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‘HE DESERVES MORE’ Kenyan awarded $640k for six years of illegal detention seeks higher compensation

DOUGLAS Ngumi pictured outside court previously. He was unlawfully imprisoned for six and a half years and is seeking $11m in compensation after previously being awarded $641,950.

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

KENYAN native Douglas Ngumi is challenging a Supreme Court ruling that awarded him over $640,000 in damages for his unlawful arrest, detention and inhumane treatment at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, arguing more compensation is needed for the wrongs committed against him.

Ngumi is asking the court to award him $11m in restitution for his unlawful six-and-a-half-year imprisonment at the local detention centre, where he suffered and endured numerous beatings at the hands of immigration officers following his arrest in 2011.

The Kenyan native testified in 2019, detailing his experience at the detention centre, revealing many

instances where he was severely beaten and also, how he contracted two diseases during his stay at CRDC. Last November, Justice Indra Charles awarded Mr Ngumi $386,000 in damages for false imprisonment, assault and battery, $50,000 in aggravated damages, $100,000 in exemplary damages, $105,000 in constitutional damages by way of compensation and vindication and $950 in special damages — equalling $641,950.

Mr Ngumi is being represented by Fred Smith, QC, and others in his appeal.

In court yesterday, Mr Smith asserted that the amount of damages awarded to his client was far below the mark and further argued that Justice Charles erred in her ruling in regard to several issues.

SEE PAGE THREE

D’AGUILAR SHRUGS OFF ‘FREEPORT’S AIRPORT COULD BE CARGO HUB’ CONTRACT QUESTIONS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has defended the government’s award of a no-bid contract to Kanoo Pays, an electronic retail payment provider, to process travel health visa payments.

The Progressive Liberal Party, which criticised the contract award during a

press conference yesterday, has highlighted the company’s association with Dr Nigel Lewis, the co-manager of the Free National Movement’s general election campaign.

In an interview this week, Mr D’Aguilar said the identity of those behind Kanoo was never considered when the company was selected to process visa payments, SEE PAGE FIVE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

ESTABLISHING Freeport as an air cargo transshipment hub could generate the extra income required to make its rebuild attractive to private capital and operators/developers, Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday.

Mr D’Aguilar said additional revenue streams beyond tourist and resident passenger traffic may be

AN AERIAL view of Freeport Harbour. needed to finance Grand Dorian-strength storms.

Bahama International Given Freeport’s US Airport’s $50-$60m rede- proximity, location on velopment into a facility trans-Atlantic aviation that can withstand future routes and existing status

BITCOIN TYCOON MCAFEE KILLS HIMSELF IN PRISON AMERICAN anti-virus software founder John McAfee, pictured, was found dead in his cell at a Barcelona prison in an apparent suicide, according to international reports.

The discovery came hours after Spanish officials agreed to extradite

him to the US to face tax evasion charges.

The 75-year-old founder of McAfee antivirus software had grabbed headlines locally for a series of wild tweets in which he made unsubstantiated claims of corruption against Bahamian officials.

SEE PAGE TWO

as a maritime transshipment hub via Freeport Container Port, he argued that the island’s main aviation gateway was ideally suited for investors looking for an alternative cargo hub to congested US airports.

Mr D’Aguilar said the returns sought by private developers, operators and financiers are typically dependent on fees generated by passenger and aviation traffic.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

AIRLINE WHICH VEERED OFF RUNWAY GIVEN WARNING

By TRIBUNE STAFF REPORTER AN American airline that operated a plane that skidded off the runway at Grand Bahama International Airport in October last year has been issued a warning by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In the incident, an

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

American Eagle plane travelling from Miami skidded off the runway, coming to a stop 15ft from the south side of it and damaging the rear landing gear. Two passengers were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The FAA has now issued a warning to Envoy Air, the largest regional carrier for SEE PAGE THREE

PAGE 2, Thursday, June 24, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

FIRE-HIT VENDORS WAIT FOR REPAIRS GO-AHEAD

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE association representing vendors at Potter’s Cay said stakeholders are awaiting officials from the Ministry of Works to sign off on plans to reconstruct stalls that were destroyed by fire earlier this year.

Ormanique Bowe, President of the Potter’s Cay Dock Fish, Fruit, and Vegetables Vendors Association, said there was a recent meeting with an official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources about the matter.

“They’re still waiting on the final signing off of the plan from the Ministry of Works,” she said. “As long as they get that final signature, the plans would be completed and ready to go for construction. They have two hold ups and the hold ups are the infrastructure by BPL and…Water and Sewerage.

“As soon as they get the okay from the Ministry of Works, BPL

and Water and Sewerage then they would have another meeting with us. What they’re trying to do is try to have meetings every two weeks to bring us up to date on what is going on.”

She also said: “The government, I suggested that they go ahead and they contracted out (the works) so all the stalls could be up and ready at the same time – completed to their satisfaction.”

She said the government wants to help the vendors that were affected by the April blaze that left six stalls completely burned to the ground and two others with damage.

“Actually, those stalls are not owned by the government—the property is owned by the government. The plot of cement that was left standing, that is the government property. “Vendors built those stalls themselves. It’s a disadvantage to the vendors because they could not get insurance because those stalls are labelled as hazardous,” she explained.

DAMAGE after the major fire at Potter’s Cay dock.

JOHN McAfee in a video he posted to Twitter claiming he brought 31 military firearms into The Bahamas in 2019.

BITCOIN TYCOON MCAFEE KILLS HIMSELF IN PRISON from page one In 2019, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle, who was acting deputy commissioner at the time, threatened to take action against the Bitcoin millionaire after the latter unleashed a tweet storm, making claims about corruption in the US government and among Bahamian officials.

Commissioner Rolle also said he did not know McAfee.

In 2020, McAfee alleged he had bribed a police officer in 2018 to secure weapons found on his yacht

at the time.

In response, police said all officials had acted appropriately in the 2018 incident and noted the weapons still remained in their custody at the time.

Police also maintained last year that no cash was exchanged between McAfee and “any of the Bahamian authorities” despite allegations saying otherwise.

McAfee had been declared a US fugitive over tax evasion.

He was also indicted in a New York court for allegedly bilking bitcoin investors out of millions of dollars.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 24, 2021, PAGE 3

‘He deserves more’ from page one

DOUGLAS NGUMI, pictured with Fred Smith QC outside Supreme Court previously.

Court documents filed by the appellant notes Justice Charles erred when determining the length of Ngumi’s detention at the facility and also when assessing the damages done to Ngumi, including exemplary damages, aggravated damages, constitutional damages by way of compensation and vindication and damages for false imprisonment.

In deciding on appropriate damages for Ngumi at the time, Justice Charles relied heavily on the case of Atain Takitota, a Japanese national who was arrested by immigration officers in 1992 and spent eight years in the maximum-security wing of the Fox Hill prison without charge.

Mr Takitota was awarded some $500,000 in damages in 2006 by the Court of Appeal.

However, Mr Smith said that the facts and circumstances surrounding the two cases were “vastly different,” though he agreed that both shared a long term of false imprisonment.

Still, notwithstanding the amount of damages awarded to Mr Takitota, Mr Smith said Bahamian authorities “continue in deliberate policy of unlawful arrest, falsely imprisoning and detaining people in inhumane and degrading conditions for days, weeks, months and years.”

He insisted that in Ngumi’s case, the damages awarded should have been notably higher than what was given, considering the deplorable conditions he endured while in immigration custody, and also to teach officials a lesson.

“Mr Ngumi was repeatedly and erroneously awarded very much reduced damages than he would otherwise be entitled to from principle,” Mr Smith said. “To continue to arrest and raid people indiscriminately and hold them ‘for immigration purposes’

AIRLINE WHICH VEERED OFF RUNWAY GIVEN WARNING from page one American Airlines, after one of its commuter jets was forced to divert after pilots found they were aimed at the wrong runway seconds before landing at an airport in Illinois.

According to American news agency CNN, the March 2020 incident is one of several instances of “alleged pilot error” included in a FAA letter sent to Envoy Air. CNN said it exclusively obtained the FAA document.

The news agency reported that the letter, which details the FAA’s findings from January, describes “‘consistent evidence showing potential lack of airmanship’, unsafe and poor piloting by multiple Envoy Air flight crews over the past two years”.

CNN said nine “concerning” incidents that took place from 2019 to 2020 are also spoken of in the letter written by FAA officials.

In an interview with CNN, FAA administrator

Steve Dickson said the probe is “based on data that we have been able to glean by working with the operator to identify where there might be areas of emerging risk that they need to focus on.”

According to the news agency, Mr Dickson also noted that the objective is to ensure that Envoy Air is not only following the necessary flight rules, but also “operating safely”.

Meanwhile, company representatives for Envoy Air told CNN that officials have been working with both the FAA and pilot union to “transparently and collaboratively examine the root cause of each potential issue and take any necessary corrective actions if needed.”

In the incident in October last year, earlier reports said the American Eagle aircraft experienced mechanical difficulties on the runway after landing shortly before noon, and skidded off the runway and came to a stop 15ft from the south side of it, damaging the rear landing gear.

THE AMERICAN Eagle plane after it slid off the runway in Grand Bahama.

or to arrest Mr Ngumi as they did and originally send him to the detention centre some years before because of the complaint by his wife and there was no offence committed has to be brought to a stop.

“The longer the detention in the circumstances which exist in the Bahamas, the greater should be the amount of the award.”

According to court documents, the appellants also argue that Justice Charles made an error when she failed to award damages for “torts of assault and battery “and indemnity costs.”

He also suggested that the figures do not send a strong message to Bahamian authorities and implored the court to use Ngumi’s case as an example to help discourage such unlawful practices in governmental agencies, which he said are becoming too frequent.

He also said there is a need for the country to implement its own system for awarding damages to ensure fairness and balance across the board.

“This nonsense has to stop,” Mr Smith argued. “Your lordships must use this case to send a message to the state and those running the state, Mr Carl Bethel and Mr Brent Symonette and whoever the ministers may be now that you cannot continue to do this with impunity.”

Meanwhile, the attorney representing the respondents in the matter, disagreed with Mr Smith’s arguments, insisting they did not believe the figure awarded was “so small” that it warranted a review by the Court of Appeal.

The respondents listed are Attorney General Carl Bethel, former Immigration Minister Brent Symonette, former Immigration Director William Pratt and Peter Joseph, the officer in charge of the CRDC. A ruling on the matter is expected at a later date.

POINTE ORDERED TO STOP WORK THAT CLOSED ROAD

PAGE 4, Thursday, June 24, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

TRAFFIC outside The Pointe yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Works Desmond Bannister said yesterday his ministry ordered staff at The Pointe to stop the work that resulted in the closure of Dorchester Street.

“Only the Minister of Public Works may lawfully close a road,” he told The Tribune.

“The works on Dorchester Street were not authorised

by the Ministry of Public Works. Accordingly, yesterday the ministry ordered that the said works be immediately stopped and the road reinstated.”

Workers installed steel poles on Dorchester Street earlier this week, blocking access to traffic. However, by yesterday afternoon the poles had been removed.

The $250m Pointe project is nearing completion. The project includes 141 ocean view condo

units, a 155-room hotel, a 40-slip marina, a parking garage, a water park and other amenities, including a spa, restaurants and movie theatres.

The Pointe is no stranger to controversy. Last year, Labour Minister Dion Folks said the government was “very disappointed” over the disproportionate ratio of Bahamians to non-Bahamians who were employed at the development at the time.

He said: “I think the

percentages are around 30-70 in favour of non-Bahamians. It is supposed to be the exact opposite. We have been in talks with management at The Pointe.

Their explanation is they have some 22 Bahamian subcontractors working at The Pointe and they are including those employees as part of the Bahamian component.

“We are sitting down with them, we are talking to them.

We did a survey as early as last week. It is not something that

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP FOR PHYSICIAN EXECUTIVES PROGRAM GRADUATE, DR. BRENDAN FRANCIS, to SERVE As a CONSULTANT for MEDICAL/HEALTH CARE PREPARATION INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS APPLICATION PROGRAMS for ORGANIZATION with SEVERAL AMERICAN and CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES’ PARTNERSHIPS Harvard Medical School Leadership for Physician Executives Program Graduate, who was admitted into Harvard Medical School PostGraduate Association, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Dr. Brendan Francis, will serve as a Consultant for several American/Canadian Medical/Health Care International Admissions Application Preparation Programs at Bahamas National Hall of Fame’s Most Versatile Track Athlete Inductee’s Garden, The Oscar Francis International Education and Sports Christian Garden, Oakes Field, Nassau, Bahamas. Dr. Brendan Francis, who was recognized as a Designated Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, United Kingdom, was honored by the Bahamas Medical Association in 2003 as a Most Outstanding Junior Physician of Dr. Brendan Francis The Year. At the age of 17 years, Dr. Francis made The Bahamas proud in Miami, Florida, when he was named Freshman of The Year for Pre-Medicine at Barry University, where he was later selected by Sister John Karen Frie for Barry University Florida’s Hall of Honor of Outstanding Science Graduates. He graduated from the University of West Indies Medical School, Mona Campus, Jamaica, and ST. Augustine’s College, Nassau, Bahamas, with 8 GCE British O’Levels.

Dr. Brendan Francis is excited to serve under the leadership of his sister, Bridgette Francis-Ingraham, who is the First Bahamian to be bestowed with International Partnerships by several American and Canadian Universities at the same time. Bridgette Francis-Ingraham serves as President of Bridgette Francis International College Planning and Consulting Firm at The Oscar Francis International College Planning and Consulting Firm, Oakes Field, Nassau, Bahamas. Bridgette FrancisIngraham was recognized as One of the Leaders of the World for the Field of the Internationalization of Higher Education at New Jersey’s Montclair State University, which is ranked as One of the Top 100 Major Public Universities throughout the United States of America.

For more information, please feel free to call Bridgette Francis International College Planning and Consulting Firm at (242) 323-6901 or e-mail bridgettefrancis@hotmail.com.

we are pleased with.

“Their figures conflict with our figures and it is something we are trying to work out.

“Their argument is that depending on where you come and depending on what the project is the Bahamian component is much higher.

“For example they are doing their swimming pools right now.”

Attempts to reach officials at The Pointe for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.

TEENAGER CHARGED WITH RAPE AND ARMED ROBBERY

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A THIRD teenager was charged yesterday with the rape and armed robbery of a 47-year-old woman.

Calvin Bain, 18, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney charged with both offences two days after William Dean, 18, and a 16-year-old boy were arraigned on the same matter.

Prosecutors alleged the teens engaged in sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent, before using a handgun to rob her of her $250 Samsung phone on June 16.

According to initial police reports, sometime around 5am on the morning in question, a woman was walking on Mackey Street

when she was accosted by three males, one of whom was armed with a firearm.

Police said the culprits robbed the woman of cash and personal items before taking her to the rear of a vacant building, where they allegedly sexually assaulted her.

After the alleged incident, police said they were aware of a video circulating on social media showing three males tied up, who appeared bloody, being interrogated by other individuals about an alleged assault.

Due to the nature of the offences, Bain, like his coaccused, was not required to enter a plea and his case was adjourned to August 9 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

He was remanded into custody until that time.

SUSPECT DETAINED AFTER POLICE STATION ESCAPE A SUSPECT is back in custody after escaping from Central Police Station on Tuesday, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle confirmed last night.

However, he did not provide further details on the matter, saying it is under investigation.

“I am aware that a prisoner escaped from Central Police Station last evening (Tuesday),” Commissioner Rolle said in response to questions from The Tribune via WhatsApp. “He is back in custody.”

Asked for more details on the incident, he said: “I don’t have any further details. The matter is being investigated internally and I will be advised when that is completed.”

In May 2020, a man who was being questioned by

police in connection to an armed robbery investigation escaped from the Carmichael Road Police Station, police said at the time.

The year before, a prisoner escaped from the Department of Correctional Services, but was captured and returned to the Fox Hill compound a short time later, officials said.

In early 2016, murder convict Ormand Leon escaped a police bus taking him to the correctional facility causing an islandwide police manhunt. Leon was captured two weeks after his escape.

A few suspects, including an accused murderer, escaped police custody at Princess Margaret Hospital in 2012.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 24, 2021, PAGE 5

Bethel: No change in citizenship law

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel stressed yesterday the law has not changed regarding citizenship despite the Court of Appeal affirming a landmark ruling.

Mr Bethel told the Senate people were showing up at government departments demanding voter’s cards based on the judgement, however he said the Minnis administration will uphold the status quo until the matter is decided in the Privy Council.

However, leader of opposition business in the Senate, Fred Mitchell interjected and said the Court of Appeal’s ruling should be interpreted as the law of the land until the government applies for a stay of the ruling.

On Monday, the Court of Appeal upheld an historic Supreme Court ruling that children born out of wedlock to foreign women and Bahamian men are automatically citizens, regardless of the nationality of the mother.

Before this, the government had sought to appeal a ruling by Supreme Court Justice Ian Winder handed down in May 2020 over the true interpretation of Article 6 of the Constitution.

The appellate ruling, which came in a three to two decision, has dismissed the government’s appeal and awarded costs to the respondents.

“Madam President, I now have to address another

CARL BETHEL QC, Attorney General.

He said there is no posissue that is arising,” Senator Bethel said in the Senate. sibility of a change, at least “We all know that there was until September when the the recent decision of the House of Assembly meets Court of Appeal by a three to again and also said there is two majority on the question no likelihood that there will be any change at all without of the right to citizenship.

“I am now advised that a definitive ruling from the persons are presenting Privy Council.

“If that ruling goes a certhemselves, as of yesterday and even today, at the Par- tain way, we would have liamentary Registration to deal with whatever the Department demanding the consequences are,” he conright to be registered to vote. tinued. “Until that time, This is my information. Let the matter is a contested me say as I said to the press issue and we would urge yesterday, this did not make all persons who would the remarks in the newspaper wish to have the benefit but thankfully it got covered of a judgement before the from the former Attorney matter is settled as law to General Sean McWeeney hold off and wait for the final court’s verdict on this saying the same thing.

“I said that if we were to matter because the law has lose at the Privy Council at not changed.

“So for example, one that time we would then be required to make changes cannot prove paternity for to domestic law. In other the purpose of claiming citiwords, nothing has changed zenship based on the Status as a result of the ruling, of Children’s Act because because the matter is still the Status of Children’s a matter of contest. One of Act specifically states that the things that is required it is not to be used in deteris, of course, that we would mining any question of go to the Privy Council for citizenship. That is the law the matter to be settled, but of the Bahamas and it has pending that, there is no not changed.”

He advised people who change in Bahamian law.”

fall in the category in question to be patient and also that government agencies understand what is going on.

“I would advise all those persons who are seeking to avail themselves of the ruling of the Court of Appeal to be patient,” Senator Bethel said. “Let us await the full determination of the highest court in the land which the matter is now being referred and we will see the final statement as to what Bahamian constitutional law is on this matter will be when the Privy Council issues its ruling.

“Until that time, I advise calm and patience. And, I also advise all arms of the government that the law affecting citizenship for persons born out of wedlock to a Bahamian man has not changed because the Status of the Children’s Act still is not to be used and cannot be used for the purpose of determining a right to citizenship.

“If the Privy Council were to rule in favour of the applicants being the government of The Bahamas, there will be no change to the law. If they were to rule otherwise, at that point there would have to be changes in domestic law.

Those changes have not yet been made, so please, I advise all government agencies to obey Bahamian law in this matter.”

Just then Senator Mitchell was on his feet with his interpretation of the Court of Appeal’s ruling and challenged the attorney general.

“My understanding of the Court of Appeal Act is that once the Court of Appeal pronounces that is actually the law of the Bahamas until the government takes a step to stay. Correctly speaking, the law changed when the Court of Appeal ruled,” Mr Mitchell said.

Mr Bethel responded, “Unfortunately the statute law has not changed.

The issue is there is an entitlement … that’s an entitlement to apply or you are entitled at birth, according to the Court of Appeal’s ruling, but the law has not changed.

“We have not yet changed the statute law of the Bahamas and that law will continue to prevail until such time that the law is clarified. We are, on the attorney general’s side, taking steps right now to apply for a stay and also make our application to the Privy Council.

“These things have to be done in a measured way and in a lawful way. And, we are taking steps to do them on the basis of urgency.”

However, Mr Mitchell insisted on his point.

“I thought the case was about Article 6 and the interpretation of the parents,” Senator Mitchell said. “So once the court pronounces that parent, meaning either parent, then the law changes because the Court of Appeal binds every other court.”

Senator Bethel responded, “So how do you prove that someone is a parent? If they are a male

then it’s through the DNA test and under the Status of Children’s Act that cannot be used for the purposes of citizenship at this time.”

Senator Mitchell interrupted Senator Bethel saying, “But with respect, the Status of Children’s Act will not apply because as soon as the court pronounces, unless there is a stay, it changes automatically. Until you get a stay then he is a Bahamian citizen.

“It changes automatically. All you need is the fellow from Grand Bahama to rush up the road and say ‘you are a citizen.’ So I say act quickly if that’s what you need to do. Do it and do it quickly.

“Once the court says Article 6 has changed the law the parent means parent whether married or otherwise, the law has changed and a person can go to the Passport Office and get a passport. So you need to get a stay. You have to get a stay. I just want to make that clear,” Mr Mitchell said.

Senator Bethel noted that his office was in fact applying for a stay. He assured Senator Mitchell that he understood what he was saying, but insisted that the law had not changed.

Senator Mitchell insisted otherwise and said people are now entitled to their certificate of citizenship.

Meanwhile Senator Bethel resigned himself to the fact that they both disagreed on the subject and asked that they move on.

D’AGUILAR SHRUGS OFF CONTRACT QUESTIONS from page one

adding that the company’s fees are in line with other electronic payment providers and the quality of its services is high.

“I don’t know why all this attention is being brought to Kanoo,” he said.

Both Free National Movement and Progressive Liberal Party administrations have issued no-bid or closed-bid contracts for the sake of expediency even though this can often invite scrutiny when connections between company representatives and governing parties are uncovered.

In addition to the travel health visa, Kanoo has received at least two other government contracts in recent months: a threeyear contract to implement an e-payment system for family courts and a twoyear contract with the Department of Social Services to provide digital assistance to its clientele. It is not clear whether those contracts were awarded through a competitive bid process or not. Government officials have not responded to The Tribune’s questions on that and Kanoo declined to provide details yesterday.

“Today, we don’t want to go into any specifics regarding contracts and the amounts,” Kanoo said.

“We embrace the government’s procurement process, which encourages

competitive bidding and tendering of projects. We are confident of our technology and capabilities. We are prepared to stand toe to toe with anyone in an open process based on any company’s capabilities. And we believe that we will meet or exceed any of the requirements put forward as we have done in the past. As we have in our previous engagements with government and private sectors, we welcome very vigorous scrutiny related to capabilities. We look forward to being as competitive and engaging in robust competition in the future openly and transparently.”

During a press conference yesterday, PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis accused the Minnis administration of helping FNM insiders with its contract awards.

Dr Lewis, meanwhile, said his lawyers are preparing a statement for public release, though the statement did not come before press time.

In a likely reference to Cash N’ Go, a money transfer company owned by PLP Deputy Leader Chester Cooper, Dr Lewis said observers should “speak to who owns some of these platforms that deal with government business, places where you can go and pay for your electricity and water. They should start off there to see who they are and what they are.”

The Ministry of Tourism, meanwhile, suggested in a statement that the decision to impose fees for the visa was made late in the process of developing a website where people could upload their COVID-19 tests, and that by then it would have been unrealistic to launch an RFP process because the site was scheduled to go live in five days.

The ministry said the fees were imposed to pay for the rapid antigen test residents were mandated to take, the health insurance visitors were required to have while in the county and to cover the start-up costs associated with the website along with other operational costs.

The ministry said Kanoo is an established payment provider that worked with the Ministry of Tourism’s online software developer before.

Kanoo, the ministry said, receives service fees of 1.5 percent per transaction for the travel health visa system.

“It’s not a massive amount of money,” Mr D’Aguilar told The Tribune earlier this week.

“Kanoo, based on you asking the questions, I called up the chap. I don’t know who the shareholders are but I’ve been made to believe that they are ten young black Bahamian men who are all under the age of 45 who got together in 2016 and decided to form Kanoo.

They launched their business in 2019 and I think they’re doing a very good job. I understand they just won the bid to provide the wallets for sand-dollar so it shows they are technically capable to provide the services. The only thing anyone could ever have an issue with is the fee and the fee is very much in line with what fees are being charged by other government agencies for this.

“I don’t know the politics of these ten young men. I don’t have a clue. In fact, I’ve never heard of half of them.”

The Ministry of Tourism rebuffed claims that Kanoo is “holding and controlling

the funds earned by the travel health visa.”

“The commentators clearly do not understand how these electronic payment providers operate, nor do they understand the merchant processing relationship that is established once these types of arrangements are agreed upon,” the ministry said. “Consistent with all the other similar arrangements, the providers hold the funds temporarily before they are remitted to the government.”

The ministry said funds that are earned are deposited into an account the company shares with the ministry and that the account is at all times

controlled and monitored by the ministry’s accounting department.

The ministry said up to March 31, 2021, $2.4 million surplus funds have been received from the visa system. Revenues were $9.8 million and expenses were $7.4 million.

“Some 82 percent of the revenue was paid by visitors and 18 percent was paid by returning citizens and residents and domestic travellers,” the ministry said. “Sixty-five percent of the expenses covered the cost of health insurance and 30 percent of the expenses covered the cost of administering the rapid antigen test.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, June 24, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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A long legacy of illegal detention THE question of the illegal treatment of Douglas Ngumi is not at issue. He was locked up for six and a half years illegally – that’s already been ruled on in court. The Bahamas illegally imprisoned him.

During his time in detention, he says he was severely beaten and contracted two diseases. He said as much in testimony to the court.

How much is that worth?

Previously, the Supreme Court awarded him a little over $640,000. He is now challenging that and asking for $11m in restitution.

The previous award ends up giving Mr Ngumi about $100,000 for every year he was locked up.

This is far from the first case where someone has been illegally imprisoned.

Indeed, Mr Ngumi’s settlement is largely based on that awarded to another man imprisoned unlawfully. In 1992, Atain Takitota, a Japanese man, was arrested and then spent eight years in the maximum security wing of Fox Hill prison without charge. He was awarded just $500,000 in 2006.

We have seen other cases too, such as Matthew Sewell – and just this year, the government didn’t even have an answer for the court for why it detained seven asylum seekers who had fled from persecution in Cameroon. They were also released.

Why does this keep happening? Certainly, it seems that financial awards such as those to Mr Takitota or to Mr Ngumi are not serving as enough of a rap on the knuckles to make administrations think again.

Part of Mr Ngumi’s compensation was $100,000 given as exemplary damages.

That’s the amount that is meant to serve as a deterrent. For depriving someone of their liberty for so long, that hardly seems much of a deterrent at all.

This was a man who could not build a life of his own in that time. He could not live a family life, he could not build a career, he could not travel – all of that was snatched away, illegally.

How much would you value your own liberty at? If you had more than six years of your life taken away from you, how much would you ask in compensation?

For any person treated in this way, it is deeply unfair. It is even worse that as a society, this kind of thing keeps happening over and over again.

There seems to have been no consequences than a payout. No disciplinary measures appear to have been invoked.

No officers have been punished for the illegal detention. There seems little interest in dealing with the claims of brutality and abuse in the detention centre.

Some may say the price being asked

by Mr Ngumi is high – but it is not nearly so high as the cost to our reputation and our claims of being a Christian nation as failing to stop these incidents from happening over and over again.

Contract clarity

A row has emerged this week about the appointment of a company called Kanoo Pays to process travel health visa payments.

The ruckus is because the company, which received the contract without needing to bid, is associated with Dr Nigel Lewis. Dr Lewis is the co-manager of the Free National Movement’s general election campaign. The Progressive Liberal Party has promptly cried foul.

Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar is holding his hands up in innocence, and saying he doesn’t know who the shareholders are or their politics.

The speed with which there was a need to find a payment process company meant there couldn’t be a traditional competitive process, his ministry says.

It is fair to scrutinise to ensure that process. All manner of companies have people linked in one way or another to politics in Bahamian society, but it is always best to be clear about how a decision was made so as to dispel any doubts.

It is, however, incredibly bold of the PLP to throw rocks from within their own glasshouse given some of the problems with contracts under their last administration. Do we need to point to such cases as the fire at BAMSI where no insurance was in place, for example?

Whichever party is in power, there should be no suggestion of contracts for political sympathies – and for all the talk about transparency when it comes to the election trail, that is something that should be in place for all our sakes, regardless of who the next government might be.

We must stop import of firearms EDITOR, The Tribune.

It is recorded that last year the United States reported more than 20,000 murders – the highest total since 1995 and 4,000 more than in 2019.

Every reason under under the sun is given for the escalation — every reason, except the obvious - too many guns! Not only too many guns, but the idea that every American’s constitutional right is the possession of a gun. And, of course, the strong and prosperous gun entrepreneurs will never let an American forget his inalienable right to own a firearm.

Here in The Bahamas, no one by law is allowed to own a gun without a police permit

and yet, there are still too many guns on the streets — undoubtedly all unlicensed— in the hands of many Bahamians — all thanks to the ease of purchase in the US and the Bahamian’s obvious ability to smuggle them in.

The Bahamian can purchase as many guns as they want in the US, their ingenuity is tested as to how they sneak them into the Bahamas.

In the United States they wring their hands over the increase in murders — generally the result of a shooting — but they talk, and talk, and more talk about solutions, but never is there a mention of the urgent need for restrictions on gun possession — the

obvious culprit!

It is a shame that they can’t see the obvious. As a result the Bahamas also suffers, because of unlicensed gun possession – although if caught can get the owner a stint in jail –many Bahamians still find ways to smuggle them in — hence the increase in gun violence on our own streets.

I just pray that one day Americans will see the light and and introduce laws to control gun possession in their own country, and Bahamian Customs will step up their inspection for gun importation by Bahamians.

A DISTRESSED BAHAMIAN Nassau, June 20, 2021

Impulse to seek power EDITOR, The Tribune.

MANY decades ago a noted English political philosopher, Bertrand Russell, penned several essays relative to political power and why men and women could very well throw their parents, et al, under a bus to achieve it. These essays were eventually combined into a book that he titled: “Power”. During the long parliamentary recess (in the midst of the ongoing pandemic and a wobbly economy) I would urge all current members of the House and the senate, along with those who are seeking elective or appointed office, to read it.

In politics, some enter it with the genuine belief and conviction that they want to make a difference in the lives of their prospective constituents. Others, a majority in my view, enter to get political and economic power over the unwashed masses. There are no grey areas, again in my view.

Russell wrote: “Between man and other animals there are various differences, some intellectual, some emotional.” Animals of the so-called lower nature are motivated by the need for food and reproductive activities. The necessity of shelter or gainful employment are not a part of their lot. Not so, however, with man. Yes, food and sex play a vital role, but the ordinary man seeks more. He will often seek wealth and then power or in the reverse....power then wealth.

He went on to opine that: “What we need for lasting happiness is impossible for human beings; only God

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net can have complete bliss for His is the kingdom; the power and the glory.

Earthly kingdoms are limited by other kingdoms; earthly power is cut short by death; earthly glory, though we build pyramids or be married to immortal verse, fades away with the passing of centuries. To those who have but little of power and glory, it may seem that a little bit more would satisfy them, but in this they are mistaken; these desires are insatiable and infinite and only in the infinitude of God could they find repose.”

From the creation days man wanted to be God. Nothing much has changed from then to now. Power is a powerful phenomenon.

Here in The Bahamas the PM now wields almost unlimited power under the provisions of the Emergency Powers Act and regulations thereunder.

At the stroke of a pen Minnis is able to shut down businesses; churches; weddings; funerals’ repasts; the beaches and impose, as he sees fit. His edict is law and is enforceable by the armed forces and the judiciary.

No other PM has ever had such sweeping powers. This has been the case since last year March and is slated to continue down into August of this year, if as the learned AG says: “Bahamians behave”!

Russell also opined that: Of the infinite desires of man, the chief are the desires for power and glory.

Theses are not identical, though closely allied; a

Prime Minister has more power than glory, the king has more glory than power.

As a rule, however, the easiest way to obtain glory is to win power; this is especially true as regards men who are active in public life or events.” This is why each electoral season we see persons in hand-to-hand combat, politically, seeking entry into the halls of power. This applies to most of our home grown politicians across the board.

Minnis may have the power but there is little chance that he will ever achieve the elusive glory.

Recall for a moment, if you will, that brother Christie also had the power, but today, less than four years after he was obliged to demit office and the power that went with it, he is seldom talked abought or sought after. His power is gone and there is no lingering glory.

Yes, Minnis now has almost unlimited power and is actively seeking the means to bring glory to his name and that of the FNM. I am almost certain the 70% of those who will be offering are seeking naked power and a little bit of that elusive glory. In the main they are already financially secure and comfortable. So what are they seeking? I submit that they are seeking, primarily, power to impact other people and to manipulate them wherever and whenever possible. In all things, however, always remember that only God has the automatic power and, for sure only He has the lasting glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, June 23 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Witness tells court that suspect visited his nightclub

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A RETIRED petty officer yesterday testified how Able Seaman Jevon Seymour stopped by his nightclub on the morning Petty Officer Percival Perpall was shot dead at Government House.

Seymour is charged with the shooting death of PO Perpall, along with the attempted murders of Marine Seamen Calvin Hanna and Ellis Rahming.

According to reports, the three men were attacked while on duty at Government House when a lone assailant entered their guardroom and opened fire on them around 2.30am on April 28, 2019.

Seymour has maintained his not guilty plea during his trial before Senior Justice Bernard Turner.

A day after the accused chose to enter the witness box and give evidence under oath, his final witness took the stand.

Retired Petty Officer Steve Brown said he recalled when Seymour drove his car to his nightclub around 3.20am on the morning in question, to ask him if he was closed. He said he told the accused he was “closed for the night” and that he would have to come back the next day.

He also said he was locking the doors of his club when Seymour approached and claimed he had a video recording of the accused “pulling” up to his club and opening his car door to speak with him.

When he was cross-examined by prosecutor Terry Archer, Mr Brown said

he had known Seymour for about 10-12 years, although he “did not work with him directly”.

He also said he did not know where Seymour was between 2am and 2.30am on the morning in question.

After Mr Archer suggested he and Seymour were friends, Mr Brown stated he was also friends with PO Perpall.

When asked why he didn’t report the information he knew to police at the time of the incident, Mr Brown said he spoke to “Defence Force intelligence” concerning the matter.

During his testimony, Petty Officer Atama Bowe said he was at a Carnival function on April 28, 2019.

He said he had a sky box at the concert and invited Seymour and some other officers to his section for a few cocktails.

When Seymour took the stand on Wednesday, he said he left his home to attend a Valley Boys Junkanoo party at the Farm around 11pm on April 27, 2019.

He said it was a “celebration all night” and people were “drinking and smoking cigars.” He also said he had a WhatsApp status video of himself “chilling and enjoying” himself at the Farm around 1.30am on the morning in question.

Seymour claimed he had left the Junkanoo party around 2.30am with his coworker Marine Seaman Percentie to head to a soca concert at Breezes resort.

He said he ended up seeing two of his co-workers in a skybox at the event and joined them for a “few more drinks”.

The court was told that

$10,000 TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS

FROM left, Keyron Smith, chief project officer, OEF; Yolanda Pawar, chief communications officer, OEF; Michelle Outten, third place winner; student Charvette Strachan; student Tate Bethel; Lynette Ferguson, second place winner; Davinia Cartwright-Vanhorn, winner; Shaun Ingraham, CEO and president, OEF. THREE aspiring agriculture entrepreneurs have been awarded a total of $10,000 in grant funding in the One Eleuthera Foundation’s “Seed to Succeed” business pitch competition, held on June 9.

This second instalment of the competition was offered to students at the Learn and Earn Hydroponics Programme offered through the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) in Rock Sound. Students had to create and pitch hydroponics business.

The event was organised by OEFSEA, One Eleuthera Foundation’s Social Enterprise Accelerator with grant funding provided through partnerships with the TK Foundation and The Bahamas Development Bank.

The winning trio were Davinia Cartwright-Vanhorn (first place, $5,000 winner), Lynette Ferguson (second place, $3,000 winner) and Michelle Outten (third place, $2,000 winner).

Davinia Cartwright

Vanhorn won with her pitch to develop her businesses, “Da Farm Yaad” and “Da Melting Pot”. She started a catering and food business with her husband in Nassau in 2019, which she recently relocated to Palmetto Point, Eleuthera.

Lynette Ferguson earned second place with “Ancient Native Therapeutic Solutions,” an apothecary business providing solutions steeped in Bahamian and African traditions.

Michelle Outten earned third place with “Hydro Fresh”, expanding her landscaping business to provide hydroponic systems, and seedlings to market.

Runners-up included Tate Bethel, Donald Rolle and Charvette Strachan.

Sumayyah Cargill, unit head of strategic development and initiatives at The Bahamas Development Bank said the bank was “proud to partner with the One Eleuthera Foundation with a $5,000 grant to support youth empowerment in our Family Islands”.

the accused left the concert around 3.15am. Seymour said he then travelled east towards Goodman’s Bay, before riding downtown past Commonwealth Bank and a night club and making his way towards the Wulff Road traffic light. The accused said after he dropped his coworker home, he continued onto Robinson Road and made his way to his own residence.

Attorneys for both sides are scheduled to deliver their closing addresses today.

Thursday, June 24, 2021, PAGE 7

ABLE Seaman Jevon Seymour at a previous court appearance.

PAGE 8, Thursday, June 24, 2021

THE Bahamas is making progress in the uptake of SARS-COV-2 vaccines by Bahamians. The uptake is consistent and steady. Yet, it is not as good as it can be nor as good as other jurisdictions where citizens are taking vaccinations at a quicker and eager pace.

In some countries citizens are rushing for vaccinations, especially in jurisdictions that have experienced untold dying and horror.

Some countries are enduring wave after relentless wave of suffering.

In India, as reported by the BBC, “India’s holiest river, the Ganges, has been swollen with bodies in recent days,” where “hundreds of corpses have been found floating in the river or buried in the sand of its banks. Those who live close to where they have washed up, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, fear they are COVID-19 victims.”

In The Bahamas there appears to be more vaccine fear and anxiety than there is rabid anti-vaccination mindsets and virus denialism, though these mindsets are resident in some quarters, including among some religious fundamentalists and conspiracy mongers.

As many see relatives and co-workers vaccinated with no to few side-effects and more privileges for the vaccinated, more Bahamians are getting vaccinated.

This includes Bahamians in their 20s, 30s and 40s, many of whom want to return to work without the requirement of constant and expensive testing.

Russian Roulette “is a lethal game of chance”, “the practice of loading a bullet into one chamber of a revolver, spinning the cylinder and then pulling the trigger while pointing the gun at one’s own head.”

Those who have access to a COVID-19 vaccine but who refuse to be vaccinated are playing Russian Roulette with their lives and health and that of others. Even milder cases of COVID-19 may pose longer term health risks, including effects on the neurological system.

By failing to ensure global equity in vaccine accessibility, the global

THE TRIBUNE

STATES AND CITIZENS PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH COVID

vaccine powers are playing Russian Roulette with the long-term safety of their citizens and the global citizenry, especially in poorer countries and even middle income countries.

There is a moral imperative to get most of the world vaccinated as quickly as possible. It is also a matter of proverbial enlightened self-interest. Writing for The Bulwark this April, Dalibor Rohac pleaded: “At the current pace, it may take years to reach global herd immunity. In the meantime, the world will become poorer, sicker, less economically interconnected, and more conflict-prone than it would otherwise be. America should not allow that to happen. …

“The United States ought to commit to vaccinating the whole world this year— not, or not just, as an act of charity but as an act of selfinterest and leadership…

“More worryingly, the larger the pockets of the world in which the virus continues to circulate, the greater the potential for new strains, possibly including strains resistant to the vaccines now available.”

VARIANTS

The world is in a frenzied race between vaccinations and new, more transmissible variants of the virus such as the Delta variant that first emerged in India and now the Delta Plus variant. The Delta variant has been found in 80 countries including the United States.

This is the most contagious mutation thus far.

Among the unvaccinated it may trigger more serious illness than other variants.

As reported in The Wall Street Journal this past Tuesday: “The highly transmissible Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading so rapidly in the US that it could become the dominant strain in the next two to three weeks, researchers said, adding urgency to the nationwide vaccination drive.”

The Journal noted that by mid-July, 50 percent of COVID-19 infections in the US may be the Delta variant. President Biden’s

chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci has warned: “The Delta variant is currently the greatest threat in the US to our attempt to eliminate COVID-19.”

Bahamas health officials suspect the Delta variant is in the country because of the number of new cases arising from those who have travelled overseas.

The number of Bahamians travelling to the US has significantly increased and continues to rise during the peak summer months of travel.

A travel agent told this columnist that she is seeing a huge uptick in bookings

by Bahamians travelling to the US. This obviously includes unvaccinated Bahamians, who are putting themselves and others at unnecessary risk.

There is a disturbing moral selfishness by those who refuse to be vaccinated, who contract the virus overseas, mostly in south Florida, then return to The Bahamas, potentially spreading more dangerous variants.

This is worse than magical thinking. It is stupidity on steroids. There is no mask mandate in Florida, where the virus continues to spread, though not as widely as before. Though not at the astronomical heights of the last major wave in the US, the pandemic rages next door and globally.

ILLEGAL

Let us call this travel by the unvaccinated what it is: selfish, mindless, morally irresponsible, reckless

and dangerous! And it is unpatriotic! How can someone claim to love The Bahamas, yet contribute to putting our economy, society and health care system at risk because of unbridled selfishness?

It is illegal to knowingly infect others with the HIV virus. It is also morally reprehensible. Yet, many at risk from COVID-19 are cavalier about their potential to infect others.

Some have warped and poisoned the value of freedom to include the supposed freedom to harm and to potentially kill others by refusing to be vaccinated, while also putting our collective economic well-being at risk.

A good friend notes an exchange with a Bahamian who refuses to be vaccinated but insists the Prime Minister should fully reopen the country.

The former replied with an expletive-laden response unprintable in this journal.

But he made the point. At some point we have to stop mollycoddling the giddily asinine.

Because of our economic circumstances and the need to reopen, The Bahamas did not have the option to keep our borders closed. As it endured a hellish recent wave, Trinidad and Tobago reinstituted heavy public health restrictions.

When he spoke to the Republic on June 6, Prime Minister Keith Rowley stated that airports and seaports remained closed to foreign nationals, though he also noted: “It is the government’s position that within the next four to six weeks, we would do away with the border closure arrangement system.”

At home, the government continued to balance the reopening of the economy with the continuation of life-saving public health measures.

Only the most disingenuous, led by Opposition Leader Philip Davis and a bubble of partisans, have steadfastly refused to give the Minnis Administration certain credit for its handling of the pandemic on the health care and economic fronts, though many overseas observers have

offered commendation.

David Nabarro is a special envoy for the World Health Organization, dealing with COVID-19.

Nabarro echoed the warning of scientific and medical experts: the “issue of variants is what we are watching all over the world … [they] are going to go on coming. We will go from Delta to Lambda and then on to the other Greek letters, that’s inevitable, and some of these variants will be troublesome.”

SUICIDAL

In his weekly column on the Archdiocesan website, the Archbishop of Port of Spain Charles Jason Gordon reflected on the moral imperative for Christians to be vaccinated.

“To sit by and allow people to become infected, as a deliberate strategy, is inhumane. This is why Pope Francis said, ‘to refuse vaccines for COVID is ‘suicidal denial’. Every human has an ethical responsibility to be vaccinated. …

“It ensures we open the economy as early as possible, giving people the chance to earn and return to life, dignity and rebuilding our nation.

“Those refusing to be vaccinated are creating a grave risk for the rest of the population, by keeping the virus circulating and increasing the risk of mutations becoming more vicious, both in severity and infection rate.

“They put themselves at risk, and as we open up, they would be susceptible, and their children and grandchildren could become carriers.

“In a work environment, this will be a new challenge as the unvaccinated will impose burdens on the rest of us to keep restraint and not fully enjoy our freedom. Their choice imposes a burden on all the rest of us.”

Archbishop Gordon also pleaded: “We will not get out of the series of lockdowns, mask-wearing, social-distancing, and isolation until significant proportions of the planet are vaccinated...”

Amidst geopolitical

competition, rivalry and summits, the world powers have an extraordinary opportunity for unprecedented ethical and strategic cooperation on the global existential threat posed by COVID-19.

US President Joe Biden along with Chinese President Xi Jinping should participate in a virtual international conference, along with the leaders of Russia, Germany, France, India, the European Union, South Korean, South Africa, the African Union, the UN and the heads of regional groups such as ASEAN, Caricom and SICA. The world will not defeat this virus in nationalist isolation. Such a conference, with new international protocols, will serve as a template for other pandemics and for the global climate emergency and the intersection of this emergency with concomitant environmental and public health threats.

The global commons has the capacity to launch the largest worldwide mobilization of manufacturing and distribution power since World War II to vaccinate billions in the quickest timeframe possible.

The vaccine powers have the ability to mobilize their logistical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and military prowess and power to produce and to deploy vaccines around the world. Middleincome and developing countries like The Bahamas will happily pay for reasonably priced vaccines.

The US alone has capacity to vaccinate the Caribbean and Central America within months.

The global powers can vaccinate the entire world within a year or so. The problem is a matter of political will.

The Russian Roulette the world is playing will lead to untold deaths and suffering.

The danger for the developed world is this game may lead to a boomerang effect: a super variant that might come back to infect and kill those in their first-world fortresses who celebrated way too soon at home about the supposed end of a pandemic that is not yet over.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 24, 2021, PAGE 9

You can feel it’s coming – another summer of unrest for a troubled country

W

HILE the meteorological hurricane season has already begun for 2021, there is increasing evidence that a new political and social hurricane season is just starting to get underway in the United States.

Reports are rolling in from cities like Savannah, Chicago and Cleveland that murder and violent crime rates are climbing alarmingly. Gun violence and even vehicular mayhem are on the rise.

So, inevitably, are the air temperatures, particularly in the northeast and upper Midwest.

Some observers point to the August 2017 race riot

at a “Unite the Right” rally that shocked tiny university town Charlottesville, Virginia and most of the rest of the US as the trigger event for residual resentment and violence across America. Others feel the police murder of George Floyd 13 months ago in Minneapolis really ignited the national racial dry tinder.

It is both easy and difficult to blame former President Donald Trump for all the distrust and mayhem. It’s easy because he often revealed himself to be an almost nonchalant racist. His response to the Charlottesville riot, in which an innocent bystander was killed and several others injured, was

callous, careless and casual.

“There are plenty of good people on both sides,” Trump famously said after the riot. This judgement was shared by very few others and may have started to alienate most independents from Trump.

But it’s difficult to blame Trump because virtually every serious observer has pointed out the US has long had a fraught history of race relations which has often been highlighted because it is in such contrast to the high ideals and lofty principles on which the nation was founded.

Trump was much less the cause for the current troubles than an effect of the nation’s history and present.

CHASING THE MIGHTY DOLLAR HAS ITS PRICE LOS Angeles Lakers superstar Lebron James.

L

EBRON James warned us it would be like

this.

The transcendent Los Angeles Lakers superstar told all who would listen – and many did – that in its insistence on as much seasonal and playoff normalcy (and TV revenue) as possible for the 2021 season, the NBA would be putting at risk the health and wellbeing of many of its most bankable star players.

James is now 36-yearsold. He won the NBA title last year with the Lakers and Anthony Davis. He previously hoisted the league’s championship trophy twice with the Miami Heat, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, and with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

He’s also in his 17th season as a professional basketball player, and may be the most able and accomplished spokesman on contemporary social issues in pro sports today.

James is also following Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in amassing such a fortune from salaries and endorsement deals that he can talk credibly about becoming a pro sports owner after he retires as a player, as both Jordan and Johnson have done.

James was publicly concerned about players’ health because he and the Lakers won last year’s title on October 11, 2020 due to COVID-19 related disruptions to the league’s schedule. That was three months later than usual and meant that players would have much less recuperation time before the current season began around Christmas.

The NBA playoffs have now reached the conference championship stage, and as James predicted, injuries to key players have indeed played a role. In fact, injuries to his own running mate Davis doomed the Lakers to fall to the Phoenix Suns in the first playoff round.

Those Suns then swept away the Denver Nuggets

and have started with two home wins against the LA Clippers in their Western Conference finals matchup.

The Suns did this despite losing talismanic guard Chris Paul for the past several games due to the NBA’s COVID protocols.

The Clippers, longtime second fiddle in their home market to the Lakers, showed uncharacteristic grit in coming back to beat Dallas and top-seeded Utah to reach the conference finals.

Now the Clips are underdogs to Phoenix, especially since their own great forward Kawhi Leonard is injured.

The perpetual second fiddle in America’s biggest media market also prospered more than their city rivals in these playoffs. The Brooklyn Nets, and their Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Irving, were seeded second in the Eastern Conference.

While the New York Knicks were upset by Atlanta in the opening playoff round, Brooklyn dispatched the Boston Celtics and may have defeated Milwaukee too if not for injuries to both Harden and Irving. The Bucks, behind two-time league MVP

Giannis Antetokounmpo, squeaked past the higherseeded Nets to face off against the Atlanta Hawks and dazzling guard Trey Young. The Eastern finals began last night.

The Hawks had knocked off top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the second round and attracted a lot of attention for their smart, balanced play. They will have a tough time taking out the Bucks, who seem to have found their footing after previous playoff disappointments.

It’s certainly not business as usual this NBA season nor in the postseason. The Heat got swept in the first round by Milwaukee. The Lakers, Knicks and Celtics also bowed out in Round One. Denver and Utah were disappointments. Past championship franchises like the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons were largely afterthoughts from the start of the season.

The Bucks and Suns are heavy betting favourites this morning to meet in the NBA finals. But the way things have gone so far in the postseason, it’s hard to bet with any degree of confidence.

US President Joe Biden.

Meantime, gun control legislation is going nowhere in the US Congress, so it is still appallingly easy for people who should not possess firearms to nonetheless acquire them. And in the wake of the Floyd murder, serious people across the US are arguing for imposing more stringent curbs on police forces and sheriffs’ departments.

Some leftist politicians in the Democratic Party are running on a platform of either defunding local law enforcement or at least modifying or eliminating qualified immunity, which protects law enforcement officers from lawsuits resulting from their performance of their duties.

President Joe Biden and his advisors are well aware of the potency of law-and-order polemicists in the Republican Party.

Many commentators have ascribed the down-ballot failures of the Democrats in last year’s elections to their inability to uncouple their candidates from the anti-police rhetoric of leftist extremists in their own party.

There has been a rash of retirements recently from the ranks of big city

FLORIDA senator and former governor Rick Scott.

DEMOCRATIC mayoral candidate Eric Adams.

American police chiefs, and there is plenty of evidence that a perceived lack of popular and local government support for their efforts is a major factor.

Few would argue that recruitment for local police forces has not already suffered from the broad popular discord about the proper role of law enforcement. Exposing officers to civil and criminal liability for their actions would gut recruitment efforts everywhere. Police forces would need to lower their standards to fill ranks that may already be dangerously depleted in some areas.

Lower standards would likely lead to more police misconduct and resistance to training. Prosecutors are already uncovering the depressing reality that active-duty police and military officers were among the mob that assaulted the American capitol building on January 6.

Those who argue for police reform are likely to face severe consequences on election day, particularly outside major metropolitan areas.

Florida senator and former governor Rick Scott

told reporters recently that “If you’re law enforcement, you’re going to be very cautious about doing your job when you see that the Democrats are never going to back you up.”

“Nothing happens overnight, but I think over time when people see that crime is way up, Democrats are going to lose,” Scott said.

Tuesday’s New York City mayoral primary election may be a sign of things to come. In the Democratic Party primary Tuesday whose winner will become the odds-on favourite to prevail in November’s general election - the strong early leader is a black 60-year-old retired police captain and Brooklyn borough president named Eric Adams.

In a vote that featured ranked-choice voting, Adams led several others whose positions on law enforcement were considerably to the left of Adams’.

Trouble and unrest lie ahead for the US this summer. New York voters seem to be preparing to choose a city government that would prioritize protecting them and their property.

PAGE 10, Thursday, June 24, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Darville: PLP will fix Hawksbill in 100 days

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

SENATOR Dr Michael Darville said the Progressive Liberal Party will seek to fix irregularities in the

Hawksbill Creek Agreement’s environmental laws in its first 100 days, should it win the next general election.

He also said within this period a Davis administration would also launch an analysis of current National Health Insurance programmes with the aim of expanding the medical, diagnostic and lab services offered and move to add a well-structured cost effective selective catastrophic programme.

Speaking in the Senate during the budget debate, Senator Darville said Grand Bahama, where he resided until recently, is blessed with natural resources, but these must be mined and protected according to strict international environmental standards.

“If this administration does not see fit to fix the irregularities in the Hawksbill Creek Agreement’s environmental laws, new environmental laws will be enacted by a PLP government in the first 100 days to ensure that Freeport, the industrial capital of the Bahamas, complies with environmental laws by way of amendments of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement’s bylaws, something that is long overdue,” he said.

“A few days ago, the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s REEF committee released its revitalisation and expansion plan for the economy of Freeport.

“We on this side are presently reviewing this plan and, in the months ahead we will be reaching out to the Grand Bahama Port Authority to discuss this report as we finalise the PLP’s 2022 platform.”

He also chided the Minnis administration for the pace of Hurricane Dorian restoration.

DR Michael Darville at a PLP rally in 2020.

“A few days ago, I drove to East Grand Bahama to see what has happened post Hurricane Dorian and tears came to my eyes to see the state of that part of the island two years post Hurricane Dorian.”

Dr Darville said he was tempted to bring some pictures to show how bad the situation really is in East Grand Bahama, but decided not to do so in order to preserve the dignity of the people of High Rock, Maclean’s Town and Sweetings Cay. But, he said, this administration “should hold their head down in shame.”

He questioned the current administration on how it can “build up the nerve” to go to Abaco and Grand Bahama where people are still in dwellings exposed to the elements.

Senator Darville then scoffed at the current Free National Movement candidate for East Grand Bahama, Kwasi Thompson, telling him that he heard he “got run” from constituents while campaigning recently.

Senator Thompson did

not take this lightly and denied the allegations.

Senator Darville also questioned the purpose of the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Reconstruction, saying the portfolio could have easily been absorbed by the Ministry for Grand Bahama or another ministry.

“To be honest the ministry is itself a disaster, underfunded and the new minister was placed in a worse position than the former,” he said.

Dr Darville said he was concerned that the former Minister of Disaster, Preparedness and Reconstruction, Iram Lewis, was practically working out of his briefcase.

“Last year in my summary I said that from looking at the line items in head 75 it appeared that the then minister Iram Lewis was operating from his briefcase with no staff and nothing to do but try to claim PLP projects on Grand Bahama,” he said.

“But my God when I look at the line items in this budget, we notice a $6 million cut, $4 million from head 75 and the other $2 million from the ministry’s capital expenditure, during this year’s hurricane season that is forecast to be very active with multiple storms and hurricanes.

“A few weeks ago, I visited Abaco and the city looks like a place lost in time with countless debris everywhere and the need for major clean-up is necessary so that residents can get on with reconstruction.

Yet these senseless cuts in the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Reconstruction’s budget has left it once again underfunded.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 24, 2021, PAGE 11

It’s not just children who struggle to live with ADHD

By JAMES BROWN, associate professor in biology and biomedical science, Aston University and ALEX CONNER, associate professor in biomedical sciences, University of Birmingham MANY of us think of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) as a childhood condition – which is typically when it’s diagnosed. But a growing number of people are sharing their experiences of being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood.

Social media has even played a role in this, with reports of people going to see their doctor after first learning about symptoms on TikTok. In fact, around 2.5 percent of adults are thought to live with ADHD – including us.

Yet despite this growing awareness, many adults continue to struggle to get a diagnosis.

ADHD is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, in which the brain grows differently, lacking action from specific chemicals involved in pleasure and reward. This means ADHD brains often search for ways to stimulate these chemicals, which is why people can experience inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Common traits of ADHD include: • Not following through on longer tasks (or not starting them) • Getting distracted by other tasks or thoughts • Seeking out risk or activities that provide immediate reward • Restlessness (either outwardly or internally) • Interrupting other people (without wanting to) • Symptoms are similar for both adults and children, although elements of them differ or change as we age. For example, inattention is the most persistent symptom in adults.

ADHD can be debilitating and is associated with higher likelihood of lower

quality of life, substance use issues, unemployment, accidental injuries, suicide and premature death. In addition, ADHD can cost adults around $25,0000 per year because of things like medical care or paying for social support.

It’s also commonly associated with a wide range of co-existing conditions in adults.

For example, depression is almost three times more prevalent in adults with ADHD. And nearly half of all adults with ADHD also have bipolar spectrum disorder.

Around 70 percent of adults with ADHD also experience emotional dysregulation, which can make it more difficult to control emotional responses. It’s also thought that almost all adults with ADHD have rejection sensitive dysphoria, a condition where perceived rejection or criticism can cause extreme emotional sensitivity or pain.

On top of this, adults with ADHD may have poor working memory

– such as being unable to remember a simple shopping list – and “time blindness” (the inability to perceive time).

Some may also have oppositional defiant disorder, which means they often react poorly to perceived orders or rules.

While none of these coexisting conditions are used to diagnose ADHD, they can make ADHD feel all the more difficult to live with.

BEING DIAGNOSED

Getting an ADHD diagnosis as an adult in the UK is notoriously difficult – with reports of some people waiting up to five years.

This is because you can only be diagnosed by a specialist psychiatrist. But even with a referral to a specialist, a person has to show clear evidence of almost all ADHD traits, having had these traits since childhood, and that they’re having a serious affect on their life – such as causing issues with work, education, or maintaining relationships.

SIMONE BILES, the leading gymnast of her generation, performing in May this year - but in 2016 she revealed that she has ADHD, raising awareness of the condition. Photo: AJ Mast/AP For us, our experiences it. The “label” has since of being diagnosed with helped me move away ADHD aren’t all that dif- from feeling broken toward ferent from what other an understanding of my behaviour. adults have gone through.

My main challenges Like many people I (Alex) was only diagnosed remain prioritising tasks on importance with ADHD “by acci- based dent” after being referred (instead of excitement) to an NHS psychiatrist to and quite extreme antibehaviour get help with (what I now authority know to be) alcohol self- (sometimes called opposimedication. Because of my tional defiance). I am also ADHD, my brain demands a terrible spectator, strugquite extreme inputs most gling to attend conference talks or sit still at the theaof the time.

Ironically, I’ve published tre – it can feel like physical scientific papers on ADHD pain.

On the other hand, I and – probably due to a classic ADHD lack of self- (James) was diagnosed quickly because awareness – it didn’t cross pretty my mind that I could have I used a private clinic

– though there was still a long wait for medication.

Yet I’d known for five years before this that I probably had ADHD, but coped with it well until the pandemic.

The added pressure of isolation and increased workload impacted my mental health, so I sought a diagnosis.

Now diagnosed and medicated, life is getting easier to cope with – although there are still many challenges every day. I frequently get anxiety about the silliest things, like talking to a friend, but appearing on television is fine.

On a daily basis I forget many simple things, such as where I left my keys, or that I am running a bath. I struggle immensely with controlling my emotions and with rejection especially. For example, when no one responded to a joke I made about my ADHD on a senior management messaging group I was tempted to quit my job.

I am utterly unable to pay full attention in meetings or seminars and cannot control my impulse purchasing.

While there’s a growing recognition of ADHD in adults, many people still live with it undiagnosed for any number of reasons – sometimes even because they’re unaware that what they experience is actually different from other people.

Understanding the condition in adults, taking it more seriously as a disorder, raising awareness of it, and investing in services to improve diagnosis times are key. Diagnosis opens the door to treatment, which can have a marked impact on living with the disorder – such as improving selfesteem, productivity and quality of life.

• Originally published on theconversation.com

PAGE 12, Thursday, June 24, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy paper publishes its final edition

THE LAST issue of Apple Daily arrives at a newspaper booth in Hong Kong. Photo: Vincent Yu/AP HONG KONG Associated Press

archdeacon-william-thompson December 1933 - June 1999

Pray... and Move (inspired by Proverbs... A Salute to Our; Prayerful & Pragmatic Priest Father-Thompson) (a) When you Pray; Move your feet...

The Call-of-God; Endearingly-Sweet.

Prayer; No recline, to Loathsome-passivity The eloquent Sage of Proverbs; Sacredly-Decrees: When You Pray... Move Your Feet. (m) O Christians... Oh Religious... Truth-Seekers: A Call-to-Prayer, is a Call To Meet To Pragmatically couple Prayer with Works .

Come unfold, God’s Blessings;Come Animate Increase Our Call, Dear Nations; A Call So Sweet: When You Pray... Move Your Feet. (e) Come Blessed-Bahamas*; Banish , Impotent-fear No more, Acts-of-Omission... Wringing hands in despair. Proverbs’ Pray & Move; Demands Attentioned-Care Restructure our pews-Manifest; Decisive Entreats Set in Motion: Spirit-Fleshed, Releases ...

Prayer & Measured-Acts; Resinds Passivity: When You Pray... Move Your Feet. (n) Hallow the World’s hurting- hollows : Release your Feet; Let Cogent-Prayer...

And Empassioned-Action;Magnanimously Meet: An Awesome, Potent-Power... Prayer & Feet.

O,Nations-of-God; Silence wars & turmoil, with Peace Hear God’s Sage’s Endogenic & Empowering-Bleat: When We Pray God’s People... Lets Move Our Feet

(Michael W. Hepburn (c.) 30th May 2008) from a work: ‘Sing on Modernly in Ancient Tunes’

HONG Kong’s sole remaining pro-democracy newspaper published its last edition on Thursday (Hong Kong time) after five editors and executives were arrested and millions of dollars in its assets were frozen as part of China’s increasing crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city.

The board of directors of Apple Daily parent company Next Media said in a statement that the print and online editions would cease due to “the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong”.

The silencing of a prominent pro-democracy voice was the latest sign of China’s determination to exert greater control over the city long known for its freedoms after huge anti-government protests there in 2019 shook the government. Since then, Beijing has imposed a strict national security law — used in the arrests of the newspaper employees — and revamped Hong Kong’s election laws to keep opposition voices out of the legislature.

Apple Daily was founded by tycoon Jimmy Lai in 1995 — just two years before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China — and initially was a tabloid known for celebrity gossip.

But Lai also portrayed the paper as an advocate of democratic values and said it should “shine a light on snakes, insects, mice and ants in the dark”, according to the paper.

It grew into an outspoken voice for defending Hong Kong’s freedoms not found in mainland China, and in recent years it often criticized the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for limiting those freedoms

and reneging on a promise to protect them for 50 years after the handover. While pro-democracy media outlets still exist online, it was the only print newspaper of its kind left in the city.

In a post on Instagram, the paper thanked its readers.

“Even if the ending is not what we want, even if it’s difficult to let go, we need to continue living and keep the determination we have shared with Hong Kong people that has remained unchanged over 26 years,” Apple Daily wrote.

The newspaper said it planned to print 1 million copies for the final edition, up from the usual 80,000, and people lined up to buy them.

The paper’s announcement coincided with the start of the city’s first trial under the year-old national security law that is being closely watched as a barometer of how strictly the courts will interpret the legislation.

The widely expected move to close Apple Daily followed last week’s arrests and crucially the freezing of $2.3m of the paper’s assets.

Its board of directors wrote a few days ago to ask Hong Kong’s security bureau to release some of the money so the company could pay wages, but it’s not clear if it got a response. The paper also said it made the decision to close out of concern for employees’ safety.

The editors and executives were detained on suspicion of colluding with foreigners to endanger national security. Police cited more than 30 articles published by the paper as evidence of a conspiracy to encourage foreign nations to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China.

It was the first time the

national security law had been used against journalists for something they published.

On Wednesday, police also arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of foreign collusion to endanger national security, according to Apple Daily, which cited unidentified sources. The paper said the man wrote editorials for it under the pseudonym Li Ping.

Lai, the newspaper’s founder, faces charges under the national security law for foreign collusion and is currently serving a prison sentence for his involvement in the 2019 protests.

The move against Apple Daily drew criticism from the US, the EU and Britain.

The forced closure by Hong Kong authorities “is a chilling demonstration of their campaign to silence all opposition voices,” British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a Twitter post.

“It is clearer than ever that the (national security law) is being used to curtail freedom and punish dissent.”

German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Adebahr called the closure a “hard blow against press freedom in Hong Kong.”

Amnesty International Asia-Pacific Regional Director Yamini Mishra said the police action against Apple Daily will “send a shiver down the spine of all media outlets operating in Hong Kong”.

“The forced closure of Apple Daily is the blackest day for media freedom in Hong Kong’s recent history,” Mishra said. “The paper has been effectively banned by the government for publishing articles that criticized it, and for reporting on international discussions about Hong Kong.”

RUSSIA SAYS IT FIRED WARNING SHOTS TO DETER UK NAVY SHIP MOSCOW Associated Press

RUSSIA said one of its warships in the Black Sea fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs Wednesday to force a British destroyer out of an area near Crimea that Moscow claims as its territorial waters, but Britain denied that account and insisted its ship wasn’t fired upon.

It was the first time since the Cold War that Moscow acknowledged using live ammunition to deter a NATO warship.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a patrol ship fired warning shots after the HMS Defender had ignored a notice against intrusion and sailed 3km into Russia’s territorial waters near Sevastopol, the main Russian naval base in Crimea.

It said a Russian Su-24 bomber also dropped four bombs ahead of the vessel to persuade the Defender to change course. Minutes later, the Defender left Russian waters, the ministry said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the “rude British provocation that defies international law,” and said London’s ambassador was being summoned. The Defence Ministry said it also called in the UK military attache in Moscow to protest the destroyer’s “dangerous move” and urged British authorities to investigate the crew’s actions.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence denied the Defender had been fired on or was in Russian waters, but had been in Ukrainian waters.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that we, MARK ALEXANDER PALMER AND NATIVITE TAMARA MICHAUD PALMER of #17 Shirley Park, Nassau, Bahamas intend to change our daughter’s name from LEILA VALERIUS to LEILA BENEDICT PALMER. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.