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Volume: 118 No.121, May 19, 2021

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ATLANTIS AXE FALLS ON 700 Resort confirms ‘difficult but necessary’ decision to make staff redundant

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

SEVEN hundred employees at Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island were laid off yesterday, a decision resort officials say was made due to COVID-19’s impact on travel and other economic uncertainties.

In a letter sent to staff, dated May 16, Atlantis’ president and managing director, Audrey Oswell said that while the decision to reduce its 7,300 strong

NATIONAL DEBATES? AT LEAST DO YOUR HOMEWORK

SEE PAGE EIGHT

DRUG LORD CONVICTION CONFIRMED

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the conviction of Dwight Major, who was found guilty of several drug related offences over a decade ago.

In 2001, Major was charged with conspiracy to import 16 kilos of cocaine and conspiracy to possess the drugs contrary to the Dangerous Drugs Act. Two years later in May 2003, he was convicted of one count of conspiring to import cocaine and another count of conspiring to possess the same with the intent to supply.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

workforce was a difficult one to make, it was necessary due to the losses the hotel had incurred from the pandemic.

And with COVID-19 continuing to impact travel worldwide, Ms Oswell said there is still uncertainty as to when the nation’s tourism industry will be able to fully recover from the pandemic – a situation she said had also factored into Atlantis’ decision to make workers redundant.

SEE PAGE THREE

‘...SOME WILL WELCOME IT - BUT NOT EVERYBODY’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union President Darrin Woods said Atlantis’ decision to lay off 700 workers was inevitable and will be welcomed by the scores of employees who agitated for severance cheques.

However, he doubts as

CLASSIFIEDS TRADER

ed

VAT includ

STUDENT KILLED IN SCHOOL STABBING

many as 700 employees wanted this outcome.

Atlantis President & Managing Director Audrey Oswell cited the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and the future of travel as the reason for letting go 9.6 percent of staff, adding that Atlantis’ business model requires fundamental, long term shifts like reducing the size of its workforce.

SEE PAGE THREE

KENM PAUL, 15, who was killed at Government High School.

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A STABBING incident yesterday at Government High School has left an 11th grader dead and another student in serious condition in hospital.

The high school was placed on a lockdown after the altercation,

interrupting examinations which were scheduled yesterday.

Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters told reporters that shortly after 1pm, police were called to GHS to investigate a stabbing incident involving students.

One student was pronounced dead at the campus while the other

was taken to the hospital. Police are looking for the assailants who left the school after the attack.

The deceased was identified by a relative as Kenm Paul, 15.

ASP Peters said: “The preliminary investigation revealed that two students were in the corridor SEE PAGE TWO

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

PORTS ON SCHEDULE FOR 2022 OPENING

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net NASSAU Cruise Port’s chief executive yesterday said COVID-19’s economic impact has caused “concerns with the timing” of its plans for Bahamian investors to gain ownership in the $250m project.

But Michael Maura said around $80m has been invested in Prince George Wharf’s revamp to date, with construction work still on target for completion by summer 2022 - with the marine construction ahead of target.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY RUGBY USING EYE TECHNOLOGY TO TACKLE CONCUSSIONS

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Student killed in school stabbing

THE TRIBUNE

from page one

A MOTHER embraces her son as he walks out of Government High School unharmed yesterday. The school was the scene of a deadly stabbing.

JEFF Lloyd and his team leaving Government High School yesterday..

PHOTOGRAPH CORRECTION A PHOTOGRAPH on a restaurant on page one of yesterday’s Tribune was incorrectly captioned. It should have been identified as Graycliff restaurant.

Our apologies for the error.

PARENTS and guardians waiting outside Government High School after yesterday’s deadly stabbing.

Photos: Donovan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff

having a conversation with one another when they were approached by two others who started an altercation. Edge tools were produced and two of those persons were stabbed. We do not know if the victims were the aggressors in this situation or if the victims or the aggressor were the ones who were stabbed.

“The persons who may have been involved in this scaled the school fence and left and went home, we believe. Our officers would have left the school and the leads that they would have, we are following those leads at this time and I believe in due course we should have those persons in custody.”

Last night, the deceased’s brother Stanley Paul remembered the teen as someone who was “good at sports” and wanted to study overseas and play basketball.

He said the family is in shock and has questions about who would attack the student.

“It’s shocking because neither me nor my mummy get to see him this morning before he gone to school,” Mr Paul said.

He said the boy’s father was the last relative to see him alive when he asked for lunch money before he went to school. Later, the family got the horrible news from friends that their relative had been attacked.

Mr Paul is now calling for more security at the school.

“They need to put more security at the school,” the boy’s brother said. “I don’t even know how they let someone with a knife in the school. Every morning you supposed to check the children to see if they brought any illegal weapons to the school.”

He is now grieving the death of his only brother.

“It shocked me because that’s the only brother I had that I grew up with.

Growing up it was only me and him, we didn’t have cousins, uncles or whatever, it was only just us two.”

Meanwhile at the scene, emotions were high from concerned parents outside the school’s gates who felt they were getting very little information about what happened. One parent could be seen crying as she asked if her child was okay.

ASP Peters said police could have better informed parents.

“Our initial concern is for the scene itself,” he said “It may be a faux pas on our part for not warning or saying something to the parents at the gate. I personally take responsibility for that, but however we could not simply say something to them because everybody would want to know if that’s their child

A PARENT of a student at Government High School speaking to the media yesterday. and I’m not here to say if this is your son and we have to wait for an identification of the next of kin. I could perhaps deal with it better at another occasion but at this one, this occasion, I take full responsibility for not informing them of what was going on on the inside.”

Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd was also at the scene. He said he was advised on the way from a lunch break in Cabinet that there was a stabbing at the school and came immediately as well as the executive team including the director to investigate and find out exactly what happened.

He addressed the questions raised about campus safety.

“This is unfortunate but I wish parents and I wish the Bahamian people to know our schools are very safe and incidents of this kind are not a usual occurrence,” Mr Lloyd said.

“We do everything that we can, including the involvement of police on our campuses. We are very well equipped with the security officers throughout our various schools.

Not only in the daytime, but over the course of the day, the evenings and in the night times.”

For his part, ASP Petes said police presence on the school has been fluid during the pandemic.

“Well during this COVID situation, the police presence on campuses were somewhat situational,” ASP Peters said. “We’re not always aware as to when and how... we’re coming to school and so we’ll revisit our presence (in) the school. Given the incident at hand, we were also aware that there were exams going and with exams going on limited persons were coming to school.”

ASP Peters could not say if the matter is gangrelated or not, but one parent believed the incident was. The parent, who has children in the 11th grade, said the deceased is a friend of theirs. She said the students had been arguing for some time.

She explained: “This argument between my son, his adopted brothers, and other students started from weeks ago and they were threatening them in regards to being in a gang.

“I told them at the end of the day I don’t feel comfortable with them being in these things. They’re trying to start a rap group.

They’re trying to get somewhere besides having an education and because they feel because of what they’re saying in their lyrics or how they’re trying to become famous it’s a problem.

“Also with who they are hanging around or being friends with that’s another problem. They’re also targeted for that. They assume they’re in the gang as well so problems arise.

Arguments came out and that is when the stabbing happened. Mind you like I said, they were threatening to stab my kids from weeks ago and told them don’t worry about it just let it go. Thank God the schools had shut down for breaks to give them a chance to cool down but I guess they holding grudge or a vengeance.”

However, the boy’s brother told The Tribune he was unaware of his sibling having issues with other students.

Eventually students were released from the campus but one mother was still waiting on her daughter who was being questioned.

The mother understands everyone in the class was being questioned as well.

“I don’t think I could bring my child back to school. Government High is not a secure school.

Every day I watch kids jumping the gate doing all types of foolishness. They don’t even have no police here,” she said.

“I’m in fear for my life.

I’m in fear for my child’s life because I don’t want to come home and meet a dead child or someone come to me and say my child die. Right now I have a 9th grader who is supposed to be coming here.

Registration is supposed to be tomorrow but I don’t think I’m gonna send them back here.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 19, 2021, PAGE 3

Atlantis axe falls on 700 from page one

“We are collectively living through the worst pandemic of our lifetime, and as it began to unfold, global travel came to a standstill,” Ms Oswell wrote. “Our business suffered significant losses, and in response, we drastically cut costs that touched nearly every corner of Atlantis.

“While these actions were necessary, it became clear we had to go further when faced with two hard truths: We don’t know exactly when travel will return to normal business levels (and) when travel does return, it will be different for everyone.

“While we expect Atlantis to recover fully and business volumes continue to increase since reopening, the significant changes we will undergo are not temporary or short-lived.

Because of this, we need to make fundamental shifts by reducing the size of our workforce around a more focused business strategy.

“Unfortunately, we have to part ways with team members that we respect and value. Out of 7,300 Atlantis team members, 700 of our colleagues will not be returning.”

The number affected is equivalent to almost 10 percent of the Paradise Island resort’s workforce.

The terminations, though unfortunate, will likely come as a welcome reprieve to some furloughed workers

who have long been calling for their severance packages and benefits.

The government’s emergency orders suspend Employment Act provisions, which mandate that companies must pay full severance to workers who have been sent home for 90 days, until a month after these powers expire.

“I think there were a number of persons who wanted some finality to their relationship with Atlantis,” Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar told reporters after Atlantis’ announcement yesterday.

“So, for those persons, I think they are delighted that that relationship has now been concretized but obviously, tourism has been substantially (and) negatively impacted by the coronavirus. A lot of companies started off by furloughing to mitigate the necessity to sever people, but Atlantis has now gotten itself into a position where it can sever people and pay them the monies they would’ve earned based on their years of experience… and for those who really hoped (to come) back, obviously it’s going to take a little bit longer for them to find employment.”

Despite the news, Mr D’Aguilar said officials still remain optimistic that the nation’s economy will improve as more people get vaccinated and become “emboldened” to travel.

“We’re expecting a quick

ATLANTIS staff pictured yesterday. rebound, maybe not to the levels of 2019 but nonetheless employment levels will begin to go back up,” he said.

As for how the Atlantis’ terminations have affected the nation’s unemployment figures, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes was unable to say yesterday.

However, he admitted there is much uncertainty “with respect to the unemployment situation in The Bahamas” right now, calling Atlantis’ decision to lay off staff as “unfortunate.”

He said the government is doing all it can to “ease the burden” on unemployed individuals and noted officials will re-assess several of its assistance programmes to determine whether it will

be extended if things do not improve.

In the meantime, Mr Foulkes urged Bahamians not to lose hope, but instead to look to other working opportunities.

He said: “I would encourage all of the 700 members, families and employees affected today to number one: register with the Labour Department’s employment exchange. Every day, we have businesses that reach out to the exchange for new hires so there are opportunities within the economy, and I wish to encourage those persons affected today to register.

“Also, I wish to encourage those persons who are interested in business, whether it’s a small business

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff or medium sized business or a large business no matter what the size, to talk to the Small Business Development Centre.

“Thousands of Bahamians have accessed the funding from the SBDC and are now running successful businesses. I know of some hotel workers who are operating businesses from their home and have been affected by the pandemic,” Mr Foulkes added.

The Labour Minister also pointed to the upcoming opening of Baha Mar’s beachfront water park, Baha Bay, and also, the Pointe for potential job opportunities “There are two big prospects on the horizon now,” Mr Foulkes said. “The

Pointe development which intends to hire some 500 to 600 permanent employees and also Baha Mar Bay. Their new development that they’re opening in a couple of months, I think they are aiming to hire some 700 employees, so I wish to encourage the 700 workers who are affected today to also access those opportunities.”

Asked if he was aware of any other hotel properties which intended to follow in Atlantis’ footsteps, Mr Foulkes replied: “No, the government has not received any indication of any resorts in New Providence or Grand Bahama or any other Family Islands of any intended terminations.”

‘...SOME WILL WELCOME IT - BUT NOT EVERYBODY’ from page one

Trade Union Congress President Obie Ferguson told Tribune Business on Monday that it was “almost inhuman” for furloughed workers to wait another three months without severance pay after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis tabled a resolution in Parliament extending the country’s state of emergency

and associated emergency orders.

His comment echoed the sentiments of people like Areba Bridgewater, a waitress at Atlantis who told The Tribune in January that she was past her breaking point waiting on Atlantis to let employees go.

Mr Woods said yesterday: “We weren’t expecting this announcement from Atlantis but at some point, it had

to happen. Everyone knew something would come with what happened with the emergency order, whether the order was expired or not. Atlantis is now the last hotel to make anyone redundant. The Melia did two rounds. Hilton, Club Med and others, they’ve all done it.”

Still, Mr Woods conceded that being laid off will be difficult for some.

“I doubt it would be 700 who wanted to go,” he said.

“Atlantis sent us a letter yesterday evening saying they now need to engage us to know the areas affected, persons affected, people’s tenure, etc. We said to them they should employ a formula that people asking to go should be let go. Some persons made their cry public in the public domain.

This also opens the door for

employees to come and say, ‘I want to be made redundant.’ You can’t now say because of the emergency order you can’t let them go. You moved the bar to where you need it to be, but you can’t hold on to it and hide behind it.”

Mr Woods said the redundancy exercise creates uncertainty for employees of Atlantis who remain.

“Persons who wanted to

go, it brings finality to their plea,” he said. “They could move on with their lives and rebuild because they’re no longer in limbo anymore.

For others, it creates an air of uncertainty. Other hotels made some staff redundant then came back again and did the same thing.

Most hotels have done two rounds of redundancy so the question is, will Atlantis come back and do more?”

PAGE 4, Wednesday, May 19, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Are the variant strains here?

We’re still waiting for results

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net HEALTH officials are still waiting to receive the test results of several positive COVID-19 samples that were sent abroad to determine which of the new coronavirus strains are present in the country.

Dozens of countries worldwide have since detected the mutations that were originally found in the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and India.

At a Ministry of Health press conference last month, health officials said “the emergence of variant strains of COVID-19” was of significant concern.

National COVID-19

Vaccine Consultative Committee chairperson, Dr Merceline Dahl Regis said genetic testing between March 13 and April 17 showed an upward trend in the detection of deletion in samples, which means the variant strains are likely in the country.

She said a breakdown by islands shows New Providence, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Long Island, Exuma and Eleuthera could have variant strains present.

According to officials, ten samples were sent to a reference laboratory abroad to determine which strain was in the country.

Asked for an update on the matter yesterday, Health Minister Renward Wells told reporters: “We

do not know as yet.”

He said of the ten samples sent, about four were still viable to be tested.

“As a matter of fact, we sent off ten samples from my understanding and out of the ten, I think only four once they arrived at the lab were viable for testing. We’re still awaiting the results of that so the ministry is still in the process of seeing how we can ensure how we get those results very quickly from CARPHA, the Caribbean Public Health Agency,” he said.

This comes as the country continues to see a sustained uptick in positive cases and hospitalizations, particularly in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

There has also been a rise in infections on several Family Islands, including Andros and the Berry Islands, which had 126 and 81 cases respectively as of Monday. Yesterday, Mr Wells said they are monitoring the situation in both communities very closely.

“We do see an increase in cases in Andros and we do see an increase in cases in the Berry Islands and the Ministry of Health has sent its requisite teams down to assess the circumstance and to see where we are in regards to vaccination in those areas, who have been exposed,” he told reporters.

“Contact tracing is aggressive and we’re following up. We’re seeking to get our hand around it

and it is a very fluid circumstance and situation in those islands and the government, if need be will come back with other determinations, but right now we believe that getting vaccinated and adhering to the health protocols that are in place would help us to be able to get our hands around what is taking place in those beautiful islands of Andros and the Berry Islands.”

Asked if officials believe the current restrictions in place are working to help to defeat this third wave of new infections, the health minister replied that while restrictions could be strengthened, officials feel confident that they have the situation under control.

SEPTEMBER GOAL FOR SCHOOLS TOTAL CASES

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister Jeffrey Lloyd said he is committed to doing whatever it takes to bring back face-to-face learning in the country’s public education system by this September.

Mr Lloyd, who spoke with journalists outside of the Cabinet Office yesterday, said once he receives the word from health authorities in the country, he will make it happen.

“If we do what the health measures are asking us to do, we can get out of this pandemic very quickly and if there is one group of people who will benefit immensely, it’s our students to be back in face-to-face learning. Whatever is necessary under the guidance of the health authorities, we are certainly going to execute,” Mr Lloyd said.

“Naturally we know it’s best for students to learn on a face-to-face (basis) and so the virtual is the second best alternative. . .not the best. Of course it affects those students, the younger ones in particular.”

Earlier this month, education officials announced public schools will return to virtual learning on May 25 to reduce the chance of COVID-19 spreading as students take national exams.

Mr Lloyd was quizzed on what his ministry intends to

He said: “We could be more strengthened from the governmental side in regard to the things that nobody would want which is lockdowns and other curfews and lowering the curfew down to 8’oclock, or 6’oclock… but as it stands now, the Ministry of Health has its hands around how we are moving forward. We are dealing with the positive cases. We’re (doing) contact tracing and we’re vaccinating.”

According to the latest information from the Ministry of Health, 53 new cases were recorded on Monday bringing the nation’s COVID-19 toll to 11,278. Deaths remain at 221 while 48 people are in hospital with the virus.

TOTAL DEATHS

do about students who were challenged last year with virtual learning and remain in the same situation this year. Some have suggested these students may need to repeat a grade.

“We are every day reviewing how we best can assist those students who may have suffered in any form or fashion as a result of the pandemic,” Mr Lloyd said.

“There have been some who have not yet gained a benefit of education because of a variety of reasons.

“As we know there are thousands of them who don’t have a device or don’t have internet or both and as a consequence they would have not had access to school like we would have wanted them to. On the case of repeating, of course we are looking at how we may be able to adjust whatever responses we need to make to them, but understand we only have a limited space.

“When we start talking about repeating, we have other considerations that we have to make in order to accommodate that and space and resources are a significant consideration in that respect. However, may I also say that teachers and the school system have been working to make up as possible those students who may have had some challenges by providing afternoon tutorials, weekend support, online support and so on.”

Mr Lloyd also took exception to criticism made

by PLP Yamacraw candidate, Zane Lightbourne who took the Ministry of Education to task over its handling of COVID pandemic as it pertained to virtual learning, etc. Mr Lightbourne was a guest on a local radio show.

“I am disappointed in some comments I have heard recently on a radio (station) here in the capital when an officer of the ministry, Mr Zane Lightbourne who is a member of the Bahamas Educators Managers Union, criticised the ministry claiming that this is amongst the worst times in the history of the education in The Bahamas,” Mr Lloyd said.

“It’s really unfortunate.

I like Mr Lightbourne.

During Dorian and its after effects, he led the ministry’s team in doing an outstanding job in placing those who were dislocated as a result of Dorian. He spearheaded the effort that was exercised at the National Stadium involving a consortium of government agencies and ministries… an outstanding job Mr Lightbourne did.

“He knows the work that this ministry is doing in the execution of our responsibility as a government for education and he was a part of that. So for him to make those statements it’s just flat out dishonest. He knows that is not true. Secondly, we hear comments about the conditions of human resources with regards to reclassifications and so on

that have come from persons who should know better.”

Minister Lloyd said those who are criticising the ministry know that authorities there have inherited significant issues involving human resources, but nevertheless have done a tremendous job in settling a lot of those issues.

“We have a ways to go, absolutely… admittedly …

but we have done well,” he said. “They have admitted that we have done well in that respect. Again, there is a way to go, but I think it’s unfair and it’s dishonest because they know better.

“It is really regrettable that it comes from those quarters. We respect and admire and thank the contribution that the union and our partners make to the advancement of education

in this country. I am deeply grateful to them and appreciative of what they do, but I think it’s only fair that we should be honest and to be fair to the Bahamian people and to the Ministry of Education. This administration and this education administration met issues in place that we have resolved and are resolving. I think that we deserve a measure of credit for that.”

officials are looking to recruit nurses locally as opposed to hiring them from abroad.

Speaking to reporters before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Wells said staff shortages, specifically at Princess

Margaret Hospital, continues to be a major challenge for officials.

At PMH alone, some 49 nurses have left the hospital over the course of the pandemic, some for retirement while others left for working opportunities elsewhere, he said.

“Bed space in the country is not an issue. We have a personnel problem in regards to us being adequately able to completely staff all of the facilities that we have in a COVID environment because you need to ramp up,” Mr Wells said.

“We would’ve lost, I think, probably there were about 49 nurses that would’ve left PMH’s environment, and I think five of them may have retired and the remaining would’ve taken opportunities offered elsewhere.

“In this COVID environment, healthcare personnel were and are still in great demand globally and so The Bahamas, our own people, we are competing to ensure that we’re holding on to them.”

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Wells told reporters officials were hoping to hire nurses from abroad as a means to resolve the current nurse shortage in the country.

At the time, he also said officials would speed up the examination process for student nurses so they could be quickly introduced into the health care system, something that was eventually done and proved

effective, according to Mr Wells.

But, as it relates to hiring nurses abroad, Mr Wells said while officials are still considering the matter, they prefer to bring in medical workers locally.

He said: “We are looking at ways to bring in as much of our domestic personnel, nurses as possible, even those ones who have retired to bring them back in the system so they could bring their know-how and their requisite skills to the table to assist.

“You would remember in the second wave, we spoke about potentially bringing in nurses from abroad although we did not pursue it. It’s still a consideration, but right now we’re seeking to deal with our own domestic circumstances as best we can. We’re not afraid to go outside the boundaries, the confines of our nation to bring in persons.

“You know at the height when we really believed the system was on the verge of more catastrophe, we brought in an NGO, Samaritan’s Purse if you remember down at PMH and it just so happens that the week they came in we started having declining numbers and so we had declining numbers up until the first or second week of last year.”

The nurse shortage comes at a time when the country is seeing an uptick of COVID-19 cases and virus-related hospitalisations, along with an increase in coronavirus deaths.

Yesterday, Mr Wells urged healthcare workers and the Bahamian public at large to get vaccinated, noting it is the only way the country can move on from this pandemic.

“My encouragement to the healthcare sector and the Bahamian people is for us to continuously vaccinate because if healthcare workers and the entire healthcare centre is vaccinated we won’t have an even more challenging circumstance for someone who is exposed to COVID and has to step outside the healthcare environment because they were exposed or God forbid, they themselves would have tested positive for COVID working in the environment,” he added.

“And so, we understand and know what ails us. I keep preaching this.

This isn’t how it was in the second wave when we didn’t have ‘the cure’ and I want to use it in quotations because a vaccine isn’t a cure, it just ramps up your defence. We have a cure for what ails us. It’s called a vaccine. Go get it and let us open our society and move forward.”

The Bahamas currently has received 86,600 doses of the vaccine, including 20,000 donated by the government of India and 66,000 obtained through the World Health Organisation’s COVAX Facility.

Another 33,600 doses from the COVAX Facility are expected to arrive in the country by the end of the month, according to

Mr Wells.

“We are working on sourcing other vaccines for the Bahamian people to give them an opportunity for other vaccines and so, I think you’ll be seeing that very, very soon,” the minister said.

Last month, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis relaxed restrictions for fully vaccinated people, exempting them from travel requirements among other things once they have passed the two-week immunity period. Vaccinated people can also dine indoors at restaurants.

Asked if the government is looking to implement other vaccination perks like removing the requirement of mask wearing for fully vaccinated people, the minister replied: “Well, when the country gets vaccinated and individuals are vaccinated, I think the Bahamian people could see that this government is willing to move in a positive direction for those folks who are responsive in that regard.

Look at what we just said in regard to just travel for fully vaccinated persons.

“So, I think we’ve already signalled and intimated what we intend to do and it isn’t just us. It is what the science is saying. It is what other societies are doing because they have moved forward. We see the roadmap. We see the light at the end of the tunnel… our society is open in many ways now, so imagine how much more so as we move forward.”

11,278 221

NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES MONDAY 53 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE CAT ISLAND GRAND BAHAMA EXUMA BERRY ISLANDS PENDING

TOTAL TESTS

93,155

27 17 4 2 1 2

HOSPITALISED

48

CASES IN ICU

6

RECOVERED

10,121

WELLS: WE’RE TRYING TO HIRE NURSES LOCALLY TO FIX SHORTAGE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net WITH the country facing a serious nursing shortage amid its third wave of COVID-19, Health Minister Renward Wells says

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 19, 2021, PAGE 5

Demolitions ‘with decency’ - but Bannister says it’s not up to him to take care of displaced residents

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister has stressed the demolition of homes in the Farm shanty town in Abaco will be done with decency but said it is not his responsibility to take care of residents displaced by the destruction of their houses.

“That might sound harsh,” he told reporters before a Cabinet meeting yesterday, “but when they went out there and built in direct contravention of the law, they knew or ought to have known that they were breaching the law of The Bahamas.

“They’ve gotten notices now for more than 28 days and they’ve done nothing. It’s very important for them to use their resources, whatever resources they had to build the house in the first place, they could’ve applied in accordance with

the law and be able to lawfully construct something just as any of y’all would do.”

Mr Bannister confirmed that on Friday the government began the third phase of its plan to demolish shanty houses that were built since a Supreme Court ruling in December 2018 ordered the government not to demolish the shanty structures that existed at that time. That ruling also ordered residents not to build any new shanty houses.

Mr Bannister said the structures currently targeted for destruction “are being constructed directly contrary to a Supreme Court order that said you are not to construct any shanty houses or you’re not to enlarge them or anything like that.”

The Tribune on Sunday spoke to a man who said dealing with the destruction of his house has been a nightmare. He said he

has been separated from his girlfriend and her twoyear-old daughter while they figure out their next move.

The Bahamian man said he built his house in The Farm after Hurricane Dorian destroyed his home in Marsh Harbour. He said he knew what he was doing was against the law but hoped to make it work until he could get back on his feet.

Mr Bannister said the Ministry of Works has gone out of its way to let residents secure their belongings even after they ignored notices to leave the premises.

“We are doing it with decency, notwithstanding the illegality that these houses were built with,” he said.

“Despite the fact that we have already given notices of all the houses, we have fixed notices on houses again and those notices indicate that after three

days the ministry would demolish those houses. So we give them three days grace – the notices are in English and in Creole – asking people to remove their belongings. They have three days grace and we’re going to come and demolish them. That’s on top of the notice that they’ve gotten.

“You could imagine that demolishing houses that are occupied is a challenge, it takes longer than normal, and so on (Friday) our teams went in. They met a number of houses that still had persons’ possessions in (them). In virtually every case, notwithstanding the fact that they had been given notice, if the owner was around, they spoke with them, told them what they were going to do, asked them to remove their belongings.

Where they did not remove their belongings, they took photographs of the belongings, they then inventoried

them, they then removed them except in cases where the owner said they didn’t want them anymore.

Then those houses were demolished.

“On (Friday) we demolished six buildings. That was a full day’s work. (We) came back the next day, which was Saturday, and demolished an additional four. We’re proceeding in a methodical manner to demolish all of these illegally constructed houses.

They were all constructed in direct breach of the law, in direct breach of a Supreme Court order.

“There are a number of shanty town houses in New Providence... Last week I got a complaint from one Bahamian. Every week I get a complaint from Bahamians. Last week I got a complaint from a Bahamian man who had gone to the bank, borrowed money, purchased two lots. During the pandemic he could not do anything on his property,

went back after the pandemic and found 19 shanty houses on his lots when he’s trying to get additional money to build his home.

That is what we are facing.

It’s a very serious, serious issue. We take it seriously and we’re going to carry out our mandate in accordance with the law.”

Mr Bannister said almost 200 houses are targeted for demolition.

“If you saw any of the videos,” he said, “you would notice that none of them could stand up to hurricane force winds. They are all built in breach of the code.

None of them have permits and if you have a strong wind, they’ll all be gone and we’d be spending your money to rescue people in the midst of a hurricane if there is another hurricane in Abaco. In addition to that, there are no sanitation facilities. These are diseases waiting to happen and waiting to spread in Abaco and in New Providence.”

MIXED FEELINGS FROM VENDORS OVER CONCH WARNING

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

CONCH vendors have given mixed reviews on the Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority’s (BAHFSA) advice to stop selling raw conch until the source of contamination leading to food poisoning cases can be determined.

Earlier this week, BAHFSA sent a release stating: “Until their findings are known, we ask that all conch vendors discontinue the preparation and sale of raw (fresh) conch dishes immediately.”

Wenzel Stuart brings in conch for sale but said business has been slow since the reports of the suspected conch poisoning.

“I brought in 500 conch and it took me more than a week to sell 500 conch,” he said. “I usually sell like 5,000 conch maybe like a day.”

Despite reports of people getting sick from eating the Bahamian delicacy, Mr Stuart said he has not been ill.

POTTER’s Cay dock and, below from left, Rodney Russell, president of the Arawak Cay Association, Sandra Ferguson of the Midnight Spot, and fisherman Wenzel Stuart

“I’m eating conch every day and ain’t nothing wrong with me. All my crew is eat

conch,” he added.

“We take the conch right out of the water, break out

the shell and eat it — nothing wrong with us.”

Sandra Ferguson of The

Midnight Spot Restaurant and Bar at Potter’s Cay told The Tribune the establishment is still selling conch.

Asked about her reaction to the BAHFSA release, she said: “I didn’t let that bother me because people came and I mentioned to them, ‘they say don’t eat conch.’ They stand up and watch us take our conch out the water.

Prepare the conch salad.

Do they crack conch. Do they grilled conch. As long as they don’t have a problem, I don’t have a problem. We still selling conch honestly... It didn’t affect us and people still coming for conch salad. We have tourists and locals.

“I feel confident in our conch because our conch is always kept in the water.

You know on the side of the road they don’t have no place to store their conch. Some restaurants don’t have any place to store their conch, but ours is kept directly in the water. So I don’t think we going to have a problem with anybody eating the conch.”

Meanwhile, Arawak Cay Conch, Fish, Food Vendors Association president Rodney Russell showed support for the authority in safeguarding the public’s health.

“I think it was very important for the relevant authority to make those statements - reason being Arawak Cay is a responsible fish fry that believes in Bahamians and if there is an epidemic from the conch that causes persons to suffer and be uncomfortable then it is within the rights of the authority to advise the public not to eat raw conch at this time.

“We concur with the relevant authorities to safeguard our people and those persons who love to eat raw conch.”

Mr Russell revealed that during the pandemic last year, there were some 28 or more conch vendors and this year there are about five vendors still active at Arawak Cay. With the conch poisoning starting, he estimated maybe three persons are still preparing raw conch despite being advised not to do so.

SOFTWARE DELAY FOR MARCO ALERT SYSTEM

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames said officials are waiting to receive “mass communication software” that will send out warnings about missing children to facilitate the roll-out of the Mandatory Action Rescuing Children Operation (MARCO) Alert system.

“I would’ve announced a few months ago that the system is up and running,” he told reporters when

asked for an update yesterday. “We’re now waiting on the mass communication software that Cabinet would’ve approved and that software will give us the ability to send mass communications out across the length and breadth of this nation.

“Additionally, it will allow us to geo-fence if we need to (and) if there’s an incident in a particular area on a particular island, we will have that ability but what is good is despite the fact we have multiple providers, this system will

allow us to cross over providers and so if you have a cell phone wherever in the Bahamas, it will allow us to send emergency messages instantaneously.”

After the murder of 11-year-old Marco Archer in 2011, a law was enacted allowing authorities to send notifications alerting the public to missing children, dubbed the MARCO Alert.

While the system was rolled out by the Christie administration, it is unclear if it was ever used. It was set for an overhaul by the Minnis administration.

HAZELLE TOP IN GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TABERNACLE Baptist Christian Academy’s Hazelle Taylor obtained the highest results in the Bahamas Junior Certification exams in Grand Bahama.

The ninth grader received an A grade in all the five subjects – mathematics, language, Bible, social studies, and Spanish – she sat last June in the eighth grade.

The national exam is graded on a seven-point scale from A-G. Grade ‘A’ denotes the highest level of performance while grade ‘G’ denotes the lowest level.

When asked how she felt about being the top BJC achiever in Grand Bahama, Hazelle said: “I feel at peace. I reviewed my work constantly and I set a (study) schedule with the help of my mom.”

When asked for her advice to other students, she said: “Just trust in God and do your schoolwork.”

The school’s principal, Norris Bain, said they are very proud of Hazelle.

“This is the first time we had a student here that got the highest honour in GB,” Mr Bain said. “She was the only one that did five subjects and got five A’s in one sitting.”

The school official said

that their students have been recognised in Nassau in the past for outstanding BJC results, and BGCSE results.

Hazelle will be preparing next year for the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) exams.

“We are looking for that same kind of (exam) results because she is a dedicated student, and her mother ensures that,” the school’s principal said. “We are very pleased that her mom sees the importance of education and (we) hope and pray she will take it over to her adult life after graduating high school, and when she is in college.”

In 2019, Mr Dames said the government had committed $3.05m over three years for the MARCO Alert. A contract was later signed between the government and Multimedia

Technologies for the system in late August of that year.

According to the latest Royal Bahamas Police Force statistics, there were 100 missing person reports filed in 2020.

Of those figures, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle had said previously, 88 of those required no further action from officers, but he added that 11 cases are still being investigated.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, May 19, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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A tough choice for Atlantis and its staff THE announcement of 700 staff being made redundant at Atlantis yesterday will have sent a shiver down the spine of the Bahamian economy.

That total represents about a tenth of the workforce of the resort – and it shows we are still far from a recovery after COVID-19. Indeed, with case numbers still high and vaccination rates low, we’re very much in the thick of the fight.

From insiders, however, the move to offer redundancy might actually be helpful to some of the workforce who have been left in limbo for so long.

A number of workers had been calling for severance packages – for those who have been working at Atlantis for many years, that might represent a significant sum, which the released employees can use to cover debts that have built up during the pandemic.

Even the union president, Darrin Woods, said that the move would be welcomed by “scores of employees”.

Now Atlantis needs to find the right balance – offering voluntary redundancy where possible and limiting the compulsory redundancies to those that are necessary while still keeping the workforce the resort needs to move forward.

That’s no easy task, and while some may welcome the resolution, it’s all brought about by a situation that no one wants.

Atlantis has held on a long time before making redundancies – with many other resorts having done so previously – and with prospects opening up such as Baha Mar’s water park and The Pointe, we hope those who do find themselves out of work won’t be that way for long.

In the meantime, as a community we should support those out of work in any way we can. We would hope the government would look to extend food support where needed, for example.

Those who do receive pay-offs will need to look at that money as needing to tide them over until the next opportunity comes along – it’s not going to be easy for many.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is hopeful that things will improve by August to the extent that the emergency orders might not be needed any more – if that is so, that would be a good sign for our tourism business and our economy as a whole, and more opportunities might start to open up.

But we have to get there first – and there’s no guarantee that date won’t slip further back if we don’t make headway

against the pandemic, and especially on our vaccination rate.

People aren’t going to want to come to visit a country that isn’t winning the fight against COVID-19. People want the holiday of a lifetime, not a holiday that could end their lifetime.

To all those who are grateful for the redundancy, and to all those worried about the future now, we wish you all the best.

To everyone else, the best thing you can do to help those looking afresh for jobs in the tourism industry is go and get your vaccination and help win this fight against COVID-19.

School stabbing

A 15-year-old boy is dead today after a stabbing at Government High School.

The life and the future of Kenm Paul was taken in an instant. A fight between four boys, two of which were stabbed – one of which was Kenm, who died on the campus where he studied.

“We do everything that we can,” said Education Minister Jeff Lloyd after the incident. He talked of police on campuses, security officers throughout schools, but that didn’t prevent the fight that led to Kenm’s death.

Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters talked of police presence at schools being “somewhat situational” during the pandemic, adding “we’ll revisit our presence (in) the school”.

The others involved in the fight are said to have scaled the school fence and left.

When we send our children to school, we trust that they will come back home at the end of the day. When we kiss them goodbye at the start of the day, we do not expect it will be for the last time.

Parents outside the gate of the campus talked of concerns, one saying “Government High is not a secure school. Every day I watch kids jumping the gate doing all types of foolishness. They don’t even have no police here”.

These are our children’s lives. What can we do to keep them safe? How do we stop knives getting on the campus, how do we stop the violence that has left a boy dead?

Whatever we’re doing is not enough.

Whatever we do about that will be too late for Kenm – but we must do more to stop this happening again.

Readers speak on issues in the news AFTER Atlantis announced redundancies, readers have been having their say on tribune242. com.

Enough said: “Boy in capitalism the business always wins. So after the laws were basically changed to protect the hotels so that for more than a year they never made the employees they had on reduced pay redundant so that the hotel would not have to pay them out. They now turn around, as we are told tourism numbers are increasing, and make 700 people redundant.”

Godspeed replied: “Well who didn’t see this coming?

A business will act in the best interest of the business, it’s up to the employee to save their salary and invest it wisely so that they can weather these kinds of events. At the end of the day it’s just a job, it’s not supposed to be forever.”

JokeyJack added: “People dont need jobs, they just need to wear their masks. 15 days to slow

the spread, it’s really that simple.”

Sickened replied: “Most businesses have cut well over 10% of their staff in the last year - probably closer to 50% on average.

Although 700 jobs is a big number to swallow, especially in the size economy we have, as a percentage it’s not bad.”

Tribanon blamed the Prime Minister, saying: “The curse of Minnis is upon us, and the worst is yet to come.”

DDK replied: “What a horrible mess they have created. This renewing of dictatorial powers seems to have broken at least one more camel’s back. Can’t we lay off Minnis and his minions?”

DonAnthony said: “I expect they will cut the unvaccinated first. Bahamas get vaccinated, it is the only way out of this crisis.”

Jetfit said: “This is EXACTLY the result of more emergency orders instead of reopening the country to tourism. Make people sign up for a health visa, go get your test, upload the COVID test, pay for your health visa, wait on edge and hope you get your health visa in time, fly to the Bahamas, and on day 5 go get in line for yet another COVID test to get back into the U.S. And you wonder why tourist aren’t coming to the Bahamas?? I’ll tell you why.....it’s NOT worth it, it’s a total pain in the ass, and people don’t need to come to the Bahamas that badly!!! So keep requiring all this boo-sh-t, and see how fast tourism numbers rise. Trust me there are more layoffs to come. You all ain’t seen nothin’ yet!!! Government at its finest!!!”

Priviliges for the vaccinated are wrong EDITOR, The Tribune.

I WRITE this letter to the Prime Minister as a rebuttal to the announcement of the newly identified “special privileges” being afforded to “fully vaccinated persons” in this country, released in the government’s most recent Emergency Orders issued May 14, 2021.

As a person who has successfully recovered from COVID, along with 99 percent of other recovered patients who have resumed life normally following this virus, we are being discriminated against in the most horrific way possible.

Shame on this government for segregating its people in this manner.

Everyone preaches equality and the right to choose for all – but where is the equality and personal choice in this? This is downright discrimination.

How can the Prime Minister sit here and implement a discriminatory action against law-abiding citizens of this country because we choose not to take an unapproved, untested, exploratory vaccine that is still in its infancy?

It is my choice whether I wish to take this vaccine, and not for anyone to tell me that I have to, nor anyone’s right to take away my rights because I choose not to.

Furthermore, many doctors (both domestic and international) have stated that those who have recovered from COVID have the antibodies needed to

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net protect themselves from the virus.

That’s more than I can say for the privileged “fully vaccinated persons” who can continue to contract and spread the virus, giving themselves and others around them a false sense of security.

Who knows, maybe they’ll even be the next subset of Super-Spreaders, but I’m sure the press release has already been drafted to combat that thought, likely blaming the unvaccinated and using it as propaganda to further pressure individuals into taking the vaccine.

Furthermore, the side effects are unknown and potentially unsafe for those who have had COVID to take the vaccine within at least several months (if not longer) of having had the virus.

Again, this has been suggested by many doctors, both local and foreign. In fact, so much about this vaccine and its long-term implications are unknown, so how can you, the Prime Minister of our nation, make such a divisive and discriminatory statement?

Because I have had COVID, and therefore not suited to take the vaccine (not that I plan to anyway, but let’s pretend for a few minutes that I would) I am now resorted

to sitting outside, with the “less privileged”, to paying more for my travel visas, to standing in lines to get COVID tests, when in reality I am more protected, and LESS of a risk, than your vaccinated populous?

My suggestion is that those who have recovered from COVID and can produce their release letters from the Ministry of Health or produce their antibody test results showing they have the actual antibodies for the virus should be afforded the same privileges that you are issuing to “fully vaccinated persons”.

Just like they can produce their yellow vaccination cards, we can produce our confirmation letters.

The EU has implemented this and even entry into the United States is permitted by showing you have recovered from the virus without needing a COVID test. Why can’t The Bahamas get with the programme?

Please, don’t make this a civil rights violation. It is my basic human right to choose.

You do not have the right to take away my rights and single-handedly place certain folks in a more privileged category, “better” than the rest of us. We are not second-class citizens.

Sincerely, Healthy, Recovered, COVID Survivor with Antibodies.

COVID SURVIVOR Nassau, May 18, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 19, 2021, PAGE 7

DRUG LORD CONVICTION CONFIRMED

from page one

At the time, the prosecution made an application under section 9 of the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize his assets. However that matter was not ruled on until November 2007 and the magistrate then sentenced Major to five years in prison pursuant to the conviction under the Dangerous Drugs Act. According to court documents, Major later appealed his conviction and sentence on the grounds that the magistrate “breached” his rights under Article 20 of the Constitution when she “continued to preside” over his case despite a decision of a Supreme Court justice who ordered that the matter be heard by another magistrate.

Major also argued the magistrate failed to allow a fair trial within a reasonable time by failing to pass sentence upon him until four and a half years after he was convicted.

Yesterday, Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Jon Isaacs, and Roy Jones dismissed his appeal after ruling that “no miscarriage of justice” occurred in the case.

In his judgement, Sir Michael noted the magistrate could not “recuse herself on the basis alleged by the appellant after

the Court of Appeal had directed her to complete the matter.” He also said someone seeking to appeal their conviction could not rely upon jurisdiction as a ground of appeal unless they intended to raise the “jurisdictional objection before the magistrate herself.”

“There is nothing before this panel to indicate that after the ruling of this court in September, 2002 did the appellant raise any objection to the jurisdiction of the magistrate to complete this matter,” he stated.

“Relative to the grounds of delay, the combined effect of sections 9 and 12 (Proceeds of Crimes Act) obliges a magistrate to delay sentencing pursuant to a conviction until the determination of the section 9 application. The language of section 9 is clear: ‘A person shall, in addition to any penalty prescribed by any law for that offence, be liable at the time of sentencing in respect of that conviction to have a confiscation order made against him relating to the proceeds of drug trafficking’. Before a confiscation order can be made, the procedure under section 12 must be complied with by the prosecution, defendant and the court. There is an inherent delay between conviction

and sentencing under this procedure.”

Likewise, in his judgement, Justice Isaacs noted that “unlike the Supreme Court”, magistrates did not have the “statutory authority to backdate a sentence so that the sentence could take effect before the date of conviction.”

“Section 186(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code provides that authority to a justice of the Supreme Court,” he explained. “The sentences imposed by the magistrate could not commence on a date prior to November 12, 2007. I am unable to perceive any injustice inuring to the appellant in the circumstances if the sentences were not quashed. He had been convicted of serious drug offences and was deserving of the court’s condign punishment. The terms of imprisonment imposed by the magistrate were not unduly harsh or severe. In the premises, this would have been an appropriate case for the application of the proviso to section 15(2) of the Court of Appeal Act because no miscarriage of justice has actually occurred.”

Major was also extradited to the United States in 2008 to serve time for another offence. He has completed that sentence.

$500 FINE OVER 13 GRAMS OF HEMP

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 29-YEAR-OLD man, who was found with marijuana yesterday, was fined $500.

Police arrested Denero Balfour after they found 13 grams of Indian hemp in his home on May 17.

He pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession during his hearing before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis.

The court was told that around 6.10pm that day, officers, acting on information, went to Balfour’s residence armed with a search warrant. The prosecution said when they arrived, the officers saw the accused who appeared to look in their direction before running into his home. The officers then followed him, knocked on his door and identified themselves.

The court was told that they heard movement in the house, so they breached the door. Once inside, they informed Balfour that he would be searched in connection with dangerous drugs and firearms. During their investigation, they found 10 silver foil wraps in the area of the accused’s groin. A further search of his bedroom also led to the discovery of a plastic bag containing another quantity of marijuana. Balfour was subsequently arrested.

Yesterday, Balfour told the magistrate he had bought the drugs for his personal use.

As a result, Magistrate Rolle Davis accepted his guilty plea and fined him $500 or one month at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Meanwhile, Daniel Johnson, 28, was charged with simple possession after officers found him on May 6 smoking a joint that

contained two grams of marijuana.

Prosecutor Timothy Bain said around 2.30 that afternoon, a police officer on foot patrol in the West Bay Street area observed Johnson smoking a homemade cigarette. When he approached the accused to question him, he noticed a strong aroma of marijuana. Johnson was then arrested and taken to a nearby station where he admitted the offence in an interview with police.

During his hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes, Johnson also pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession.

He was granted a conditional discharge on the agreement he would attend drug counselling classes for one year.

Magistrate Forbes said if he failed to comply with the conditions of his release, he would be convicted and sentenced to three months in prison.

FIVE DENY STEALING BOAT WORTH $50K

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

FIVE Harbour Island men who denied stealing a $50,000 boat from another man on the island were each granted bail yesterday before their trial.

Dudley Cleare, 29, Clearance Bowleg, 34, Benjamin Martin, 28, Zion Curry, 24, and Jermaine Grant, 20, appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis after they were accused of stealing a 2008 22-foot sea hunt vessel from Andre Sands on May 2.

All of the accused denied the allegation and the case was adjourned to June 2 for trial.

In the interim, the men were each granted $6,500 bail with one guarantor.

Yesterday, Magistrate Rolle Davis also denied bail to a former inmate who was accused of stealing a woman’s car battery on May 1.

Nelson Paul denied the stealing charge during his arraignment; however, before the issue of bail could be determined, the prosecution objected to it.

The prosecution argued that Paul was before the

courts once again after spending 18 months on remand for a similar offence.

His attorney, Wendawn Fraser, asserted that her client was a “good candidate for bail” because he was not likely to reoffend and was maintaining his innocence.

In response, Magistrate Davis said he considered the fact that Paul was accused of another crime less than three months after he was released from prison.

As a result, he denied the accused bail and remanded him back into custody until June 14.

US MAN ACCUSED OF TRAFFICKING POLICE have arrested a 61-year-old American man suspected of human trafficking.

His arrest is in connection to a “job scam” in Orlando, Florida, police said yesterday.

Police previously warned people of a “disturbing trend” they said had developed where Bahamians were being “lured to the

United States with the promise of a job ready and waiting for them at a resort in Orlando, Florida.”

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said this was a fraudulent scheme that could result in negative outcomes.

“Bahamians and residents are reminded that, prior to accepting employment in the United States,

there is a legal requirement to have the appropriate visa issued by the United States Embassy,” the RBPF said.

Police said the resort in question has no employment agreement with the individual(s) who had been prospecting in this country.

As a result, Bahamians were warned not to fall victim to this scheme.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER MARIJUANA FIND

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama police arrested a man for drug possession on Monday.

According to Superintendent Stephen Rolle, shortly before 5.30pm officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit

went in the area of Basil Neymour Park on Coral Road. While there, they discovered a black plastic saran wrap that contained suspected marijuana at a utility pole.

The estimated weight of the drugs is 0.5 pounds, with an estimated street value of $500.

Supt Rolle also said that DEU officers in New Providence arrested a 40-year-old male resident of Dollar Row, Freeport, in connection with the discovery of 58 kilos of suspected cocaine that was previously discovered on Cat Island.

Investigations are being continued.

DWIGHT Major at a previous court appearance.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, May 19, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

If we’re going to have national debates - at least do your homework

LAST week, University of The Bahamas and Verizon Media Group held the first in a series of debates this election season. Most political parties participate in the debate, sending a young person to argue their positions. The Free National Movement was noticeably absent, clearly uninterested in deepening democracy and being compared with other parties in that particular forum.

Before the event, it issued a statement with its nonsensical view of the debate series which did nothing to explain its unwillingness to participate.

The debate provided a great opportunity to assess the aptitude and commitment of young candidates, even if they were disappointing. It was clear they were not provided with adequate training and preparation for the debate.

Even the responses to questions they had in advance were subpar at best. They frequently talked around the questions, failing to give clear, direct answers.

One might say they are following in the footsteps of those who went before them. The debate should be a wake up call for those who expect young people to be better, smarter and more progressive just by virtue of being young. It, obviously, does not work that way.

We should all be looking for the people who will, in 10, 20 and 30 years, do what we do now. We ought to prepare them to do it better by sharing both our successes and failures, encouraging critical thinking and helping them to turn their criticisms into fresh ideas, then turning those ideas into action.

We need new and younger people in positions of leadership. We need people with different perspectives. It is our expectation younger people will be more concerned about the state of the country over a longer period of time because young people have a longer time to spend here. We think they will build the country they want and we all deserve. They cannot do this, however, all on their own.

We have failed at building intergenerational organisations, succession planning and both encouraging and nourishing youth leadership. There is an obvious need for mentorship across sectors. People should be looking for ways to share knowledge gained through formal education and experience.

We should all be looking for the people who will, in 10, 20 and 30 years, do what we do now. We ought to prepare them to do it better by sharing both our successes

HELP RESTORE TAYAH’S VISION ONE of the things we have learned to do is show up in times of crisis. We know the importance of helping one another to get necessary resources, overcome obstacles and meet goals. We help our cousins with college applications, give our nieces and nephews rides to school, help out at the church soup kitchen, and go through our cupboards to find nonperishable food to donate to people in need.

Before COVID-19, some of us bought steakout and souse tickets almost every weekend to help co-workers, friends and family members to pay medical bills. These days, we are seeing GoFundMe campaigns pop up with heartbreaking stories.

Even if such things are in your budget, it can seem as though no amount is enough. There is always more need. Still, we have to do

what we can. We do not know when people we know and love will need this kind of help. We can be certain that, when we come together as a community, we can at least get closer to meeting the needs that we would if we try to do it alone.

On Sunday night, I saw a Facebook post by a long-time friend who is in need of help. One of the most genuine, kind, supportive people I have ever known is doing everything she can to help her daughter.

Months after Tayah was born, Tehillah Pearce learned Tayah had congenital cataracts. Tayah was taken to the US where she had two eye surgeries to remove the cataracts. Following the surgeries, she had to wear $600 contacts that had to be replaced quarterly.

In addition, she has had to attend

follow-up visits with doctors in the US on at least a semi-annual basis.

This, of course, has been expensive and medical bills have been racking up.

Last summer, Tayah complained of severe eye pain. In the midst of COVID-19, it was a difficult decision, but Tehillah decided to do everything she could to help her daughter. She travelled with her two children to the US in hopes of finding out what was wrong and fixing it immediately.

Tayah had to undergo an emergency surgery with a co-pay of $15,000. The medical bills in addition to accommodations and meeting basic needs has been costly over the past few years, but a mother does everything she possibly can for her child.

Now, Tehillah needs family, friends and community members

to help her get over the next hurdle—getting Tayah to Thailand where stem cell therapy is successfully being used to treat the eyes.

The treatment costs over $60,000, so Tehillah is trying to raise $70,000 to enable her to travel, secure accommodations and other necessities, and give Tayah the chance to regain vision in her right eye.

At the time of writing, $1425 of $70,000 has been raised. Please help in any way you can. Monetary donations of any amount will get Tayah closer to vision rejuvenation. Sharing the link on social media will help Tayah’s story to reach more people and encourage them to contribute what they can.

Visit gofundme.com/f/helptayah to learn more about what she has been through and to make a contribution.

By Alicia Wallace and failures, encouraging critical thinking and helping them to turn their criticisms into fresh ideas, then turning those ideas into action.

When we tuned into the debate last week, we did not want to hear the same old talk. Most of us know that was what we would get, but we did not want it. One of the moderators said it was meant to be a “policy conversation”, but that is not what took place.

The participants were not prepared to answer the questions.

Some said the critique of the participants was harsh,

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particularly given their age and, generally speaking, I disagree. I am sure there were some cruel comments that everyone could have been spared, but it is not reasonable to expect us to withhold critique because the participants are young people.

The standards do not change with age. They had the questions in advance, so there is no excuse for not being prepared to give substantive answers. That said, the questions could have been better, and framed in ways that focused on policy if the goal was to have a policy conversation.

In a debate, we need more than thoughts and feelings. We need more than jabs against other parties, gimmicks and meme content. We need to understand party positions and plans. Parties need to know that promises are not plans.

We have been reading and hearing promises for decades, and we have had more than enough of them. We need to know what they plan to do, the research that supports their planned actions, how they will carry out said actions, and what the timeline looks like. We need to demand more, not less.

DESTINY from Malta performing in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, yesterday.

Photo: Peter Dejong/AP

Recommendations 1. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. There is an intricate story in everything Murakami writes. It is often difficult to pinpoint exactly what his novels are about. Some say Norwegian Wood is romance while others are adamant that it is not. In it, Toru takes a walk down memory lane, recalling the way he dealt with the death of his best friend through a connection with mutual friend Naoko and new friend who is more complicated at every turn. There is death and life, there is grief and joy, and maybe that is why this is the book that catapulted Murakami to superstar status.

2. Eurovision. This is the week. Every May, I await the call from my friend Stephen, letting me know that it’s Eurovision week. In one of the greatest spectacles of the year, the European Broadcasting Union organizes

a song contest with participants from European countries who bring original songs to the stage in an unmatched series of performances. The lyrics, the costumes, and the antics are not to be missed. Last year, due to COVID-19, Eurovision did not take place, so I expect participating countries to give us all they’ve got and send over-the-top performers to vie for one year of bragging rights. I have been committed to clearing my schedule for Eurovision for years, especially since 2013 when I was enthralled

by Romania’s Cezar performing It’s My Life like. It has never been topped, but I also enjoyed 2014 when I saw Austrian singer Conchita Wurst perform Rise Like a Phoenix. Though I don’t expect my two favourites to be topped, it is fun to watch and hope for a bigger showstopper. In addition to the performances, it is

quite entertaining to watch the votes roll in from different countries while looking at a map to see exactly how neighbours support one another. Check out the Eurovision finals on Saturday at 3pm.

3. Farmers markets. Buy local. Farmers in The Bahamas have the best produce, and farmers markets also have vendors with delectable goods like homemade bread, jams, and herbal teas. One of my favourite farmers markets to visit is on the porch at Doongalik on Village Road. There are also greens, tomatoes, sweet treats, lemonade, and bread. Sometimes, you can even find candles, jewellery, and pizza dough. When you build a relationship with the vendors, you may even get early notice on what will be available so you plan your grocery shopping around local produce and homemade goods.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 19, 2021, PAGE 9

RUGBY USES EYE-TRACKING TECHNOLOGY TO TACKLE CONCUSSIONS

By STEVE MCMORRAN AP Sports Writer

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A “shadow trial” of advanced eye-tracking technology will be conducted in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman tournament in Australia and New Zealand as part of World Rugby’s bid to tackle head injuries by improving the detection of concussions.

The virtual reality technology, known as NeuroFlex, is set to be used during matches as part of the head injury assessment (HIA) process under a partnership between Rugby Australia, Rugby New Zealand and World Rugby.

NeuroFlex records horizontal and vertical movement of the eyes and head movements and, within seconds, analyses that data and generates a

report which helps medical personnel diagnose and manage concussions.

It will also be used as part of the return-to-play process to monitor players’ return from head injuries.

“NeuroFlex is an objective test that could further improve rugby’s approach to brain health, supporting doctors to make the right decision,” World Rugby said in a statement Tuesday.

“Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that oculomotor (eye movement) functions are altered at the time of, or shortly after a concussion.”

World Rugby described it as a groundbreaking trial aimed at measuring the diagnostic accuracy of the test.

“In the lead-up to Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, teams have been embracing the study with all participating

TECHTALK

IN this photo from 2019, Australia’s Kurtley Beale, centre, is assisted from the field after suffering a head injury during the Rugby World Cup Pool D game at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa between Australia and Georgia in Shizuoka, Japan. A “shadow trial” of advanced eye-tracking technology will be conducted in the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby tournament in Australia and New Zealand as part of World Rugby’s bid to tackle head injuries by improving the detection of concussion.

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File) players undertaking baseline testing under controlled conditions to provide an accurate comparison for use when a player comes off for an HIA.” Data gathered in the trial will be used to compare the accuracy of concussion identification based on eye and head movements with the current head injury assessment process.

The outcome will influence World Rugby’s future moves on player welfare.

“As a key element of our progressive approach to injury reduction and management, rugby continually employs and assesses technology developments that could enhance the care of players in our sport, from community rugby to elite competitions,” World Rugby chief medical officer Dr. Eanna Falvey said.

“We believe that oculomotor screening examination in rugby has the potential to boost the identification and management of concussions by objectively identifying potential abnormalities in oculomotor function between a player’s baseline and when removed for an HIA assessment, adding to the depth of identification methods available to the sport.”

NeuroFlex was developed

by Saccade Analytics which is headed by Dr. Mimi Galiana, who has spent almost 30 years at Canada’s McGill University researching eye and head movement.

Conrad Smith, the International Rugby Players head of player welfare, said it’s “important that we use advances in technology to further our understanding of brain health and head

injuries in our sport.”

Strict enforcement of tackle rules and extra emphasis on concussion protocols have evolved in international rugby over the last decade.

World Rugby and two of the sport’s major national governing bodies received notice last December that proceedings were being brought against them by a group of former players preparing claims for negligence over brain injuries suffered during their careers.

It follows legal action in other sports.

In the U.S., the NFL in 2013 settled lawsuits from thousands of former players who developed dementia or other concussion-related health problems.

The settlement is expected to cost the NFL more than $1 billion.

CHINA LANDS ON MARS IN MAJOR ADVANCE FOR ITS SPACE AMBITIONS

By KEN MORITSUGU Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — China landed a spacecraft on Mars for the first time on Saturday, a technically challenging feat more difficult than a moon landing, in the latest step forward for its ambitious goals in space.

Plans call for a rover to stay in the lander for a few days of diagnostic tests before rolling down a ramp to explore an area of Mars known as Utopia Planitia. It will join an American rover that arrived at the red planet in February.

China’s first Mars landing follows its launch last month of the main section of what will be a permanent space station and a mission that brought back rocks from the moon late last year.

“China has left a footprint on Mars for the first time, an important step for our country’s space exploration,” the official Xinhua News Agency said in announcing the landing on one of its social media accounts.

The U.S. has had nine successful landings on Mars since 1976. The Soviet Union landed on the planet in 1971, but the mission failed after the craft stopped transmitting information soon after touchdown.

A rover and a tiny helicopter from the American landing in February are currently exploring Mars. NASA expects the rover to collect its first sample in July for return to Earth in a decade.

China has landed on the moon before but landing on Mars is a much more difficult undertaking.

Spacecraft use shields for protection from the searing heat of entering the Martian atmosphere, and use both retro-rockets and parachutes to slow down enough to prevent a crash landing. The parachutes and rockets

IN this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, members at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center celebrate after China’s Tianwen-1 probe successfully landed on Mars, at the centre in Beijing, Saturday. (Jin Liwang/Xinhua via AP) must be deployed at precise times to land at the designated spot. Only mini-retro rockets are required for a moon landing, and parachutes alone are sufficient for returning to Earth.

Xinhua said the entry capsule entered the Mars atmosphere at an altitude of 125 kilometres (80 miles), initiating what it called “the riskiest phase of the whole mission.”

A 200 square metre (2,150 square foot) parachute was deployed and later jettisoned, and then a retrorocket was fired to slow the speed of the craft to almost zero, Xinhua said.

The craft hovered about 100 metres (330 feet) above the surface to identify obstacles before touching down on four buffer legs.

“Each step had only one chance, and the actions were closely linked.

If there had been any flaw, the landing would have failed,” said Geng Yan, an official at the China National

Space Administration, according to Xinhua.

Touchdown was at 7:18 a.m. Beijing time (23:18 Friday GMT; 7:18 p.m. EDT), although more than an hour passed before ground controllers could confirm the landing was a success, Xinhua said. The rover had to open its solar panels and antenna, and then it took more than 17 minutes for its signals to traverse the distance between Mars and Earth.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a congratulatory letter to the mission team, called the landing “an important step in our country’s interplanetary exploration journey, realising the leap from Earth-moon to the planetary system and leaving the mark of the Chinese on Mars for the first time. ... The motherland and people will always remember your outstanding feats!”

NASA Associate Administrator

Thomas Zurbuchen tweeted his congratulations, saying, “Together with the global science community, I look forward to the important contributions this mission will make to humanity’s understanding of the Red Planet.”

China’s Mars landing was the top trending topic on Weibo, a leading social media platform, as people expressed both excitement and pride.

The Tianwen-1 spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since February, when it arrived after a 6 1/2-month journey from Earth.

Xinhua described the mission as China’s first planetary exploration.

The rover, named after the Chinese god of fire Zhurong, is expected to be deployed for 90 days to search for evidence of life. About the size of a small car, it has ground-penetrating radar, a laser, and sensors to gauge the atmosphere and magnetic sphere.

China’s space programme has proceeded in a more cautious manner than the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the height of their space race.

The launch of the main module for China’s space station in April is the first of 11 planned missions to build and provision the station and send up a three-person crew by the end of next year. While the module was successfully launched, the uncontrolled return to Earth of the rocket drew international criticism including from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

China has said it wants to land people on the moon and possibly build a scientific base there. No timeline has been released for these projects.

A space plane is also reportedly under development.

• MILAN (AP) — Carmaker Stellantis and Taiwan’s Foxconn on Tuesday announced plans to develop a jointly operated automotive supplier focusing on technology to make vehicles more connected, including artificial intelligence-based applications and 5-G communications.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the services that will be developed through the tie-up “will mark the next great evolution of our industry,” alongside fully electrified and hybrid powertrains.

The deal brings together Stellantis, the world’s 4thlargest automaker formed this year by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Peugeot, and Foxconn, a major supplier of iPhones.

The companies said the venture would focus on such services as infotainment, the integration of telecommunications and computer systems, artificial intelligencebased applications, 5G communications, e-commerce channels and smart cockpit integration.

The companies announced a non-binding memorandum of understanding to form a 50-50 joint venture called Mobile Drive, which will be based in the Netherlands and function as an automotive supplier also to other carmakers.

The new venture will combine advanced consumer electronics, Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) to create new services “that will exceed customer expectations,” the companies said in a release.

“Customers today and, in the future, demand and expect ever-increasing software-driven and creative solutions to connect the drivers and passengers with the vehicle inside and out,’’ Foxconn Chairman Young Liu. • LONG BEACH, Calif.

(AP) — California-based Rocket Lab said a launch of satellites from its facility in New Zealand failed Saturday.

The problem occurred during ignition of the Electron rocket’s second stage, the company said in a statement.

The rocket was carrying two Earth-observation satellites for BlackSky, a global monitoring company.

“Today’s anomaly occurred after 17 successful orbital launches of the Electron launch vehicle.

“With multiple launch vehicles currently in production, Rocket Lab is prepared for a rapid return to flight as soon as investigations are complete and any required corrective actions are in place,” the statement said.

Rocket Lab said the rocket’s first stage successfully parachuted into the ocean and crews were working to recover it.

The company is trying to develop a capability to recover and reuse Electron first stages.

Rocket Lab is headquartered in Long Beach, California, and has launch sites on New Zealand’s Mahia peninsula and Wallops Island, Virginia.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, May 19, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

HURRICANE SEASON STARTS JUNE 1 – HERE’S WHAT FORECASTERS ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW

By KRISTOPHER KARNAUSKAS Associate Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder AS summer in the Northern Hemisphere approaches, forecasters begin watching every bout of rainy weather between the Gulf of Mexico and Africa. Each counterclockwise swirl of wind or burst of puffy clouds there has the potential to organize into a life-threatening tropical storm.

About half of the tropical storms that formed over the past two decades grew into hurricanes, and about half of those became the monsters of coastal destruction we call major hurricanes.

We’re now accustomed to seeing about 16 tropical storms per year, though that number can vary quite a bit year to year.

The National Hurricane Centre will be issuing its first seasonal forecast of 2021 this week. What are the warning signs that we might be in for another record hurricane season like 2020, when 30 tropical storms formed, or a quieter one like 2014, with just eight?

Here are some of the ingredients forecasters and scientists like myself look for.

WHERE TROPICAL STORMS BEGIN

Hurricanes live in the atmosphere, but they are fed by the ocean. First, let’s look even farther upstream and find out where they come from.

Like growing crops, hurricanes will be plentiful and

Atlantic region comes from events thousands of miles away in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

When the eastern Pacific Ocean is abnormally warm – known as El Niño – the global atmosphere gets rearranged in a way that increases wind shear over the Atlantic. That tends to suppress tropical storms there – but don’t bet the farm on it. Other slow variations in the climate system also influence environmental conditions, including multi-year periods of warmer or cooler than normal surface temperatures in the North Atlantic.

El Niño’s opposite, La Niña, tends to bring low wind shear, favouring more tropical storms. These conditions are near neutral right now, and forecasters are watching to see what develops.

WHERE TO WATCH

HURRICANES KATIA, Irma and Jose on September 8, 2017. robust with a large number of seeds and favourable environmental conditions.

The seeds of tropical storms are small and hardly menacing weather disturbances. You’ll find them scattered throughout the tropics on any given day.

In the Atlantic, some start as clusters of thunderstorms over Africa, or as clouds near the Cape Verde Islands off Africa’s west coast.

The vast majority of these seeds do not survive beyond a few days, but some are swept up by the easterly airflow to be planted over the tropical Atlantic Ocean

between about 10 to 20 degrees north latitude. This is the field where growth is really fuelled by the ocean.

From there, developing tropical storms are carried westward and northward by the “steering currents” of the atmosphere – avoiding the equator where the crucial effect of Earth’s rotation is too small for them to develop further.

The more seeds, the better chance of an active hurricane season.

Several factors influence the level of tropical storm seeding in a given year, but forecasters’ eyes are usually trained on the African

Public Viewing for

Albert Henry Gibson, 71 of Major Road and formerly of Steventon, Exuma, died on April 28th, 2021. Friends may pay their last respects at East Sunrise Mortuary, #183 Baillou Hill Road & Cordeaux Avenue from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (TODAY) Wednesday, May 19th. Cremation will follow.

He is survived by his Spouse: Samantha CurryGibson: Children: Avalton Sr. (Jeanene), Angel, Albert Jr., Andrew Sr. (Osita), Judah, Alphanique & Aljene’ Gibson, Kevanthia & Keleisha Wells; Grandchildren: Dimitri, Makaveli, Avalton Jr, Andrew Jr, Alexa, Ava, Aalani & J’Dyn Gibson, Zantasia Sturrup, Q’Taszya Nottage, Kae’Leigha Wells & Kawhi Burrows; Mother-in-law: Diana Rolle; Siblings: Lenora Shaw, Eric, Drexel and Bethel Gibson, Ruthmae and Eric Seymour, Judymae Knowles, Hon. Chester Cooper MP for Exuma; Sisters-in-law: Hope & Margo Curry, Jennifer Johnson, Rose & Vashti Adderley; Brothers-in-Law: Vincent, Jarred & Garna Curry & Anthony Johnson and Tony Charles Sr.; Auntsin-Law: Mavis Curry & Naomi Rolle; Uncle-in-Law: David Rolle; Nieces & Nephews: Sophie & Helena Curry, Tiska Ramseur, Shonice & Shonell Rodgers, Brendon Johnson, Khalil & Tamaal Curry, Tony Jr & Matthew Charles, Jamaal Shepherd, Shonton Rodgers, Sonia Henfield, Laverne Rolle, Innah and Arneatha, Kevin, James Jr. and Hansen Shaw, Janice and Sheereza Gibson, Ericka and Raymond McKinney, Paswell and Judymae Gibson, McDonald, Jason, Benton, Marvin, and Davaughn Gibson, Branddira and Jason Woodside, Bishop Branson and Ashanta Gibson, Brandon and Bronya Gibson, Erica, Julian and Jermaine Seymour, Minister Chevonne and Pastor Michael Francis, Darren and Dionico Knowles; Family & Friends:The children of his Godmothers, The late Florence Smith & Oralee Martin, Zeke Adderley, Godfrey Newry, Charles Wallace, Mark Gates, Troy Gray & Wesley Smith and the entire communities of Exuma and Long Island; Numerous Grand Nieces, Nephews and Other Relatives and friends including: Christine Lindsay and The entire Rolle family in Staniel Cay. Clara McPhee, Veronica McGee, Leona and Adelma Roach, Arnette Dorsett, Arthur Roach Jr. and Anthony Roach Sr. and Family.

Doralese Roach and the entire Roach Family, Pastor Reckley and Michelle Armbrister and Church of God of Prophecy, Pastor Romeo Josey & The Soul Winners Family, Fr. Ethan Ferguson & The St. Andrews Anglican Parish.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at Scotia Bank East Bay Street, Account #3583917 in the name of St. Andrew’s Administration.

Please visit our website: www.eastsunrisemortuary.com to share your memories and condolences with family and friends. #183 Baillou Hill Road & Cordeaux Avenue, P.O. Box CB-12248, Nassau, Bahamas Telephone: (242) 323-EAST (3278), 326-4209 Email: eastsunrise@batelnet.bs

monsoon in the spring.

Once those seeds emerge from the African coastline or from pockets of warm, rising air popping up elsewhere over the ocean, attention shifts to the environmental conditions that can fuel or limit their growth into tropical storms and hurricanes.

WARM WATER FUELS HURRICANES

In general, tropical storms thrive where the surface ocean is a balmy 80 F (26.7 C) or warmer.

That’s why hurricanes are rare before June 1 and are most likely to occur August through October, when the ocean is at its warmest.

The main fuel supply for tropical storms is the heat energy in the upper ocean, the top 100 feet (30 meters) or so.

It’s more than just the temperature of the surface, though. A major factor in the development of very strong hurricanes is how deep the warm waters extend, and how sharply separated the warm layer is from the cold waters below.

This is because hurricanes churn up the ocean as they move along.

If the layer of warm water is shallow and easily mixed, it doesn’t take much

churning to dilute the heat energy at the surface with cold water from below, leaving less energy for the hurricane. But if the warm water goes deeper, the storms have more fuel to draw from.

THE EFFECT OF UPPER-LEVEL WINDS

The prevailing winds already blowing in a region can also make or break a storm.

Winds blow at different speeds at different heights.

It’s one of the reasons airplanes experience turbulence. How much faster the prevailing winds are near the top of the storm than at the bottom is called wind shear. With too much wind shear, the storm has difficulty maintaining those towering plumes of rising hot air.

Similarly, if the rising air can’t escape and flow outward quickly enough, the energy consumed by the storm can’t be ventilated and the engine chokes. Both can prevent the storm from becoming organized and either cap its growth or cause it to dissipate.

An important clue about future wind shear in the

So if you’re watching for early signs of Atlantic hurricanes in 2021, keep an eye on the African monsoon for storm seeding, temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean to provide the fuel and a possible late-blooming La Niña, meaning less wind shear to tear storms apart.

The National Hurricane Centre – and many other forecasting groups in government, academia and industry – analyse these and other factors in their season projections.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The total number of tropical storms tells only part of the story. There are other important aspects to keep an eye on over time, like how intense storms become, how long they last, how fast they travel and how long they take to dissipate after making landfall. Recent studies have indicated that hurricanefuelling ocean temperatures have been trending warmer since the Industrial Revolution, especially along the US East Coast.

Coastal communities are already on the front lines of climate change with sea level rise. The potential for changes in extreme events like tropical storms, with their complex interactions with the atmosphere and ocean, are why hurricanes have steadily risen to be a top research priority.

• Originally published in theconversation.com

SHARICO SHINES IN HIS STUDIES AN outstanding student has earned a double honour - as the most outstanding cadet in the Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps, and graduating top of his class at Central Eleuthera High School.

16-year-old Sharico Farquharson will complete his high school career next month - and has been a member of the Cadet Corps from the 10th grade.

His endeavours have earned him the Clyde Bethel Award for Eleuthera which is presented to the Most Outstanding Cadet.

For those who know this young man, this award is no surprise because he has made it his mantra to always put his best effort forward and this has also secured for him the position of head boy of his school, after having previously served as a prefect. He will be graduating at the top of his class in geography, biology, accounts, mathematics, bookkeeping and keyboarding.

A perennial Principal’s List and Honour Roll student, at the end of the first term during this academic year, Sharico secured a 4.0 grade point average, which took his cumulative average above a 3.7. He holds 8 BJCs and 4 BGCSE subjects which were earned prior to the 12th grade.

He is also a member of the Christian Student Movement; the school’s marching band as well as the Freedom Community Marching Band where he is a trumpet player. He also finds time to participate in the Youth Group of the Revival Baptist Church in North Palmetto Point and for recreation he enjoys basketball, American football and

playing video games.

The Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps is an after-school programme which seeks to introduce students to the shipping industry, primarily from the point of an ocean-going career. Participants learn about areas including navigation, seamanship, rules of the nautical road, vessel husbandry and an exposure to marine engineering.

The programme is sponsored jointly by the Ministry of Transport and Local Government and the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology. They function under the auspices of the Bahamas Maritime Authority.

Cadets in Inagua, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and New Providence will receive certificates of completion next month.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 19, 2021, PAGE 11

Climate change ‘added $8bn’ to Sandy damage CLIMATE change-triggered sea level rise added $8 billion in damage during 2012’s Superstorm Sandy, one of the US’s costliest weather disasters, a new study said.

During Sandy — a late fall freak combination of a hurricane and other storms that struck New York and surrounding areas — the seas were almost 4 inches (9.6 centimeters) higher because of human-caused climate change, according to a study in Tuesday’s journal Nature Communications.

Researchers calculated that those few inches caused 13% of Sandy’s overall $62.5 billion damage, flooding 36,000 more homes.

Sandy killed 147 people, 72 in the eastern United States, according to the National Hurricane Center.

While past studies have determined global warming

was a factor in extreme weather events, either by increasing the chance of them happening or making them stronger, the new study is one of the first to tally the human costs of climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.

“In most cases, flooding was made worse by sea level rise and we show how much worse,” said study co-author Philip Orton, a physical oceanographer at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey.

Orton said there were places, such as basement apartments in the New York City area, filled with water that would have been dry without human-caused sea level rise.

“There are people who experienced significant losses from Hurricane Sandy who would not have experienced those losses

but for climate change,” said study lead author Ben Strauss, a sea level scientist who is CEO of Climate Central, a science-and-journalism venture.

To come up with its damage totals, the study first calculated how much of the storm surge — as much as 9 feet (2.7 meters) above the high tide line at the Battery in Manhattan — could be attributed to climate change.

Researchers did this by comparing 2012 observations to climate simulations of a world without global warming. They made calculations for sea level rise overall, then did it for each of the main contributors to sea level rise: warmer waters expanding and extra water from melting glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.

The researchers determined globally seas in

2012 were 4.1 inches (10.5 centimeters) higher than in 1900 because of climate change, but the amount was slightly less in New York: 3.8 inches (9.6 centimeters).

The reason is that Alaska’s melting glaciers and Greenland’s melting ice sheet are relatively close to the East Coast and the physics of sea level rise puts the biggest increases on the opposite end of the globe from the biggest melts, said study co-author Bob Kopp, director of Rutgers University’s Institute of Earth, Oceans and Atmospheric Sciences.

Then the researchers looked at where the flooding was and what computer simulations showed would have happened with four inches (9.6 centimeters) less water. In some places, such as Howard Beach in Queens, it was a big deal,

Orton said.

These calculations for sea level rise from climate change alone seem to make sense, said Steve Nerem, a scientist who studies sea rise at the University of Colorado and was not part of the research. Nerem said he wasn’t qualified to comment on the damage calculations but is a bit skeptical because 4 inches (9.6 centimeters) on such a large storm surge doesn’t seem so huge.

Susan Cutter, director of the University of South Carolina’s Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute who also wasn’t part of the research, said the study’s damage estimates seem reasonable to her.

Study author Strauss pointed out that Hurricane Irene in 2011 showed that the first five feet (1.5 meters) of flooding doesn’t

PALESTINIAN firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a paint factory after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Rafah, Gaza Strip, yesterday.

do nearly as much damage as what follows. Then, he said, the damage soars at an increasingly higher rate per inch.

One way to think about that, Strauss said, is the extra few inches can put enough water above a house’s lowest electrical outlet to require expensive fixes.

Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency when Sandy struck, said he can’t make a judgement on specific storms like Sandy being more costly because of climate change. But in general, he said, storms are worsening because of climate change.

After Sandy, Fugate said, then-President Barack Obama turned to him and stated: “The debate on climate change is over, we must start talking about climate adaptation.”

Photo: Yousef Masoud/AP

ROCKET FROM GAZA KILLS TWO; ISRAEL TOPPLES SIX-STOREY BUILDING GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Associated Press A ROCKET launched from Gaza killed two Thai workers in southern Israel yesterday, police said, hours after Israeli airstrikes toppled a six-storey building in the Palestinian territory that housed bookstores and educational centres.

With the war showing no sign of abating, Palestinians in the region staged a general strike in a rare collective action against Israel’s policies.

Violence erupted at protests in the occupied West Bank, including in the city of Ramallah. Hundreds of Palestinians burned tires and hurled stones at an Israeli military checkpoint. Troops fired tear gas canisters at the crowd, and protesters picked up some of them and threw them back.

One protester was killed and more than 70 wounded — including 16 by live fire — in clashes with Israeli troops in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron and other cities, according to the

Palestinian Health Ministry.

The Israeli army said two soldiers were wounded by gunshots to the leg.

The general strike was an uncommon show of unity among Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up 20 percent of its population, and those in the territories Israel seized in 1967 that the Palestinians have long sought for a future state.

Strike organiser Muhammad Barakeh said Palestinians are taking a position against Israeli “aggression” in Gaza and

Jerusalem, as well as the “brutal repression” by police. Israel blames the war on Hamas and accuses it of inciting the violence.

Since the fighting began last week between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, the Israeli military has launched hundreds of airstrikes it says are targeting Hamas’ militant infrastructure, while Palestinian militants have fired more than 3,400 rockets from civilian areas in Gaza at civilian targets in Israel.

The latest attack from

Gaza hit a packaging plant in a region bordering the territory. In addition to the two people killed, Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said it took another seven to hospital. Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said the wounded were also Thai.

The Israeli military said rockets also were fired at the Erez pedestrian crossing and at the Kerem Shalom crossing, where humanitarian aid was being brought into Gaza, forcing both to close. It said a soldier was

slightly wounded in Erez attack.

Israel continued its airstrikes into Gaza, leaving behind a large pile of rubble in its attack on the six-storey building with centers used by the Islamic University and other colleges. Desks, office chairs, books and wires could be seen in the debris.

Israel warned the building’s residents ahead of time, sending them fleeing into the predawn darkness.

There were no reports of casualties.

PROSECUTOR: OFFICERS JUSTIFIED IN FATAL SHOOTING ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina Associated Press

A NORTH Carolina prosecutor said yesterday that sheriff’s deputies were justified in fatally shooting Andrew Brown Jr. because he struck a deputy with his car and nearly ran him over while ignoring commands to show his hands and get out of the vehicle.

District Attorney Andrew Womble said at a news conference that Brown used his car as a “deadly weapon,” causing Pasquotank County deputies to believe it was necessary to use deadly force.

Womble, who

acknowledged Brown wasn’t armed with guns or other weapons, said the deputies will face no criminal charges after he reviewed a state investigation of what happened.

Brown’s family released a statement calling Womble’s decision “both an insult and a slap in the face”.

The prosecutor also said he would not release bodycam video of the April 21 confrontation between Brown and the law enforcement officers, but he played portions of the video during the news conference that news outlets broadcast live.

The multiple angles of the footage, played once each on a projector, depicted

a chaotic minutelong scene, but it was hard for a viewer to discern a detailed sequence of events.

While authorities have shown footage to Brown’s family, a judge has so far refused to release the video publicly because he didn’t want to harm a state investigation.

Attorneys for Brown’s family who watched body camera footage have previously said that he was trying to drive away from deputies and posed no threat.

The shooting has prompted weeks of protests in Elizabeth City and calls for transparency.

During his news conference, Womble said six

Pasquotank County deputies attempting to serve drug-related search and arrest warrants arrived in a truck and approached Brown’s car on foot with weapons drawn while ordering him to get out.

A deputy who tried to open Brown’s car door was jerked over the hood when the car backed up, and the deputy’s body was struck by the vehicle, the prosecutor said. The deputy then found himself directly in the car’s path as Brown drove forward again, Womble said, and had to push off the hood with his hand “to avoid being run over.”

Womble said that was when the first shot was fired by a

fellow deputy.

“I find that the facts of this case clearly illustrate the officers who used deadly force on Andrew Brown Jr. did so reasonably and only when a violent felon used a deadly weapon to put their lives in danger,” Womble said, referring to Brown’s car. He added that “Brown posed an immediate threat to the safety of the officers and others.”

“Federal courts have held that the Constitution simply does not require police to gamble with their lives in the face of a serious threat of harm,” he said.

Though Womble said at least two deputies were endangered by Brown’s

driving, the sheriff has said his deputies weren’t injured.

In a statement released a couple of hours after the news conference, attorneys for Brown’s families decried Womble’s conclusion.

“To say this shooting was justified, despite the known facts, is both an insult and a slap in the face to Andrew’s family, the Elizabeth City community, and to rational people everywhere,” the statement said. “Not only was the car moving away from officers, but four of them did not fire their weapons — clearly they did not feel that their lives were endangered. And the bottom line is that Andrew was killed by a shot to the