccines.

We are right now looking at ways that we can source more AstraZeneca but given the fact of the amount of Bahamians who have already been exposed to COVID, you do the math, it says a lot of Bahamians have already been exposed based on the fact that we are about 8,700 positive.”

We are due to receive 100,000 doses from the COVAX facility – but only 33,600 doses are imminent. The rest, 64,200 doses, are not expected to arrive until the end of May. How on Earth are we to achieve herd immunity by the start of the summer if the vaccines aren’t arriving until the day before summer starts?

Even that full 100,000 – added to the 20,000 from India – won’t be enough to reach the levels of immunity needed to protect the whole nation. All those who have received their first vaccination will also need a second dose before we get anywhere near the herd immunity Mr Wells suggests. It’s just three months away.

Experts estimate that somewhere between 70 percent and 85 percent of the population must be protected to suppress the spread – and with what we have, and what we are promised, isn’t enough to get us there.

Unless Mr Wells knows about a substantial number of doses coming our way soon, then the math doesn’t support his claim that herd immunity is just around the corner.

Does he know about extra vaccines?

When asked, he said: “Bahamians can be assured that just like we brought in vaccines that we are going to get additional vaccines and continue our wonderful, excellent vaccination programme that is now underway in The Bahamas.”

That sounds like a no. Or perhaps a “we’re working on it”, plus some more rainbows and unicorns in the world

where the vaccination programme is wonderful and excellent and not just starting out. Make no mistake, it’s made a solid start, but let’s not oversell it.

After all, the problem is that if you do pretend everything is wonderful and you minimise the threat of the virus, you might just make people think there’s nothing to worry about any more and out they go and catch COVID-19. You might put people off getting the vaccination because they think it doesn’t matter if we really are close to herd immunity.

You also risk looking foolish.

In February last year, then US President Donald Trump said that the virus was “a problem that’s going to go away” and went on to say “…when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done”.

He even said last February: “It’s going to disappear. One day – it’s like a miracle – it will disappear.”

The US has, of course, suffered 543,000 deaths since then.

Mr Wells could have given firmer answers on when we can expect the extra doses. But until we have those doses, we are a long way from reaching the herd immunity he talks about.

We invite Mr Wells to present his math – and as our teachers always used to say, show your work.

Same as it ever was

Be bold.

That’s the challenge from the InterAmerican Bank to the government on raising infrastructure spending.

Did we really need to be told that?

As we look around our country, can we not see the wilted and faded parts of our country that are in dire need of sprucing up?

How long have we heard about the need for airport improvements, for public transport improvements, and more?

The bank’s report even challenges the government to use the momentum created by the twin crises of Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 to bring change.

That sounds good, but many in areas hit

by Hurricane Dorian will say there’s not a lot of momentum to be seen.

So, yes, being bold is a good idea to revive our nation. But then again, it always was.

Markle for president?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE are living in serious times. But what makes it worse is that certain persons who are in positions to influence public opinion are making a joke of our predicament – particularly in the United States, where it is now being suggested that Meghan Markle, who could not adapt to palace life in the UK, is now interested in running for president of the United States!

It is claimed that one of the reasons that she was not keen to give up her

American citizenship when she married Prince Harry was that she wanted the option left open to her in case she could one day realise her dream to become the first female president of the United States! Just to think that she was not smart enough to get a thorough briefing before marrying Prince Charles as to what life would be like in the Palace and how much she would have to adapt to a new world – now she wants to aim for the stars? I refuse to believe that she could be this dumb.

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If she hadn’t the smarts to prepare herself for palace life what makes anyone think that she could be president of anything? Let’s hope that she is smart enough to spare both herself and the public such a catastrophic embarrassment.

“I would state categorically that she has no chance of ever running for president. She would be eaten alive,” Andrew Morton, author of “Meghan A Hollywood Princess” commented. He made this observation last year – long before Meghan confirmed his opinion of her leadership abilities in her recent sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey.

After the disaster of Donald Trump, I pray the Lord will spare us from another catastrophe!

LET’S GET SERIOUS March 22, 2021

Home ports, tourism and recovery EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE one single brightest light in The Bahamas recently is the announcement by Crystal Cruise Lines that it intends to make the Prince George Wharf its home port. I understand that there are other cruise lines which are also considering doing the same. This is a fantastic piece of good news, for a change, and pardon the pun but like noted realtor and businessman, Mr Mario Carey stated the other day, this is a potential “game changer” for our tourism industry and the second home market.

I have long advocated that the best performing ministry is that of Tourism & Aviation headed by the hard working, indomitable and laser focused Minister of Tourism & Aviation, the Hon Dionisio D’Aguilar (FNM-Free Town), bar none. This man is seemingly all over the place crafting and seeking innovative ways to bring our economy back as quickly as possible.

Yes, concessions will have to be made if cruise and airline operators are to be drawn back to our shores in the shortest time possible.

Almost 60% of our gross tourism and domestic

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net earnings are from tourism.

Indeed, for many years it was said that tourism was/is the goose that lays golden eggs. Some 40 odd thousands of Bahamians are/were employed in the hospitality sector before the advent of the COVIS19 pandemic. Dorian did some damage but they were correctable. With the pandemic most individuals, Bahamians included, would have been restricted by health protocols and border closings world wide from international travel.

Hotel properties were obliged to either close down and lay off staff with no reopening date in sight.

This, of course, devastated the local industry and led to massive unemployment, the likes of which many of us have never seen or experienced before. With this good news from Crystal Cruises, we are on track to rebound quickly. We are in an electoral season and even though I am not an FNM, I would strongly urge the Competent Authority, et al, to give D’Aguilar a ‘free hand’ to deal with and resolve tourism related

issues and concerns.

If Minnis and them were smart people they would move rapidly to acquire the International Airport in Freeport without wasting any more time. That airport needs to be up and running , even while construction and refurbishing are going on. Airlift is critical to the revitalisation of Grand Bahama. The return of the cruise ships into GB may take a longer time but get that airport now. They would also get rid of Our Lucayan even at a fire sale price. Government should never be in the hotel operations and management business.

There will be several casualties, politically, in what might well turn out to be a Yellow Wave as opposed to a Red Wave this time around. Whatever happens if D’Aguilar were to be able to achieve the above, he and others may escape utter destruction. Thank you Minister D’Aguilar for your fortitude; hard working abilities and your visionary plans for our #1 and most important industry. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, March 23, 2020.

Christian Council report on COVID EDITOR, The Tribune.

WELL the world must be waiting with bated breath on the outcome of the Christian Council’s report on the COVID vaccine.

On what basis is their research founded? Scientific research? Do they have epidemiologists, scientists and doctors in their ranks?

It beggars belief as to why a religious organisation whose philosophy for our lives is steeped in the middle ages should have

any say on the suitability of the vaccine.

Whether people like it or not and regardless of the terrifying stupidity about the whole vaccine issue your life will shortly be put on hold if you do not have the vaccine and the vaccine documentation.

When the world is largely vaccinated the likes of Atlantis and Baha Mar and all major employers will not allow staff back to their place of employment without proven vaccination

documentation.

Similarly with air travel you will not get on a plane or indeed a cruise ship without the vaccine.

I would recommend the Christian Council adhere to what they are good at removing money from their parishioners via tithes and keep away from scientific advice on issues beyond their comprehension.

THE REALIST Nassau, March 23, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 24, 2021, PAGE 7

LANDLORD TOLD TO PAY BACK MONEY

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A LANDLORD who pocketed downpayments from two potential tenants she failed to rent her property to was yesterday ordered to reimburse the people she stole from.

Desire’e Bain, 56, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes charged with two counts of stealing by reason of service.

Prosecutors said Bain stole $1,700 cash from Jaynal Woods in November 2020 and another $1,300 from Donavon Newbold two months later in January 2021.

The court heard Mr Newbold contacted Bain because he wanted to rent her apartment for his mother. The complainant paid Bain his first month’s rent and a

security deposit. However, when he consulted Bain about moving in, she told him the unit was unavailable.

When Newbold requested his cash back, Bain told him she was unable to pay back the money.

Yesterday, Magistrate Forbes told Bain if she took a person’s money prior to them moving into her premises, she ran the risk of being held liable. He also told her the fact she was unable to return the money suggested that she had misappropriated it without consent.

After admitting the offences, Bain said she was in the position to reimburse Mr Newbold that same day.

The magistrate ordered the defendant return the $1,700 to Ms Woods by May 7. He warned her if she didn’t, she would be sentenced to one month on remand.

BAIL FOR BREAK-IN SUSPECT

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

AN Eleuthera man who denied breaking into a man’s home on the island was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial.

Kendall Rolle appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis after he was accused of breaking into Solomon Johnson’s residence sometime between March 12 and

13. He was also accused of indecently assaulting a woman between that same timeframe.

During the arraignment, the Gregory Town native denied the allegations. As a result, Magistrate Rolle Davis adjourned his matter to July 20 for trial.

Rolle was granted $8,500 bail in the interim. He is required to sign into the North Eleuthera police station on Wednesdays and Saturdays on or before 7pm.

MAN ACCUSED OF RAPE

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 35-YEAR-OLD man was charged with rape in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Prosecutors allege Akeem Brooks had sex with a 19-year-old woman without her consent on February 28.

During his hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes, he was not required to enter a plea and his case was adjourned to April 23 for service of a voluntary bill indictment.

Brooks was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until that time. He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

THE BICYCLES being donated to the Grand Bahama Children’s Home.

Bikes donated to Children’s Home

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE Pilot Club of Lucaya presented six bicycles and safety helmets for the children at the Grand Bahama Children’s Home yesterday.

Karen Ferguson, governor-elect, said the initiative was spearheaded by Pilot Governor Tiffany Glass in New Providence and the District Administration Council.

She said that Pilot International wants to focus on child safety by ensuring the wearing of helmets whenever they ride their bicycles.

“We are giving helmets to students or children who don’t have helmets.

As March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, we want all children to be safe when they ride their bicycles or tricycles.”

Ms Ferguson believes the earlier children start learning how to protect themselves while playing, they will continue this practice as they get older.

She noted that her counterparts in New Providence are doing similar presentations simultaneously in Nassau.

Ms Ferguson said the group is delighted to give back to the children’s home.

Sarah Kirkby, executive director of the home, said the presentation of the bicycles came at the right time.

“We are thrilled to have this donation because our children…have been stuck inside for a very long time when they returned to Freeport in October, and sadly we could not get them back in school because we were worried about COVID-19.”

Ms Kirkby said that they were very short on toys, bikes, and recreation activities at the home.

There are currently 34 children at the facility, Ms Kirkby said, adding that they are now back in school.

“We continue to be amazed by the donations that pour into our home… and we cannot say thank you enough.

We thank Pilot and everyone else for what they do for the GB Children’s Home,” she said.

How can people STILL think it’s a woman’s job to look after the home?

PAGE 8, Wednesday, March 24, 2021

THIS week, a family’s story was made public in a request for financial assistance. The wife and mother had been financially supporting the family of four while the husband was a stay-at-home father. The mother is now seeking financial assistance to help her support herself and her children because her spouse has abandoned them. There is more to the story, but the part that is relevant here is that, in both anger and humour, people have made comments that make clear their disregard for domestic and care work because it is still considered “women’s work”.

In January, I wrote in this column about domestic work. There was a focus on Bahamian attitudes toward migrant workers, domestic work and what it is worth. This time, let’s look at domestic and care work within the family and as a contribution to economic production.

A New York Times article published in March last year, for International Women’s Day, put the value of women’s unpaid labour at $10.9 trillion higher than the revenue of Walmart, Apple and

By Alicia Wallace

domestic duties. The econ- labour, but by the labour omy changed and women’s of women that took place participation in it changed behind the scenes. significantly, but gender Today most households ideologies remained the depend on two incomes. It same. Women then start- is not as easy and, in many ing working two shifts cases it is impossible, for — their paid work out- a family to get by on one side of the home and the income so we do not see as unpaid labour at home many stay-at-home moththat was not shared by the ers. Still, like decades ago, Amazon. It noted little preparing meals, taking men. there is the misconception attention is paid to this care of children and other Before that domestic labour until it is disrupted, tasks such as collecting women started ‘Men’s paid and care work and it is unequally distrib- mail and rearing animals entering the work was are for women, uted. In the US women depending on the family’s workforce, their regardless of do four hours of unpaid resources. Some women domestic and made possible whether or labour while men, on aver- took on work they could do care labour was by women’s not we are in age, do two and a half from home such as dress- what allowed unpaid work the workforce. hours. Countries with the making to help make ends men — their Feminist organlargest difference in time meet. husbands, sons which means isers are talking During the Second and spent on unpaid labour brothers the economy more about the between men and women World War, many (white) — to underburden of was not only are India, Turkey and Por- women entered the work- take paid work. domestic and tugal. It is not surprising force for the first time. The While the men fuelled by men’s care work, the those with the smallest men were away and there were out work- labour, but by need to value difference are Sweden, was work to be done, so ing for pay, it, and the the labour of Denmark, Norway and women became factory women were importance Canada. workers, auxiliaries to the ensuring their women that of sharing it.

For many years, women armed forces, drivers and homes were took place Feminist econwere relegated to the nurses. With women work- clean, meals omists point domestic sphere while ing, it was critical that care were prepared behind the out this unpaid men went out to work needs be otherwise met. for them, cloth- scenes.’ work should and earned the income For example, nurseries ing was washed, be factored needed to provide for their were funded by states. dried, and ironed and chil- into the gross domestic households. They paid for Since the Second World dren were clean and being product (GDP) as it is accommodation, food and War, women continued educated. Men’s paid work directly linked to economic other necessities. Women to work. Even in homes was made possible by wom- production. were tasked with keep- where the men returned, en’s unpaid work which Of course, there are ing the house clean, doing women continued to means the economy was households that are far laundry, grocery shopping, have the responsibility of not only fuelled by men’s ahead having recognised that domestic and care work are, in fact, work. No matter who is doing it, it requires time, effort and skill. It is full-time work when a household can hire someone to do it, but simply a duty when someone — usually a woman or girl — in the family does it.

We are seeing more men participate in domestic and care work. It may not be a 50:50 split, but some people are realising it should not be the women’s burden and it is unfair to expect one person to take on so much work in addition to their formal employment.

All work has value, no matter who does it. We have to not only recognise that value, but share the burden of unpaid work. It is unacceptable to expect women to take on these tasks simply because we are women. We are not naturally better suited to it.

Society has taught us there are specific requirements we must all meet in order to be seen as “real men” and 1. The Body Myth by Rheeaa On its third season, this ABC tough decisions and tests friendship. “real women” and those Mukherjee. drama series follows a group of 3. Sunday Drive. requirements are based In this novel, Mira is drawn into the friends immediately after the death of Every week, Bahamian DJ on the social construct lives of Sara and Rahil by what seems one member of the group. When Jon Ampero creates a playlist this is perof gender. This construct to be a chance encounter—seeing dies by suicide, everyone is shocked fect for, you guessed it, a nice drive limits us in many ways and Sara have seizure in the park. Sara’s because he always seemed so happy on a Sunday. It is also perfect for leads to dehumanisation of husband Rahil recruits Mira to be and was a central figure in their lives. relaxing showers, dinners at home certain groups of people.

Sara’s friend. Mira tries to figure out As they band together, this group of and doing laundry. Sunday Drive is a The suggestion that a whether or not Sara is truly sick and, friends deals with the reveal of secrets great way to find new songs and artman is not a man because if she is, how Rahil may be causing it. new and old. From Rome dragging ists to add to your own. This week’s he is a stay-at-home father What seems like a story of friendship himself through a job he hates to Gary playlist includes Carry Me Home by who takes care of his chilbecomes a love story, a mystery and refusing to accept Maggie’s decision KOKOROKO, Pineapple Jam by dren and the household is commentary on the human body. not to have chemotherapy, season Saib and As You Are by cktrl. Find it ignorant and harmful. Just 2. A Million Little Things. one is packed with important themes, on Spotify and Tidal. as women have done this work for decades, enabling

SPARE MOMENTS...

THE TRIBUNE

their husbands to work, men can do the same to enable women to work. In dual income-households, it is favourable for people to share the unpaid labour so that no one has to work the entire second shift.

Contrary to the misguided assertions made on social media over the past few days — and for much longer in social dialogue — when someone is earning an income while their partner takes care of the household and children, it is a fair exchange. The incomeearning partner is not “taking care of” the partner working in the home.

Income does not determine whether or not an activity is work and it certainly does not determine the value of that work.

The story that was shared about the Bahamian woman in need of assistance is sad. It is upsetting. It looks as though the woman and her children have been wronged, abandoned by her partner and their other parent. It is possible to express displeasure and even disgust at the actions of her partner without insulting people — both women and men — by devaluing the domestic and care work they do. We do not “take care of” live-in domestic or care workers.

We compensate them for their work. It is quite similar in the household. One person’s work makes it possible for the other person to work.

Dusting the furniture, sweeping and mopping the floor, making the beds, doing the laundry, making the bank deposits, paying the utility bills, supervising the children’s virtual schooling, visiting grandparents and cooking dinner are tasks that can be done by people of all genders.

They are disproportionately done by women and mostly women who also have paid work. Men need to share the burden of that work.

We need to understand the gender boxes we have been put in do not serve us.

They were built to make it easy to profit off of us, convincing us that our value was tied to what we were able to produce. By now, we should know we are more than that. Given our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, we should also see and feel the weight of the invisible labour other people have been doing while we were not looking.

It is not too late to make the shift for an equitable division of labour which is not based on gender but our care and commitment to each other as families, communities and nations.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, March 24, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

He bought a gun. Six days later, he used it to slaughter ten people in a supermarket BOULDER, Colorado Associated Press POLICE yesterday identified a 21-year-old man as the suspect who opened fire inside a crowded Colorado supermarket, and court documents showed that he purchased an assault weapon less than a week before the attack that killed ten people, including a police officer.

Supermarket employees told investigators that Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa shot an elderly man multiple times on Monday outside the Boulder grocery store before going inside, according to the documents. Another person was found shot in a vehicle next to a car registered to the suspect’s brother.

Authorities said Alissa was from the Denver suburb of Arvada and that he engaged in a shootout with police inside the store.

The suspect was being treated at a hospital and was expected to be booked

into the county jail later in the day on murder charges.

Investigators have not established a motive, but they believe he was the only shooter, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said.

In Washington, President Joe Biden called on Congress to tighten the nation’s gun laws.

“Ten lives have been lost, and more families have been shattered by gun violence in the state of Colorado,” Biden said at the White House.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to bring forward two Housepassed bills to require expanded background checks for gun buyers.

Biden supports the measures, but they face a tougher route to passage in a closely divided Senate with a slim Democratic majority.

The suspect purchased the assault weapon just six days before the shooting, on March 16, according to the arrest affidavit released

Tuesday. It was not immediately known where the gun was purchased.

The shooting came ten days after a judge blocked a ban on assault rifles passed by the city of Boulder in 2018. That ordinance and another banning largecapacity magazines came after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead.

A lawsuit challenging the bans was filed quickly, backed by the National Rifle Association. The judge struck down the ordinance under a Colorado law that blocks cities from making their own rules about guns.

A law enforcement official briefed on the shooting said the suspect’s family told investigators they believed Alissa was suffering some type of mental illness, including delusions.

Relatives described times when Alissa told them people were following or

COLORADO shooting suspect Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa. chasing him, which they said may have contributed to the violence, the official said. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

The attack was the nation’s deadliest mass shooting since a 2019 assault on a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, where a gunman killed 22 people in a rampage that police said targeted Mexicans.

The gunfire sent terrorised shoppers and employees scrambling for cover. SWAT officers carrying ballistic shields slowly approached the King Soopers store while others escorted frightened people away from the building,

A MAN leaves a bouquet on a police cruiser parked outside the Boulder Police Department after an officer was one of the victims of a mass shooting at a King Soopers grocery store.

Photo: David Zalubowski/AP

Photo: Boulder Police Department

which had some of its windows shattered. Customers and employees fled through a back loading dock to safety. Others took refuge in nearby shops.

Multiple 911 calls paint a picture of a chaotic, terrifying scene, according to the affidavit.

One caller said the suspect opened fire out the window of his vehicle.

Others called to say they were hiding inside the store as the gunman fired on customers. Witnesses described the shooter as having a black AR-15-style gun and wearing blue jeans and maybe body armor.

By the time he was in custody, Alissa had been struck by a bullet that passed through his leg, the affidavit said. He had removed most of his clothing and was dressed only in shorts.

Inside the store, he had left the gun, a tactical vest, a semiautomatic handgun and his bloodied clothing, the affidavit said.

After the shooting, detectives went to Alissa’s home and found his sister-in-law, who told them that he had been playing around with a weapon she thought looked like a “machine gun”, about two days earlier, the document said.

A tapestry and a pillow blocked a narrow window next to the front door at the Arvada home believed to be owned by the suspect’s father. No one answered the door after several knocks, but young children occasionally pulled the pillow aside and peered out of the window. The twostory home with a three-car garage sits in a relatively new middle- and upperclass neighborhood.

Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold identified the slain officer as Eric Talley, 51, who had been with the force since 2010. He was the first to arrive after responding to a call about shots fired and someone carrying a gun, she said.

Homer Talley, 74, described his son as a devoted father who “knew the Lord”. He had seven children, ages seven to 20.

“We know where he is,” his father said from his ranch in central Texas. “He loved his family more than anything. He wasn’t afraid of dying. He was afraid of putting them through it.”

The other dead ranged in age from 20 to 65. They were identified as Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jodi Waters, 65.

Leiker, Olds and Stong worked at the supermarket, said former coworker Jordan Sailas.

Olds’ grandmother choked up on the phone as she described the young woman she played a large role in raising. “She was just a very kind and loving, bubbly person who lit up the room when she walked in,” said Jeanette Olds, 71, of Lafayette, Colorado.

The attack in Boulder, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, stunned a state that has seen several mass shootings, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting.

Monday’s attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the US, following the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses.

Biden announced that flags nationwide would be lowered in memory of the victims — an order that comes just as a previous flag-lowering proclamation expired for those killed in the Atlanta-area shootings. Together the two orders mean near-continuous national mourning for almost two weeks.

EXIT POLLS INDICATE NO CLEAR WINNER IN ISRAELI ELECTION JERUSALEM Associated Press

EXIT polls indicate there is no clear winner in yesterday’s Israeli election, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fate uncertain and signaling continued political deadlock.

The polls on Israel’s three main TV stations showed Netanyahu and his religious and nationalist allies, as well as diverse array of opponents, both falling short of a parliamentary majority. That could set the stage for weeks of paralysis and even an unprecedented fifth consecutive election.

Exit polls are often imprecise and the official results may not be known for days.

The exit polls conducted

by Channels 11, 12 and 13 were nearly identical, showing Netanyahu and his allies with 53-54 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel’s parliament. His opponents were projected to win 59, and Naftali Bennett’s Yamina party was projected to win 7-8.

If the final results are in line with the exit polls, both sides will have to court Bennett, a former Netanyahu ally with strained relations with the prime minister, to form a majority of at least 61 seats.

Bennett shares Netanyahu’s hard-line nationalist ideology but has signaled he would be open to cooperating with his rivals if given the chance to be prime minister.

The election is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s divisive rule, and once again, opinion polls had forecast an extremely tight race.

The three-month campaign was largely devoid of substantive issues and focused heavily on Netanyahu’s personality and whether he should remain in office. In contrast to past elections where he faced off against a clear rival, this time a diverse array of parties is trying to topple him, having little in common beyond their shared animosity toward him.

“Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote,” Netanyahu said after casting his ballot in Jerusalem, his wife, Sara, at his side.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara cast their ballots at a polling station as Israelis vote in a general election, in Jerusalem , yesterday.

Photo: Ronen Zvulun/AP