04032020 NEWS AND SPORT

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The Tribune

Volume:117 No.93, APRIL 3RD, 2020

Established 1903

Weekend

A COMIC’S VIEW: SHOPPING RULES ARE ALPHABET SOUP

‘We’ll help - but don’t try to land’

Govt signals it won’t allow cruise ships to send anyone here

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas government signalled yesterday that it will not accept people infected with COVID19 from ships stranded in Bahamian waters despite a US Coast Guard bulletin that foreign-flagged vessels should seek help from countries in which they are registered.

In a carefully worded statement, Transport Minister Renward Wells said The Bahamas would help people sheltering-in-place

aboard cruise ships in its waters.

However, his statement did not express outright refusal to disembark sick passengers in this country, stopping well short of the language he used when a Fred Olsen cruise ship, with infected people on board, came this way last month.

On Wednesday, Rear Admiral EC Jones, commander of the Seventh Coast of the US Coast Guard, singled out The Bahamas as he urged foreign-flagged ships lingering SEE PAGE THREE

LLOYDRA CashBowleg, the daughter of the Bimini woman who died from COVID-19, said she did not watch Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ press conference on Wednesday because she does not expect a full and frank disclosure about why her mother was not helped in time.

“I didn’t watch it because I knew they are not going to be completely open and honest with anything at this time,” she said yesterday.

“More information needs to be provided.”

The death of Kim Johnson-Rolle has sparked concerns about the readiness of Family Islands for COVID-19 after it took some 24-hours to get her from Bimini, where she began experiencing respiratory distress, to New Providence, where she died soon after arrival.

Dr Franklyn Walkine, CEO of AAS Life Flight Air Ambulance Services, said through a representative yesterday that he is SEE PAGE TWO

CHILD, NINE, AMONG NEW CASES OF INFECTED

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has jumped by three to 24 and a nineyear-old girl is among the infected.

Meanwhile, a 72-yearold healthcare worker with COVID-19 is in the intensive care unit.

The three new cases include a 79-year-old New Providence man and an 80-year-old Grand Bahama man, both of whom had no history of travel; and a nine-year-old girl from New Providence who has a direct link to case eight, officials said.

SEE PAGE THREE

EGGS GO UP 100 PERCENT - APPARENTLY NOT GOUGING

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

KIM’S FAMILY FEAR THEY WON’T GET ALL ANSWERS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

CURVING OUT A CAREER

SHANAE Strachan is breaking into the New York fashion industry in a big way - representing “curvy” Bahamian women. Read all about her fashion dream in today’s Weekend section.

JUDGES QUASH 35-YEAR MURDER CONVICTION

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal yesterday overturned the 35-year murder sentence of a man who was accused of shooting another man in the face at a bar in 2014, after he challenged the trial judge’s decision on the basis of “material irregularities and the judge’s decision to reject his no case submission.”

On March 19, 2017,

GARVIN Adderley at a previous court hearing.

Garvin Adderley was convicted of the murder of Marcus Miller Jr and

sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment six months later on September 19, 2017. He filed his Criminal Form No 1 on November 8, 2017, and then filed a summons and supporting affidavit on April 23, 2019.

Yesterday, Justices Jon Isaacs, Maureen CraneScott and Roy Jones ruled that there was not enough “admissible identification evidence” provided to link Adderley to the shooting death of Miller.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

A LEADING food retailer yesterday reassured Bahamian consumers “there’s no price gouging on eggs” despite prices increasing by “more than 100 percent” over the past two weeks.

Philip Beneby, head of the Retail Grocers Association, said demand in the US and other countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic is “driving up the cost” and prompting numerous complaints from local shoppers.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

‘IT’S GOING TO BE HARD TO ASSIST EVERYONE’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday said he was “on his knees” hoping the cruise lines’ Grand Bahama projects pull through, as he warned: “Government cannot rescue everyone from this crisis.”

Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar acknowledged that both Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) are likely to adopt a “wait and see” approach to those investments once the COVID-19 pandemic eases.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

PAGE 2, Friday, April 3, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

KIM’S FAMILY FEAR THEY WON’T GET ALL ANSWERS from page one

awaiting the result of the investigation that Dr Minnis mentioned during Wednesday’s press conference.

According to The Nassau Guardian, Dr Walkine said there were no isolation (ISO) chambers in the country to safely transport Mrs Johnson-Rolle to New Providence. The containment chamber is used to transport infected people.

Dr Walkine reportedly said the company will have the needed equipment to transfer patients going forward.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force ultimately air-lifted Mrs JohnsonRolle and a medical team to New Providence.

But Mrs Cash-Bowleg, 37, said yesterday in response: “They said they are prepared. Wasn’t that supposed to be the preparedness? If you are prepared, how come you

don’t have what you need?”

As her family frantically tried to get her mother off Bimini, Mrs Cash-Bowleg said the lack of an ISO chamber was never identified to them as an obstacle.

“The contact we figured they would have with us was not there,” she said.

She doesn’t think her island is ready for the pandemic.

“We don’t have that sense of security from what we have been hearing and listening to and we aren’t hearing what we need to hear,” she said.

“We need to hear that living on this island, if an emergency arises, with this air shutdown going on, there is a way to get us off this island no matter what.

Suppose someone needs to be treated for something?

There is no security right now. It’s (already) difficult when you have a clinic that don’t have this, don’t have that, but this situation just

makes everything worse.

“We’re just trying to grieve and get to another day.”

Mrs Cash-Bowleg said she and her other family members are now in quarantine.

They were told to take vitamins and were given a temperature reading device. Someone from the clinic, she said, calls twice a day to find out their temperature reading.

However, she said despite the close contact she and others had with her mother, none of the family members have been tested for COVID-19. So far, none of them have shown symptoms of the disease.

“We would like to be tested,” she said. “We’ve heard nothing on that yet but we had close contact with her. We’re not afraid, though, because we believe in the God that my mom served and that He will keep us.”

KIM JOHNSON-ROLLE, who was the first Bahamian to die from the coronavirus outbreak.

BAHAMIAN SCIENTIST IN FLORIDA SHOWING SYMPTOMS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

DR DANELLE RolleMcFarland, a Bahamian research scientist living in Florida, has all the symptoms of someone who should test positive for COVID-19.

She has “gripping” chest pressure, trouble breathing, fever, body aches and a menacing hacking dry cough.

While both she and her physician were sure her body was being ravaged by the potentially deadly novel coronavirus, Dr Rolle-McFarland tested negative.

It was an eyebrow-raising result, one her doctor called a “false negative”.

Dr Rolle-McFarland has been self-quarantining and following her doctor’s advice on treating her symptoms for the last three weeks.

The researcher for a cancer biotech company told The Tribune yesterday that while her condition is improving, she continues to combat extreme tiredness and is plagued by a cough.

DR DANELLE ROLLE-MCFARLAND Dr Rolle-McFarland has also lost her sense of smell and taste.

During our interview with the 29-year-old via phone, her cough was persistent. The virus, she said, was far worse than living through swine flu in 2009.

Her troubles started in early March shortly after a work trip to New York.

There, the Nassau native

had come into contact with a colleague from New Rochelle, NY. The small city, just North of New York City, was considered a hotspot for the virus because a cluster of cases popped up there, forcing the state to enforce quarantine measures.

“I got back from New York at the beginning of the month and usually when I

fly I get a little sniffle (and) I get groggy, but then I started to have a fever and then I woke up the next day and I said something’s not right,” she recalled.

“So just over the course of the couple of days I started to have fevers. I started to be really achy. I had a headache and then I started coughing.

“I knew at that time a colleague of mine, she’s from New Rochelle. That neighbourhood in New York is where they had that really bad outbreak and so she had gotten quarantined, in fact her whole neighbourhood did.

“So then I was just watching the symptoms and kind of aligned them with what the CDC and World Health Organisation were saying.”

Her attempts to self-medicate using over-the-counter medications had not helped, so the next move was to contact health officials.

“I hate going to the doctor. I first did the normal things they tell you to take for the coughing and fever and I was doing the social distancing and isolating.

“A few days in, I said this isn’t working. I felt

really bad and decided to call the health department first. They told me because I hadn’t come into contact with a confirmed case I couldn’t get tested by them but they told me to call my physician and go in to them.

“I was kinda back and forth between them and my doctor and then finally my doctor said come in.

“All the while I was slowly deteriorating and realising I couldn’t just sit here.”

Once she did go in to her physician, it took about one week and half to get the results due to a backlog.

“When the test did come back negative, my doctor didn’t believe it was accurate. They wanted me to come back and be retested but at that point I was like no, not to be waiting another week and a half for results.

“So here I am. He said assume what I have is indeed COVID-19 and just keep isolating myself.”

Of her experience, the most terrifying has been difficulty breathing, she said.

“I think the shortness of breath was the scariest part.

I know we are comparing

it to the flu and a lot of the symptoms are flu-like, but that shortness of breath - like I would cough and literally would be doubled over because I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“That would be the part where I tell people it was scary.”

Currently, Dr RolleMcFarland is on a cough suppressant, inhaler and recently completed antibiotics for an infection. She said she’s been told to go into an emergency room if the symptoms worsen and continue to self-isolate.

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, health officials say do not visit a doctor. Instead call your physician to arrange the next steps and avoid exposing others.

For more information, contact the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Hotline at 376-9350 (8am-8pm) and 376-9387 (8pm – 8am); 502-7382 or toll free 1-242-300-2619.

Information and updates on COVID-19 can also be found at https://www. covid19.gov.bs and the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 3, 2020, PAGE 3

‘We’ll help - but don’t try to land’ from page one

beyond US territorial seas to seek flag state support because of the limited hospital capacity of US medical facilities. The rules apply to vessels carrying more than 50 people.

Mr Wells said in a statement: “The Bahamas has taken note of the United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Information Bulletin…giving guidance to foreign passenger vessels located in the Seventh District Area of Responsibility.

The bulletin makes reference to Bahamas-registered vessels in the context of limited medical facilities ashore in Miami and vicinity.

“We in The Bahamas have had a long standing and ongoing relationship with the US Coast Guard based on mutual interest and respect. The Bahamas is one of the first countries to have cooperated closely with the Coast Guard in combating human trafficking, narcotic trafficking and other illicit activities.”

Nonetheless, Mr Wells noted each party faces a unique challenge caused by the global pandemic and are “first and foremost” responsible for protecting

their respective populations while doing its best to support people shelteringin-place on board ships.

“We continue to work closely with the cruise industry,” he said, noting this country’s flag represents more ships than any other registry in the world.

“Our maritime authority works with our cruise ship owners in relation to the safe operation of these ships and the health and well-being of their passengers and seafarers,” he said. “Our nation has been responsive in enabling safe and responsibility solutions – within parametres - for cruise ships in the course of this pandemic.

“The cruise industry is facing an unprecedented crisis and we in The Bahamas, facing the same global crisis, are doing what we can to provide support. We have made intergovernmental contact where we could be helpful. We have devised safe methods of resupply of our flag cruise vessels that were running critically low on provisions, medical supplies and medical personnel. We have provided places of shelter, under carefully controlled conditions, for a number of vessels seeking to shelter in our waters. We have also

A PERSON on a stretcher is removed from Carnival’s Holland America cruise ship Zaandam at Port Everglades yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Passengers fit for travel in accordance with CDC guidelines will be permitted to disembark there. Photo: Lynne Sladky/AP given access to these sheltering vessels irrespective of country of registry, in the process accommodating ships of a number of flags in addition to our own.”

However, Mr Wells said, officials are aware that the country is trying to cope with the adversity Hurricane Dorian caused.

“We are indeed grateful for the tremendous generosity and kind assistance rendered by the United States during that catastrophic and challenging

period,” he said. “However, we recognise that as a result of Hurricane Dorian, The Bahamas is still functioning with limited capacity and capabilities, socially, economically and financially.

“What we have not been able to do is take people from the ships ashore in our population centres. We are a small island developing state with a national population in the three hundred thousands. We are proud of the medical care that we afford our people, but

it is scaled to our population size. Our system is not designed to deal with a massive influx of new COVID-19 patients from outside the country.”

In mid-March, the Braemar, which was turned away from The Bahamas and several Caribbean ports after passengers fell ill with COVID-19, was scheduled to dock in Cuba.

The island nation agreed to help transfer those aboard to planes bound for the United Kingdom, AP reported.

CHILD, NINE, AMONG NEW CASES OF INFECTED from page one

GRAYCLIFF restaurant serving takeout yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

ARCHBISHOP: FOLLOW ORDERS TO AVOID INFECTION ANGLICAN Archbishop Laish Boyd is urging residents to comply with the government’s extended emergency orders to avoid “widespread infection and death”.

His plea came in a pastoral letter issued in observance of Holy Week, which begins on Sunday.

The country is under a 24-hour curfew and a state of emergency until April 8, as the number of COVID-19 cases surge.

“These measures were entirely expected and were anticipated and even forecasted weeks ago,” Bishop Boyd noted.

“It is a part of the ongoing efforts to contain the Covid-19 coronavirus and to limit its spread. It presents inconvenience and ‘cramps our style’. It

is also hard to stay at home when so many of us are used to going out every day to school, work, etc.… and having a day comprised of diverse activity and locations.”

Bishop Boyd, who oversees the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, urged residents of both countries to obey the national regulations.

“I urge us to endure the inconvenience and restriction now in order to avoid widespread infection and death, and to accomplish a better day in the future. I call us to accept the wisdom of the disciplines which God created – science, medicine and public health, whose advice we live by generally – and to limit our movements and interactions.

“Being subject is an important part of life and of being human. Children are subject to their parents and to the principal, teachers, staff, curricula and routine of the school system.

Parents are obligated to creating and to maintaining an environment for their children, and to providing for their needs until they can provide for themselves. A married couple is subject to the vows they made and to the common life they build together.

When we are subject to someone or something it is not domination or a prison or something that demeans us; it is an obligation that we give ourselves to because it has a value larger than we are, larger than right now, larger than ego or desire or personal comfort or instant gratification.”

The Cuban government said it had decided to allow the Braemar to dock in the port of Mariel, about 35 miles (56 kilometres) west of the capital, “due to the urgency of the situation and the risk to the lives of sick people,” AP reported.

Olsen Cruises said that the ship had 22 passengers and 21 crew members in isolation after displaying flu-like symptoms and five aboard who tested positive for the new coronavirus at the time.

Almost all of the recently confirmed cases are people older than 55. It is not clear how many of them were tested through contact tracing or encounters with the healthcare system.

On Wednesday, health officials said the six confirmed cases announced that day included a 61-yearold woman who was a contact of a previous case; a 67-year-old woman; a 59-year-old man who has been hospitalised and a 96-year-old man who has also been hospitalised.

The Ministry of Health said case 17, a 67-year-old woman in New Providence, is under investigation, meaning contact tracing is ongoing in her case.

There are currently five confirmed cases of COVID19 in Grand Bahama, 18 confirmed cases in New Providence and one confirmed case from Bimini.

The country recorded its first COVID-19 death on Monday when 57-yearold Kim Johnson-Rolle died shortly after arriving in New Providence from Bimini.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis also revealed that using Geographic Information System mapping, health officials have identified a COVID19 hotspot in Grand Bahama and the eastern end of New Providence.

He urged people to obey

social distancing guidelines and to stay at home.

“Our greatest tool in the fight against this virus is following the public health advice to be physically distant from one another.

There is no vaccine for this virus as yet. There is no cure,” he said.

Dr Minnis also said 50 healthcare professionals have been sidelined because they were exposed to the virus.

He said a volunteer hotline is being set up to register people interested in contributing to the COVID-19 fight.

Asked what tools officials will use to address community spread in the eastern end of New Providence, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, the country’s COVID-19 coordinator, said there are various survey options under review by officials, including rapid testing, temperature monitoring and community quarantine. She said hotpots are determined by the number of contacts per case, among other things.

“We have plotted the cases, we’ve plotted the contacts, we’ve looked not only at the contacts but what the epic-curve is showing us so together temperature monitoring, temperature surveillance, rapid testing which is a survey tool not a diagnostic tool, and we’re looking at the contacts in the hotspots that are having symptoms,” she said on Wednesday.

PAGE 4, Friday, April 3, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Grand Bahama fears there could be more

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AS COVID-19 cases rise in Grand Bahama, there is concern there could be more infected people in the community who do not know they have the disease.

To date, there are five confirmed cases of COVID19 on the island, which has the second-highest population of over 50,000 in the country.

The Tribune reached out to locals yesterday about how they are coping under the emergency curfew.

Peter Adderley said the rise in cases presents cause for concern but believes Grand Bahamians will get through this crisis.

“Based on what the health professionals continue to say, one case likely means a number of traced contacts. While I feel bad for and sympathise with those impacted directly, I realise any and every case affects all of us here on Grand Bahama and the wider Bahamas,” he said.

Mr Adderley – who resides in Grand Bahama - provides consultant services for various companies and organisations in Freeport, New Providence, and

travels frequently between both islands and also to the Family Islands.

“I am coping well with the intensified precautionary measures and commend the government for its no-nonsense approach. I am spiritually grounded; my faith dominates any level of fear. I continue to encourage all to exercise the discipline necessary for us to win this pandemic battle,” he said.

Gail Woon is also taking many precautions to protect against COVID-19, such as wearing masks and gloves when going out.

She stays home and only goes out for absolute necessities like groceries/water.

“I disinfect anything brought in from outside. All measures are necessary to stop the spread of COVID19. We are complying with the curfew,” she said.

Attorney Constance McDonald said she is coping fine with the measures but misses going to the beach. “I plan my day; only had to go out once to the bank. I am also careful with my provisions because you don’t know how long it will last,” she added.

Ms McDonald said that she thanks God for life.

“As a woman of faith, I

know that whatever comes my way God will take care of me. I miss going to the beach, but I know that this too will pass.”

Dave Mackey, and his wife, Cathy, a teacher at Lucaya International School, spend 99 percent of their time at home or on their property. The couple communicates with their children in Canada daily through WhatsApp and the same with friends and other relatives, “From the announcement went out we’ve adhered all the way,” he said. Our lives are in our garden and our home,” he said.

Mr Mackey said his wife continues her classes with her students online at the regular class time, and he has started conducting e-marketing classes with business persons through the “Zoom” platform.

Mr Adderley commended both the Government and the Opposition efforts regarding the coronavirus.

“I am satisfied that our island and country will overcome COVID-19 setbacks. Minnis and Sands are talented and compassionate medical doctors and Turnquest gets it when it comes to saving our

economy and looking after the numbers.

Former Grand Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville is leading the Official Opposition’s efforts related to the coronavirus.

“During and in the aftermath of this almost invisible deadly monster, Grand Bahama and the wider Bahamian spirit will continue to shine. We will get through this,” he said.

“This experience has forced a greater level of respect and appreciation for our essential workers.

Let us keep them in our prayers,” Mr Adderley said.

FAMILY ISLANDS ON HIGH ALERT AFTER BIMINI DEATH

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

CORONAVIRUS fears on the Family Islands have heightened now the country has recorded its first COVID-19 death of a Bimini woman, officials told The Tribune yesterday.

This comes after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on Wednesday urged Family Island residents to stay home, after revealing that Kim Johnson-Rolle, a 57-year-old Bimini resident who died in New Providence Monday night, had tested positive for COVID-19. There are now 24 confirmed cases of infection.

Marlon Leary, the administrator for Inagua, said while residents on his island were taking the COVID-19 threat seriously long before it spread to the country, many locals are now on

high alert as a result of the prime minister’s latest statements.

“The concern level is very high now but we’ve prepared the best way we can because like I said, all of the various essential governments and departments - everybody is on high alert and like I said from the 1st of the month, even before the curfew, we all already had our protocols and stuff like that,” he said. “(But), everyone is hunkered down for the most part, staying indoors and doing the best they can because you know of that level of concern.

“So, for the most part, we’re doing what we have to do and we’re hoping for the best but in the meantime, we have prepared as best as we can here and you know the health staff is very small.”

After the country recorded its first COVID-19

case last month, Dr Minnis implemented several strict measures to prevent the further spread of the virus, including a national curfew and the suspension of certain services.

However, the prime minister has since tightened those measures and extended the country’s state of emergency orders from March 31 to April 8.

Speaking on the matter yesterday, Mr Leary said most Inagua residents appear to be complying with the rules issued by the prime minister, adding that police officers have had no problems since the curfew was implemented.

As it relates to the island’s COVID-19 level of preparedness, Mr Leary said officials have several measures put in place. “(At) the Ministry of Health, we have a small team. We have one doctor and two nurses. They’ve

identified two areas right on the compound, the clinic compound if we need to quarantine anybody.”

However, if a suspected COVID-19 patient required serious medical attention, he said: “The only thing we can do is alert officials in Nassau, the Ministry of Health officials and see how best they can deal with the situation and find a plan to come and airlift that person.”

Still, he said, everyone is hoping that the island will not have a COVID-19 case as officials are constantly informing the public on the importance of social distancing.

“So, all in all, the message is out to the public.

“We went on social media, passed the message out, me and the police officers. And then we have two radio stations here and we pass out information on

them and we let persons know that the best cure is prevention.”

Also echoing similar sentiments was Cat Island administrator Neil Campbell, who said officials were utilising the internet as a tool for communication.

Noting the island to be a very tight knit community, Mr Campbell said the community has been preparing for the virus by coming together and assisting where needed.

“As far as sanitizing the island, we sprayed up all the buildings, school yards, playgrounds, the bank, food stores, churches also our team treated for vermin and other rodents.”

And, in the event of an emergency, he said: “We have several persons on the island who have private planes and also, we have a private sort of commercial airline and…just as time passed before this

outbreak, if we had emergency flights and once they received clearance, they always flew persons out.”

Meanwhile, Ivan Ferguson, administrator for Exuma and Ragged Island, added: “In light of the recent death, it has really increased more awareness of the importance of following all of the directives.

“I could say that Exumians are more concerned now about their safety than in the past. They are adhering to the emergency order. I’m comfortable that we have enough food and essential items on the island… (and) health officials have officially identified a venue for the purpose of isolation.

“I think we have prepared the best way we can.”

Mr Ferguson said officials are also in constant communication with Ragged Island residents via “chat groups.”

VIRUS MAY MEAN CHANGES TO SCREENING FOR AIR CONTROLLERS

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AVIATION Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar revealed yesterday air traffic controllers may be screened electronically instead of being ‘patted down’ after complaints were made about lack of social distancing at the airport.

Controllers at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) reportedly

withdrew their labour claiming security personnel at the checkpoint for controllers had not been practising social distancing.

Mr D’ Aguilar said all air traffic controllers have to be screened, as it is a requirement for the airport to operate in compliance with regulations. He said officials are “trying to marry those requirements with the current situation” as they recognise and understand “these are extraordinary

circumstances”.

“So the screeners were provided with, and prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, all of the air traffic controllers had to be screened, had to be patted down to ensure that they were carrying nothing on their body,” he said.

“So when COVID-19 began to rise up, all of the screeners were given gloves, masks and a wand to wand them as opposed to patting them. Now the air traffic controllers are saying

that social distancing rules require you to be separated by six feet and it presents a problem. Like how do you screen someone from six feet away?”

The minister added protocol is being devised for electronic screening, but controllers may have to enter the facility at a different entrance in order for that to happen.

“Now typically they enter the ramp from a particular entrance but that entrance

does not have the capability to screen them electronically. So they’re going to have to be redirected to another ramp or another entrance point where they can be electronically screened I presume.”

He admitted the electronic screening process detects metallic objects and pat-down is needed to find contraband that is non-metallic.

He added Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority is the

regulatory agency that is responsible for devising the regime.

He assured the public that the airport is operational and there are currently people in the towers to deal with the light load, but he did not know the number of people working or controllers who had stopped coming to work.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, LPIA is closed to all incoming commercial passengers.

DOMES HANDED OVER IN ABACO THE first temporary domes were handed over to families in Abaco yesterday as part of recovery efforts following Hurricane Dorian.

The Bahamas Disaster Reconstruction Authority handed over the domes in Spring City to eight families.

The authority identified 32 families in Spring City who met the criteria for temporary housing.

The domes for the other 24 families are ready - but those families are currently off island.

“We are very happy that the residents of Spring City were able to receive keys to their domes today,” said Katherine Forbes-Smith,

managing director of the authority.

“Some of the residents are not on the island but we do have a list of names of 32 persons who have been contacted and will continue to be contacted over the next two days.

“This process has been a long and difficult one for many people whose homes have been destroyed. I think they were very happy to receive these domes because for the persons who live in Spring City, they want to be able to live close by their homes so in the rebuilding process they can keep an eye on their homes while they are rebuilding.”

The domes can accommodate four to six people.

John Michael Clarke, chairman of the authority, said: “They are built for extreme environments, able to withstand 180-mile-per-hour winds and have a functional life of 40 to 50 years.”

Victoria Archer was one of those to receive her keys.

“I really appreciate it.

And whoever had their hand in this, I’m thankful and grateful,” she said.

Natalie Hepburn McCardy signed up for a dome shortly after the storm.

“Today is a very good day, a special day for me because I have been hoping and praying that this day would come true,” she said.

Forty domes will be issued to East End, Grand Bahama residents.

ABACO resident Natalie Hepburn McCardy outside the domes in Spring City, Abaco.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 3, 2020, PAGE 5

Fusion employees ‘tired of excuses’

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

FUSION employees recently placed on unpaid leave amid the COVID-19 crisis have hit out at owners of the entertainment centre, saying they are tired of “excuses” about payroll.

Last week, the superplex told its employees Fusion was facing a payroll deficiency that would make it incapable of satisfying salaries for this pay period.

Prior to that, the company had also placed over 350 employees on unpaid leave after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced his first COVID-19 emergency order, calling for the suspension of most business operations in the country.

Employees affected by the entertainment centre’s closure said the situation did not surprise them, because they “saw the lay-offs coming”.

Those who spoke to this newspaper asked for their names to be changed to protect their identities.

“There’s constantly been excuses and so forth about payroll, about time cuts and basically about monies that we’ve worked for, so I would say in a nutshell we really saw this coming,” one employee, Gloria Greene, told The Tribune.

“The previous payroll we would have received was late as well and that was before the coronavirus outbreak, so all this comes as no shock to us as employees.”

Ms Greene said they had heard rumours about the delay of the payroll but weren’t formally notified until Wednesday last week.

“Nobody came and said anything until after 11pm that night when we received

an email that we wouldn’t be able to get paid and right now it’s chaos. Everybody is freaking out because they don’t know where they will get the next dollar from to feed their families. Things hard, bills still coming regardless of the fact and overall people just fed up.

“Prior to this, they were saying that the system that they use for payroll is down or the cash flow hasn’t reached the bank account.”

Ms Greene insisted Fusion should have had “some back-up funds put aside” to pay staff “for at least two or three pay periods” to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.

She added employees wouldn’t be so hurt if they had received a “portion of what was owed” to them so that they had “something to fall back on”.

Another employee, Robin Miller, also said Fusion workers expected the delay because they were often “disappointed when it came to payroll”.

She added that moving forward, she felt the superplex should at least make provisions for economic disasters.

“To be honest, we can’t say if we’re going to return or not because nobody knows how long this pandemic is going to continue,” she said.

“And then we’re in a difficult situation because you don’t know how long it’s going to take the economy to bounce back. They couldn’t pay us before all of this pandemic situation, so we ain’t even sure we will get pay when we return back.”

Britney Smith, another employee with two children, added that the company’s closure and delayed payments will have

an immense impact on Fusion workers.

“We have families and we still have bills to pay,” she said. “Life still going on regardless and everybody is distraught and basically feel the same way so whatever help we could receive, we need it and we appreciate it.”

When contacted for comment, Carlos Foulkes, Fusion’s chief executive officer, said: “Now, I would admit as a start-up company we’ve had challenges and those challenges have had an impact on the payroll processing.

“In one case, we had a system failure for the direct deposit that has resulted in going into a manual process where we have to cut cheques - hundreds of them - in a short timeline. That has a delay on the payroll.”

Still, Mr Foulkes insisted it was crazy for employees to think the company was using the pandemic as an

excuse not to pay them.

“That is a ridiculous claim,” he said. “First of all, the pandemic did shut down business. Number one: it killed the revenue for the month of March and even before the announcement from the government, persons were getting concerned about going out to public spaces.

“We’ve (also) seen occupancy rates plummeting and movies from Hollywood schedules were pulled for the month of March, meaning that there was no main attraction into the theatre because Hollywood studios decided because of what was going on in the US, they were going to close down their theatres.”

Mr Foulkes said the changes to the movie schedules “resulted in a reduction in revenue for the month of March” for Fusion, which ended up being “less than one-third than what it was last year this same time”.

“For the week of payroll we had anticipated easily meeting the payroll and meeting some other obligations we had like payments out to our insurance company,” he added.

“But unfortunately, the day before payroll we got a notice from our creditors (stating) that they would not be able to make the payment that we were expecting. As a result, that immediately impacted the payment. It was no excuse, it was simply a matter of fact.”

Asked if he was in the position to give an update on how much longer employees would have to wait to be paid, he added: “We are currently - on a personal level - looking at how we can assist the employees and the shareholders have already put in any type of extra funds we had on the side into the business.

“We don’t want the employees to think that

they themselves are suffering and we are not. It’s a collective effort and we all are attempting to build something great together and as a result, we have looked into ways to get the additional funds in to pay the payroll, but it’s beyond my personal capacity at this time.”

Mr Foulkes said he has been speaking to representatives at the Ministry of Finance in regards to “collecting a credit” the company had “through the government”.

“I say credit because we do have some funds that we are seeking to get back from the government and we will use those funds to make payroll,” he explained.

“As to the timeline on that, I simply cannot say... but I anticipate that we should be able to correct this problem some time in the middle of April, before the employees come back to work.”

‘REMEMBER NEEDS FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND WOMAN IN OF DISABLED HOSPITAL AFTER LATEST SHOOTING DURING PANDEMIC’

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Disabled Persons Organization (DPO) is voicing concerns over the consideration of the needs of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a press release the group said the community’s needs are “considered just as important as the needs of any other member of society” and should be referenced during national addresses.

“Persons with disabilities throughout the country have communicated their concerns to the DPO,” the release stated. “Advisories have been given as to avoiding touching surfaces, touching your face, and making contact with other people. This can be difficult (for) persons with disabilities. We have a unique set of circumstances which require us to make contact more than most, in some cases.”

The group questioned what considerations are put in place for the blind, visually impaired, deaf, wheelchair-bound or mentally challenged amid this pandemic. The group also questioned how disabled people living alone can be assisted by caregivers during the national curfew.

They also want to know what provision is in place for people with disabilities

to obtain help from social services and other government agencies.

“What considerations are being put in place for persons with disabilities, especially those who are not working? We also have persons who are employed and are being required to come to work. They are in need of clear directives in order to protect themselves from COVID-19.

“What measures are being taken to ensure persons with disabilities are safe when being quarantined? Is the building suitable and can it accommodate persons with various disabilities?

Would they have medical personnel there to assist persons with disabilities because they would have to be separated from their families and some are multi-challenged?”

The group also questioned how disabled students would continue their education while being away from the physical classroom.

The organisation said it looks forward to a continued partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development in ensuring the safety and empowerment of all persons with disabilities in The Bahamas.

Attempts to reach Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell on the matter were unsuccessful.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN and a five-year-old child are in hospital after being shot near a home in Elizabeth Estates yesterday morning, police have said.

According to reports, shortly before 10am yesterday, the woman and child had just arrived at a home on Nauri Crest, Elizabeth Estates, when occupants in a black Nissan Cube pulled up and opened fire in their direction, injuring them before escaping.

Police said: “The injured female was able to drive to the police station and she and the child were transported to hospital where they are listed in stable condition.”

A resident of the community, who gave his name as “Bobo”, told The Tribune he was inside his home when the incident occurred. He said he heard three gunshots.

His home is across the street from where the shooting incident occurred.

Asked yesterday if he felt safe in the

THE SCENE of the shooting. neighbourhood, he replied: “You can’t feel safe now because too much things happening right now. I stay home by myself. That’s bad what they’re doing around here (sic).”

Police are also looking for the suspects behind an armed robbery in Sea Breeze Estates, which also occurred yesterday morning.

According to reports, shortly before 3am, a man was standing in front of

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff his home on Beatrice Avenue, Sea Breeze Estates when two armed men approached him, “forced him in the house, held him and other occupants at bay” then robbed him of cash.

Police said no one was injured during the incident.

Anyone with information about these incidents or other crime matters is asked to call police at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

JAMAICAN FINED $10,000 OVER DRUGS

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A JAMAICAN man was fined $10,000 after he pleaded guilty to drug possession.

Winston Watson, 46, was initially charged alongside nine others: Leigh Roy Carter, 33; Ewart Irving, 53; Giovanni Depass, 37; Junior Anthony, 32; Sheldon Gayle, 37; Lionel England, 38; Franklyn Emmanuel, 30; Jermaine Carter, 37 and Sanjay Cummings, 22, before Magistrate Kara TurnquestDeveaux with possession of Indian Hemp with intent to supply.

Only Watson pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was represented by attorney Ian Cargill who told Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux his client had no previous convictions, was married to a Bahamian and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Mr Cargill also asked the judge not

to impose a custodial sentence, but to consider a fine instead.

As a result, Watson was ordered to pay $10,000 or face one year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The other nine defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence and were subsequently discharged.

Prosecutor Sergeant Kenny Thompson told the court that around 3.45pm on Tuesday, police went to Watson’s residence in Domingo Heights with a search warrant.

While searching the residence, officers discovered nine other people in the home. Sergeant Thompson said police also found a blue and white cooler in the kitchen containing plastic bags with drugs inside including six pounds of marijuana with a street value of $6,000.

The men were taken to the East Street Police Station where they were cautioned and charged. During an interrogation, Watson told police the

drugs were his and he had them for personal use and not to sell.

Mr Cargill represented all of the defendants except Jermaine Carter, who was represented by attorney David Cash.

During the arraignment, one of the defendants, Lionel England, said he was experiencing chest pain and was struggling to breathe.

Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux asked court officials to contact EMS personnel to assist him after the hearing.

Yesterday’s hearing took place via video link with the magistrate and attorneys in a conference room and the defendants downstairs in a courtroom.

This was done after it was discovered that one of the defendants had recently received medical attention for flu-like symptoms.

Court officials have put in place special protocol in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PAGE 6, Friday, April 3, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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Where’s the firm ‘no’ we gave to the Braemar?

YOU would be forgiven if you were not comforted by the words of Renward Wells MP with regard to cruise ships.

The Transport Minister gave his response to the US Coast Guard’s bulletin stating that foreign-flagged vessels – such as cruise ships with Bahamian registration – should seek help from the countries whose flags they fly.

Obviously, this would be quite a problem for us if even one ship experienced a significant number of sick passengers or crew – and the scale of that emergency only gets greater for every further ship involved.

When the Braemar headed towards The Bahamas with several sick passengers on board in the middle of last month, the refusal was unequivocal.

First the Ministry of Transport put out a statement saying the Braemar would not be permitted to dock. Then the Prime Minister himself, Dr Hubert Minnis, weighed in, saying “we are a small country. We believe that the ship should call on a port which has the capacity to deal with the Braemar”.

The country has grown no larger since that moment, so surely Mr Wells is as full-throated in saying no to who knows how many cruise ships now?

Not so. Instead, he cherry picks his words in his latest statement, full of terms about working closely and devising safe methods of resupply, or providing places of shelter “under carefully controlled conditions”.

“What we have not been able to do,” he adds, “is take people from the ships ashore in our population centres.”

So what’s the alternative? Are we going to have a series of cruise ships parked offshore with sick people on board, desperately in need of doctors and ventilators that we may not be able to provide?

Are we going to watch while people die on board ships we won’t let land?

At the end of all this, the whole process of ship registry is going to be in desperate need of an overhaul – the race to be the cheapest place to offer registration provides neither substantial income for the country or the funds to be able to support ships in a situation like this.

That, however, is a battle for tomorrow. Today we must battle to ensure that any sick passengers or crew on board

those ships are not just abandoned in our waters. These are people of many nationalities – American, Canadian, British, other European nations, from Asia and more. Are those nations really going to abandon their nationals here?

Our government should use every piece of political capital it has to reiterate to those countries that their people need a greater quantity of facilities than our country has to offer.

We are preparing very hard to deal with a more widespread outbreak than we have at present. Every death is a tragedy, and taking on ill patients from other countries because the ports the ships set sail from won’t let them back in is a sure way of overwhelming the healthcare system we have.

Saying no to these ships is not an act of unkindness, but a battle to ensure they get the healthcare they need. We want any sick people on board these ships to live – and for that they need more than we can offer.

Mr Wells’ statement is not strong enough in any way, shape or form – and it’s time for the government to be stronger.

Shelling out for more eggs

How many eggs did you eat last week?

How about the week before? Are you eating more eggs than normal?

Because all of a sudden the price of eggs has doubled. Supply and demand, they say. A surge in demand for eggs has meant the supply has run short so the price has gone up.

But how can that be? Are we really, even while in isolation, suddenly eating many more eggs? Even taking into account the vast amount of food no longer being prepared in hotels and resorts?

Apparently, it’s all down to demand in the US, with people cleaning out the stores of eggs. Now when Bahamian buyers go to their US suppliers, up goes the price. The same number of people are likely going to be eating the same number of eggs, just they’ll have their fridges stacked with more than they need and so the rest run short.

Which came first, the panic buying or the price rise? At least that one’s easier to answer than the chicken or the egg.

Questions to be answered EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT is easy to be the smartest person in the room when the right questions are not being asked, and if I were a lawyer representing a client it would be in the interest of my client/clients to get the questions right.

There have been several proceedings over the past two years where the Government’s lawyers have not been asking the correct questions and those who have been taken before the courts have become so emboldened that they are seeking to file suit against the Government for “damages”.

How did it get this far?

How did those who were elected by the governed get to such a place that they have adopted the attitude that they can do as they please, so that the Public Treasury begins to look like

a slush fund for the “privileged” among us. It has gotten so because the right questions are not being asked. Not by the lawyers, not by the pundits or even the Talk Show hosts who claim to be so zealous about what they are doing.

I had called in to pose a question to one of our most celebrated personalities in that arena, he took my question, hung up on me and then pretended that he was still talking to me for the next couple of minutes.

His response gave me a better understanding about why the questions are not being asked or answered... personalities in this country all seem to eat from the same table and they are not given to talking about politicians and money in the same sentence or paragraph.

If the politicians who find themselves in the spotlight go ahead with their plans

to “sue”, the government, I would like to see the question answered that the Talk Show refused to answer.

I am not concerned about what happened to the money or who got the money, I want to know, if there is money that came from the Public Treasury, has it been accounted for, and did the people get value for these “disbursements”?

I don’t think that this is a hard question since we know from the public record that persons authorised money and money was received.

Perhaps we are headed for another performance where all of the players will just do enough to make a good show and collect their fees and keep their lifestyles intact.

EDWARD HUTCHESON Nassau, March 28, 2020

Reasons we should be thankful EDITOR, The Tribune.

BE THANKFUL. Be thankful that you have access to the internet, are able to read this, and are able to order your groceries online/watch TV online/take a course online.

Some persons among us don’t even have electricity where they live. Further to that some cannot even read or write.

Be thankful that you have a car to be able to get to the grocery store/laundromat/ pharmacy/hospital. As public transportation has been deemed “non-essential”, some have to walk to the grocery store/laundromat/ pharmacy/hospital or beg a ride from a friend or family member. Oh wait, they should be practising social distancing, so they should NOT do the latter.

Besides, there is the growing opinion in some circles that “too many people are on the road” and Bahamians just need to stay home.

Be thankful that you can “stay in place” in a relatively comfortable space, with enough food that you can afford to not “be on the road” every day. Some among us, if they have a place to live, do live in dwellings that do not allow for space to practice social distancing between their multiple family members.

Also, some of these same persons did not eat at all today, including their children. Staying in place is not a pleasant experience for

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net some, for a myriad of reasons. Remember that.

Be thankful that you have running water to wash your hands multiple times a day. Some among us do not have running water in their homes, have to tote water from the public pump, and use the bathroom in an outhouse. Hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks are luxuries.

Be thankful that you have enough money in the bank or have a reliable enough employer that you will be able to pay electricity, water, cable/internet, phone, rent/mortgage, school fees, gas, grocery and other random bills until the end of this proposed 24-hour curfew period.

Some among us work multiple jobs, yet barely make ends meet. With public transportation shut down, non-essential stores (jobs) shut down, and not being able to travel freely to even borrow a couple of dollars from a friend or family member (due to social distancing), a surprising number of Bahamians will have to rely on government handouts to sustain them – for quite some time.

Be thankful that you are Bahamian (or are here in The Bahamas legally).

Some among us live in fear that they will be returned to a place that would make even the hardest heart

break at seeing the extreme level of poverty and lack of opportunity that exists there.

Be thankful that you can catch up on your religious worship online. Some among us value their church grouping as family. Social interaction in person is a powerful part of Bahamian religious culture. There is an inherent power in gathering together like-minds in prayer and reverence. That enlightening experience has been nullified for many.

Be thankful that you are healthy. Some among us due to age and/or underlying conditions cannot risk being infected during this deadly pandemic, yet simultaneously find themselves thrust into stressful, inconvenient situations where family members they rely upon cannot visit for fear of being arrested for a “nonessential” visit across town.

Be thankful that you live in a democracy and can say practically whatever you like. Some among us do not have the voice to be able to tell others what they are going through, yet have persons who cannot relate to their life challenges harshly judge (and make decisions for) them on a daily basis.

Just be thankful during these troubled times.

And watch your privilege.

YORICK BROWN Nassau, March 30, 2020

Extra bandwidth EDITOR, The Tribune, ONE hears of private sector companies in the USA and UK making ventilators instead of vacuum cleaners and in The

Bahamas when people are being urged to work from home (via internet) we hear nothing about these providers increasing their bandwidth or even maintaining agreed bandwidth

in line with usage.

What are we? Chopped liver?

BRUCE RAINE Nassau, March, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 3, 2020, PAGE 7

Judges quash 35-year murder conviction

from page one

The judges concluded that the matter was not an “appropriate case for the application of the proviso contained in Section 13 of the Court of Appeal Act” and said that it was not appropriate for Adderley to be required to undergo another trial.

According to a judgement posted on the Court of Appeal’s website, the Crown relied on statements made

by Miller before his death which included a statement to his father, another statement to the police made a day after the incident which was reduced to writing, and a second verbal statement to two police officers made in the presence of the victim’s brother.

Miller was shot to the face at the rear of Gibson’s Bar on Carmichael Road on January 6, 2014. He was transported to the hospital for medical treatment by friends. While admitted, Miller was visited by his father Marcus Miller Sr, who asked him if he knew who had shot him. At the time, the younger Miller told his father a man named Blue had done it, making a reference to Adderley.

On January 7, 2014, Miller Jr was visited by officers from the Central Detective Unit who recorded a

written statement from him.

In the statement, Miller Jr said that sometime around 8pm on January 6, 2014, he left his residence and went to the bar to “socialise” with friends.

He told police sometime that night, Adderley approached him and told him to leave the bar because he was talking too loud. Miller said that he knew Adderley was a “troublesome” person, so he decided to walk over to his friend’s truck.

He then claimed that Adderley followed him, put his hand in his face and continued to argue with him, but he said he ignored Adderley, because he felt he was looking for a “reason to fight him.” A short time later, Miller’s friend, Orlyn Young, managed to calm Adderley who ended up leaving with another male in a silver Suzuki Swift a short time later.

Miller said he was eating at the back of the bar when he heard a “bang” sound which sounded like a gun going off. He told police that he tried to run away because the sound was close, but realised that he could not move and fell to the ground.

Miller said when he lifted his head up, he saw Adderley dressed in a white shirt and blue short pants, holding a handgun in his hand.

He also said he saw Missick, who he referred to as “Bats”, with a black and silver shotgun making his way towards him. He said this made him afraid so he pretended to be dead. In his statement, Miller also provided the police with physical descriptions of Adderley and Missick.

Four other persons who witnessed the incident gave statements to the police and testified during the trial. None of them were able to identify any of the alleged shooters and said they only saw one person carrying a shotgun.

“There was an individual, Tyson Cargill, who had participated in an identification parade for the appellant but who did not give evidence at the trial whose identification of the appellant on the parade was, impermissibly, allowed to be told to the jury. That individual told police investigators of seeing two persons with firearms that night,” the court documents read.

“On 14 January 2014, the day Marcus died, his brother Tyrone Miller was with him when he was visited by two police officers one of whom asked him, ‘So it was Bats and Blue who shot you?’

Marcus replied, ‘Yes, sir.’

“At the trial, the written and verbal statements were held to be exceptions to the hearsay rule by the judge and were admitted

GARVIN Adderley at a previous hearing. into evidence as a part of the res gestae in respect of the response to the father and dying declarations in respect of the statement and the reply to the two officers’ question respectively.”

The Crown also relied on the evidence of Inspector Elvin Missick, who conducted the identification parade with the intended appellant. Inspector Missick said he was present at the Central Detective Unit on January 31 2014, when Tyson Cargill identified Adderley as one of the persons responsible for Miller’s death.

Still, it was noted that

this aspect of Inspector Missick’s testimony was categorised as “inadmissible hearsay,” since Tyson Cargill was deceased at the time of the trial and therefore, “not available to give viva voce evidence on behalf of the Crown,” although he had “given a statement to the police”.

The court documents said no application was made by the Crown “pursuant to section 66 of the Evidence Act, to have Cargill’s written statement entered into evidence during the trial.”

In their decision, the judges granted the

application for leave to appeal out of time. They also quashed the conviction and set aside the sentence imposed by the judge.

There was no order for a retrial.

“At the close of the Crown’s case there was, in our view, insufficient admissible identification evidence adduced to link the intended appellant to the shooting of Marcus. In the premises he should not have been called upon to present a case.

The judge ought to have acceded to the submission of no case to answer in the circumstance.”

SIX CHARGED OVER CURFEW 16-YEAR-OLD ON GUN CHARGE

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

SIX people were arraigned yesterday for violating the national curfew, including a man who police allege slapped a woman in their presence.

Nathan Mareu was charged with violating the national curfew after he was found in the Marathon Road area Wednesday night.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $250 or three months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

According to the facts, around 8.20pm that night, officers observed a vehicle parked in front of Galleria Cinemas with a male and female occupant inside.

When questioned, Mareu told officers he was using the ATM. The prosecutor, Sergeant Kendrick Bauld said Mareau then slapped the female occupant and told her to go to the ATM. Sergeant Bauld said the young lady chose not to file a complaint.

In an interview with police, Mareu admitted to committing the offence and was subsequently cautioned and charged.

When given an opportunity to speak, he told Magistrate Kara TurnquestDeveaux that he did not slap his female passenger and added she could even “vouch” for him.

He also told the judge he only broke the curfew because he was picking up the woman passenger, who worked at the Wendy’s near Marathon Mall. He said they had stopped at the ATM on their way out.

Meanwhile, Tedneyceo Cooper, 21, appeared before Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux charged with threatening his brother, Geeno Haughton, with harm on March 19 and violating the curfew.

Cooper pleaded not guilty to the threats of harm charge and was granted $500 bail with one sureter.

The matter was adjourned to June 8 for trial.

However he admitted to violating the national curfew and told the judge he lived with his cousin who had to pick up his girlfriend at 9.30pm that night. He told the judge he broke the curfew because his cousin did not feel comfortable leaving him home so he took him along for the ride.

Magistrate TurnquestDeveaux accepted Cooper’s guilty plea and gave him 100 hours of community service and told him to return to court on June 8 to pick up a community service letter.

Cooper’s cousin, Donavan Stubbs, 23, was also charged with violating the curfew after police found him in the Blue Hill Road area during curfew hours.

Stubbs pleaded guilty to the charge and was also given 100 hours of community service.

According to the Sergeant Bauld, officers on mobile patrol on Tuesday observed a Honda Accord travelling north on Blue Hill Road and asked the car to stop. The occupants were then asked why they were on the road and if they were aware of the curfew.

Sergeant Bauld said Stubbs told him he was going to pick up his girlfriend at 11.30 that night.

During a record of interview with police, Stubbs also admitted to the offence and was cautioned and charged.

When given an opportunity to speak, Stubbs told Magistrate TurnquestDeveaux that he went to pick up his “baby mother” who had gotten off from work at 7pm that night.

He also told the judge he couldn’t go for her earlier because he had fallen asleep, so when he woke up later that night, he “tried to take a chance” to get her.

In response, Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux said she would exercise her discretion and not impose a custodial sentence. As a result, Stubbs was given community service and told to pick up a community service letter on June 8.

A 59-year-old man also pleaded guilty to violating the national curfew after he was found riding his bicycle in the area of Poinciana Drive around 8.55pm on Tuesday night.

Cedric Stockdale told the judge he did not realise the curfew had been extended to 24-hours. He also said he thought the 9pm-5am curfew was still in effect and the curfew only prohibited gatherings on parks, public beaches and ports of entry.

He insisted that he was on his way home when he was stopped and questioned by police.

In response, Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux explained he was only allowed to leave his house for essential services like grocery shopping. However, the defendant said he didn’t have any money to go shopping.

As a result, Stockdale was cautioned to stay in his house and encouraged to apply to the Department of Social Services for assistance.

Deon Johnson, 44, also pleaded guilty to violating the curfew on Wednesday night.

According to Sergeant Bauld, around 7.30pm that night, officers conducting checks on mobile patrol observed a Honda Accord with one male occupant.

They beckoned for the vehicle to stop and questioned the driver, who told them he was aware of the curfew but was heading home from work.

Johnson told the judge that he acted as a security guard for a lady who owned a small shop. He explained that he was helping her out because a number of people come in and out of her shop and she is usually the only there.

Johnson was subsequently fined $150 or two months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Beckley Joseph, 28, was also charged after police found him in the area of Montrose Avenue Wednesday night.

Joseph, who works as a car washer, pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $250 or three months at BDCS. According to the prosecutor, police in the Montrose Avenue area observed a male walking towards an apartment complex. When questioned by officers, Joseph said he was headed to his cousin.

However, when police questioned the people living in the apartment complex, they told officers that they were not familiar with the defendant.

When given an opportunity to speak, Joseph told Magistrate TurnquestDeveaux that he had discovered his cousin was no longer living in the complex because he had just moved out.

He also asked her for a “second chance” and promised that he would not commit the offence again.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A JUVENILE was charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court yesterday with possession of an unlicensed firearm and violation of curfew.

The 16-year-old male appeared before Magistrate Charlton Smith in Court, where he was not required to enter a plea to the charges. The matter will be heard before the Juvenile Panel on May 7.

Bail was denied and the minor was remanded to the Simpson Penn School for Boys in New Providence.

In relation to the juvenile, a 54-year-old woman was charged with accessory after the fact. She pleaded not guilty and was granted $2,000 bail with one surety.

The matter was adjourned to June 2, 2020 for trial.

FROM left, Gary Knowles, Kevin Williams, Ellsworth Williams and Cordeiko Clarke.

In other court matters, Smith in Court Two. The five men were charged with men pleaded not guilty possession of a firearm with to the charges and were intent to endanger life and remanded to the Bahamas causing damage.

Department of CorrecKevin Williams, 21, of No tional Services until June 2.

23 Independence Avenue; In a separate matter, Gary Knowles, 33, of No Cordeiko Clarke, 28, was 23 Spinney Road; and charged with four counts of Ellswoth Williams,22, of No possession of a firearm with 64 Frobisher Drive; and Dil- intent to endanger life. He lion Williams, 24, of No 56 pleaded not guilty to the Oleander Street; appeared charges and was remanded before Magistrate Charlton until June 15 for trial.

PAGE 8, Friday, April 3, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

The sadness of suspicion which hangs over us

By Diane Phillips

WE all know the obvi- asymptomatic but carryous consequences of novel ing the virus. That woman coronavirus, or COVID-19. in line waiting to get into We see the closed signs on the pharmacy may have shops, the empty airports, had contact with one of ports, schools and churches. the 21 confirmed cases of We see an economy tem- Covid-19. porarily We are grinding to a suddenly ‘We are suddenly halt. We hear looking at the silence of looking at everyone everyone on streets after on the street, in the the street, 9pm and we in the food food store, at the are far hapstore, at pier than we ATM as a possible the ATM should be enemy, a potential as a possito see the ble enemy, garbage col- infector who could a potenlection truck accidentally sneeze tial infector because it on us and change who could signifies accidentally our lives forever. We sneeze on us activity.

What we have lost our trust and change don’t see are because we can’t tell our lives the underforever. We lying and the good guys from have lost perhaps trust the bad guys. They our strangest and all look the same.’ because we most dangercan’t tell the ous changes, good guys of all – how we view each from the bad guys. They all other. look the same. No one is Strangers are no longer wearing a sign with official friends we just haven’t met COVID-free declaration. yet. They could be diseaseDistrust is a natural carrying enemies. That man response in an uncertain in the time with an invisible glasses at the other end of the produce aisle could be

THE NATIONAL Development Plan prepared under the PLP government.

AN EMPLOYEE at Purity Bakery cleaning the company doors as customers enter and exit.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff enemy. What you cannot This is the most time I’ve see is always more frighten- spent at home with my ing than what you can. That family in decades and we Prime Minister Dr Hubert fear is accelerated now by are getting a lot of those our social isolation. Safer odd jobs done and enjoy- Minnis, clearly troubled by at home inadvertently ing each other’s and all the the oncoming tsunami of a tourism-dependent econor covertly cooped-up dogs’ company.

But the unspoken reality omy in a crisis of closed implies that what lurks out is we now look at everyone borders, told the BahaWith social distancing there could on the outside of our little mian public we must “shift driving down the number how we operate,” with make us ill or world as a possible threat. less reliance on those who of hot meals the Bahamas kill us. I am And that is so sad.

Just when we need to visit and more on what we Feeding Network can prenot questioning the value pull together, we are scared can produce whether tan- pare in its modest space on of staying at of one another, distancing gible goods or intangible Fox Hill Road - where they have turned a small cottage home.

We ourselves more and more as services. into a massive kitchen capaWe need a plan, he said, know it works each day passes. As a friend and truth be said this week, “Thank and he was absolutely right. ble of turning out 5,500 hot told, it has a heavens, my sinus isn’t The good news is we have meals a week- the network lot of positives. acting up now. If I were to one. It is called the National needs more funding than sneeze at the bank, people Development Plan Vision ever to purchase, package could panic and good luck 2040 and forgive us if it and distribute hundreds of with my explaining about was created under the PLP, food parcels to compensate.

“So many people are it is one hell of a docusinus.” out of work or on reduced ment, three years of study You used to have to carry a gun or drugs or an unde- and research, 491 pages of wages so the need is greater served grudge to be a public extraordinary work under than ever,” explains BahaFeeding Network enemy. Now everyone is a the direction of Dr. Nicola mas Executive Director Philip Virgil-Rolle and her team. suspect because we don’t Developed under the Smith. know what of if they are “We were prepping and carrying these potentially auspices of the then-Mindeadly germs you cannot ister for Investments in the cooking thousands of meals see. We look at a stranger Office of the Prime Minister, a week on Thursdays and with daggers in our eyes if Khaalis Rolle, the plan is Sundays, thanks in large non-partisan and apolitical. part to our major corporate they get too close.

If we are not careful, Even the section on health sponsor, Royal Caribbean coronavirus could take its (Pages 112-152) details which provided most of toll on one of the coun- specific actions that can be the food for all of 2019 and try’s greatest assets – our implemented to develop a has continued to help as Bahamian hospitality and healthier nation physically best they can given all that warmth. Let us hope that and mentally. Risk factors, is happening. Our space is when a vaccine is devel- actions, output, outcomes, pretty tight so to observe oped or the virus has run costs, responsibility matri- all the protocols, we have its course for this round, ces and success measures had to switch to providing parcels of groceries that we we slip back into what are included.

You don’t have to love can pass to persons in need comes naturally, greeting each other with a smile everything a former gov- or to church and feeding and a hug, answered just ernment did to embrace the centre leaders for them to as warmly with a grin and a successes it created. After distribute.”

Each parcel of non-perall, the FNM did not throw reciprocal squeeze. ishable items costs about out National Insurance in

1992 just because the PLP $50 and can feed a family of four for up to one week. designed it.

WE HAVE A PLAN

BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME? HOW ABOUT A BIT MORE?

WE NEED A PLAN?

SHOPPING BY ALPHABET? MY NAME STARTS WITH Z! THIS week, the ‘Corona Chronicles’ continue.

We saw the number of positive cases of Coronavirus (COViD-19) rapidly shoot from eleven to twenty four,and sadly we suffered our first Coronavirus related death, under extenuating circumstances I might add.

(Condolences to the family, you have my deepest sympathies).

Obviously some of us, still aren’t taking the global Coronavirus pandemic, not to mention our national 24 curfew seriously at all.

The introduction of alphabetical order grocery shopping, set off the political talking heads, all while liquor stores remained closed. (For the most part).

Mask’s on we’re going in!

STAY AT HOME

Okay people, what is it going to take for you all, to simply stay inside.

A Comic’s View

By Inigo Zenicazelaya

I know this whole curfew thing, has really thrown a monkey wrench into everyone’s plans in one way or another.

However, our disregard for the global Coronavirus pandemic and it’s protocols as a nation, prove the 24HR national curfew is a necessity, inconvenient or not.

Social distancing has also proven to be an effective measure in curbing the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

So please only come out of your homes if it’s an absolute emergency, and please call 311 and register with the RBPF before you depart.

Wear protective gloves and masks while out, and avoid contact with the elderly or those who appear to be sick.

Also avoid areas with high cases of Coronavirus reported. (THE EAST) So no matter how bored you get at home, or however much you need a cocktail it’s not an excuse to break curfew and possibly risk contracting or spreading COViD - 19.

Stop being selfish we are all in this together and reliant on each other to get through this whole ordeal.

If you think Coronavirus is a game, please google Coronavirus in

Britain, China, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States.

If that doesn’t change your perspective nothing wise will.

Now stay inside!

NOT SO SOCIALLY DISTANT

At some point you know ‘irony’ was going to make a cameo in all of this.

No I’m not nitpicking either, before I get into this.

I’m just amazed that despite the PM’s call for a 24HR curfew and social distancing, government agencies such as BPL and the Road Traffic Department have lines comparable to the Israelites leaving Egypt, waiting to pay their light bills and license their cars, in fear of disconnections and traffic tickets.

With all that is going on locally and globally with the Coronavirus, and taking all things into consideration in

regards to both BPL and Road Traffic, this rush to collect revenue in this time of crisis is not a good look for the government.

We as consumers have had to exercise the most patience with BPL through load shedding and upgrading and new billing, etc, etc, etc.

They can exercise a bit of patience as consumers try to get their lives in order.

As far as Road Traffic is concerned they have been losing $16 million annually in alleged improprieties for years.

No need to rush to make up for that now during a global pandemic.

In my opinion power disconnections and ticketing vehicles for not being licensed should be suspended temporarily.

Or a grace period established.

A-Z

Finally I have been a team player in all of this.

Gladly accepting all sacrifices I have to make because of the global Coronavirus pandemic.

From the curfews, to losing income, to the liquor stores being closed, to price gouging and so on and so on.

But alphabetical order grocery shopping?

No, no, no, no!

My last name begins with a Z, once we go through the three million Rolles that exist in Nassau alone, coupled with the tons of Smith’s, Thompson’s, Williams and Wong’s there will be nothing left for me and my family!

I fear this alphabetical shopping may kill me long before Corona has a chance to get me!!

My middle name starts with an A, I wonder if that can work?

Until next week, keep your boungies inside, while I figure out how to get into the food store.

ONE MILLION CASES World passes

THE TRIBUNE

grim landmark in outbreak NEW YORK Associated Press THE coronavirus outbreak has thrown ten million Americans out of work in just two weeks, the swiftest, most stunning collapse the US job market has ever witnessed, and economists warn unemployment could reach levels not seen since the Depression, as the economic damage piles up around the world.

The bleak news yesterday — a recordshattering 6.6 million new unemployment claims on top of last week’s unprecedented 3.3 million — came as the competition for scarce ventilators, masks and other protective gear seemed to grow more desperate and deaths mounted with alarming speed in Italy, Spain and New York, the most lethal hot spot in the nation, with nearly 2,400 lives lost.

Worldwide the number of confirmed infections hit another gloomy milestone — 1 million, with more than 50,000 deaths, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. But the true numbers are believed to be much higher, because of testing shortages, many mild cases that have gone unreported, and suspicions that some countries are covering up the extent of their outbreaks.

The mounting economic fallout almost certainly signals the onset of a global recession, with job losses that are likely to dwarf those of the Great Recession more than a decade ago.

“My anxiety is through the roof right now, not knowing what’s going to happen,” said Laura Wieder, laid off from her job managing a now-closed sports bar in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

About half of all working Americans report some kind of income loss affecting themselves or a member of their household because of the epidemic, and poor people and those without college degrees are especially likely to have lost a job, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Sixty percent of Americans say the national economy is “poor,” an alarmingly swift reversal from the 67% who called it “good” in January.

With more than 220,000 people infected in the US and the death toll topping 5,300, sobering preparations were under way. The Federal Emergency Management Agency asked the Pentagon for 100,000 body bags because of the possibility funeral homes will be overwhelmed, the military said.

Federal authorities proposed a $611,000 fine against the Seattle-area nursing home connected to at least 40 coronavirus deaths, accusing it of infractions that included failure to report and rapidly manage the outbreak. And a days-long standoff in Florida was resolved when passengers aboard two cruise ships that have had several coronavirus cases and four deaths won permission to come ashore.

Elsewhere around the world, the number of people applying for welfare benefits in Britain increased nearly tenfold to almost one million in the past couple of weeks.

European unions estimate at least a million on the Continent lost their jobs over the same period, and say the actual number is probably far higher. Spain alone added over 300,000 to its unemployment rolls in March.

But the job losses there appear to be far smaller than in the US because of Europe’s greater social safety nets, including government programs to reduce workers’ hours without laying them off, in the hope of bringing them back quickly once the crisis passes.

With its health care system in dire shape, Spain reported a record one-day number of deaths, 950, bringing its overall toll to about 10,000, despite signs that the infection rate is slowing.

Italy recorded 760 more deaths, for a total of 13,900, the worst of any country, but new infections continued to level off.

More than 10,000 medical personnel in Italy have been infected and 69 doctors have died, authorities said.

France recorded a running total of about 4,500 deaths in hospitals, 471 just in the past day. But officials expect the overall toll to jump significantly because they are only now starting to count deaths in nursing homes and other facilities for older people.

MEDICAL personnel wearing personal protective equipment remove bodies from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center yesterday in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

ECUADOR: FAMILIES WAIT WITH THEIR DEAD QUITO, Ecuador Associated Press DANIEL Larrea died on Monday after a week of high fever, struggling to breathe and steadily turning blue. Then a new nightmare began for his family.

No one in their city on Ecuador’s Pacific coast would pick up his body.

“We wrapped him up in black plastic,” Larrea’s wife, Karina, said on Wednesday. “He’s here in the living room.”

Hospitals are turning away patients and bodies are being left on streets and in homes for days in Guayaquil, a normally bustling city of 2.6 million that has become a hot spot in Latin America as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.

The small South American nation has recorded 120 coronavirus deaths, but officials say there could be dozens more who died without ever being officially diagnosed — people like Larrea, who had all the symptoms, but never got tested. Nationwide, there were 3,160 cases confirmed on Thursday, likely a vast underestimate.

Meanwhile, untold numbers

A WOMAN, wearing a decorative, protective face mask in Quito, Ecuador. of Ecuadorians are dying of unrelated diseases that can’t be treated because hospitals are overwhelmed.

It’s not just medical services at a breaking point. Morgues, funeral homes and all related services for the dead are over capacity.

In recent days, macabre images and pleas from families have appeared on social media

showing dead loved ones wrapped in plastic or cloth, waiting for them to be taken away.

Television crews have captured images of bodies and coffins left on sidewalks.

“It’s a desperate smell,” said Merwin Teran, 61, the owner of a Guayaquil funeral home, who said he saw 50 dead in one morgue alone.

Doctors say there aren’t enough tests in the country, making it harder to identify and isolate the sick to try to stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes — as well as too few hospital beds and ventilators.

“We are seeing a situation quite similar to that of Italy,” said Dr Mireya Rodas, a lung specialist at a Guayaquil hospital who has herself tested positive.

Ecuador identified its first case of COVID-19 on February 29 — a 71-year-old woman who had traveled from Spain — making it one of the first Latin American countries to confirm the arrival of the disease.

Medical experts fear the disaster brewing in Guayaquil may offer a frightening glimpse of what awaits the region in coming weeks and months.

AFRICA: VIRUS BRINGS ‘EXISTENTIAL THREAT’ JOHANNESBURG Associated Press SOME African countries will have more than 10,000 coronavirus cases by the end of April, health officials projected yesterday, as the continent least equipped to treat serious infections has an “enormous gap” in the number of ventilators and other critical items.

While cases across Africa are now above 6,000 at what has been called the dawn of the outbreak, the continent is “very, very close” to where Europe was after a 40-day period, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr John Nkengasong, told reporters.

The virus “is an existential threat to our continent”, he said.

All but four of Africa’s 54 countries have cases after Malawi yesterday reported its first, and local transmission has begun in many places.

Nkengasong said authorities are “aggressively” looking into procuring equipment such as ventilators that most African countries desperately need, and

HOMELESS people at the Caledonian stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, after being rounded up by police in an effort to enforce a 21-day lockdown. local manufacturing and repurposing are being explored.

“We’ve seen a lot of goodwill expressed to supporting Africa from bilateral and multilateral partners,” but “we still have to see that translate into concrete action,” he said.

The World Health Organization doesn’t know how many ventilators are available across Africa to help those in

respiratory distress, regional director Dr Matshidiso Moeti told reporters.

Some countries have only a few ventilators. Central African Republic has just three.

“Countries like Cameroon just reached out yesterday, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, asking, ‘Look, we need tents because we’re running out of hospital beds already,’” Nkengasong said.

Friday, April 3, 2020, PAGE 9

TRUMP ADMIN MOVES TOWARDS BROADER USE OF FACE MASKS WASHINGTON Associated Press THE Trump administration is formalising new guidance to recommend that many, if not almost all, Americans wear face coverings when leaving home, in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

The recommendations, still being finalised yesterday, would apply at least to those who live in areas hard-hit by community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task force’s discussion said officials would suggest that non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandannas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home — for instance, at the store or pharmacy. Medical-grade masks, particularly shortin-supply N95 masks, would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.

Trump on Tuesday indicated he would support such a recommendation, potentially even for all Americans regardless of where they live.

“I would say do it, but use a scarf if you want, you know, rather than going out and getting a mask or whatever.”

“It’s not a bad idea, at least for a period of time,” he added.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention draft of the guidance would make the covering recommendation apply to nearly all Americans, all over the country, according to a federal official.

Some exceptions would be young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing or anyone who is unable to remove the covering without help.

On Wednesday, Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, urged his city’s 4 million residents to wear masks when they’re in public.

DEMOCRATS POSTPONE CONVENTION DEMOCRATS yesterday announced that they were postponing their presidential nominating convention until August, an unprecedented move that shows how the coronavirus is reshaping the battle for the White House.

The party had hoped that a mid-July convention would give them more time to rally behind a nominee and unify against President Donald Trump.

But concerns that large crowds will spread the virus prompted Democrats, including prospective nominee Joe Biden, to press for alternatives.

“In our current climate of uncertainty, we believe the smartest approach is to take additional time to monitor how this situation unfolds so we can best position our party for a safe and successful convention,” said Democratic convention CEO Joe Solmonese.

Milwaukee will still host the convention, which is now scheduled for the week of August 17. Republicans are sticking with their plan to meet in Charlotte, North Carolina, a week later to renominate Trump.

‘CAN YOU FIX VENTILATORS?’ - YES! SACRAMENTO, California Associated Press

JOE TAVI, Bloom Energy senior director of manufacturing, holds a refurbished ventilator.

Photo: Ben Margot/AP

IT WAS late when engineer Joe Tavi’s boss called with an odd question: Could their company, which makes fuel cells, learn how to fix a ventilator?

California had a bunch of broken ones, and the governor had asked if San Jose-based Bloom Energy could repair them so coronavirus patients could breathe.

Tavi, an engineer who grew up taking apart the family vacuum cleaner to see if he could put it back together, said he would

sleep on it.

But he didn’t sleep.

Instead, he made a pot of coffee and downloaded the more than 300-page manual for the LTD 1200, the type of ventilator state officials said they needed repaired.

At 4.45am the next day, coffee still in hand, his boss called again.

“We can do this,” Tavi told her. “We won’t be able to do it if we don’t try.”

Since then, a company that knew nothing about ventilators has fixed more than 500 of them. It’s a transformation akin to World War II, when manufacturing behemoths used their assembly line

expertise to make airplanes and tanks.

The Society of Critical Care Medicine estimates about 960,000 COVID-19 patients in the US might need a ventilator. But there are only about 200,000 machines available.

In California, the nation’s most populous state with nearly 40 million people, Gov Gavin Newsom is on the hunt for at least 10,000 ventilators. So far, he’s found just over 4,000 of them — including 170 from the federal government’s national stockpile that needed repairs.

Once he knew he could do it, Tavi gathered with

other company engineers to come up with a plan, guided by lots of YouTube videos on ventilator settings and calibrations. The company’s head of supply chain ordered the parts.

There were some anxious moments, especially during testing. But once the team got the ventilators hooked up to balloons, hearing the soft “woosh” of air as they expanded and contracted, Tavi said it went from being a machine to something much more personal.

“I would think about my mom or my uncle or a family member of a friend or a co-worker needing one of those machines,” he said.

PAGE 10, Friday, April 3, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 3, 2020, PAGE 11

Simone Biles on 2021 Olympics: ‘Nothing is set in stone’

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer THERE’S a large whiteboard calendar on a wall inside the massive gym owned by Simone Biles’ family that outlines every major gymnastics event of the year, the 2020 Olympics included.

When the Tokyo Games were officially postponed to the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the reigning Olympic champion’s coaches ran over to the calendar and erased all of it. Watching Cecile Landi wipe away all of Biles’ carefully laid plans left the 23-year-old star reeling.

While many other highprofile athletes came forward in the aftermath of the postponement, Biles needed some time to collect herself and figure out a way forward.

“It’s a letdown,” Biles told The Associated Press in a phone interview Wednesday.

“It’s hard to keep looking at that like, ‘We have another year.’”

Probably. When asked if she is definitely planning to push toward Tokyo despite the delay, she stopped short of an unqualified yes.

“Well, nothing is really set in stone yet,” Biles said.

“We’re trying to figure out the right training regimen just so mentally and physically we can try and stay on top of our game. We’re just playing it by ear and really just listening to my body.”

If the most decorated female gymnast of all time is being honest, she was really looking forward to a break come midAugust. She’d been doing a countdown of sorts in her mind since she returned

to competition in 2018.

Having to hit reset isn’t easy.

“I was just mentally battling my mind and I was so ready and not mentally checked out, but I was ready after three months to be done,” Biles said. “That’s a lot to take mentally.”

For those who point out “it’s just another year,” she has a counterpoint: She’s spent most of her life in the gym since she was in elementary school. The light at the end of the tunnel was growing bigger by the day. Now it’s not.

“A year is a lot for elite athletes,” she said. “It feels more than a year on your body, trust me. Especially gymnastics, the impact we take. It’s your whole entire body, it’s not just your legs or your feet or your arms, we have to make sure your whole body is in check.”

In a way, Biles is leaning on the process that guided her following a 15-month break after the 2016 Olympics. Back then she was careful not to rush into anything, stressing she was just going to see what happened when she went back into the gym in the fall of 2017. She needed to figure out why she was there in the first place. Eventually she did, pushing her sport closer to the mainstream in the process, one boundarypushing routine at a time.

Her performances have become can’t-miss events, her smiling face a fixture at the end of every NBC Olympic promo.

It’s a lot to carry. A lot.

I feel like there is kind of pressure,” Biles said.

“This year I was just doing it for me, no expectations. Now it’s all eyes again on you, wondering,

IN this October 13, 2019, photo, gold medallist Simone Biles of the United States waits to perform on the floor in the women’s apparatus finals at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. Biles is pressing on to the 2021 Olympics. While she’s confident her body will be fine next summer, she is concerned about the mental toll of another year of training.

(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) ‘Can she do it, now she’s The silver lining in the release. The Olympics, by a year older?’ You’re like, postponement is that comparison, require more ‘oh shoot.’” it’s allowing her body to dedication and more preWorld Champions recover from an unre- cise planning.

Centre, the Houston-area lenting training schedule, The postponement left gym her family runs, is though she admits there her drained. The next closed, forcing her to come have been adjustments step is making sure she up with workouts that will along the way. can regain the spark that’s keep her body engaged “Some days, (my made her one of the most for whenever she’s cleared coaches) will be like: ‘Well celebrated athletes of the to return to training. She she’s not doing that. Let’s entire Olympic movement. has no plans to try to slip condition some more, let’s “It will be mentally through the back door do some basics,’” Biles challenging pushing for when no one is looking. said. another year because we “I know some people The post-Olympic tour mentally prepared all of who are like, ‘I’m going to she plans to headline is those tactics for this year,” sneak in the gym and take also being pushed back a she said. “To take your the fine,’ this or that,” Biles year, and Biles stressed foot of the gas and reset, said. “It’s your health and she remains committed to it’s hard because I was your safety, you have to it if she makes it through emptying my gas tank and be careful around other Tokyo healthy. The tour we need to find ways to fill people.” is designed to be fun, a that back up.”

UEFA AIMS FOR JULY RESTART FOR LEAGUES

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer A EUROPEAN plan is being formed to resume football around July and August, with domestic leagues told yesterday not to abandon competitions yet due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The determination to ensure competitions are “decided on the field” to protect their integrity was outlined in a letter that was obtained by The Associated Press. It was signed by the heads of UEFA, the European Club Association and European Leagues body and was being sent to their members.

The correspondence was issued hours after the Belgian topflight became the first major European competition to recommend ending its season with the current standings declared final.

“We are confident that football can restart in the months to come — with conditions that will be dictated by public authorities — and believe that any decision of abandoning domestic competitions is, at this stage, premature and not justified,” UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, ECA chairman Andrea Agnelli and EL president Lars-Christer Olsson stated in their letter.

Competitions, including UEFA’s Champions League and Europa League, were put on hold last month as the COVID-19 outbreak spread across Europe and governments imposed lockdowns, banning sports gatherings.

UEFA working groups have been assessing the legal, regulatory and financial issues caused by the abrupt halt to football and formulated plans to resume competitions beyond the planned completion of the 2019-20 seasons by June 30 when it is safe to do so.

SPORTS SECTION E

PAGE 11

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020

Joanna Evans: ‘We’re all just trying to keep in shape’

OLYMPIC DELAY ADDS WORKLOAD, COSTS AND CASH FLOW UNCERTAINTY

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer

N

ow that she’s graduated and completed with her eligibility as a Longhorn swimmer at the University of Texas, Grand Bahamian Joanna Evans is concentrating on her future in the sport.

The holder of five Bahamian individual national records is currently still in Austin, Texas, where she continues to train with the Longhorns’ swim team and the coaching staff headed by Carol Capitani.

After graduating in December with a degree in Environmental Science - Sustainability Studies, Evans was preparing for her second appearance at the 2020 Olympic Games when the coronavirus pandemic broke through on the global stage and disrupted all sporting activities.

Now with the games in Tokyo, Japan, postponed from July 24 to August 9, 2020 to July 23 to August 8, 2021, Evans said she’s more committed to her post-graduate training.

“At first, a lot of people were upset, but now we understand that it is necessary,” said Evans about the spread of the disease around the world. “I think some people are grateful because a lot of people are not training and they wouldn’t want to go unless they are at their best. I know it will work out good for me because I haven’t qualified yet.”

Having made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she placed 13th in the 400 metre freestyle, 23rd in the 800m free and 37th in the 200m free, Evans was preparing to lead the Bahamas Swimming Federation’s team in Tokyo.

JOANNA Evans is concentrating on her future in swimming, with the Tokyo Olympics a priority.

Although she didn’t qualify in any event before everything came to a halt, she’s eager to have the extended time to turn things around once the sporting world resumes its competition in the aftermath of COVID-19.

“It’s back to the drawing board and we’re all just trying to keep in shape because obviously people don’t have access to the pools now, so everyone is trying to keep fit as we work towards next year and not this year,” Evans said.

“Everything was going according to plan. We were still a few months out, so it was a training cycle. But obviously over the last few months, things have not been the same since the virus came on stream.”

The Bishop Michael Eldon High School graduate has had a stellar career over the past few years since she enrolled at the University of Texas. She won three gold medals in the 200m, 400m and 1,500m freestyle races at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games and picked up a silver in the 400m free and bronze in the

800m free at the 2017 World University Games.

While she has inked her name on the Bahamian national records in the 200m free (1:58.03), 400m free (4:07.60), 800 free (8:31.18), 200m individual medley (2:17.45) and 400m IM (4:50.38), Evans has left Longhorns marks at the University of Texas in the 500m free (4:35.05) and 1,650m free (15:51.74).

She was a​ lso a two-time honourable mention All-American and multiple CSCAA Scholar AllAmerican as well as the Big 12 Conference Swimmer of the Meet in 2019, Newcomer of the Year in 2016 and the Championships’ Women’s Newcomer of the Meet in 2016. Additionally, she was named to the 2017 Academic AllBig 12 first team and earned 11 Big 12 championship titles.

Now that her collegiate career is over, Evans said the focus is now her future and the Olympics is her priority right now. But first things first, she’s eager to get over the coronavirus pandemic that has restricted her movement. “It’s similar to what’s happening at home

(in the Bahamas). We’re not supposed to leave our home unless it’s for something essential like groceries or something like that,” Evans pointed out. “Other than that, everyone is asked to stay at home.

“So I’m doing a lot of dry land training, running here and there, just doing what I can to get ready.”

Whenever she can resume her full-fledged training, Evans said she will be focusing on qualifying for the Olympics in the 200m, 400m and 800m free.

She’s also hoping that she can also get a few other females qualified so that she can compete in one or two relay events. “Everyone is in the same boat. Obviously, it’s something that no one has ever dealt with before, so we just have to stay motivated because everyone is going through the same thing,” Evans said.

But for now, Evans said she’s enjoying her post-graduate experience at the University of Texas and taking advantage of all that she enjoyed when she competed as a member of the Longhorns.

GENEVA (AP) — Postponing the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 will make the event more costly for all parties, the International Olympic Committee acknowledged yesterday, although it offered few details on what the final bill might be.

Four directors of the Olympic body held a conference call three days after Tokyo’s new dates were finalised, with the games pushed back to July 23 to August 8 next year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

While the new dates cleared up any uncertainty about the event’s future, there are still plenty of question marks as the IOC begins to work with Tokyo organisers and governing bodies of 33 sports in a huge task to amend thousands of contracts. They include agreements for 41 venues, an Olympic village of 5,000 apartments, hotels, transport, plus the supply of goods and services.

“All of this now has to be re-secured for one year later,” said Christophe Dubi, the IOC’s Olympic Games executive director.

“There will be costs for (Tokyo local organisers) and the IOC and Olympic family side.”

The estimations for how much it will cost to postpone the games have started at $2 billion and gone much higher.

Dragons’ Shyrone Kemp named Field Athlete of the Year

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net SHYRONE Kemp was honoured once again for his breakout season in the field as a member of the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons.

The sophomore rising star was named the Dragons’ Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for a standout indoor season.

Kemp was profiled by the Dragons digital network and credited the influence of Dragons’ assistant coach and two-time Bahamian

Olympian Trevor Barry. “I came to MSU because in high school my coach would tell me it’s a good programme.

“And to have a coach that is Bahamian I feel like we would have a connection and I would be more comfortable with others I came here with.

“My relationship with Trevor is strong, I can talk to him about things outside of track, he can be like a friend to me but I would also have respect for him,” Kemp said. “The coaching played a very important role. I can give them most of the credit. Without them

I wouldn’t have been able to improve like I did.”

Barry previously served as an assistant coach at North Dakota State. At NDSU during Barry’s time as an assistant, the Bison won nine Summit League women’s team titles and seven men’s team titles. He coached two NCAA All-Americans, seven national qualifiers and 10 school record holders.

Representing the Bahamas, Barry was a high jump finalist at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - he finished 11th. He also qualified

for the 2012 Summer Games in London. He was a World High Jump finalist in 2015 and was a bronze medallist at the 2011 World Outdoor Championships.

“Shy is very raw. Last year we just introduced him to the triple jump, he came in as a high jumper and just learned to long jump.

“In the triple jump he has improved by leaps and bounds but still has a long way to go. Going into the indoor season, my expectation was for him to jump at least 50 metres, he exceeded that so it will be interesting to see what we get out of him,” Barry said.

“Expectations are great but he is still learning. Our goal this year was to work on the approach, try to fine tune that, then work on his first phase and second phase.”

Kemp was also previously named the NCAA Division II, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s Newcomer of the Year.

After declaring as a redshirt last indoor season, Kemp made his debut this year and was one of the top performers in the conference. He won the triple jump at the NSIC Indoor Championships with a leap of 49 feet, 2 ¼ inches.