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VOLUME:117 No.101, APRIL 21, 2020

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

WOMAN: PREGNANCY DILEMMA IN THE COVID CRISIS

HANDS UP - ASH SAYS ‘I’M GUILTY’

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

BUSINESSMAN Jonathan Ash was fined $7,000 for selling alcohol in breach of the national curfew and emergency orders put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hours after the case, a superintendent and a corporal who were seen in videos posted on social media in connection with the sale were placed on administrative leave by new Commissioner Paul Rolle.

Ash arrived at Magistrate’s Court yesterday in a black hoodie, cap, sunglasses and a face mask.

Although he was escorted into the building by officers, he was not placed in

handcuffs or shackles and was able to dash into the courtroom as he tried to avoid being photographed by the media.

This was in stark contrast with the vast majority of prisoners who are almost always escorted into court by officers with their hands - and often feet - handcuffed or shackled.

The 35-yearold, pictured, who appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis, was charged with violating the national curfew and operating a non-essential business on April 17.

He pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him and was fined $2,000 or nine months at the

THREE Chief Superintendents of the Royal Bahamas Police Force have been promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner, sparking criticism from a lawyer representing three other ACPs who have been transferred against their will.

Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle signed a RBPF

From 9:00am - 4:00pm

‘PASSION WAS RUNNING HIGH - THAT’S ALL’

‘WHY NO CUFFS?’ JONATHAN ASH dashed into court yesterday

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net DEPUTY prime minister Peter Turnquest yesterday said that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis “may have let his passion get a little bit high” during Sunday’s national address but he never intended to be “insulting or disrespectful” to Bahamian business owners and investors when he reprimanded businesses for their “lack of soul” over employee lay-offs.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

JUNKANOO FACING MAJOR SCALE BACKS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net JUNKANOO leaders are eying dramatically scaled back parades as the COVID-19 crisis wreaks havoc on their preparations.

The Tribune spoke to several Junkanoo leaders yesterday, days after the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence said in a statement that “only time will tell” how Junkanoo parades look this season

ROOTS at Junkanoo - if they are hosted at all.

Rouschard Martin, chairman of the Roots Junkanoo

group, said the lockdown has affected his group in three ways: it has indefinitely postponed election for administrative positions, it has prevented members from gathering in shacks to prepare and practise and it has put their sponsorship into doubt.

A major hotel usually covers 20 percent of the Roots’ expenditure of about $200,000 per parade, he said, but that assistance

For everyone’s protection, face masks are required.

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‘WHAT’S THE BASIS FOR EASING UP?’

SEE PAGE FOUR

force order yesterday noting that Loretta Mackey, Craig Stubbs and Solomon Cash have been promoted to the ACP rank while Kirkwood Andrews has been promoted to Acting Assistant Commissioner.

This brings the total number of Assistant Commissioners to at least eight - more than the police manpower audit ordered by the Minnis administration recommended in 2018.

Our Parts Department is open today!

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis has questioned the basis for the government’s opening of additional businesses this week while cases of COVID-19 have consistently increased.

The day after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced relaxed measures which now allow certain businesses to operate this week as the nation returns to a 24-hour curfew,

SEE PAGE THREE

SEE PAGE SEVEN

CLAIR’S MISSION IS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

3 PROMOTED TO TOP HEAVY SENIOR RANK

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

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SEE PAGE FOUR

PETER YOUNG

STILL CONCERNS OVER OUR OWN ECONOMIC FATE

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, April 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

SCORES of hotel union members stood in long lines outside the union headquarters to receive vouchers yesterday. Above is Sonya Williams, below is Tavano Gardiner Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Long lines as people claim food vouchers

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

SCORES of laid off hotel workers flocked to their union’s headquarters yesterday, queuing in long, jumbled lines to receive food vouchers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

When The Tribune arrived at the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union’s headquarters on Tonique Williams Darling Highway, people were huddled around the building’s entrance in different groups.

Others stood in lines as police officers tightly controlled entrances into the designated area outside the building, where tents were set up for distribution of $100 vouchers. The social distancing measure of standing six feet apart was not being observed.

Small groups consisting of ten people at a time were allowed inside the building when space became available.

However, for many, this meant waiting for an hour or more in the sun with

temperatures reaching nearly 90 degrees.

One agitated hotel worker, who wanted to remain anonymous, told reporters he had been waiting on the line for some three hours.

“We were out here from before 7 o’clock,” he said, a white mask covering his face.

“This could’ve been organised much better than this than to have people standing out here this long for a voucher for $100.

Every little count but at the same time, we are the union members.

“We’ve been in the union for years, but I don’t think as a union member, we should have to go through what we going through…

It’s a crying shame.”

Having paid his union dues faithfully for some 17 years, the worker said he felt it was unfair how members were being treated.

He said: “Right now, I’m back on my rent. I already came to them for rental assistance, but they turned me down. I have a house with five children that I have to take care of and it’s

not easy, especially when no income is coming in.

“Tell me what $100 gone do for a house full of children? Like I said, every little counts but at the same time, you have to be thinking, use wisdom and take care of your people like the people been taking care of you.

“I pay union dues like everyone else so why you can’t help me?”

Standing several feet away, nearly at the end of the line was mother-of-six Sonya Williams.

The 61-year-old told The Tribune she has been struggling to make ends meet since she hurt herself on the job some ten months ago.

Now having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Williams said life has become more difficult.

“It’s hard,” she said yesterday, with visible tears in her eyes. “I’ve been working at (a Cable Beach hotel) for 39 years as a room attendant (and) we ain’t on no pay.

“I fall down ten months ago in the hotel and they saying that I caused the accident. I ain’t get a dollar

from the hotel and all them years I been working there, I ain’t get one cent.

“It’s hard and now all of my children ain’t working because of this (pandemic)… I’m hurting bad because I have to fight National Insurance to give me a little $200. The union trying to give you a little something but thank God for it.”

Videos of the crowd spread over social media yesterday, with many questioning why so many people were allowed to gather in light of the pandemic.

One hotel worker, who gave his name only as Patrick, agreed that too many people had turned out at one time He said: “I was out here for two hours and it’s like a social gathering out here.

It ain’t no social distancing.

You see how close people is? We all have the same struggle. It’s a fight, but we all have to stay in this fight and keep fighting. I have three kids.”

Another hotel worker, named Tavano Gardiner, added: “We’ve been on this line for about an hour and

half now and I feel like this ain’t making no sense. You can’t get mad at the little that they’re doing but what I feel like they should’ve been able to do more.”

Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) president Darrin Woods said that officials had initially planned for workers to obtain vouchers via a drivethrough process.

However, after many workers were found unexpectedly blocking up the highway yesterday morning, he said their plans had to change.

“What we found out was persons were here prior to 5am and they actually blocked up the highway so police made a decision that they could not allow them to block the streets,” he said.

“We understand that and so they told them to come out of their cars and put it aside so they could clear up the road and actually do a walk up.”

He continued: “So after that, we had them line up still trying to get them to social distance and actually

got them to move through.

Even though it was a walkup process in the initial stage, the process still ran pretty much smoothly and we was able to get people in and out.

“And so, tomorrow now we adjusted that we’re going to have the police here for traffic control, crowd control and also, law and order to make sure that we’re following the rules and we will be here early.”

Hotel workers from Ocean Club, Harbour Side, Bayview villas, Melia and the Hilton etc were among those who received assistance from the union yesterday.

The union is expected to provide vouchers for Atlantis workers, starting today through Thursday via a drive-through method – as originally planned.

“And anyone who misses their assigned days, we’ve allowed or reserved Friday for that purpose,” Mr Woods told The Tribune.

More than 5,000 meal vouchers, he said, are expected to be distributed to affected workers throughout the week.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 21, 2020, PAGE 3

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS from page one Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BCDS) for count one and $5,000 or one year at the BDCS for count two.

Ash was arrested last week after a video went viral on social media showing a liquor store selling alcohol, despite orders being issued to prevent such stores from doing so, as part of the country’s COVID-19 response. In the footage, store staff in the video could be seen wearing masks while taking orders for beer and rum. A marked police car can also be seen parked near the premises.

The court was told Ash violated the national curfew last Friday after officers found him in the Faith Avenue area around 2.30pm where he had violated the Emergency Power COVID-19 Regulations by operating a non-essential business without permission.

According to the prosecution, on Saturday, April 18 around 4pm, officers were alerted of a video on social media of people violating curfew. This prompted an investigation which led to Ash’s arrest, who was captured on the video carrying

Ash fined $7,000 for selling alcohol alcohol to people and collecting payment.

Ash was arrested and taken to the Central Detective Unit (CDU) where he acknowledged he was the person at the New Manmade Liquor Store. Still, he told police the funds he received did not have anything to do with liquor sales, but were intended to be given to people who had done work for him. He also told officers he was an essential worker who owned a trucking company and had gone to the establishment to secure the business after receiving permission from the owner.

According to the prosecution, Ash was charged because although he claimed to be an essential worker, he did not follow the correct protocol by calling the COVID-19 311 hotline.

In pleading his case, Ash’s attorney, Tamara Taylor-Storr, said her client was married with three children and had no previous convictions. She also noted Ash had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and was gainfully employed. Insisting Ash had taken responsibility for his actions, she asked Magistrate Rolle-Davis to be lenient and to refrain from imposing a custodial sentence.

Still, while Magistrate Rolle-Davis said he took Ash’s immediate guilty plea into consideration, he insisted the defendant’s actions were a “blatant disregard of the law,” since liquor stores were specifically ordered to cease operation during the lockdown period. Ash was subsequently fined $7,000

JONATHAN ASH, left, outside court yesterday. for the charges. He paid $2,000 yesterday and was

given until Friday, April 24 to pay the balance.

When contacted after the arraignment, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle was asked to respond to criticism that Ash was not handcuffed.

“People are entitled to their own opinion,” Commissioner Rolle said. “I won’t comment on that right now.”

Ash made headlines as the Crown’s main witness against former Cabinet minister Shane Gibson in his bribery case. Ash alleged he paid Gibson hundred of thousands of dollars in bribes so he could receive outstanding government cheques for hurricane clean-up work.

A jury acquitted Mr Gibson of those charges last year.

Editorial View - Page 6

Opening up will be slow

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Ministry of Health will recommend Cabinet revisit how it gradually opens businesses after long lines and crowds were seen around New Providence yesterday, according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen.

“We are very concerned about the long lines,” he said. “We’re not conflicting any decision that has been made, but the execution has been compromised.

The thought process was to open some types of businesses for one day during the week and that could be a way to slowly open up the economy. However, the way it was executed on the ground and how people flooded to particular areas is a potential threat for the expansion of COVID-19.”

Social media lit up with photos and videos yesterday of what appeared to be hundreds of Bahamas

CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES INCREASE BY FOUR, TO 64

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country jumped by four yesterday, bringing the total number to 64. The newly confirmed cases are four men: a 56-year-old, a 66-year old, a 52-yearold and a 51-year old – all located in New Providence.

Three of the patients are in hospital, while the other patient remains in self-isolation. None of them have a recent travel history.

Health officials said investigations are ongoing as they continue to follow the condition of the other active COVID-19 positive cases. To date, there are currently seven confirmed COVID-19 cases in Grand Bahama, 55 confirmed

cases in New Providence and one confirmed case each in Bimini and Cat Cay. So far, over 200 people have been released from quarantine, but nearly 700 people remain in this category.

On Sunday, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen noted that officials ramped up COVID-19 testing over the weekend, beginning with healthcare workers who are most vulnerable to the disease.

It is not clear how many were tested on the weekend or which vulnerable group will be the focus of testing next. However, he said at the time: “That is going to depend on what numbers we get out of this because they are the most vulnerable of our grouping so we need to make sure we address that first.”

Since 1892 Bahamians have been protecting the environment with the passage of the Sea Gardens Protection Act, which prohibited dredging or removal of coral, sea fans or other organisms from the seabed.

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Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union members jumbled in lines on Tonique Williams Darling Highway to get food vouchers.

A notice of the event seen by The Tribune called for a drive-through arrangement — however this was abandoned to the large turnout — and for people to adhere to social distancing rules. However, this was not always followed.

The union members flocked to get vouchers redeemable at Cost Right and Solomon’s shops.

According to the notice, union members will be allowed to get the vouchers until Thursday.

“We have to be careful as to how any business, social activity or recreational activity is allowed and be very calculated,” Dr Brennen said.

He added that it appeared some businesses were open when they were not supposed to be.

“Some business took advantage of the fact that

other businesses were allowed to open,” he said.

While the 24-hour curfew remains in place, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced on Sunday that some businesses will be allowed to operate starting this week.

Auto parts stores will be allowed to operate on Tuesday from 8am to 5pm.

Hardware and home stores will be allowed to operate on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am to 8pm. Plant nurseries will be allowed to operate on Mondays and Thursdays 6am to noon.

Landscaping and property maintenance will now fall under essential businesses and will be allowed to operate during the 24-hour curfew, Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm.

There is concern in some quarters that allowing these businesses to reopen may stunt the progress made thus far due to strict COVID-19 lockdown measures.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, April 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Blow for Junkanoo from page one may now be in doubt because of the tourism industry shutdown.

He said at this point in previous years, major groups would have already ordered material to begin making line costumes, something that has been delayed because of the crisis.

“I think we should have one parade with relaxed rules without all that costuming on the road,” Mr Martin said. “The usual rules call for 12 off the shoulder categories for

instance, so maybe we could just bring six. I believe a parade later in the year would help lift the spirits of Junkanoo participants and also the populace because it’s at the heart of our cultural foundation.”

However, Mr Martin said even if the lockdown extends into the end of May, Junkanoo groups would still be able to prepare for two parades.

Kendenique CampbellMoss, co-chair of the Saxons Superstars, agreed, telling The Tribune groups could host a parade after as little as three months of preparations.

“We are Junkanoo jonsers,” she said. “Any slice we could get we are getting.

It might not go as full scale as in years past because we know the constraints of people in the groups.”

Mrs Campbell-Moss emphasised the challenge groups face is financial, not time related.

“The average person,” she said, “is tourism employed and out of work receiving NIB compensation. They may not have funds to spend on a lavish costume at this point of time.

“We will have to be resourceful which means

using sponge or newspaper or going in cloth. Everyone has been affected by this shutdown so how can you ask a group member that’s been out of work for three, four months to produce something if they had lost their regular income? That would be inhumane. I have a member who told me ‘I know I may not have the money to outfit myself and my daughter but if she want to rush for Christmas, KC I will definitely make sure my daughter is ready but I know I can’t get both of us ready.’

“So the challenge has nothing to do with time to

produce something. You could start your costume Christmas Day and get onto Bay Street by Christmas night. It is the financial obligation that’s concerning because Junkanoo is an expensive commodity. You need money to look good.”

Asked if the JCNP is minded to host a parade, Mrs Campbell-Moss said: “We are very, very, very overwhelmingly leaning toward a parade. We love this. This ain’ something we could pick up and put down.”

Mrs Campbell-Moss said despite all the challenges COVID-19 poses to the

Junkanoo community, it has also brought groups together.

“We go on live at night on Zoom and watch old footage of Junkanoo that we would’ve seen from 1999 or 2001 and we’re just looking at how we can do better and create a better craft,” she said. “We are talking old stories, ways to craft our industry and how to figure out better marketing to the international community. Junkanoo is tribal but Nassau is only 21 by seven.”

Major parades are hosted on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

COLLETTE, above, and her happpy customers ...

Williams takes to social people post photos of their media sharing her reci- cooking skills. pes, cooking tips and “I have a degree in hostechniques, and posting pitality management, and live demos of her cooked I had been working in the meals and baked goods on hotel industry for many Facebook. years,” she said. “Cooking Sharing her love of food is a hobby for me - I love is a passion for her, and she doing it. My friends are began honing her cook- always asking me for reciing skills at age nine in the pes, and I love sharing them kitchen with her mother through my demos online, and grandmother. and I encourage them to Although she has never also bake and share with received any profes- our essential workers. sional or formal training “I find that giving back in cooking or baking, her makes me feel good and presentations are that of a helps me not to focus professional chef. Mrs Wil- so much on myself and liams posts many meals my struggles,” said Mrs and baked goods on the Williams.

Grand Bahama Wine & In the aftermath of HurDine Facebook page, where ricane Dorian last, Mrs

Williams delivered chicken souse to people in the hurricane shelters.

In the US, health care workers and others on the frontline have contracted the disease, and some have died. In the Bahamas, health professionals are also being affected, and the country recorded its first physician COVID-19 related death when veteran nephrologist Dr Judson Eneas died earlier this month.

Mrs Williams noted that police officers and hospital workers put themselves on the line, but are underappreciated for what they do.

“Whenever it is time to give back, they are first I think about. And I encourage more people to find special ways to show essential workers that they are appreciated and valued,” she said.

Collette’s baking up a treat for workers

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama resident Collette Williams is showing her appreciation to essential workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 fight by delivering some of her baked goods and treats to them on the job.

Mrs Williams – who loves to bake and cook — said it is the least she could do to thank those health care workers, police, customs and immigration officers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

She said it is a joy to see the surprise and appreciation on their faces when she presents them with her box of goodies.

“Their faces light up and that means a lot to me, and one police officer… was next to tears and really appreciated the gesture,” she said.

Although she is not working due to the COVID-19 shutdown, she felt it was important to give back and show appreciation to those men and women who are on the front line daily.

She has dropped off a box of her baked goods to the Rand Memorial Hospital, the Kidney Centre, the airport, and other places.

To curtail the spread of the virus locally, the government has implemented a national lockdown and 24-hour curfew.

While at home, Mrs

WHAT’S THE BASIS FOR EASING UP? ASKS DAVIS from page one Mr Davis accused Dr Minnis of causing “anger, chaos and panic” through the changes.

Dr Minnis has also said people on the street this week will be stopped by police and required to produce government issued identification as means to help identify essential workers.

Mr Davis spoke to reporters yesterday from his home where he also took issue with the Minnis administration’s inability to provide an estimated timeline for when officials expect to return to some form or normalcy. “Here again the prime minister is not connecting the object of his measures to the overall

goal of stopping the spread of the virus and keeping us safe,” Mr Davis said. “The object has to be saving lives and stopping the spread of the virus.

“Nothing that he said yesterday addresses those issues. I am concerned that most of the measures that have been announced to date appear always to cause anger, chaos and panic.

“The food stores, the measures that we initiated, you see the result there. This morning he said everyone on the street must have an ID. Well what has been happening? All morning I was at home because the streets are blocked. People can’t get where they want to go because every car is being stopped and the driver is being asked to show an ID to the police officers.

WITH THANKS

“I would have thought that any identification would be for the purposes of confirming or verifying the reason for the person on the street.

“And so the measures have to relieve the anger, panic and chaos. Not contribute to it and it seems that that’s all that has been happening over the last several weeks.”

He continued: “What I am concerned about as well is that he had broadened the number of businesses that could now be opened.

The question that I have to ask is: what was always the medical advice that we had to know where we are in respect to the spread and in respect to the persons that are infected and those who are recovered?

“So for weeks we have

A SYMBOLIC display utilising over 250 containers was recently created at Freeport Container Port to show love to all personnel at the Ministry of Health and the Public Hospitals Authority. It’s Hutchison Ports’

been asking for some prediction as to when we are going to know the timing of what I call the apex.

When are we going to reach the mountain top of this dilemma?

“Would it peak and then fall off or would it just plateau? In announcing the opening of these other businesses today and you are still having increases and announcing more tested with the virus, so the question is on what basis are you now saying the evidence is not there for that because we are adding to the numbers?”

The Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Health’s weekly briefings have also lacked pertinent details that give Bahamians clarity on a way forward, Mr Davis said.

PLP leader Philip Davis The key question that has gone unanswered is when will it end, the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP insisted.

“I would like to see more clarity on the plans,” he said.

“People want to know what efforts are you engaged in to end it and they need to have an account of how those efforts are producing results. To date what we have been

way of saying thank you to healthcare teams throughout the country, especially those in Grand Bahama, working to contain and combat COVID-19. Valentino Johnson, FCP planning manager, said: “We’d like

seeing for example is only increases in the spread and we still don’t know where we are after four weeks or more in respect to the apex, the mountaintop.

“If you watch what has been happening worldwide many countries would have made a number of predictions and deadlines and they were in my words as things became clearer and the picture became more pointed being able to adjust it. In most instances they were able to show that they were conservative with their estimates or overly progressive in their estimates and were able to demonstrate how their efforts were mitigating against the original predictions and we are seeing that every day.

“We want to know how long this is going to last how much longer?”

to thank healthcare professionals on the front lines, as well as other essential workers, like food store clerks, pharmacy staff and enforcement officers, who continue to perform their duties, despite the risk.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 21, 2020, PAGE 5

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

GIFTS FOR BAHA MAR EMPLOYEES

CHOREN JONES, a disabled Hurricane Dorian survivor from Abaco, went to the Department of Social Services for the third time yesterday

Dorian survivor in search of support

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net CHOREN Jones, a disabled Hurricane Dorian survivor from Abaco, went to the Department of Social Services for the third time yesterday, looking for help with rent and food.

The Tribune met the 53-year-old in her wheelchair outside the government agency. She said despite her visits, she has not received any help yet.

“One time that I’ve been here asking for rental assistance and other assistance and I haven’t received anything as yet. They say they would’ve called me and that then been almost six months,” said the Cooper’s Town resident.

“It’s very difficult especially with the food and you know supplies for my wheelchair. You know I’m sitting. I need bedding, stuff like that... I ain’t getting anything. “...I mean it’s a challenge... because for me to get around I have to use my electric wheelchair to get

back and forward wherever I have to go.

“It’s a challenge because they don’t want you on the streets and I don’t have anybody else to get my food and stuff so I have to go to the food store and stuff myself.”

Ms Jones said she’s learned to make adjustments after the storm.

A friend took her in after the hurricane and has also assisted with her electric wheelchair maintenance, but she realises there are limitations to their generosity.

“And I was staying with them for a while, but you know you have to give them assistance also to help, you know, by living there and so far I haven’t had much assistance yet,” she added.

Several other Abaco hurricane survivors were at the Department of Social Services yesterday morning looking for help.

Mother-of-five Toya Forbes, 36, has not been working since September and has been getting coupons from the department. After dealing with a natural disaster, she is now

faced with trying to get through the pandemic.

“It’s very, very sad cause here it is we thought we’re going to be getting on our feet soon to go back home and now this. No jobs. So little income. It’s really sad,” she said.

The Dundas Town native explained it was not easy at first but the situation is getting better as the days go by. Ms Forbes said Social Services representatives have been helpful. It is the National Insurance Board (NIB) that has proven to be the biggest challenge as she awaits her unemployment benefits, she said.

“After my maternity I haven’t gotten anything else for them,” she said. “I did apply for my benefits about three months (ago) and I haven’t gotten anything yet. I know they were saying that they were supposed to roll over the benefits. Like some persons have already started to collect the second one. I haven’t collected the first one yet.

“I’ve worked (and) put in my hours, my time..... Sometimes you’re on the line for three hours.”

Emitte Bottle from Murphy Town came to the Baillou Hill Road office after becoming unemployed. When he first came to Nassau, Odyssey Aviation paid his first three months rent and then Social Services paid for two months of rent, he said.

Describing himself as a “praying man”, he opened up about feeling depressed.

“When I get so depressed in the house, I come out of the house and walk around the yard. That’s exercise you know. I read. I read the Bible a lot. I study a lot and depend on God. “.....Financially we lost everything. What I had saved, I spent.

You know so we’re back to square one but it’s just not me. A lot of people I know, rich and poor, we back to square one. They may have a little bit more money saved than I have but thank God I’m still here,” he said.

BAHA Mar will gift employees with care packages containing nonperishable goods beginning today. This month marks the mega resort’s third anniversary in operation and Baha Mar is using the occasion to thank staff for their hard work and dedication.

The resort has assembled 5,000 packages for staff. “While the resort has temporarily suspended operations due to COVID19, we are committed to honouring and thanking those that have made this destination truly spectacular: our 5,000 associates.

We appreciate how challenging these times are and wanted to let them know they are in our thoughts,” said Baha Mar president Graeme Davis.

Baha Mar has made the commitment to support staff during the temporary closure of the resort by ensuring they receive 40 percent of their salary for up to 90 days. A press release noted that the company will continue to pay the insurance premiums necessary to maintain health, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance coverage.

The care packages will be distributed from 9am-4pm, with a verification process at Melia Convention Centre: Today - Grand Hyatt Tomorrow - Casino, Shares Services and Resort Services Thursday, April 23 - Melia Friday, April 24 - SLS & Rosewood.

FOUNDATION PLEDGES $200K LYFORD Cay Foundation, deeply concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world, particularly on the Bahamas, has pledged $200,000 in immediate aid for vulnerable Bahamian communities affected by the lockdown.

The Foundation has also disbursed $50,000 to the Salvation Army and Bahamas Feeding Network.

“While the global community shudders from this pandemic, The Bahamas is profoundly vulnerable given that it is still reeling from the physical, humanitarian and economic impact of Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, and given the dependency of our economy on tourism,” said the Foundation.

Donors are asked to visit the Foundation’s website —www.lyfordcayfoundations.org – to make a contribution to Lyford Cay Foundation Inc., or The Canadian Lyford Cay Foundation via the online portal.

FOUR DOMINICANS CHARGED WITH CURFEW OFFENCES

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

FOUR Dominican men, two of whom had expired work permits, were charged in Magistrate’s Court yesterday with violating the weekend lockdown.

They were among several people who appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis for lockdown infractions.

George Vargas, 44, Jesus Carmona, 32, Jose Tineo, 31, and Steven Rosario, 19, were charged after police found them in the Prince Charles Drive area around 4.50pm on Saturday.

The men all pleaded guilty.

Vargas and Carmona were each fined $800 or one month at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Rosario and Tineo on the other hand, were warned to abide by the curfew regulations and discharged.

Senior Immigration Officer Vonetta Flowers told the court Vargas had entered the country on a short-term permit that

lasted between January 15 and March 14. She also said Carmona’s last work permit expired on March 22 and noted the Bahamas Department of Immigration had not received a permit renewal application from him to date. Officer Flowers added the two other defendants, Rosario and Tenio, had entered the country as tourists whose visas expired on April 16.

According to the prosecution, on the day in question, officers observed a yellow Toyota Hiace heading south on Prince Charles Drive near Beatrice Avenue and beckoned for the vehicle to stop. When questioned, all of the occupants identified themselves as Dominican nationals and told police they were coming from work at a body shop.

Officers inquired about work permits and the men’s immigration status and the driver produced a residential spousal permit that appeared to be valid.

Carmona also produced a work permit that expired

on March 22. However, he failed to produce a receipt to prove he was in the process of renewing his application. The other two men did not give officers any identification. As a result, all of the men were taken to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station where they were interviewed under caution in the presence of an interpreter. During the interview, Vargas told officers they were returning home after repairing a truck at the Arawak Cay Port. Carmona also said they were coming from work when they were stopped by police. Tineo on the other hand, told police he was outdoors because he was staying with Carmona and had gone along with him to repair the truck at the port.

The prosecution said Rosario also told officers he was invited to come along because he had not seen the city and his friends had permission to go and do work at the port. All of the defendants were represented by attorney

Terrell Butler, who told Magistrate Rolle-Davis her clients had pleaded guilty at the first possible opportunity. She also noted Vargas had a work permit that had expired during the lockdown/curfew period because “no facility was available to regularise his status.” Insisting all of the men were remorseful, she asked the magistrate to be as lenient as possible given the COVID-19 pandemic.

Magistrate Rolle-Davis said in sentencing the defendants, said he considered the fact that Rosario and Tineo were tourists who could not leave the country even if they wanted to because of the current travel restrictions.

Still, he said the Immigration Department must investigate how Vargas and Carmona were allowed to remain in the country without valid work permits and determine whether they or their employers were in breach of the emergency orders.

Meanwhile, Eric

Ferguson, 24, was also charged after police found him near Charles Vincent Street around 9.24pm last Friday. He pleaded guilty and was fined $500 or 20 days at the BDCS. Hours after his first arraignment, Ferguson returned to court, charged with possession of two grams of Indian Hemp.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was toldhis $10 worth of marijuana would cost him $200 or 14 days in prison.

Jeffrey Pierre, 24 and Robinson Paul, 33, also pleaded guilty to violating the lockdown. The two men were found in the Joe Farrington Road area around 4.55pm on Sunday. Magistrate Rolle-Davis fined Pierre $300 or 14 days at the BDCS. Robinson was also fined $500 or 15 days in prison.

Forty-year-old Demetrius Higgins was also charged after officers found him near Jones Road around 8.30pm on Sunday night.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $500

or 30 days at the BDCS. Officers found Gladstone Greene, 47, in Coconut Grove around 10pm last Thursday. The prosecution said on the night in question, police on patrol stopped a man riding a bike. When questioned, the man told officers that he wasn’t aware of the 24-hour curfew and was only going to chill out at one of his friend’s house. He was subsequently fined $500 or 30 days in prison.

Zendall Stuart, 36, was charged after he was found on Charlotte Street around 9.20am on Saturday.

According to the prosecution, at the time of Stuart’s arrest, he told officers he was “going to work, eating breakfast and just chilling”.

However, when taken to a nearby station for questioning, he told them he was waiting for food and clothing from a lady who was supposed to meet him on Charlotte Street.

He pleaded guilty and was cautioned and discharged.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, April 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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The good and the bad for new commissioner IT it is only three weeks since Paul Rolle became Commissioner of Police – though that feels like three months in lockdown time - but yesterday saw mixed signs of what to expect under his leadership.

Let’s start with the good. Two police officers are under investigation after videos circulated on social media showing a police car outside a liquor store open in breach of emergency orders.

Both have been placed on leave while an investigation continues.

In contrast, his predecessor, Anthony Ferguson, suggested a year ago that when it came to suspending officers accused of a far greater crime – unlawful killings – it wasn’t his job.

As far as we are aware, no change in police regulations has taken place with regard to suspending officers who are under investigation – so there is a marked difference already under Commissioner Rolle.

A suspension does not mean an officer is guilty or innocent, it merely follows good practice around the world to take officers off the front lines while an investigation is resolved. A circulated video may not tell the full story – and officers should get the chance to have their say too.

While we praise Commissioner Rolle for that action, however, we are frankly baffled by another decision yesterday – arising from those same videos.

Businessman Jonathan Ash was running the liquor store selling the alcohol in those videos – but it was a different kind of running that caught the eye yesterday.

Rather than the Bank Lane Shuffle, Mr Ash made it a Courtroom Sprint – as he dashed past the media in attendance to record his visit.

Normally, prisoners being brought into court are handcuffed – and quite often have their feet shackled too. No such restraints for Mr Ash. He was escorted by police – but we can’t imagine too many prisoners being given the opportunity to break into a run by police outside the court. So why was Mr Ash indulged in this way?

AFTER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis criticised wealthy business owners who have laid off long-term staff due to the COVID19 economic fall out, and questioned if they have a heart or soul, readers responded on tribune242. com.

Clamshell posted this comment: “Easy for him to say — the government remains open, and he and everybody else continues to draw a salary because the government is still collecting VAT, property taxes, endless fees, etc, etc. Yet he expects a business owner to keep paying employees while taking in NO revenue

When asked, Commissioner Rolle merely said: “People are entitled to their own opinion. I won’t comment on that right now.”

People are indeed entitled to their own opinion, and will draw conclusions from the fact that Mr Ash was previously the main witness in the Shane Gibson bribery case. Mr Gibson was acquitted last year.

With that case already under the political magnifying glass, it seems odd indeed to afford such a prominent witness different treatment when he faces his own criminal charges.

Then there is one more police matter to catch our attention today. Last year, there was a spate of senior officers sent on leave as part of a move to restructure the force – with some returning to find themselves assigned to new roles, and others since retiring.

At the time, National Security Minister Marvin Dames pointed to a manpower audit that said the force was too top-heavy. The audit said there were ten assistant commissioners of police – and that there should only be six.

So if that audit was the justification for pushing out senior officers last year – what then is the justification for promoting three more officers to the assistant commissioner rank, bringing the total back up to eight?

For those who have been assigned to new roles on the basis of the previous audit, only to see new promotions bring the number back above the recommended level, this seems an insult added to their injury. It also makes the whole process look like a paper exercise to justify decisions made elsewhere.

We wrote when Commissioner Rolle took up the post that we hope he is given the time to shape the police force in the manner he needs. Given this mess over senior officers being elbowed out only for promotions to fill the posts previously deemed unnecessary, we also hope he is given the opportunity to be free of political interference.

Over to you, Commissioner.

at all. Because, hey, ya gotta have ‘heart’. You wanna see who has a ‘heart, compassion and a soul,’ Mr Prime Minister? Suspend all government taxes and fees and see how long you can keep paying government employees — and yourself. Put your money where your mouth is.”

There was this from Hoda: “I believe the only people who would be claiming if govt employees/

civil servants salaries were cut are the unionised govt employees as the union bosses have already started up with their threats. Y’all acting like no one is getting assistance from the govt, like people haven’t been getting assistance from Dorian till now. It might take a while. The govt employees are a substantial percentage of the population, that would be a very serious thing if public servants stop spending money.

“I think the help people need is relief from mortgage and loan debt, so maybe we need to direct this heat at banks and money lenders.”

Digital move a sensible one EDITOR, The Tribune I CONGRATULATE the government on taking the step of moving payment of NIB benefits to digital wallets. This is a step in the right direction to diminishing, if not terminating, long lines at NIB, social services, food stores, and other service places. Unfortunately, as I write, the morning after the PM’s speech, I see, in social media, long lines on Tonique Williams Darling highway. It is said that the line represents people waiting for vouchers at the “union building”.

In 2015/2016, I worked closely with Bahamian experts in the Department of Information Technology (“DIT”) and the IT department of NIB when the private and public sector partnership (“PPP”) were working to launch incorporation of companies entirely online, and other online services, at the Registrar General’s Department (“RGD”). We also worked closely with the IT department at NIB and Bank of The Bahamas (“BOB”).

From this experience, I know that the GOB and NIB digital platform is set up to transfer and receive funds. I also know that the GOB digital platform is set up to transact business with third parties. During this time, BOB was the clearing house for these commercial transactions between GOB and the private sector. This

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net service provided by BOB also benefited BOB. NIB cards are unique to the holder of the card.

I again suggest that social services, NIB and other benefits should be transferred to the NIB card.

The NIB card could be used to obtain goods and services.

There is more than enough room in the market for digital wallets and the NIB card (my comments apply equally to the RISE card about which I previously wrote). Experts in this space have advised that a digital wallet will require data on the cell phone. Further, the user may have to pay a charge for the use of the service. On the other hand, the NIB cards would not require data on a cell phone. A transfer from a GOB agency to the NIB card would be the same as an electronic transfer to pay a bill. The transfers to and from the NIB card would occur entirely on the GOB, or GOB controlled, digital platform. This means that GOB, and not the NIB card holder would pay the service fees for use of the card on the GOB platform.

I’m also advised that GOB can immediately implement transfers and services using the digital NIB card and

that it would not take long to reestablish the RISE card.

There may be people who would rather receive their NIB or other benefits using a digital wallet. Many other people need every cent transferred. Service fees would diminish the sum they receive.

Another reason for providing more than one option to receive this service is that competition promotes efficiency. While the digital wallet is to become an option, especially in the 21st century, GOB should not be seen to promote monopoly.

In summary, the NIB card can immediately be used to transfer benefits and acquire goods and services (including home deliveries). This would decrease or eliminate lines at GOB agencies, food stores, etc. GOB and not the holder of the card, would carry the cost of providing the service. This will enable the card holder to use every penny of the benefit to obtain essential goods. This mindset and operational change would cause people to see GOB operating in a 21st century manner and recognizing the dignity of every person. No one should have to stand in a line for hours to get food.

Yes we can!

ALLYSON GIBSON Nassau, April 20, 2020.

No level playing field with marijuana

By Nikolay Anguelov Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth AMERICA’S decades-long war on drugs disproportionately harmed minorities. Now, it seems that decriminalisation of marijuana hasn’t levelled the playing field.

Black men are 12 times more likely than white men to spend time incarcerated in the United States. College enrolment for black men has declined since the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse

Act went into effect. I am a scholar of public policy.

In my book, “From Criminalizing to Decriminalizing Marijuana: The Politics of Social Control,” I aim to provide a historic overview of marijuana legislation and its impact on minorities.

Today, some drug laws related to marijuana are easing. Twenty five states have introduced decriminalization reforms, with 11 states allowing adult recreational use.

Such reforms directly impact adults 21 years of age and older, but they also have indirect effect on younger

Americans. Even though marijuana is still illegal for people under 21, evidence is emerging that decriminalisation is increasing the number of kids who consume weed illegally.

As I wrote in my book, young people have always been the main buyers of marijuana. Smoking marijuana has become an important part of growing up for many U.S. teenagers, a fact not acknowledged by any marijuana reform advocacy analysis.

In my book, I analysed the political, economic and demographic predictors

of each type of policy reform from 2000 to 2014.

The results indicate that rising marijuana usage rates, a ballot initiative allowing voters a say in the matter and the experience of neighboring states are the main factors driving decriminalisation in general.

In all three cases of reform, usage rates were the strongest predictive factor. They had remained largely unchanged until the wave of decriminalisation started two decades ago. As state laws reformed, usage rates started to marginally,

yet steadily increase. Since 2000 they have doubled nationally.

The strongest spikes are in states that are known as leaders in not just decriminalisation, but which are relatively more permissive in terms of possession, access and oversight like Washington and Vermont.

Decriminalising recreational use occurred mainly as a function of high marijuana usage rates in states like Massachusetts, Oregon and Colorado.

Reports regarding the arrest rates for youths may indicate

unintended consequences of decriminalisation.

These consequences include increased police discretion, providing incentives for youth consumption in illegal markets and exacerbating racial problems in juvenile justice.

If reform advocates want to address the historical wrongs of the war on drugs, they have to figure out how to tackle the cultural promotion of marijuana use which goes hand in hand with the political promotion of decriminalisation. theconversation.com

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 21, 2020, PAGE 7

Three promoted to top-heavy senior rank from page one When that audit was conducted there were ten ACPs. The auditors suggested there only needed to be six.

“The Bahamas when compared to other law enforcement agencies within the region has an obvious oversubscription in the ranks of the senior command, particularly at the rank of ACPs, Superintendents, Chief Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents,” the audit said.

The new promotions come after the Minnis administration directed eight senior officers last year to take vacation leave as part of a move to restructure the force. Three of those officers have since retired.

In justifying that action, National Security Minister Marvin Dames pointed to the manpower audit’s assertion that the police force is too top-heavy.

“We would have done these audits for a reason,” he said in a previous interview with reporters, “we have to come to a place where when we do the work, when we do the empirical study at the end of the day we need to look at those recommendations coming out of those studies and see what is important to apply to improve the level of efficiency and professionalism to ready these agencies for the future because at the end of the day, it is service to the Bahamian people.”

Wayne Munroe, lawyer for three senior officers who have since returned from vacation leave, said

the new promotions prove his clients were sidelined for disingenuous reasons.

“If six is your optimal number of Assistant Commissioners and you can’t dismiss the three persons who are there, how then do you justify appointing anything more than an additional two ACPs?” he said yesterday. “Not to mention It would seem like a waste of resources at a time when public resources are scarce.”

When they returned from forced vacation leave, his clients ACP Kendal Strachan and ACP Clayton Fernander were directed to head security teams at juvenile schools and the Ministry of Health respectively. Meanwhile, ACP Leamond Deleveaux has been assigned to “to assist with the overall security concerns” at the Ministry of Education.

NEW Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle Mr Munroe, who said his clients are still years away from retirement, said the rationale for assigning them to various government bodies has been made out to be a “farce” by the new promotion exercise.

“(Clayton) Fernander is still waiting to get details of what they need from him from Dr Duane Sands,” he said.

“Deleveaux is still waiting to get the same thing from Jeff Lloyd. We’re in

court for Ken Strachan and the lawyer said he has had problems getting instructions, blaming COVID-19. There does not seem to be genuineness in the process and sincerity and to use the prime minister’s word, humanity. How humanely have they acted towards our three ACPs bearing in mind what they said?

The more they talk the more they are shown to be duplicitous.”

He continued: “I also do not know who the Police Service Commission is.

We should know because it’s a matter that should be gazetted.”

The commissioner’s force order said the new promotions were made after consulting the Police Service Commission.

Editorial View - Page 6

ANGELO ROLLE, left, and Deondre Mallory outside court yesterday.

Inset: the juvenile.

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

TRIO CHARGED WITH BREAKING INTO GB SPORTING STORE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A 17-YEAR-OLD boy was among three people charged with shop breaking and stealing yesterday.

The trio appeared in Magistrate’s Court in Grand Bahama.

Deondre Mallory, of Trotter Avenue, and Angelo Rolle, of Columbus Drive, both 18, were charged together, while the minor was charged separately before Deputy

Chief Magistrate Debbie Ferguson.

They were charged in connection with a complaint made to police on Monday, April 13, when thieves broke into a major sporting goods store.

The minor pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to the Simpson Penn School for Boys.

The matter is adjourned to June 30 for trial.

Mallory and Rolle also pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were remanded to the Bahamas

Department of Correctional Services until June 30 for trial.

In other court matters, Gilbert Bastian, a 39-yearold resident of Hearn Lane, Freeport, was charged with two counts of stealing and possession of proceeds of a criminal conduct.

The charges stem from a complaint made to police on April 14. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional services until June 30 for trial.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, April 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

I

’M always impressed when I learn about Bahamians doing big things in other parts of the world. It reminds me of how great we are as a people, even though we come from a small archipelago, sometimes represented as just a dot on a map. I am especially proud when those accomplishments come from someone I know - in this case, my cousin Clair. She is located in New Orleans, one of the hotbeds of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. But her work there is so important that even in the midst of chaos, her critical role in assisting marginalised groups is making a big difference.

Clair moved to New Orleans in late 2019 to take on the position of Assistant Vice President of Talent Development at the New Orleans Business Alliance. She moved to the Big Easy with nine years of experience in the nonprofit sector under her belt.

Her specialty is workforce development and mental health and most recently, she has been focusing on the intersection of racial equity and workforce development. Here, she has found her space to shine.

Clair works in partnership with the City’s Workforce Development Office and is responsible for developing and leading the implementation of the Talent and Workforce Development Strategy with the use of a racial equity lens. She helps establish best practices that will make changes on a policy level, meaning the effects of her work can hopefully be felt for generations to come.

“I kind of fell into this work and I love it dearly,” she said.

“I am creating and designing training programmes and helping people looking for new career opportunities. This helps them meet their hopes and aspirations, so they have a chance to advance and have economic mobility. It’s a work I hope to bring home to The Bahamas one day and help develop the talent, the culture and prosperity we have there.”

The New Orleans Business Alliance implemented a career readiness curriculum which was created in New York and has affiliate sites throughout the US. Clair’s work involves working closely with four NGOs dedicated to helping marginalised groups get connected to opportunity. She helps these groups adopt the curriculum and have true fidelity to the model that is working throughout the country. In addition, she works with the New Orleans Workforce Development Board to establish best practices – all with a racial equality focus.

“The state of Louisiana is still, in many ways segregated... the home of separate but equal and many of these practices are still embedded in the state’s policy, even if not intentionally” she explained.

“The challenge is, when you look at the outcomes for coloured people, especially African Americans across the United States, the outcomes are racialised.

Health outcomes, wealth, housing, educational and employment outcomes.

The wage disparity is still very big. For example, in industries such as finance, construction and manufacturing, white workers are

CLAIR with her husband Matthew Minson and their daughters Maya, Sarah and Madison

Clair’s mission to level the playing field for generations to come still earning twice as much or more than black workers.

“The use of racial equality lines in talent workforce development is critical is to closing racial gaps, as well as wealth, gender and age gaps, to allow them to advance and have true economic mobility. This will allow people to own homes, send their children to private schools if they wish, pay for college and have access to loans to start their own businesses. This work is about wealth - to help coloured communities - especially black communities build wealth - and that cannot happen if huge disparities exist in their places of employment or if they are concentrated in low wage jobs.

“We have to challenge employers and business

owners to look at their human resource policies and hiring practices to see how they are negatively impacting groups of colour while advantaging white people.”

The COVID-19 lockdown has affected New Orleans in similar ways as it has affected The Bahamas.

Both touristic destinations, workers affiliated with the industry have found themselves at home at a time when they usually expect an increase in work.

Clair pointed out that eight percent of the workforce there are “gig workers” such as musicians and artists. She has been working feverishly with her colleagues at the New Orleans Business Alliance to help this group of people.

Thus far, over $640,000

has been raised; over 1,600 people have applied and once approved, each will receive $500 in assistance.

Meantime, the alliance is working to help the unemployed and other groups affected by the crisis. She is also helping to figure out how to help those with technological needs. Many people, she said, relied on the libraries for internet usage. Therefore, as schools go online and some businesses have found ways to move their work to the internet, many are left without that kind of resourceful connectivity.

Being in New Orleans, in some ways, has Clair feeling right at home. She is an avid lover of Junkanoo and she loves to introduce this Bahamian cultural pass-time to her friends and family members in America. New Orleans, a place of culture, music and food, is a welcome new home for her and her husband, Matthew, along with their daughters Maya, Sarah and Madison.

Clair moved to America at the age of 13 after the passing of her mother,

LEFT: Clair and her father, Brendan Watson with her rising star award from the America Society of Public Administration; above: standing, left to right - Brian “Baldie” Gibson, Eloise “Lala” Edwards, Clair Watson Minson, Dominique Folks Johnson, Darren Gibson sitting, Sandra Gibson, Grace Gibson

Sandra Gibson. She went to live with her sister, Domonique Foulkes-Johnson, who was doing her residency as a doctor at the time. She is currently the medical director of a hospital in Maryland. Clair had attended St John’s College all her life before leaving for the US. Since then, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Clark Atlanta University and a Master’s degree in Community Counselling from Argosy University. She is a Nationally Certified Counsellor (NCC) and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counsellor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland.

Prior to her role at the New Orleans Business Alliance, she was the workforce strategist at a public foundation in Baltimore. Her portfolio focused on supporting the upward mobility of black/ African American residents through grant making as well as providing technical assistance and capacity building support to those committed to advancing racial equity in workforce development.

In addition to all that, Clair decided to start her own consulting and counselling company, Sandra Grace, LLC. The company is named in honour of her mother and grandmother, two well-known and respected women in Bahamian society. Sandra was an executive secretary at Breezes Hotel.

Her mother Grace Gibson was a switchboard operator, affectionately called “GG”. She was responsible for raising many children who were not her own at her home on the corner of Infant View Road and Nassau Street. Her biological son, Brian “Baldie” Gibson, was a giant in Junkanoo. He and Clair’s aunt Eloise “Lala” Edwards are also deceased, but Clair has found a way to turn all the pain of the loss of her loved ones into prosperity. It’s a gift she

intends to share be counselling others through her company.

“I have been fortunate to stumble into a work that is my calling, she said. “And not only stumble into a work, but into an industry that is helping to connect the disenfranchised to job and career opportunities, while also helping with their mental health.

“I really care about communities not being treated unjustly and not being disadvantaged. I want to help people understand how to navigate the challenges and barriers in life and help people be successful in their individual journeys. My faith in God is my inspiration and in some ways, my life is one of trial for triumph.”

She was quite young when her father, Brendan Watson, well known Rotarian and construction developer told her to find a hobby and make it a career. As she grew, she saw how much passion he had for the construction industry and how it allowed him to do something he really loved… and that’s how she wanted to live her life as well. My mother, her aunt Agatha, stepped in to continue to provide her with motherly love and she said she is thankful to be a part of a family with such rich Bahamian history, who love and share with each other.

Bahamians, she said, are people who are so comfortable in their own skin, who “know who they are and who love to have fun and celebrate with family – much like the people of New Orleans”.

“I have fallen into the thing I love to do every single day – supporting people who are unemployed or marginalised… people who have no voice,” she said.

“It all ties neatly to my faith and the command to help the oppressed. This is bigger than myself. It is mission, it is purpose, it is God’s work.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 21, 2020, PAGE 9

MADE IN CHINA - BUT FOR HOW MUCH LONGER? IT IS well known that cataclysmic events are invariably followed by major aftershocks. Following the First World War – called the war to end all wars – there was a domestic upheaval of Britain’s social structure and later a rise in nationalism - and then fascism - in Europe.

After the Second World War there was more international co-operation, like the Marshall Plan to reconstruct Europe and the establishment of the United Nations and its specialised agencies – while Britain created its welfare state and system of social insurance followed by compulsory free education and a National Health Service.

It is now claimed the economic and social meltdown in Britain as

a result of coronavirus has never been seen before even during wartime. But looking at the wider picture, the most likely major repercussions of the pandemic internationally will be its effect on globalisation. As countries wrestle with huge levels of debt, the virus has shown up the disadvantages of excessive international integration so that they will be less open to products from around the world as they start looking inward and move towards self-sufficiency.

Even liberal governments have been slapping restrictions on trade and travel with bans and stricter visa requirements so the flow of goods and people across frontiers is being affected. One

The

Peter Young column WHILE the COVID-19 crisis continues around the world with a vengeance, just a month ago there was still a widespread feeling it would be short lived. It was thought the strong action taken by different countries to contain the spread of the virus through strict measures about social distancing to prevent its transmission among humans would be effective and the crisis would be rapidly over. But that has proven not to be the case.

The world is in this together and the fight goes on.

The evidence is mounting that the virus emanated from a laboratory in the Wuhan province of China, where the total number of deaths has just been revised upwards by 50 percent. It is also claimed the World Health Organisation and China together were slow in warning the rest of the world about its deadly effects. So most people will surely welcome the current investigation of what may have been a cover-up.

Generally, in the mind of the layman there are pathogens in the atmosphere about which the scientists know little and which can all too easily be passed among humans. So the question is how to limit their effects before they can precipitate an epidemic or, in the current case, a pandemic. A recent example is, of course SARS, a respiratory disease that was contained in 2003 after infecting some 8,000 people in 29 different countries resulting in at least 774 recorded deaths.

The brutal truth is that the lockdown of economies, together with restrictions on the movement of people, has probably slowed down the spread of COVID-19 but not stopped it - as the figures for infections and deaths in, for example, the US, UK, Italy, France and Spain show only too vividly.

However, it is clear without social distancing these figures could have been substantially worse. So, the virus may start spreading again when these restrictions are lifted.

Thus, together with much more extensive testing including tracing and screening the contacts of

those testing positive, new rules may have to become permanent about social distancing, the wearing of masks, self-isolation and special treatment of the elderly and the vulnerable with underlying medical conditions. But that will depend on development of a vaccine for COVID-19, in the same way that diseases like measles, smallpox, chickenpox, polio, AIDS and others have been eradicated or contained. Until such a vaccine is available and effective there will be a need for widespread social distancing even if the lockdown is lifted. But the immediate problem is nobody knows when there will be a vaccine, though there have been suggestions of one being ready within a year or even earlier.

Given such a timeframe, more and more people are now arguing that here in The Bahamas it makes no sense to destroy a country’s economy in the meantime by closing everything down and imposing mass isolation. Indeed, it would be extreme folly to keep the economy - which is small and therefore more vulnerable than in larger countries - in an induced coma when it needs to be as strong as possible to withstand a global recession which the UN Secretary General has described as having ‘no parallel in the recent past’ and which the International Monetary Fund has predicted will be worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s. Moreover, since foreign exchange is drying up through lack of receipts from tourism, it is all the more important to keep the domestic economy going.

The very limited easing announced at the weekend is welcome. But, as the nightmare of the lockdown continues and the damage to the economy grows, it is becoming increasingly clear that, if it is prolonged, the result will be vanishing jobs, unemployment, wage cuts and bankruptcies as well as extreme suffering within society and even untimely and unnecessary deaths.

I examined this in last week’s column but it is worth reiterating that it

example of a visible lack of cooperation during the pandemic has been the European Union’s failure to respond adequately to Italy’s call for urgent medical assistance, and this is already leading to more euro-scepticism.

Such developments play into the hands of nationalists who favour greater authoritarianism, protectionism and immigration controls and they encourage the negative aspects of populism.

International trade has, of course, been happening over vast distances for centuries. Globalisation has been about the scale and speed of international business which has been stimulated by easier travel for businessmen

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH He was said to have had a passionate love of the Lake District and he even wrote a guidebook about it to supplement his income as a writer.

Apparently, some of his work was also inspired by his contemporary and close friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and - amusingly perhaps for admirers of Coleridge - they fell out temporarily over the latter’s hoped-for dalliance with Wordsworth’s sister-in-law.

Wordsworth is considered

consumer goods destined for Europe. Thus, companies and governments may want to re-evaluate the benefits and downside of the international economy in face of the growing risks of reliance on complex global supply chains.

This could result in businesses remodelling and shortening their supply chains closer to home or even developing local production that could boost manufacturing bases at home. That is the likely trend, though cross border cooperation and maintenance of some supply chains will remain important. But the question now is whether the coronavirus virus could result in the end of cheap products from China?

The virus fight goes on as do whispers of concern over our own economic fate

MORE and more people are now arguing that here in The Bahamas it makes no sense to destroy a country’s economy by closing everything down

is critical now to find a balance between the protection of public health and reopening businesses to avoid a great deal of pain among business owners, employees who have been furloughed or lost their jobs and the poor and marginalised in society – as someone said, poverty kills.

While the number of infections and fatalities in the country remains low and even one death is one too many - from what I hear people are demanding an end to the risk of economic collapse and the accompanying uncertainty that leads to widespread fear, hopelessness and despair.

Moreover, such considerations are made worse when people read in the press that health officials admit the self-isolation method they have established is not working

REMEMBERING A LITERARY GIANT AMID all the gloom and doom of the pandemic, more pleasant news has been in short supply. But a significant milestone in English literature which seems to have escaped notice is the 250th anniversary this month of the birth of William Wordsworth, one of England’s greatest poets who became Poet Laureate in 1843.

He was a great lover of the Lake District - a beautiful and popular area in Cumbria in the northwest of England - and lived in a house overlooking Grasmere, one of the smaller lakes. This is now owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.

My wife and I visited it some years ago and it was not hard to imagine how Wordsworth, as a lover of nature, must have been inspired by his surroundings and the incomparable views.

- together with the internet and worldwide web - and by the rapidly developing economies of so many countries.

However, as well as such benefits it also brings risks in the shape of reliance on outside supply chains and unforeseen hazards like the vulnerability of the internet to cyberattacks and the banking crisis of 2008. According to UN data, China accounted for 28 percent of global manufacturing in 2018. It has become clear there has been an over-reliance on this single source of supply and that can have serious consequences; for example, if there is any disruption of the production of items like iPhones or other

to be the father of Romantic poetry. His lyric poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ is familiar as the ‘daffodil poem’ which many people in England can recite from memory, having been exposed to it from schooldays - even if they can only quote the last lines “And then my heart with pleasure fills and dances with the daffodils”.

This famous poem is often close to the hearts of his readers as well, not only because it creates a picture of beauty they find compelling but also due to its cheerful and hopeful message about the arrival of the spring season as wildlife emerges from its winter hibernation. Among his many other works, it reflects William Wordsworth’s enjoyment of the calm of nature and the simple pleasures surrounding him.

because patients subject to ‘remain at home’ directives are disobeying the rules and mingling with the public.

But why are the rules not being enforced with the threat of fines or worse, particularly when the police are zealously applying the curfew regulations?

Meanwhile, other countries are beginning to ease their restrictions. In the

US, President Trump has produced guidelines for individual states to reopen their economies, while - in Europe - Denmark, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Norway and the Czech Republic are slowly lifting their respective lockdowns. For its part, Britain has published criteria against which it will decide about lifting restrictions. It

has extended its lockdown until early May, though this is under constant review and a phased easing of it is now being planned. In response to calls by both political and business leaders, the UK government has produced a three-stage ‘traffic light’ plan to take the brakes off the economy, subject to arrangements for social distancing.

Funeral Service For GRANVILLE CLARKE, 79

of Saunders Road, and formerly of Moss Town, Exuma, will be held on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2020 at 11:00am at the gravesite in the Western Cemetery, Nassau Street.

Officiating will be Bishop Shawn McKenzie.

Left to cherish his precious memories are: Children: Debra and Clarke Ferguson, Pasty and Daniel Sturrup, Theresa Clarke, Kathy and Rollin Williams, Monica Wong and Greer Clarke, along with his adopted daughter: Charlene Sanderson; Grandchildren: Thelise Clarke, Tavares Clarke, Kermit Rolle, Cassie Clarke, Capryia Gray, LaRhonda Willams, Romain Williams, Cara Clarke, Ashton Sweeting, Liam Rolle, Debrianna Kemp, Melverne and Anya Sturrup; Great-Grandchildren: Kemeka, Leon Jr., Serenity, Thai, Shiloh, Bella, Bradia, Neveah, Kyeanjah, Rajah, Kimora-Lee, P’aijah, Paige, Kailua, Peyton, Laiyah, Liam, Romainy and Romain Jr.; Sisters: Marietta Miller and Myrtle Boyd of Lakehurst, New Jersey Brother: Allen Clarke; Aunt: Una Clarke; Nieces: Katrina Burrows, Lisa Dames, Monica Bowen, Aleathea Jones, Deanna, Melina, Elaine Clarke of Lakehurst, New Jersey, Janet Hanna, Carol Rolle, Eunice Young, Crystal Clarke, Renee Deanand Vanessa Bain; Nephews: Alvado Scott, Clinton Rolle, Roosevelt Minns, Stephon Clarke, Shaquille Clarke, Dion Wright, George Clarke, Marco Stubbs, Darell Boyd, Dexter and James Clarke of Lakehurst, New Jersey; Brother-in-law: William Boyd of Lakehurst, New Jersey and; Sister-in-law: Verlene Clarke; Numerous Grandnieces and Grandnephews and a host of other relatives and friends including: Annismae Sands and Family, Christine and Maxine Clarke and Family, Lucy and Jesley Lloyd, Jr. Rolle and Family, Norman Rolle and Family, Bridgette Burrows and Family, Cheryl Hanna and Family Deborah Stuart and Family, Miss Pearl of Moss Town Exuma, Mrs. Taylor of Moss Town, Exuma, Hon. Tommy Turnquest and Family, Arthur Pete Family, Communities of Rock Crusher Road and Moss Town and Rolleville, Exuma and many others to numerous to mention.

The body will repose in the Blessed Redeemer Chapel at Ferguson’s Funeral Directors, 7th Terrace Collins Avenue, Today from 12:00 noon-2:00 p.m.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, April 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

DEATH TOLL IN CANADIAN MASS SHOOTING RISES TO 18 TORONTO Associated Press

POLICE fanned out across more than a dozen crime scenes yesterday after a rampage by a gunman disguised as a police officer left at least 18 dead and homes in smoldering ruins in rural communities across Nova Scotia — the deadliest mass shooting in Canada’s history.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather told a news conference

that they expect to find more victims once they are able to comb through all the crime scenes, some of which were houses set ablaze as victims were inside, adhering to government calls to stay at home because of the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re relatively confident we’ve identified all the crime scenes,” Leather said. “We have had five structure fires, most of those being residences, and we believe there may be victims still within the remains of those homes which burnt to the ground.”

The dead included a policewoman. Another officer was wounded by gunfire and was recovering at home, Leather said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted how close-knit the small province of Nova Scotia is.

“The vast majority of Nova Scotians will have a direct link with one or more of the victims. The entire province and country is grieving right now as we come to grips with something that is unimaginable,” Trudeau said.

Authorities said the gunman

VICTIM: Heidi Stevenson

wore a police uniform and made his car look like a Royal Canadian Mounted Police cruiser. “His ability to move around the province undetected was surely greatly benefited by the fact that he had a vehicle that looked identical in every way to a marked police car,” Leather said, adding that the gunman was also either wearing a police uniform or very good copy.

The dead officer was identified as Constable Heidi Stevenson, a mother of two and a 23-year veteran of the force.

GEORGIA SET TO BEGIN REOPENING ATLANTA Associated Press

LEFT: A Nepalese woman carries her child as a volunteer tries to arrange space for them on a vehicle to go back to their village during lockdown in Nepal; top left: Protesters demonstrate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania calling for Gov. Tom Wolf to reopen the state’s economy; top right: Residents in a shanty town in Manila, Philippines; right: a patient is moved in Richmond, Virginia

Trump under attack from both parties WASHINGTON Associated Press A CHORUS of governors from both parties yesterday pushed back hard after President Donald Trump accused Democrats of playing “a very dangerous political game” by insisting there is a shortage of tests for coronavirus. The governors countered that the White House must do more to help states do the testing that’s needed before they can ease up on stay-at-home orders.

Kansas’ Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the current federal effort “really is not good enough if we’re going to be able to start to open our economy. We cannot do that safely without the tests in place.”

Supply shortages have stymied US testing for weeks. The needs range from basic supplies like swabs and protective gear to highly specialized laboratory chemicals

needed to analyze patient results.

Hospitals, laboratories and state health departments report scouring the globe to secure orders, competing against each other and their peers abroad.

The governors’ plea for steppedup coordination came on the latest day when the Trump administration provided discordant messaging: Trump blasted state leaders on Twitter for being too dependent on federal government and said later that some governors just didn’t understand what they had, while Vice President Mike Pence assured governors the government was working around-the-clock to help them ramp up testing.

Pence sought to soften the administration’s message amid growing clamor from both parties for a national testing strategy to help secure testing swabs, chemical reagents and other crucial supplies.

“When it comes to testing, we’re here to help,” Pence told governors during a video conference from the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Pence said the administration sent each state a detailed list of testing capacity. But Maryland’s Republican Gov. Larry Hogan said much of the unused lab machinery listed for his state was in federal labs the state does not have access to. Pence said the administration has agreed to open up federal labs to help states.

Hogan announced that the state had received 500,000 tests from South Korea — a “game-changing” deal negotiated by his wife, Yumi Hogan, who grew up outside Seoul.

“They want the states to take the lead, and we have to go out and do it ourselves, and so that’s exactly what we did,” Hogan said.

Trump didn’t take that lying

down. In his daily briefing, he said some governors have “more capacity than they understand.”

“The governor of Maryland could have called Mike Pence, could have saved a lot of money,” Trump said.

“I don’t think he needed to go to South Korea. He needed to get a little knowledge.”

In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the states should take the lead on testing but it’s up to the federal government to help sort out supply chain issues facing testing manufacturers.

“What the states will run into is when you talk to those labs ... they buy machines and equipment from national manufacturers,” said Cuomo, who is expected to meet with Trump at the White House today. “And those labs can only run as many tests as the national manufacturers provide them chemicals, reagents and lab kits.”

GEORGIA’S Republican governor yesterday announced plans to restart the state’s economy before the end of the week, saying many businesses that closed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus could reopen as early as Friday.

Gov. Brian Kemp’s timetable, one of the most aggressive in the nation, would allow gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors and other businesses to reopen as long as owners follow strict social-distancing and hygiene requirements. By Monday, movie theatres may resume selling tickets, and restaurants limited to takeout orders could return to limited dine-in service.

In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee announced that most businesses will begin reopening as soon as next week. “In the same way that we carefully closed businesses and urged operations to end to mitigate the virus’s spread, today we’re announcing plans to incrementally and safely reopen sectors of our economy,” Kemp said.

Kemp’s action comes a month after he closed many businesses and not quite three weeks after he issued a shelter-at-home order that will remain in place until April 30. Kemp said elderly and medically fragile people should continue to stay at home until May 13.

“Testing defines the battlefield and informs our long-term strategy,” Kemp said. “These efforts significantly increase our capacity as we take measured steps forward.”

MASSACHUSETTS NOW A HOT SPOT Associated Press

MASSACHUSETTS has become a hot spot of coronavirus infections, drawing the concern of federal officials and promises of aid from hard-hit New York as the state’s death toll prepares to double in less than a week.

Deaths from COVID-19 are expected to surpass 2,000 this week in Massachusetts, where officials are scrambling to boost hospital capacity and trace new infections to curb the spread of the disease.

WHO HEAD WARNS WORST OF VIRUS IS STILL AHEAD GENEVA Associated Press

THE World Health Organization chief yesterday warned that “the worst is yet ahead of us” in the coronavirus outbreak, reviving the alarm just as many countries ease restrictive measures aimed at reducing its spread.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus didn’t specify why he believes the outbreak that has infected some 2.5m people and killed over 166,000 could get worse.

He and others, however, have previously pointed to the likely future spread of the illness through Africa, where health systems are far less developed.

“Trust us. The worst is yet ahead of us,” Tedros told reporters from WHO headquarters in Geneva.

“Let’s prevent this tragedy.

It’s a virus that many people still don’t understand.”

Some Asian and European governments have gradually eased or started relaxing “lockdown” measures like quarantines, school and business closures and restrictions on public gatherings, citing a decline in the growth of COVID-19 case counts and deaths.

Tedros and his agency have been on the defensive after President Donald Trump of the United States — the WHO’s biggest single donor — last week ordered a halt to US funding for the agency, alleging that it botched the early response to the outbreak.

Tedros said: “There is no secret in WHO because keeping things confidential or secret is dangerous. It’s a health issue. This virus is dangerous. It exploits cracks between us when we have differences.”

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020

Mr Kingsley Poitier was a ‘humble giant’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation President Joel Stubbs remembers the late Kingsley Poitier as a humble giant, who transcended beyond his years to become the first Bahamian to win the Mr World Bodybuilding Championship title.

Poitier, 82, died on Sunday at his home on Dean Street. He is survived by his wife Eloise and children - Kingsley Jr, Ramel, Tanzania and Robert Poitier, Insley McKinney and Rekell Brice.

Inducted into the Bahamas National Hall of Fame in 2003, Poitier was recognised as the ultimate purveyor of physical intelligence, exhibiting an amazing symmetry of body that stoked the metaphysical pleasure-centres of bodybuilding enthusiasts the world over.

Stubbs said Poitier spent many of his younger years as a professional bodybuilder who represented the Bahamas on the world stage, where he was very successful in accomplishing top honours being crowned Mr World most muscular in 1962 and 1964 and he eventually won the Mr World title in 1965.

Poitier went on to pursue an acting career in Hollywood playing roles that highlighted his strong physical statuesque. He eventually returned to Nassau where he was very instrumental in molding, mentoring and training many of our former athletes who have done exceptionally well in the sport.

“I too can recall many days training at Wong’s Gym in Palmdale where Mr Poitier mentored me and taught me some of the basic mechanic exercises - form and technique,” Stubbs said. “His encouragement and motivation along with others gave me the zest to fall deeply in love with the sport.

“He inspired me to pursue and become a professional body builder and to push beyond my imagination and my physical strength to grace the world stage.

I am grateful to him for my professional accomplishments in this regard.”

Stubbs, a professional bodybuilder who excelled to compete on the stage of Mr Olympia in 2009, said the Bahamas and indeed the federation owe a debt of gratitude to Poitier and his humble spirit as he gave selflessly to so

B

FIRST BAHAMIAN TO WIN MR WORLD BODYBUILDING CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN

many, contributing his time to mentor me and others during our novice days in the sport.

“As I reflect, I would like to say to Mr Poitier and the BBFF, thank you for believing in me,” said Stubbs, a Bahamasair pilot who at one point during his bodybuilding career was listed as the competitor with the biggest back in the world.

Stubbs publicly thanked Poitier’s family for lending him to the Bahamas as he truly lived a purposeful life.

“We are very proud of what he had single-handedly accomplished and achieved in this sport,” he stressed. “Another aspect of his life that was greatly respected was his spiritually-filled life.

“On behalf of the BBFF, we salute this bodybuilding legend Mr Kingsley Poitier. May his soul rest in peace.”

North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) President Mike Sands expressed his condolences as he had some encounters with Poitier during the time that he competed as a sprinter in the sport of track and field.

“I had the good fortune of knowing Kingsley and would often stop by his gym on the northside of Fleming Street west, about 50 feet from Blue Hill Road. It was a very small nondescript unpainted building that is still in operation,”

DEARLY MISSED: Kingsley Poitier and his wife, Eloise. said Sands, a two-time Olympian and flag bearer both trips in 1972 and 1976 and former Bahamian national record holder in the men’s 100, 200 and 400 metres.

“Kingsley was a very quiet and soft-spoken individual. Here again is another perfect example of the type of ‘sports power’ that we

possess but really don’t have a true appreciation of our performances on the global or even the local stage for that matter. Imagine, a Mr World (champion) in the 60s and many of us don’t even know of his existence.”

May His Warrior Soul Rest in Peace.

PAGE 13

MLB CAN CUT PAY, LAY OFF MANAGERS, COACHES STARTING ON MAY 1

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has made a move that allows teams to lay off or cut the pay of major and minor league managers, coaches, trainers and full-time scouts starting May 1.

Manfred has suspended uniform employee contracts that cover about 9,000 people, including general managers on some teams. Manfred cited the inability to play games due to the national emergency caused by the new coronavirus pandemic.

“Our clubs rely heavily on revenue from tickets/ concessions, broadcasting/ media, licencing and sponsorships to pay salaries,” Manfred wrote in an email yesterday, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. “In the absence of games, these revenue streams will be lost or substantially reduced, and clubs will not have sufficient funds to meet their financial obligations.”

“The impact of the suspension of the UEC on your personal employment situation will be determined by your club,” Manfred said.

Manfred’s intention to suspend the contracts was first reported by The Athletic.

Atlanta, Boston, the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati, the New York Yankees, Philadelphia and San Francisco are among the teams that have committed to paying full-time employees through May, and Miami will pay full-time baseball operations staff through the month. The Cubs will pay those on UECs and frontoffice staff through their May 29 paychecks.

Major League Rule 3(i) requires that UECs must be signed by all managers, coaches, trainers and salaried scouts, and some teams include additional baseball operations staff.

Manfred said the Baseball Assistance Team charitable organisation “is available to consider grant applications on an expedited basis for those facing significant and immediate financial hardship.”

Lumberjacks’ Nathan Bain has season to remember

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahamian Nathan Bain had a season to remember as his collegiate career came to an end with the Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks men’s basketball team just before the cancellation of the prestigious March Madness men’s basketball tournament.

Still in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he’s dealing with the coronavirus pandemic like everybody else confined to home, the 25-year-old Bain said he will cherish the journey because he got to accomplish so much in what has been a nostalgic senior year.

The Lumberjacks had an impressive 19-1 win-loss record, including an historic game-winning basketball from Bain in a thriller over No.1 ranked Duke in November. On a steal and a fast break lay-up, Bain scored the winning basket to highlight his season as the Lumberjacks pulled off a stunning 85-83 overtime victory over Duke that sent

shock waves throughout the sport as they ended the Blue Devils’ 150-game winning streak at the Cameron Indoor Stadium against nonconference opponents a run that extended nearly 20 years.

Right after their victory, Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas and Grand Bahama and Abaco in particular.

Bain decided to open a GoFundMe account to assist his family, headed by coach Norris Bain, and the people of Grand Bahama.

He was able to raise more than $117,000 in assistance for repairs on the island.

If it couldn’t get any better for Bain, he proposed to his girlfriend, American Lyndsee Lemacks, who accepted his marriage proposal and the Lumberjacks were booked to play in the NCAA March Madness before Covid-19 struck the world and ended the magical year.

“We’re limited in what we can do because right now the place is pretty much closed down,” Bain said.

“The movement isn’t too much restricted, but there’s not a lot that you can do, so I’m pretty much staying at home.”

The 6-foot, 6-inch forward said he’s going through everything as normal as he can, trying to complete his studies at Stephen F Austin in order to secure his degree in kinesiology with a minor in science.

“This year, we accomplished a lot. Too bad that it had to end so early,” Bain said. “We had set a lot of goals early in the season before it started and

accomplished just about all of them, except for playing in the NCAA, which got cut short because of the coronavirus.”

The Lumberjacks had the best record in their conference and because their conference tournament was called off after the coronavirus surfaced, Stephen F Austin was awarded a spot in the NCAA March Madness. However, before the biggest collegiate basketball tournament was set to get underway, the NCAA cancelled it. “Nobody was happy about it. Everybody wanted to finish what we

started,” Bain said. “We felt we had a chance to make a deep run with a 28-3 record overall and make some more history.

“Ultimately, it was the best decision that they could have made. We didn’t know how bad the virus was, so we trust the NCAA on the decision that they made.”

With his collegiate season now complete, Bain is looking towards the next phase of his life. He intends to pursue the professional ranks, but not necessarily the National Basketball Association.

“I’ve been talking to a few agents and I’m still trying to make a decision on my future,” Bain said. “I have to be realistic. If I get an offer, I would look at the NBA, but it’s not the end of the road for me. I will look at all options that are made available to me, including playing verses (in Europe).

“I don’t have any place specific. Wherever I can get an offer, I will look at it. I just want to be able to go in and make a contribution wherever I’m needed.”

To the Bahamian people as we deal with Covid-19, Bain left a simple message.

“Take the virus serious.

It’s real and it can overwhelm a lot of people,” he stated.

“Just take it seriously and take the necessary precautions that the government has given.”

And to the young people, who would like to follow in his footsteps at the collegiate level, Bain’s advice was just as important.

“I just want them to continue to work hard and form relationships with your coaches because they have your interest at heart,” he added. “You can do it, but remember that hard work does pay off.”

Once the coronavirus pandemic has subsided, Bain said one of the first things he would like to do is travel out of the state of Texas and enjoy himself.

He said he wouldn’t mind, if travel restrictions are lifted, to come home and spend some time with his family and friends in the Bahamas as well, especially in Grand Bahama.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, April 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

If colleges cut sports programmes, could new models emerge?

By RALPH D RUSSO AP College Sports Writer COLLEGE sports programmes are already being cut and more are likely on the chopping block.

The coronavirus pandemic has triggered fears of an economic meltdown on campuses around the country. The cancellation of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament cost schools $375 million and more losses are expected, especially if football season is disrupted in the fall.

In tough times, athletic administrators often drop sports programmes to save money. In the past few weeks, Old Dominion said it will drop wrestling and Cincinnati will no longer have men’s soccer. Warnings of tough times ahead have come from all over college athletics, even some of the wealthiest Power Five schools.

“To say it’s not going to have any economic impact — that, I would say, would be grossly naïve,” said Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione, who oversees a programme that had $148 million in operating revenue in 2017-18 and boasts of 20 straight years of balanced budgets.

“We’re just hoping to minimise it,” he said.

Paving the way for more cuts to come, the commissioners of five Bowl Subdivision conferences have asked the NCAA to waive over the next four years a slew of requirements for Division I membership, including the minimum number (16) of sports a school must sponsor.

Some observers see the coming crisis as a chance for schools to consider radical changes to how athletic departments are run or for

NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis is viewed on April 25, 2018. College sports programmes are already being cut and more are likely on the chopping block. The coronavirus pandemic has triggered fears of an economic meltdown on campuses around the country. The cancellation of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament cost schools $375 million and more losses are expected, especially if football season is disrupted in the fall.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings) new development paths to emerge for young athletes.

“Budgets reflect our values,” said Arne Duncan, a former US education secretary and now co-chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

“I think we’ll see now whether in a time of cutbacks, what gets prioritised.

Is it the interest of adults and unbelievably high salaries? Or is it the interest of student-athletes and preserving their chance to compete and to put academics first?”

A.J. Maestas, founder of the sports analytics consulting firm Navigate Research, said “a couple hundred” sports programmes were cut during the last economic

downturn after the 2008 financial crisis. Most programmes don’t break even and he expects more cuts this time, too.

“If donors are unable to step up and endow the programme or at least keep it above water there will be a number of programmes that will be cut, especially if it’s a sustained economic downturn, which seems pretty realistic,” he said.

Nancy Zimpher, former chancellor of the State University of New York and a member of the Knight Commission, said cutting sports programmes is short-sighted at a time when colleges could be facing a decrease in overall enrolment.

Having a large variety of sports programmes “provides a great recruitment opportunity for the whole university,” she said.

David Ridpath, a former NCAA compliance director and professor of sports business at Ohio University, said he fears schools will use the economic crisis as an excuse to make programme cuts they had already been pondering. He also wonders if fewer opportunities for athletes in non-revenue college sports provides a catalyst to sever some of the ties between amateur athletics and higher education in the United States.

In his book, “Alternative Models of Sports Development in America,” Ridpath

makes the case that the US should move toward a European-style academy system. Elite young athletes develop their games and receive an education, but the two are not tethered the way they are in American colleges.

“My argument has always been schools should not be a primary source of elite development,” Ridpath said.

“We need to have other models for those elite athletes to be taken care of.

So for me, it’s not throwing college athletics and high school athletics out the window. It’s reframing it and also making education-based sports more participatory.”

Former Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe has an even more radical idea: College athletics should be broken into spectator sports (ones that make money) and participation sports (ones that don’t). Schools would provide athletic scholarships in spectator sports, but not in participation sports.

Participation sports then would not be subject to NCAA scholarship limits, would not require highly paid, full-time coaches and would play regional opponents, keeping costs down.

The scholarship piece of Beebe’s plan might seem extreme, but other parts are very much in line with what Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson and others are already thinking.

“Maybe an institution has sports sponsored in five different conferences, if that makes sense because of geography and other things,” Thompson said.

“What we’re trying to do is throw everything at the wall and it might not be a onesize fits all for even the 12 institutions in the Mountain West.”

Beebe, who now consults schools on crisis management, said he hears from athletic directors running programmes with successful football and basketball teams who wonder if funding so many other sports that often lose money makes sense.

“And the question they have is: There’s so much pressure for me to put so much resources into these sports to continue to sustain this level that it really makes me question why I’m spending half a million dollars or maybe a million dollars on a golf programme or a tennis programme,” Beebe said. “And that was before this crisis.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 21, 2020, PAGE 13

Bahamian Andy Thompson executive producer behind ESPN documentary

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net NOTED Bahamian producer, director and documentarian Andy Thompson is the brainchild behind the latest film that has been the most discussed topic in the world of sports.

Thompson is the executive producer behind the ESPN and Netflix documentary - The Last Dance - which chronicles the story of Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls.

The first two episodes of the highly anticipated 10-part series aired Sunday night on ESPN. Thompson, the brother of Bahamian basketball icon Mychal Thompson and uncle of Golden State Warriors All-Star Klay Thompson, approached current NBA commissioner Adam Silver with the idea of the all access documentary in 1997 just after the Bulls won their fifth title.

“No one in the NBA had

ever done this,” Andy Thompson told the Associated Press.

“And you’re not just doing this with a run of the mill NBA team. You’re doing this with the greatest player in the history of the game in Michael Jordan, who was very protective of his image and his privacy.”

Thompson and Jordan first connected at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the relationship strengthened working on “NBA Inside Stuff.”

Jordan also had an admiration for the elder Thompson brother, who was the No.1 overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1978 NBA Draft and went on to win two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jordan took to wearing puka shell necklaces, popularised in NBA circles by Thompson and reportedly “once scribbled his name on a notebook as “Mychal Jordan” until his mother saw it and wasn’t pleased.”

“It’s almost hard to understate how famous Michael was and how popular this Bulls team was. And so, Andy’s view was, ‘We need to find a way to capture this team in its glory.’ And there were no such things as multi-part documentaries on sports on television back then.”

– NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

ANDY THOMPSON (AP) “Because of his respect and admiration for my brother, obviously, Michael and I connected,” Andy said. “[In the locker room, I knew] when to shut up, when to be a fly on the wall. That gave me a huge advantage in dealing with players. I wasn’t afraid, I

wasn’t intimidated. I could speak their language, so I could develop relationships quicker because of that.

And that’s what helped me navigate the course of the season because access didn’t just happen overnight. There was a feeling out process for us and the team and the team for us.”

When Thompson first broached the subject with silver in 1997, the latter served as an executive in NBA Entertainment before his ascent to the commissioner.

“It’s almost hard to understate how famous Michael was and how

popular this Bulls team was,” Silver told The Associated Press. “And so, Andy’s view was, ‘We need to find a way to capture this team in its glory.’ And there were no such things as multi-part documentaries on sports on television back then.”

While Mychel got the accolades of rising to the pinnacle of the sport in the NBA, the younger Thompson brother was an accomplished player in his own right through the collegiate and professional levels.

Andy followed Mychal’s path from the Bahamas to

the University of Minnesota basketball programme and went on to play professionally in the Philippines.

Thompson’s storied postplaying career took him to NBA Entertainment where he became one of the most notable raconteurs in the organisation.

In 2014, his production group won an Emmy Award for the documentary “The Doctor”, which chronicled the life and times of legendary Julius Erving.

Later that year, he followed with an episode of NBA Revealed when he documented Mychal’s return to the Bahamas as the government prepared to rename the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre which also provided an opportunity for Klay to reacquaint himself with his Bahamian roots.

In the episode, Klay visits landmarks of Mychal’s childhood and narrates the story of his father’s rise from the Bahamas to the NBA.

BJ ARMSTRONG OFFERS PERSPECTIVE ON ‘THE LAST DANCE’

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer B.J. Armstrong played on three NBA championship teams with Michael Jordan. He knows how Jordan is behind closed doors. He knows the sort of trials and tribulations that occur over the course of a season.

And he was amused at one bit of drama that viewers saw during the first two episodes of “The Last Dance” — the ESPN and Netflix documentary series built around Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls in 1997-98 — specifically, the part where Jordan held nothing back in critiquing the

play of teammates Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc in practice.

“Let me be real candid here,” Armstrong told The Associated Press. “If that is the worst you’ve seen, then you’ve never seen the Chicago Bulls before. That was nothing.”

The first episodes that aired Sunday night shed plenty of light on the rocky relationship that then-general manager Jerry Krause had with players and coach Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen’s unhappiness with his contract, and how Jordan was constantly in an enormous spotlight.

Armstrong, the longtime Bulls guard and three-time NBA

champion who is now a sports agent, knows what it takes to play alongside maybe the greatest player ever. But he said the first two episodes gave key insight on how the roots of Jordan’s career got planted.

One of Armstrong’s biggest takeaways were the stories of Jordan’s early years, how the 1-on-1 and often overheated battles with his older brother Larry helped mature him and how he continued growing at North Carolina.

“All that prepared him for the moment, right?” Armstrong said.

“I think you could see how it started with his parents, and how incredibly lucky you have to be

and how a lot of things have to happen in order for this to take flight, literally.”

It also showed a softer side to Jordan, a reminder that he was once a broke college kid with $20 in his account, a phone bill that he apologised to his mother for running up and how he would send letters home asking for money and stamps.

The detail from Jordan’s time at North Carolina also stood out to Armstrong, especially how Jordan said his original plan was to remain with the Tar Heels for three more seasons after helping them win the 1982 national title as a freshman.

BJ ARMSTRONG (AP) “Think about that in today’s context, right?” Armstrong said, noting how so many of top college players now leave school after one season.

Two new episodes will air each Sunday night through May 17.

PAGE 14, Tuesday, April 21, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

JAPAN SCIENTIST ‘VERY PESSIMISTIC’ TOKYO OLYMPICS WILL HAPPEN

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese professor of infectious disease says he is “very pessimistic” the postponed Tokyo Olympics can open in 15 months.

“To be honest with you, I don’t think the Olympics is likely to be held next year,” Kentaro Iwata, a professor of infectious disease at Kobe University, said yesterday speaking in English on a teleconference. “Holding the Olympics needs two conditions; one, controlling COVID-19 in Japan, and controlling COVID-19 everywhere.”

Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the Tokyo organising committee, expressed his own reservations 10 days ago. Since then, the organising committee and the International Olympic

Committee have said there is no “Plan B’’ other than working for the Olympics to open on July 23, 2021.

“I am very pessimistic about holding the Olympic Games next summer unless you hold the Olympic Games in a totally different structure such as no audience, or a very limited participation,” Iwata said, speaking at a forum arranged by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo.

“You have to invite so many athletes from many, many places, which is not very compatible with this COVID-19 infection that is causing a pandemic. Japan might be able to control this disease by next summer. And I wish we could. But I don’t think that will happen everywhere on earth.”

Japan was spared during the initial stage of the coronavirus

outbreak. But cases are now spiking, particularly in Tokyo and other large cities.

As of Monday, there were about 12,000 detected infections in Japan and about 250 deaths.

Devi Sridhar, professor of Global Health at the University of Edinburgh, told the BBC that the Olympics may hinge on finding a vaccine.

“If we do get a vaccine within the next year then actually I think that (Olympics) is realistic,” she said.

“The vaccine will be the game-changer — an effective, affordable, available vaccine.

“If we don’t get a scientific breakthrough then I think that looks very unrealistic.”

Dr Ali S Khan, the dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska, told The Associated Press in an email that

even without a vaccine it may be possible to go ahead.

“Fifteen months is plenty of time for public health to wrap around this problem even without a vaccine or drug,” Khan said, suggesting the creativity of the “medicoindustrial complex” would tackle the problem.

“Think handheld personal testing devices the way we test for blood sugar,” Khan said.

He also said it might take some “rethinking” of the Olympics in terms “venues, backend, athletes, and spectators.”

The Olympics draw 11,000 athletes, with 4,400 Paralympians also attending — all the athletes with large staffs of trainers, coaches and support teams.

Athletes are to stay in a sprawling housing complex on Tokyo Bay. The Olympics draw thousands of foreign visitors, and

depend on air travel and hundreds of hotels.

IOC member John Coates, who has overseen the preparations of the Tokyo Olympics, said last week the IOC believes it has given itself “as much time as possible.”

But he acknowledged the possibility unprecedented changes.

“It may be there is still an issue about the number of people congregating and those things, testing on athletes,” Coates said. “It’s too early to say.”

Japan is officially spending $12.6 billion to organise the Olympics, although a government audit board put the figure at twice that. All but $5.6 billion is taxpayer money.

Local estimates say the postponement will cost between $2 billion and $6 billion with Japanese governments picking up almost all the bills.

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN: MLB’S FIERS IN HOUSTON, NBA PLAYOFFS

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer WHILE watching more replays of classic games with the national sports calendar on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Associated Press looks at some of the events that would have been live the week of April 20-26: MLB: — Sign-stealing whistleblower Mike Fiers would have been in Houston with the Oakland Athletics for a weekend series.

The A’s right-hander, who pitched for the 2017 World Series champion Astros, hasn’t been back to Minute Maid Park since saying last November that his former team used a camera in center field to steal signs.

— The World Series champion Washington Nationals were to host the Los Angeles Dodgers in a rematch of last season’s NL Division Series. The

Nationals were on the road for the clinching Game 5 against the Dodgers, when Howie Kendrick hit a grand slam in the 10th inning.

TRIVIA BREAK: The San Diego Padres were to play next weekend at Detroit for only the second time (2005) since the 1984 World Series that the Tigers won in five games. The starting first baseman and third baseman for the 1984 Padres had played against each other in two earlier World Series. Who are the former All-Stars and Gold Glove winners? (answer at bottom).

NBA: The playoffs would be in full swing, with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a possible first-round Western Conference matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies and standout rookie Ja Morant. In the East, defending NBA champ Toronto could have faced the Brooklyn Nets, an

expected top contender in 2020-21 if Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are both healthy.

NHL: All of the playoffs would move into the second round, trimming the number of teams still contending for the Stanley Cup to eight.

PGA TOUR: A team event in the Big Easy. Ryan Palmer and Jon Rahm won last year at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, where twosomes use best-ball play in the first and third rounds and alternate shots in the second and final rounds.

NASCAR: A big one at Talladega Superspeedway. Chase Elliott won last April ahead of a race-ending crash that flipped Kyle Larson a half-dozen times.

Larson was fired last week

by Chip Ganassi after using a racial slur during a livestreamed virtual race.

INDYCAR: Getting weird in Austin before the month of May in

LOS Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots ahead of Memphis Grizzlies guards Yuta Watanabe (18) and Dillon Brooks (24) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. on February 29.

(AP Photo/Brandon Dill) Indianapolis. Colton Herta became the youngest IndyCar winner last year after winning the first IndyCar race at Circuit of the Americas in Texas.

XFL: The league that filed for bankruptcy last week would have been in Houston to crown its

second champion — 19 years after the XFL’s only other season.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Ten-time All-Star first baseman Steve Garvey was in his second season with the Padres after his first 14 years in the big leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Graig Nettles was a 40-year third baseman in his first season in San Diego after 11 seasons with the New York Yankees.

The Yankees beat Los Angeles in the 1978 World Series, and the Dodgers beat New York for the 1981 title.