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‘DISRESPECTFUL AND DISHONEST’

FRONT PORCH

THE GUARDIANS OF DEMOCRACY? AFTER FOUR YEARS OF TRUMP?

PAGE EIGHT

Speaker lashes out AGAIN at govt over handling of Assembly COVID outbreak

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE House of Assembly was abruptly suspended yesterday morning after House Speaker Halson Moultrie criticised the Minnis administration, argued with Yamacraw MP Elsworth Johnson and pointedly invited Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to publicly address his claims about the executive branch’s “disrespectful”

treatment of Parliament.

The episode was the latest extraordinary instance of the Speaker confronting members of the governing party, creating the kind of tension that longtime observers say has scarcely been seen in the modern history of the House.

At one point, Speaker Moultrie accused the executive of dragging Parliament around “like a dinghy boat” and he SEE PAGE THREE

‘DON’T BELIEVE DENIAL OF AN EARLY ELECTION’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said National Security Minister Marvin Dames is “obfuscating” the truth about the Minnis administration’s election plans.

Mr Dames told reporters on Tuesday that people should not read too deeply into a Royal Bahamas Defence Force memo that

directs departments to prepare for the possibility of an early election by sending information about people who will participate in an advanced poll.

Mr Dames said it is common for law enforcement agencies to prepare earlier than other organisations and suggested the RBDF action, which was in response to a memo from the Parliamentary Registration Department, was normal for the force.

SEE PAGE TWO

WATER WONDERLAND MAKING a splash in the tourism market today are Baha Mar with the unveiling of Baha Bay, due to open on July 2, a new beachfront water park. The $200m park will feature 24 water slides, raft rides, a wave pool and more. It will also be available to local residents as well as Baha Mar visitors. See today’s Business section for the full story.

NUMBERS HOUSES IN US AGREES DEAL TO CHALLENGE TO LEVY OVERSEE AIRSPACE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE long-awaited tax on web shop patrons’ winnings has been further delayed by another legal challenge from the domestic gaming industry.

Marlon Johnson, acting financial secretary, last night confirmed the levy - set for implementation on January 16 this year was again “on hold” after renewed litigation.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority and the United States Federal Aviation Administration signed an “historic”

Air Navigation Services agreement yesterday which is expected to bring in around $300m in fees over the next ten years.

The occasion signifies The Bahamas’ ability to SEE PAGE THREE

PLEADING FOR THE SLATE TO BE CLEANED STATESIDE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AFTER receiving his first conviction three years ago, Raymond Ward Jr says he’s now hoping to have a fresh start by getting his criminal record expunged to fulfil his goals of becoming an electrical engineer.

The 22-year-old was one

MEMBERS of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Committee meeting yesterday. of several people who met with members of the Rehabilitation of Offenders

Committee during an interview exercise held at the Ministry of National Security yesterday.

The group — which has the power to expunge records of young people and first-time offenders who meet the criteria — is currently reviewing some 60 applications from Bahamians seeking clean records.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

TRUMP JUST WON’T GO AWAY

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Thursday, May 6, 2021

‘DON’T BELIEVE DENIAL OF AN EARLY ELECTION’

THE TRIBUNE

PLP leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis in Parliament yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff from page one are there for an early election and those readings have come from what they Speaking to report- offered over the last several ers during the House of months.”

Assembly’s afternoon Asked about the RBDF recess yesterday, Mr Davis memo, Acting Parliasaid: “That’s not standard mentary Commissioner procedure. Standard pro- Lavardo Duncanson said cedure wouldn’t require his department is simply you to have to provide your being proactive. name for the advanced poll “I would not speak to if there’s not going to be an any inter-agency communielection, so clearly the min- cations, but I can say that ister is just obfuscating and as far as the Parliamentary they just want to hold to Registration Department, their chest their thinking. our efforts continue to be “They would not let the proactive as we prepare for Bahamian public know, but an upcoming general elecI think we are all grown up, tion,” Mr Duncanson said. wise enough to look and see “So, there’s a greater what it is all about; election appreciation of this without is in the air. Or put another speaking to inter-agency way, there’s no doubt that communications, as it the government has been relates to the advanced poll, considering for quite some you have an amendment to time calling an early elec- the Parliamentary Elections tion. Why they have not Act that has increased the called it yet, that’s a ques- amount of individuals who tion that they should be are eligible to apply to vote answering to us. All the during an advanced poll,” tea leaves, all the readings he added.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 6, 2021, PAGE 3

US AGREES DEAL TO OVERSEE AIRSPACE from page one

have management over the country’s airspace and charging fees for airspace users. While giving remarks at the signing, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionsio D’Aguilar called it an “historic day”.

“Never before in the history of an independent Bahamas has anyone paid anything to the government of The Bahamas for the use of its airspace.

Today, that changes,” he said.

The Tribune has repeatedly drawn attention to the issue alerting our readers to the fact that millions of dollars of aviation fees have slipped through the country’s fingers.

Mr D’Aguilar noted the associated air traffic control services fees came into effect on May 1 this year. The fees cover planes arriving and departing the country as well as aircraft flying over.

He explained: “Based upon the fact that the provision of such air traffic control services attracts a fee in almost all jurisdictions of the world, on 1 May 2021, all airspace users that land and take off from Bahamian airports and fly within Bahamian airspace will now pay a fee of $1 per arriving and departing passenger plus a flat fee of $10 up to $61 for each flight depending on the maximum take off weight (MTOW) of the aircraft. The aircraft that weighs less will pay less and the aircraft that (weighs) more will pay more.

THE AIR space agreement signing with Dionisio D’Aguilar and US Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts.

“Also, prior to 1 May 2021, all aircraft flying over The Bahamas, not landing or taking off in The Bahamas, but simply flying through our sovereign airspace paid the FAA directly $61.75 per 100 nautical miles. After 1 May 2021, the airspace users will pay the government of The Bahamas from $8.50 to $51.60 per 100 nautical miles based upon the maximum take off weight (MTOW) of the aircraft.

Once again, the aircraft that weighs less and travels a shorter distance will pay less and the aircraft that weighs more and travels a longer distance will pay more.”

However, the country does not have infrastructure nor the capacity currently to provide air traffic control services above 6,000ft in the sovereign air space. Thus, under the signed agreement, the FAA will provide that service on The Bahamas’ behalf for the next 10 years, with an automatic 36-month extension if The Bahamas wishes to renew at the end of the ten-year

period.

The FAA will not charge BANSA for the continued provision of air traffic services within the portion of Bahamian airspace for which the FAA currently provides air traffic service.

“Upon entry into force of this agreement, 1 May 2021, the FAA will end its collection of overflight fees for this airspace,” the minister said. “The FAA will continue to provide air navigation services in the sovereign airspace of the Bahamas free of charge.”

BANSA will pay the FAA a small fee of $80,000 per annum for the provision of data, the details of what airspace users flew through the sovereign airspace in a particular month. In turn, the data will be used to assist in billing and collection of the fees.

Mr D’Aguilar noted that typically when people purchase an airline ticket, all of these fees are embedded in the price.

“There’s an organisation called IATA, the International Air Transport

Association, which is like the Chamber of Commerce for all airlines and all of the fees go to IATA and then IATA then takes that money that you’ve paid for your ticket and breaks out between some goes to the airport. Some goes in government taxes. Some will go in these fees and that is how monies are settled in the aviation sector. The fees will be built into your tickets and when you purchase a ticket you will pay for those fees.”

Mr D’Aguilar said an annual injection of tens of million of dollars is anticipated due to the fees.

He said: “We’ve obviously had our consultants looking at the traffic flow and based on the fee structure that we would have designed and we’ve put in place, we reckon in the first year it should be between $20-30m and then obviously right now we’re in a depressed aviation sector. COVID-19 has significantly impacted the aviation sector and we envision overtime this growing to $30-40m. So, I’d like to say over the next ten years we’re signing today a $300-350m deal today.”

The minister said officials “do not envision late payments,” pointing to the collection system that already exists in the commercial aviation sector.

“You know when you buy the ticket, the money goes to IATA and IATA then sends it to us. “So, once we tell IATA that JetBlue flew from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau and based on the weight of the

aircraft it incurred this fee, based on the number passengers it incurred, they bill JetBlue…they collect the money from JetBlue and at the end of the month or whenever we send the bills or respond the money will come from JetBlue.

“Now, there is general aviation. You may have a private plane, jump up, and fly within the airspace.

So that’s a bit complex…. a bit more management to collect those fees. “(Certainly), the vast majority of users in the airspace will be the commercial aviation sector for which there’s a long established very robust collection system.

As you can imagine every provider in this sector — airports, Bahamas government taxes, now the aviation charges — all of that is incorporated into the ticket and comes into IATA..… So it’s like a 99 percent collection rate.”

Asked how the fees will impact ticket prices, Mr D’Aguilar indicated that depends on several factors.

“The fee that we’re collecting is based on the maximum take off weight of the plane and the number of passengers. So the airline will bill that into a ticket — pennies, 30-4050 cents. Maybe a dollar.

I don’t know specifically because obviously each aircraft will attract a different fee… but what we try to do is in basing the fee on the maximum take off weight of the aircraft well obviously in our jurisdiction most of the aircraft are not very heavy. So they will attract lower fees.”

Mr D’Aguilar noted the significance of the arrangement, explaining that back in 1952, Great Britain met with United States and Cuban officials in Havana where it was decided that the provision of air navigation services over what is now the sovereign airspace of The Bahamas would be divided between the FAA from the United States and its equivalent, ECNA from Cuba.

United States Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts also spoke of the agreement’s importance.

“All the other more important things that we forget about that airspace management allows us to do which includes economic investment. We have cultural exchanges.

We have a lot of educational exchanges,” she said.

“We sometimes take for granted the fact all of this aviation management leads to the fact that both our countries benefit mightily from our communication.

“This agreement of course cements our cooperation for the next ten years... and it also begins the process by which the Bahamas can take greater ownership of their own airspace,” Ms Pitts noted.

In February, Parliament passed a compendium of aviation bills, one of which set up the necessary infrastructure so that the country can monetise its airspace.

Discussions surrounding the management of Bahamian sovereign airspace have been ongoing for the last 25 years.

‘Disrespectful and dishonest’ from page one blamed the challenges he faces on “darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places”, a reference to the scriptures.

His 15-minute rant was in response to “disturbing issues” he said emerged since April 30, when parliamentarians and parliamentary staff were asked to be tested for COVID-19.

He said he was disturbed that the results of the tests were not communicated to him or the parliamentary clerk, who is in quarantine after catching COVID-19.

“The most disturbing part for me,” he said, “was to discover that certain persons were called and were notified that they were negative with no conditions attached while others were called and informed that they were negative but they should not attend work or this Parliament until the contact tracing process was complete. There again, no one contacted the Speaker or the clerk with respect to this process.

“One of the members of this staff was called in out of the quarantine that was established by the Speaker and was told that she was protected because of the antibodies that had developed in her system as a consequence of her contracting the virus. She was called in out of the quarantine but after she did the test on Friday, the same person who was called in out of the quarantine, was told she cannot attend at the Parliament and take her seat at the clark’s table even though she was negative.

“That caused me to reflect on the circumstance of September 2020 when that very person had contracted the virus. When the Speaker asked for members to be tested, a new COVID protocol was released by the Cabinet that only those persons who were in the presence of that individual for more than 15 minutes needed to take the test.

“I am concerned because we are dealing with COVID-19 and we cannot be playing games with people’s lives. It was impossible for anyone to determine if they were in the presence of the young staff member who contracted the virus because no one knew that she had it until we got the test but because

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and fellow Parliamentarians during yesterday’s session. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff the Speaker requested that members be tested, a new protocol evolved. The level of disrespect and dishonesty is something that I am severely challenged with because we (are) dealing with COVID-19.”

Speaker Moultrie added: “The result of telling that individual that she cannot attend this Parliament is that the two persons who are considered loyal to the Speaker are denied the right to be in this Parliament while a member from the Cabinet who I just dismissed this morning and notified her and explained to her it has nothing to do with her and that she should not have been dragged into this situation, members of the Cabinet are allowed to come with no conditions after the test but staffers who are loyal to the Speaker—and should be loyal to the Speaker because they understand the Westminster model of governance—are forced out of this Parliament and I am supposed to just sit idly by and accept such circumstance.

“We’re dealing with COVID-19. We cannot appear or be seen to be functioning in this way.

How could you call someone and tell them that they are protected because they have the antibodies one week and the next week you call them and tell them even though they tested negative, they cannot attend this Parliament and the Speaker is not appraised of that

decision, the Speaker has to go and dig and question and thank God for my legal training I was able to glean answers out of persons as to what is really going on.

“There are many unresolved issues. Matter of fact, it’s time for the staff of this Parliament to be paid their overtime. For four years now, four years, it’s time for this Parliament to pass a resolution so that we can meet in hybrid forms, face to face or virtual. It’s time for the independence of this Parliament, for the executive of the government to stop dragging this parliament around like a dinghy boat.”

Speaker Moultrie abruptly adjourned last week’s parliamentary sitting over issues relating to how the executive branch handled the positive COVID-19 staffer, saying: “If you want war, you can get a war.”

“I don’t want anyone to misconstrue my statement,” he said yesterday.

“I’ve seen a lot of responses with respect to me indicating that if you don’t want a war don’t start one. I say that because as far as I’m concerned this is an Ephesians 6:12 moment in this Parliament. This is a matter of light and darkness for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places.

“But I want the young men of Nassau Village and

the young men of Kemp Road, young men of Bain Town and Pinewood, I want them to understand that the Speaker is not advocating taking up arms in resolution of these matters because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, it is not a matter of personalities. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are not carnal.

This country is at a stage where it needs to change.”

Speaker Moultrie then urged Dr Minnis to address his concerns, saying “a lot of persons have been contacting me with respect to the government’s position on this matter dating back to the notice of the clerk contracting this virus.”

He added: “Now, honourable member for Killarney I call on you, speak to the Bahamian people and give the government position on this matter and in particular this matter that happened at the Office of the Prime Minister on the 30th of April, this hatched plan and execution thereof. The people deserve to know and have a plan with respect to that. The chair recognises the honourable member for Killarney.”

Dr Minnis then took to his feet, ignored the Speaker’s plea, and started to talk instead about the bills on the agenda, prompting the Speaker to interrupt him.

“Honourable member for Killarney, I’m not at that stage yet,” Speaker Moultrie said. “I’m still at Speaker’s communication. I’m calling on the

honourable member of Killarney to give an explanation to this Parliament and to the people of this country with respect to these issues.

“I’m extending to you

this opportunity as leader of this country.”

Dr Minnis said: “Mr Speaker, with all due respect I’ve always been told that communications are not to be contentious and therefore I wish to respond at the appropriate time.”

Speaker Moultrie responded: “I don’t see the contention in this communication. I don’t believe I was contentious. I believe I laid out the facts as they were brought to me.”

Yamacraw MP Elsworth Johnson attempted to raise a point of privilege, citing the Speaker’s comment about dishonesty.

Speaker Moultrie, however, rebuffed his points.

Southern Shores MP Frankie Campbell, acting leader of government business in the House, subsequently called for a 15-minute adjournment.

When the House resumed more than a half-an-hour later, Speaker Moultrie moved on to the next item on the agenda. The earlier drama of the morning was not mentioned again.

PAGE 4, Thursday, May 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

‘Infections still affecting schools’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson is again calling on education officials to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols are being followed in public schools after claiming infections are still affecting public schools.

The BUT president made the plea in a statement released yesterday, where she identified five schools with COVID cases.

According to Mrs Wilson, they include the Thelma Gibson Primary, Sadie Curtis Primary, Uriah McPhee Primary, Gambier Primary and Government High. She said concerns of a teacher shortage have been expressed about at least one school.

When contacted for comment yesterday, Education Director Marcellus Taylor could not say exactly how many schools had recorded confirmed cases to date but insisted that schools across the country are not experiencing a COVID outbreak.

He said: “At this time, the Ministry of Education is confident that any and all cases of COVID-19 that come in any of our schools is addressed based on the established protocols, the protocols that we agreed that have been endorsed

by both the Ministry of Health and Department of Environmental Health Services which have been shared with all of our stakeholders and until the environment becomes such that we cannot safely maintain persons within our schools, we will follow that prescription meaning the prescription we have in dealing with suspected or positive cases of COVID19 and we will continue to press on providing quality education.”

He was speaking about the Ministry of Education’s Strategic Plan for the Safe Reopening of Schools, which was released last November.

The 94-page report outlines procedures in the event of suspected cases and also details guidelines for parents and all levels of school staff to follow from pre-arrival to departure from campus to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Yesterday, Mrs Wilson urged officials to ensure that safety measures are being adhered to. She also raised concern with the fact that education officials are allegedly not providing timely information on the new cases.

However, Mr Taylor conceded that officials do not always get the information right away.

He also said there are

TOTAL CASES

TOTAL DEATHS

10,659 211 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES TUESDAY 57 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE 51 LONG ISLAND 2 BERRY ISLANDS 2 GRAND BAHAMA 1 EXUMA 1

TOTAL TESTS

88,646

HOSPITALISED

47

CASES IN ICU

4

RECOVERED

9,691

57 NEW CASES RECORDED ON TUESDAY HEALTH officials recorded 57 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The cases brought the overall coronavirus toll to 10,659.

The majority of the new cases — 51 — are in New Providence. One new case is in Grand instances where teachers and other staff members report their positive results to friends and colleagues first before telling their superiors.

Other grievances noted

Bahama, two are in the Berry Islands, one in Exuma and two are in Long Island.

At last report, 47 people were in the hospital with the virus.

There have been 211 COVID-19 related deaths. by the BUT include staff shortages due to COVID exposure among other things.

Mrs Wilson added that teachers have to pay for testing and said it is

“unfair” that quarantine time is being deducted from normal sick leave.

She also said: “Teachers are fearful for their health.

A concern now that many students even some entire grade levels are in quarantine and teachers are also in quarantine. The concern of teacher shortage was expressed in at least one school.”

Speaking on the staff shortage, Mr Taylor only said the issue is not a new phenomenon in the public school system and added that there was a need for more teachers even prior to COVID. As it relates to other concerns, the education director said: “There are policies that govern workers in the public service and what we do at the Ministry of Education is we follow them, if there is a breach of it, there are mechanisms in place for individuals or representative groups to make a grievance and have it adjudicated so if they think their rights are being violated, they know what the mechanisms are to have it addressed.”

Last month, Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd told reporters he had “no concern at all” that an outbreak will occur at schools open for face-toface learning, insisting that officials are following

the recommended health measures.

He said at the time: “No, I have no concern at all because we’re doing what the health officials have asked us to do and that is to maintain all of the protocols that we are required to maintain — social distance, wash your hands, wear your mask, and so on.

This is an issue of personal responsibility.”

In April, officials said five individuals — students and staff members — tested positive in New Providence over the previous two weeks.

Suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported in the following New Providence schools in April: HO Nash Junior High School; LW Young Junior High School; Sadie Curtis Primary School; Carlton Francis Primary School; CR Walker Senior High School; TG Glover Primary School and Garvin Tynes Primary School.

Schools across the country closed in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but were later reopened after the summer break last October.

However, schools in New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma were teaching virtually until given the go ahead to begin phased face-to-face learning in February.

PAHO: STICK TO MEASURES AND FLATTEN THE CURVE

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE Pan American Health Organization has again stressed that public health measures, including lockdowns, are the main tools for flattening the curve when there is a rise in COVID-19 cases.

This came out of PAHO’s weekly COVID-19 update when the organisation’s incident manager for COVID-19, Dr Sylvain Aldighieri, spoke to what he feels impacts the region’s rise in coronavirus cases.

“At this moment in the pandemic, in many Caribbean countries, the public health measures, including lockdowns, are the main tools for flattening the curve,” he said.

“The public health measures, when strictly implemented and strictly monitored, will have an impact on the reproductive

rate of the epidemic and, therefore, this will help to reduce the number of severe cases and decrease the burden on health services, including intensive care units.”

Just this week, president of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association Dr Sabriquet Pinder-Butler also mentioned that implementing “modified restrictive measures” may work in reducing the numbers of COVID-19 cases as Bahamians who have “COVID fatigue” might be dropping their guards and not practising protocols.

Amped up testing is a recommendation made by many healthcare professionals and PAHO’s director, Dr Carissa Etienne, is pushing the same message.

“Countries must re-prioritise testing and contact tracing at the primary care level to protect the lives and

livelihoods of our people,” Dr Etienne said. “We must also strongly advise those who are sick to isolate themselves to avoid getting others sick.

“Prioritising prevention also means that we need to be proactive in our communication campaigns to remind younger, workingage populations of their risk, and the need to protect themselves – including by getting vaccinated when it’s their turn.

“While vaccines are being rolled out as fast as possible, they are not a short-term solution –we can’t rely on vaccines to bring down infections when there’s not enough vaccines to go around. They are one part of the comprehensive response that includes prevention through public health measures and improving readiness of health systems.”

Over the last week, more than 1.3 million people

were infected with COVID in the region and more than 36,000 died from COVIDrelated complications.

Almost 40 percent of all global COVID deaths reported last week took place in this region. Dr Etienne said the region is still in the midst of an ongoing crisis and is calling upon regional citizens to get vaccinated.

“Vaccine safety is always a top priority,” the PAHO director said. “All vaccines go through the same process of trial phases before they can be approved for use in the population. The vaccines that have been approved by WHO, who have received the emergency use listing, are safe and do protect us from COVID. “Yes we have some healthcare workers, especially in the Caribbean, (who are) worried about vaccines due to the same concerns that

have circulated in the general public. We continue to work with healthcare leaders to improve vaccine uptake and dispel those myths and to urge everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible and as soon as vaccines are available.

“The best vaccine is the one that’s available and offered to you. We encourage people not to wait for your preferred vaccine and remember vaccines are only part of the preventive efforts.”

Dr Etienne empathised with those who display vaccine hesitancy but encouraged them to protect themselves by taking the shot.

“We should make a very important point that COVID-19 is easily transmitted and can lead to long term serious illness or death even for people who are young and healthy,” she said.

“Effective COVID-19

vaccines exist and are an important way to protect people from this disease.

I understand that people may have questions about COVID vaccines or, of course, they might have seen things on the news that make them question whether they, or their family members, should get these vaccines.

“I understand that you want to ensure that you are making the best decision. I think that is commendable but let me take this opportunity to reassure you again that the vaccines will protect you against needlessly suffering from COVID or dying from COVID.” She said citizens of the region know what it takes to keep COVID-19 numbers down. She said practising social distancing, wearing masks and avoiding gatherings in closed spaces are the key to reduce transmission, especially as dangerous variants circulate.

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM ‘NOT DESIGNED FOR FIRE FLOWS’ IN the wake of concerns about water pressure as firefighters battled a massive blaze on Sunday, the Water and Sewerage Corporation said New Providence’s water supply system was “not designed to provide fire flows”.

In a statement issued yesterday, the utility provider said, “As has been expressed by the corporation previously after major fires, our New Providence water supply system was not designed to provide fire flows. Fire flow systems usually have a design capacity in excess of 1,000 gallons per minute, however only a limited amount of our transmission mains have that operational capacity.”

WSC said it will continue to work with the central government and Police Fire Services for the installation of groundwater fire wells in strategic locations for firefighting purposes and for all fire equipment to be outfitted with high capacity suction and discharge systems.

“Our geography is such that we are surrounded by water and have a high water table, therefore our firefighting water supply strategy must be based on harnessing these natural resources in times of emergencies,” WSC said.

On Tuesday, Fire Services Chief Superintendent Kendrick Morris defended efforts to fight a massive blaze at Jennie Street on

Sunday, insisting “water was never an issue”.

While he admitted that fire fighters faced an issue with pressure from a hydrant, he said water was available.

On Monday, residents of the area told The Tribune they believed their homes could have been saved.

They blamed issues with water for there not being a better outcome.

Six homes burned to the ground and four others were damaged in the blaze.

CSP Morris said on Tuesday: “With any fire there are challenges. Like I’ve said, pressure was a problem coming from the hydrant, but we were getting water.

The pressure was not what we would have liked for it to have been, but water was never an issue.”

He also said: “When the officers arrive on the scene, each fire hydrant supplies 1,000 gallons of water at any given time.

“Feel free to visit the fire department at any given time and I will show you what goes on here.

“The trucks after every call do not come back to base without doing a fill up.

So, that is never an issue.

The truck cannot be parked at base without water so whenever they respond they respond with water at any given time.

“We have three trucks in service, and they carry 1,000 gallons of water. We also have a pumper that carries 2,000 gallons of water.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 6, 2021, PAGE 5

Davis ordered from Parliament CAT Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP Philip “Brave” Davis was named and ordered from Parliament last night after he and Deputy Speaker Don Saunders clashed.

The ruckus began after Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin stood on a point of order to respond to statements made by Freetown MP Dionisio D’Aguilar about the government’s recently signed agreement to monetise the

country’s airspace.

Mrs Hanna Martin took issue with the fact that Mr D’Aguilar’s speech veered from the bills that were being debated last night — amendments to the Securities Industry Act and Insurance Act — while she had been chastised earlier to stay on topic.

“I’m so sorry Freetown didn’t get the admonition that Englerston got because at least I say something

— Freetown ain’t say nothing about the bill,” she said. “But, Mr Deputy...

I understand how this go... I want to say that the member misrepresented... the facts of this matter,” she said, before she was interrupted by Deputy Speaker Saunders.

“Englerston, one second, you stood at least on three occasions to address the issues and the points about who was not being recognised and I think I can

understand where you’re going with this,” the deputy speaker said.

Mrs Hanna Martin then asked for the courtesy to continue her comments, prompting a back and forth between her and the deputy speaker.

Mr Davis then rose to his feet to interject on her behalf. Mr Saunders repeatedly tried to regain order in the House, noting that he was speaking, however Mr Davis continued to stand

and argue.

The Speaker then called on the sergeant-at-arms to escort Mr Davis out of the chamber saying he was excused for the rest of the evening, adding that Mrs Hanna Martin could leave at the same time if she wanted.

“Cat Island, you have to respect the chair, man,” he said.

Mr Davis and Mrs Hanna Martin took their time leaving the chamber after

a few minutes of shouting their discontent with the situation.

In April 2020, Mr Davis was also named and thrown out of Parliament after House Speaker Halson Moultrie accused him of “disrespecting” the chair.

The Progressive Liberal Party leader and Speaker Moultrie got into an argument shortly after members passed a resolution to extend the country’s state of emergency.

LEGISLATION ON SECURITIES INTRODUCED

THE DONATION to the Falcon Boys. Pictured from left, Angela Deveaux, donations committee member, Sherry Brookes, chairperson, donations committee, Darrin Rolle, founder/director, Falcon Boys Club, Orlando Forbes, port director, Hutchison Ports FHC and Monique Coakley, donations committee member.

CONTAINER PORT DONATIONS TO HELP YOUNG GRAND BAHAMIANS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Freeport Container Port recently made financial donations to four local organisations that are making a positive impact on young people in Grand Bahama.

Hutchinson Ports FCP officials made cheque presentations on Wednesday, April 14, to Reach Out Youth Organisation (ROYO), the YMCA, Special Olympics, and the Falcons’ Boys Club.

The donations are a part of an ongoing corporate commitment to help strengthen Grand Bahama communities and by extension, the growth and development of an even better Bahamas.

“These organisations impressively and positively impact residents throughout the Bahamas, particularly the young people in Grand Bahama,” the company said in a press statement. “Today’s youth are our future leaders, and some are very likely future managers and workers at Freeport Container Port (FCP) and Freeport Harbour Company (FHC).

“We have a longstanding relationship with many of

the community initiatives and when called upon to assist we are simply guided by our corporate obligations. We truly wish these organisations continued success and commend the leaders for their relentless dedication.”

Dudley Seide, of ROYO, was appreciative of the donation.

“This will go a very long way in assisting us with our continued effort in giving back to the wider community,” said Mr Seide, who is planning a major giveaway at his group’s community centre at 10am on May 24 of food and supplies to assist 1,000 families.

“So, on behalf of Katie Seide (ROYO vice president), the countless families, residents in Grand Bahama we want to say a heartfelt thank you to the Container Port. They put their money where their mouth is and they believe in helping the community and that’s what they did today in making this donation to Reach Out Youth Organisation,” he said.

YMCA Executive Director, Karon Pinder-Johnson said the Freeport Container Port and Freeport Harbour Company have been very supportive of the Y for many years. She

commended the entities for coming forward at this time after Hurricane Dorian, and through the pandemic to assist them.

“We are just so thankful,” she said.

Falcons’ Boys Club Director Darrin Rolle is pleased that FCP and FHC made a monetary donation to the organisation as it seeks to continue development of the Champs Community Centre.

According to Mr Rolle, the centre, located on Grand Bahama Way, is moving into the second phase.

“I am just so thankful this afternoon to be able to partner with the Freeport Container Port and Freeport Harbour Group of Companies, which are staples in Grand Bahama.

“We are hoping that by the end of September, donations like these will help us to have phase two at the Champ Community Centre completed,” he said.

The Falcons’ Boys Club is a non-profit organisation that is committed to the training of young men, and Mr Rolle hopes that companies can join in helping to train young boys.

He noted that half of the 1.37 acre-property is earmarked for farming, which

will be implemented in the second phase by the end of June.

“So, this donation is going to go a long way with helping us…” Mr Rolle said.

Area Coordinator for the Grand Bahama Chapter of Special Olympics Bahamas Cheryl Hurst said the donation is timely because it will help athletes prepare and train for two upcoming international events.

“We are hoping and looking forward to the continuous training of our athletes who meet on Saturday mornings from 9am to 12noon, for training in track and field, soccer and bocce,” she said.

“We have two international events coming up, one in Orlando next year – the US Summer Games to be held in June 2022, and the following year, 2023, we are looking forward to taking a team to the World Games, an international event where special athletes from throughout the world gather to compete in several sporting disciplines,” Ms Hurst explained.

She said the donation will assist with purchasing equipment and transporting the athletes to and from training sessions.

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis led debate in the House of Assembly yesterday on legislation that will amend the Securities Industry Act and Insurance Act. “The proposed amendments are prompted by the need to address outstanding deficiencies in the protection of minority investors’ regime identified in the World Bank’s Doing Business report,” he said, speaking about the Securities Industry (Amendment) Bill. “This report compares the ease of doing business across economies. The proposed amendments will enable the commission to address the technical gaps in the Act. “The proposed amendments will provide for the automatic revocation of a registration, where a registrant fails to renew its registration, submit its annual filings, or to pay its annual fees as required.”

In 2017, The Bahamas ranked 121 out of 190 countries on the doing business index. Dr Minnis said in response to this, the government appointed advisors who worked with staff of the delivery unit in his office to make changes.

He said The Bahamas subsequently jumped 44 spots on the metric for protecting minority investors, up from 132, while the ranking for ease of doing business improved from 121 to 119.

Dr Minnis said the amendments debated yesterday address further deficiencies, including those relating to the “requirements for disclosure by the issuer of its financial statements and any material contracts.”

“The amendments also make the provision of a register of public issuers mandatory as opposed to discretionary,” he said.

“These proposed amendments: provide good regulation, set standards that encourage investment activity and enhance the ease of doing business in The Bahamas.”

As for the Insurance

(Amendment) Bill 2021, Dr Minnis noted that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) conducted an onsite examination of The Bahamas’ anti-money laundering and terrorist financing regime in 2015 and found deficiencies.

“This examination identified numerous gaps and deficiencies in the AML/ CFT framework across the financial services sector,” he said. “Following the onsite visit, a Mutual Evaluation Report for The Bahamas was published in July 2017.”

“The (Insurance) Commission has various powers as outlined in the Insurance Act, including the power to prescribe conditions of registration for insurance companies.

“Section 30 of the Insurance Act requires companies to obtain prior approval from the commission whenever there is a change in the beneficial ownership of the company. However, there is no specific requirement for companies to obtain prior approval whenever there is a change in senior management. The CFATF considered this a deficiency in the insurance legislation.

“It was deemed to affect the commission’s ability to prevent criminals from doing business in the insurance sector after the initial company registration. FATF Recommendation 26 requires that financial supervisors take the necessary legal or regulatory measures to prevent criminals or their associates from holding, or being the beneficial owner holding a management function in a company. It was determined that insurance companies should obtain prior approval from the Insurance Commission for any change in senior management in the company, to mitigate against this risk.”

“In carrying out its power to supervise insurance companies under the Insurance Act, the Commission determined that it was necessary to require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the Commission whenever there is a change in senior management in the company.”

A mother’s love is genuine and endless.

It helps to mend the broken hearts of her children. It gives them the strength they need to survive. They can cry on her shoulders, and she will never say goodbye.

~Betty Taylor ~ Original Author

Happy Mother’s Day For more original and inspirational quotes, please get a copy of the book “Hold On To Life and Love” Call 327-5670/327-5543

PAGE 6, Thursday, May 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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Moultrie stirs up a storm again WHAT is going on with House Speaker Halson Moultrie?

First, he abruptly ended a Parliamentary session because he was unhappy with the government’s handling of COVID-19 after a staff member was diagnosed.

Then, he revealed that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis had only given a oneword reply when notified of concerns.

Further to that, he said apart from one call it had been months since he and Dr Minnis had spoken.

Then, this week, he said all the disagreements had been resolved, but declined to elaborate further.

Well, it would seen all agreements had not actually been resolved, because yesterday the Speaker criticised the Minnis administration, argued with Yamacraw MP Elsworth Johnson and ranted about “darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places”. He particularly referred to “disturbing issues” that emerged since April 30 when Parliamentarians and staff were asked to be tested for COVID-19.

He even called on the Prime Minister to “speak to the Bahamian people and give the government position on this matter and in particular this matter that happened at the Office of the Prime Minister on the 30th of April, this hatched plan and execution thereof. The people deserve to know and have a plan with respect to that”.

When the Prime Minister rose and began to talk about the day’s agenda, the Speaker interrupted him and told Dr Minnis to address the issues Mr Moultrie wanted addressed.

It all ended with an abrupt suspension, with Parliament resuming after tempers had been given half an hour to cool.

There is so much wrong with all of this that it’s hard to know where to start.

First of all, if Mr Moultrie has concerns then he needs to speak more plainly. We don’t want to hear about “darkness and spiritual wickedness”, we want to hear facts.

Secondly, when Parliament sits, it’s not about you, Mr Moultrie. To borrow a slogan from Dr Minnis on the election trail, it’s the people’s time. This is the time for the business of the people to be carried out, and you shouldn’t delay the agenda of the day because you have an agenda of your own.

There are times when Mr Moultrie has made sense, such as implementing a resolution so Parliament can meet virtually, for example, but the way he is conducting the business of Parliament is of no service to the public right now.

Instructing the Prime Minister what he should be saying is not his role, just as he overstepped the mark in a tense exchange with veteran MP Brent Symonette in March, who suggested

Mr Moultrie was impinging on his independence by directing him to support his agenda.

What has he achieved through all of this, apart from grabbing headlines?

It’s hard to see he’s achieved anything at all. But next time he says that disagreements have been resolved, it would seem wise to take that with a large pinch of salt, given yesterday’s outburst.

Get back to the business of the people, Mr Moultrie, or step aside for someone who will.

Prisoner rehabilitation

What is the point of prison?

Do we want to just throw people away and the key to their cell with them? Or do we actually believe that people can serve their time and try to be rehabilitated?

If we believe the latter, then we should listen closely to those whose cases are before the Rehabilitation of Offenders Committee.

Take Raymond Ward Jr, for example.

He’s 22 now, and in 2018 he was charged with stealing. By reason of employment.

He wants to move on, and he wants to become an electrical engineer. To give himself the best chance of that, he hopes he can get a clean slate to move on.

Or how about Kelcy Lundy, who nine years ago was charged with attempted murder. He told the committee that he took advantage of opportunities in prison and took a number of certificates, and was a part of creating the licence plate department. He was a trustee at the prison, and has gained work since at the Water company. He appears to be the model for someone who has done wrong, and then tried to put their life right. Why does he want his name cleared? So he can take his wife on a cruise.

Mr Lundy faced a serious charge and that has to be weighed too by the rehabilitation committee. Whether his efforts to put his past behind him are enough to counter the crime he was accused of in the first place is no easy balance to strike.

But if we honestly want prisoners to follow the model of Mr Lundy, and to try to better themselves while in prison with a goal of getting back on a straight path, then we have to give them the opportunity of redemption – and of rehabilitation. There has to be a road back to being a productive member of society – or they will always be stuck on the wrong side of the law.

The justice system doesn’t end with the slam of the gate, but rather with the hope that when the gate reopens there will be no reoffending, and the prisoner can return to society. That has to be our goal.

Uncle Minnis or hard man?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

MOST of us anticipated that once Minnis and his party would have secured an electoral victory in 2017 that at the very least we would have unshackled ourselves from the failed leadership of Brother Christie and that Heaven would have arrived on Earth.

Alas we were deluded.

Obviously no sensible person is able to blame Minnis, et al, for the devastating Dorian a few short years ago. His reaction and recovery efforts, however, are still works in progress with no audited financial statements or transparency. This is dead wrong and, in my opinion, sends a stinking message to the unwashed masses. Since COVID-19 crashed in without adequate notice Minnis has had legislation promulgated giving him almost unlimited and draconian powers over the economy and Bahamians ourselves. This has been going on for a year and counting.

Power begats power.

With the abrupt shut

down of the economy last March by Minnis and his kitchen cabinet tens of thousands of Bahamians were obliged to join the lines at food banks and government funded bread lines in the hot sun or while getting drenched with rain.

Employment is still sluggish and thousands of small to medium sized businesses which folded last year will not be coming back anytime soon, in my view.

At one point Minnis warned us to brace for all sorts of restrictions and he did in fact impose many of them almost willy-nilly.

Beaches and parks were shuttered. Offenders against the Emergency Powers Act and the attendant Regulations were liable to arrest; charges and possible fines and/or imprisonment upon a guilty plea or conviction. Churches and other houses of worship were ordered closed. Weddings and funerals are to this very day restricted.

With suspected general elections just around the

corner Minnis was trying his level best to rebrand himself as Uncle Minnis. He played, dismally, the staged role of a ‘Hard Man’ from last March to January of this year. He is hoping and praying, I am sure, that a miracle from on high comes along to ensure his re-election. He reminds me of Pharaoh of old who employed the stick and carrot approach.

Unfortunately for Minnis and them people on his train, the bridge which spans the valley, where the raging waters are below, has crumbled and to venture onto the tracks will lead to utter disaster for him and the FNM. Only God Himself, in my view, is able to help them.

The unwashed masses, to my knowledge, do not like to be publicly beaten with sticks on a daily basis. Nor do they like to eat carrots and other vegetables. The alternative is clear.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, May 1, 2021.

Gangs need a Jesus moment EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Bahamas is still reeling from the bloodbath on Jerome Avenue and Chesapeake Road on April 15. Without ironclad evidence, I am assuming that this tragic incident was gang-related. If so, this can explain why the murder rate in Nassau is so inordinately high, considering the size of its overall population. Gangs are engaging in vigilante violence against rivals. And innocent people are routinely caught in the crossfire.

We all know who the gangs are. But few Bahamians are willing to call names, which is understandable.

Gangs are known to seek retaliation against any perceived enemy.

Quite frankly, I have lost all confidence in the political and judicial systems to protect innocent civilians in the capital, especially in the Kemp Road, Fox Hill and Bain and Grants Town areas -known gang spots.

Despite the highly touted Urban Renewal programme and all the millions of dollars poured into the Royal Bahamas Police Force and national security, Nassau remains a city under siege by wanton gang violence.

The politicians, psychologists, sociologists, criminologists and our prominent men of the cloth have all failed to eradicate the gang culture that pervades Nassau.

At this point, the only feasible solution I can see is for the Spirit-filled evangelical church to bombard the gang hotspots and proclaim the message of Jesus Christ, after a period of prayer and fasting.

The church in New Providence must appreciate the biblical truth of spiritual warfare.

There are malevolent incorporeal beings behind the violent crime spree in Nassau.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net These evil spirits are under the direct command of a spiritual hierarchy diametrically opposed to the Christian worldview.

As Daniel 10 mentions a prince of Persia who withstood a divine messenger sent by God to His prophet, I believe that The Bahamas has also been assigned a violently aggressive principality whom biblical writers would call the prime minister of this country.

Bible believing Christians who are well-versed in the Scriptures would understand exactly what I am saying.

Understand, I am not referring to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. I am alluding to a violent spiritual being who views himself as the rightful ruler of The Bahamas, not Dr Minnis or his predecessors, dating all the way back to Sir Roland Symonette, the Spaniards and the British colonists.

For all we know, this other prime minister could have been assigned his post when the first Arawak Indians set foot on these islands, probably over one thousand years ago, with their Zemi idols.

Ephesians 6:12 says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities; rulers of the darkness and spiritual wickedness in the heavenly realm. Satan, in Ephesians 2:2, is called the prince of the power of the air.

The Bible assures us that no weapon formed against the church will prosper.

The violent gang groups in Nassau would be shocked if God were to open their eyes to see what is influencing them to harm their fellow human beings.

I promise you they would immediately lay down their weapons and call for a permanent ceasefire. Those

who commit murder are in fact children of Satan, who himself is a murderer (John 8:44). Man was created in God’s image.

That is why murder is such a heinous act, which warrants the death penalty.

Satan relishes the fact that the overwhelming majority of slain gangsters are not prepared spiritually to meet their Creator. Hence, the wanton bloodletting.

Gang members, like the rest of us, are sinners in need of salvation.

This spiritual approach worked well for the late David Wilkerson in getting a violent gangbanger, named Nicki Cruz of the Mau Maus – a New York based gang which terrorised that city during the 1950s – to turn his life around.

Today, Cruz is a very successful Christian leader, who has documented his amadsing spiritual transformation in his autobiography titled Run Baby Run. Bahamians who are members of the Nassau gangs must be made to understand the dire eternal implications of their nefarious exploits.

While they may evade capture or conviction in this short lifetime, gang members will have to give a thorough account of their crimes to the God of the Bible on Judgment Day. The Free National Movement and the Progressive Liberal Party are at their wit’s end with the crime situation in Nassau.

I get that.

The Spirit-filled people of God must now step in and preach to the gang groups that they are in dire need of a come to Jesus moment before it’s too late. Far too many of them are now lost for all eternity, without hope and without Christ Jesus.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama.

April 18, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 6, 2021, PAGE 7

Pleading for the slate to be cleaned from page one

One of them is Mr Ward, who applied to the committee after he was charged in 2018 with stealing by reason of employment.

An aspiring electrical engineer who hails from Eleuthera, Mr Ward claimed he didn’t commit the offence of which he was convicted.

The young man said while he “knows within” his heart what really happened, he just wants to move on from his past and focus on new opportunities.

In order to do so, Mr Ward believes he needs a clean record, something he said that will erase the dark cloud currently hanging over his head.

“I feel like in a way all things happen for a reason because even though at that point of time, I didn’t really find the reason for

why it happened because it was a work situation thing that worked badly in my favour and ended up going to the extremes that it did. I also feel as though it was a stepping stone and I feel as though in order for me to push forward to get whatever goal I want accomplished, it will be best to get rid of this (charge) and give myself a clean slate,” Mr Ward told The Tribune.

“I’m still young and I have an entrepreneurial mindset. I’m trying to build. I’m trying to learn new skills and recently I just finished a short carpentry course back on the island so I’m hoping to look to venture out into job opportunities in that field.”

Asked how his criminal record has affected his efforts to find a job, Mr Ward said it has to some extent, but not to a point

where it has left him without work and unable to make ends meet.

“I would say it has affected it (my situation) but luckily for me, it hasn’t affected it in the way I was backed into a corner or couldn’t do anything at all, but thank God because my dad also has his own construction business so I was able to have that to fall back on which has resulted in me going back to the island,” he added.

One Bahamian woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she applied to the committee because she wants to get a new job.

The mother-of-four was convicted in 2017 after police found small amounts of marijuana in her backyard.

“It was my first time being convicted,” she told this newspaper. “I was employed at the time and

(the charge) didn’t interfere with my employment but I resigned in 2019 and I feel as though it’s time for me to do something different and that’s why I seek the expungement because it’s necessary to have a clean police record if I want to apply anywhere else.”

Also speaking to The Tribune yesterday was Kelcy Lundy, who was charged with attempted murder nine years ago.

Mr Lundy, who is currently working at a local water company, said he has learned from his past mistakes and has since moved on with his life.

However, the 50-year-old said although life is going great for him now, there are certain freedoms he would like to enjoy again, like travelling.

Mr Lundy said the situation has left him unable to take his wife on a cruise,

something he promised her years ago.

“The past is the past,” Mr Lundy stressed. “I already served my time in prison and I took advantage of a lot of opportunities the prison presented and I took about three certificates and I was a part of creating the licence plate departments. I was a trustee at the prison and I presently work at a (water company) as a wells manager so God has allowed my life to continue to go on. My wife is still with me and everything seems to be going well.

“My reason for wanting to have my record expunged is because I promised my wife a cruise and I told her after we had completed a building we was working on and this incident ended up happening before I was finished and I didn’t get a chance to take her so that’s really why I’m trying to get the record

expunged so I can take her on the cruise (after the pandemic) that I promised her we would go on.”

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Amendment) 2015, people who have committed murder, manslaughter, treason, armed robbery, rape or possession dangerous drugs with the intent to supply 10 pounds of marijuana or two pounds of cocaine cannot have their records expunged.

But after five years most others are eligible if they are first-time offenders or were younger than 21 at the time of their first conviction. These offences can also be considered by the Prerogative of Mercy.

National Security Minister Marvin Dames told reporters on Tuesday that the number of people seeking clean records in the country is increasing “by the day”.

COMMUNITY SERVICE $1,700 FINE FOR FAILING TO RENEW GUN LICENCE OVER FRAUD SCHEME

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who got caught up in a credit card scheme must complete 100 hours of community service to avoid spending four months in prison.

Jonathan Johnson was charged with fraud by false pretences and attempted fraud by false pretences after he used a woman’s credit card to obtain $380 worth of goods from mTech electronic store on November 12, 2020.

Prosecutors said Johnson also attempted to obtain another $162 worth of goods from the store that same day.

During his arraignment before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt yesterday, Johnson pleaded guilty to both offences.

The court was told when the complainant checked her RBC online banking account, she discovered her credit card had been used on numerous occasions at several different businesses to purchase goods without her permission.

An investigation into the matter led to the defendant’s arrest. When he was questioned in police custody, he said he was given the credit card information from a person named Stacy to purchase equipment to complete a photography job for the woman. He also said when he ordered the items, he used the name Timothy Albury, as the woman instructed him to do.

He was subsequently charged.

Yesterday, Johnson’s attorney told the magistrate his client met the

woman through a photography opportunity he had at Albany. He noted his client was cooperative with the investigation from the moment he was informed the card was stolen and insisted he was remorseful for his actions.

In response, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt told Johnson he was not as wise or prudent as he should have been in the circumstances.

As a result, she granted him a conditional discharge on condition he completed 100 hours of community service at an institution that would be determined by the Department of Rehabilitative and Welfare Services.

Johnson was also placed on probation for three months.

If he fails to comply with the conditions of his release, he could risk spending four months behind bars.

FOUR HELD AFTER $600K DRUG FIND

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FOUR Bahamian men were arrested following a major drug discovery and seizure of some $600,000 worth of suspected cocaine in the Dover Sound area, police reported yesterday.

Supt Terecita Pinder said shortly after 5pm on Tuesday, officers of the Flying Squad, acting on

intelligence, went to an area off Dover Sound, East Grand Bahama.

While in the area of Marlbrooks Drive, near a boat ramp, she reported that officers observed four men near a white vessel with two 130hp engines.

“Officers approached the males and identified themselves. A search was made of the men, the vessel and the immediate area where officers discovered

in bushes, two bags, each containing a substantial amount of suspected cocaine,” Supt Pinder said.

She said DEU officers were called to the scene, and four men were taken into police custody.

Supt Pinder said the drugs, which weighed a total of 60 pounds, with an estimated street value of $600,000, were handed over to the officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit.

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 34-YEAR-OLD man who failed to renew his firearm licence was yesterday fined $1,700.

Police arrested Robert Hilton after they found an unlicensed 12-gauge shotgun with 37 live rounds of ammunition in his home on May 3.

According to the prosecution, officers also found two grams of Indian hemp in his home when they searched it that day.

The court was told that around noon, a team of officers went to Hilton’s Kennedy Subdivision residence and informed him that his home would be searched for dangerous drugs and firearms. During

their investigation, officers found a clear plastic bag containing a quantity of marijuana on top of a dresser drawer in one of the bedrooms. The prosecution said a further search of a northwestern bedroom led to the discovery of a gun safe behind the bedroom door.

Upon closer inspection, the officers found a black Hatsan arms 12-gauge shotgun and a quantity of ammunition inside the safe. An expired gun licence bearing Hilton’s name was also recovered with the weapon.

The accused was subsequently arrested and taken to a nearby station. During his interview with police, he denied knowledge of the drugs, but admitted failing to renew his gun

licence that had expired in 2015.

Yesterday, Hilton owned up to all of the offences.

His attorney, Ryszard Humes, told the magistrate his client was the father of two young children with no previous convictions. Mr Humes said Hilton licensed his shotgun in the past, but in recent times it became a “burden” as he had to choose between renewing his licence or supporting his family.

After listening to his plea in mitigation, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt fined Hilton $1,600 for the unlicensed firearm and ammunition and another $100 for the two grams of marijuana.

She said if he failed to pay the fines, he would be sentenced to nine months on remand.

PAGE 8, Thursday, May 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

We need more local AND international talent citizens and to US investments since the 1950s.

There is no certainty that closure will continue with the current US administration and the passing of the political torch to a new generation of Cuban leaders.

None of this means that organic growth efforts should be abandoned. But it means that a clear recognition of our development requirements needs to be followed by a sustained effort to improve the skill sets of our population across the board while judiciously importing the talent necessary for faster sustainable growth.

BARBADOS Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who recently spoke of the need for managed migration in the face of an ageing population and a low birth rate.

Many do not appreciate the rural nature of many of Family Islands and the unique challenges and strategic advantage of our archipelago. We are often assessed in ways that are in inaccurate or wholly inadequate.

There are also qualifications that are necessary when comparing The Bahamas with British dependencies in the Western Hemisphere, such as Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands.

By example, because of their relationship with Great Britain, a number of these dependencies were able to access COVID-19 vaccine quicker than independent former British colonies. Moreover, these dependencies typically have smaller populations.

Each of these dependencies reveals some very specific features that are similar to features of the United States and Canada that are regarded as politically unavailable to The Bahamas and unavailable to most other countries in the Western Hemisphere for political and sociological reasons.

These features include the capacity to welcome and embrace large quanta of talent from elsewhere in order to establish substantial competitive focus and competitive advantages.

In the case of the British dependencies, the expatriate populations are significantly larger and the expatriate population is intensely focused on the delivery of global financial services.

IMPORTED

In the case of the United States and Canada, never mind the anti-immigrant paroxysms of the recent US administration, closer examination will reveal that a substantial part of their GDP growth over many decades came from talent imported from other parts of the world.

Whether large or small, countries require a plethora of educated talent to develop. Prime Minister Mia Motley of Barbados appreciates this challenge.

An editorial in Barbados Today on April 15 past noted: “Again, the subject of Barbados’ low birth rate and our country’s increasingly elderly population are up for debate. Prime Minister Mottley has voiced her preference for managed migration as a way of addressing the problem more aggressively.

“Describing it as a ‘population gap’, Mottley says she favours a more liberal approach of inviting people to make Barbados their home, starting with those from the region.

“Speaking on a podcast, titled Recruiting Irish to Barbados, Mottley was asked about the possible transition from the 12-months Welcome Stamp to permanent residence on the island and possible citizenship. She said her administration was working on the related laws.”

The Prime Minister stated: “I established a National Population Commission when we came into office two years ago. As a result of the work of that

commission, we discovered that we have not really replaced our population since 1980, in terms of fertility and growth.

“To that extent, we are probably 80,000 less than we should be. It means that we are going to have to have a fairly liberal approach to immigration, while at the same time having a very strong framework for managing migration to the island.”

There is a difficult reality facing The Bahamas at which many may balk or be uncomfortable. If we wish to grow our economy more rapidly in the short term, including boosting employment, the fastest path is to import the talent necessary to establish economic clusters that deliver high export value to the rest of the world.

Organic growth, while politically popular, is for the longer term. Politicians are often forced to promote emotional messages to their populations about sustained economic growth coming magically and organically from the indigenous population over the course of five-year terms.

It is important that we come to understand the need to both develop local talent and bring in international talent and to act on the latter urgently because we have benefitted for a very long period of time from the closure of Cuba.

Our single most powerful competitive advantage is proximity to North America.

We have been enjoying a windfall from the closure of Cuba to travel from US

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COMPARING nations and jurisdictions on various socio-economic and developmental metrics is sometimes quite useful.

But such comparisons often require caveats, nuances and an appreciation of context. Even as there are apt analogies there are also areas that are disanalogous.

Whenever many in The Bahamas discuss the comparative performance of our economy in relation to the Western Hemisphere we often state it by comparing ourselves with certain independent countries.

Among independent countries, The Bahamas has the third highest GDP per capita in the Western Hemisphere, behind the United States of America and Canada only.

This comparison has certain resonance but it requires a greater understanding of our context and status as a developing nation compared with advanced, developed economies with significantly larger populations.

There is a great deal that neither GDP nor GDP per capita captures about a country, including the real rate of poverty and other critical developmental realities.

The Bahamas has often been beset by a misunderstanding on the part of foreign governments and international agencies who incorrectly assess our economy and development needs based significantly or mostly on our GDP per capita, which may contain a number of false comparisons.

There is broad consensus on immigration in Canada, including among a number of the major political parties.

Canada is on a great mission to increase its population, its economic power and global standing by seeking talent from around the world while maintaining the country’s heritage, identity and values.

CIC News recently reported: “Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has a message for Canadians, ‘we need more people — a lot more.’

“Mulroney, who is remembered for tripling immigration over his term as Prime Minister, called for Canada to grow its populaThis means improving tion to 100 million by 2100. the quality of teaching, Last week, he spoke at a enlisting the full support of forum hosted by the Globe parents and relatives in edu- and Mail and Century Initicating and up-skilling our ative, a think tank planning for Canada’s population, future prosamong other ‘If we wish to perity. measures. grow our economy “The One tourformer Prime ism expert more rapidly in Minister suggested the short term, that the including boosting floated ideas that were so-called Stafalready in employment, ford Sands Century Initimodel for the the fastest path ative’s agenda, Bahamian is to import the to accelereconomy was ate Canada’s talent necessary based on the population enablement to establish growth. As it of US traveleconomic clusters is, Canada’s lers and US birth rate is investors to that deliver high move easily export value to the not enough to replenish the away from population on Cuba’s com- rest of the world. its own. …

Organic growth, munism to a “To counBritish colony while politically teract these with the same demographic advantage of popular, is for the challenges, longer term.’ proximity.

Canada has The expert turned to recalls that we forget that in the 1930s high levels of immigration.

Havana was among the In 2019, immigration was largest cities in the Western responsible for more than 80 per cent of Canada’s Hemisphere.

Our focus needs to shift population growth. This toward a fair and palatable year Canada set out to immigration programme welcome 1.2 million immifor the talent needed to grants between 2021 and advance our economy while 2023. However, Century we repair the neglect of our Initiative says more needs training and educational to be done.”

The Bahamas and Barsystem along with the cultural shift necessary to bados are neither Canada nor the US in terms of nurture it.

Canada is by land area numerous economic and the second largest coun- social metrics. But we all try in the world, behind share a similar challenge Russia in size but larger and need.

To further develop our than the United States, economies through suswhich is followed by China. tained and equitable growth there is the need to expand our talent pools organically and through well-structured immigration programmes.

Nations great and small in the 21st century will either stagnate or become more vibrant depending on whether we are willing to source and to invite talent, energy and experience from throughout the global commons.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 6, 2021, PAGE 9

Trump just won’t go away and it may be Liz Cheney is the one to stop him trying again for the White House

T

here are serious people in the United States this morning who will tell you the future of democracy in America rests with Mitt Romney, Mitch McConnell and Liz Cheney.

This is because, confounding pundits across the American political spectrum, Republican voters continue to doggedly support ex-President Donald Trump.

Almost all polls continue to show Trump’s GOP approval ratings at or well above 70 percent, months after he left the White House, was muzzled

by Twitter and Facebook, and has hardly left his seaside Palm Beach compound except to play golf.

Only McConnell, Romney and Cheney among current Republican leaders seem to stand against Trump. For liberals and mainstream observers across the political spectrum, these three are becoming the main resistance to the scary politics promoted by Trump and his sycophants.

For some, these three hold the key to internal GOP dissent that could undermine any Trump comeback. How to explain this seemingly counter-intuitive situation?

First of all, it’s important to remember that Kentucky’s McConnell was easily re-elected to a new six-year Senate terms last November, so he is free from the threat of a primary election challenge in the next two elections from a Trump-favoured opponent. And despite the jeers endured by Romney at a Utah state GOP gathering earlier this week, he is probably politically unassailable in Utah.

As embattled California governor Gavin Newsom is discovering, there is always the threat of a recall election, but this seems almost unimaginably improbable in the cases of Romney and McConnell in the states they represent.

Romney, the unsuccessful 2012 Republican challenger to Barack Obama, and McConnell, the wily GOP Senate minority leader, have both spoken out against Trump as forcefully as they feel they can do.

Romney, whose most prominent place in history may turn out to be his lone Republican vote in favour of impeaching Trump, is clearly personally affronted

by Trump’s brash, rude, swaggering manner.

In the wake of the January 6 assault on the US capitol by Trump supporters, McConnell, whose personal style also clashes dramatically with Trump’s, suggested that while the former President did not deserve impeachment, he was and should be accountable in the criminal justice system for his actions in inciting the January riot.

Both senators clearly detest Trump. But like most Republicans, they supported the policies he pursued. Trump, who had never served in government, was openly

scornful of policy debates and discussions. He readily adopted positions popular with the GOP base with no apparent reference to principle. Few observers suspected that he really cared about religious evangelism, abortion, resisting climate change, gun rights, limiting government spending or other key GOP priorities.

But many senators, representatives, governors and mayors do care about those issues.

They put up with Trump while he was President and now afterwards because the polls tell them he retains his popularity.

Trump was and is a means to an end. Whenever GOP politicians suspect that his usefulness is ebbing, he’ll appear to lose his influence rapidly. But if Romney and McConnell represent broader Republican establishment sentiment, Trump’s political demise will have been a long time coming.

Liz Cheney is both dif-

“Liz Cheney is both different and the same. She likely scorns Trump, not least for his harsh criticisms of her father. And she also voted very reliably for his policies.

Unlike McConnell and Romney, however, this 54-year-old foresees a long-bright political future.” ferent and the same. She likely scorns Trump, not least for his harsh criticisms of her father. And she also voted very reliably for his policies. Unlike McConnell and Romney, however, this 54-year-old foresees a longbright political future.

Has she chosen well to fulfil her ambitions?

A hot current topic in Washington is trying to understand Cheney’s political strategy. It is obvious the path to popularity with current Republican voters is to pay obeisance to Trump.

Cheney has taken the exact opposite tack.

Just last week, she renewed her attacks on Trump. She addressed a gathering sponsored by one of the most reliably Republican-leaning of Washington’s numerous think tanks, the American Enterprise Institute.

“We can’t embrace the notion the election is stolen,” Cheney told her AEI audience.

“It’s a poison in the bloodstream of our democracy. We can’t whitewash what happened on January 6 or perpetuate Trump’s big lie. It is a threat to democracy. What he did on January 6 is a line that cannot be crossed.”

CNN first reported on Cheney’s remarks at the private AEI meeting, during which she also called the Constitution “our

shield” and said a “peaceful transfer of power must be defended”.

Cheney declared on Twitter that “the 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.”

She has also said publicly that Trump “does not have a role as a leader of our party going forward” and that it is “disqualifying” for any public official who opposed certifying the election results to run for the White House in the future.

The guess here is that Cheney has decided to push all her chips to the centre of the poker table and go all in on being the responsible, reliably conservative, alternative to Trump in the Republican Party. There are probably three main reasons for this.

First, she probably is quite sincere in her beliefs about Trump’s existential threat to American democracy.

Second, like many, mostly male politicians of both parties, she is doubtless driven by a desire to emulate and even exceed the achievements of her famous father, the former Vice-President, White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defence.

Opposing 2000 presidential candidates and political sons George W Bush and Al Gore offer some other recent examples of this phenomenon.

Bush was the son of a President; Gore’s father was a legendary senator from Tennessee. The resolute career and relentless drive of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is yet another case in point. Her father was a longtime Democratic powerhouse in Maryland and served as mayor of Baltimore.

Politics in Washington, for many families, is often a family business.

Third, Cheney doubtless aspires to the presidency for reasons all her own, including potentially being the first female US President.

The daughter of one of the most successful American political figures of the second half of the 20th Century, she has crafted an unusual but hardly revolutionary course to the White House for herself.

Likely guided by her parents, both successful Washington insiders, Cheney got a University of Chicago law degree and worked for the American foreign assistance agency AID in both Poland and Hungary after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Later, she served in two different senior policy jobs in the State Department’s Middle East bureau.

She will be able to argue – and perhaps she will in three years – that she has just as meaningful foreign policy experience as her possible presidential nomination adversary and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Cheney has some support already. “Liz Cheney is a leader with deep convictions and the courage to act

LIZ Cheney (AP)

DONALD Trump (AP)

on them,” said McConnell.

“She is an important leader in our party and in our nation. I am grateful for her service and look forward to continuing to work with her on the crucial issues facing our nation.”

Senator and notable Trump ally Lindsay Graham has said Cheney “is one of the strongest and most reliable conservative voices in the Republican Party. She is a fiscal and social conservative, and no one works harder to ensure that our military is well prepared.”

Not surprisingly,

however, Trump has often struck back at Cheney since January. Most recently, he said “she is so low that her only chance of re-election (to Congress) would be if vast numbers of people run against her which, hopefully, won’t happen.

“The people in Wyoming never liked her much, and I say she’ll never run in a Wyoming election again!”

Cheney has quickly made a mark in the House of Representatives since she was first elected in 2016. A reliable partisan, she entered the week having been reelected in January as the

Number Three person in the GOP House leadership.

Most expect her to be pushed out from her leadership post as punishment for her defiance of Trump.

But that will only burnish her credentials with her father’s allies, the Republican establishment and, not least, liberal commentators who are starting to celebrate her risky, apparently principled, opposition to Trump.

We can expect to hear much more from and about Liz Cheney in the months to come.

PAGE 10, Thursday, May 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Prosecutors win appeal over ‘lenient’ punishment of farmer

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net PROSECUTORS have won their appeal contesting the “unduly lenient” punishment of an elderly farmer who was spared a prison sentence and instead fined just over $15,000 for several firearm and drug related offences.

The Court of Appeal has quashed the imposed fines and referred the matter back to the Magistrate’s Court for resentencing.

In the ruling published on the court’s website yesterday, Justice Sir Michael Barnett noted that it was critical for magistrates to pay “greater heed” to the views expressed by the Court of Appeal concerning the “critical role of deterrence” as it related to punishing persons for offences that fell under the Firearms Act. “Whilst there is a growing call for reduced sentences for offences involving marijuana in recent times, until Parliament has amended the law, the courts must continue to impose sentences that deter persons

like the respondent who deliberately breaks the law by cultivating the plant to supply the drugs to others,” Sir Michael noted.

In August 2020, officers in Abaco searched bushes in the Gilpin Point area and found 75 potted plants of marijuana. During their investigation, Pericles A Maillis identified himself as the owner of the property where the drugs were found. A further search of his home led to the discovery of firearms and a sawed-off handle shotgun, in addition to live ammunition and gauge rounds and a jar of marijuana.

Maillis was subsequently arrested and charged with the cultivation of dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to supply, possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of an unlicensed shotgun, possession of ammunition as well as possession of ammunition with intent to supply.

During his arraignment, the 68-year-old farmer pleaded guilty to the offences and said the firearms were “locked down and nailed in a box until

they were discovered by the officers”. During his plea in mitigation, he also said two of the firearms were antiques from WWII and the Vietnam War and added that he used his shotgun to shoot pigeons and wild hogs as well as for protection after his house was broken into. Maillis also claimed he got depressed after Hurricane Dorian and grew the marijuana for his personal use as marijuana tea helped to calm him down. He was later convicted and sentenced to a total of $15,500 in fines or a default prison sentence of 12 months in the event he failed to make the payments.

In September 2020, the director of public prosecutions appealed Maillis’ sentence on the grounds that the fines imposed on him were too lenient. The DPP further argued that the respondent should have been given a custodial sentence for committing the offences.

Yesterday, Court of Appeal Justices Sir Michael, Maureen Crane-Scott and Roy Jones granted their appeal after ruling the magistrate presiding over

the case had “no discretion to impose a non-custodial sentence”.

In their judgement, delivered by Sir Michael, the panel noted the option of a fine instead of imprisonment for offences that came under the Firearms Act was a course of action that was not available to the magistrate.

“The Dangerous Drugs Act does permit the imposition of a fine instead of imprisonment but even those fines given in this matter do not reflect the gravity of the offence,” they contended.

“It is not clear the basis upon which the magistrate determined that she had the jurisdiction to impose the fines that she gave instead of incarceration. The magistrate had no discretion to impose a non-custodial sentence. The respondent was

well aware that possession of firearms and ammunition without a license was against the law. The respondent also knew that possessing the drugs (even if only for medicinal purposes), was also against the law.”

Sir Michael said in view of these facts, the panel was of the view that the fines were “unduly lenient”. He also said they believed the sentences of a fine instead of incarceration was “wrong in principle”.

“Even in having regard to the respondent’s age, unblemished record, early guilty plea and other circumstances relevant to him, including the fact that the firearms were antique on display and not intended for use; the creation of deterrence requires that any leniency showed must be reflected in the length

of incarceration not by the imposition of a fine instead of incarceration,” he explained.

“I had considered whether it was appropriate for this court to impose a sentence on the respondent.

I consider that the interest of justice is better served by referring the matter back to the magistrate for sentencing according to law. The magistrate no doubt will receive the necessary reports concerning the respondent in order to determine the appropriate punishment suitable to this particular offender. The fines that were imposed are quashed and all the sums paid by the respondent are to be returned.”

• The man in this case is not the well known conservationist Pericles Maillis, they just have the same name.

LONG EFFECTS FROM HURRICANE SALTWATER SURGE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net SALTWATER inundation is one of the primary issues that has impacted Grand Bahama’s environment, particularly its fresh groundwater resources which some have predicted could take another 70 years until full natural restoration occurs.

Nakira Wilchcombe, of the Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee, said the saltwater surge experienced on the island in September 2019 during Hurricane Dorian has had “far-reaching” effects on the island’s physical and natural environment.

The storm surge, she said, extended over the island some six miles from the north to south, and reached areas and subdivisions in the Lucaya area, and many others in the east and west, impacting almost entire subdivisions in some cases.

“We saw freshwater was compromised as a result of saltwater coming in, and impacting things on top and underneath the ground,” she said while addressing members at the Rotary of Club of Grand Bahama via Zoom.

“One of the phenomenal things of GB is that we have had such a good fortune of our groundwater being replenished by rainwater and freshwater resources every year. We have one of the largest annual rainfalls in terms of inches collected.

And so, the saltwater surges reversed all of that providing another type of scenario,” she said.

Mrs Wilchcombe indicated that hydrologists engaged by the Grand Bahama Utility Company (GBUC) looked at the water table since Dorian and have estimated actual restoration in 70 plus years.

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“It is a restoration by nature, and some have predicted 70 years for actual restoration. But, I can tell you this, I am not the competent authority for the GBUC, but I can tell you they are now in the process of installing a reverse osmosis system…to deal with such scenarios.”

Another impact on the natural environment that came as a result of saltwater inundation, according to Mrs Wilchcombe, was the infestation of pine bark beetles in some of the trees on Grand Bahama, and also Abaco.

“We saw this manifestation of pine bark beetles in some of our trees out east, where the trees were dying as a result of the saltwater.

The ideal habitat is that of freshwater resources, and so with the saltwater inundation many pine trees started dying, and there were signs of this bark beetle infesting the pine trees.”

She noted that the Department of Forestry and the Food and Agriculture Organization visited sites and examined the issue to see how far spreading it was.

“They have seen evidence of this in Abaco, and they have developed a plan which will soon be initiated on the island to salvage some of the trees and deter the spread of the pine bark beetle,” said Mrs Wilchcombe.

Coastal erosion, particularly on southern shores, was also another phenomenon caused by the sea level generated by the storm, particularly of the coastal line at Fortune Bay Beach, and Gold Rock Beach at Lucayan National Park.

She noted that Bahamas National Trust is working tirelessly to restore the coastline and clear up massive vegetative debris.

Mrs Wilchcombe also noted that mangroves on the north shore were also impacted as a result of the saltwater invasion. “Some mangroves were impacted as a result of the brackish environment and it will take rain and time to restore the area,” she said.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 6, 2021, PAGE 11

Mother gives birth to NINE babies BAMAKO, Mali Associated Press

A MOROCCAN nurse takes care of one of the nine babies protected in an incubator at the maternity ward of the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca, Morocco, yesterday.

Photo: Abdeljalil Bounhar/AP

A MALIAN woman has given birth to nine babies at once — after only expecting seven, according to Mali’s Minister of Health and the Moroccan clinic where the nonuplets were born.

It appeared to be the first time on record that a woman had given birth to nine surviving babies at once.

The five girls and four boys, and their mother, “are all doing well,” Mali’s health minister.

The mother, 25-year-old Halima Cisse, gave birth to the babies by cesarean section on Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, Mali’s top health official announced.

Associated Press reporters saw some of the babies wiggling their hands and feet inside incubators in the private Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca. Medical staff checked their status regularly in the neonatal ward wallpapered with cartoon characters.

Cisse had been expecting seven babies. Malian doctors, under government orders, sent her to Morocco for the births because hospitals in Mali are ill-equipped to provide adequate care for this exceptional multiple pregnancy.

Cisse gave birth prematurely at 30 weeks and is now in stable condition after heavy bleeding for which she was given a blood transfusion, he said.

US parents excited over virus shots for children AFTER more than a year of fretting over her 13-year son with a rare liver disease, Heather Ousley broke into tears when she learned that he and millions of other youngsters could soon be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

“This day is the best day in the history of days!!! I love this day!!!” she texted, joining other parents and educators in welcoming the news that the Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorise Pfizer’s vaccine by next week for children ages 12 to 15.

Ousley, president of the school board for the 27,000-student Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, plans to get her 13and 15-year-olds promptly vaccinated and then celebrate with ice cream. They have been learning from home with their younger brother since the start of the outbreak.

Pfizer is also anticipating the FDA will endorse use of its vaccine in even younger children sometime this fall.

And results are expected by the middle of this year from a US study of Moderna’s shots in 12- to 17-year-olds.

Officials are hoping that extending vaccinations to children will drive down the nation’s caseload even further and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruption this fall.

It could also reassure parents and teachers alike.

While children rarely get seriously ill from the

coronavirus, then can still get sick and spread it to others.

Pfizer in March released preliminary results from a study of 2,260 US volunteers ages 12 to 15, showing there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated children compared with 18 among those given dummy shots.

That is welcome news for Robin and Aaron Perry of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, who have five boys, ages five to 17. Their oldest, Cooper, has been battling leukemia and contracted COVID-19 in November, in what his mother described as a “terrifying” time for the family.

The disease spread to the rest of the family.

They all pulled through, and Cooper and his parents have all since been vaccinated. But his mother can’t wait for her 15-yearold, Reece, and 12-year-old, Tucker, to get their shots so their brother is as protected as possible.

“It feels like more security around Cooper with a compromised immune system,” Robin Perry said.

“It’s just being part of the solution. That’s what excites me the most. It’s an added level of protection. Maybe you can take a deeper breath.”

Educators have already embraced vaccines for students 16 and up, with some scheduling vaccine clinics during school hours and dangling prize drawings and other incentives.

In New York’s Erie County, prom-themed vaccination clinics were held

this past weekend, including one with a tropical feel where health care workers wore grass skirts and 16and 17-year-olds went home with gift bags of masks and hand sanitizer. Similar efforts are expected to draw in 12- to 15-year-olds.

Dan Domenech, executive director of AASA, the School Superintendents Association, said vaccinating younger students should help parents feel more comfortable about sending their children back to classrooms and ease concerns among some teachers.

“Say you have a class where every student is vaccinated and so is the teacher. That becomes a very different environment,” Domenech said.

He added: “Schools were very pleased when the CDC came out with the 3ft spacing as opposed to the 6ft spacing, because that immediately allowed them to have more students in school at one time. This will have a similar effect.”

Seventy-four-year-old Pat Shepard, a retired Spanish teacher from Lincoln, Nebraska, who has worked as a substitute during the outbreak, is eager to see eligibility expand, saying students are increasingly resisting wearing masks.

“You are starting to see more and more of them wearing them down below their nose because they are just tired of it,” she said.

“And then, too, they want to get out and do more things.”

Keri Rodrigues, a cofounder of the education

A BAHAMIAN BUSINESS

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advocacy group the National Parents Union, said she rushed out to get vaccinated after becoming eligible but has more trepidation about immunizing her oldest son, who is 13.

She plans to go ahead with it, though, in part because he is demanding it.

“He has cabin fever and he wants to get out,” explained Rodrigues, who lives near Boston.

The group’s newly released survey from April of 1,151 parents around the country found that others are also conflicted. Forty percent planned to get their children vaccinated immediately, 22 percent eventually and 23 percent never, and the remaining 15 percent were unsure.

“Obviously parents are torn right now because

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MISSION, Kansas Associated Press

you are watching your kids really go through an emotional struggle, especially our teens,” she said.

“I think we are all taking a leap of faith, but I think what we have to do is trust science in this moment.”

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that if the FDA authorises the use of Pfizer’s vaccine in children as young as 12, the administration is prepared to ship doses to 20,000 pharmacies around the country and directly to pediatricians.

Coy Marquardt, associate executive director of Iowa’s teachers union, said his 14-year-old son is excited to get vaccinated and has been asking for months when he would be eligible. Marquardt said that because of vaccine hesitancy, it doesn’t look as if herd immunity is

going to be achieved anytime soon.

“That makes it even more important to expand the use to 12- to 15-yearolds, including my son, just to protect him,” he said.

Tom Rosenberg, president and CEO of the American Camp Association, which accredits 3,200 camps and works with about 12,000 others, said he has ben deluged with messages since the news broke.

Last year, 40 percent of day camps and 82 percent of overnight camps didn’t operate, but many were gearing up to reopen this summer, with masks and socially distancing, he said.

He said the vaccine would offer another layer of protection and might persuade some hesitant parents to sign up their children.

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