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Volume: 118 No.106, April 28, 2021

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WILL BIDEN HELP? Govt asks Washington to give us share of US excess vaccine supplies

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said officials have petitioned the United States to give The Bahamas some of its Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines.

His comment before a Cabinet meeting yesterday came a day after US President Joe Biden said America will share 60 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses with other countries.

“I’m not sure The Bahamas will be a part of the countries that will receive a donation but I don’t see why we would not be,” Mr Wells said.

“I have long said that

SEE PAGE EIGHT

BREAK RULES AND YOU’LL LOSE THE JOB

The Bahamas is one of five countries that sits on the borders of the United States. The US has already given AstraZeneca vaccines to Mexico and Canada. The only other three countries that sit on its borders are Cuba, Russia and The Bahamas.

Cubans are developing their own vaccines, the Russians develop their own vaccines and so we have been petitioning the United States government, as was revealed by the United States government, that a lot of countries around the world were petitioning them to release their stores of AstraZeneca.

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE FOUR

MASS PARTIES SHOW GUARD IS SLIPPING

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A LOCAL infectious diseases expert is again urging Bahamians to not let their guards down and become relaxed with current health protocols, insisting that the country’s fight with the novel coronavirus is far from over.

Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme at the Ministry of Health, Dr Nikkiah Forbes’ comments came after organisers of an event held over the weekend were cited nearly

$100,000 for breaching COVID-19 orders.

Several videos of the event were widely circulated on social media, showing hundreds of people closely huddled together, with many seen not wearing masks while partying.

It also comes at a time when the country is seeing a major uptick in positive COVID-19 cases, with total infections at 10,283 after 63 new cases were recorded on Monday.

COVID-19 related deaths are also on the rise after a 45-year-old man SEE PAGE FOUR

THEY EXPECT OUR VOTES BUT WON’T DEFEND THEMSELVES

CONCH CAUTION A POTTER’S Cay dock vendor preparing conch in 2017. Food safety officials are warning against the consumption of fresh conch after several suspected cases of conch poisoning. See page three for the full story.

JUDGE SLATES LAWYER IN PROPERTY DEAL

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

TWIN sisters have been given permission by the Supreme Court to enter a default judgment against a Bahamian attorney whose “negligence” cost them their Harmony Hill condominium.

Justice Indra Charles, describing the dispute involving Petrona and Petula Russell as “an unfortunate case”, found

JUSTICE INDRA CHARLES Anthony Thompson - who they hired to represent

them in selling the property - had no “genuine answer” or defence to their claims for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.

In a scathing January 26, 2021, verdict, she struck out Mr Thompson’s draft defence as “scandalous, frivolous and vexatious, finding that it was “no more than a vexatious and oppressive attempt by him to use the court’s machinery for an improper purpose”.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SUPER Value has warned its 1,000-strong workforce they “will face termination” if caught disobeying COVID-19 protocols, its principal warning yesterday: “We cannot go back into lockdown.”

Rupert Roberts told Tribune Business that “business is bad enough without any further hiccups” as he and other private sector leaders voiced growing alarm about a surge in COVID19 cases they fear is reaching levels where it is “out of control”.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

...’EMPLOYEES RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR Director John Pinder has said employees have the right to file trade disputes in instances where employers deem it mandatory for workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Mr Pinder said the Department of Labour has received calls from employees at a Nassau company and an establishment in Andros indicating there were efforts to force them to receive the shot.

SEE PAGE THREE

TECHNOLOGY

3D PRINT YOUR OWN HOUSE

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, April 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

US Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts announces the $10,000 grant competition for environmental and educational institutions in the Bahamas for Earth Day and, below, embassy partner Antonius Roberts welcomes local environmental NGOs.

CELEBRATING

EARTH DAY IN celebration of Earth Day, US Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts formally announced a $10,000 grant competition for local organisations.

The US Embassy is seeking proposals that will promote science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and environmental education for underserved Bahamian youth.

The competition is open to all Bahamian civil society and notfor-profit organisations, and the application deadline is May 31.

Interested organisations should carefully review the details and requirements for the grant competition at https://bs.usembassy.gov/ education-culture/programs/.

An informational session for

organisations interested in submitting proposals for the grant funding is scheduled for Thursday, May 6 at 4pm. Follow the US Embassy Nassau’s Facebook page for registration details.

The STEAM and Environment Summer Camp Grant aims to empower and educate Bahamian youth to join the fight against climate change and commit to protecting their environment. Participants will learn valuable STEAM skills and will be inspired to pursue careers in STEAM. During her remarks last Thursday, Chargé Pitts noted that “President Biden has made climate change the centre of his foreign policy and also his national security,” also noting

that she was pleased that the Bahamas “has taken a seat at the global table” and is present on climate change discussions.

The $10,000 grant announced on Earth Day will help ensure the next generation of Bahamians also has the technical skills and expertise needed to develop the technologies that will drive future solutions to the climate challenge.

Chargé Pitts announced the grant competition at Project ICE (Incubator for Collaborative Expression) at the BAIC Industrial Park before a small group of the embassy’s key environmental contacts. In making the formal announcement,

Chargé Pitts reiterated that the STEAM and Environmental Education Grant opportunity supports the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to combating climate change and working with global partners to find opportunities to work together on this challenge.

The announcement comes in the context of several embassy initiatives to support climate change action, environmental awareness, and STEM education in the Bahamas. In March

the US Embassy partnered with an American renewable energy company to deliver sustainable energy technology and curriculum to St John’s College in Nassau. This month, the embassy is distributing Earth Day themed posters to around 50 schools on New Providence and Grand Bahama, encouraging students and educators to share how they are taking action on climate change in their schools, their homes, and their communities.

Teaming up to save the planet MEMBERS of the House of Rastafari collective helped the Agriculture Department of Programme SURE by donating and planting fruit trees to mark Earth Day. Programme SURE is a Ministry of Education initiative to assist at risk young men better take advantage of opportunities in education.

Ras Amen (Copeland Smith), a tree planting ambassador for the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance and secretary for House of Rastafari, made the donation and helped plant the trees.

The trees donated include mango sapodilla (dilly) moringa almond coconut and pomegranate to name a few.

Charles Newbold, the principal at Programme SURE, said: “We are delighted to receive this donation and the assistance with planting as we celebrate Earth Day with

our students in a meaningful way. It is a timely donation as we are in the process of rebuilding our agriculture programme.

We look forward to continued partnerships.”

Ras Amen said: “It was an honour for the House of Rastafari and the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance to join with Programme SURE to celebrate Earth Day by planting trees to restore our Earth.

“Never underestimate the power of planting trees in a fertile mind. Plant a tree. They capture carbon, cool overheated places, support pollinators, reduce the risk of disease transmission and boost local economies.”

To donate to the CariPhiAlliance Tree Planting Initiative and help plant one million through the islands, visit https://cariphialliance,org/ where you can also sign the petition to support a Tree Plaanting Week.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, April 28, 2021, PAGE 3

Conch alert after cases of suspected poisoning

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net FOOD safety officials are cautioning against the consumption of fresh conch after several suspected cases of conch poisoning.

Several reports of conch poisoning made the rounds on social media over the past few days before the Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority issued a statement yesterday.

The authority warned consumers to avoid fresh conch until officials are able to determine the source of the contamination.

Conch poisoning is typically caused by the bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, with contamination attributed to poor hygienic practices during its handling and preparation.

Health Minister Renward Wells said there had been about 10 reported cases of conch poisoning. He said the ministry was concerned that this has risen in recent days. He was unable yesterday to say where the cases originated.

Meanwhile, Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance President Adrian Laroda said he would not caution against eating conch because it could have implications on the industry.

Instead, he urged handlers to wash the mollusk properly during preparation.

“The Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority Food Safety and Quality Unit has been made aware of suspected conch poisoning cases,” a BAHFSA statement noted. “BAHFSA would like to caution consumers to avoid eating fresh conch at this time or conch that they suspect was not properly handled and/or prepared until the source of the contamination can be determined.

“Signs of infection may be in the form of watery diarrhea, abdominal

CONCH being prepared yesterday - but officials have issued a warning after several cases of suspected poisoning. cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache and bloody diarrhea and usually occur within 24 hours after ingesting the suspect food but may range between four to 96 hours.

“This may last from one to seven days and although in most instances treatment may not be necessary, infected persons who are experiencing any of these symptoms should seek medical attention at their local clinic or nearest medical facility.”

Officials said reporting an illness is critical in

conducting a trace-back investigation to determine the point of contamination and the pathogen at fault.

“We ask that consumers assist us by reporting these events. This allows the development of an effective and collaborative response to this and similar outbreaks. It is important to note that severe illness is rare and occurs most often in persons with weakened immune systems.”

Conch vendors should follow industry best practices to avoid food borne illnesses due to conch

contamination.

The guidelines include storing the conch in an area of sea water where the current is flowing and not stagnant. The latter can promote the proliferation of pathogenic organisms.

Vendors should also avoid having the conch sit in the sun for long periods of time and after the conch meat is removed, it should be gutted and rinsed thoroughly under potable running water for enough time to carefully remove all the slime and debris present.

Also, vendors should wash

their hands before and after preparation with liquid hand soap and warm running water for 20-30 seconds.

Gloves should also be worn when preparing conch salad or other fresh preparations where further cooking is not done.

Hair nets and disposable aprons should also be worn to prevent cross contamination. Gloves should be changed regularly if they become torn or in between tasks.

Other precautions include conch salad vendors utilising separate cutting

’EMPLOYEES RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED’ from page one

Mr Pinder said he spoke to both employers.

“Certainly, the one in Nassau they agreed that they couldn’t force that on the staffers because of the competent authority not saying that it’s mandatory,” he told reporters yesterday after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at St Anselm’s Roman Catholic Church.

“So, they decided that they would go along with having them to bring the regular testing at least every five days.

“The other one said, ‘okay we are going to review the policy on it and cause there to be some decision made also in line with the protocols,’ which speak to having the regular testing done.”

Mr Pinder added that employers could not unilaterally require the vaccine in instances where terms and conditions of employment were already agreed upon.

“A new employee, a new hire, yes, [an employer can require the vaccine], but if I already have my terms and conditions laid down in my employment contract, the employer has no right to unilaterally amend my contract. We have to agree.”

In such instances where employers require that the jab be taken, Mr Pinder said: “…You have all right, if he tries to discipline you. to file a trade dispute.

“Now again, the Employment Act makes provisions for the employer to do some things if you and he are not seeing eye to eye.

He’ll have to pay you out of your contract, and I guess dismiss you.”

Recently, workers at Sushi Rokkan, a western New Providence restaurant, were told that failure to comply with a mandatory vaccine rule would see them reassigned from front-line posts to other duties or, in a worst-case scenario, suffer termination.

Michael Scott, who owns the restaurant along with his wife, argued

Photo: Racardo Thomas boards for slicing vegetables and the conch. Cutting boards and utensils should be cleaned and sanitised in between preparations to avoid cross contamination or the carryover of contamination between preparations.

Consumers are urged to be vigilant to ensure that wherever they are purchasing raw conch dishes, vendors are following hygienic practices. Those who purchase raw conch to prepare at home should follow these preparation steps as well.

MAN IN HOSPITAL AFTER SHOOTING A MAN is in the hospital after he was shot on Monday night.

Police said they were alerted by Shot Spotter technology after 9pm about gunshots in the area of Dorsett and Adderley Streets in Fox Hill.

Officers were dispatched to the scene, however while enroute they saw two speeding vehicles. Police stopped the vehicles and discovered that a man was suffering from a gunshot injury to his left foot.

The man told police that while in the area of Liberty Baptist Church, he was approached by two men in dark clothing. One of the suspects fired a weapon in his direction, injuring him, before fleeing. The victim is in stable condition. An investigation is continuing.

21 CUBANS REPATRIATED LABOUR Director John Pinder receiving his COVID-19 vaccination yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

this approach was the only way to ensure his business survives while remaining in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act’s legal stipulations to maintain a secure workplace.

“In my private capacity, I am subject to the Health and Safety at Work Act,” he told Tribune Business on Monday. “That imposes upon me a duty to create a safe system of work so as not to endanger members of the public.

“On a practical level I don’t want to be in the invidious

Health and Safety at Work Act as imposing a legal duty on all Bahamas-based employers to protect both employees and customers in the workplace. He argued that companies could be held in violation of this requirement if they failed to take all necessary steps to prevent COVID-19 infections and spread.

However, Mr Pinder, attorneys and trade union leaders have all argued that mandating workers take the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of retaining their jobs is both illegal and unconstitutional.

position of having guests dine in the restaurant looking for sushi and leave with COVID-19 as a dessert. If there is a vaccine available, why should people not want to be vaccinated?

“If members of the public get infected at the restaurant, not only do I fall afoul of the (Health and Safety at Work) Act but it will kill the business. Only a fool would not pay attention to this; this necessity.”

Mr Scott, in particular, pointed to sections four, five and seven of the

TWENTY-ONE Cuban migrants were repatriated to Havana yesterday.

The group consisted of 18 males and three females.

They were escorted by a joint law enforcement team from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Department of Immigration.

The group was transported on a Bahamasair flight with all Ministry of Health COVID19 protocols enforced, the Department of Immigration said.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, April 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Govt asks Washington to give us share of US excess vaccine supplies from page one “I’m happy to hear the announcement that they are going to release some 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to countries around the world.

Whether it’s by donation or by purchase, The Bahamas certainly looks forward to being in that queue and being a part of those nations that receive it.”

He later added: “I do anticipate now that the United States has made that announcement, that we will have additional vaccines as well.”

All people over 18 became eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. It is not clear how many more vaccines are available for first dose

purposes. Second doses of the vaccines will be administered starting May 10.

While doses are limited, officials have said the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine will be restricted to Bahamian citizens and permanent residents 18 and older, as well as residents in the previously stated priority groups.

The vaccine news comes as the country battles the apparent third wave of the virus, with 158 cases recorded between Friday to Sunday. Another 86 cases which were not previously recorded were also announced in data released on Sunday. Of those 86 cases, the 32 in New Providence were originally tested between January and April 2021 while the 54 cases for Grand Bahama were

PHYSICIANS: THERE HAS NOT BEEN CONSULTATION

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Consultant Physicians Staff Association has again raised concern over the lack of consultation between healthcare workers and the government on the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The association also said some of the government’s new travel policies should be revised given the nation’s current health crisis.

In a statement released yesterday, CPSA President Dr Sabriquet Pinder-Butler said despite the significant roles medical workers play, physicians are still not being engaged in “meaningful dialogue” with government officials on the way forward from the pandemic.

It’s a situation that has disheartened workers.

“Our healthcare institutions and healthcare workers continue to be challenged during this pandemic,” she said. “The recent suspension of some hospital-based services negatively impacted our ability to provide patient care. Physicians continue to have workplace exposures while being on the frontlines with rising COVID-19 cases. Yet we continue to be excluded from meaningful engagement with policymakers to discuss strategies to reduce the burden of COVID-19 on us, our healthcare systems and the public at large.”

With the country now battling its third wave of infections, the association said there is a need for all parties to work together to develop wise strategies to help defeat the virus.

The CSPA said while it supports the continuance of current health measures, it does not agree with the government’s plans to remove the COVID-19 testing requirement for fully vaccinated travellers.

This is due to several reasons, the group added. Key among them is the limited data on vaccinated people’s ability to transmit the virus if they contract it.

“The most recent data presented by the Ministry of Health indicated the likelihood of variant strains in the country which may increase the risk of transmission and the potential for more severe COVID-19 illness,” the CPSA president added.

“It may also impact our vaccination campaign as some vaccines may work well on some strains but are less effective on others.

originally tested between September and December 20.

Yesterday, health officials said 63 new cases were recorded on Monday, pushing the toll to 10,283. Six hundred and thirteen cases are active while 52 people are in hospital with the virus.

In spite of the new wave, Mr Wells said the government believes vaccines mitigate against the need for tougher rules.

“It isn’t that we are committed to not tightening restrictions,” he said. “What we are committed to is to the course of action that we are on, which is…based on what the data is from other countries around the world who have vaccinated their people and held in place the kind of health protocols

Additionally, the data confirmed that most of our Covid-19 cases were related to international travel. This information is particularly important for us to ponder as our country is preparing to allow fully vaccinated international travellers to enter our borders without COVID testing and will remove COVID testing for vaccinated persons wishing to travel throughout our islands.

“The CPSA would like to recommend that due to the widespread transmission of COVID-19 in countries globally, testing should still be a requirement beyond May 1, 2021. The government may also consider further incorporation of rapid antigen tests in the travel protocol, subsidisation of PCR testing or liaising with labs for cost reduction. Further support and strengthening of contact tracing protocols are also a necessity.”

The CPSA also said even though vaccines do not offer full protection against the virus, the benefits of getting vaccinated still far outweighs the disadvantages.

Dr Pinder-Butler said: “We understand the importance of revitalising our economy, given the financial and social challenges faced by thousands of Bahamians and residents. However, reopening our borders and reducing COVID-19 restrictions without establishing an appropriate balance between the health and the economy of The Bahamas, will ultimately result in the sacrifices of not only physicians and other healthcare workers, but also the lawabiding public, to be in vain.

The CPSA hopes that going forward we are meaningfully engaged as an integral part of the fight against COVID-19.”

On Monday, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, chairperson of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee, responded to health professionals’ concerns surrounding the new policy, explaining the government is relying on the latest science.

She noted that while the research is ongoing, if fully vaccinated people do transmit the virus, it does not produce significant illness.

Total COVID cases in the country rose to 10,283 after 63 new cases were confirmed on Monday, with 51 of those cases on New Providence, eleven on Grand Bahama and one on Bimini and Cat Cay. Of this figure, 613 cases are still active. Meanwhile, 52 people are said to be in hospital sick with the virus.

TOTAL CASES

TOTAL DEATHS

10,283 198 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES MONDAY 63 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE GRAND BAHAMA BIMINI & CAT CAY

TOTAL TESTS

85,641

51 11 1

HOSPITALISED

that we have held in place.

“They have been able to move their countries out of increasing cases of COVID. You would know that just a few weeks ago health protocols were changed in regards to just testing in Eleuthera, the curfew was brought down a month and a half ago in Abaco when we were experiencing

52

CASES IN ICU

3

challenges, so it isn’t that we are not willing to move in circumstances to try and gain greater control of increasing cases, it’s just that we have a particular course based on the science which we believe will yield the results to bring this down, unlike what we had to do in the second wave.

“We had no vaccine in

RECOVERED

9,394

the second wave so lockdowns, curfews, weekend lockdowns, those things had to be employed and since December we know we have the silver bullet.

We have a vaccine and I am again asking my people, my most gracious people, to step forward and take the vaccine. It is good for what ails us.”

CHRISTINE Chin and Antoinette Cumberbatch working with the vaccination team at St Anselm’s Church yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff

HIGH INTEREST IN VACCINES AT ST ANSELM’S

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

INTEREST in COVID-19 vaccinations for people 18 and older at St Anselm’s Roman Catholic Church has been so successful that the site is extended to Saturday.

According to site manager Antoinette Cumberbatch, the Bernard Road church was originally intended to be open for about four days but was extended because of the overwhelming number of residents within the community who want to be vaccinated.

She estimated on average there were over 200 persons a day at the site and 50 to 65 percent are younger people. The church began vaccinations last week.

“Well I must say I’m very impressed with the amount of young persons that have been coming into this site to get their vaccination,” she said.

“Most of them said they just want to take the vaccination so that they can be covered; others want to travel. Some are just tired of having the COVID test and some want to do it because they have to go back to college and that’s one of the requirements.

“We were supposed to be closed today, so now the word is coming out and we have our nice poster out front that says we are vaccinating up to Saturday and now we’ve seen an increase in the number of persons coming out here today.”

The morning saw mostly empty chairs, but the numbers grew as the day progressed.

Daxon Davis wanted to take the vaccine due more possibilities to travel.

“Well when I was passing, I went to the barber today, I passed and a nurse said I could come and take it. So I took the opportunity,” the 25-year-old told The Tribune.

“I had wanted to take it earlier but I knew there were certain guidelines about who could and who couldn’t at first. So now that I found out that I could’ve come in, I came in as soon as I could.”

His father, who is over 60, and his stepmother, a nurse, got the vaccine as well. Both his father and stepmother contracted the virus prior to getting vaccinated.

He explained: “They were asymptomatic actually. They only found out when they took a test for travel for one point in time for work.”

The 25-year-old acknowledged people his age are still hesitant about the vaccine.

“I don’t know anyone my age personally who actually has taken it yet,” he revealed.

Meanwhile over at Church of God of Prophecy on East Street, Junkanooer Carvin Bain, 44, waited to get his vaccine.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis previously suggested the possibility of approving Independence Day and Junkanoo celebrations later this

year, after the mass gatherings were cancelled in 2020.

Decked out with his Roots mask, who he rushes for, Mr Bain said he is looking forward to having Junkanoo this year.

He hopes more Junkanoo supporters will get the shot.

Mr Bain said he knew people who had COVID – which was another motivation to get vaccinated.

“They suffered bad. They had it for about two weeks. Some had it for like about a month. It’s very painful – (they couldn’t) eat, (they) lost weight, the breathing was rough for them….But at the end the day they made it through.”

Director of Labour John Pinder also got vaccinated at St Anselm’s, located in the area of Fox Hill —a place he is considering representing for the Free National Movement.

He encouraged others to get vaccinated.

“I want to be a good corporate citizen. I want the people of Fox Hill, which I may have to go to their house to canvas for their support, to be safe and feel safe if they see me,” Mr Pinder said.

“I would like to encourage as many people as possible to continue to do your research, to continue to build a strong immune system, but because this vaccine happens to be something that lessens your chance of catching the COVID-19 or even spreading it – it doesn’t make you immune to it.”

MASS PARTIES SHOW GUARD IS SLIPPING from page one from Bimini died on April 25, pushing the nation’s tally to 198.

“We continue to see an increase in hospitalisations and we are challenged because of staff shortages because we have had a number of persons that have retired from the healthcare field and so that has caused some strain as it relates to staffing,” Dr Forbes told The Tribune yesterday.

“We are not at full bed capacity, but we don’t want to get there and… to prevent COVID from spreading, we do need the public health measures to be followed and we all have to follow the public health measures and if there are gatherings, they can become super spreader events and they themselves can worsen the outbreak.

“So, in order to beat COVID, we

all have to follow the public health measures, we need a robust vaccination programme that vaccinates many people as soon as possible and we need a robust strong public response to identify cases, put them in isolation to stop the spread, do contact tracing and put the contacts in quarantine and do follow up testing.”

When contacted by this newspaper yesterday, Chief Superintendent Zhivago Dames, officer-in-charge of the COVID Enforcement Unit, said large social gatherings continue to be a cause of concern for officials.

“It’s very concerning when you have persons who are reckless and have social gatherings especially in the numbers that you would’ve seen on the event that would’ve taken place on Sunday,” he said.

“And so, our message is the same as always. You need to do your best to ensure that you adhere to the

Emergency Powers Orders because the life that you save may just be your very own.”

Chief Supt Dames also noted that since January, officers have cited over 100 businesses for operating illegally and some 76 people for hosting large social events.

He told this newspaper: “For the year to date, we would’ve cited some 101 businesses for operating prohibited. We would’ve cited over 235 persons for patronising a prohibited business and we’re just nearing 100 events have been cited or rather persons who would’ve been holding events. Some 76 events thereabout around that number for persons who would’ve been hosting social gatherings.”

According to officials, organisers of Sunday’s event are expected to appear before the Magistrate’s Court for failing to comply with COVID-19 rules.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, April 28, 2021, PAGE 5

Meeting called after COVID cases in schools

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net A MEETING was called yesterday at the Ministry of Education after a series of private schools reported cases of COVID-19.

Since Monday, private schools including St Anne’s, St John’s and Jordan Prince William have all closed their doors temporarily due to positive cases of COVID-19 on the campus – with St Anne’s and St John’s closing for a 14-day period. They will be relying on virtual learning in the interim.

When contacted yesterday, Director of Education Marcellus Taylor said there was a meeting held earlier between the ministry and officials from private schools.

“This morning (Tuesday) the Ministry of Education facilitated a meeting with the independent schools and the Ministry of Health to talk about managing COVID and to go over certain things to make sure people are clear on any procedural matters and for them to raise questions on any challenges they have,” Mr Taylor said.

“We try to support them, but every case has to be dealt with based on its own circumstances and its own situation.”

There are also concerns about reported cases affecting students at Windsor School in Old Fort Bay. The Tribune reached out to Dr Mark Ott, Windsor’s principal, but was told he was in a meeting.

A school representative was asked about COVID cases there and said, “Thank you for calling, I will not be able to deny or confirm that.”

However, The Tribune obtained a letter sent from Dr Ott to parents last week. “Today we learned that an asymptomatic student in grade six has had a positive antigen test for COVID-19,” the letter noted. “This student was present in school yesterday, Monday, April 19, and is currently in quarantine at home. The student also has a sibling in grade seven.

“These students will be PCR tested and will report the results to the school.

“Out of an abundance of caution, beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, April 21, all students in grade six and grade seven are required to remain home and attend classes remotely (online) until further notice, pending the results of these students’ PCR tests.”

Another letter sent to parents yesterday from Windsor said two additional grade six students who were last in school last week Tuesday have also tested

HOUSE STAFF UNDER QUARANTINE HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie and the majority of House staffers are under quarantine after Chief Clerk David Forbes tested positive for COVID-19, The Tribune understands.

In his capacity as chief clerk, it is believed that staffers and Speaker Moultrie could have come into contact with Mr Forbes.

As a result, the staffers, who learned of the situation yesterday along with Speaker Moultrie, are under quarantine.

Mr Forbes is said to be experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms at this time.

The House of Assembly is expected to meet today.

This is not the first time Parliament has positive for COVID-19.

“These are two new cases,” the school’s most recent letter noted. “We wish those students and their families continued good health as they quarantine and isolate at home.

“We have had four positive tests for COVID-19 (PCR test) in the same grade six class. Two siblings of one of those grade six students have also tested positive. None of these students have been in school since Tuesday, April 20.

Both grade six and grade seven went online Wednesday, April 21.”

The school said grade six and grade seven students

dealt with coronavirus infections.

In September 2020, a staff member of Parliament who interacted with elected officials during a House of Assembly sitting tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the cancellation of Senate proceedings at the time.

Several parliamentarians also tested positive last year.

In light of the previous cases, Speaker Moultrie has at times expressed disappointment with the government for not transitioning parliamentary proceedings to a larger space or switching to virtual meetings.

He could not be reached for comment up to press time.

with a negative PCR test returned for in-person instruction as of yesterday, as long as they had not been in close contact with the newly reported cases since Monday, April 19.

Asked if the Ministry of Education monitors what private schools do in regards to dealing with COVID-19, Mr Taylor explained the process.

“Some schools have elected to close down after only one case being reported on their campus,” he said. “Other schools are using the approach that is used by the Ministry of Education which is to manage the situation. For

instance for us, if a student or a teacher are in one class and test positive, we would not necessarily close down the whole school.

“We would identify the person involved and let the Surveillance Unit know.

They will then interview people or ask questions and then make a determination on what ought to happen and we follow what they say. The protocols that we have in place, I think most private schools use them.

The main operative in this would be the Surveillance Unit because once a case of COVID-19 is reported then the Surveillance Unit will determine who would be considered a contact of the

positive case.”

Mr Taylor made it clear that the buck should stop with the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Unit.

“People can second guess everything if they wish but the point of the matter is that the Surveillance Unit has a way to determine who is a contact and who is not,” he said. “Not because you are in the same environment with someone at one point in time means that you are automatically a contact.

“So the protocols that have been put in place in terms of wearing the masks, the three feet spacing of the desks, the children all facing one way and also how people move around on the campuses when on breaks and level of direct contact that a persons has will all be factored in for the Surveillance Unit to make their determination.”

There have also been cases in government schools.

Last week, education officials said health officials have not reported the existence of any cluster of cases in the public education system nor any connection between the positive cases identified, which are in different institutions.

At the time, officials said five individuals — students and staff members — tested positive in New Providence over the past two weeks.

CABINET UNDECIDED ON EMERGENCY EXTENSION

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel says Cabinet is undecided on whether to extend the State of Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic or implement a new statutory framework when the current emergency orders expire on May 23.

Regardless of what structure is put in place, Mr Bethel said rules governing people’s behaviour will persist until the country reaches herd immunity.

“When The Bahamas reaches the stage of what could be termed herd immunity, then we could consider that, for The Bahamas, the emergency is basically over,” he told reporters before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

“So, between now and then, there will be some legal framework, whether it’s a declaration of a State of Emergency or under a statutory framework. In any event, rules will have to be mandated to restrict physical contact continuing until we reach the stage where there is a degree of herd immunity. Whether that’s under an Emergency Power Order or under a new enactment, it’s not going to stop the need to make rules

to restrict certain forms of activities.

“The argument over, ‘well, you know this emergency powers and it’s over a year’ and whatever, that is really a debate as to form, not to content. The content will continue to be that, as a responsible government, we have our duty to do everything in our power to enable the Bahamian people to protect themselves and the only way that this could be effectively done is to set rules so it is clear to everybody what the standard of conduct is.”

Mr Bethel has said that new legislation, which is being drafted, would allow the government to respond on a need basis as opposed to a broad national response.

“What we do know is that the emergency continues and so the government will in very short order make a determination as to what is the best way forward and that is as much as I could say at this point,” he said yesterday.

“Safe to say that we know the emergency continues. It is an unfortunate situation that now confronts the world. We see that Europe remains basically in lockdown, we see that India is collapsing, its healthcare system has basically collapsed, that

the whole world will have to come to the aid of that great country and we pray for the souls of all around the world who have perished and who are in grave danger, including here in The Bahamas, from this third wave.

“We certainly are doing everything we can to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of the Bahamian healthcare system. It is challenged but not as bad as elsewhere in the world.

“We know then that an emergency continues. In The Bahamas we are using every available means to secure enough vaccines for those who wish to take it.

Right now our issue is to get more supplies. We are working hard on that front.

We are grateful to hear that the United States will now release its stores of AstraZeneca, which is the vaccine that is currently being used in The Bahamas,... if we get our share we will be able to make sure that the population who have taken the vaccine voluntarily will get it in short order and that really is the goal, it’s to make sure that every Bahamian who wishes to be protected, is protected and that the resources are here for them.”

The country has been under a State of Emergency since March 2020.

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel.

TOUGH TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN PANDEMIC

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama Port Authority executive admits efforts to attract new foreign direct investments to Freeport were challenged to some extent due to travel restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ian Rolle, GBPA president, says that since getting his first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, he’s started travelling again, and believes that increased vaccinations on the island are important to reopening the Grand Bahama economy.

“We always could do more, but COVID-19 also presented a challenge for us

in terms of moving around,” he said when asked about new investments for Grand Bahama.

“I just started travelling again; I got my first dose and I am happy for that and thankful for that and started to move right away.

That is another thing I feel is very important to open this economy back up.

“I think as many persons as possible should consider taking the vaccine because it is very helpful in terms of us reducing the chances of not only our population getting the virus but our visitors as well.

“So, we want to protect ourselves and our visitors and reduce the chances of us dying from the significant

symptoms that could result from COVID-19. So, I want to encourage persons to also strongly consider taking the vaccine for the good of the nation.”

In terms of new investments, Mr Rolle believes the Port Authority has done its part to a degree. “At this current time, yes, I am satisfied,” he said. “I still think we can do more, but I am satisfied we are doing our part. But, I want us to do more, and we will do more.”

He indicated that the GBPA is aware many businesses that depend on tourism have undergone difficult times.

However, Mr Rolle is optimistic that the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

homeport initiative and the opening of the Grand Lucayan resort will “augur well for the future” of Grand Bahama.

“Right now, a number of entities that are depending on tourism are struggling, but we can see our way clear,” he said.

He referred to some of the investment projects that are already on tap on the island.

He said Royal Caribbean is not only working on the hotel but also working with the Port Authority to redevelop the existing harbour.

Regarding the mega port project proposed for East Grand Bahama, Mr Rolle said the Carnival Group is also trying to get permits

from relevant government agencies to start its project.

“That will cause and stimulate other activities,” he explained. “Once the ball starts to roll regarding these mega-projects, everybody else will want to feed off of them. We have entities that have approached us but they are waiting on the hotel deal to close, and waiting on the Carnival deal to start.”

When asked about medical tourism, the GBPA president said they are pleased about the West Atlantic Medical University’s project.

“They are building a medical school at the moment right now, and they are very excited about Freeport,” he said.

Additionally, Mr Rolle mentioned that there is another major entity based in Houston that has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the GBPA to explore medical tourism on Grand Bahama.

“So, I see that particular area as a very important sector for not only GB, but for The Bahamas, but based right here in Freeport and taking advantage of the concessions we offer.

“Freeport is for everyone, the entire Bahamas, and it is a part of our mission statement. The resources, the uniqueness of Freeport should be embraced by all in the Bahamas, and not just people in Freeport,” Mr Rolle said.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, April 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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Thank goodness for helpful neighbours THE United States has found itself with a welcome problem – more vaccines than it needs right now.

It has around 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine – the same one we are using so far – that it hasn’t made use of so far. US leadership is confident enough in the other three vaccines it has been using and it hadn’t given the full green light to the AstraZeneca vaccine so far – so it’s putting its faith in the others and making the AstraZeneca doses available where it’s needed elsewhere.

Some of the first countries to receive vaccines are the neighbours of the US starting with Mexico and Canada. Well, hello neighbour.

Up has popped Health Minister Renward Wells to remind the US of our position not far offshore. He might lack a bit of grace in doing so – saying that apart from Mexico and Canada “the only other three countries that sit on its borders are Cuba, Russia and The Bahamas”. The rest of CARICOM has ceased to exist, it would seem.

However, we would hope we are in a good position as a popular destination for US tourists that it would make good sense for the US to extend a helping hand our way. After all, protecting people here will also protect those visitors by giving them a safe, virus-free place to holiday.

We would need to live up to our end of the deal and actually take the vaccine, of course.

And if we need any incentive to do so, we need only look to the nation that was the first in line to help The Bahamas when we needed vaccines.

India provided The Bahamas with its first 20,000 vaccine doses.

At the time, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said: “We are more than happy that India has assisted us.”

From helper to in need of help, India has now experienced such a surge of COVID-19 that it is being overwhelmed. Yesterday, in one day alone, India recorded more than 320,000 new cases of COVID-19.

India’s top health official on Monday urged people to start wearing masks at home to stop the spread of the virus.

“It’s time people start wearing masks inside their home as well,” said Dr VK Paul, head of a government committee on medical emergency preparedness.

India has also called in the armed forces to help, and countries around the world have promised medical aid, including oxygen supplies, ventilators and protective gear.

We hope that some of the excess vaccine supply from the US will help India too – though to be clear, if every dose of that 60 million was sent, it would only vaccinate around two percent of India’s population. That won’t solve the crisis there alone.

There is a global picture to consider with this virus – and we have to think about stamping it out worldwide as well as locally, to stop hotspots leading to new variants that vaccines might be less effective at stopping.

India’s troubles should be a warning to us here in The Bahamas. If not taken seriously, if we relent for a moment with this virus, it can run out of control and leave us in crisis.

This should be an alert to those who host or attend large gatherings. It should be a reminder of the need to follow the protocols we have adhered to for so long now. And we should take the vaccine to give this virus less of a chance.

If we get a helping hand from the US, we must be grateful. And we must do what we can to help elsewhere in turn.

It’s the right thing to do.

The importance of environment protection EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Building Regulations Act, through its Planning Department, sets out the requirements for obtaining a building permit and makes it an offence to commence construction without a building permit.

This includes all elements of physical development, from cutting down a tree to building a city. It includes operating a home office to a theme park. To carry out their work, the ministry employs specialists in environmental design called planners, who call on specialists or specialist agencies when necessary. But the key to the success of this process is the fact that the process is the responsibility of the Ministry of Works and that both applications and approvals are through that ministry, even when the decision is the result of specialist advice. More importantly, that ministry is responsible for the relationship with the public on environmental matters.

A recent attempt to placate “activists” in so-called environmental matters has led to the creation of a totally bogus and unproductive agency, one that simply adds to the already heavy bureaucracy in the approvals process. Apparently, this made sense to legislators because they themselves had become accustomed to operating outside the system, essentially approving projects on the basis of their size or national origin.

The fact is, however, that the Ministry of Works and

its Planning Department are responsible for approving all projects.

Let me be crystal clear.

All building projects require environmental assessment. “Environment” includes both the built and the natural environment, and the individuals involved in approving projects must assess both in EVERY application and are trained to do so, as are architects that design the projects.

Further, the approvals process presently includes public hearings and discussion where projects are thought to be “sensitive”.

These specialists recognise something many members of the public ignore, that it is impossible to construct anything without affecting the environment, both the natural environment and the existing built environment. They also know the effect the present development will have on future development. It is their job to balance these factors in their approvals process. If the legislators feel they are not doing their job to their satisfaction, it is not appropriate to simply create another level of bureaucracy, adding both time and (most likely) cost to the process. We currently complain about an approvals process that takes over four months for a “normal” project, a process that should take a few weeks at most.

The reason the legislators needed to create this new level of inconvenience is simple. Every major project finds itself the subject of public conversations about

“environmental impact”.

The public believes, erroneously, that environmental assessment is only needed for large or “sensitive” projects, as noted above, a fallacy. Public “experts” mislead the public by making their demands primarily in large, foreign projects, suggesting that the Environmental Assessment process is a special development control device. It is not. Every project must be assessed, as our built environment is a collection of individual approvals, not just the big or foreign ones, and there is an existing agency in place to manage that process if left to do their job. For political reasons only, legislators have compromised that process.

As the public demands that they “do something” about their political agreements they have become accustomed to “doing something” about the approvals process. Their current “doing something” is extremely counter-productive. If the process in place is flawed, fix it. Hire specialists or train better planners. Above all, please, please stop adding layers to one of the heaviest bureaucracies on earth (number 120 or so in doing business).

The environment consists of both the natural and the built environment, and it is pure folly to think you should administer them separately.

PATRICK RAHMING Architect Nassau, April 26, 2021.

Debate about debates EDITOR, The Tribune.

I HEAR all kinds of noise about debates between political leaders in the country. Once again, much of it is “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”.

UB Professor Nicolette Bethel has now weighed in with her two cents.

She has criticised the FNM, seemingly claiming that the party has no confidence in the only university in the country re political debates at the institution. This is a false and overblown claim not even worthy of a freshman in university.

It is not worthy of an academic at the institution.

Indeed, FNMs have participated in previous forums at the institution.

The FNM has called for a properly developed debate process and structure, similar to other countries such as Jamaica and Canada.

The process currently proposed would be unfair to other media houses because only one media house would be involved.

One would have thought that an academic would be interested in a fair process.

As an FNM press release stated: “Any debate process should ensure both the dignity and fairness of any electoral debates, as well as providing a level playing field to each and every media house, so as to ensure a high quality and informative series of debates for the benefit of every Bahamian.”

Further, Dr Bethel cannot have it both ways.

This is the same person who recklessly argued during a previous election that Bahamians should spoil their ballots.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net The fact that Dr Bethel appeared to have little confidence in our parliamentary system or the ability of the Bahamian people in the electoral process tells us more about her than about our democracy.

Indeed, it speaks volumes.

She should publicly apologise for advising Bahamians to spoil their ballots.

By throwing shade against the FNM, Dr Bethel appears to have a very partisan and narrow agenda, something that past presidents of COB and UB would never have done publicly.

Given her track record and statements on the political process, in my opinion many Bahamians do not have confidence in Dr Bethel’s judgement or understanding of how our political system works.

It is unfortunate that an individual with her seniority has not grown or learned more about our system of government. Indeed, what speaks volumes is that after so many years and her seeming failure to appreciate our system and the hard won right to vote, she continues to offer poorly thought out opinions.

The FNM noted in its press release: “Upon closer scrutiny of documentation and written proposals submitted by the proposers of the debate, a number of critical defects in the proposed format of debates were identified by the FNM Campaign Committee.

“Secondly, upon review of the practices both in our Caribbean region and in Canada and the United

Kingdom, it also became clear that the proposed format of the debates was a great departure from the standards set in other jurisdictions, each of which hails from the Westminster system.”

Given her past statements and seemingly little knowledge of our system, it is not surprising that Dr Bethel continues to make the same errors of judgement.

UB remains free to hold town hall meetings during the political cycle, which various candidates are free to attend as they have in the past. One hopes that they will be moderated by fair and balanced individuals at the university.

Bahamians might have more confidence in certain UB professors if their public statements made more sense and were more rational arguments in the public domain.

Some of the professors at UB need to up their game and to offer the country more rigorous intellectual insight and formats for public debates based on international best practices and standards.

Dr Bethel spoke about how actions speak louder than words. So true. The PLP once talked about doubling the national investment in education and training. They did not honour those words.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis significantly increased tuition-free access to tertiary education for young Bahamians at UB and BTVI, a big vote of confidence in young Bahamians and in the university and BTVI. KCB Nassau, April 27, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Siblings attacked neighbour

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net TWO siblings who attacked their neighbour during an altercation last week were ordered to keep the peace and compensate the woman.

Police arrested an 18-year-old girl and her 16-year-old brother after they assaulted their neighbour on April 18.

They owned up to the offence when they appeared before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans.

The court heard the complainant told police she was at her residence when she was attacked and beaten about the body by the defendants. After she filed her complaint, the siblings were arrested. When they were questioned by officers at the Nassau Street Police Station. The girl admitted kicking the complainant while her teen brother confessed to slapping the woman twice.

During the hearing, they were represented by attorney Roberto Reckley who told the magistrate his clients were honest from the onset of the investigation

because they did not want to waste the court’s time.

He also said the incident arose out of a “neighbourhood issue that went too far” and insisted the accused were remorseful for their actions.

Thurston also told the magistrate the incident took place after the complainant had told her sister that she had seen the defendant leaving her boyfriend’s car in a red dress. She claimed when she confronted the woman, the lady cursed her out and threw a rock at her brother.

The accused boy also said he only slapped the complainant because she started cursing and “freaking out”.

In response, Magistrate Vogt-Evans told the siblings they had no right to go and seek revenge and instead, should have informed their parents and filed a report with police. As a result, she bound them over to keep the peace for three months and ordered them to compensate the victim $250 for assaulting her. She said if they failed to comply with the conditions of their release, they would be convicted and remanded into custody for seven days.

MAN ‘PAID $150 FOR FAKE STAMP’ TO STAY IN COUNTRY

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A JAMAICAN man who paid another man $150 for a fake immigration stamp he tried to use to extend his stay in the country was yesterday sentenced to six months behind bars.

Orlando Brown, 28, was charged with overstaying and being in possession of a forged immigration landing stamp after he was found residing in New Providence past the time granted to him to remain in the country with a fraudulent stamp in his passport.

He pleaded guilty to the offences when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans.

The court heard on April 21, a team of immigration officers, attached to the residential spouse unit, went to Brown’s residence located off Shirley Street.

The prosecution said when the officers entered the home to conduct their inspection, they found “all to be well”. However, when the immigration officer asked Brown to see his passport, he discovered an altered immigration stamp affixed to one of the booklet’s pages.

When he was questioned,

the accused claimed he got the stamp from the airport.

He was subsequently cautioned and transported to the Detention Centre for further processing. When he was interviewed there, he admitted the stamp did not come from an official at the airport and said he paid another Jamaican man $150 in March 2019 to get him the stamp.

The court heard Brown left the country since that time and returned in January 2020 when he was given permission to stay for one month.

During the hearing Brown, who said he was married to a Bahamian woman, declined to comment.

Magistrate Vogt-Evans accepted his guilty plea and sentenced him to six months in prison for possessing the fake immigration stamp.

She also fined him $1,000 or three months in jail for overstaying.

In passing sentence, she said future offenders needed to know illegal immigration would not be tolerated especially in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic and the “continued burden of drugs and human trafficking”.

Both of Brown’s sentences are ordered to run concurrently.

PAIR ACCUSED OF ROBBERY

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN and a teen were charged with armed robbery in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Police alleged Anishka Bonaby, 27, and a 17-yearold male used a handgun to rob a man of a $1,200 TechnoMarine watch, a $350 gold ring and $700 cash on April 17.

During their hearing before Deputy Chief

Magistrate Andrew Forbes, neither accused was required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to June 11 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

In the meantime, Bonaby was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The teenager was sent to the juvenile section of the prison.

They both have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

MAN DENIES HITTING GIRLFRIEND

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who denied harming his former girlfriend was yesterday granted $3,000 bail ahead of his trial.

Fritznel Justilien was

arrested after he was accused of assaulting the mother of his child on April 22.

He denied the allegation when he appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain and his case was adjourned to July 19 for trial.

Wednesday, April 28, 2021, PAGE 7

SHIPPING RELIEF AID TO HELP ST VINCENT AS a part of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s mission to provide disaster relief assistance, HMBS Lawrence Major left the country on Saturday to assist in delivering relief supplies to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Caribbean nation is continuing to cope with the eruption of La Soufriere volcano.

The ship, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Omarv Saunders, traveled to Kingston, Jamaica to assist with the transport of more than $20m worth of supplies for St Vincent and the Grenadines as part of Jamaica’s disaster relief aid.

The coordinated effort of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in Jamaica was easy; however, the challenge arose when it came to transportation. The Jamaica Defence Force reached out and secured the support of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to bridge this gap, which responded favourably in the spirit of Caribbean unity.

According to Lieutenant Commander Saunders, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force is always prepared to assist partnering nations when called upon.

SUPPLIES being loaded onto the HMBS Lawrence Major.

Photo: Sub Lieutenant Antonio Adderley/ RBDF

PAGE 8, Wednesday, April 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE FNM and PLP leaders on the campaign trail in recent times - but the FNM has pulled out of a proposed debate hosted by the University of The Bahamas.

GENERAL elections loom ahead with no firm date, though the current administration promised fixed election dates and fixed terms for Prime Ministers in its 2017 campaign, and debates are being organized.

This is not the first time for a debate initiative. In the last election season, University of The Bahamas hosted a wellorganised debate series that should have had large attendance. There were set questions and people in the audience submitted questions from which organisers made selections.

It was a good opportunity to hear what the political parties wanted to say about the topic raised.

This time, University of The Bahamas is collaborating with Verizon Media Group to organise a debate series with seven parties confirmed as participants.

The Free National Movement (FNM), after initially

By Alicia Wallace agreeing to participate, has decided to withdraw. FNM chairman Carl Culmer has provided a laughable set of excuses for the party’s decision.

Culmer said: “Among the defects was, firstly, the fact that only one, forprofit, media house would be involved in producing the event, which was immediately considered to be unfair to other for-profit media houses.” This would suggest that other media houses will not be able to cover the debate series, but that is not the case.

In its response, the University of The Bahamas and Verizon Media Group

noted other media houses were contacted and the series has been promoted through these channels.

The FNM, then, is trying to create a problem where there is none.

The statement issued by Culmer also noted differences between the planned debate series and those that take place in Canada and Jamaica which have completely different geographic and political landscapes.

Given the points raised, it is clear the FNM would like to limit participation in the debates, locking out parties that do not already have any sitting members in Parliament. It is clearly

They expect our votes but are too cowardly to even stand up and defend themselves threatened by the number of parties and candidates vying for election and is insecure in its ability to put forward candidates with the ability to even respond to questions provided in advance, much less respond to challenges.

On one hand, it is easy to laugh at the FNM and its cowardice. On the other, it is troubling to recognise that this is the current administration. It has performed terribly, ignored its own promises, failed to adequately respond to crises and support the people most in need, and yet dares to seek re-election without participating in an important exercise designed to give the general public better access to its plans and ways of thinking.

We have seen for ourselves that Minnis considers himself above reproach and is offended by the very idea of being questioned or expected to explain his actions.

The FNM is clearly comfortable with and complicit in this approach. It is behaving like a spoiled brat who does not want certain people to be invited to the festivities. It intends to give the public the impression it is above the others, but the message we are receiving is that it is not prepared to be measured against others due to its misgivings about its own capacity.

We are accustomed to an electoral system that does not serve us. We are used to election seasons that are full of popular music, catchy slogans, poster pollution, crowded rallies and free t-shirts.

We have developed a love-hate relationship with

the season and the people who drive it. It is annoying, embarrassing and unproductive, but it is also hilarious and entertaining.

We watch as money and time are wasted, listen to one-liner after one-liner that will amount to nothing, and some of us wait for the opportunity to trade our votes for something of much less value. Flyers are stuck in our doors, people try to feed us propaganda and we try to get a candidate — any candidate — to cut down the bush across the street.

There always seems to be so little time. Campaigners are in a rush and so are we.

There is no time to delve into the issues, is there?

Can we really talk about what a candidate or party intends to do to reduce crime? Does it even make sense to listen to the fairytales, knowing we have been through this five years ago, ten years ago, and 15 years ago, and we have seen no change?

We do not need to hear another person talk about providing more jobs, putting more money into education, or getting rid of whomever is to blame for the current state of affairs.

We need to get beyond the bold print on those flyers. We need to hear the assessment of the situation.

More jobs? Okay, how do we know the lack of jobs is the problem? Could it not be the low wages, difficulty meeting requirements, or lack of transportation during certain hours?

We need evidence that the problem a candidate or party is promising to solve is actually the problem that needs our attention.

Beyond assessment, we need to hear the how.

More jobs sounds great, but where will they come from, who will qualify, what will it cost, and what is the timeline?

We do not all have the time or the desire to talk to candidates. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is definitely not safe or easy to do.

The debate series presents an opportunity for the electorate to get a better understanding of party values and priorities. We know we will get generic talking points, but we will have the ability to compare answers and pinpoint differences. Reporters can zero in on statements and follow up after the event. The general public can bring up important points when they are engaged by campaigners. We will see how and when other members of parties contradict what the debaters say on stage.

The debate series is an opportunity to get more information — comparable information — that can help us to decide where we will mark our Xs. A political party that refuses to participate is one that does not respect the electorate. The excuses are unacceptable. There is no reason to avoid answering questions about political positions and plans for governance. Candidates ought to be prepared, at any time and in any setting, to speak to people — whether they are in support, in opposition, or neutral — about the political agenda. If they cannot meet this expectation, we cannot believe they are equipped for the duty of governance.

Things to do because you care 1. Support non-governmental organisations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in their relief efforts as La Soufrière continues to erupt. The ash fall and pyroclastic flows have displaced over 20,000 people. Red Root SVG and Rise Up Bequia are on the ground, providing support to families and shelters. Donate at tinyurl.com/redrootrelief and tinyurl.com/reliefrise.

2. Get bystander intervention training so you are equipped to help when you see someone experience harassment or

violence. Equality Bahamas offers training several times per year and upon request for groups.

Email equalitybahamas@gmail. com.

3. Get vaccinated. It reduces the risk of getting COVID-19, having serious illness if you do get COVID-19, and spreading COVID-19 to others. Vaccines do not 100 percent protect against diseases, but reduce the risk and the severity of symptoms. This vaccine is no different. Do it for yourself and the people around you.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, April 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Two sides of an ocean, two sides to COVID fight

US President Joe Biden, left, at an event to mark the 50 millionth COVID-19 shot in February, and, right, a man taking his AstraZeneca vaccine in Malawi. As the US reduces restrictions, some Africans are hesitating to get vaccines amid concerns over safety.

MASKS CAN COME OFF FOR VACCINATED NEW YORK Associated Press

THE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidelines yesterday on the wearing of masks outdoors, saying fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers.

And those who are unvaccinated can go outside without masks in some situations, too.

The new guidance represents another carefully calibrated step on the road back to normal from the outbreak that has killed over 570,000 in the US. For most of the past year, the CDC had been advising Americans to wear masks

outdoors if they are within six feet of one another.

“Today, I hope, is a day when we can take another step back to the normalcy of before,” CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said. “Over the past year, we have spent a lot of time telling Americans what you can’t do. Today, I am going to tell you some of the things you can do, if you are fully vaccinated.”

The change comes as more than half of US adults — about 140 million people — have received at least one dose of vaccine, and more than a third have been fully vaccinated.

Walensky said the decision was driven by rising vaccination numbers; declines in COVID-19

cases, hospitalisations and deaths; and research showing that less than 10 percent of documented instances of transmission of the virus happened outdoors.

Some experts portrayed the relaxed guidance as a reward and a motivator for more people to get vaccinated — a message President Joe Biden sounded, too.

“The bottom line is clear: If you’re vaccinated, you can do more things, more safely, both outdoors as well as indoors,” Biden said. “So for those who haven’t gotten their vaccinations yet, especially if you’re younger or thinking you don’t need it, this is another great reason to go get vaccinated now.”

HESITATION OVER JABS A HURDLE TO OVERCOME KAMPALA, Uganda Associated Press

SOME Africans are hesitating to get COVID19 vaccines amid concerns about their safety, alarming public health officials as some countries start to destroy thousands of doses that expired before use.

Malawi and South Sudan in recent days have said they will destroy some of their doses, a concerning development on a continent where health officials have been outspoken about the need for vaccine equity as the world’s rich nations hold the bulk of shots.

Africa, whose 1.3 billion people represent 16 percent of the world’s population, has received less than two percent of the COVID-19 vaccine doses administered around the world, according to the World Health 0rganization.

The continent has confirmed more than 4.5 million COVID-19 cases, including 120,000 deaths, a tiny fraction of the global fatalities and caseload. But some experts worry that the 54-nation continent will suffer in the long term if it takes longer than expected to meet the threshold scientists believe is needed to stop uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 — 70 percent or higher of the population having immunity through vaccination or past infection.

Africa seeks to vaccinate up to 60 percent of its people by the end of 2022.

Achieving that goal will require about 1.5 billion vaccine doses for Africa if the two-shot AstraZeneca vaccine continues to be widely used. But safety concerns relating to that vaccine, often the main shot available under the donorbacked COVAX program to ensure access for developing countries, have left some Africans worried.

Vaccine-related suspicions have been spread widely on social media, driven partly by a general lack of trust in authorities.

Uganda’s health minister had to refute allegations she faked receiving a shot, even posting a video of herself getting the jab on Twitter, along with the admonition: “Please stop spreading fake news!”

Some have raised the untrue claim that the shots can cause infertility on sites such as WhatsApp. Others openly question the speed with which COVID-19 vaccines have been developed.

“The world has failed

to find a vaccine for AIDS all these years, but they quickly found a vaccine for COVID? I am not going to go for that vaccine,” said Richard Bbale, an electrician in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, voicing fear that an experimental vaccine could be harmful.

“Even if the government forces us to get the vaccine as if it’s a national ID, I will not go.”

Austin Demby, Sierra Leone’s health minister, told reporters last week that a third of the 96,000 doses the country received in March will likely not be used before they expire, citing a lack of urgency among some people who decided that COVID-19 is “not as bad as Ebola,” which ravaged the country several years ago.

“People are worried this is another public experiment they want to make on our people,” he said.

The World Health Organization and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have urged African governments to continue rolling out the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying its benefits outweigh any risks after European countries limited its use over concerns about rare blood clots in a small number of recipients.

“Anything you take has a risk. Any medication,” Africa CDC director John Nkengasong told a briefing last week, citing some essential drugs that can cause blood clots in rare cases. “That’s the way we should be looking at these vaccines.”

The Africa CDC said in a statement last week it had received guidance from the Serum Institute of India recommending a three-month “shelf life extension” on the April 13 expiration date of at least a million AstraZeneca shots delivered to Africa.

Africa nations “don’t have a choice,” Nkengasong said, urging Malawi to use all its shots after authorities in the southern African nation said they would burn 16,000 AstraZeneca doses that expired earlier in April.

It is unclear if Malawi will follow that advice.

The country has administered less than half of more than 500,000 doses it received via COVAX, leading Victor Mithi, head of the Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi, to blame vaccine misconceptions.

“We are continuously assuring Malawians that the vaccine is safe and that

once they feel anything abnormal beyond the usual post-vaccination symptoms, they can always come to the hospital and report,” he said.

An additional 1.26 million doses expected from COVAX at the end of May may be wasted if people continue shunning the vaccine, said Shouts Simeza, president of the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives in Malawi, adding that a possible solution is making vaccinations mandatory for all who are eligible.

Trying to increase coverage, Malawi’s government has relaxed vaccine eligibility rules to include everyone aged 18 and older after initially focusing on priority groups such as health workers.

The East African nation of Uganda, which also is struggling to increase vaccine rollout among priority groups, may soon act similarly, said Emmanuel Ainebyoona, spokesman for the Ministry of Health.

Ugandans under age 50 have shown interest in getting vaccinated, raising hope that doses will not expire unused, he said.

Uganda has received 964,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the only one available in the country. But just over 230,000 doses have been administered since March 10.

Health authorities had planned to give at least 500,000 people their first shot in a first round of vaccinations targeting front-line workers, people with underlying health conditions and those 50 and older.

But, amid a slow rollout, they are now reaching out to popular “influencers,” celebrities such as a kickboxer who was photographed getting a shot last week.

“The uptake is gradually improving,” Ainebyoona said, noting that “communications interventions” have proved necessary to get more Ugandans to embrace the vaccination campaign.

A few thousand people are inoculated daily at centers put up across the country, including inside regional hospitals. The local Daily Monitor newspaper recently reported that more than 280,000 doses will likely expire by July at the current average of about 6,000 shots used each day.

Vaccination teams, lacking official records of eligible residents, simply sit and wait for people who may not show up.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, April 28, 2021, PAGE 9

3D PRINTING’S NEW CHALLENGE: SOLVING THE US HOUSING SHORTAGE

By TERENCE CHEA Associated Press

A NEW generation of startups wants to disrupt the way houses are built by automating production with industrial 3D printers.

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, uses machines to deposit thin layers of plastic, metal, concrete and other materials atop one another, eventually producing three-dimensional objects from the bottom up.

In recent years, 3D printers have mostly been used to create small quantities of specialised items such as car parts or prosthetic limbs, allowing consumers or businesses to produce just what they need using the machines at home or work.

Now a small number of startups around the world are applying 3D printing to home construction, arguing that it’s faster, cheaper and more sustainable than traditional construction. They say these technologies could help address severe housing shortages that have led to soaring home prices, overcrowding, evictions and homelessness across the U.S. But 3D home construction is still in the early stage of development. Most startups in this field are developing new technologies and not building homes yet. And two of the highest profile and best-financed companies – Mighty Buildings and ICON – have delivered fewer than 100 houses between them.

To move beyond a niche market, construction firms will need to significantly ramp up production and persuade home buyers, developers and regulators that 3D printed houses are safe, durable and pleasing to the eye. They’ll also need to train workers to operate the machines and install the homes.

“To the extent that 3D printing can offer a faster, cheaper way to build even single family housing units or small units, it can address a portion of the problem,” said Michelle Boyd, who directs the Housing Lab at the University of California, Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation. But the sheer magnitude of the housing shortage demands

THIS photo provided by ICON shows a 3D home in Austin, Texas. A new generation of startups wants to disrupt the way houses are built by automating production with industrial 3D printers. (Regan Morton Photography/Courtesy of ICON via AP) many types of solutions, from loosening zoning restrictions to building more high-rise apartment buildings, she said.

Proponents note that printing houses rather than nailing them together could save huge quantities of scrap wood, metal and other discarded construction materials that are dumped into landfills every year.

Backers say 3D printing reduces the need for human labor at a time when home builders are struggling to find enough skilled workers to meeting housing demand.

Many construction workers left the trades after the housing-fueled financial crisis more than a decade ago, and fewer young people are entering the field.

Jason Ballard, CEO and co-founder of a 3D printing construction startup called ICON, said its 3D printing system can do the work of 10 to 20 workers in five or six different trades. And unlike humans, the machines can work up to 24 hours a day, saving developers time and money.

“With 3D printing, we’re able to print exactly what we need,” said Sam Ruben, the company’s co-founder and chief sustainability officer at Mighty Buildings. The process can eliminate nearly all

THIS photo provided by Mighty Buildings shows a 3D-printed housing module being delivered. Most of the modules built by Mighty Buildings are assembled in the factory, transported by truck to the owner’s property, then put into place using a crane. (Courtesy of Mighty Buildings via AP) construction waste, he said, which can add up to savings of two to three tons of carbon per housing unit.

In Mighty Buildings’ factory warehouse in Oakland, Calif., a 3D printer deposits thin layers of a stone-like material that quickly hardens under ultraviolet light and resists fire and water. Wall panels are printed one layer at a time and then filled with an insulating foam. Robotic arms finish the surfaces into various designs.

The printer can produce the entire exterior shell of a studio home or individual wall panels that can easily assembled with simple tools, the company said. Mighty Buildings is now producing 350-square-foot backyard studios, known in the industry as “accessory dwelling units,” that can be used as extra bedrooms, playrooms, gyms or home offices.

So far the company has delivered six units and has

another 30 under contract, starting at $115,000 each, which doesn’t include the cost of installation and site work.

Two units can be combined to make a 700-square-foot dwelling. The company’s home construction costs are about 40 percent lower than that of traditional homes in California, Ruben said.

Most of the modules are assembled in the factory, transported by truck to the owner’s property, then put into place using a crane. The unit size is limited by the dimensions of the truck bed and the clearance heights of tunnels and overpasses.

Backed by more than $70 million in venture capital, Mighty Buildings is planning to build more factories with a goal of producing 1,000 housing units next year. It’s also creating software that allows developers to custom design printed buildings.

Ultimately, the company plans to produce townhouses and

multistory apartment buildings, Ruben said.

Mighty Buildings is teaming up with a Beverly Hills, Calif.-based developer, the Palari Group, to create a planned community of 3D printed homes in the desert resort community of Rancho Mirage in California’s Coachella Valley.

The solar-powered development, set for completion next spring, will have 15 lots with a 1,450-squarefoot primary home plus a 700-square-foot secondary home and swimming pool in the backyard, costing around $850,000, said Basel Starr, Palari’s CEO and founder.

Those lots sold out quickly and there’s a waiting list of 500 homebuyers, Starr said. He’s planning similar developments in other parts of California.

Austin, Texas-based ICON has used 3D printing technology to produce low-cost housing. It’s printed homes for the chronically homeless in Austin as well as poor families in Nacajuca, Mexico. Instead of producing homes in factories, it brings its Vulcan printer to work on-site, squeezing out long tubes of concrete layer by layer that dry quickly to form the walls of a house.

“The factory comes to you, imprints the house right where it intends to be.

We chose that method to eliminate a lot of the shipping costs and then also to give ourselves a lot of design freedom,” said Jason Ballard, ICON’s CEO and co-founder.

Its current technology can reduce construction costs by up to 30 percent and build a house twice as fast as traditional methods because the 3D printer does nearly all the work, Ballard said.

“The benefits that automation and digitisation had brought to so many other industries with regard to speed and affordability were completely missing from the construction industry,” Ballard said. 3D printing, he said, “was like the most powerful automation of all the automations we could discover.”

MORE PATROLS, FEWER BOATERS FOR SPACEX SPLASHDOWN SATURDAY

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The astronauts flying SpaceX back to Earth this weekend urged boaters to stay safe by staying away from their capsule’s splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

NASA and SpaceX are promising more Coast Guard patrols and fewer pleasure boaters for Saturday morning’s planned splashdown off the Florida coast — the company’s second return of a crew. The trip home for the four astronauts was delayed from Wednesday because of high winds forecast for the area.

Last August, pleasure boaters swarmed the Dragon capsule carrying two astronauts. NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins said everyone is

FROM left, NASA’s Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Michael Hopkins, and Japan’s Soichi Noguchi hold a news conference aboard the International Space Station on Monday. They are winding up a six-month mission, after their replacements arrived Saturday on their own SpaceX capsule. (NASA via AP) putting “a lot of emphasis” on keeping the area clear this time.

“I don’t think any of us are too worried in terms of landing on a boat,” he said during a news conference

Monday from the International Space Station.

Leaking fuel from the capsule’s thrusters could endanger people outside the capsule. A crowd could also

hamper SpaceX’s recovery effort.

Hopkins is winding up a six-month mission, along with U.S. crewmates Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, and Japan’s Soichi Noguchi. Their replacements arrived Saturday on their own SpaceX capsule.

When Hopkins and his crew launched last November, they hoped to return to a world where COVID19 held less of a grip than it does.

They will go into semi-quarantine for a while, Walker said, to give their space-weakened immune systems time to bounce back. They’ll roll up their sleeves for their first vaccine shot seven to 10 days after splashdown.

“We definitely have enjoyed not wearing masks up here,” Walker said.

“And having to go back and wear masks — well, it’s what we will do because that is the right thing to do.”

TECHTALK FORD PLANS TO DEVELOP AND PRODUCE ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES

By TOM KRISHER AP AUTO WRITER

DETROIT (AP) — Saying that it wants to control the key technology for electric vehicles, Ford plans to open a battery development centre near Detroit by the end of next year.

The company said the 200,000-square-foot facility will have equipment to design, test and even do small-scale manufacturing of battery cells and packs. The $185 million lab also will develop electronic controls and other items as Ford moves more of the process in-house.

Eventually the company wants to do large-scale manufacturing of its own batteries globally, a task now performed by supply companies.

Like many global automakers who have been stung by computer chip and other supply chain shortages, Ford wants to make sure it has enough batteries for what it says is an accelerating transition away from internal combustion engines.

Hau Thai-Tang, the company’s chief product and operations officer, said electric vehicles are moving from early adopters to an early majority as new models come out, and Ford wants to lead the transition.

“We now see that the market is going to develop very quickly, and we will have sufficient scale to justify having greater levels of integration,” he said. “We will no longer take an approach of hedging our bets and planning around the uncertainty of how fast that will play out.”

The move comes as the global auto industry races to control supplies including precious metals needed to make batteries and individual cells that form big battery packs to run as many as 300 new electric models coming out in the next two years. Under new CEO Jim Farley, the plan is a reversal from Ford’s previous path of buying technology and batteries from supply companies.

However, the company said it still could partner with suppliers, universities and startups on the technology.

Ford wouldn’t say where in Southeast Michigan it plans to build the battery centre, named “Ford Ion Park,” nor would it reveal potential battery factory locations. The centre would employ about 150 workers to start, and many of them already are working at existing Ford sites.

Ford said it has discussed the transition to battery power with the Biden administration, which has pegged much of its climate change policy to getting more electric vehicles on the roads.

The announcement comes after Ford got caught up in a trade secrets fight between its main battery supplier, SK Innovation, and LG Energy Solution. The U.S. International Trade Commission decided in February that SK stole 22 trade secrets from LG Energy, and that SK should be barred from importing, making or selling batteries in the United States for 10 years.