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WELLS’ NEW MAGIC NUMBER - 120,000
Minister says hitting this vaccination total puts us in ‘good place’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Renward Wells estimates that 120,000 people need to be vaccinated in order for the nation to be “in good stead” in the fight against COVID-19. However, Mr Wells yesterday could not say how close the nation is to herd immunity in order to have restrictions lifted. Speaking to reporters after getting his second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine at the Baha Mar resort, the minister gave a rough estimate of the portion of population that needs to be vaccinated.
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
ROYAL Caribbean is aiming to triple its Bahamas arrivals to 6m by 2030, a senior executive disclosed yesterday, adding that this nation must seize its opportunity to become a “permanent” home port base.
Russell Benford, Royal Caribbean’s vice-president of government relations for the Americas, pledged to Tribune Business that the extra 4m passengers it plans to bring to this nation by 2030 will generate an additional $1bn in spending that stays with Bahamian companies - not the cruise line. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
WHAT DOES PRIDE FLAG FLYING SAY TO YOU?
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PASSENGERS HURT AFTER FERRY RAN AGROUND
He explained: “I would say right now we have a population of 382,000. I always round it up to about 400,000 persons. We have probably about 60,000 individuals who would’ve at least received their first dose and I think we’re probably around, well I’m not exactly sure where we are in terms of those who would’ve received their second dose, but I believe that given the fact that we’ve gone through the first and the second wave of COVID, we would’ve had some 11,000 Bahamians who would’ve tested positive in addition to those who have been vaccinated.” SEE PAGE FOUR
RCL AIMING TO TRIPLE PASSENGERS BY 2030
ALICIA WALLACE
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
MORE than a dozen passengers received minor injuries when a ferry boat they were on ran aground in waters near Man-O-War Cay, Abaco, on Sunday evening. The 43ft vessel, operated by G&L Ferry, left Guana Cay around 9pm with 14 passengers, including one child, on board. SEE PAGE THREE
RUDY KING TRIAL GETS UNDER WAY
‘FOLLOW MY LEAD’
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
MINISTER of Health Renward Wells receives his second shot of vaccine at the Baha Mar Convention Centre yesterday, administered by nurse Sharmon Frazer Calendar. Photo: Racardo Thomas
23 MORE HOMES TO BE DEMOLISHED By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister said his ministry spearheaded the demolition of 23 illegal structures in The Farm shanty town in Abaco last week, with some 20 more structures targeted for demolition this week. The move comes despite widespread calls from local and international human
RECENT demolitions in Abaco. rights activists urging the government to halt demolition works of homes in the storm-hit community. Activists have said the
move could result in thousands of residents being displaced. Over the weekend, a group of residents from The Farm protested on the island, with some children seen holding placards that read “no shelters in Abaco, we have nowhere to go,” and “we need help” while delegates from the United Nations visited the island as part of their mission to this country. SEE PAGE THREE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
FIVE Post Office Department employees testified yesterday at the opening of the fraud trial of Bahamian businessman Rudolph “Rudy” King. In 2019, the impresario was charged with defrauding the General Post Office of over half a million dollars, then laundering that amount between 2012 and 2015. SEE PAGE SEVEN
TECHNOLOGY GM’S LATEST VEHICLE: A ROVER FOR THE MOON
SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 2, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
PRIDE FLAG FLIES OVER US EMBASSY By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net LESBIAN, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) advocates are cheering the United States and its embassy in Nassau for hoisting the Pride flag as many around the world celebrate Pride Month. The US Embassy said the Pride flag will fly for the entire month of June to honour “the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons in The Bahamas and around the world.” “The US government and the US Embassy reaffirm the human rights and fundamental freedoms of LGBTQI+ persons,” the embassy said in a statement. “Our support for the LGBTQI+ community rests on a simple and fundamental belief: that all human beings should be treated
with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or who they love. “The United States is committed to pursuing equity for all. In flying the Pride flag during the month of June, we hope to highlight the contributions of LGBTQI+ persons around the world and open a space for honest conversations about the unique challenges they face. This is a worldwide effort by the Biden administration; every US mission has been invited to fly the Pride flag or light up their embassies with rainbow colours this month in support of the LGBTQI+ community.” The Pride flag was flown outside the US Embassy’s building in Downtown Nassau and the Chief of Mission’s Residence on Sanford Drive. Local LGBTQI advocate Alexus D’Marco said
THE PRIDE flag flying alongside the US flag at the US Embassy for Pride Month. yesterday that Pride events will be hosted from October 4-11 to coincide with Heroes Day celebrations in The Bahamas under the theme, “We are people just like you.” She said in a statement:
“On July 10, 1973 a flag was raised for the first time signalling the birth of an independent Bahamas. We were so proud of our liberation and insistent on the unique beauty of our people and land that we declared our nation to be ‘The’ Bahamas because there is no other like it. It is that ‘The-ness’ that draws the whole world to our shores; they love it so much that they come back repeatedly, and some make it their home away from home. “But this love story does not always have a happy ending, especially for those Bahamians who fly another flag – despite the attractive beauty of rainbow colours, it stirs up much hatred and mistrust, especially for those of us who identify as transgender or non-binary. Nevertheless we, the LGBTQ+ people on these island gems, live with the hope that a globally admired state who sat on the UN’s Human Rights Council from 2018 to 2019, will open their hearts and arms not just symbolically but legislatively to include
us all as equals in our society, regardless of its conservative belief. “The Bahamas can be the great Caribbean leader that blazes a trail as an exemplar of human dignity and inclusion for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Just as other island nations aspired to have the same winning tourism formula like ours, they could also, one day aspire to adopting The Bahamas model of human rights up front. “Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt, (the well-known wife of a US president) was less known for being a woman living with a disability and one of the authors of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). She said: ‘Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.’ “We also remember the voice of beloved South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela who said: ‘Thus shall we live, because we will have created a society
which recognises that all people are born equal, with each entitled in equal measure to life, liberty, prosperity, human rights and good governance.’ “Messages like these stand behind the reasoning for why our nation’s western allies break with tradition to encourage their foreign missions to fly the Pride flag in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. No, it’s not in protest, far from it. It’s a lead by example effort that may be saying, ‘yes we admit that we may have flaws as countries and in some cases former colonists, but we do this to dissuade you from making the same mistake of thinking that some are better than others.’ It’s an open invitation to join the changing world, for us the older generations to listen to the voice of the youth who are telling us very clearly and loudly that the future they envision is not one of stigma and discrimination, instead it is one with human rights and dignity for all in a land that is sustainable and full of that ‘the-ness’ that is The Bahamas,” Ms D’Marco said.
MAN FOUND SHOT DEAD IN ABACO PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF KILLING By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net A MAN previously convicted of manslaughter was discovered dead with gunshot wounds in a car in Dundas Town, Abaco yesterday morning. Police have confirmed to The Tribune that the deceased is Cohen Lightbourne. Grand Bahama press liaison officer, Assistant Supt Stephen Rolle, said: “As far as I know, he is Cohen Lightbourne. “He is 41 years old and I think he is known to police. The information that I would have gotten is around 5.30 this morning we received a report of a traffic accident in the area of Tamarind Drive, Dundas Town. “Officers responded to that scene and they discovered a light green Suzuki Swift vehicle in front of a residence. Upon their inspection, they would have observed gunshot holes in the driver’s door window
and the body of a lifeless male in the driver’s seat appearing to have gunshot injuries about the body. “EMS would have responded and pronounced him lifeless on the scene. As far as the investigation is concerned that is all the information we have so far in regards to the incident. “I know Abaco (police) are on the ground doing some work as we speak and they will soon give a report on the progress of the investigation.” ASP Rolle said at the time, he was unaware of any suspects in relation to the murder, but confirmed police were currently following “some significant leads” into the matter. The Tribune also contacted Chief Supt Kentwood Taylor, officerin-charge of Abaco, who said there was no additional information available. He said the matter is under active investigation. In April 2011, Lightbourne was convicted of killing his love rival Carl Russell, Jr, on July 25, 2007,
at the Pride Estates home of a mutual love interest, Vanessa Strachan. The jury returned a majority verdict of manslaughter against Lightbourne for the shooting death of Russell Jr. Prosecutors tried Lightbourne for murder, but the jury acquitted him of the charge. Instead, they convicted him of the lesser charge of manslaughter. According to the prosecution’s case, Russell found Lightbourne in bed with his ex-girlfriend on July 25, 2007 at her home in Pride Estates. Russell and Strachan were the parents of a daughter. Russell attacked Strachan and Lightbourne and the violence ended in Russell being shot by Lightbourne. Strachan later died of lupus in 2015. Police are appealing to anyone with information regarding this or any crime, no matter how small or insignificant the tip may seem, to anonymously call 919 or 328-TIPS (8477) or 1-242-300-8477 for Family Islanders.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 2, 2021, PAGE 3
REPAIRS under way on the vessel yesterday and, below, the boat at dock.
Passengers hurt after ferry ran aground from page one According to police reports, Abaco Police received reports of a boating accident shortly after 9pm in the area of Matt Lowe Cay, near Man-OWar Cay. When police arrived at the scene, they spoke with the captain of the vessel. He told officers that the boat ran onto some rocks and that the passengers were thrown forward to the bow. EMS personnel took several passengers to the Marsh Harbour Clinic for medical attention. Mr Grant Albury, coowner of G&L Ferry, told The Tribune this is their
first boating accident since they started the ferry operations nine years ago. He said the vessel sustained some damage and is under repair. “We have it hauled out and repairs have begun, Mr Albury said. The engines are fine, and some of the running gear has to be repaired. It’s a lot of fibreglass work, but repairs are well underway.” According to Mr Albury, the vessel has been in operation for about four years and has liability insurance. When asked about conditions on Sunday, he said: “It was a very dark night, and the captain, I guess, lost his bearings on where he was going and ran aground.”
Mr Albury stated that the incident occurred near Johnny Cay. “No one was thrown overboard as per reported earlier,” he said. “A few people had sustained bumps and bruises, and all the passengers I have been able to contact had very minor injuries, and all seem to be doing okay. There was one child on board, and that child was in a carrier and is doing fine.” G&L Ferry has been in operation since 2012. It transitioned to a full-time service operation in 2016 when the company was contracted to carry the high school students from Man-O-War, Hope Town and Guana Cay to Marsh
23 MORE HOMES TO BE DEMOLISHED from page one
Yesterday, Mr Bannister said Saturday’s demonstration shows that “people are being coached” and taught “how to evade” the law. “The challenge is this throughout this country, there is an organised effort, a really organised effort to build shanty towns,” he said before going to a Cabinet meeting. “These are not coincidental. It’s highly organised. You can see by what happened when these children were put in front of cameras over the weekend. “These people are being coached and they’re being taught how to evade the laws of The Bahamas. It’s very important that all of us Bahamians and people who come into the country obey the laws. That’s very important.” Yesterday, Mr Bannister said he is concerned about the issue of unregulated communities on Abaco and several other Family Islands. He added his ministry is doing its best to “keep up” with the new developments. He said the government remains committed to eradicating unregulated shanty towns across the country. This comes amid recent reports of new shanty towns emerging on Abaco, particularly in the Dundas Town and Murphy Town communities, and on other islands as well. “I am concerned about Abaco,” Mr Bannister said. “I’m concerned about Eleuthera. I’m concerned about Andros and for those of y’all who went out to Carmichael last week, you’d see the growing shanty towns right there, growing right there next to where the immigration minister lives and you know none of these persons have permits. If you look at the structures, you’ll see that none of them meet the code
JOHNSON COMMENTS ON SHANTY RESIDENTS ‘INTOLERABLE’ HUMAN Rights Bahamas has criticised what it called “intolerant comments” from Immigration Minister Elsworth Johnson regarding residents of shanty towns. On Monday, Mr Johnson took issue with the fact that some residents of an Abaco shanty town used their children to get the attention of United Nations representatives who were touring the community on Saturday. The children were pictured on the side of the road holding signs which read, “We have no place to stay” and “We need help.” Mr Johnson said it was “deplorable” for the adults involved to use children that way. He also said it was “cowardly” for the adults to hide and put the children out front. “Clearly, Mr Johnson and his government are upset because a human face is being placed on the tragedy they are causing out in Abaco,” HRB said in response. “They prefer that the public think of these demolition exercises impersonally, in terms of numbers and statistics. Houses and structures. Not in terms of families whose lives are being ruined. “They do not want the public to see the faces of the traumatised children who are being left without shelter, whose schooling has been interrupted yet again, who
so what’s going to happen if we have a hurricane? “…The Ministry of Public Works is trying its best to keep up with what’s happening and it’s also important for Bahamians to keep informing us as the illegal activities are going on because those are the illegal activities that impact our lives, every one of us.” He added: “When the Ministry of Agriculture comes and examines the water table and tells me how polluted the water table is in certain areas, every one of us is impacted because most of us have wells we use for different purposes and all of
live in fear of the next attack on their communities. “But he cannot deny what is being done to these children. They have every right to force the authorities to look at their faces and then try to live with (the) consequences of their actions. Hopefully, it makes some politicians uncomfortable.” The advocacy group added: “How dare Mr Johnson refer to people who have lost everything in Hurricane Dorian, who have been left to fend for themselves, whose every effort to re-establish their life has been forcibly undone and who live under the constant threat of official oppression, as cowards? We wonder how Mr Johnson would act if he were in their shoes. “Who are the real cowards? Is it the people who hide when being terrorised in aggressive and illegal raids and roundups, who are utterly defenceless and afraid they will be forcibly separated from their loved ones? Or is it politicians who from the comfort and safety of their office, play political games with people’s lives for votes? “Mr Johnson should remember that one day, he will no longer be in politics, but that the record of everything he has said and done will follow him in his future endeavours. The local human rights community will see to it.”
those things come back and affect us so it’s critical for us to be able to report when we see these things happening and we keep investigating at the same time we’re doing our job.” According to Mr Bannister, more than 40 illegal structures have been demolished in Abaco so far in recent weeks. In April, 45 “incomplete and unoccupied structures” were demolished in the shanty town after government officials posted eviction notices on the illegally erected buildings weeks earlier. “Last week, we demolished
CHILDREN holding up signs during a protest at a shanty town in Abaco on Saturday during a visit by United Nations representatives.
23 structures in the farm,” Mr Bannister told reporters yesterday. “The week before that, we did 20 and this week we marked 22 for demolition and we’re going to keep consistently demolishing them until all are gone and we’re going to continue to move on to other areas. “There is a manpower challenge and there is a cost involved in this so as soon as we can start preventing people from doing it, it’s going to be best for all of us. It’s going to save you, your taxpayer’s money and that’s why it’s so important for us to stop it.” For his part, Immigration
Minister Elsworth Johnson insisted yesterday that the government is dealing with shanty towns in the country in a humane way. However, he noted that if certain people feel that the government is committing some wrongdoing, they should come forward and voice their grievances. He said: “If we’re doing something wrong, we encourage freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, say that to us. We encourage anyone in The Bahamas to speak to the UN or whatever have you. We have no problems with that, but where are
the adults who wrote those placards? They should come forward. “But you take the children and put the children out front, and you hide in the back, it’s like throwing a stone or a rock and then hiding it. If we’re doing something that’s contrary with the law, tell us. Tell us how we can enhance it, but let me say this, when the UN comes, they present their passport. They go into regulated places to live and reside and eat...but where these communities stretch for more than ten or 20 acres or miles, you cannot deal with it anymore.”
PAGE 4, Wednesday, June 2, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Wells’ new magic number - 120,000 from page one “You know, you have a large portion who would’ve been exposed to the virus who was asymptotic, who showed no sign, so they would’ve not tested. I would say if we could vaccinate 120,000 of our population we would be in good stead. That’s just my number. I’m not the health expert but just sitting down and talking to other health experts the thinking is if we can get probably around 120,000 people vaccinated, we would be in good stead as a nation.” On Sunday, health officials said 55,037 total doses had been administered: 46,378 people had received one dose of the vaccine while 8,659 people had been fully vaccinated up to that point. Yesterday Mr Wells said that, according to the World Health Organization, if 80 percent of the population has been exposed to COVID, either
by vaccination or exposure to the disease, they would consider that to be herd immunity. Back in March, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis suggested Bahamians can look forward to Independence Day and Junkanoo celebrations possibly being held later this year depending on the country’s COVID-19 situation. Meanwhile talks are continuing to procure additional vaccines. Mr Wells said yesterday: “We are in discussions at the highest level for procurement of additional vaccines for the country. “We have had discussions with the Chinese here in the country, we’ve (been) offered as a nation, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs would say, vaccines from China.” Attorney General Carl Bethel blasted developed countries for hoarding COVID-19 vaccines during a debate in the Senate last month. The White House
announced in April the US will share up to 60 million of its AstraZeneca vaccines with other countries. President Joe Biden pledged another 20 million vaccine doses in May. The health minister could not say definitively if the US had indicated whether The Bahamas will be among the countries to receive the vaccines, but he did describe the discussions as “faithful and fruitful”. “I can say that we are in discussions with the United States at the highest level. You would’ve seen the senator send a letter to the administration, the Biden administration, on behalf of The Bahamas. We do have a lot of lobbying individuals. Individuals we lobby and who lobby for and on our behalf. We have direct contacts with the State Department. As you know the Minister of Foreign Affairs speaks directly to those in the State Department. “We have the US Embassy here, so we’ve
MINISTER of Health Renward Wells receiving his second shot at the Baha Mar Convention Centre yesterday. Photo: Racardo Thomas made our case and I don’t foresee that if the United States was going to donate, deploy, give away vaccines that The Bahamas would not be a part of that. We are one of five countries that sits
WESTERN AIR FOUNDER URGES VACCINATIONS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE co-founder and chief operating officer of Western Air, who was
airlifted from Grand Bahama to the United States with COVID-19 after initially testing negative for the virus, is urging residents to consider their vaccination options as the
country strives to move past the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, Western Air said after feeling flu-like symptoms, Shandrice Woodside-Rolle took multiple tests that came
Memorial Service For
Elder Grace Andrea Darling-Francis, 65 of Joan’s Height East, will be held on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021, 2pm at Evangelistic Temple. Officiating will be Pastor Cleveland D.X. Wells, Jr. Restoration Kingdom Ministries, Assemblies of God & Pastor Alonzo Hinsey, Jr.Golden Gates Native Baptist Church. Private Burial will follow in Woodlawn Garden, Soldier Road. Cherished memories will linger in the hearts of her loving husband of more than 50 years, Retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Wellington Milton; her four devoted daughters, Rev. Monique, Rev. Samantha, Dr. Welmilya and Wel’Andra; adopted daughter, Patrice Francis; her beloved sons, Rev. Alonzo Hinsey, Jr., Rev. Cleveland D.X. Wells, Calvin Davis and Rodney Rolle; and her grand-daughters, Cateleen and Catherine Wells, Aalaiyah and Anaiyah Hinsey, Maya Rolle, Canaan and Ava-Riley Davis; brothers: Japheth, Eugene and Bishop James Darling; sisters: Annie Smith and Ivy Knowles; uncles: Leroy Moss and Kelly Darling; mother-in-law: Helen Arnett; brothers-in-law: Stafford Storr, Anthony Arnett and Family, Pastor Lawrance Arnett and Family, Rev. Henry and Sheila Francis and Family, Nehemiah and Shirley Francis and Family; sisters-in-law: Grace and Brenda Darling, Brenda and Paulette Arnett, Mardrolee Brice, Judith, Shirley, Sheila and Deidre Francis; nieces and nephews: Bishop Chadwick and Christine James, Ezra and Shennen Braynen, Michael and Bridgette Evans, Lynden and Marvin Smith, Terrence, Obefeme, Philip, Lolitha Knowles, Rochelle St. John, Leslie and Tracey Munroe, Dr. Derwin, Lanson and Patrice Munroe, Manell Munroe, Jason, Devado, Blaize, Domaz, Daron, Joshua, Anthony, Jeffery Darling, Irvin, Vashtie, Simone, Dahlia, Jael, Jamime, Tamara, Eugenia, Carolyn and Catherine Darling; Nicole Hutcheson and Sharmaine and Kirk Griffin; Ross Wilson; Carla Smith and Family; Christine and Sandra Francis and Families; numerous grand nieces and nephews to include: Deangelo, Shavan, Shavanda, Michaella, Deandrea, Otimia, Denario, Deanaldo, Renaldo, Ramon, Kato, Theresa, Lanthro, Piaget, Jordan, Kayleigh, Symphony, Devado Jr., Alayna, Tevano, Paige, Zavier, Emilio, Alana, Chadwick II, Chadwin and Chadvaughn, Israel and Kiran Griffin; cousins: Thelma Patterson, Kerneva Meadows, Gloria Thompson of Eleuthera, Hester Johnson, Francis Ledee, Hortence Harris-Smith, Adell Butler, Pastor Marilyn Thompson, Shirley, Dorothy, Lavita Rolle, Mable Johnson, Rachel Evans, Rosemary Cartwight, Nellie Simms, Celeste, Alicia, Eltima, Geermaine, Todd, Gray Jr. of New York, Hazel Young of Miami, Enith Ferguson of North Carolina, Hartman and Cinida Brice and Hubert Marshall, Donna and Diane Darville, Franklyn Ferguson, Dorothy Moss, Bishop Godfrey Williams and family, Sarahlee Williams and family, Dorothy Poitier, Iva Williams and Family, Lavern Cooper and family, Delcean Douglas and Family, Bruce Hanna and family, Shirely Davis and family, Elsworth Hanna and family, Kenneth Hanna and family, Robert Hanna and Family, Ruth Hanna, Edward Hanna and family, Rose Bain and family, Arlington and Vicki Hanna and family, Bernard Hanna and family, Alexander Hanna and family, Audrey Fernander and family, Dorothea Davis, Dereck Francis, Ross Wilson and Basil Francis, Grace Francis’; Family & Special Friends including: Judy Deleveaux and family, Restoration Kingdom Ministries Family, Golden Gates Native Baptist Church Family, GGBC Prayer Circle, Apostle Sherilyn Fletcher and The Children’s Bread Prayer line, Evangelistic Centre, Evangelistic Temple, The Assemblies of God Family, Comfort Smiles Family, Master Technicians Family, Bahamas Food Services Family, Anatol Rodgers Family, Chilean Burrows and Jurelle Mullings & family the Scholarship and Educational Loans Division and the Public School Scholars, Marge Bowleg, Oswald & Melrose Pinder & Family, Pastor Tyrone Sands & Family, Supt. Patrick & Sharlene Paul & Family, The Paul Family, Pastor Neil & Katherine Hamilton & Family, Pastor Cyril & Lavane Sands & Family, H.L & Sharon Rolle & Family, Mike Ellis & Family, Rudy Stubbs & Family, Edna Leadon & Family, Harrington “Zip” & Margarete Fraizer & Family, Richard & Namoi Clarke & Family, Richard Riley, Myers Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. Wilfred Johnson, Wendall “Skinny” Moxey & Family, DCOP Ismella Delancey, Eliothia Hamilton, Rev. Dr. Alonzo & Jessie Hinsey & Family, Bishop Raymond Mackey, The Braynens, Jeff Birch & Margo Birch, Marie Davis and Family, Mable Stubbs & Loretta, Pastor Leon & Annamae Hinsey, Sandra Rolle & Family, Dr. Sparkman Ferguson & Family, Dr. Kendall Major & Family, Dr. Renald Turnquest, Larenzo & Julianna Bullard & Family, Christopher & Patricia Knowles & Family, Sheryl Stevenson, Cheryl KnowlesCartwright & Sheryl’s Beauty Salon, Francyss & Suzette Pratt, Dr. Crystal DeGregory, Kingsway Class of 1999 & 2002, Minique Tynes, RoyAnn Neely Morisson, Willissa Mackey, Dr. Nelson Clarke & Family, Kimly Brown, Althera Colebrooke, Tanya Astwood, Patricia Chatti, Drumeco Archer, Geonese Ewing, Annie Laurie Munroe, Enos & Family, Eunice Petithomme & Family, Maggielee & Family, Rev. Hervis & Anita Bain & Family, Pastor Katherina Williams & Family, Dorothy Cooper and family, Mervin Fynes & Family, Tony McKinney, Halbrook Stuart & Family, Bridgette Francis Butler & Family, Cpl. Moncur, Supt. Denise Rose, W Sgt. Fynes & The Staff of Force Insurance, Ellsie Mackey & Family, Pastor Fritz & Family, Pastor Newbold & Family, The Joan’s Heights Community, The Darlings Lane Community, The Bamboo Town Constituency, The Central & North Andros Communities; Special Thank You: Gillian Curry-Williams, Dr. Christine Chin, Dr. N’Tari Michael Darville, Dr. Gibson, Dr. McCartney, Dr. Bonimy, Dr. DeCosta & Bahamas Heart Centre and the Doctors Hospital Emergency Room and ICU Team. Relatives and friends may pay their last respect at Evergreen Mortuary, Village & Parkgate Roads on Wednesday from 10a.m.-5:30 p.m.
back negative. The Tribune understands at least one of those tests was a PCR test. According to Western Air, Mrs Woodside-Rolle’s symptoms worsened days after taking the initial tests. She subsequently retested and received a positive COVID-19 result. She then isolated at her residence in Freeport. “By Friday, May 28, with no improvement, her daughter sought medical attention and admitted her to the Rand Memorial Hospital,” the statement said. “After careful consideration and discussion between her family, private doctors and the medical team at the Rand, it was decided it was best to airlift Mrs Woodside-Rolle to a quality, level one medical facility in the US. “Mrs Woodside-Rolle expresses how grateful she is for the nurses and doctors at the Rand that treated her with tremendous care and looks forward to thanking them again personally in the future. “While it is a private matter, if you know Shanny, you know her first thought is to nurture, give and care for others. With this transparency, she hopes others will avoid the same fate and choose not to underestimate the remaining threat of the disease, even when exercising the usual safety
on the border of the United States. The US has Russia, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and The Bahamas. So, I do not see that the United States would not seek to deploy vaccines to us.”
TOTAL CASES
As for the roll out of vaccines in the prison, he indicated the vaccine committee is debating the whole issue as to when they’re going to move into the facility.
TOTAL DEATHS
11,864 230 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES MONDAY 15 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE 8 ANDROS 3 CAT ISLAND 3 INAGUA 1
TOTAL TESTS
97,898
HOSPITALISED
52
CASES IN ICU
5
RECOVERED
10,809
15 NEW COVID CASES CONFIRMED THE Ministry of Health recorded 15 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Eight of those cases are in New Providence, one is in Inagua, three are in Andros and three are in Cat Island.
These cases brought the country’s case count to 11,864. A total of 230 people have died from the disease while 52 people remain in hospital with the virus.
protocols. We encourage all to consider their vaccination options to keep them and their families protected. “Currently, she is showing significant improvement
and receiving excellent medical care. We are working closely with her medical team, trusting in God and praying for a full and speedy recovery.”
1,400 BAHA MAR STAFF VACCINATED By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net ABOUT 1,400 out of Baha Mar’s 4,000 employees have been vaccinated thus far, the resort’s senior vice-president of external relations and government affairs, Robert Sands said yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Mr Sands noted how pleased the resort was to participate in the arrangement to support the Ministry of Health and Bahamians with COVID-19 vaccinations. He added it was planned that the vaccination site at the resort’s convention centre will be open for at least another two weeks and perhaps longer depending on the arrival of additional vaccines into the country. Asked about the number of workers vaccinated, Mr Sands said: “I think we are up about 1,400 of about 4,000, so it’s a work in progress.” As for the resort’s bookings, Mr Sands said the property has noticed a trend over the last two to three weeks. “We had a programme in place (on) testing every guest on arrival. That testing requirement is only for persons who are not fully vaccinated. We are seeing upwards to 60 to 70 percent of our arriving guests are now fully vaccinated that’s coming to this particular resort.”
BAHA MAR COURTYARD The country’s number of home porting as well one industry is trying to is creating some demand, bounce back after the blow additional demand for The the pandemic has dealt Bahamas as well.” Asked about Christmas tourism. Asked about when he thinks bookings will bookings, he told reporters return to normal for Baha “Let us take one step at a Mar, Mr Sands examined time.” But, in terms of numbers, several factors. “I think we have to the summer season is looklook at it as part of a pro- ing better than the winter, cess. Every week on week, he said. It is anticipated the The Bahamas is seeing an momentum will continue incremental growth in busi- barring any unknown or ness but more importantly unseen setbacks. He also noted British demand for The Bahamas destination has been Airways landing in the increasing exponentially in country on Monday is a the last number of months good sign as the gateway to and that is a very encour- Europe is open. It was previously aging sign. I think there’s Atlantis is three reasons that contrib- reported removing complimentary ute to that. “The first reason is COVID-19 testing for its that there is significant staff. When asked if Baha pent-up demand for a sun Mar will follow, Mr Sands destination. Secondly, The replied: “I am sure most Bahamas, notwithstanding operators are looking to some of our own pitfalls, the way forward, having has demonstrated that supported their associates we are operating in a safe in providing free of charge environment and that pro- this particular cost. At tocols are certainly in place. some point in time, I’m sure Thirdly our source markets individual properties will are proving that they want make that particular decito leave the United States sion. No decision has been or wherever they are, and made here at Baha Mar at travel and the new initiative this time.”
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 2, 2021, PAGE 5
Campbell hits back at Davis on unemployment programme By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net SOCIAL Services Minister Frankie Campbell yesterday hit out at recent comments made by opposition leader Phillip “Brave” Davis over the government’s decision to end its unemployment assistance programme in September. Mr Campbell said the Minnis administration has shown throughout the pandemic that it will continue to adapt to changing situations and help those who need help. Last week, State Minister of Finance Kwasi Thompson revealed the government has budgeted for the extension of unemployment benefits until September. He explained officials are now shifting their focus and trying to find ways to create employment instead of continuing to fund its COVID
SOCIAL Services Minister Frankie Campbell outside Cabinet yesterday. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff relief initiatives. However, Mr Davis told a local daily he didn’t believe the Minnis administration should bring its unemployment assistance programme to an end given the current economic climate and said he was of the view that the initiative should be constantly assessed instead. Responding to the
remarks yesterday, Mr Campbell told reporters: “If Brave Davis and the PLP was paying attention, they would’ve seen what we said earlier, we had dates that were set and on arrival of those dates, we revisited, we reassessed and we made some adjustments so if he was paying attention, he would know that our track
record is such that we will adjust as necessary.” According to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, $118m has been spent in government funded unemployment assistance since the pandemic, including direct cash for unemployed and selfemployed Bahamians. Those still needing assistance when the programme ends come September will be helped by the Ministry of Social Services, Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson told reporters last week. He said: “If come September those persons are still unemployed, the plan is to transition them off to a Social Services programme.” Asked if his ministry is prepared to possibly deal with an influx of clients when the time comes, Mr Campbell said officials will adapt as necessary and overcome whatever obstacle that may come their
way. “This situation has been fluid from the beginning and so we would’ve set dates and on arrival at those dates, we would’ve seen the necessity to review and we did and so that is always a moving target on the need if it continues to exist,” he told reporters before Cabinet. “As it relates to transitioning any additional service to the ministry and to the Department of Social Services, one of the characteristics of living things is adaptation. We’ll adapt. We’ll overcome and we’ll continue to serve our clients.” Yesterday, Mr Campbell also hailed the launch of the Ministry of Social Services’ processing management information system, ProMIS, which officially went live in New Providence yesterday. The programme is expected to be launched on the remaining islands on or
before July, according to Mr Campbell. The system allows Bahamians seeking social assistance to make applications for various programmes electronically. “We have launched our much-anticipated management information system ProMIS,” Mr Campbell said. “ProMIS is a platform that will position our clients one click away from food assistance, burial assistance, rental assistance and all of the other assistance that we give at the Department of Social Services. “I must say that technology is such that things happen. We will not today have that one click away ability, however all of our clients from today on will be entered in the platform… I want to add that ProMIS is not just a digital platform. It is also a philosophy. The philosophy of ProMIS is to give prompt, effective and efficient service.”
EXAM RULES FOR QUARANTINED STUDENTS DIONISIO: HEALTH VISA PURCHASES RISE By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
PUBLIC school students under quarantine will still be allowed to sit the 2021 national examinations provided they meet the criteria established by the Ministry of Education, Education Minister Jeff Lloyd said yesterday. According to officials, only those students under quarantine who have been directed by the Ministry of Health, who have not tested positive for the virus or displayed any COVID19 symptoms or are under quarantine but do not live with anyone who is COVID-19 positive are eligible to take the exams. Yesterday, Mr Lloyd said quarantined students who meet the criteria and have been approved by health officials will be accommodated by his ministry and permitted to sit this year’s exams. However, he said when students come with high temperatures at the designated testing site, they will not be allowed to take exams. “We are going to provide a place for those students who will be given that opportunity to sit the exams,” he told reporters yesterday. “Of course, we are guided as I indicated by the health officials and the protocols that they’ve established. We want every child to have an opportunity to sit an exam. “Now, there are those who will not qualify. For instance, if a child presents at the centre and has elevated temperature, the child will not be permitted to sit the exams, or the child has not been cleared from the Ministry of Health. Only in those
circumstances, the Ministry of Health will be sending information to the schools or the administrators in the schools and will be indicating these are the students who are eligible to sit the exams based on the information that the ministry has at that particular time. “So, these will really and only include those who have no symptoms and who have not tested positive or those who are living with somebody who has not tested positive or have not been exposed.” In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Education said representatives from the Ministry of Health’s surveillance team will contact schools to inform them which quarantined students are allowed to sit the national exams. As for what will happen to those students in isolation who are unable to take the important tests this year, Mr Lloyd said they will have the opportunity to do so in 2022. “If you’re not allowed to take it in this particular circumstance, you are not going to be able to take it any further than now because then the integrity of the exam is compromised and that obviously we cannot compromise the exam’s integrity,” he said. Mr Lloyd said while the situation will not greatly impact students taking BJCs, it can affect those taking BGCSE exams, specifically those applying for scholarships or universities which may require test results. “It is the BGCSE what is of great concern to us because those students who miss it this year will have probably difficulty in getting into the University of The Bahamas
or qualifying for scholarships or universities abroad so that is of great concern to us so that is why we insist that persons follow the protocols where possible and certainly for an adult standpoint, to get vaccinated,” he said. Asked how many students officials expect to be affected, he said: “I don’t have specific numbers, but my information is we’re talking about a little bit. We’re not talking about a bunch of people. Dozens rather than hundreds.” The Grade Level Assessment tests (GLAT) for third and sixth graders began on Monday. Meanwhile, BJC and BGCSE examinations are to continue until June 25. Schools closed in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic, but were later reopened after the summer break last October. However, schools in New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma were teaching virtually until given the go-ahead to begin phased face-to-face learning in February. In May, officials announced public schools would return to virtual learning to reduce the chance of COVID-19. Yesterday, Mr Lloyd said officials remain optimistic schools will resume normal operations in September. “We are looking forward to that,” he said. “As soon as our population gets vaccinated, we are looking at returning to whatever you describe normalcy to be so we are looking forward to a September return to what you consider face-to-face learning for most of our and if not, all of our schools but again, it depends on the population being vaccinated.”
$357,000 OF REPAIRS APPROVED FOR 37 SWEETING CAY HOMES By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE Disaster Reconstruction Authority has approved some 37 homeowners on Sweeting’s Cay for nearly $360,000 of repair assistance under the Small Homes Repair Programme. Katherine Smith, managing director of DRA, reported that an approved sum of $357,500 has been granted for home repairs on the cay, but there is a shortfall of funds to complete repairs for 15 of the homes. “Out of the 37 approved homeowners, 22 have received $199,979.10 in assistance leaving a balance of $7,520.90. There remain 15 homeowners who have not yet been assisted, however, their approval value is $150,000,” she said. The DRA has a database of approximately 4,000 Abaco and Grand Bahama residents who have met the criteria for assistance from
the programme. Any Sweeting’s Cay home that was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian is entitled to a $10,000 purchase order. In a statement issued this week, the DRA commended international NGOs for their assistance with the rebuilding efforts on Sweeting’s Cay. “The collaboration between international nongovernmental organisations CORE, SBP, and Rotary Grand Bahama to provide stable and secure homes for Dorian residents in Sweeting’s Cay is progressing well,” the statement read. Mrs Smith added: “We appreciate the sweat equity given by our partners to provide homes and assist homeowners with repairs on Sweeting’s Cay. Our goal is to continue our reconstruction efforts and assist those impacted as a result of Dorian and continue this great collaboration with NGOs working in the disaster zones.
“We thank Rotary Grand Bahama for constructing nine homes for families on Sweeting’s Cay. Rotary is currently assisting 14 homeowners with repairs.” In Sweeting’s Cay, Mrs Smith said the homes provided by Rotary Grand Bahama to residents are 80 percent completed. She explained that once Sweeting’s Cay residents received their Rotary home and had applied for assistance from the DRA, they were able to receive the $10,000 purchase order for 100 percent labour or materials or a combination of both. Mrs Smith indicated that they are focused on completing reconstruction work on Sweeting’s Cay. She reported that some 18 temporary units are 80 percent completed on the cay for housing and business services. Other resources, she said, are being sought to deal with debris removal and marine clean-up.
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday the number of people who bought travel health visas to visit The Bahamas last month was “substantially larger” than what was seen in April, saying the figures suggest the country is moving in the right direction. His comments came a day after British Airways resumed its flight operations to this country after more than a year since direct flights between The Bahamas and the UK were stopped due to the pandemic. Hailing the move yesterday, the tourism minister said: “We were indeed very delighted to see British Airways on the ground. The flight came in with 233 passengers out of 275, meaning a load factor of 85 percent but what was so economically impactful about that flight was that flight terminated in Nassau so that meant every single passenger on that plane got off here in Nassau and is either a returning resident or citizen or a visitor coming on vacation here. “As you know, we had no links with Europe. It was very, very difficult to get here from Europe and finally, with the re-establishment of the British Airways nonstop direct
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar outside Cabinet. flights from London Heathrow, persons in Europe or the United Kingdom now have a mechanism to return to The Bahamas so that was a very significant and impactful flight. The flights are going to be once a week and as the load factor or the demand dictates, we will move to a greater frequency.” As it relates to the nation’s leading industry, Mr D’Aguilar added: “I am very encouraged. Numbers are increasing. They are moving upwards. You would have seen it at the airports. You would have seen it at the hotels. More visitors are coming to The Bahamas. I see it on the health visa website. There was a significant increase in the number of persons purchasing a health visa in the month of May. “I haven’t quite finalised the numbers as yet, but I can tell you that they were substantially larger than what they were in April so we are moving in the right direction. The numbers
are increasing and the only thing that we have left to manage is the amount of COVID in the country and that is directly, of course, linked to vaccinations.” According to the data released by tourism officials, in November 2020, 13,994 foreign visitors bought travel health visas; 32,061 foreign visitors made visa purchases in December 2020; 20,768 did in January 2021 and 28,425 did in February. March saw 60,497 people purchasing the travel visas, while April had 64,047. May’s figures are currently being finalised. Tourism officials have said while the numbers are a far cry from what the country saw prior to COVID, the figures indicate that The Bahamas is making some progress. However, Mr D’Aguilar also said that only when the country achieves herd immunity, then the economy will be able to fully rebound from the pandemic. “People are tired of curfew,” he said before heading into a Cabinet meeting. “They’re tired of not being able to congregate but in order to congregate, we have to vaccinate and people are tired of hearing about it, but if the economy is to rebound and people are to get employed, we have to vaccinate. I can’t make it any simpler than that,” he continued.
PAGE 6, Wednesday, June 2, 2021
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Are 120,000 vaccinations really enough? THE Minister of Health was in optimistic mood yesterday. As Renward Wells received the second of his COVID-19 vaccination injections, he talked to reporters about the nation’s progress in its fight against the pandemic. His numbers, however, didn’t seem to add up. Let us recap a little first. Back in March, Mr Wells was predicting that The Bahamas would have achieved herd immunity – the stage where enough of the population has become immune through infection or vaccination to reduce the chance of more infections – by the start of the summer. Well, summer’s here and we’re not there yet. So yesterday, Mr Wells outlined some new goals. “I would say if we could vaccinate 120,000 of our population we would be in good stead. That’s just my number. I’m not the health expert,” said the Health Minister, “but just sitting down and talking to other health experts the thinking is if we can get probably around 120,000 people vaccinated, we would be in good stead as a nation.” The numbers are simple enough – experts estimate that you would need around 80 percent of people to be vaccinated or have been infected to reach herd immunity. Mr Wells himself rounds the numbers off and says our population is around 400,000. So that would mean the herd immunity threshold would be about 320,000 people. Take the 120,000 off which Mr Wells is hoping to reach in vaccination terms, and that leaves 200,000 people – half our population – that would need to have caught COVID-19 to reach that 80 percent figure. That, of course, is massively more than the number of confirmed cases so far – at the time of going to press, the total number of cases to date was 11,864. Of that number, 230 have been confirmed as having died of COVID-19. Now Mr Wells is quite right when he says that “you have a large portion who would’ve been exposed to the virus who was asymptomatic, who showed no sign, so they would’ve not tested”. International studies show varying results but it is suggested that about 30 percent of people with COVID-19 never
develop symptoms. If that holds true here, then we would have experienced around just short of 17,000 cases here in The Bahamas so far. That, obviously, is far short of the 200,000 figure for herd immunity if we rely on only 120,000 vaccinations. The Tribune has alone among Bahamian media repeatedly reported based on the globally accepted Our World In Data statistics on the likely infection rates that the declared numbers of confirmed cases is massively below the number given on the daily cases update. Even if the asymptomatic rate is higher, we would have seen that outcome in a much greater rate of deaths. So it looks to us as if those numbers are coming up short. Back when Mr Wells was in the PLP, Prime Minister Dr Minnis said that Parliamentarians used to call him Einstein and described him as “intelligent and methodical”. We suggest that Einstein might need to double check his maths.
Cruise windfall
There are grounds for optimism elsewhere. Royal Caribbean is aiming to triple its Bahamian arrivals to six million by 2030. That extra four million passengers could bring an extra $1bn in spending that stays with Bahamian companies, the company’s vice-president of government relations for the Americas predicted yesterday. Part of it is that the industry is having to seek out new home ports outside the US – with The Bahamas right in line to benefit. Ports in Florida are at full capacity, and those in Texas and Louisiana are not far behind. America’s shortfall is our windfall. As we look to emerging from COVID-19, this is exactly the type of news we want to hear, and we must do all we can to put Bahamian businesses in a position to benefit from such a move. We’ve been experiencing hard times so long that it’s been hard to imagine a bright future – but news such as this could really bring that future to our doorstep.
Taxing the rich? What a joke! EDITOR, The Tribune. DON’T believe for a minute the government’s transparent gimmick about now beginning to make the wealthy pay their fair share of the country’s tax burden. Rather than introducing a broadly progressive tax regime (or even significantly addressing the presently highly regressive one) what the FNM is actually proposing is a mix of discretionary gimmicks and highly selective (even discriminatory) measures against certain businesses that do not comprise its traditional support base. Numbers houses, which are the most conspicuously successful new business sector, are singled out for a special tax, while (according to Kwasi Thompson, the very minister now touting a
“tax-the-rich” policy) government outright rejects general corporate taxes on the earnings of even the wealthiest local business conglomerates. The truth is, there is nothing difficult (neither politically, nor economically) about the measures that need to be taken to address our debt and fiscal issues. All we need is to do what every other nation on the planet does and introduce income tax on high earning individuals and corporations (which minister Thompson only recently rejected) and remove the outrageous $60,000 cap on Real Property Taxes for those monstrously expensive (and mostly foreign owned) properties that actually benefit from such a cap.
The groups that will be affected by these measures comprise a minuscule sliver of the electorate or (in the case of foreign property owners) do not vote at all. In both cases, if they packed up and left, it would only mean an opportunity for others, including pricedout, over-taxed Bahamians. The economy would clearly benefit. That leaves only one reason why our policymakers seem to see some difficulty in implementing these obvious measures: because they are operating under the whip-hand of those who fund them, rather than serving the interests of the electorate or the wider economy. ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, June 1, 2021.
Spanish Wells the fix is in EDITOR, The Tribune. QUIET, picturesque Spanish Wells is about to be overwhelmed by hordes of cruise ship passengers. Hundreds of them at a time. Many are concerned that this quaint, tiny community simply does not have the capacity and will be ruined by the flood of people. They are worried about the inevitable mountains of trash and tons of human waste, drunken crowds and exponential increase in road traffic. Locals don’t want their pristine beaches lined with portable toilets, covered in cheap umbrellas and beach chairs – reserved for the cruise passengers, exclusively of course. They do not want their shores, seabed and reefs fouled and degraded as a result. This shocking new reality is being forced upon them without warning. Before the local community was even told about the plan, the deal had been struck. They were only asked for comment as a cynical rubber stamp, after it was already too late. How on earth could this be? How could a foreign cruise ship company with a controversial track record in Bimini, which is only coming to Spanish Wells after being rejected by Harbour Island, receive permits to do something that will fundamentally change the nature of this unique community forever? Is the central government so arrogant that it decided the fate of an entire
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net island without consulting the locals at all? I don’t think so. A few weeks ago, The Nassau Guardian printed details of a leaked secret letter from the cruise company to select Spanish Wells businesses, essentially a request for tour and excursion proposals. “This is confidential until we make the announcement, so we ask for your discretion so we can be the first to notify guests of this change,” the letter said. As if the foreign cruise ship had the right to demand announce this to their passengers before talking to the local community. As if they had the right to demand secrecy on such a critical issue from local individuals who surely, are first and foremost proud members of their community. But low and behold! Before any town meeting or other consultation was announced, the cruise ship company began advertising beach excursions on Spanish Wells, complete with chair and umbrella rentals at $25 a pop. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out what has happened here. The fix is in! The larger Spanish Wells community has been sold out by a small group of their own neighbours who, seeing the chance to make fistfuls of cash for themselves, probably
collaborated in secret with the cruise company to make sure the deal was set in stone before anyone got wind of it. Perhaps one or two of these individualistic individuals sit on the Local Council, or hold some other official or quasi-official position which would allow the central government and the cruise ship company to argue that there had been local “consultation.” Sadly, the above scenario has played out many times in small communities across the length and breadth of the Bahamas, to the inevitable detriment of the local environment, traditions and culture. Often, the unique history and identity is forever ruined in exchange for limited and short-term economic gain, usually gain for a select few individuals. But this does not have to be the fate of Spanish Wells. I know them to be a strong, resilient, independent community that has charted their own course through history for centuries. The people of Harbour Island stood up and fought, and this same cruise company was made to back off. The people of Spanish Wells can and must do the same. They must make their voices heard, and stand up and be counted before it is really too late. No one needs to tell them what is at stake if they don’t. SMALL ISLAND PROUD Spanish Wells, June 1, 2021.
Virus investigation EDITOR, The Tribune.
I WATCH quite a bit of US TV – especially CNN, which I think of all the US stations gives the best, objective news coverage. I recall the first news of what is now known as COVID-19 being announced as having escaped from a marketplace in Wuhan, to a nearby medical clinic in China. As the story developed, I recall a segment showing a young man — from the way he was dressed, I gathered he was a medical researcher who worked in the Wuhan clinic. He appeared to be almost panic stricken with
his discovery. He said that in his research he had discovered a strange virus — he feared that if it escaped it could cause great damage. He wanted the world to be alerted. They tried to silence him. Shortly afterward, they announced his death, presumably from the very virus that he feared would shake the world if not contained. I wonder why in all of these reports someone doesn’t recall this episode. It might not be the beginning of the story, but surely, it bears some investigation and would be interesting to be repeated on screen by the broadcast media.
CNN is so good at its research, and I know it must have these clips on file, because it was on CNN that I first saw them in the early days of this pandemic, before it was even called a pandemic. This scene of panic was repeated several times, and then dropped. I think it would be interesting to see this. episode again. After all it might throw light on something that was going on in that lab at the time, which could be the key to a partial solution. JUST CURIOUS Nassau, May 30, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 2, 2021, PAGE 7
MAN IN JOHN BULL FRAUD CASE BAILED
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN who last month denied defrauding several businesses of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise was yesterday granted bail before his trial. Travis Evans was charged with eight counts of fraud by false pretences in relation to a number of offences he was accused of committing during the month of May. Prosecutors alleged that the accused fraudulently obtained $659.68 worth of goods from John Bull sometime between May 10 and 11. They further alleged he defrauded Palmdale Furniture of $660 worth of inventory sometime between May 21 and 27.
RUDY King at a previous court appearance.
Evans was also accused of unlawfully obtaining $500 worth of goods from Ron’s Sales Bahamas along with another $2,082.73 worth of merchandise from Whyms Auto Store between May 7 and 21. Police said the accused defrauded Lil General’s Convenience Store and Quality Home Centre of $463.05 and $403.20 within that same timeframe. They also accused him of fraudulently obtaining another $289.20 worth of supplies from Lorraine’s Store on May 24. During his hearing before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis, Evans denied all of the allegations. As a result, his case was adjourned to October 25 and 26 for trial. He was granted $8,000 bail in the interim.
Rudy King trial gets under way MAN TOLD TO PAY TO
from page one
At the time, the 52-year-old was charged with five counts each of fraud and money laundering concerning allegations that he defrauded the Post Office’s savings account of $632,416 between June 2012 and April 2015. According to the prosecution, King defrauded the GPO’s savings account of $125,688 between June 13, 2012 and April 2, 2015; another $243,225 between June 11, 2012 and April 15, 2015; another $151,252 between August 12, 2014 and March 26, 2015; an additional $9,437 between October 30, 2014 and April 8, 2015; and another $102,814 between November 11, 2014 and March 5, 2015. King is also alleged to have laundered the individual amounts from June 11, 2012 right up to April 8, 2015. When he first appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis, he denied the charges and his case was adjourned for trial. Yesterday, Jennifer Johnson, the Postmaster General of the department, told the court that she served as the assistant postmaster between 2012 and 2015 when the fraud was alleged to have taken place. Mrs Johnson said she remembered
that she had “several conversations” with the police in 2017 in relation to the matter. She also said at the time that she was instructed by the then Postmaster General to conduct an internal audit in relation to five accounts that were in King’s name. During the hearing, King was represented by Damien Gomez, QC. During his cross-examination of Mrs Johnson, he asked her whether it was true if record keeping at the department was impaired at some point due to computer malfunctions. In response, Mrs Johnson said there was a time when the computers broke down. When asked, she also stated that that fact was taken into consideration in discussions concerning the audit and general criticisms of the Post Office Savings Bank. The second witness to take the stand was Margaret Winters, now retired, who said she recalled giving a statement in relation to King’s case in 2016. She said she knew the accused from seeing him at the South Beach Post Office where he came in weekly or daily to conduct withdrawals and deposits. After asking Mrs Winters to identify the evidence, prosecutor Eucal Bonaby submitted a total of 17
ledgers, withdrawals and deposit sheets from the Post Office into evidence. When Sheree Minnis spoke under oath, the court was told that she worked in the department as the assistant supervisor of the Savings Bank section. When she was asked if she recalled doing anything “with respect to Rudolph King”, she said at the time, she was a clerk at the Savings Bank window and was the person responsible for opening up two of his accounts. Mrs Minnis said while she could not recall the names of the accounts, she remembered that they were in the name of organisations. After questioning Mrs Minnis, Mr Bonaby entered 39 more withdrawal, deposit and ledger sheets into evidence. The last two witnesses were Sheila Gibson and Julie Christie. Mrs Gibson, who has been employed at the department for 39 years, said she was familiar with King because she knew him as a customer who came to the Savings Bank to conduct transactions. Mrs Christie also told the court that she recalled doing transactions for the accused who would come to the Savings Bank at least twice a month. The case continues today.
REPAIR EX’S DOOR
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 24-YEAR-OLD man who admitted breaking his former girlfriend’s door during a row was yesterday ordered to compensate her for her damaged property. Police arrested Tramine Knowles after he caused $191.60 worth of damage to the house door of his former partner on May 30. He admitted to the offence when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis. The court was told that Knowles caused extensive damage to the door when he got into an argument with the complainant at her residence. After she requested police action, the officers investigating the woman’s complaint arrested Knowles. He owned up to
the offence during an interview with police. Yesterday, the accused was represented by attorney Bernardo Ferguson. He told the magistrate the incident took place because his client was attempting to retrieve his keys from inside the home, but was not able to get them. He also noted Knowles pleaded guilty at his first opportunity because he did not want to waste the court’s time and insisted he was willing to compensate his ex-girlfriend for the broken door. After listening to his explanation, Magistrate Rolle Davis fined Knowles $250. He also ordered him to compensate his ex-girlfriend in the amount of $191.60. He told the accused that if he failed to do so, he would be sentenced to 14 days behind bars.
PAGE 8, Wednesday, June 2, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
What does the Pride flag flying really say to you? Yesterday was the first day of Pride Month which is not only a celebration of sexual diversity and community, but a set of activities that assert the humanity of LGBTQI+ people and a direct response to the shaming and oppression carried out against them. Pride is a refusal to be ashamed, to hide, or be forced to “change”. That said, Pride is not only for LGBTQI+ people who are out, but also for those who do not yet feel safe enough to be open about their sexuality and need to see others celebrating, being celebrated, and making space and a better future for them. Pride takes place in June (and July) to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots which was a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the US. Police, for the second time in one week, raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, 1969. They threw 200 people out of the bar and caused injury to some of them. Upset by the way they were being treated by police, the LGBTQI+ community fought back with protests which caught the
By Alicia Wallace
that we are “entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual” and goes on to list “race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex”. In addition, Article 22 states that we have freedom of thought and religion and Article 26 states no law As expected, people shall discriminate on the attention of others around the world who joined in the responded to the radio basis of race, place of origin, effort to achieve equality. show appearance via text political opinions, colour or The following month, the messages in a display of creed (with exceptions in first gay march, with par- hostility against LGBTQI+ 26(4)). ticipation of approximately people. Several of the text The people of The Baha2,000 people, took place. messages were about The mas, then, are not to be Marches and parades are Bahamas being a “Chris- governed or controlled on now almost synonymous tian nation” — an idea that the basis of one with Pride, joined and has been refuted religion, whether observed by many. Since over and over If you are not or not it is refCOVID-19, however, Pride again. erenced in the LGBTQI+, The short has taken a different form. preamble. We are when you see On the morning of June version is that not all forced to preamble the Pride flag 1, 2021, the US Embassy the practice ChristiNassau raised the (rainbow) of the constitu- flying, know anity and cannot Pride flag at its downtown tion refers to be expected to Nassau building and at the “abiding respect that it is not follow that docChristian flying for you, residence. It joined other for trine, much less US embassies around the values” which the intentionand it certainly have world in this act of soli- some ally harmful, isn’t flying darity with the LGBTQI+ incorrectly oppressive intercommunity. In its first interpreted as against you. pretations of statement media engagement on the a any religious theocracy. topic, the US Embassy of text. It is simply stated that it wants to spark Interpretation aside, this being weaponised against conversations while vis- is found in the preamble LGBTQI+ people in the ibly reiterating the Biden which is not the constitution attempt to suppress and administration’s position on (which starts at Chapter 1). deny rights. Further, Article 15 states LGBTQI+ rights. “When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression,” is a quote we all need to remember and use to check ourselves when we start to think that someone else’s rights and freedoms negatively impact us. One person said they think straight people will soon be persecuted, and this is a clear example of the simultaneous unwillingness of people to recognise their privilege and the fear of losing privilege when of Sunset Ridge Drive, Sans Souci, there is equality resulting in and devoted member of Kingdom Life the most vulnerable among Church, Chesapeake Road, will be held us are no longer underfoot. We need to understand the on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 at Lakeview importance acknowledging Gardens & Mausoleum, John F. Kennedy and expanding the rights Drive. Officiating will be Pastor Cedric of LGBTQI+ people and Moss. dispelling myths about the result of equality. Due to current Government regulations in Human rights are not a respect of Covid-19, attendance is limited you-or-me game. There are to Forty (40) persons. not supposed to be losers. We are all supposed to have equal access to resources, Fond memories will forever linger in the services, and opportunihearts of her Children: Rosalee Mossties and be able to live free Prophete, Basil Moss, Pastor Cedric of oppression. Equality is (Alexine) Moss, Oralee (William) good, right, and not a threat Johnson, Attorney Paul Moss II, Philippa to anyone (except, perhaps, (Fabian) Whymns, and Devroy (Cimeko) Moss; Grandchildren: Jamalah those who depend on false (Daren) Rolle, Vashti Prophete, Dr. Danielle Moss, Devina Moss, hierarchies for sense of Attorney Cedric Moss II, Giovanni Johnson, Schneider Prophete, Azariah self and are desperate to be Moss, Devroy Moss Jr., Shekina Moss, Deborah Johnson, Abigail Moss, “above” or “better than” someone else). Angelique Moss, Devora Moss, Paul Moss III, Ruth Moss, Samuel Moss Other people sent text III, and Ameena Moss; Great grandchildren: Malik Williams, Maliah messages asking why the Rolle, Myiah Rolle, and Daliah Smith; Sisters: Ludell (Eneas) Theophilus, US Embassy is focusing Nicola Moss, Althea Moss, Venice (Ronald) Collie, Celsior Deveaux, on this issue. A few asked Beryl (Edward) Ferguson, Linda Rahming, Altymease Murray, and Myrtle why the embassy did not Deveaux; Brothers: Wendell (Alice) Deveaux, McArthur Moss, Robert have this kind of display for (Estelle) Moss, Brevis Moss, and Cedric (Ettemae) Deveaux; Nieces & Black Lives Matter. Nephews: Dr. Eneia Theophilus, Eenga Hudson, Ronette, Floyd Sr.; Derroll It is sometimes interSr., Kevin, and Jamaal Collie; Clint Ferguson; Stanford & Shelton Moss, esting and most times frustrating that people Shontia, Prescola, Antoinette, Arlene, Wendy, Tresia, Alflaro & Stephen
Private Graveside Service for
ANGELINE MOSS, 82
Deveaux; Alfreda Forbes, Rochelle Fletcher, Tanya Sessoms, Craig, Dillon & Tyrone Parotti, Ella Anderson & family, Genevieve (Colin) & family, Monique (Pastor Derick) Maycock & family, Genius Stubbs, Jr., Kimberly Stubbs, Iniskha (Sirdonne) Lloyd, Min. Keithwood (Sheia) & family, Susan Robinson, Andrew & Shane Mitchell, Paul Smith, Racquel Piper, Girty (Alphaeus) Bullard, Louis Deveaux, Sharon (McArthur) Fernander, Lawanda (Ronny) Thomas, and Siobhan (Toriano) Lloyd; Relatives through her dear and special cousin, Hubert Rigby (deceased): Mrs. Audrey Rigby, Lesley (Rodney) Bain, Prescola (Janos) Nails, Lolamae Ingraham, Rapeth, Coralee, Nyoka, and Denrick Rigby; Relatives through husband Paul Moss I (deceased): Sisters-in-law: Minerva Edwards & family, Lovetha Johnson & family, Lulamae Rolle & family, and Migrene Moss & family, the family of Mable Ferguson (deceased), the family of Gloria Hanna (deceased), the family of Lathisha Deleveaux (deceased), and the family of Elvie Moss (deceased); Brothers-in-law: the family of Alfred Moss (deceased) and the family of Samuel Moss (deceased); Other Relatives & Friends: The congregation of Kingdom Life Church; Neighbours of Sunset Ridge Drive: Anna and Mycah Smith, Dexter Bain & Family, Andrew and Grace Cartwright, Hilda Flowers and Family, Louise Simmons & Family, and Dr. Albert and Sandy Ferguson; Edna Albury, Betty Daily, Rev. Dr. C.B. Moss & Family; Rev. Sylvia Collie & Family; Mrs. Eliza Johnson & Family; Louise Bowleg; The Community of Chester’s and Lovely Bay, Acklins; The entire Darling, Deveaux, Moss, Johnson, and Collie Families in The Bahamas and The U.S.A., and a host of other relatives and friends. May Her Soul Rest in Peace! Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street, on Wednesday (TODAY) June 2nd from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
suddenly become interested in and vocal about particular issues only when another is raised. This is a frequent occurrence in the discussion of rights and the protection of vulnerable groups. For example, it is rare that we are able to have a conversation about violence against women without a man interrupting with “What about violence against men?” Violence against men may be a real issue and there may be people who are concerned about it, but the topic is not raised until there is a specific conversation about the scourge that is violence against women. The result is the interruption is not received as a true concern because the other issue is being used as a distraction or a tool to minimise the one being discussed. There are always more causes, more issues, more incidents that need our attention. There is no small amount of work to be done. No one and no institution can be effective at doing it all. The US Embassy Nassau certainly could have hosted events, engaged in dialogue, or made a statement about Black Lives Matter, sure. Does that mean it should ignore Pride Month and the opportunity to make clear its position? No. Absolutely not. We are here today, and the Pride flag is flying in at least two locations in New Providence. Black Lives Matter may be the next issue it highlights, and we all know that people will ask what it has to do with us because so many are convinced that racism does not exist in The Bahamas. There is a consistent resistance to human rights and desire to ignore the very real issues we are facing every day. Instead of creating and being taken in by distractions, celebrate Pride or sit it out and allow others to enjoy it. Observe the responses of others. Who will follow the US Embassy’s lead and fly the Pride flag? Who will call out hostility toward LGBTQI+ people? Who will explain to their grandparents, parents, siblings, children, coworkers, and friends the importance of Pride Month and the visibility of the Pride flag in New Providence? Who will stand for the human
rights of LGBTQI+ people? Where will you be this month? On the side of equality or continued injustice? This is an opportunity to learn about human rights, LGBTQI+ rights, the origin of Pride, solidarity and allegiances. It is an opportunity to look at our laws, learn about the need for legal reform and countries that have been successful with it, and to be better, more supportive and empathetic people. It is an opportunity to listen, both to LGBTQI+ advocates and the people around you who would rather harm others than support moves toward equality so you can make decisions about your position and related actions. For those who are Christian or aligned in some way with Christianity or any other religion, it is an opportunity to embody the love, peace, and care for one another that characterises your religion. If you are not LGBTQI+, when you see the Pride flag flying, know that it is not flying for you, and it certainly isn’t flying against you. It is a symbol of community, a shared struggle, commitment to change, and rejection of the shame others try to impose upon LGBTQI+ people. LGBTQI+ people being seen and respected does not hurt you, but your reaction to it can certainly hurt LGBTQI+ people, so be mindful of what you say and, just as importantly, work on changing the way you think. Let your thoughts lead to actions to move us all toward equality and justice. If you quietly believe in equal rights, let the flying of the Pride flag prompt you to let your position be known so you cannot be mistaken for those on the side of oppression.
RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Ask questions from a place of curiosity rather than habit or obligation. What do you really want to know about a person, and how can you phrase it in a way that gets more than an automatic, “Fine, thank you,” or “You know, the usual” in response? Asking people how they’re doing rarely results in them saying how they are really doing and, most of
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the time, the person asking doesn’t actually care. Have more intention in your conversations. There are many essays, articles, and lists that offer great questions we can ask each other that go deeper than “How are you?” What was your favourite moment today? How are you taking care of yourself today? What are you looking forward to today? Break the routine and take the monotony out of daily communication. 2. Start hurricane preparations. Don’t wait for a warning or watch to be issued. Don’t get caught up in the 48-hour rush. While we all hope we will not have any hurricanes, it is important to be ready. There are small things we can do to ensure we have enough supplies for a few days at home. Get an extra five-gallon bottle of water every week until you have enough for those who would be in your household
during a hurricane. Purchase batteries in different sizes. Get battery packs for your cellphones. Check the medicine cabinet to see what needs to be replaced including alcohol, triple antibiotics, bandaids, and pain relievers. Make a list of all of the supplies you need and get a few each week to make it easier on your pocket and your nerves later on. 3. Turn off your notifications. When the work day is done and you’ve met your obligations, give yourself some time without the buzzing and beeping of devices. If there are people who need to reach at any given time, you can go into the settings on your phone to make an exception for them. See what happens when you give yourself time to do whatever you want without being interrupted by WhatsApp forwards and emails that could wait a few hours.
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Wednesday, June 2, 2021, PAGE 9
TECHTALK
GM’S NEWEST VEHICLE: OFF-ROAD, SELF-DRIVING ROVER FOR MOON
THIS illustration provided by General Motors and Lockheed Martin in May depicts astronauts and concepts of lunar rovers on the surface of the moon. Last week, Lockheed and GM announced that they would combine their technological and manufacturing expertise to build the electric vehicles for NASA’s Artemis programme, named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology. (Lockheed Martin, GM via AP) By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — General Motors is teaming up with Lockheed Martin to produce the ultimate off-road, selfdriving, electric vehicles — for the moon. The project announced last week is still in the early stages and has yet to score any NASA money. But the goal is to design light yet rugged vehicles that will travel farther and faster than the lunar rovers that carried NASA’s Apollo astronauts in the early 1970s, the companies said. “Mobility is really going to
open up the moon for us,” said Kirk Shireman, a former NASA manager who is now Lockheed Martin’s vice president for lunar exploration. The rovers used by the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 moonwalkers ventured no more than 4 1/2 miles (7.6 kilometres) from their landers. GM also helped design those vehicles. NASA last year put out a call for industry ideas on lunar rovers. The space agency aims to return astronauts to the moon by 2024, a deadline set by the previous White House. Their initial rovers will be designed to carry two astronauts
at a time, according to company officials. A brief company video showed a large, open rover speeding over lunar slopes, with more headlights in the distance. This is “just a glimpse of how we see the opportunity playing out,” said Jeff Ryder, a vice president for GM Defense. By operating autonomously when needed, Shireman noted, the rovers can keep astronauts safely away from dangerous spots like the permanently shadowed craters at the moon’s South Pole. Frozen water gathered from these dark corners could be used for drinking,
growing plants and creating rocket fuel. Autonomy could also improve efficiency, with astronauts focused on collecting rocks as a rover follows behind like a puppy, he said. In a separate venture begun two years ago, Toyota partnered with the Japanese Space Agency to build a pressurised electric-powered lunar rover for astronauts. They’re calling it the Lunar Cruiser. GM and Lockheed Martin’s vehicle will be unpressurised, meaning that riders will need to wear spacesuits at all times. There’s room for both models, according to Shireman.
CAN VIRTUAL REALITY HELP SENIORS? STUDY HOPES TO FIND OUT By TERRY SPENCER ASSOCIATED PRESS POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Terry Colli and three other residents of the John Knox Village senior community got a trip via computer to the International Space Station on Tuesday, a kickoff to a Stanford University study on whether virtual reality can improve the emotional wellbeing of older people. Donning 1-pound (470gramme) headsets with video and sound, the four could imagine floating weightless with astronauts and get a 360-degree tour of the station. In other programmes, residents can take virtual visits to Paris, Venice, Egypt or elsewhere around the globe; attend a car rally, skydive or go on a hike. “I feel great. It is amazing. It is like you are really there,” said Colli, 73, and a former spokesman for the Canadian embassy in Washington. Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab will be working with John Knox’s 1,200 residents, who will have ready access to the equipment under the supervision of staff members. The goal is to see whether virtual reality can improve their mood, strengthen their relationships with staff and make them more receptive to technology. Other senior communities in the United
GLORIA GANTES, left, adjusts the goggles of resident John Dalsimer as he participates in a virtual reality study at John Knox Village, Tuesday, in Pompano Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) States and elsewhere will soon be added by the California university. Virtual reality works by making what the person sees and hears track with what they are doing. In a VR trip to Paris, for example, a participant might turn to the left and see the Eiffel Tower with a musician playing in the foreground, and then turn right and find two people conversing. If the participant moves toward one, that sound increases while the other diminishes. “There is a fair amount of previously published research by academic labs around the world that shows VR, when administered properly, can help reduce anxiety, improve mood, and
reduce pain,” said Jeremy Bailenson, the Stanford lab’s founding director. “This particular study is focused on how using VR might reduce the residents’ feelings of isolation from the outside world — all the more important after the isolation we all faced during the pandemic.” During Tuesday’s demonstration at the suburban Fort Lauderdale community, Colli, Anne Selby, 77; Mark Levey, 64; and Hugh Root, 92, moved their heads from left to right and up and down as they got individual tours of the space station. “It really felt like you were travelling — and not alone either. In some of the video, there are people,” said Levey, a former federal
government worker. Selby, an artist, said that she felt a bit nauseated as she moved through the space station because it was so realistic, but that she was able to cope by taking deep breaths. “Regardless of my age, I was right in the middle of it,” she said. Root, a retired insurance salesman, was blunt: “It blows my mind.” Chris Brickler, CEO of MyndVR, the Dallas company that provided the equipment, said volunteers will be screened to assure they are mentally suitable for using virtual reality and each attendant has an abort button if the person becomes overwhelmed by the experience. John Knox’s residents include people and couples who live alone, in assisted living and with full-time nursing. “As we age, we feel there is a disconnect sometimes that can happen when there is a lack of mobility,” Brickler said. “We can’t travel as much as we want, we can’t connect with nature as much as we want, can’t have connections with animals. “All sorts of connections get lost and our four walls start shrinking in. What we have tried to do is create a platform where we can bring the world back.” Monica McAfee, John
Knox’s chief marketing and innovation officer, said the community’s administrators believe VR helps residents — it’s been used on a limited basis there for three years — but Stanford’s study “will provide the empirical data.” For example, she said, they want to know if VR can help residents with dementia who suffer from “sundowning” — severe mood downswings that begin at dusk. “Is this a way to redirect them to enjoy something?” she said. Northern Ohio University associate philosophy professor Erica Neely, who studies the ethics of technology, said it’s important that Stanford is getting fully informed consent, screening participants and making sure they aren’t using VR alone, especially at first. She is not involved in the study. “We definitely don’t want anyone to get stuck in the experience if they become distressed and can’t figure out how to turn it off,” she said. “The fact that there is a companion/caretaker who can go with (the participant) is utter genius. ... The idea of ‘Well, we don’t necessarily have people with diminished capacities wandering around by themselves through physical space — maybe we can do the same for virtual space’ was a really good one.”
• CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A navigation timing error sent NASA’s little Mars helicopter on a wild, lurching ride, its first major problem since it took to the Martian skies last month. The experimental helicopter, named Ingenuity, managed to land safely, officials at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported Thursday. The trouble cropped up about a minute into the helicopter’s sixth test flight last Saturday at an altitude of 33 feet (10 metres). One of the numerous pictures taken by an on-board camera did not register in the navigation system, throwing the entire timing sequence off and confusing the craft about its location. Ingenuity began tilting back and forth as much as 20 degrees and suffered power consumption spikes, according to Havard Grip, the helicopter’s chief pilot. A built-in system to provide extra margin for stability “came to the rescue,” he wrote in an online status update. The helicopter landed within 16 feet (5 metres) of its intended touchdown site. Ingenuity became the first aircraft to make a powered flight on another planet in April, two months after landing on Mars with NASA’s rover Perseverance. The 4-pound (1.8-kilogramme) helicopter aced its first five flights, each one more challenging than before. NASA was so impressed by the $85 million tech demo that it extended its mission by at least a month. Saturday’s troubled flight was the first for this bonus period. Engineers have spent the past several days addressing the problem.
• DETROIT (AP) — Ford expects 40% of its global sales to be battery-electric vehicles by 2030 as it adds billions to what it’s spending to develop them. The automaker said in a presentation for investors last week that it will add about $8 billion to its EV development spending from this year to 2025. That brings the total spend to nearly $20 billion as Ford begins to develop and build batteries in a joint venture with SK Innovation of South Korea. Under former CEO Jim Hackett, Ford was criticised by analysts for moving too slowly on its turnaround and future vehicle plans. But those plans have accelerated under CEO Jim Farley, who took over last October. “Today is show, not tell time, for the Ford team,” Farley said at the start of the presentation. Ford announced two new electric vehicle platforms to handle pickup trucks, commercial vehicles and SUVs such as the Ford Explorer. It also said smaller vehicles in Europe would be built on underpinnings from Ford partner Volkswagen. But company executives wouldn’t give details about when the new electric vehicles will go on sale. Much of the 40% electric vehicle sales target will come from Europe, where the company has pledged to convert its entire passenger vehicle lineup to electric power by 2030.
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Wednesday, June 2, 2021, PAGE 11
Biden decries Tulsa massacre TULSA, Oklahoma Associated Press AN EMOTIONAL President Joe Biden marked the 100th anniversary of the massacre that destroyed a thriving Black community in Tulsa, declaring yesterday that he had “come to fill the silence” about one of the nation’s darkest — and long suppressed — moments of racial violence. “Some injustices are so heinous, so horrific, so grievous, they cannot be buried, no matter how hard people try,” Biden said. “Only with truth can come healing.” Biden’s commemoration of the deaths of hundreds of Black people killed by a white mob a century ago came amid the current national reckoning on racial justice. “Just because history is silent, it does not mean that it did not take place,” Biden said. He said “hell was unleashed, literal hell was unleashed.” And now, he said, the nation must come to grips with the subsequent sin of denial. “We can’t just choose what we want to know, and not what we should know,” said Biden. “I come here to help fill the silence, because in silence wounds deepen.” After Biden left, some audience members spontaneously sang a famous civil rights march song, “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.” The events Tuesday stood in stark contrast to then-President Donald Trump’s trip to Tulsa last June, which was greeted by protests. Or the former president’s decision, one year ago, to clear Lafayette Square near the White House of demonstrators who gathered to protest the death of George Floyd, a Black man, under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer. In 1921 — on May 31 and June 1 — a white mob, including some people hastily deputised by authorities, looted and burned Tulsa’s Greenwood district, which was referred to as Black Wall Street. As many as 300 Black Tulsans were killed, and thousands of survivors were forced for a time into internment camps overseen by the National Guard. Burned bricks and a fragment of a church basement are about all that survive today of the more than 30-block historically Black district. On Tuesday, the president, joined by top Black advisers, met privately with three surviving members
PRESIDENT Joe Biden speaks as he commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre, at the Greenwood Cultural Center, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, yesterday. Photo: Evan Vucci/AP of the Greenwood community who lived through the violence, the White House said. Viola “Mother” Fletcher, Hughes “Uncle Red” Van Ellis and Lessie “Mother Randle” Benningfield Randle are all between the ages of 101 and 107. Biden said their experience had been “a story seen in the mirror dimly”. “But no longer,” the president told the survivors. “Now your story will be known in full view.” Outside, Latasha Sanders, 33, of Tulsa, brought her five children and a nephew in hopes of spotting Biden. “It’s been 100 years, and this is the first we’ve heard from any US president,” she said. “I brought my kids here today just so they could be a part of history and not just hear about it, and so they can teach generations to come.” John Ondiek, another Tulsan in the crowd following Biden’s speech on cellphones, said he was encouraged that “There aren’t just Black people here. That tells me there’s an awakening going on in this country.” Several hundred people milled around Greenwood Avenue in front of the historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church awaiting Biden’s arrival at the nearby Greenwood Cultural Center. Some vendors were selling memorabilia, including Black Lives Matter hats,
shirts and flags under a bridge of the interstate that cuts through the district. The names and pictures of Black men killed by police, including Eric Harris and Terrence Crutcher in Tulsa, hung on a chain-link fence next to the church. Biden briefly toured an exhibit at the center, at times stepping closer to peer at framed historic photographs, before he was escorted into a private meeting with the three survivors. America’s continuing struggle over race will continue to test Biden, whose presidency would have been impossible without overwhelming support from Black voters, both in the Democratic primaries and the general election. He announced yesterday that he was appointing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead efforts on voting rights as the GOP carries out efforts to pass laws restricting access to the ballot. Republicans portray such legislation as aimed at preventing fraudulent voting, but many critics believe it is designed to limit the voting of minorities. Biden has pledged to help combat racism in policing and other areas following nationwide protests after Floyd’s death a year ago that reignited a national conversation about race. Biden called on Congress to act swiftly to address policing reform. But he has also long projected himself
as an ally of police, who are struggling with criticism about long-used tactics and training methods and difficulties in recruitment. The Tulsa massacre has only recently entered the national discourse — and the presidential visit put an even brighter spotlight on the event. Biden, who was joined by Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge and senior advisers Susan Rice and Cedric Richmond, also announced new measures he said could help narrow the wealth gap between races and reinvest in underserved communities by expanding access to homeownership and smallbusiness ownership. The White House said the administration will take steps to address disparities that result in Black-owned homes being appraised at tens of thousands of dollars less than comparable homes owned by white residents as well as issue new federal rules to fight housing discrimination. The administration is also setting a goal of increasing the share of federal contracts awarded to small disadvantaged businesses by 50% by 2026, funneling an estimated additional $100 billion to such businesses over the five-year period, according to the White House. Historians say the massacre in Tulsa began after a local newspaper drummed up a furor over a Black
man accused of stepping on a white girl’s foot. When Black Tulsans showed up with guns to prevent the man’s lynching, white residents responded with overwhelming force. Reparations for Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved and for other racial discrimination have been debated in the US since slavery ended in 1865. Now they are being discussed by colleges and universities with ties to slavery and by local governments looking to make cash payments to Black residents. Biden, who was vice president to the nation’s first Black president and who chose a Black woman as his own vice president, backs a study of reparations, both in Tulsa and more broadly, but has not committed to supporting payments. Trump visited Tulsa last year under vastly different circumstances. After suspending his campaign rallies because of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump, a Republican, chose Tulsa as the place to mark his return. But his decision to schedule the rally on June 19, the holiday known as Juneteenth that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, was met with such fierce criticism that he postponed the event by a day. The rally was still marked by protests outside and empty seats inside an arena downtown.
AMAZON RIVER LEVELS RISE TO RECORD LEVELS MANAUS, Brazil Associated Press
RIVERS around the biggest city in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest have swelled to levels unseen in over a century of record-keeping, according to data published yestereday by Manaus’ port authorities, straining a society that has grown weary of increasingly frequent flooding. The Rio Negro was at its highest level since records began in 1902, with a depth of 29.98 meters (98ft) at the port’s measuring station. The nearby Solimoes and Amazon rivers were also nearing all-time highs, flooding streets and houses in dozens of municipalities and affecting some 450,000 people in the region. Higher-than-usual precipitation is associated with the La Nina phenomenon, when currents in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean affect global climate patterns. Environmental experts and organisations including the US Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say there is strong evidence that human activity and global warming are altering the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events,
A MAN rides his motorcycle through a street flooded by the Negro River, in downtown Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, yesterday. Photo: Edmar Barros/AP including La Nina. Large swaths of Brazil are Seven of the ten biggest floods in currently drying up in a severe the Amazon basin have occurred drought, with a possible shortfall in in the past 13 years, data from Bra- power generation from the nation’s zil’s state-owned Geological Survey hydroelectric plants and increased shows. electricity prices, government “If we continue to destroy the authorities have warned. Amazon the way we do, the climatic But in Manaus, 66-year-old Julia anomalies will become more and Simas has water ankle-deep in more accentuated,” said Virgílio her home. Simas has lived in the Viana, director of the Sustainable working-class neighbourhood of Amazon Foundation, a nonprofit. Sao Jorge since 1974 and is used “Greater floods on the one hand, to seeing the river rise and fall greater droughts on the other.” with the seasons. Simas likes her
neighborhood because it is safe and clean. But the quickening pace of the floods in the last decade has her worried. “From 1974 until recently, many years passed and we wouldn’t see any water. It was a normal place,” she said. When the river does overflow its banks and flood her street, she and other residents use boards and beams to build rudimentary scaffolding within their homes to raise their floors above the water. “I think human beings have contributed a lot (to this situation,” she said. “Nature doesn’t forgive. She comes and doesn’t want to know whether you’re ready to face her or not.” Flooding also has a significant impact on local industries such as farming and cattle ranching. Many family-run operations have seen their production vanish under water. Others have been unable to reach their shops, offices and market stalls or clients. “With these floods, we’re out of work,” said Elias Gomes, a 38-yearold electrician in Cacau Pirera, on the other side of the Rio Negro, though noted he’s been able to earn a bit by transporting neighbours in his small wooden boat.
SEVEN EU NATIONS INTRODUCE VACCINATION CERTIFICATES GREECE, Germany and five other European Union nations introduced a vaccination certificate system for travelers on Tuesday, weeks ahead of the July 1 rollout of the program across the 27-nation bloc. The other countries starting early were Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Croatia and Poland. Greece, which depends heavily on tourism, has been pressing for the commonly-recognised certificate that uses a QR code with advanced security features. The certificates are being issued to people who are fully vaccinated as well as those have already contracted the virus and developed antibodies and others who have had a PCR test within the last 72 hours. The documents will have both digital and paper forms. They’ll be free of charge, distributed in the national language plus English and be valid in all the bloc’s countries. “EU citizens are looking forward to travelling again, and they want to do so safely. Having an EU certificate is a crucial step on the way,” EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said. Greece’s digital governance minister, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, said easier travel will open up within the EU as nations adopt the new verification standard. “What will happen is that countries will stop issuing certificates using their own convention and adopt the common convention. That will simplify things considerably, because you can imagine the number of bilateral agreements that would otherwise need to be worked out,” Pierrakakis told private Skai television.
CHAUVIN FACES COURT OVER FEDERAL CASE THE former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in George Floyd’s death made his initial appearance yesterday on federal charges alleging he violated Floyd’s civil rights by pinning the Black man to the pavement with his knee. Derek Chauvin, 45, wore an orange prison shirt when he appeared in federal court via videoconference from Minnesota’s maximum-security prison in Oak Park Heights, where he’s being held as he awaits sentencing following his April conviction on murder and manslaughter charges. The federal charges allege Chauvin violated Floyd’s rights as he restrained him face-down while he was handcuffed and not resisting. Three other former officers — J Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao — face similar federal charges. Chauvin is also charged in a separate indictment alleging he violated the rights of a 14-year-old boy in 2017.
FIREFIGHTER KILLS COLLEAGUE, WOUNDS ANOTHER AN OFF-DUTY Los Angeles County firefighter fatally shot a fellow firefighter and wounded another at their small community fire station yesterday before going to his nearby home, setting it on fire and apparently killing himself, authorities said. A 44-year-old fire specialist died and a 54-year-old firefighter was shot when the gunman opened fire shortly before 11am at Fire Station 81, which is about 45 miles north of Los Angeles, Fire Chief Daryl Osby told reporters. The wounded man was in critical but stable condition at a hospital. The shooter was a firefighter specialist and engineer, authorities said.
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