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Volume: 118 No.139, June 16, 2021
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THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP Police shot cutlass wielding man they had come to assist By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A MAN who “charged at” an officer with a cutlass was fatally shot by police on Poitier Avenue and Foster Street in Chippingham yesterday. Shortly before 9am, police were alerted to a disturbance at a residence located on Poitier Avenue. “Officers were dispatched
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar estimates that home porting will bring 30,000 to 35,000 cruise ship guests to the Bahamas this year who will contribute $50m during their week-long stay in the country.
ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW BUT WERE FRIGHTENED TO ASK
PAGE EIGHT
STILL BURNING
and on their arrival the complainant pointed out a man to them and requested their assistance with Emergency Medical Services to get him to the hospital,” police said. “The male, who was armed with a cutlass, was asked to put down the weapon. He failed to comply with the officer’s instruction. He then charged at one of the SEE PAGE THREE
HOME PORTING WILL DELIVER EXTRA $50M
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
ALICIA WALLACE
Speaking during his contribution to the budget debate in the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar also said cruises from South Florida will resume earlier this year than anticipated. Royal Caribbean International will operate cruises for three months. The cruises will start in Nassau. SEE PAGE FOUR
A BLAZE that erupted near the New Providence Ecology Park on Monday night is still burning but has been contained. Firefighters are continuing to monitor the fire, which started at Manpower Scrapmetal. See page two. Photo: Racardo Thomas
HIGH INFLATION TAKING ‘NEW CITIZENS SHOULD TOLL IN CONSTRUCTION WAIT TO HAVE A VOTE’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
RISING inflation poses “a very significant” threat to the speed and strength of The Bahamas’ post-COVID economic revival, a prominent economist warned yesterday, with key building material prices up by double digits. Rupert Pinder,
who lectures on economics at the University of The Bahamas, told Tribune Business that the sustained and escalating price increases being experienced in key sectors - especially construction and food - and over which this nation has little influence could undermine prospects for a faster rebound from the pandemic.
SEE BUSINESS SECTION
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER parliamentarian Loretta Butler-Turner says she believes the government should legislate “a timeframe” for naturalised Bahamians to become
participants in the nation’s electoral process. In a statement posted on her Facebook page yesterday, Mrs Butler-Turner described the right to vote “as one of the greatest rewards of citizenship.” And with the next general election to be held in SEE PAGE FIVE
BRAVE BLASTS GOVT ON DORIAN AND COVID TECH PAGE PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis accused the Minnis administration of mismanaging its Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 response. “There’s no doubt Dorian caused terrible destruction,” he said in the House of Assembly yesterday. “It would have challenged
PLP Leader Philip Davis. any government. But this government mismanaged
Dorian from the start – their effort was bungling, ineffective, embarrassing, disrespectful, heartless. “And so Grand Bahamians and Abaconians have suffered more, it has cost us more, and the recovery is agonisingly slower. “Incompetence matters. Here it led to more tragedy,
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE THREE
BEHIND IN QUANTUM COMPUTER RACE, GERMANY GETS BOOST FROM IBM
PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 16, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
SCRAP METAL SITE FIRE STILL BURNING, BUT CONTAINED
PHOTOS: Racardo Thomas By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A FIRE which started at a scrap metal site on Monday night has been contained, police said. Firefighters were monitoring the massive blaze, which erupted near the New Providence Ecology Park, yesterday. “The firefighters are continuing to monitor the fire. It has been contained. It’s just a matter of it extinguishing itself over time and the use of (equipment) they are fighting it with,” Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters said. The blaze started at Manpower Scrapmetal, a private business that is not associated with the New Providence Ecology Park. Fires such as these have been a vexing issue for nearby community Jubilee Gardens in the past. Residents had to be evacuated after a blaze broke out at the city dump back in March 2017. Then in February 2018, more than 100 of the area’s residents filed a class action lawsuit against the government and Renew Bahamas for causing them to be “sickened to near death” as a result of the “toxic and
hazardous” emissions caused by the recurring fires at the New Providence Landfill. Officials repeatedly stressed yesterday that Monday’s fire had not occurred at the landfill. The Minnis administration signed an agreement in 2019 with the New Providence Ecology Park (NPEP) for the $45 million redevelopment of the city dump. The government has said this is a major accomplishment and noted the turnaround of the site and lack of recent fires. When The Tribune canvassed Jubilee Gardens yesterday, one resident said when he saw the smoke on Monday night, his first reaction was “not again”. “I feel like this is lousy. They should’ve fixed this long time,” the man, who has lived in the area for about 12 years, said. He said he thought massive fires in the area were a thing of the past and lamented previous occasions when he had to sleep in a hotel or by relatives due to heavy smoke. “We dealt with the smoke thing about twice before. . .and I feel like by now it should’ve been resolved. “I can’t move out again to go find somewhere to sleep because this is where I live.”
HOPES FOR COMPLETION OF $1.8M ABACO CENTRE AND SHELTER BY SUMMER’S END By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net MONTHS after government officials broke ground for a $1.8m community centre and hurricane shelter in Abaco, State Minister for Disaster Preparedness Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe said construction work has officially started on the project, with officials hoping for completion before the summer’s end. In December, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the hurricane shelter and community centre, which he said will be capable of accommodating 800 people during a hurricane. At the time, Dr Minnis said he expected the centre to be completed by May 2021, before the beginning of the next hurricane season. However, that target was missed. Yesterday, Mrs ParkerEdgecombe admitted that the project had been delayed, which she suggested was due to funding
“I am hopeful, in all honesty, that it is completed before the end of the summer months because the reality is we would’ve wanted it to be done way before the hurricane season, but we are where we are and we’re going to continue to work toward having it completed.” Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe
restraints. However, she said work has since commenced and added that officials are now hoping to have the development completed before the end of
summer. Speaking to reporters outside the Churchill Building, she said: “There was a groundbreaking. Work has commenced and there’s a
delay in that not necessarily because of the fact that it’s not going to be completed. We are hoping that it is done very shortly. “I know there is a concern in Abaco also in regard to some other housing issues so what we’re doing is we’re sitting at the table still and trying to figure out how best to move forward,” she added.
“Funding has always been an issue for us but we’ve been very grateful for the fact that persons are coming on board to assist us with that. I am hopeful, in all honesty, that it is completed before the end of the summer months because the reality is we would’ve wanted it to be done way before the hurricane season, but we are where we are and we’re going to continue to work toward having it completed.” Mrs Parker-Edgecome also addressed housing concerns raised by Abaco residents, a major issue there since Hurricane Dorian. As a temporary housing solution, the National Emergency Management Agency budgeted $6.4m for temporary domes to be placed in both Abaco and Grand Bahama, with an estimated $4m committed to cost. More than 100 domes have been erected on the storm impacted islands since then. Yesterday, Mrs ParkerEdgecombe said the DRA is trying to determine whether
more domes need to be erected in Abaco and added the agency is also appealing for help from the private sector to help resolve the island’s housing shortage issues. “Again, funding has always been an issue for us and we are giving it our best and we are trying to help,” Mrs Parker-Edgecombe told reporters yesterday. “But the question now is whether or not those domes still need to be put up because they were supposed to be temporary so all of this that’s going on. “At the moment, we’re trying to get to the best practice to assist those residents of Abaco, in particular because housing is an issue and we’re also appealing to the private sector and individuals who may want to go into Abaco to build rental units to do this,” she told reporters. “. . .We’re having challenges as expected, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re not going to continue to commit ourselves to our promises. We are going to ensure those residents get the attention they deserve.”
THE TRIBUNE
THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP FROM PAGE ONE officers, who being aware of the threat to his life, discharged his service weapon at the male. “He was (hit) several times about the body. Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The matter will be forwarded to the Coroner’s Office, where an inquest will be conducted into the incident.” A cousin of the deceased told reporters what led to the incident, suggesting some mental illness may have been involved. “. . .Cheapus you say first time mental patient,” the relative commented. “(The deceased) has never been diagnosed as a mental patient before, but the way how he was carrying on sound like something that needed to be treated – quick and fast.” “Eight-thirty this morning I arrived at home. My aunt was there but my dad got a call from 6 o’clock from the stepfather that said that ‘John is carrying on very wild upstairs.’ I went to the store with my mom. At first I didn’t know what was going on. I went to do my personal errands. When we arrived back at home, we met my aunt crying. When we asked what happened she said John is carrying on wild. This the first time she’s ever seen this.” The cousin said relatives tried to call an officer the family knows, but they could not be reached. Eventually, the cousin called the police control room and got an immediate response. When the officers arrived they asked where the mental patient was and were informed he was upstairs. The cousin remembered the deceased was calm on the bed before the matter escalated. “First thing I told John, I said ‘John we have some people here to help you. They come here to talk to you and to guide you.’ (He) said ‘get the F out of here, who are you guys,’ he don’t want to talk to you.’ He said, ‘police I don’t want to talk to you guys,’” the cousin told The Tribune. The relative said the deceased “gassed up himself” to go towards the officer and the officer got out his baton. The cousin tried to explain again that the police were trying to help.
Mask An officer was about to give a mask to the deceased, but he continued to “flare up on the officers,” the cousin said. The relative recalled telling the deceased that his daughter was downstairs in the police car waiting. “At that point and time, I guess me saying the daughter downstairs, he got up to go and put on a shirt and some shoes. My dad and his fast mouth said ‘Yeah the police is here to take to you to the hospital.’ This is when he step back and said ‘I don’t need no help. I’m not going anywhere.’ I said ‘John don’t mind him.’ I say your daughter downstairs she’s in the police car. He said bring her upstairs. I said she can’t come upstairs. I said she downstairs. I said it too scary for her.” The relative said the deceased continued to make noise, so the relative stood outside to make a few calls. After some time, the deceased made his way outside. “. . .He started coming outside. He slam the door in the officer’s face... They was only here to help. So the officer open back up the door, he came out with the cutlass. “The officer put my aunt in front and them two started to shuffle to get close to the officer. The officer stood to an end of the railing and he said ‘do not move, or I’ll shoot.’ He continued to move towards the officers with the cutlass and the officer shoot one in the air. When he did he said ‘Don’t move I’m warning you this is your last warning’. He had to shoot him.” This incident comes after Saturday’s fatal police-involved shooting of a man who allegedly assaulted an elderly lady and shot a young man who followed him. The man later shot at officers, police said, who returned fire, fatally wounding him. Police-involved shootings have raised many questions by the public over whether the killings were justified. However, the cousin understood why the police shot the deceased. “Let’s take it for example, if someone coming at you with a cutlass what is your next thing to run, right? “Okay, so the officers didn’t have no other choice and on top of that they’re in fear for their life. If you holding a cutlass, running behind the officer I would’ve run too. “I would’ve tried take some type of action. “So like I said they were in fear for their life and they had no other choice.”
Wednesday, June 16, 2021, PAGE 3
Equinor progress on Grand Bahama oil spill By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ACTIVIST Joseph Darville is pleased with the efforts being made by Equinor to clean up the oil spill in East Grand Bahama, but has indicated there is still lots of remediation work to be done. On Monday, Equinor met with representatives from Save The Bays (STB) and the Grand Bahama Utility Company at the Pelican Bay Resort, where they gave a comprehensive update of the oil spill clean up. The Tribune was informed that corporate executives at Equinor also attended via Zoom, but did not participate. “I am very pleased with the meeting,” Mr Darville, chairman of STB, said yesterday. “I was very happy they accommodated us; it was a very cordial and comprehensive meeting.” STB and Waterkeepers Bahamas have been closely monitoring the cleanup efforts of the oil spill in East Grand Bahama. They have made regular visits to the area to inspect, collect samples and take photographs of the affected forest and wetlands. Mr Darville said they were informed on Monday by a technician at Equinor that their findings show no penetration of oil to the water table in the area. “The technician… gave a detailed analysis of what has been done so far. They dug 24 to 27 wells in the area and there is no sort of penetration of petroleum or oil products into the water table from those wells that they have dug. They have been monitoring that for over a year and they plan to do so for a certain period into the future.” However, the environmental activist noted that there was no mention of the affected wetlands. “One of the areas that were not covered was the wetlands for any monitoring of oil in the water, but I brought that up,” he said. According to Mr Darville, during their initial
EQUINOR’S South Riding Point facility in East Grand Bahama pictured in 2019.
and previous follow-up visits to the area, including one not more than three weeks ago, STB had observed oil sheen on the wetlands. The technician, he said, had indicated that going into the wetland to try to collect the oil residue from the plants would cause more damage. “I agreed with that
ACTIVIST Joseph Darville.
because the wetlands are extremely delicate,” Mr Darville added. He noted that Waterkeepers Bahamas and Save the Bays are the only groups that have been regularly monitoring that area almost every other week. “We go and take samples and see how the cleaning is being done by workers in that area, and we make suggestions to the workers,” Mr Darville said. During a recent visit three weeks ago, he said they saw sheens of oil on the water, and on the
plants and vegetation that border the wetland. “We took samples of the wetland and the water, and took pictures, but we did not show that to them. “We were satisfied they were very accommodating and very comprehensive. We were very happy with the way they presented, and also with the way they entertained our queries and questions and comments of what we observed. “And I told them after Equinor met with the team in Nassau at the Ministry of Environment, and indicated that the cleanup was almost completed, I said to them I had to contradict that in a public release and to say that was far from the case.” Mr Darville said that the vegetation is growing back rapidly now that the rains have started, and have covered a lot of the oil residue on the ground. “If they go in and do the expert job of cleaning up, they have to go in and lift the vegetation to get any residue of oil on the ground,” he said. Another issue that was not addressed by Equinor at the meeting, Mr Darville said, was the oil spillage at a nearby aggregate site operated by a private company. “I told them that I have been very disturbed…
that has not been touched and there is an enormous amount of oil on the aggregate mounds, and that with all the rain the oil would be washed into the ground, and could eventually reach the water table unless it is taken care of carefully,” he stated. He also drew their attention to a six-foot hole in the area. “It has three feet of water and there is oil sheen on the water which means it is making contact with the water table in that area,” he noted. Mr Darville said Equinor has indicated that the matter is in litigation in court and they have been prevented from touching the area but will have to bring equipment back on the island to clean it when they are given clearance. Mr Darville said Equinor has also promised to make sure before they make any public release on the cleanup, to include and inform STB and Waterkeepers. There is still more work left to do, he said. “They have quite a bit of work there to do. The weather conditions and COVID have really impacted their ongoing cleaning,” he said. “I go out there every other week… and I indicated that to them, and there is still cleanup that
needs to be done in that area. “The massive amount will be around those aggregate mounds that are 40 to 60ft high that are still covered in oil. “I hope a decision is made based upon the regard for our environment that no matter what might be in the court they cannot allow that to subvert the action that needs to be done to clean up our environment and that forest,” Mr Darville stressed. Equinor is carrying out restoration, reinforcement, and rebuilding on the site in preparation for when it resumes operations. Mr Darville said he has urged the company to ensure that it constructs dome covers that can withstand 180 to 200 mph winds. In a press statement issued on Tuesday, a spokesman said that consistent with immediate action taken after Hurricane Dorian, Equinor has spared no resources to efficiently tackle the unfortunate oil spill. “Equinor remains committed to the protection of the environment. “Equinor welcomes the concerns of stakeholders and will continue to offer periodic updates,” according to the statement.
BRAVE BLASTS GOVT ON DORIAN AND COVID
FROM PAGE ONE
more heartbreak, more anguish. “Who can forget the aftermath of the hurricane, during which this government failed to coordinate humanitarian aid, failed to lift flight restrictions for planes flying in relief supplies, failed to show up where they were needed most? Who can forget Bahamians begging for the government to show their face?” He criticised the government for not offering free flights on Bahamasair for those who wanted to evacuate storm zones ahead of time, suggesting more lives could have been saved had this been done. “How many people perished because they did not have the money to fly their family to safety? And if the answer is any number bigger than zero, how do they live with that? “After the storm, for nearly a week, only private planes were evacuating residents out of Marsh Harbour, a handful of seats at a time. Where was our national airline? “When they finally showed up, they charged $75 a seat on flights – charging people who had nothing left but the clothes on their back. After a social media storm, they backed off, but they had already shown us their true colours. “I don’t need to remind anyone in this country about the bodies stored in trailers, or the shifting death toll numbers, or the mass funeral and the relatives who were kept away. Those are tragedies etched into our collective national memory.” He also hit out at budget cuts at the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness. “The budget we’re debating today, the same one they’ve
“Who can forget the aftermath of the hurricane, during which this government failed to coordinate humanitarian aid, failed to lift flight restrictions for planes flying in relief supplies, failed to show up where they were needed most? Who can forget Bahamians begging for the government to show their face?” PLP Leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis
FILE photo
been defending, cuts millions from hurricane preparedness – that’s right, ignoring warnings that there is a 60 percent chance that this year’s hurricane season will be more active than usual, the government has decided in 2021 we can invest less than we did last year in protecting ourselves from the next storm.”
In reference to COVID-19, he said the government still has no plan. “Instead of a plan, the competent authority instead has issued—and continues to issue—dozens and dozens of emergency orders, imposing and changing restrictions that result in a zig-zagging maze of
regulations, prohibitions and penalties,” he said. He again called for free COVID-19 testing to assist in the fight against the disease. He also said the government was too slow to roll out its vaccine campaign and called for more education to combat vaccine hesitancy.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Marvin Dames has ‘every confidence’ on policing of new measures for fully vaccinated By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames said yesterday he has “every confidence” law enforcement agencies will be ready to police any new measures for fully vaccinated people once implemented. He noted that officers will utilise technology to verify vaccination cards and crack down on forged documents when the new protocol comes into effect. He spoke after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis suggested to reporters last week that fully vaccinated people could soon begin experiencing a variety of new benefits, including permission to go out at night after the 10pm curfew and also to host parties. Dr Minnis is expected to provide more details about the vaccination perks when he wraps up the 2021/22 budget debate in the House of Assembly tomorrow. Some critics called the plan “discriminatory” and others questioned the science behind the decision and how police plan to enforce it. Phillip “Brave” Davis believes the new privileges will only create confusion. However, Mr Dames did not share the same viewpoint yesterday and insisted officials will plan in advance and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the policy is enforced. “We plan. We plan. Anytime an action is taken, and in this case by the competent authority, we have to plan around
it,” he told reporters before going to a Cabinet meeting. “And, these agencies like the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Defence Force, planning is what they do and so they have to adjust accordingly, and I have no doubt that they are capable of doing that.” He also said he doesn’t believe the new rules will create confusion.
“...It won’t cause confusion. The RBPF and RBDF have been able to adapt to these changing times so I don’t expect anything will be different. I mean once the competent authority rolls out new emergency orders or new laws are enacted, the police and those agencies responsible have to adjust and this is nothing new.” Minister of National Security Marvin Dames “...It won’t cause confusion,” Mr Dames added. “The RBPF and RBDF have been able to adapt to these changing times so I don’t expect anything will be different. I mean once the competent authority rolls out new emergency orders or new laws are enacted, the police and those agencies responsible
have to adjust and this is nothing new. “This is all a part of governance and I have every confidence that the Commissioner and his team and the Commodore and his team will be ready for anything.” Asked how police plan to enforce the measures, the Mount Moriah MP replied: “We’ll have to see how it’s rolled out and we’ll plan accordingly. That’s not an issue and if you’re fully vaccinated then you should have something in your possession saying that you’re fully vaccinated. RBPF and RBDF are very good at that and we have the aid of technology to assist and so I am not concerned about that.” However, it is believed that policing the exceptions might still prove difficult, amid rising concern about the possibility of people using fake vaccination cards. To this, Mr Dames said the police’s record speaks for itself, pointing to the many instances where persons were caught and dealt with for using fake COVID-19 tests to travel. He said the same situation will apply for people who are not fully vaccinated seeking to “circumvent” the law and also warned against obtaining forged documents, insisting that officers will be on high alert for such instances. He said: “You see that they’ve been doing an extremely great job in cracking down on those persons who were producing false travel visas right and that’s what they do and they’re there to ensure
THE TRIBUNE MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames.
that we abide by the law. “…At the end of the day, in all of this, what it requires is discipline on behalf of the Bahamian people right and that certainly will go along with helping to mitigate any issues in relation to any decision that is forthcoming.” Asked if anyone has been caught for using fake vaccination documents to date, Mr Dames told reporters: “Umm, no not to this point but as you would’ve mentioned earlier, anytime you have situations like this it creates opportunities for those seeking to circumvent the law and the police will prepare for that as well. “…At the end of the day, in all of this, what it requires is discipline on behalf of the Bahamian people right and that certainly will go along with helping to mitigate any issues in relation to any decision that is forthcoming.” According to Mr Dames, there have been 1,940 violations to the COVID-19 Emergency Orders to date, resulting in over a $1m worth of fines.
HOME PORTING WILL DELIVER EXTRA $50M
FROM PAGE ONE
On July 4, Crystal Cruises will begin operating its cruises for five months. Mr D’Aguilar also touted signs of an improving tourism industry, noting that arrivals to the country have been increasing per month since the November 2020 reopening. “I am also delighted to report that tourism is rebounding every day,” he said. “Everyone sees it! The airports are getting busier! The marinas, up and down, the Bahamas have never been busier. The occupancy levels in the hotels are improving and, most importantly, the tens of thousands of Bahamians who were furloughed as a result of this pandemic are slowly being called back to work.” Mr D’Aguilar said officials managing the Bahamas’ visas are processing between 6,000 and 8,000 visas per day. He said: “In January of this year, 22,000 visitors received a health visa. In February, 30,000 visitors received a health visa. In March, 64,000 visitors received a health visa.
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar. In April, 68,000 visitors received a health visa. In May, 110,000 visitors received a health visa. “And when you dig into the numbers, 60 percent of the visitors are coming to Nassau and 40 percent are coming to Family Islands. So that confirms to me that the Family Islands are bouncing back faster than Nassau so far. And that makes sense. With the onset of COVID-19 people wanted a low-density secluded vacation at a small boutique hotel or Airbnb, away from crowds and larger properties. And that is exactly what happened.”
COVID-19 DEATH TOLL RISES TO 239 THE COVID-19 death count has risen to 239 after two more deaths were recorded. According to data from the Ministry of Health, the deceased victims are a 42-year-old New Providence man who died on June 6 and a 57-year-old New Providence woman who died on June 13. Twenty-eight other deaths are under investigation. Fifteen new coronavirus cases were recorded on Tuesday, pushing the toll for confirmed cases to 12,225. Of these cases, only 728 are active. Thirty-eight people are in hospital with the virus, four of whom are in intensive care.
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THE TRIBUNE
‘NEW CITIZENS SHOULD WAIT TO HAVE A VOTE’ FROM PAGE ONE less than a year, the former Long Island MP noted it appears political parties “are all geared up” and ready to go. “Something else that seems to be accelerated as we move into these election cycles (is) the number of newspaper notices for persons who have applied and are being considered for Bahamian citizenship,” she wrote. “Each administration, past and present, knowingly or coincidentally seems to deal with significant numbers of citizenship applications as elections approach. Under our Constitution, citizenship status gives individuals the right to become a LORETTA registered voter,” Butler-Turner Mrs Butler-Turner added. “Those who have campaigned can share stories of newly minted naturalised citizens who proudly show their voter’s card and brandnew passports to leverage demands in exchange for their vote. In most instances, the administration that bestows the status of citizenship is usually the beneficiary of that vote. Also, most new citizens look forward to being fully participatory Bahamians by casting their very first vote.” The former leader of the opposition said after much consideration, she believes the Minnis administration should “legislate a timeframe for naturalised Bahamians to become participants of our electoral process.” Mrs Butler-Turner explained that just as foreign spouses receive spousal permits some five years prior to citizenship approval, naturalised Bahamians should also be required to be a citizen in the country for five years before they are allowed to vote. “I believe that this will remove much of the widely held perceptions and belief that citizenships granted prior to an election are potentially beneficial votes for the current administration,” she continued. “In the aftermath of countless deaths unaccounted for and attributed to Hurricane Dorian along with the displacement of many citizens from their domiciled islands, the ongoing COVID-19 challenges, as well as the government’s roll out of a first-time permanent voter register; l believe that it would be an ideal time for such a provision to be added to our immigration and citizenship laws. “It is incumbent upon the minister of national security and the government as a whole to ensure that a clean and accurate voter register is in place prior to general elections. Ensuring that all deceased, unaccounted and incarcerated persons are removed from the new permanent register (and) also ensuring that no displaced Bahamian citizen is disenfranchised,” Mrs Butler Turner said.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021, PAGE 5
Closing arguments in Supreme Court shanty town hearing By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY Fred Smith said the Supreme Court must now decide whether the government can lawfully target and destroy all communities of Haitian ethnic origins in the country. His comment came as lawyers delivered their closing arguments yesterday in the closely watched shanty town hearing. Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson is presiding over the case. “The court must decide whether or not the respondents can lawfully target all communities in The Bahamas which are of Haitian ethnic origins and destroy them with the stated purpose of assimilating all those persons in those communities into the mainstream of Bahamian culture,” Mr Smith said. “We submit that the respondents have produced no law which permits the government to socially, economically, politically destroy ethnically different communities and wipe them off the face of The Bahamas. “More importantly, the respondents cannot illegally and unconstitutionally use laws such as the Building Regulations Act to achieve an illegal and unconstitutional purpose.
RECENT demolition work on Abaco. They cannot behave in a wholesale manner towards these persons and these communities. “A legitimate, lawful and proper purpose must be the foundation to any decision taken in respect to each individual person and/or home in each community.” Justice Grant-Thompson recently banned the government from demolishing more shanty town structures on Abaco. She extended her standing injunction that prohibits the government from evicting shanty town residents and disconnecting services to their communities to all unregulated communities on the island. Attorney General Carl Bethel has said lawyers will appeal her
UNION OF CENTRAL BANKERS MEMBERS WALK OFF THE JOB
By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ ribunemedia.net MEMBERS of the Union of Central Bankers walked off the job yesterday citing unresolved grievances with management. Before midday the bankers, who had been working from home, arrived at Central Bank to begin their protest. The Tribune spoke with Theressa Thompson, union president, who said there are a number of issues the bank’s management needs to take care of including breach of contract. “The bank is unilaterally changing the terms of our industrial agreement in that a wellness bonus that we normally (receive)—that has been in our contract for about 15 to 20 years—they decided that they will not be paying it,” Ms Thompson said. “If it’s in your contract—no one decides that. They have to come and discuss that with the union which they have not. “Then they are coming with new performance management. The next thing is that while 80 to 90 percent of us work from home, the expenses for COVID
have shifted from the bank to home. Here it is you have to pay more light, more water. . .everything is now more at home. So all we are saying is that we need a higher stipend. “The last thing is that our industrial agreement has expired from January and we were in negotiations and we are not getting anywhere so we had to file trade disputes with regard to those matters. So today was just a combination. We were working from home for 15 months so we just decided to shut down those laptops and get out and walk.” Ms Thompson said yesterday was the day when the union members told Central Bank bosses that enough is enough. Bernard Evans, president of the National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU), was out
BLACK POINT AND STANIEL CAY PLAGUED BY POWER OUTAGES By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net
interlocutory judgement. Mr Smith said ultimately, the questions before the court are simple. “If the appropriate authority wishes to take an administrative action, or to apply and enforce a particular law, it must do so selectively, it must do so individually and only for the purposes of the relevant legislation,” he said. “This is not a case about whether or not the Minister of Works can or cannot exercise his statutory powers for the purposes of the Building Regulations Act. What he cannot do, we submit, is to use the pretext of the Building Regulations Act or any other law to achieve an ulterior purpose or to pursue an
ulterior motive. “Our entire body of law is premised on a decision maker applying his or her mind to the particular facts and circumstances of each individual case and making an administrative decision. “And in such circumstances, taking into account only relevant facts, relevant matters and not taking into account irrelevant facts or matters. It is an individual process.” Mr Smith said even if regulators examined each case individually, their response to violators must be proportionate to be constitutional. He said the proportionate action of regulators would be to work with homeowners and take a “reasonable and rational measure as might have been appropriate to address the concerns by the regulators of perhaps some building code requirement not having been met or some sanitation issue or some safety issue and the BRA provides for that.” He also said: “The BRA provides that, for the minister, instead of demolishing may take such other action that might be deemed appropriate to regularise and bring a property into compliance. It’s not one size fits all. Everybody’s home doesn’t have to be destroyed.”
the worst it has ever been. We are so tired of this. “Some people here are reaching out to FREQUENT power outages on Black the government to try to see what they Point and Staniel Cay in the Exumas are can do but there is no action taken. The wreaking havoc on commerce and are weather is hot now so things are getting reducing the quality of life for the residents even worse.” there, according to the area MP. The Tribune tried to reach the head The areas of Black Point and Staniel Cay of local government there, but without have been plagued with power outages success. for some time and the residents Kyle Wilson, president of are now at their wits end from the Bahamas Electrical Workfrustration. ers Union, said he knows of the Exuma Member of Parliament issues in the Exumas, but they Chester Cooper said Bahamas are not due to manpower or Power and Light has to make incompetence on behalf of his more proactive investments to members. He blames BPL mansatisfy its customers. agement for “not listening” to its “I am advised that the problem consumers and employees. has worsened due to malfunction “It has come to my attention of a critical BPL asset in Black that the homeowners, hotelPoint in the past few weeks,” Mr iers and resort owners down in Cooper said. “This reinforces the Staniel Cay and Black Point are point that more proactive investvery frustrated because they are ment is needed. We have long saying that the power supply is called for more reinvestment of unreliable,” Mr Wilson said. “It our tax dollars in the productive EXUMA MP is not as a result of my members’ sector of our economy. inability to work or produce Chester Cooper. “The frequent outages of both power, but I’m understandwater and electricity are wreaking there is even an issue with ing havoc on commerce and quality of life receiving parts and servicing and getting in Black Point and Staniel Cay. We have everything up to speed. long called for more investment in the “The manpower can be there, but we plant and equipment here, and in Exuma as need to get parts on time. We need the a whole. residuals, the combustibles and the con“Exuma and her cays are leading the sumables on time. If this is not happening way in the rebound of tourism particularly then we cannot get to produce the power on the high end. We are also now without properly. question the yachting capital of the Baha“I understand there is great frustration mas. We must harness this bright spark and amongst those people. I understand that invest more in it with great urgency.” they have written from the prime minisLocal resident Pearl Rolle said she is ter downward on their displeasure, but it tired of tossing groceries that went bad due seems like the company is hell bent on not to the lack of power to keep them cool. listening to the consumer, not listening to “I am sick of having to throw away things the union and just doing as they wish. This because of the outages,” Ms Rolle said. “I is the worst I’ve ever seen it from I’ve been buy groceries and then because there is no in BPL.” light to keep them, I have to throw them BPL did not comment on the concerns away. We are tired of complaining. This is up to press time.
in support of the bankers and said all the bank has to do is to renegotiate the contract with its workers instead of trying to circumvent it. “I don’t understand why people will sit down and negotiate a contract and then find ways to circumvent, when the contract is already signed,” Mr Evans said. “You sit down and negotiate with the union. This should not be done unilaterally. This is not a dictatorship. You sit down with the union and renegotiate. “Whatever it is you want to take out of the contract, you have to sit down and renegotiate. Until such time the members say ‘we don’t want this particular benefit’ then it’s there to stay. “It is the law so I don’t know why people continuously disrespect workers and their
representatives, disrespect contracts and violate the actual law of the country. It’s sad when we find that government agencies are the biggest abusers and violators of these contracts.” Former Bahamas Electrical Union Workers chief, Paul Maynard, was also out supporting the bankers. Maynard, now first vice president of the NCTU, said the problem is that unions are just not respected. “They need to respect the unions,” Mr Maynard said. “It’s as simple as that. The unions only want respect and the problem is they are not respecting the union. “There are no ifs and ands and buts about that. You can’t just say you are taking all this stuff off the table, when meanwhile they are not taking stuff off the table for themselves. “They (Central Bank) are building two buildings. They say one building will cost $120 million, but we all know that is $160 million. That is not necessary at this time. “The other building is said to cost $80 million but we all know that is $120 million. The point is those buildings are not necessary. You are talking about you don’t have the money.”
PAGE 6, Wednesday, June 16, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
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How Joe Biden could increase pressure on Vladimir Putin if their meeting fails to deter Russia’s ‘harmful’ behaviour WHEN U.S. President Joe Biden meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on June 16, 2021, cybersecurity is certain to be a key topic of discussion. The U.S. accuses Russia of meddling in American elections and launching repeated cyberattacks, which, among what it called other “harmful” transgressions, prompted Biden to unveil financial sanctions in April. This added to existing sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector. While the White House says it has low expectations for the meeting, hoping only to “restore predictability and stability to the U.S.-Russia relationship,” Biden’s threat to up the pressure on Putin if Russia fails to change its behavior will likely loom over their upcoming chat in Geneva. He says he told Putin in a phone call “we could have gone further” with the sanctions, “but I chose not to do so.” This leaves open the question of what “further” might mean – and could it be any more effective than past sanctions at changing Putin’s behaviour? Russia’s strength – and weakness Experts who research global energy, as I do, highlight oil and natural gas as both Russia’s strength and its Achilles’ heel. Russia is richly endowed with these resources and, since the early 2000s, it has been a top global producer and exporter. Oil and gas make up more than one-third of Russia’s gross domestic product, and energy exports account for about half of government revenue. At the same time, the nation’s heavy reliance on oil and gas exports has made its economy highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global energy prices and to policy decisions that might reduce reliance of imports on Russian oil or gas – a dependence frequently noted by analyses of its energy sector. For example, 70% of Russia’s crude oil exports and more than 75% of its gas exportsgo to Europe. Are current sanctions too weak? The U.S. and European Union imposed many of the current sanctions against Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2014. The sanctions have primarily targeted the ability of non-Russian companies and government agencies to provide financing, goods, services and technology that help Russia explore and develop new oil reserves. The gas sector was left out by request of the EU. A key focus was to prevent Western international oil businesses, which possess the world’s most advanced expertise and technological skills, from partnering with state-owned Russian companies in the Arctic, offshore in deep waters and shale fields. These are the areas with the greatest potential to expand Russia’s oil discovery and production going forward. Analysts have been divided in evaluating the impacts of these sanctions. Some have described their effects as weak, pointing to continued increases in oil output that suggest Russian companies have adapted to the imposed restrictions. Other observers, however, point to the Russian economy as evidence they’re working. Russian GDP fell over a third from US$2.3 trillion to $1.5 trillion in 2020, which analysts attributed to factors including a drop in oil prices and the withdrawal of international financing. I would also emphasise the negative impacts of the sanctions on the oil sector itself, which is largely related to Russian oil companies’ need for foreign expertise and technology. Sanctions have made it harder and costlier to maintain and increase production levels. Recent data shows that oil production costs have been increasing, while many of Russia’s existing oil
fields are producing less than they used to. While estimates suggest Russia has the world’s second-largest shale oil reserves, developing these at a significant level requires Western expertise. If sanctions remain in place, some analysts project that Russian oil output will reach a peak and begin to decline by the middle of this decade. In other words, the Kremlin’s aggression in Ukraine and Putin’s use of cyberattacks is putting the future of Russia’s oil sector – and thus its economy – at risk. Ways to step up the pressure But so far, this hasn’t deterred Putin, as evidenced by Russia’s meddling in the 2020 elections, the large-scale SolarWinds cyberattack and Russian troops massing on Ukraine’s border in March. In April, when Biden announced the latest sanctions he said, “If Russia continues to interfere with our democracy, I’m prepared to take further actions.” So what else could Biden do to deter Putin if he keeps this up? One approach would be to target specific projects that contribute significantly to current or future exports of oil and gas. For example, sanctions could be imposed on any non-Russian companies helping to develop new oil or gas reserves in the East Siberian region. These projects – such as the Vostok Oil project – have been essential to Russia’s overall increase in production since 2014. Sanctioning foreign investments in such Putin-backed projects would be a significant blow to Russia’s efforts to counteract production declines in older fields. Another objective for increased sanctions might be the huge oil and gas project near Sakhalin Island, in Russia’s Far East. Also an important source of growing oil production, Sakhalin depends to a considerable degree on Western and Japanese investment and expertise. It is a core part of Russia’s plan to expand oil exports to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Regarding major natural gas projects, Biden could try to limit foreign participation in the Arctic Yamal-Gydan liquefied natural gas facility. This giant project, another of Putin’s favourites, uses the Arctic Route to ship gas to China and is also part of Russia’s plan to shift hydrocarbon exports to Asia. In addition, the Biden administration could expand sanctions to include any export of U.S. technology, including separate components and replacement parts, for use by a Russian oil and gas company. This would make it a lot harder for Russia to develop its shale oil and gas fields, among Russia’s largest sources for future production growth. Moscow also has big plans to upgrade and expand its petrochemical sector, with more than $50 billion in investment necessary. Limiting or prohibiting non-Russian companies and investors from helping out would make it harder for some of these projects to get funded. A meeting of minds? Even though existing sanctions have brought less change to Russia’s antiWestern conduct than hoped for, their impact has deeply constrained the country’s ability to grow. But continued cyberattacks aimed at the U.S. – including those perpetrated by independent groups operating within Russia’s borders – may convince Biden that more serious sanctions are needed. It’s likely that this possibility will be on both men’s minds as Biden meets Putin for the first time as president. (This article is by Scott L. Montgomery University of Washington for The Conversation)
Law and order established EDITOR, The Tribune.
FOR two hundred years the settlement of Hope Town on Elbow Cay, Abaco, was a sleepy little fishing village with very little crime. In the 1990’s when the internet put the island on the map, the economic growth that followed, led to more and more crime. A tipping point came in 2018 when Hope Town experienced its first armed robbery http://www.tribune242. com/news/2018/may/22/ holiday-weekend-blightedby-series-of-armed/ robberies. In August, 2020 a volatile mix of transient construction workers, illegal migrants and locals suffering the various effects of Hurricane Dorian exploded into a clash which led to vandalism of a second home owners residence, breaking of a person’s bone and reputed discharge of firearms this situation pushed community leaders and the local government officials of the Hope Town District Council to request that two police officers be stationed on Elbow Cay. In a welcoming ceremony on September 1, 2020 at the Hope Town clinic, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashton Greenslade presented two officers that he had hand-picked stating that, “Sargent Nelson Botin and Corporal Peaco Knowles were good
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net
officers and will see to getting the job done!” And we are happy to report that ten months later with the assistance of Constable Trez McPhee these officers have truly gotten the job done! Two operations of note: in January of 2021 an illegal male Haitian national along with four females were apprehended and for illegal activities pertaining to the selling of numbers from a car and prostitution. The male was deported to Haiti. In December of 2020, officers arrested a local Bahamian male after they allegedly found a silver and black 9MM pistol with a magazine containing eight rounds of ammunition in the waist of his pants. In May of 2021, justice was served when Magistrate Ancella Evans of the Marsh Harbour District Court sentenced this young man to serve two years in Fox Hill prison. Speaking on behalf of the entire community, I wish to thank the officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and all those in the Magistrate’s Court who by their actions have sent a very strong message, law and order has been established on Elbow Cay! I also want to encourage all Bahamians that if you want crime out
of your community, our story reveals that you too, can make it happen!! All we had to do was reach out to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and be willing to work with them. We have discovered that the police cannot be successful unless the community provides them with information and we cannot have law and order without the police. Sometimes this means giving the police information about people we love who have gone down the wrong path, but if we do not, the result could be disastrous. For example, the young man who was charged for illegal possession of a pistol and live rounds of ammunition, he is in prison now for two years, but had he shot someone he might be in prison for life. Instead, he has an opportunity now, to turn his life around, if he comes back to this community with a humble heart and desire to turn his life around, most of us will forgive him and he has the opportunity for a very good life. It will be his choice. May God continue to bless our Beautiful Bahamas, Deborah “DP” Patterson, a proud 8th generation Bahamian. DEBORAH “DP” PATTERSON Hope Town, Abaco June 15, 2021.
Nightclub noise Re: Nightspot left facing insurmountable task EDITOR, The Tribune. Club Waterloo’s principal should not be permitted to operate a nightclub at its current venue, even if COVID restrictions are lifted. While I have nothing but sympathy for the fate of his employees, why does this man think he has the right to blast neighbourhoods in St. James Road, London Terrace, Lake View Road and Village Road with headache splitting noise, so loud their windows vibrate? And what bonehead issued the licence in the first place? He complains the hotels have an advantage, but hotel music is either limited to a
soundproof building or the decibel level is managed and acceptable. There is no indication whatsoever that Waterloo’s “music” is confined inside as part of licence conditions, unless, of course, the speakers are positioned at the windows pointing outside. The police either ignore the complaints or the operator ignores the police. Errybody having fun partying round the greasy pole with no regard for the traumatised people who can’t sleep in their own homes and have to take extra dose Tylenol to deal with their aching heads. Shame! DUKE WELLY June 15, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
US BUSINESSMAN DENIES HAVING PISTOL AND AMMUNITION
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
AN American businessman who denied having a .9mm pistol and a large quantity of ammunition was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial. Police alleged William Green, 49, was found in New Providence with the unlicensed firearm along with 38 rounds of .9mm ammunition on June 13.
Charges The Denver, Colorado native pleaded not guilty to the charges during his hearing before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt yesterday. In applying for bail, his attorney told the court Green was an “upstanding businessman with substantial ties to his community” who was also the sole “breadwinner” of his family. Green also told the magistrate he had visited The Bahamas in the past on a one-day cruise ship excursion, but said this was his first time visiting the country by airplane. The prosecution did not object to bail. As a result, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt granted Green $35,000 cash bail. He returns to court August 18 for trial.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021, PAGE 7
Police corporal found Petty Officer ‘motionless’ with bullet wounds By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE corporal testified yesterday that he found Petty Officer Percival Perpall “motionless” and slumped over on a couch with bullet wounds to his upper body when he responded to a shooting incident at Government House in 2019. Detective Cpl 3652 Chris Curry made the statement as he recalled the role he played in investigating the events that took place on April 28, 2019. According to reports, around 2.30 that morning, PO Perpall, Calvin Hanna and Ellis Rahming were attacked while on duty at Government House. The men were said to be in a guardroom when a lone assailant entered, and opened fire on them. Prosecutors allege Able Seaman Jevon Seymour is responsible for the shooting death of PO Perpall as well as the attempted murders of Hanna and Rahming. Seymour denies the allegations. Yesterday, Cpl Curry said he received reports of the shooting around 2.40 on the morning in question. He said when he arrived at the scene, he and his partner spoke with Leading Seaman Gaitor who led them upstairs to the guardroom. He said upon entering, he saw Perpall sitting on a couch, “slumped over and motionless”. Cpl Curry said he then contacted the police control room to request EMS assistance, before making checks of the front and rear sections of the guardroom. During his search he noticed “a number” of .9mm casings on the floor, he said. “A short time later, EMS personnel arrived at the scene, made checks of the body and found it unresponsive,” he told the court. “I noticed two gunshot wounds to his
MANGROVE CLEAN UP AT BONEFISH POND NATIONAL PARK THE Bahamas National Trust, Corona, and Jimmy’s Wines and Spirits teamed up for World Ocean’s Week and hosted a mangrove clean up at Bonefish Pond National Park. After a promotion for World Ocean’s Week
where $1 from every six pack of Corona was donated to the BNT, interested BNT members spent Sunday afternoon cleaning up at two locations within the park, including the mangroves. PHOTOS: Racardo Thomas
Government House shooting trial continues right elbow, one to his right shoulder, one to his right chest and one to his left side.” Yesterday, Sergeant 2052 Antwoine Hamilton also gave evidence under oath. He said when he spoke to Seymour at his apartment around 4.35 on the morning in question, the accused told him he knew PO Perpall. He also said the two of them had worked on an assignment on one of the islands. Sgt Hamilton said at that point, Seymour “stopped abruptly” then “breathed a little harder”. He said Seymour then told him he “heard rumours circulating pertaining to him shooting Perpall at Government House”, but denied the accusations.
Vehicle Sgt Hamilton said based on that information, he arrested and cautioned the accused. He also said when officers searched Seymour’s vehicle that morning, they found two long sleeved army shirts, a pair of black boots and a white hat which were all in the rear left section of his car. During his testimony, Cpl Curry also said he went to the Carmichael Road Police Station around 4.40am on April 28. He said when he got there, he noticed Seymour sitting inside the charge room. “As I walked inside, I heard the suspect shouting ‘Bey I ain’t kill no (expletive) one...I wasn’t even at Government House,’” he stated.
“He continued to shout in a very irate and angry manner.” Cpl Curry said he then informed Seymour that his residence would be searched in reference to an unlicensed firearm. Still, he said when he told the accused to stand and place his hands behind his back, Seymour told him “I ain’t putting my hand behind my back because I ain’t no (expletive) criminal.” Cpl Curry said he asked Seymour to comply “several times”, but he grew “extremely violent” and pushed him off. He said during the struggle, other officers came to help him handcuff Seymour. He said it was at that time that he noticed slight scratches on the accused’s right shin and lip. He said when officers asked Seymour if he needed medical assistance he said, “Just hurry up clear my name.” When Petty Officer William Johnson took the stand, he said he served as the guard commander of Government House at the time of the incident. PO Johnson said in February 2019, he was informed that Seymour was going to Ragged Island with PO Perpall and other officers on assignment. He said when he told Seymour he wanted him to bring him back some fish, the accused told him he had just been injured and was back in New Providence after getting three to four days off. According to PO Johnson, on April 4, 2019, Seymour told him he received additional days off. He
also said the accused told him to stop by his house for the fish three days later. “While at his residence he showed me his leave pass and said he was off until April 18. He also requested vacation days from April 21-26.” PO Johnson said on April 9, 2019, he received information that prompted him to contact Seymour and inform him that he had been reported as absent without leave (AWOL) “from the time he was sick until April 4”. He said when Seymour reported back to work at Government House on April 21, he received additional information stating the accused had to report to the Defence Force base “concerning an AWOL charge”. PO Johnson said Seymour later told him the prosecution department said the only way the charges could be dropped was if a commanding officer dismissed them. Nonetheless, he said he told the accused the only person who could “get him off the charges” was PO Perpall, as he was under his command in Ragged Island. PO Johnson said Seymour told him he would contact PO Perpall and that was the “last thing” he heard from him. Former Correctional Officer Zendall Colebrooke was the last person to give sworn evidence. He said in 2019, he was stationed at Government House. He also said that in May of that same year, he found a black holster under a heap of dirt on the eastern side of the property. He also said he discovered a black pistol and magazine in the same area. He said after he noticed the items, he called the control officer at Government House who in turn contacted the police. The case continues today.
PAGE 8, Wednesday, June 16, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
All you wanted to know but were frightened to ask T
HE US Embassy has been flying the Pride flag for two weeks as Pride Month continues. It is a great time to learn more about the LGBTQ+ community. If you do not know what the L, G, B, T, Q, or plus stands for, get ready to learn. Before we get into sexualities, it is important to understand some of the basics that apply to everyone. By now, we should all be familiar with the terms “sex” and “gender”. They often appear on forms we need to complete and frequently with the wrong options and with insufficient options. Sex is assigned at birth based on visible sex characteristics which do not always match chromosomal sex. We are taught about the XY sexdetermination system in which XX is female and XY is male, but it is now known these are not the only combinations. This means there are more than two sexes and it is not binary. The continued use of a binary system is also evidence that sex is a social construct. Gender is the set of characteristics, including behavior and expression, of women and men that are created and enforced by society. These characteristics are taught to and expected of people based on their sex. For example, boys can play rough and get scrapes and bruises, but girls must play more carefully and reduce their chances of getting physical imperfections while having fun. Girls help to cook and clean, and boys take the garbage out and help to wash the car. Girls can cry, but anger is inappropriate for them; boys must not cry but displays of anger are expected. Men are sexually attracted to women and women are romantically attracted to men. When women and girls or men and boys step out of these gender prescriptions, people do not like it. In fact, people start policing them, claiming the need to correct and/or punish them. Gender is a social construct. The LGBTQ+ community includes people of all sexes and genders. They are not all attracted to people of the same gender. They are a part of the community because their sex, gender, or sexuality is not the same as those assigned to or expected of them. The terms “women” and “men” are used below for ease and understanding of people encountering this information for the first time. Please keep in mind there are non-binary,
THE Pride flag flying at the US Embassy.
gender non-conforming people, gender neutral and gender fluid people who do not identify as women or men. Definitions of LGBTQ+ terms are evolving and being developed as we learn more about gender and sexualities and people explore identity and expression. What do all of those letters stand for, and why is there a plus sign? Whether we say LGBT, LGBTQ, or LGBTI, or another version, we need the plus at the end in order to include the people whose letters are missing. LGBTQ+ does not just mean gay. The community is far more diverse than that. Lesbians are women who are attracted to women. It is important to note lesbians are not attracted to all women. Lesbians are not all masculine-presenting. Some lesbians prefer pants.
“During Pride Month, pay attention to what is happening around you, what is being said, and what is being left unsaid. What were the responses of your family members, friends, coworkers, religious leaders, social media contacts, and radio hosts when the Pride flag was raised at the U.S. Embassy on June 1?” Some like more loosefitting clothing. Some like dresses. Some lesbians wear make-up. Some lesbians love wigs. Some keep their hair short. Some lesbians change their looks all the time. Some lesbians are quiet. Some are very loud talkers. Some drink while others do not. What lesbians have in common is that they are women and they are attracted to women. Gay, these days, is used to refer to men who are attracted to men. It is still, from time to time, used to refer to both men and women, but “lesbian” is a more suitable term for referring to women. Gay men, it must be noted, are not attracted to all men.
All gay men are not feminine-presenting. Some go to the gym and talk a lot about their gains. Some have long hair, some have piercings, some have tattoos and some drive large vehicles. Some gay men have full beards, some groom their eyebrows, and some are very particular about the wine they drink. What gay men have in common is that they are men and they are attracted to men. Bisexual people are attracted to people of more than one gender. In years gone by, it was said that bisexual people are attracted to “both genders”, but given what we now know about genders—that there are more than 50 of them—that definition reinforces the idea that there is a binary. Instead of “both,” we say “more than one” to indicate that bisexuals are not attracted to just one gender. Contrary to popular belief, bisexual people are not trying to have it all. They are attracted to more than one gender, but this does not mean they pursue or maintain relationships with people of different genders at the same time. There are, however, people of all genders and orientations who engage in multiple romantic and sexual relationships with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. Those people are polyamorous. While some are, not all bisexuals are not polyamorous. Transgender (abbreviated to “trans”) people have a gender identity that is not typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth. “Q” sometimes appears twice in the initialism because it stands for both queer and questioning. “Queer” was a pejorative and it has been reclaimed as an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities. “Questioning” describes people who are still exploring their genders and sexualities. Intersex people have sex characteristics that do not fit the female-male binary. These characteristics may or may not be visible and they may or may not be recognized at the time of birth. In some cases, people do not know they are intersex until puberty when changes in their bodies alert them. For example, a person assigned female at birth may notice the growth of
MARY DECROCE, executive director of Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA), David DeCroce and Jhenea Gooden, work on a rainbow mosaic crosswalk the arts centre painted for Pride Month next to the town green on Main Street in Southington, Conn., on June 1. Cameron Johnson, of Southington, watches as the crosswalk nears completion. (Dave Zajac/Record-Journal via AP)
facial hair or experience pain caused by undescended testes. Only upon consulting a doctor does this person learn that they were incorrectly assigned female at birth and they are actually intersex Other LGBTQ+ identities include asexuals (people who are not sexually attracted to others or have low or not desire for sexual activity) and pansexuals (people who are attracted to people of any gender). What should aspiring allies do during Pride? During Pride Month, pay attention to what is happening around you, what is being said, and what is being left unsaid. What were the responses of your family members, friends, coworkers, religious leaders, social media contacts, and radio hosts when the Pride flag was raised at the U.S. Embassy on June 1? Do they support the LGBTQ+ community or not? Did they choose to focus on who did it rather than why it was done and who it was for? Based on their reactions, do they value the lives of LGBTQ+ people? By paying attention to what people say, you find out what they believe. You find out what they are willing to do, and for whom. Are they people you want to support and be in relationships with? Allyship is about taking action. It is not sitting quietly, thinking, “Wow, that’s terrible.” It is using your privilege,
as one of the people who is not directly impacted by hostility against LGBTQ+ people, to challenge other people’s positions and stop them from spreading hate. You may not be able to change their minds, but you can let them know you do not think the same way and show those around you that there are other ways—much better ways—of thinking and behaving. Remember there are people around you who are LGBTQ+ without you knowing, and they observe your actions. Make sure your actions make them feel loved, valued, and protected. During Pride, many businesses take advantage of the news coverage and the focus on the LGBTQ+ community by selling Pride merchandise. They may even offer Pride discounts. While they may seem well-meaning, it is most likely that they are focusing on the bottom line. Similar to the pinkwashing during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, many businesses use LGBTQ+ people and the month dedicate to the community to make money without giving anything back. When you see those rainbow ads and Pride hashtags, find out where the proceeds are going. Ask businesses what they are doing to support the community. If the answer is nothing, it is exploitation and another example of the commercialization
and co-opting of causes while ignoring the needs of vulnerable communities. Listen to what people are saying. Interrupt hateful, dangerous, violent commentary. Share accurate information. Challenge businesses and others who try to co-opt movements and causes to do something that would have a positive impact for the LGBTQ+ community (and not their image or revenue). Insist that LGBTQ+ people are recognized as people who have human rights that need to be protected. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Children of God. This 2010 film was written and directed by Bahamian Kareem Mortimer. At the micro level, it centres the relationship of two Bahamian men. At the macro level, it portrays the hostility against LGBTQ+ people in The Bahamas. It has won over a dozen awards. 2. Follow Equality Bahamas on social media. The organization usually celebrates Pride in July, but it is starting early this year. Stay tuned to learn more about LGBTQ+ people, Pride, and what we need governments, nongovernmental organizations, and members of the public to do to protect and expand the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Pride is not just a celebration, but an opportunity to highlight issues and demand change.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 16, 2021, PAGE 9
TECHTALK WANT A JOB? EMPLOYERS SAY: TALK TO THE COMPUTER
BEHIND IN QUANTUM COMPUTER RACE, GERMANY GETS BOOST FROM IBM BERLIN (AP) — IBM on Tuesday unveiled one of Europe’s most powerful quantum computers in Germany, boosting the country’s efforts to stay in the race for what’s considered a key technology of the future. Quantum computers use subatomic particles to get around the limitations of traditional physics and perform calculations at far higher speeds than even the fastest existing supercomputers. While this was long seen as the preserve of arcane research, companies are
increasingly hoping to harness quantum computers to develop new materials, drugs or artificial intelligence applications. The new IBM system is the company’s first quantum computer outside of the United States, where it already has more than 30 such computers. It is located at a facility in Ehningen operated by Germany’s Fraunhofer Society research organization. Speaking by video link at the official launch, German Chancellor
THE FIRST commercially used quantum computer is presented at the IBM company’s German headquarters in Ehningen, Germany. IBM on Tuesday unveiled one of Europe’s most powerful quantum computers in Germany, boosting the country’s effort to stay in the race for what’s considered a key technology of the future. (Bernd Weissbrod/ dpa/dpa via AP) Angela Merkel said quantum computing would play a key role in the country’s efforts to retain “technological and digital sovereignty” while also providing a motor for economic growth. “Of course, we’re not alone in the world with such ideas,” she said. “ The United States and China in particular are investing large sums.” Merkel said her government had recently decided to increase its funding for quantum computing research by 2 billion euros ($2.4
billion) over the coming five years. “The rest of the world isn’t sleeping in this field,” said the 66-year-old, who was a quantum chemist in East Germany before entering politics. IBM said the system in Ehningen can handle 27 quantum bits, or qubits, simultaneously. But Martin Jetter, the company’s chairman for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said IBM aims to have a stable quantum computer capable of handling more than 1,000 qubits by 2023.
SCIENTISTS HAIL GOLDEN AGE TO TRACE BIRD MIGRATION WITH TECH
By CHRISTINA LARSON AP SCIENCE WRITER
TAKOMA PARK, Md. (AP) — A plump robin wearing a tiny metal backpack with an antenna hops around a suburban yard in Takoma Park, then plucks a cicada from the ground for a snack. Ecologist Emily Williams watches through binoculars from behind a bush. On this clear spring day, she’s snooping on his dating life. “Now I’m watching to see whether he’s found a mate,” she said, scrutinising his interactions with another robin in a nearby tree. Once the bird moves on at season’s end, she’ll rely on the backpack to beam frequent location data to the Argos satellite, then back to Williams’ laptop, to track it. The goal is to unravel why some American robins migrate long distances, but others do not. With more precise information about nesting success and conditions in breeding and wintering grounds, “we should be able to tell the relative roles of genetics versus the environment in shaping why birds migrate,” said Williams, who is based at Georgetown University. Putting beacons on birds is not novel. But a new antenna on the International Space Station and receptors on the Argos satellite, plus the shrinking size of tracking chips and batteries, are allowing scientists to remotely monitor songbird movements in much greater detail than ever before. “We’re in a sort of golden age for bird research,” said Adriaan Dokter, an ecologist at Cornell University who is not directly involved with
AN ARGOS satellite tag is seen on the back of an American robin in Silver Springs, Md. (AP Photo/ Carolyn Kaster)
Williams’ study. “It’s pretty amazing that we can satellitetrack a robin with smaller and smaller chips. Ten years ago, that was unthinkable.” The device this robin is wearing can give precise locations, within about 30 feet (about 10 metres), instead of around 125 miles (200 kilometres) for previous generations of tags. That means Williams can tell not only whether the bird is still in the city, but on which street or backyard. Or whether it’s flown from the Washington, D.C., suburbs to land on the White House lawn. A second new tag, for only the heaviest robins, includes an accelerometer to provide information about the bird’s movements; future versions may also measure humidity and barometric pressure. These Icarus tags work with a new antenna on the International Space Station. That antenna was first turned on about two years ago, “but there were some glitches with the power-supply and the computer, so we had to bring it down again with a Russian rocket, then
transport it from Moscow to Germany to fix it,” said Martin Wikelski, director of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, whose scientific team is honing the technology. After “the usual troubleshooting for space science,” the antenna was turned back on this spring. As researchers deploy precision tags, Wikelski envisions the development of “an ‘Internet of animals’ — a collection of sensors around the world giving us a better picture of the movement of life on the planet.” The American robin is an iconic songbird in North America, its bright chirp a harbinger of spring. Yet its migratory habits remain a bit mysterious to scientists. “It’s astounding how little we know about some of the most common songbirds,” said Ken Rosenberg, a conservation scientist at Cornell University. “We have a general idea of migration, a range map, but that’s really just a broad impression.” An earlier study Williams worked on showed some robins are long-distance migrants — flying more
than 2,780 miles (4,480 km) between their breeding area in Alaska and winter grounds in Texas — while others hop around a single backyard most of the year. What factors drive some robins to migrate, while others don’t? Does it have to do with available food, temperature fluctuations or success in mating and rearing chicks? Williams hopes more detailed data from satellite tags, combined with records of nesting success, will provide insights, and she’s working with partners who are tagging robins in Alaska, Indiana and Florida for a three-year study. Scientists have previously put GPS-tracking devices on larger raptors, but the technology has only recently become small and light enough for some songbirds. Tracking devices must be less than 5% of the animal’s weight to avoid encumbering them.
Nets In a Silver Spring, Maryland, yard, Williams has unfurled nylon nets between tall aluminum poles. When a robin flies into the net, she delicately untangles the bird. Then she holds it in a “bander’s grip” — with her forefinger and middle finger loosely on either side of the bird’s neck, and another two fingers around its body. On a tarp, she measures the robin’s beak length, takes a toenail clipping and plucks a tail feather to gauge overall health. Then she weighs the bird in a small cup on a scale. This one is about 80 grammes, just over the threshold for
wearing the penny-sized Argos satellite tag. Williams fashions a makeshift saddle with clear jewelry cord looped around each of the bird’s legs. She then tightens the cord so the tag sits firmly on the bird’s back. When she opens her hand, the robin hops to the ground, then takes a few steps under a pink azalea shrub before flying off. In addition to providing very precise locations, the satellite tags transmit data that can be downloaded from afar onto Williams’ laptop. The data on older tags couldn’t be retrieved unless the same bird was recaptured the following year — a difficult and uncertain task. Wikelski hopes the new technology will help scientists better understand threats birds and other creatures face from habitat loss, pollution and climate change. “It is detective work to try to figure out why a population is declining,” said Ben Freeman, a biologist at the Biodiversity Research Centre at the University of British Columbia. Better information about migration corridors “will help us look in the right places.” A 2019 study co-written by Cornell’s Rosenberg showed that North America’s population of wild birds declined by nearly 30%, or 3 billion, since 1970. He said tracking birds will help explain why: “Where in their annual cycles do migratory birds face the greatest threats? Is it exposure to pesticides in Mexico, the clearing of rainforests in Brazil, or is it what people are doing in their backyards here in the U.S.?”
(AP) – Online services that interview job applicants remotely by webcam and use artificial intelligence to assess their skills mushroomed in popularity during the pandemic and into the subsequent economic recovery. But the technology raises questions about whether computers can accurately and fairly judge a person’s character traits and emotional cues. The dominant provider, HireVue, recently announced it would stop trying to read people’s facial expressions, but it still makes assessments based on an analysis of their speech and the words they choose. Some governments are pushing for more transparency to ensure the technology isn’t discriminating based on race, gender, accents and other factors.
ONLINE TOOL AIMS TO
INFORM WEST MAUI OF THREATENING WAVES
WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — University of Hawaii researchers have developed an online tool that will inform the public when waves are expected to threaten west Maui shorelines, an area particularly prone to coastal erosion as sea levels rise. The tool can forecast high sea levels and wave effects on 12 shoreline regions up to six days in advance, The Maui News reported. “Maybe you would avoid traveling on Honoapiilani Highway during a high wave event, or maybe you would avoid going to certain beaches with your family,” Tara Owens of the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program said during an online presentation Tuesday. A 2019 state Coastal Highway Program Report ranked two segments of Honoapiilani Highway in Lahaina among “critical” roads in the islands most susceptible to erosion and structural degradation. The Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System’s Wave Run-Up Forecast was developed by researchers in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii. Wave run-up is defined as the vertical reach of seawater on the land at any given time. When run-up levels are high, the risk for flooding and inundation increases. The tool tries to predict seasonal waves and king tide events, like the ones that are known to flood Honoapiilani Highway in Olowalu, or that wash over the Kaanapali Beach public walkway or erode Napili Bay. The forecast is not accurate when a tsunami, tropical storm or cyclone warnings are in effect, said Fiona Langenberger, communications and programme coordinator for the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System or PacIOOS. Martin Guiles, a post doctoral researcher, said west Maui is more at risk than other parts of Maui because a fringing reef system allows for more short-period waves. Combined with rising sea levels over the past couple of decades, he said this creates more opportunities for waves to “eat away at our shorelines.”
PAGE 10, Wednesday, June 16, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
BUOYED BY ALLIED SUMMITS, BIDEN READY TO TAKE ON PUTIN By AAMER MADHANI, JONATHAN LEMIRE AND ELLEN KNICKMEYER ASSOCIATED PRESS GENEVA (AP) — Fresh from supportive summits with allies, Joe Biden declared himself ready Tuesday to take on Russia’s Vladimir Putin in far more confrontational talks — a climactic finish to the most important week of meetings in his young presidency. Biden meets for his first talks as president with the Russian leader on Wednesday, in what’s expected to be roughly a half-day of discussions between the two leaders and aides behind closed doors. That’s after spending much of a weeklong European trip — the foreign policy highlight of his presidency so far — working to strengthen ties with like-minded partner nations in order to better deal with rivals Russia and China. A reporter soon after Biden’s arrival in Geneva on Tuesday shouted out a question on whether he was ready for Wednesday’s talks. “I am always ready,” Biden answered. The American leader reached Geneva following rounds of cordial elbow bumping, grinning photo sessions and close consultations with global leaders at the Group of Seven, NATO and U.S.-European Union summits. He secured a series of joint communiques expressing concern over Russia and China, and was at the EU on Tuesday to preside over the announcement of a breakthrough easing a long-running U.S. aircraft trade dispute with that bloc. As for Russia, the U.S. and the EU declared they “stand united in our principled approach” to the longtime rival, “ready to respond decisively to its repeating pattern of negative behaviour and harmful activities.” Biden’s European tour has aimed to restore U.S. partnerships that were damaged under former President Donald Trump, who openly invited what American intelligence services said was Russian interference in U.S. political campaigns, and who sought out Putin and other autocrats he saw as strong. In line with the chillyso-far Biden-Putin relationship — Putin’s government responded with indignation earlier this year after Biden said he considered the Russian a “killer” — the two men plan neither lunch nor dinner together, and no joint press conference after, in what’s expected to be their four to five hours together. That’s in contrast to this week’s G-7 session hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, where the allies and their spouses held a beach barbecue and round after round of “family photos.” According to a senior administration official granted anonymity to disclose internal discussions, Biden is hoping to find small areas of agreement with the Russian president, including potentially returning ambassadors to Washington and Moscow. That and other diplomatic issues, including the tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats and closure of consulates, will be high on the agenda for both sides. The U.S. ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, a rare holdover from the Trump administration, and Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to Washington, will both be in Geneva for the summit. The two men departed their posts earlier this year as part of what both Russia and the United States describe as an all-time low in the two countries’ relationship.
IN this photo from February, medical transporter Adrian Parrilla moves a patient into a COVID-19 unit at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Calif. Virtually every state is reporting surges in cases and deaths. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has topped 600,000, even as the vaccination drive has drastically slashed daily cases and deaths and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
US COVID-19 deaths hit 600,000, equal to its yearly cancer toll By JANIE HAR AND MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 600,000 on Tuesday, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer. The number of lives lost, as recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Baltimore or Milwaukee. It is about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019. Worldwide, the COVID-19 death toll stands at about 3.8 million. The milestone came the same day that California and New York lifted most of their remaining restrictions, joining other states in opening the way, step by step, for what could be a fun and close to normal summer for many Americans. “Deep down I want to rejoice,” said Rita Torres, a retired university administrator in Oakland, California. But she plans to take it slow: “Because it’s kind of like, is it too soon? Will we be sorry?” With the arrival of the vaccine in mid-December, COVID-19 deaths per day in the U.S. have plummeted to an average of around 340, from a high of over 3,400 in mid-January. Cases are running at about 14,000 a day on average, down from a quarter-million per day over the winter. The real death tolls in the U.S. and around the globe are thought to be
IN this photo from May 2020, tributes to lost love ones adorn a fence outside Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery where many victims of COVID-19 are buried in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) significantly higher, with many cases overlooked or possibly concealed by some countries. President Joe Biden acknowledged the approaching milestone Monday during his visit to Europe, saying that while new cases and deaths are dropping dramatically in the U.S., “there’s still too many lives being lost,” and “now is not the time to let our guard down.” The most recent deaths are seen in some ways as especially tragic now that the vaccine has become available practically for the asking. More than 50% of Americans have had at least one dose of vaccine, while over 40% are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But demand for shots in the U.S. has dropped
off dramatically, leaving many places with a surplus of doses and casting doubt on whether the country will meet Biden’s target of having 70% of American adults at least partially vaccinated by July 4. The figure stands at just under 65%. As of a week ago, the U.S. was averaging about 1 million injections per day, down from a high of about 3.3 million a day on average in mid-April, according to the CDC. At nearly every turn in the outbreak, the virus has exploited and worsened inequalities in the United States. CDC figures, when adjusted for age and population, show that Black, Latino and Native American people are two to three times more likely than whites to die of COVID-19. Also, an Associated Press analysis found that Latinos are dying at much younger
ages than other groups. Hispanic people between 30 and 39 have died at five times the rate of white people in the same age group. Overall, Black and Hispanic Americans have less access to medical care and are in poorer health, with higher rates of conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. They are also more likely to have jobs deemed essential, less able to work from home and more likely to live in crowded, multigenerational households. With the overall picture improving rapidly, California, the most populous state and the first to impose a coronavirus lockdown, dropped state rules on social distancing and limits on capacity at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms, stadiums and other places, ushering in what has been billed as its “Grand Reopening” just in time for summer. Disneyland is throwing open its gates to all tourists after allowing just California residents. Fans will be able to sit elbow-to-elbow and cheer without masks at Dodgers and Giants games. Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrated by hosting a drawing in which 10 people won $1.5 million each simply for being vaccinated. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 70% of adults in the state have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and he announced that the immediate easing of many of the restrictions will be celebrated with
fireworks. “What does 70% mean? It means that we can now return to life as we know it,” he said. He said the state is lifting rules that had limited the size of gatherings and required some types of businesses to follow cleaning protocols, take people’s temperature or screen them for COVID-19 symptoms. Businesses will no longer have to restrict how many people they can allow inside based on the 6-foot rule. For the time being, though, New Yorkers will have to keep wearing masks in schools, subways and certain other places. Massachusetts on Tuesday officially lifted a state of emergency that had been in effect for 462 days, though many restrictions had already been eased, including mask requirements and limits on gatherings. Republican lawmakers in Kansas decided to let a state of emergency expire Tuesday. And Maryland’s governor announced that the emergency there will end on July 1, with the state no longer requiring any masks. The first known deaths from the virus in the U.S. were in early February 2020. It took four months to reach the first 100,000 dead. During the most lethal phase of the disaster, in the winter of 2020-21, it took just over a month to go from 300,000 to 400,000 deaths. With the crisis now easing, it took close to four months for the U.S. death toll to go from a half-million to 600,000.
MILITARY DEFENDS JANUARY 6 RESPONSE AS HOUSE STEPS UP PROBES
By MARY CLARE JALONICK AND NOMAAN MERCHANT ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Army leader defended the Pentagon’s response to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, telling a House panel Tuesday that the National Guard was delayed for hours because they had to properly prepare for the deployment and that senior military leaders had determined beforehand that there was “no role for the U.S. military in determining the outcome of an American election.” Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt, the director of the Army staff, echoed comments from other senior military leaders about the perception of soldiers being used to secure the election process. He said the Pentagon wanted to be careful about their response in part because of concerns about military helicopters that had flown low over Washington streets during protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in the summer of 2020. It also took several hours for Guardsmen to be equipped and given a plan for how to secure a building overrun by hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump, Piatt said. “When people’s lives are on the line, two minutes is too long,” he said. “But we were not positioned to respond to that urgent request. We had to re-prepare so we would send them in prepared for this new mission.” Piatt’s testimony comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House will step up its investigations into the deadly insurrection. She said Tuesday that the House “can’t wait any longer” to do a comprehensive
A U.S. Capitol Police officer patrols the barricaded perimeter of the Capitol grounds in Washington, Monday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) investigation after Senate Republicans blocked legislation to create an independent commission. “Whether we have a commission today, tomorrow or the next day over in the Senate, or not, the work of the committees will be very important in what we’re seeking for the American people — the truth,” Pelosi said. One option under consideration is a select committee on the Jan. 6 attack, a setup that would put majority Democrats in charge. More than three dozen Republicans in the House and seven Senate Republicans wanted to avoid a partisan probe and supported the legislation to create an independent, bipartisan commission outside Congress. But those numbers weren’t strong enough to overcome GOP opposition in the Senate, where support from 1O Republicans is needed to pass
most bills. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has said he may hold a second vote after the legislation failed to advance last month, but there’s no indication that Democrats can win the necessary support from three additional Republicans. “We can’t wait any longer,” Pelosi said. “We will proceed.” Meanwhile, most Republicans are making clear that they want to move on from the Jan. 6 attack, brushing aside the many unanswered questions about the insurrection, including how the government and law enforcement missed intelligence leading up to the rioting and the role of Trump before and during the attack. The hearing Tuesday in the House Oversight and Reform Committee was to examine “unexplained delays and unanswered questions” about
the siege, with public testimony from Wray, Piatt, and Gen. Charles E. Flynn, who was previously Army deputy chief of staff. All three men were involved that day as the Capitol Police begged for backup. The National Guard did not arrive for several hours as police were overwhelmed and brutally beaten by the rioters. Piatt insisted that he did not deny or have the authority to deny Guard help during a call with former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who has previously said he believed Piatt and other Army leaders were concerned about the optics of soldiers surrounding the building. According to the Defense Department, military leadership approved activation of the full D.C. National Guard at 3:04 p.m., about 40 minutes after the call with Sund. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, the New York Democrat who chairs the committee, criticised Wray for not providing documents her staff had requested and asked him if he believed the FBI should be blamed for the law enforcement failures on Jan. 6. “Our goal is to bat 1.000 and any time there’s an attack, much less an attack as horrific and spectacular as what happened on Jan. 6, we consider that to be unacceptable,” Wray replied. Seven people died during and after the rioting, including a Trump supporter who was shot and killed as she tried to break into the House chamber and two police officers who died by suicide in the days that followed. A third officer, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, collapsed and later died after engaging with the protesters, but a medical examiner determined he died of natural causes.