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LANISHA LASHES BACK AT OUSTING

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SEABREEZE MP Lanisha Rolle unloaded about her experience as a Cabinet minister in the House of Assembly yesterday, using her contribution to the budget debate to defend her conduct in office, to discuss the sexism she experienced and to lament the Free National Movement’s decision to deny her a nomination in the next general election.

Mrs Rolle resigned from Cabinet in February. The Cabinet Office released a statement saying certain information had been brought to the attention of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

Yesterday, Mrs Rolle said

the statement caused her hurt and harm.

“In case anyone stands to assume that I was under some investigation and this is the reason for my not being nominated, I requested further clarification of the statement made by the Cabinet which incorrectly insinuated that my resignation was as the result of some investigation,” she said. “The good member for Killarney (Dr Minnis) clarified in a public statement to the press that there was no investigation concerning this member. I thank him.

“Sometimes, however, what you give to the world you cannot take back.

Appreciating the hurt and harm this has caused me SEE PAGE THREE

‘JUDGE’S RULING IS WRONG AND WE’LL BE FIGHTING IT’

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister criticised a Supreme Court ruling which bans the government from further demolishing shanty town structures across Abaco, saying it has set a “dangerous” precedent that has “usurped” the power of the Ministry of Works.

He also said the decision would create “open

season” for anyone to illegally build on land they do not own.

In her ruling on Monday, Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson ordered an extension of her injunction to include all unregulated communities in Abaco. The injunction prohibits the government from evicting shanty town residents and disconnecting services in their communities.

SEE PAGE FIVE

ALICIA WALLACE

IF WE BLOCK THE BULLIES, THINGS CAN CHANGE

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAYMENTS FOR COVID NURSES ARE ON THE WAY

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

NURSES who worked directly with COVID patients can expect “something” extra in their bank accounts perhaps as early as the end of June, Health Minister Renward Wells told the press yesterday.

Nurses have spoken out recently over not receiving a COVID-19 related honorarium they say they were promised from mid-2020.

SEE PAGE FOUR

A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES WELCOME back! The first cruise ship has returned to dock in Nassau after the long absence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Royal Caribbean ship Adventure of the Seas arrived yesterday ahead of its June 12 sailing. Passengers boarding on Saturday will be greeted with a Bahamian “Party In Da Backyard” event including ice-cold Kaliks from Commonwealth Brewery, Junkanoo music and more.

The event will be live streamed on the Nassau Cruise Port Facebook account from noon on Saturday.

LUCAYAN STAFF LOSE UNFAIR DISMISSAL CASE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Lucayan’s chairman yesterday hailed a Supreme Court verdict dismissing wrongful/unfair dismissal claims by 36 current and former managers as “a victory for common sense and sanity”.

Michael Scott QC, who heads the Governmentowned Lucayan Renewal Holdings, told Tribune Business that the ruling

THE GRAND Lucayan Resort.

by Justice Petra HannaAdderley would also produce savings for Bahamian taxpayers “who have been paying the bills”

- running into tens of millions of dollars - to keep the resort open while negotiations for its sale to the ITM Group/Royal Caribbean joint venture drag on.

The judge, in a June 3 verdict, denied virtually all claims by the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association (BHMA) and its members stemming from the Grand Lucayan Board’s decision to terminate most of the workforce in June FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

WHICH US VACCINES WILL WE BE SENT?

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said he is unsure which brand of COVID19 vaccine the country will receive from the United States.

Currently, the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine is the only one being offered locally.

SEE PAGE FOUR

TECHNOLOGY APPLE PREVIEWS NEW SOFTWARE FOR IPHONES

SEE PAGE NINE

Clean-up for Oceans Day

PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

THE Department of Cultural Affairs hosted a beach clean-up at South Beach in honour of World Oceans Day yesterday.

Participants donned gloves and collected trash from the public beach in New Providence.

According to the United Nations, World Oceans Day is meant to remind every one of the major role the oceans have in

everyday life.

“The purpose of (World Oceans) Day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilise and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world’s oceans,” the UN’s website states.

Photos: Racardo Thomas

WASTE STATION BEING DEVELOPED AT GREEN TURTLE CAY

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A MODERN transfer waste station is being developed through the J&G Pavers accelerated project in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, for proper and efficient debris management in that community.

The Disaster Reconstruction Authority has engaged Abaco-based J&G Pavers Limited to manage the debris site.

According to a press statement released by DRA, J&G Pavers launched its accelerated project on May 10 and has hired workers and acquired equipment and other necessary resources for the waste management operation.

“For this venture, the company will prioritise the use and rental of equipment already based in Abaco, hire Green Turtle Cay residents and always utilise all the cay’s resources,” the statement noted.

Additionally, the company plans to introduce

wood recycling, donate a new trash collection vehicle to their partners at the Department of Environmental Health, beautify the grounds surrounding their facility and maintain security.

In addition to the unsightly appearance of the waste site, there is an issue with rodents, flies, pigs, and other scavengers in the area.

Hired workers semi-sort the waste and utilise equipment to remove debris spilled onto the road.

The company has also commenced a non-toxic spraying programme using all-natural neem, citronella, and rosemary oils to effectively reduce the number of flies at the site.

J&G Pavers has installed a temporary barge ramp and piles to access the cay during high or low ocean tide. This also enabled the transporting of debris and garbage through the cay without impacting operations at the nearby Green Turtle Cay Club.

They have also

significantly improved efficiency, allowing hauling and barging to take place for 12 to 14 hours a day, and completed the process in just two weeks compared to the previous eight to nine weeks.

According to the DRA, the company used four to six roll off trucks to further expedite the project.

“Now that the site has returned to some sense of normalcy, hauling and debris removal will continue at the traditional pace over the next four weeks,” a DRA spokesman said.

During those four weeks, the company will create a temporary “responsible dumping” area for residents to allow garbage collection trucks to throw the trash into marked dumpsters according to the type of debris.

They will mark boundary points and confirm layout/ points for transfer station pre-planning; progress environmental approval for permanent dock access; and provide a large bin to the Green Turtle Club.

Green Turtle Cay residents are pleased about the transformation of the waste transfer site.

“You could see the big change,” one resident said.

“The front looks good.

There is now grass where grass never was seen before; there’s no smoke from the constant burning and I like how they are crushing it up in pieces rather than the whole. The locals could see what’s going on and we appreciate that.”

Property manager and Fire Department volunteer Julie Farrington said that before the change it was really bad.

“The worst thing was seeing all the trash that kept blowing across the street and it was everywhere and very dangerous for vehicles.

Right now, it looks so much better when you pass,” she said.

Principal/teacher Sara Roberts, of Amy Roberts Primary School, said before Hurricane Dorian the waste site was not in the best shape.

She said: “The difference

at the site in the last few weeks has been incredible and hopefully that can continue.”

Sarah Sams, Pineapples Restaurant owner and life-long Green Turtle Cay resident, is relieved that burning at the dump – a practice that had occurred since she was a child - has now ceased.

“The trash smells and was burned weekly near a harbour, resorts, and lots of homes that were not safe,” she said. “Now, the new group is doing a good job and there seems to be an improvement.”

Green Turtle Cay Foundation board member and realtor Giselle McIntosh was also very impressed with how the new contractor was able to accomplish in a short period.

“They’ve moved a lot of debris that was there and made it look very nice from the outside which is important since visitors pass the area. I hope the site continues to get cleaned up where it can be managed properly. The

island is growing so quickly in terms of tourism, and it is now looking like it was Pre-Dorian and once they continue to remove waste from the island and not burn it like we were doing previously, the island will be an even better place,” she said.

After viewing the project, Katherine Smith, DRA managing director, is satisfied with the work that has already been completed.

“If J&G Pavers continues phases one, two, and three of this project, I think Green Turtle Cay residents will be very satisfied with the work that has been put in to eliminate the island’s debris and municipal waste,” she said.

“While there is a lot of work to be done, J&G Pavers has committed to working with the community to achieve their goal.

This isn’t an easy fix as there is a lot of debris from Dorian and a lot of legacy waste that has been on the cay for quite some time, so there’s still much more work to complete.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 9, 2021, PAGE 3

Lanisha lashes back at ousting from page one and I do not wish on any other, I will endeavour to guard my words here so as not to damage the character of any member here, to hurt their family, their livelihoods, their character or reputation. I have three children, I have a husband, I have a mother and I have a father like everyone else here. I say no more on that.”

Mrs Rolle insisted she did nothing improper, noting that neither the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture nor her previous ministry, the Ministry of Social Services, “kept money.”

“I gave approvals only on that which were in accordance with the Cabinet’s manual of responsibility, the government of The Bahamas’ General Orders, particularly following sections nine and ten on the rules of conflict of interest and procedures specified in the Financial Administration and Audit Act as amended in 2010,” she said.

“Ministers don’t sign cheques, ministers don’t hold cheques. No ministry I kept held money. Every financial transaction of a minister is either based on a recommendation by the permanent secretary and, in the case of statutory bodies, on the recommendation of a board.

“Financial transactions in government are subject to a strict process and no ministry I held had large budgets to do anything.

It was austerity for some.

Nevertheless, what was spent on necessary projects were recommended by the relevant authorities, approved by this minister when or where I was satisfied that policies were followed and authorisation was given by the ministry of Finance and payments issued through and by the

Public Treasury. I rely on the good auditor general to say if any transaction under my tenure and at my approval was contrary to the rules.”

Mrs Rolle said if there were concerns about transactions in her ministry, those concerns should have been brought to her attention.

“If a challenge arose with respect to any transaction of a ministry, which is expected in the operations of any business or administration…then the minister should be the first to be apprised to address the matter. One day in this Westminster system, I’ll say it while I can. . .we will show respect for each other as we do those of a different colour and gender in some instances. Pulling down, destroying each other, has no place in a better Bahamas and, as for me, I refuse to be a part of the nonsense.

“Criticism and unwarranted suspicion are clouds over every political and leadership office,” she added. “Every one of us are held in suspicion…we ignore some though and we make a mockery of others who we feel are not worthy of being protected.”

The Tribune understands that Dr Minnis ordered a lockdown of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture after people affiliated with the National Sports Authority expressed concerns to him about operations at the NSA. Mrs Rolle said in performing her duties, she tried to ensure that projects were completed on schedule and on budget. She said she encountered many unexplained cost overruns at Urban Renewal and the National Sports Authority.

She said: “Did persons try to bully me as a young female minister? Nobody asked me until now. Of

course. Was I protected against the bullying?

Maybe not. But I stood my ground even if I stood alone and today I am where I am and it is what it is.”

When news broke about Mrs Rolle’s resignation from Cabinet, people circulated images of her house on social media and cast aspersions on her character.

Addressing this yesterday, she said: “I don’t know why all the members that sit in this place that have homes, cars and are building homes and other projects, why one would go so far as sending a drone over a house under construction and under mortgage. Ministers receive a minimum remuneration of $99,000 per annum and I am sure I was the least among the many.

Some received housing allowance and additional allowance but surely one can use their funds and that of their family as they see fit without being unduly, unjustifiably accused.”

Mrs Rolle said she intended to continue as MP for Seabreeze and expressed confidence that she would have won if renominated. She said her party’s decision not to renominate her has caused turbulence in her constituency.

She said after she was not ratified by March 12, she wrote to the FNM to say she will not seek renomination.

“The constant humiliation and distraction were not helpful at a time when we needed to focus on the growing instances of murder and violent crime and joblessness and homelessness and other pressing issues and COVID-19 and vaccines and masks,” she said. “I told the party in submitting this letter to go and find your best candidate that can top 3,500 votes, to work for that, over

LANISHA ROLLE MP the one woman that bore the burden to represent the female gender and agenda for our country in the Cabinet and outside for nearly four years under the most extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances.

I don’t stand here to say I’m perfect, but the facts speak for themselves and so much work must be worth something.”

She told a story of a constituent who approached her two years ago and told her she was not given the support previous male MPs in that constituency had received.

“This was my maiden voyage and the help and support…I thought I would receive was not forthcoming, but I pressed on with the team and today I am proud of our accomplishments,” she said.

She called for an increase in salaries for parliamentarians.

“I sat as a senator and attending every event as a dignitary, drafting and preparing and bringing remarks, attending Parliament for days on end, etc. at a salary of $250 per week is a salary structure that requires urgent review,” she said. “Senators work hard too. As a senator, citizens also look for assistance similar to their requests for members of Parliament and it is no reasonable answer to say one knows the salary before they take the job. As a human resource specialist, it is standard practice that the salary be commensurate with the job and vice versa and national office should be held in more respectable regard in my view.”

Mrs Rolle also said the government should have increased the allocations to MPs given the challenge posed by COVID-19.

“To my mind, adjustments should have been

made to operations in capital budgets to strengthen the direct assistance to constituents by members of Parliament,” she said.

“The reality is most if not all members of Parliament had to spend of their own resources, whether directly or indirectly, to meet the great demand of the people during these most challenging and unprecedented times. If they were given the resources the MPs could’ve provided, to my mind, for the government a more personal touch that the people could feel and appreciate. “As it stands now, notwithstanding the government’s multiple assistance programme, including food assistance… the people’s cry is either that (the) COVID-19 relief programme is inadequate, not reaching the masses or the provision is simply not enough compared to their degree of hardship.”

MOULTRIE SLAMS DISRESPECT FROM ‘ATHEIST’

HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie.

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie accused the executive branch of government of disrespect yesterday while complaining about an “atheist” who works in the government.

His comment in the House of Assembly came after Seabreeze MP Lanisha Rolle delivered a speech that was at times critical of the way she was treated as a minister.

Speaker Moultrie said: “I sat in the front of a person last year who had made a public declaration that he does not believe in God and he gave me all (the) reasons why no food will be coming into this Parliament for the members of this Parliament.

“The circumstances have deteriorated since then but I see food in the Parliament

this year. Again, the level of disrespect for the presiding officer of the Parliament.

On both occasions where the Speaker was not even consulted, the courtesy was not extended, and I believe the essence of your presentation Seabreeze, that is the crux of the matter, it’s a matter of respect. We are all leaders in this Parliament.”

Speaker Moultrie did not identify the government official. However, Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson publicly identifies as an “atheist”.

Speaker Moultrie said: “Just recently again that same individual who made a public declaration that he does not believe in God sat across the table from me and indicated that the cost for the upgrades of the Hansard were overestimated and I demanded from him specifics to justify that claim because

whenever a man who has declared himself to be an atheist sits across the table from me, my first reaction is the devil is a liar, and that person could not tell me why he wanted to cut $600,000 off the cost for the upgrade of the Hansard in the Parliamentary Channel.

“Those are the types of matters that this Parliament and legislative branch of government must get corrected for this democracy to deepen and for us to advance as a people. I have a whole lot more to say but I don’t want to say it at this time. But I just want to let the contractors know who gave me some blows for taking away the contract for the food for the Parliament, that it wasn’t me.”

In a bid to save money, the Minnis administration announced last year that lunches will not be provided to the House of Assembly.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, June 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Which US vaccines will we be sent? from page one “We are not completely sure as to which vaccines we are going to receive,” he said yesterday.

“We are going to receive them on two tracks – one, there is the bi-level track with the United States which means directly country to country. We know that the United States is offering AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, but we are not exactly sure which one of those that they are offering to The Bahamas.

“We are in discussions on that and we should have some word for the Bahamian people very, very soon. We will be receiving those vaccines by the end of the month. The other track is that the United States, as you know, would have donated to the World Health Organization through COVAX Facility and countries around the globe will be getting vaccines via that route.

“I think the US has donated some seven

million, I believe, to Latin America and the Caribbean through the COVAX Facility and they are going to be doing it on a per capita population basis. We are expecting that we are going to receive vaccines that route, but we also have in train as well this week, I believe will be getting vaccines from PAHO which is the last of the 100,000 we were supposed to receive of AstraZeneca from PAHO through the COVAX facility which is about some 32,800 doses if I remember correctly.”

Asked about the possibility of health officials moving the curfew in the capital from 10pm to at least midnight, Mr Wells said he is more concerned about hospitalisations than overall numbers. And, he said, there are a number of things weighing on a decision to relax restrictions but acknowledged a recent downward trend in cases.

“The Bahamian people are coming forward again and are seeking to be vaccinated,” he said. “We are always as an administration

TOTAL CASES

looking to ease both the economic circumstance and just the overall sense of wellbeing for the Bahamian people.

Looking at the numbers, obviously a lot of this is contingent on the level of vaccinations experienced in the country and the downward trend.

“As you see and as you would know that as cases are reduced in country, the measures are always relaxed. So it’s really contingent on the amount of the downward trend that we see and the amount of vaccinations taking place in The Bahamas, then the government will make further decisions on the amount of relaxation of measures that are in place in Cat Island, Andros and the Berry Islands as well as here in New Providence and throughout The Bahamas.

“I won’t talk about the

TOTAL DEATHS

12,027 232 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES MONDAY 3 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE

TOTAL TESTS

100,177

40

CASES IN ICU

3

RECOVERED

11,081

SOUTH ANDROS AND BERRY ISLANDS CURFEW MOVED THE daily curfew for South Andros and the Berry Islands has been moved from 10pm to 5am, in accordance with an amended Emergency Powers Order.

The amended order also permits businesses on South Andros and the Berry Islands to operate between the hours of 6am and 9pm, effective

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff

positivity rate. I am more concerned about the hospitalisation. We had a high of overall cases in The Bahamas, I think May 16 through the 22. We had about 370 cases during that week in The Bahamas. Since that, time this last week, I think we had about 120 cases so there is a downward trend.”

He pointed out that the US Centers for Disease Control has reduced the travel advisor to The Bahamas and said this is a good sign of progress for dealing with the pandemic.

Shifting gears a bit, Mr Wells said he did not want to get into a back and forth about the number

of vaccinated citizens that would satisfy herd immunity.

Recently, former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said he felt 200,000 more people needed to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity while Mr Wells, who is not a doctor, had previously estimated 120,000.

“I won’t get in a back and forth over the issue of herd immunity because even the (former) minister himself said the number is extremely illusive,” Mr Wells said. “At the end of the day, we all are scientists … we deal with scientific methods. The scientific method is based on what you find as initial

conditions and the assumption you make on those initial conditions and then you arrive at solutions.

“So it will depend on what assumptions he has made and what assumptions I have made. I am not going to get into the back and forth with my colleague on the issue. The reality is we agree on one thing and that is that the more Bahamians are vaccinated, the better it is for this nation because it brings us that much closer to herd immunity.”

Meanwhile the Ministry of Health reported three new COVID cases yesterday which were recorded on Monday, pushing the nation’s total to 12,027.

PAYMENTS FOR COVID NURSES ARE ON THE WAY

from page one

3

HOSPITALISED

HEALTH Minister Renward Wells pictured yesterday.

immediately.

The harvesting of crabs is now permitted on the Berry Islands during curfew hours, from 10pm to 5am.

Residents of South Andros should note that the harvesting of crabs continues to be permitted during curfew hours from 10pm to 5am, the Office of the Prime Minister noted last night.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

On North and Central Andros and Cat Island, farmers are now permitted to attend their farms to water, tend and harvest between 9am and 3pm, in accordance with another amended Emergency Powers Order.

School examinations are also permitted on North and Central Andros and Cat Island during the lockdown period under the amended order.

Harvesting of crabs is permitted on Cat Island between the hours of 8pm and 5am or as otherwise approved by the police officer in charge of the island.

Residents of North and Central Andros should note that the harvesting of crabs between the hours of 8pm and 5am or as otherwise approved by police, continues to be permitted.

Bahamas Nurses Union chief Amancha Williams has gone on record showing disdain for the lack of delivery of the honorarium as she said many countries around the world have lived up to their promise to their healthcare workers who put their health on the line caring for those who were sick with the virus.

“As I would have spoken to it in the past, the government made a commitment of some $100,000 to every individual in the healthcare sector who would have died in the course of treating COVID patients,” Mr Wells said before heading into a Cabinet meeting.

“We had four individuals who are a part of the government’s healthcare system who succumbed to COVID in the course of their duties.

“The government is in the process of paying that $400,000 directly to the families who are deserving of it. Their dependents, their legal heir, will receive the $100,000. Then there is another $600,000 that we were going to be giving to about 150 individuals. In the first instance, we are seeking to do that by the end of this month for those who would have worked directly with COVID during the first wave.

“We have since had a second wave and the thinking was that we have had very dedicated hardworking healthcare workers throughout this entire course. So all of those who would have worked and have been exposed to COVID in the environment that the government

BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Amancha Williams. would seek to give them something.

“We said it could be up to $5,000 … that’s up to, not that it would be $5,000.

What we have done is put some $3m in the new budget to be able to address that issue … that honorarium. So I am looking at July to be able to pay the others the honorarium. There is a thinking though, that perhaps we should pay it all in July … just make sure that we cover everyone because you know obviously, and oftentimes in The Bahamas if you pay some and you tell others you are going

to pay them it becomes a problem.”

Mr Wells indicated that Cabinet will make that decision during this week on whether all nurses receive the funds in July or give some their honorarium in June.

“Everybody will receive something,” he continued.

“It may not be $5,000. It probably won’t be $5,000 but for those who are so hardworking and dedicated, we are going to be giving them something. You can look in the budget and see that there is a line item of some $3m.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 9, 2021, PAGE 5

DISCUSSIONS HELD OVER REPAIRS TO PARLIAMENT

‘Judge’s ruling is wrong and we’ll be fighting it’

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

from page one

She ordered the government to “cease and desist” from “any further interference” with the respective communities until the outcome of a pending judicial review and also admonished officials for moving to demolish the structures without first getting approval from the court.

Justice Grant-Thompson’s ruling comes after the Ministry of Works spearheaded the demolition of 45 “incomplete and unoccupied structures” in The Farm shanty town in Abaco in April and followed up with further demolitions last month.

Yesterday, Mr Bannister called the ruling “a flawed decision” and “wrong in law”.

“The Free National Movement is a government of laws as we respect the law and insofar as that decision represents the law right now we’re going to follow it, but I just want y’all to think in a democracy you are entitled to criticise decisions,” he said.

“In my view, it is a flawed decision. It is wrong in law. It is wrong and we expect that we will have it overturned and I’ll tell you why.

There were two injunctions in place. The first injunction prohibited the government from demolishing shanty towns and buildings and structures, etc. The second injunction stopped people from building those structures.

Every one of those buildings that we were demolishing on The Farm was built contrary to the court’s injunction.

“You have a judge who has made the decision, and I want y’all to understand how dangerous this is for the country right now, that we can’t demolish these structures unless we go to her.

What that has done is, she has usurped the statutory powers of the building control officers in the Ministry of Works. She has usurped the statutory powers of officers throughout the various ministries in the country and the judge is now determining whether they could carry out their duties in accordance with the law — that has to be wrong.

MINISTER of Works Desmond Bannister speaking to the media yesterday before the Cabinet meeting.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff “The second thing is this — it something about it — they (are) to appeal on the basis of urgency is now open season for anybody not in breach of the order — but to the Court of Appeal where to go on any land and put up in order to do something about we hope that this matter will be any structure they want and not it, to enforce the law, the govern- definitively resolved by the Court comply with the law. So you can ment is going to have to make of Appeal.” have your land wherever you an application to a judge. You For his part, North Abaco MP want. Somebody could go there, know how silly that sounds?”

Darren Henfield said the governput up a structure on it and the Mr Bannister also said the ment is interested in regulating building control people, instead ruling “doesn’t make sense” and buildings in The Bahamas as he of being able to enforce the law, is not “worth the paper it is writ- highlighted his concerns about even though they don’t have a ten on”. shanty towns. “I’m concerned permit for it, are going to have Outside Cabinet yesterday, about the environmental degto go apply to this judge to be Attorney General Carl Bethel radation. I’m concerned about able to come and demolish that said he met with the counsel unregulated buildings. I’m constructure.” involved in the matter that morn- cerned that we’re in the hurricane He argued: “So right now in ing and restated the government’s season again and we saw what Abaco... they could go in Peli- intent to appeal.

Dorian did with shanty communican Shores. They could go in “We respectfully disagree with ties in Abaco. We were there. We Elbow Cay. They could go in the reasoning of the learned saw it, many of us. The Mud, The Treasure Cay. They could go in judge,” Mr Bethel said. “We Pea, Sandbanks all destroyed – any of these upscale areas, put respectfully disagree with the con- portions of The Farm. Lots of a building there on somebody’s clusions arrived at by the learned lives lost. That’s the interest of the property, don’t care whose prop- judge and we will be appealing government to regulate buildings erty it is, and in order to do or seeking leave from the judge in The Bahamas,” he said.

WITH past complaints from Speaker of the House Halson Moultrie concerning the state of his office, Works Minister Desmond Bannister revealed his team has met with the president of the Senate as well as the Nassau Village MP about repairs.

Mr Moultrie has previously expressed his dissatisfaction in Parliament regarding the fitness of his office and bathroom facilities. He complained that there was no running water in the bathroom, causing him to have to wash his hands in a bucket, and also complained of mould and a leaky roof. Mr Moultrie eventually turned in his keys to the government over his dissatisfaction over the matter.

When asked if repairs should be anticipated, Mr Bannister told reporters outside of Cabinet yesterday: “We have met with the president of the Senate. We’ve met with the Speaker. My architectural team, my engineering team – we met with them.

“We showed them what our plans are for those areas and what we intend to do in the budget period. The only thing they would’ve liked for us to do in the last budget period but we don’t (have) the money for it. Every year we have to budget and plan for it.

I think y’all see that my budget is considerably smaller than it was last year.”

Meanwhile, with major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Crystal Cruises set to home port in the country this summer, the minister noted the Straw Market Authority is speaking with health officials to ensure safety in the Straw Market when it reopens.

“In my portfolio I have the Straw Market Authority and my duty is going to be to ensure that those Bahamians vendors are safe when they go to work,” he said.

“We are talking about people coming to the country vaccinated. . .What the vaccine does is ensure that if you get COVID you do not get it as seriously because you’re not hospitalised. That doesn’t mean you’re not going to get it. So I have to protect the vendors and we have to do whatever we can to ensure that the Bahamian people are protected.”

ELEUTHERA MP MACKEY GIVES REASSURANCE OVER CRYSTAL CRUISES PLAN TO VISIT ISLAND

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NORTH Eleuthera MP Rickey Mackey assured Spanish Wells residents on Monday evening that the Minnis administration will not let Crystal Cruises use the island as its port-of-call during its Bahamas cruise schedule if residents do not want it.

Crystal Cruises, which became the first cruise line to announce it would home port in The Bahamas earlier this year, announced a change of anchorage from Harbour Island to Spanish Wells in May. The cruise line is using New Providence and Bimini as home ports for week-long cruises that will begin on July 3.

Some on Spanish Wells furiously oppose the plans, however, just as some did on Harbour Island.

During a rowdy town-hall meeting on Monday evening, Mr Mackey, according

to a short clip that circulated after the event, said the government will listen to the people and do what they want.

Mr Mackey, who was in the House of Assembly yesterday, did not give further comment up to press time yesterday.

“Governments make decisions that they feel are in the best interest of their people, but those decisions are not always right,” he said during the meeting.

“Like the good doctor said, it takes a big man or a big government to realise that they may have to revisit what may have appeared to be a good decision and correct it.

“I’m saying to you tonight that this administration is not going to force nothing down Spanish Wells’ throat.

And so, I can say with certainty that with short order you will hear officially that if Spanish Wells doesn’t want it, then we will move on. We understand your

concerns, all of you. The reason they’re here is to get your opinion and based on your opinion a decision will be made.

“You’re saying you don’t want it. Brothers and sisters, people in Spanish Wells, they took the time out to come, to address the issue, to correct whatever wrongs that were done, and then we will continue to enjoy this industry that you built.

You can’t blame governments for trying what they sometimes think. They’re going to try, but when it is clear the decision is not in the best interest of that area, a good and prudent government will move away from it, will change, they will not go through with it, they will not do it.

And that I’m certain is the method we will deal with it. You made your case and now this government will listen to your concerns.”

At a time when the Minnis administration is

WOMAN KILLED IN TWO-CAR CRASH IN GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama recorded its first traffic fatality for 2021 when a woman died on Monday evening following a twocar collision in the Barbary Beach area.

According to police, three other people injured in the traffic accident were taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital. Their conditions are not known at this time.

The Tribune understands the deceased was an employee of the Road Traffic Department. Grief

counselling was held at the department for employees yesterday.

When contacted, Deputy Controller of Road Traffic Welbourne Bootle confirmed that employees were in grief counselling today following the death of an employee.

“She was a gem and was always to work on time and always with a big smile,” he said.

The victim’s identity has not been officially released by police.

Police received a report about the accident shortly before 6pm on Monday and officers immediately went

to the scene to investigate.

Preliminary investigations revealed a white Daihatsu, driven by a woman with two passengers, was travelling north on Windermere Drive when a collision occurred with a green-coloured Ford Fusion, driven by another woman, who was the sole occupant in that vehicle.

The woman driver of the white vehicle was pronounced dead by EMS. The other driver and the two passengers were taken to hospital for medical attention.

An investigation is underway.

eager to grow the struggling economy, Crystal Cruises has emphasised the positive reception its planned cruises have received. In May, the company said its all-Bahamas itineraries opened for reservations with record demand, leading to the biggest single day of bookings in its history within the first 24-hours of its release.

Chuck Pinder, a fisherman, told Tribune Business on Monday that council members and community leaders feel Spanish Wells cannot handle the number of people who would arrive on the cruises.

RICKY MACKEY MP

PAGE 6, Wednesday, June 9, 2021

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Lanisha has her say - but we need answers IT SEEMS it was never likely that Lanisha Rolle would depart the political scene without having her say.

Mrs Rolle’s time in government has been turbulent, to say the least, with few speaking up in her favour from her time as either Minister of Social Services or subsequently Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture. She resigned from Cabinet in February.

Yesterday, she used her contribution in the Budget debate not to analyse the finances of the nation but to defend her conduct in office and to lament the FNM decision not to select her for the next election.

Mrs Rolle talked about a statement issued by the Cabinet Office at the time, which said that certain information had been brought to the attention of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

She said: “In case anyone stands to assume that I was under some investigation and this is the reason for my not being nominated, I requested further clarification of the statement made by the Cabinet which incorrectly insinuated that my resignation was as the result of some investigation. The good member for Killarney (Dr Minnis) clarified in a public statement to the press that there was no investigation concerning this member.

I thank him.”

Whatever you may think of Mrs Rolle, however, there absolutely should be some clarity given around the circumstances for her departure.

The Tribune understands that Dr Minnis ordered a lockdown of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture after people affiliated with the National Sports Authority expressed concerns to him about operations at the NSA. Dr Minnis did indeed say Mrs Rolle was not being directly investigated but when that lockdown combines with the departure of a Cabinet minister, of course questions have to be asked – yet answers seem to be slow in coming.

What happened as a result of that lockdown? We have heard nothing since. An internal audit was said to have been requested at the time – and it was unusual for the Cabinet statement to note those “certain matters”.

Will that audit be released? Will the public ever get to know what those matters were? It seems not in any hurry, just as a long-promised probe into the disintegration of the Bahamas Power & Light board has never seemed to surface.

In the meantime, Mrs Rolle used her Budget debate time to tackle issues probably not terribly close to the hearts of her constituents, such as an increase in salary for parliamentarians and a greater allocation for MPs. We’re not sure there will be many tears for the departure from Parliament of Mrs Rolle, but there should at least be answers.

Remember, our Prime Minister campaigned for the job while talking about transparency. It’s long past time to show some.

Healthcare heroes

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, people around the world were urged to support our healthcare heroes.

These were the doctors, the nurses and the support staff keeping our hospitals going as wave after wave of the virus hit our shores.

We were urged to do our part under emergency measures to help keep healthcare staff safe and to help them in the fight.

Words can only go so far, however, and promises were made for an honorarium for those staff members who, let’s be honest, risked their own health and their own lives to care for others. Indeed, four healthcare workers have been identified as having died from COVID in the course of their duties, and their families will receive $100,000 each.

It is good that at last those promises are coming close to being fulfilled. It is sad, however, that it has taken so long.

The promise, nurses say, goes back a year to mid-2020. Health Minister Renward Wells has now said that nurses who worked directly with COVID patients can expect “something” in their bank accounts perhaps by the end of this month.

That still falls a little short. That “something” should be a definite number, and the date of payment should be in concrete. Apparently a decision is being made this week on when the payments will be made. We suggest that decision should have been made a long time ago.

We hope too that there will be no wrangling over who gets the payments, and this does not become a debate over who spent enough time with patients to qualify.

Our healthcare workers have indeed been heroes in this fight. They deserve to be treated as such.

Farewell to Bishop B Wenith Davis EDITOR, The Tribune.

A man of Great Moral and Academic Stature dies at 74 years.

Bishop B…Brilliant Mind W…Willing to assist the needy E… Excellent Spirit N… Never Discouraged I… Intelligent T… Trustworthy H… Heaven Bound DAVIS The Congregation, family and well wishers of B Wenith Davis are mourning his passing on Friday, May 21, 2021. He was 74 years old. It really stirred up deep emotions everywhere.

Bishop BW Davis received his ministerial training at the American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville Kentucky.

Upon his return home to New Providence he was ordained as a Minister at Zion Baptist Church East and Shirley Streets.

Shortly after Ordination,

he was charged with spearheading Zion’s work in the Southern Community for 42 years. Whilst pastoring, Wenith had the privilege of delivering Christian Education at Jordan Prince Williams High School, the Baptist Institute and the Bahamas Baptist Community College and Templeton Theological Seminary.

During the span of Davis’ career B Wenith focused on many issues involving Education and Evangelizing.

He was excellent as a pastor and an Inspiration to thousands who were under his charge. As time progressed he formed the Zion Christian School.

Bishop B Wenith distinguished himself as a religious leader, holding posts in national, regional and international Baptist bodies. B Wenith’s major emphasis was winning souls for the Kingdom of God. On a more personal scene, B Wenith Davis was husband to Pastor Ismae Davis, nee Strachan

and father of four beautiful children, namely Ray, Rachel, Shanique and Cohen. Wenith was brother of Archbishop Ross Davis of Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries and husband to Lee Watson of Trinity of Praise.

The executive officers and members of the Zion United Baptist Convention send warm wishes to Bishop Davis and his immediate family. The Zion South Beach Baptist Church family, the Zion Baptist Convention family and the Baptist Community at South Beach.

We are grateful that the Great B Wenith Davis is now where he longed to be.

We are divinely confident that our Brother B Wenith Davis is in the Bosom of Christ, Jesus Lord and Saviour.

Loving Cousin, Friend and Confidant.

LOXSLEY BASTIAN Nassau, June 7, 2021.

Black Lives Matter ‘hypocrites’ EDITOR, The Tribune.

AMERICAN political writer Kenneth R Timmerman claimed in his hard-hitting exposé of Rainbow PUSH Coalition founder and African American civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, Sr, that Booker T Washington forewarned that there will come a time when hucksters will seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the Negro population. Timmerman alleged that certain unscrupulous elements within the Black community have played the race card to intimidate and exploit multimillion dollar corporations, owned

by White people, to donate huge sums of money to their civil rights organisations. Any refusal to donate would be interpreted as racism. And with White fragility at an all-time high, economic blackmail of these huge corporations is easy for unscrupulous civil rights activists.

Titled “Shakedown,” Timmerman’s book would undoubtedly bring to mind the cofounders of Black Lives Matter (BLM), particularly Patrisse KhanCullors, who is alleged to have gone on a house buying binge in recent years. In the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd in early 2020, BLM made a staggering $90m, with $21.7m being set aside in financial grants to official and unofficial BLM chapters; and $8.4m being earmarked for administrative, operating and staffing costs in 2020, with over $60m remaining in its coffers. Indeed, 2020 was a boon year for BLM, which has cashed in on the tragic deaths of Floyd and Trayvon Martin. BLM received nonprofit status from the IRS last December, which allows the organisation to receive tax deductible donations directly, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In 2017, Khan-Cullors made the shrewed business decision to incorporate her Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, which sends a message to celebrity donors that her organisation is every bit as much a legitimate civil rights organisation as Dr Martin Luther King, Jr’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the National Association for the Advancement of

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Coloured People. While BLM cofounders Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi have shifted their focus elsewhere, Khan-Cullors has assumed the role of executive director of the organisation. With her best selling memoir, “When They Call You a Terrorist,” and lucrative television deal with Warner Bros Television Group, Khan-Cullors, a self-professing “trained Marxist,” has failed to live up to the purported ideals of Marxism, like politician Bernie Sanders. Both preach Marxism, while taking full advantage of the free market system, which is rank hypocrisy. Growing up with a single mother, who worked 16 hours a day, in a housing project in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, KhanCullors is now living high on the hog, thanks to White America. In 2016, she purchased a three bedroom, 1.5 bathroom house in Inglewood for $510,000. In 2018, Khan-Cullors bought a four bedroom house in South Los Angeles for $590,000. In January 2020, the BLM cofounder bought a three bedroom, two-bath house in Georgia, at a price of $415,000. And in March of 2021 she spent $1.4m on a house near Malibu, Los Angeles. While the average American typically has to enter into 25-year mortgage agreements with banks, Khan-Cullors purchased her homes outright, apparently without having to go to the banks with cap in hand.

Over the past five years, Khan-Cullors has splurged $3.2m on homes – homes out of the financial reach of probably 90 percent of the African American population she claims to represent.

And to add injury to insult to BLM supporters, a reputable media source in the United States is alleging that Khan-Cullors was eyeing a unit in the mega rich Albany community on New Providence. According to Fox Business, homes in Albany are priced between $5m and $20m.

Albany is the Mar-a-Largo of The Bahamas. Only super rich Bahamians, who are few and far between, can afford to live there.

The same can be said of Black Americans. In 2019,

according to the United States Census Bureau, the poverty rate among African Americans was 18.8 percent in 2019. While Blacks represented only 13.2 percent of the population, they made up 23.8 percent of the poverty population.

Conversely, while NonHispanic Whites made up 59.9 percent of the American population, only 41.6 percent lived in poverty.

With $3.2m in real estate in the United States, Khan-Cullors is clearly within the top one percent annual income threshold of $538,926, unlike millions of her BLM grassroots supporters who have railed at White America and its “exploitive” free enterprise.

While railing at capitalism, the BLM troika is laughing all the way to the bank, while failing to produce a workable plan on eliminating the wide economic disparity between Black and White Americans.

That Khan-Cullors would even entertain thoughts of purchasing real estate in the gated community of Albany is perhaps an indication that she is overcompensating for her impoverished upbringing. Also worth noting is that of the three homes Khan-Cullors bought in California, not one is in Crenshaw, Watts or Compton. Those communities have large Black and Hispanic populations – the very ethnic minorities BLM is supposedly fighting for.

When King was fighting the housing discriminatory practices of White owned banks in 1966, he took his Freedom Chicago Movement campaign to Chicago’s West Side by living in a slum apartment on 1550 S Hamlin Ave. When Khan-Cullors spoke about one of BLM’s major goals being economic justice for African Americans, she must have been referring to herself and the other BLM cofounders.

Compared to her opulent lifestyle, King, Malcolm X and Washington lived like the Amish people.

All three of the civil rights icons must now be rolling over in their graves when BLM is mentioned. Washington predicted the very thing that BLM is doing to the Negro population in the United States.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama.

April 15, 2021.

GETTING IN THE SWIM

THE TRIBUNE

YOUNGSTERS in Grand Bahama are making a splash for summer learning to swim at the Pelican Bay Hotel.

The hotel has launched a summer safety programme to help as people get back in the water after a year of lockdowns and time away from the beach.

“Children of our employees haven’t had the best year during Covid due to lockdowns and restrictions” explained General Manager Magnus Alnebeck.

“This really gives them a chance to get out of the house, and away from TV and video games. Learning how to swim is important, and sadly due to recent storms something that is lifesaving in Grand Bahama” he said.

On May 30, the property kicked off the first in its series of summer swim lessons designed to teach water safety and swimming. Led by former competitive swimmer Coletor Johnson, affectionately called Aunty Coco, 12

Wednesday, June 9, 2021, PAGE 7

young swimmers ranging in age from three to fourteen dove into their hourlong session in one of Pelican Bay’s three pools with all of the pool equipment and accessories also provided by the property.

“I’ve been teaching swimming for over 17 years” said Coletor Johnson.

“I also have lifeguard, CPR, first aid, and AED training and so my focus is definitely on encouraging water safety in addition to having fun in the water.”

Over the next 4 weeks, Johnson will be joined by Taryn Smith, a former competitive swimmer in her own right and the creator of the Life Aquatics Learn to Swim Programme.

“I specialise in teaching private lessons focused on learning long-term skills,” she said. My swimmers not only learn how to save themselves if need be but they’re also able to thrive and enjoy themselves in the water.”

Jailed for a year over unlicenced firearm

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 28-YEAR-OLD who admitted to having an unlicenced firearm and illegal ammunition was sentenced to a year in prison yesterday.

Police said that Angelo Cash had a 9mm pistol, along with 11 live rounds of 9mm ammunition in his possession on June 5.

Cash initially denied the allegations when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt along with seven others – Oneal Knowles, Kerio Thompson, Roselande Joasil, Toriano Johnson, Chandron Williams, Bernard Brown and William Johnson —who were also accused of the same offences.

According to the prosecution, sometime around 9pm on the day in question, a

team of officers had arrived in the Montel Heights area where they found a group of people who appeared to be involved “in a gambling game.”

When the officers approached the group, they ran. The court was told that all were stopped and later searched, including the surrounding areas.

Police found a pistol behind a grey speaker box where the group was spotted.

As a result, all were arrested and taken to a local police station.

The prosecution told the court that Cash admitted to the offence during his interview with police, claiming that he had found the gun in a Haitian village.

Cash also told police he had planned to call his pastor for help to turn the firearm into police custody.

During yesterday’s hearing, Cash changed his plea

after several of his coaccused took issue with his not guilty plea, explaining the matter before Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt.

Johnson, one of his co accused, claimed that Cash told him he would own up to the offence when they appeared in court.

However, he told the magistrate Cash did not do so after he was instructed by his attorney, Ian Cargill, not to plead guilty.

Meanwhile, Joail explained that she was only in the area to get her hair braided when they were approached by police, adding she was also told that Cash would plead guilty to the charge.

After listening to their arguments, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt stopped the hearing for several minutes.

After she resumed the hearing, Cash changed his plea to guilty, resulting in

‘ I WAS DRUNK WHEN I MADE DEATH THREAT’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 53-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned yesterday after threatening to kill a man last week.

Garth Stubbs of Exuma pleaded guilty to one count of threats of death when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

Officers said Stubbs, while in Moss Town, Exuma, unlawfully and “maliciously” threatened to kill Falcon Culmer on June 3.

After admitting the

offence yesterday, the accused told the magistrate he was drunk when the incident happened.

On the day in question, Stubbs explained he and several other construction workers were partying in celebration of a job they recently completed when he lost his phone, believing his accuser to have stolen it.

The 53-year-old said an argument followed between him and his accuser, resulting in heated words being exchanged.

During yesterday’s arraignment, Stubbs told the court that he realised his actions were wrong and

apologised for committing the offence.

Magistrate Ferguson Pratt told the accused that he “was too old” to be getting himself into problems, noting that every action has consequences.

She also told Stubbs that he cannot allow alcohol “to get the best” of him.

Yesterday, Magistrate Ferguson Pratt was unable to sentence Stubbs, explaining she needed a copy of his antecedents before making an official decision.

The accused was subsequently remanded to prison and the case was adjourned to today for sentencing.

ABSOLUTE DISCHARGE OVER $50 STORE THEFT

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 34-YEAR-OLD who admitted to stealing over $50 worth of items from a department store last week was granted an absolute discharge yesterday.

Lateisha Burrows appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after being accused of stealing an assortment of items valued at $51.10 from Kelly’s Home Centre on June 3.

Burrows, who pleaded guilty to the offence, told the court she had no previous convictions and worked at a local fast-food restaurant.

When asked by Magistrate McKinney if she

had any children, the accused explained that she had seven children aged 17,16,15,14,11 and two eight-year-olds.

Magistrate McKinney also asked Burrows if the items had been returned, to which she replied “yes”.

When the matter was cross-checked by the prosecution, the court was told that the items were taken out of Burrows’ bags by the store’s security officers on the day in question.

Having taken this into consideration and the fact that Burrows was a motherof-seven, Magistrate McKinney granted her an absolute discharge.

However, the judge told the accused that even though he took her

situation into consideration, especially her status as a mother, it was still not an excuse for her actions.

The magistrate told Burrows no matter how desperate her situation may have been, she should have never resorted to stealing. He also noted that there are other places where she can go for help, pointing to the Department of Social Services and other related agencies.

“If you need anything for your child or children, ask your employer (for pay) in advance or try to seek some assistance from one of the social agencies,” Magistrate McKinney said.

Burrows was also warned that if she finds herself in legal problems again, she would be convicted.

the charges being dropped against his co-accused.

During yesterday’s hearing, the court was also told that Cash had previous convictions.

However, his attorney told the court that his latest offence was not related to the past ones. He also explained that his client cooperated with police and added that the firearm that was found has currently not been linked to any crime.

He also explained that the 26-year-old — a

father-of-two and the sole caretaker of his younger brother — was extremely remorseful for his actions.

When given the chance to speak, Cash also asked the court for leniency, noting that he had no intention to use the gun. He also explained that he was a Seventh-Day Adventist and had changed his life.

Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said while she commends the accused for owning up to the offence, every action has

consequences.

She also told Cash that the offences were serious and noted that she has to send a strong message, especially given what’s been happening in today’s society.

Cash was subsequently sentenced to one year in prison and a $8,000 fine, which he must pay at the end of his imprisonment.

Failure to do so would result in an additional 12 months, which would run concurrently.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, June 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

WHEN WE CLEARLY SEE THE ISSUES AND BLOCK OUT THE BULLYING VOICES THEN THINGS REALLY CAN CHANGE MONDAY marked five years since the 2016 referendum on citizenship rights and sex-based discrimination.

The four constitutional amendment bills were: * to allow Bahamian women married to nonBahamian men to pass on citizenship to their children born outside of The Bahamas * to allow Bahamian women to pass on citizenship to their non-Bahamian spouses (through the right for them to apply for citizenship) * to allow men to pass on citizenship to their children born outside of marriage * to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex.

Yes votes on those bills would have affected Articles eight, nine 10, 14, and 26. Sixty-one to 71 percent of voters said no to each of the four constitutional amendment bills, so the inequality in citizenship rights remains and there is no protection against sex-based discrimination in Article 26.

Since the referendum, there have been a few conversations about what happened, but more than that, there have been frequent comments about the outcome and the reason for it, most of them incorrect.

Many people place the blame for the results of the referendum squarely on the shoulders of women.

They claim “women voted against themselves” and suggest women do not want equal rights. It is true women voted and it is true that some - maybe even most - women voted no on one or more of the bills that would have expanded our rights and moved us in the direction of equality. This is not, however, synonymous with “voting against ourselves”. To frame it this way is disingenuous, overly simplistic and misogynistic.

Just as it is in general elections, there is more to the vote than where the X is placed on the ballot. We all know, for example, that we vote parties and leaders out far more than we vote them in. Why oversimplify the referendum results and women’s participation except to generalise and

By Alicia Wallace

minimise womanhood and by merely existing in this characterise our gender as a environment and trying to survive. Some of us unlearn weakness?

It is quite telling that the misogynistic and patripeople are quick to blame archal ideas that suggest we women for the oppres- are less than men. Of that sion and discrimination we group, some are frustrated experience and task us with and are unwilling or unable the solving the problem for to take action while others ourselves. What is often push against oppressive ignored is we are living systems and refuse to conwithin the systems that form. It is not a particularly created this patriarchal, easy way to go, so it is no misogynistic environment. surprise there are not more women taking As a result, we this path. have learned ‘The issue has There will to operate never been always be within opprespeople who sive systems women. We are comfortand, in some are dealing able enough cases, conwith systems to just let form to and things be. actively partic- of patriarchy They may not ipate in them. and misogyny be comfortFor many, it that have been able, but they is a way of internalised by are comfortsurvival. able enough. It We some- women, being all may be more times convince accurate to say ourselves there we know until they are not is a certain we know better. uncomfortway we must It is unfair and able enough be. There are to do somepeople who wrong to simply believe they blame women for thing about it.

These people will not experi- the outcome.’ are all around ence intimate us. They show partner violence if they submit and up every day for jobs they perfectly play the role of a do not like, not bothering to look for anything better. wife, whatever that means.

There are people who They stay in relationships, believe they will not expe- romantic and otherwise, rience sexual violence that they do not enjoy. They if they dress conserva- accept the incorrect food tively and limit their social order and eat it whether they like it or not. There is interactions.

There are also people nuance to all of this.

There are other reawho believe they will have easier lives if they live by sons people stay where the rules set by patriarchy. they are, usually related That could mean regarding to socio-economic needs their fathers as their owners and fundamental beliefs. until their fathers give them This kind of “stickability” away to husbands, thinking has been celebrated, either of their bodies as belonging because we do not know to husbands whether or not what is beneath the surface they have husbands at the of what appears to be good time, and accepting men as enough or because we place a high value on people default leaders.

These ideas and behav- enduring bad situations.

In the case of the referiours do not come out of nowhere. They are learned endum, there were people

who wanted to see the constitution amended for gender equality and there were people who are committed to the status quo.

Of those committed to the latter, some were women who could not see how they would benefit from these changes and did not care that others would continue to be at a disadvantage if the changes were not made. Some of them were women who were insulted

by Vote Yes spokespeople who were rude and dismissive when challenged. Some of them were women who truly believed making these changes would have negative effects.

Some of them were women who were confused and took that to mean it was all too complicated and anything that complicated cannot be good. Some of them were more inclined to listen to people in closer relationship to them than experts and rights-minded people encouraging the yes votes.

My own experience as an activist who participated in an educational campaign specific to the referendum made it clear the referendum was not a simple yes or no vote on four questions. We will not be able to make the necessary changes through a constitutional referendum without facing the real issues that came up between the announcement of the referendum in 2014 and the vote in 2016.

The issue has never been women. We are dealing with systems of patriarchy and misogyny that have been internalised by women, being all we know until we know better. It is unfair and wrong to simply blame women for the outcome. We can talk about how women voted, but we also need to talk about why women voted in a particular way. What lies beneath the votes are what we need to attack, not women.

One of the main issues was misinformation and the main group spreading it had the consistent attention of many people. It was a group of church leaders who were regularly referred to as “the church.” It was not every church leader or every

denomination, but it was a group of them who were as loud as they were wrong.

Unfortunately, church leaders in support of the referendum were not as loud or consistent. There is also, of course, the issue of the media, all too happy to give coverage to people and institutions with sensational messages, however harmful, sometimes failing to bring balance by getting comments from people on the other side. The opposition is well aware of this and takes full advantage, making inflammatory statements that affect public opinion.

The Bahamas Christian Council has been consistent in one area—impeding progress and the expansion of human rights, particularly for women and LGBTQIA+ people. Save Our Bahamas—a name that would be laughable if the actors were not so dangerous—has followed suit, showing up whenever there is an opportunity for the rights of the most vulnerable among us to be recognized, protected, and expanded. They do this regularly by using their influence for fear mongering, issuing directives, and inciting hate and, by extension, violence.

Last week, a press release from the Bahamas Christian Council responded to the US Embassy’s flying of the pride flag on its properties at the embassy itself and the residence. It is, of course, no surprise the Council would take great exception to this act of acknowledgement, celebration, and solidarity with LGBTQ+ people in The Bahamas. It referred, quite laughably, to the flying of the flag as “diplomatic bullying” and said the US Embassy is “over-reaching.” It went on to say the US Embassy is “[imposing] their ideology.”

Reading the press statement was quite the experience. It made it clear the Bahamas Christian Council is well aware of what it is doing to Bahamian society, politics and the station of vulnerable people, especially women and LGBTQ+ people. It was

quite capable of accusing the US Embassy of stepping outside of its role was a diplomatic entity while itself operating outside of its role to lead its followers to “bully” the Embassy.

It believes it should be allowed to say and do whatever it likes, and everyone else should be forced to operate under its control, based on questionable, dangerous interpretations of its religious text.

The Bahamas Christian Council needs to know its rights do not supersede those of others. It is clearly quite easily threatened. The mere flying of a rainbow flag led to a sloppy statement that could easily be used to indict the Council itself.

There is no shortage of issues for the Council to direct its attention and resources to create positive change - like hunger - yet it chooses to speak out against inclusion. It has chosen to stand against acknowledgement of and solidarity with LGBTQ+ people in The Bahamas, just like it did (and consistently does) against women. It is a terrible example of Christianity and is far from exemplifying peace and love through Christlike behaviour. Yet, it continues to be given platforms and its following remains plugged in.

We may not be able to pull the plug, but we can call on equality advocates and justice-minded faith leaders to step forward and show there are other ways of interpreting biblical text, possibilities for acting for social justice and better ways to participate in national dialogues.

Model it to give the Council an example and to show the Bahamian people that “the church” is capable of rejecting hate and being on the side of justice through the promotion of human rights. It can assure women and LGBTQ+ people that they are deserving equal rights, whether or not they share the faith. If they start now, we could be a better position when we have another opportunity to amend the constitution and move closer to gender equality.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 9, 2021, PAGE 9

TECHTALK GLOBAL GLITCH: SWATHS OF INTERNET GO DOWN AFTER CLOUD OUTAGE

KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer

By MAE ANDERSON AP Technology Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Apple kicked off its second annual all-virtual developer conference with a keynote that outlined new updates to its software for iPhones and other devices. The presentation highlighted more privacy options for paid iCloud accounts and a “Find My” service that helps find errant AirPods, but included no major product announcements.

The latest renovations in Apple’s $2 trillion empire come at a pivotal time for the Cupertino, California, company.

Apple is facing legal and regulatory threats to its control over its App Store, a so-called “walled garden” that produces substantial profits for the company.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, and other executives outlined updates to software for Apple’s many devices including its MacBooks,

APPLE PREVIEWS NEW SOFTWARE FOR iPHONE, OTHER GADGETS “The news today was nothing ‘new new,’ like holy cow how did they make that happen. But each of us picks up our phone 100 or 200 times a day, and they’re making 100 little moments a day better, more seamless, and easier.”

Forrester analyst Julie Ask iMacs, iPhone, iPad and Watch.

Apple’s new MacOS software, dubbed Monterey, supports what Apple

calls “universal control,” which lets people use one mouse and keyboard to control an iMac desktop computer, MacBook laptop and iPad at the same time.

Forrester analyst Julie Ask said the improvements Apple showed off, like the “universal control,” play to Apple’s strengths in blending its products and services.

“The news today was nothing ‘new new,’ like holy cow how did they make that happen,” she said.

“But each of us picks up our phone 100 or 200 times a day, and they’re making 100 little moments a day better, more seamless, and easier.”

She pointed out Apple’s plan to support digital IDs including drivers licenses

and state IDs from “participating U.S. states” in its digital wallet, as another example.

Apple did not identify which states that will include.

“They have an army of people trying to get these deals signed,” she said.

“Apple gets a lot of criticism for being so controlling. But they can do things other big brands struggle to do.”

A “Live Text” feature in iOS 15 will let you highlight text in photos and copy and paste it or look it up online.

It will also integrate Air Pods into its “Find My” service, which helps people find lost or misplaced Apple products.

Apple is introducing more privacy features to its

paid iCloud plans, including a way to hide your email address, encrypt video, and a “Private Relay” feature of Safari that encrypts data from the web browser similar to a VPN. Paid plan pricing isn’t changing. Users pay for any iCloud storage above the free 5GB storage users get for free.

In the U.S., those plans start at $1 a month for 50GB of storage.

Apple didn’t announce when iOS 15 will be available, but the company traditionally releases the free updates to all compatible iPhones in September. ___ AP technology reporter Michael Liedtke contributed to this article from San Ramon, Calif.

NASA PICKS VENUS AS HOT SPOT FOR TWO NEW ROBOTIC MISSIONS

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is returning to sizzling Venus, our closest yet perhaps most overlooked neighbour, after decades of exploring other worlds.

The space agency’s new administrator, Bill Nelson, announced two new robotic missions to the solar system’s hottest planet, during his first major address to employees Wednesday.

“These two sister missions both aim to understand how Venus became an inferno-like world capable of melting lead at the surface,” Nelson said.

One mission named DaVinci Plus will analyse the thick, cloudy Venusian atmosphere in an attempt to determine whether the inferno planet ever had an ocean and was possibly

habitable. A small craft will plunge through the atmosphere to measure the gases.

It will be the first U.S.-led mission to the Venusian atmosphere since 1978.

The other mission, called Veritas, will seek a geologic history by mapping the rocky planet’s surface.

“It is astounding

how little we know about Venus,” but the new missions will give fresh views of the planet’s atmosphere, made up mostly of carbon dioxide, down to the core, NASA scientist Tom Wagner said in a statement.

“It will be as if we have rediscovered the planet.”

NASA’s top science official, Thomas Zurbuchen, calls it “a new decade of Venus.”

Each mis-

sion — launching sometime around 2028 to 2030 — will receive $500 million for development under NASA’s Discovery programme.

The missions beat out two other proposed projects, to Jupiter’s moon Io and Neptune’s icy moon Triton. The U.S. and the former Soviet Union sent multiple spacecraft to Venus in the early days of space exploration. NASA’s Mariner 2 performed the first successful flyby in 1962, and the Soviets’ Venera 7 made the first successful landing in 1970.

In 1989, NASA used a space shuttle to send its Magellan spacecraft into orbit around Venus.

The European Space Agency put a spacecraft around Venus in 2006.

AN IMAGE of the planet Venus made with data from the Magellan spacecraft and Pioneer Venus Orbiter. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP)

LONDON (AP) — Dozens of websites went down briefly around the globe Tuesday, including CNN, The New York Times and Britain’s government home page, after an outage at the cloud computing service Fastly, illustrating how vital a small number of behind-the-scenes companies have become to running the internet.

The sites that could not be reached also included some Amazon pages, the Financial Times, Reddit, Twitch and The Guardian.

San Francisco-based Fastly acknowledged a problem just before 6am Eastern.

About an hour later, the company said: “The issue has been identified and a fix has been applied.” Most of the sites soon appeared to be back online.

The company said in an emailed statement that it was a “technical issue” and “not related to a cyber attack.”

Still, major futures markets in the U.S. dipped sharply minutes after the outage, which came a month after hackers forced the shutdown of the biggest fuel pipeline in the U.S.

Servers Fastly is a content-delivery network, or CDN. It provides vital but behind-the-scenes cloud computing “edge servers” to many of the web’s popular sites. These servers store, or “cache,” content such as images and video in places around the world so that it is closer to users, allowing them to fetch it more quickly and smoothly.

Fastly says its services mean that a European user going to an American website can get the content 200 to 500 milliseconds faster.

Internet traffic measurement by Kentik showed that Fastly began to recover from the outage roughly an hour after it struck at mid-morning European time, before most Americans were awake.

“Looks like it is slowly coming back,” said Doug Madory, an internet infrastructure expert at Kentik.

He said “it is serious because Fastly is one of the world’s biggest CDNs and this was a global outage.”

Brief internet service outages are not uncommon and are only rarely the result of hacking or other mischief.

Fastly stock jumped almost 11% on Tuesday as investors shrugged off the problem.

Still, the incident highlighted the relative fragility of the internet’s architecture given its heavy reliance on Big Tech companies — such as Amazon’s AWS cloud services — as opposed to a more decentralized array of companies.

“Even the biggest and most sophisticated companies experience outages. But they can also recover fairly quickly,” Madory said.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, June 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE A SECURITY guard leads reporters away from the Wuhan Institute of Virology after a WHO team arrived for a field visit in Wuhan, China, on February 3, 2021.

Photos: Ng Han Guan/AP

WHY THE LAB LEAK THEORY FOR COVID MUST BE FORMALLY INVESTIGATED

By VIRGINIE COURTIER, research director in genetics and evolution, University of Paris and ETIENNE DECROLY, research director in virology, Aix-Marseille University A YEAR and a half into the pandemic, we still do not know exactly where the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, came from. The prevailing view so far has been the virus “spilled over” from bats into humans. But there are increasing calls to investigate the possibility it emerged from a lab in Wuhan, China, where COVID first appeared at the end of 2019.

So what do we know for sure, and what do we need still to find out?

We know the sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is close to that of bat coronaviruses. Several decades ago its “ancestor” was circulating in bat populations in southern Asia.

But there are still many unanswered questions: we don’t know how the virus arrived in Wuhan, how its sequence evolved to allow human infection, and under what conditions it infected the first people who crossed its path. And for each of these stages, we don’t know whether there was a human contribution (direct or indirect).

Zoonotic transmission pathways, in other words the passage of viruses from animals to humans, are now widely documented around the world. Scientists even consider that this is a principal mechanism for the spreading of new viruses.

But the fact that the pandemic began in the vicinity of a main virus research centre that specialises in the study of coronaviruses with epidemic potential in humans – the Wuhan Institute of Virology – has given rise to another hypothesis, the lab leak theory. Lab accidents have already led to human infections, including the H1N1 flu pandemic of 1977, which killed more than 700,000 people.

Which theory is correct? In the absence of definitive proof, and without promoting conspiracy theories, there needs to be

A FLASHBACK to the start of the pandemic - as a militia member uses a thermometer gun to take a driver’s temperature at a checkpoint at a highway toll gate in Wuhan in central China’s Hubei Province, on January 23, 2020, as China closed off a city of more than 11 million people in an effort to contain the virus. a serious international conversation about the origin of SARS-CoV-2.

THE ZOONOSIS THEORY

In the scientific community, the debate on the origin of SARS-CoV-2 started with the publication of two articles at the very beginning of the outbreak.

The first, dated February 19, 2020, was published in the medical science journal The Lancet. This article, signed by 27 scientists, highlighted the efforts of Chinese experts to identify the source of the pandemic and share the results. The authors deplored “rumours and misinformation” about the origins of the virus, and stated that they “strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin”. The

authors based their opinion on the first published sequence data, but did not detail the scientific arguments supporting a natural origin.

In March 2020, another article published in Nature Medicine provided a series of scientific arguments in favour of a natural origin.

The authors argued: * The natural hypothesis is plausible, as it is the usual mechanism of emergence of coronaviruses * The sequence of SARSCoV-2 is too distantly related from other known coronaviruses to envisage the manufacture of a new virus from available sequences * Its sequence does not show evidence of genetic manipulation in the laboratory.

This last argument can be questioned, as methods do exist which allow scientists to modify viral sequences without leaving a trace.

These include cutting the genome into fragments that can later be joined together or, more recently, using the ISA protocol, whereby overlapping fragments naturally come together in cells through homologous recombination: a phenomenon in which two DNA molecules exchange fragments. Besides, genetic manipulation is not the only scenario compatible with a laboratory accident or leak.

Meanwhile, intense research that has been carried out for more than a year to try to prove the zoonotic scenario has not been successful so far: all 80,000 animal samples, from some 30 species,

have tested negative. The samples came from farm animals and wild animals from different provinces in China. But it is important to note this large number of negative samples does not refute the zoonotic scenario.

possibility of a laboratory accident appeared in peerreviewed scientific journals in July and August 2020 – one of them co-authored by an author of this article, Etienne Decroly. The lab leak theory gained wider traction after a May 13 article in the journal Science, signed by 18 scientists, called again for the oriThe first articles arguing gins of SARS-CoV-2 to be for the laboratory accident examined. theory received little atten So is it possible? Sevtion, perhaps because they eral elements regarding came from the emergroups like ‘A laboratory gence of the the Bulletin accident could also virus do raise of the Atomic questions. In have occurred as a particular, Scientists, which tends result of infection it has been to be critical established during collection in of technology, the Wuhan or outsiders the wild or during Institute of such as the an experiment Virology DRASTIC was handling with a virus that team (an viruses close acronym for evolved in cells to SARS“decentralCoV-2 or mice in the ised radical collected autonomous laboratory, without in southern search team necessarily directly China. investigating manipulating In addiCOVID-19”). tion to direct its genome.’

Composed genetic of 24 selfmanipulastyled “Twitter detectives” tion, a laboratory accident who are mostly anonymous could also have occurred with the exception of a as a result of infection few scientists participating during collection in the under their real names, the wild or during an experiDRASTIC group formed ment with a virus that on Twitter in 2020 and evolved in cells or mice has set itself the mission in the laboratory, without of exploring the origins necessarily directly manipof SARS-CoV-2. Infor- ulating its genome. mation and arguments from the group have been examined in their own right, taken up and developed by some virologists, In an investigation at the microbiologists and science start of this year, a joint communicators.

The first scientific commission between China articles discussing the and the World Health

THE LAB THEORY

HOW CAN WE FIND OUT FOR SURE?

Organization (WHO) failed to identify the cause of the pandemic, concluding that a zoonotic origin is most likely and the hypothesis of a laboratory accident is very unlikely.

But the director-general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced there were still questions that “will need to be addressed by further studies”.

Determining whether SARS-CoV-2 has escaped from a laboratory will require a more thorough investigation in which investigators have access to sequence databases as well as to the various resources used by Chinese researchers, including laboratory notebooks, submitted projects, scientific manuscripts, viral sequences, order lists and biological analyses.

Unfortunately, sequence databases for SARS-CoV-2 have been inaccessible to scientists since September 2019.

In the absence of direct evidence, alternative approaches may provide additional information.

By analysing the available sequences of SARS-CoV-2like coronaviruses in detail, it is possible that the scientific community will reach a consensus based on strong clues, as they did for other outbreaks, including the 1977 H1N1 virus.

BIOLOGICAL BLACK BOXES

Whether the origin is zoonotic or not, it is necessary to question the consequences of our interactions with ecosystems, the industrialisation of intensive breeding, safety protocols on collecting and experimenting on potentially pandemic viruses, and the proliferation of high-security laboratories, particularly those near megacities.

We need to equip facilities that study viruses with safety systems as demanding as those used for studying nuclear energy.

This could include the introduction of “biological black boxes”, similar to flight recorders which allow investigators to recreate the final moments of a plane accident. Access to certain high-risk labs could be made dependent on detailed digital descriptions of experiments; sequencing data could be systematically archived; laboratory air filters could be collected, and if there is a suspicion of pathogen dissemination, the genetic material on their surface could be sequenced.

Such new safety measures should be put in place internationally to limit the risk of future pandemics.

As for SARS-CoV-2, it is important to trace its exact origins in order to understand precisely what flaws may have led to its spread.

• Originally published at theconversation.com

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 9, 2021, PAGE 11

SLAP IN THE FACE FOR FRENCH LEADER MACRON PARIS Associated Press

IN this image from video, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, centre, is slapped by a man, in green T-shirt, yesterday.

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron denounced “violence” and “stupidity” after he was slapped in the face yesterday by a man during a visit to a small town in southeastern France.

The incident prompted a wide show of support for the head of state from politicians across the ideological spectrum.

Macron was greeting the public waiting for him behind barriers in the town of Tain-l’Hermitage after he visited a high school.

Two videos show a man slapping Macron in the face and his bodyguards pushing the assaulter away as the French leader is quickly rushed from the scene.

“I’m always going to meet people,” Macron told reporters last night. “Some people express anger,

sometimes disarray... that’s legitimate anger, and we will continue to respond.

Stupidity and violence, no, not in democracy,” he said.

Macron described the incident as an “isolated act”.

“We must not let isolated acts, ultra-violent individuals, like there had been some also in (street) protests, dominate the public debate: they don’t deserve it,” he said.

The man, who was wearing a mask, appears to have cried out “Montjoie!

Saint Denis!” a centuriesold royalist war cry, before finishing with “A bas la Macronie,” or “Down with Macron.”

Valence prosecutor Alex Perrin said in a statement that police have detained the man who slapped Macron and another man who was accompanying him. Their motives aren’t known at this stage, he said.

US likely to miss Biden’s July 4 goal on vaccinations WASHINGTON Associated Press FOR months, President Joe Biden has laid out goal after goal for taming the coronavirus pandemic and then exceeded his own benchmarks. Now, though, the US is on pace to fall short of his aim to have 70 percent of Americans at least partially vaccinated by July 4.

The White House has launched a month-long blitz to combat vaccine hesitancy and a lack of urgency to get shots, particularly in the South and Midwest, but it is increasingly resigned to missing the president’s vaccination target. The administration insists that even if the goal isn’t reached, it will have little effect on the overall US recovery, which is already ahead of where Biden said it would be months ago.

About 16 million unvaccinated adults need to receive at least one dose in the next four weeks for Biden to meet his goal. But the pace of new vaccinations in the US has dropped to about 400,000 people per day — down from a high of nearly two million per day two months ago.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday that he still hopes the goal will be met “and if we don’t, we’re going to continue to keep pushing”.

So far, 14 states have reached 70 percent coverage among adults, with about a dozen more on pace to reach the milestone

by July 4. But the state-tostate variation is stark.

Fauci said the administration is “pleading” with states, particularly those with low vaccination rates, to step up their efforts in the coming months, though some of the states trailing behind are hardly sharing the urgency.

On a conference call Tuesday, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients delivered an impassioned call for governors to join the administration in “pulling out all the stops” on vaccinations this month.

“We need your leadership on the ground – which is where it matters the most – more than ever,” he said.

In Mississippi, which trails the nation with only about 34 percent of its population vaccinated, Republican Gov Tate Reeves has called Biden’s goal “arbitrary, to say the least”.

The vaccination rate in the state has dropped off so sharply that it would take the better part of a year for the state to reach the 70 percent target.

Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Reeves said he encouraged residents to get vaccinated, but that the more important marker was the decline in cases in the state.

That sentiment makes winning over people like University of Mississippi student Mary Crane all the more important to Biden meeting his goal. She hasn’t felt much urgency to get the COVID-19 vaccine because she’s already had the virus, and the family she’s living

with during the summer break has been vaccinated.

“Initially, it was to wait on everyone else to get it and not take a vaccine,” she said, explaining why she hasn’t been vaccinated.

“But now that it’s available, there’s really not a reason I haven’t gotten it, other than I just haven’t gotten it.”

Crane, 20, said she’s seen classmates who were eager to get the vaccine right away — there was a trend when the vaccine first came out of posting vaccination cards on social media sites like Instagram. But now that the vaccine has been available for a few months, Crane said she sees fewer young people talking about it.

“Everything’s pretty much back to normal now,” she said.

Fauci on Tuesday emphasised that increased vaccination was essential to stamping out potentially dangerous variants, including the so-called “Delta variant” first identified in India that is now the dominant strain in the United Kingdom and is growing in the US. Vaccines have proven less effective against that variant when people are not fully immunized, and evidence points to it being more transmissible and more deadly.

In an attempt to drive up the vaccination rate, the White House has worked to encourage an array of incentives for people to get shots — from paid time off to the chance to win a million dollars. It’s partnered with community groups, businesses and health

PRESIDENT Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House.

Photo: Evan Vucci/AP providers to make it easier state vaccination numbers money,” said Lawrence, than ever to get a shot. over the previous week. But 51, who farms and works in Those efforts have helped the impact was short-lived, commercial real estate. “I sustain some of the inter- with vaccinations falling can always get more money est, but the trends point to again the following week. if I need to. I cannot get For some, the chance of another life.”

Biden missing the target by winning $1m isn’t enough to several percentage points.

White House press secIn Ohio, Republican Gov. overcome skepticism about retary Jen Psaki declined Mike DeWine created a the need for the vaccine. to make a prediction on Joanna Lawrence of whether the goal would be lottery offering $1m prizes for vaccinated adults and Bethel in southwestern met but said the adminisfull-ride college scholar- Ohio says the COVID-19 tration was using “ every ships for children. Ohio’s survivability rate is so high, tool at our disposal to get lottery kicked off a wave of and the experiences of there”. similar incentive lotteries people she knows who took “Regardless of where we the vaccine are so bad, that are on July 4th, we’re not nationally.

DeWine’s May 12 she sees no need to risk a shutting down shop,” she announcement of the state’s shot for herself. She made said. “On July 5th, we’re Vax-a-Million program had it through her own bout of going to continue to press the desired effect, leading the coronavirus in August. to vaccinate more people “My life is not worth across the country.” to a 43 percent boost in

REPORT ON JANUARY 6 CAPITOL RIOT IDENTIFIES FAILINGS WASHINGTON Associated Press

A SENATE investigation of the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol found a broad intelligence breakdown across multiple agencies, along with widespread law enforcement and military failures that led to the violent attack.

There were clear warnings and tips that supporters of former President Donald Trump, including rightwing extremist groups, were planning to “storm the Capitol” with weapons and possibly infiltrate the tunnel system underneath the building. But that intelligence never made it up to top leadership.

The result was chaos.

A Senate report released Tuesday details how officers

on the front lines suffered chemical burns, brain injuries and broken bones, among other injuries, after fighting the attackers, who quickly overwhelmed them and broke into the building. Officers told the Senate investigators they were left with no leadership or direction when command systems broke down.

The Senate report is the first — and could be the last — bipartisan review of how hundreds of Trump supporters were able to push violently past security lines and break into the Capitol that day, interrupting the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential election victory. The failures detailed in the report highlighted how, almost 20 years after the September 11 attacks, US intelligence agencies

are still beset by a fundamental issue: a failure of imagination.

The report recommends immediate changes to give the Capitol Police chief more authority, to provide better planning and equipment for law enforcement and to streamline intelligence gathering among federal agencies.

But as a bipartisan effort, the report does not delve into the root causes of the attack, including Trump’s role as he called for his supporters to “fight like hell” to overturn his election defeat that day. It does not call the attack an insurrection, even though it was. And it comes two weeks after Republicans blocked a bipartisan, independent commission that would investigate the insurrection more broadly.

The Senate report recounts how the Guard was delayed for hours on January 6 as officials in multiple agencies took bureaucratic steps to release the troops. It details hours of calls between officials in the Capitol and the Pentagon and as the thenchief of the Capitol Police, Steven Sund, begged for help.

It finds that the Pentagon spent hours “mission planning” and seeking multiple layers of approvals as Capitol Police were being overwhelmed and brutally beaten by the attackers.

It also says the Defense Department’s hesitant response was influenced by criticism of its heavyhanded response to protests in the summer of 2020 after the killing of George Floyd

in police custody.

The senators are heavily critical of the Capitol Police Board, a three-member panel made up of the heads of security for the House and Senate and the Architect of the Capitol.

The board now is required to approve requests by the police chief, even in urgent situations. The report recommends that its members “regularly review the policies and procedures” after senators found that the three board members on January 6 did not understand their own authority and could not detail the statutory requirements for requesting National Guard assistance.

Two of the three board members, the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms, were pushed out in the

days after the attack. Sund, the Capitol Police chief, resigned under pressure.

The report recommends a consolidated intelligence unit within the Capitol Police after widespread failures from multiple agencies that did not predict the attack even though insurrectionists were planning it openly on the internet.

The police intelligence unit “knew about social media posts calling for violence at the Capitol on January 6, including a plot to breach the Capitol, the online sharing of maps of the Capitol Complex’s tunnel systems, and other specific threats of violence,” the report says, but agents did not properly inform leaders of everything they had found.