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The Tribune

Volume:117 No.147, JUNE 26TH, 2020

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WEEKEND: FISH IS THE KEY - BUT YOU DON’T NEED TO FRY IT

COVID fallout sees Moody’s hit us with two-point downgrade

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE “extraordinary beating” inflicted upon the tourism industry by COVID-19 was critical in Moody’s decision yesterday to strip The Bahamas of its ‘investment grade’ credit rating, the deputy prime minister says.

K Peter Turnquest, responding to the rating agency’s move to slash The Bahamas’ sovereign creditworthiness by two notches to ‘Ba2’, told Tribune Business there was little the Government can do to improve this situation in the short-term given that the priority remains protecting families, businesses and the wider economy against the worst of the pandemic’s fall-out.

Pointing out that The

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Government will have spent more than $11m on employee termination packages and support by the time it closes the Grand Lucayan’s sale, it was revealed yesterday.

Michael Scott QC, the resort’s chairman, told Tribune Business that the latest separation round involving around 175 employees will cost “about $3m” in due

severance pay and benefits after the hotel confirmed this newspaper’s revelations that terminations had begun ahead of completing its sale to the ITM Group/Royal Caribbean joint venture.

Lucayan Renewal Holdings, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) that holds the resort, said in a statement that prior employee severance and COVID19 support packages had cost the Government some $8.542m.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

pg 14 + 15

IT’S NOT COVID THAT’S THE KILLER - IT’S POVERTY SEE PAGE NINE

ANDROS PLAN ‘IS THREAT TO BIRD STOCKS’

Bahamas was far from alone in suffering downgrades as a result of COVID-19, Mr Turnquest said the Government was still predicting an economic revival will begin in late November 2020 when the Thanksgiving holiday signals the start of the winter tourism season.

He admitted, though, that this forecast could easily be derailed by the multiple “unknowns” surrounding COVID-19 - particularly the timing and strength of the US travel market rebound, given that the country accounts for 82 percent of all visitors to this nation.

“Our economy is affected more than most in that we are so tied to tourism, which has taken an extraordinary beating,” Mr Turnquest told Tribune Business.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

LUCAYAN PAYROLL HAS COST TAXPAYERS $11M

Pages 8 + 9

Shooting stars

Bahamian puts ‘Love & Hip Hop’ celebs in frame

DOUBLE DIP

THE ‘365 DAYS’ CRAZE

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net AN international nonprofit environmental organisation warned the proposed mining projects in North Andros will threaten the winter home for migratory shorebirds.

In a statement yesterday, the National Audubon Society stated the recovery for Piping Plover birds could be “jeopardised by a series of mining proposals” for Andros, since the threatened species spends “almost two-thirds of each year” on a group of cays near the island.

SEE PAGE FIVE

16-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED IN KILLING OF WOMAN, 79

LOSS OF A LEGAL LEGEND

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Parliamentarian and the founding partner of Graham Thompson, Peter Graham, died on Wednesday night as he planned to fly with friends to an island retreat. Mr Graham started to have breathing difficulty just before his death. He was 92. See page two for the full story.

A 16-YEAR-OLD Bahamian boy was charged with killing a 79-year-old Haitian woman yesterday.

A small crowd gathered outside the courthouse in Jones Town, Eight Mile Rock, as the minor was brought and escorted by officers at about 11am, with a towel over his head.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

US COVID SPIKE - WE CAN COPE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

AS coronavirus cases skyrocket in the United States, a top local infectious disease expert says The Bahamas can still manage reopening the country without an explosion of COVID-19 cases if protocols are executed properly.

The increase of COVID19 cases in the US has been worrying enough that some

states are now restricting incoming travel from other states.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that anyone coming to New York from a hardhit state would have to quarantine for two weeks.

New Jersey and Connecticut have implemented a similar policy. The policy applies to people coming from Florida, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, North

Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

Meanwhile, guests from around the world will be allowed into The Bahamas starting on July 1, though they will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test taken within ten days of their trip. Some are now questioning whether the government should reverse its decision to reopen the country’s borders.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

MARIJUANA FOR HEALTH AND THE ECONOMY?

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Friday, June 26, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Loss of a legal legend

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PETER Graham, a former parliamentarian and the founding partner of Graham Thompson, died suddenly Wednesday night having planned to fly with friends on Thursday morning to his special island retreat - Hog Cay just off Long Island.

It is said that he started to have difficulty breathing just before his death. He was 92.

Mr Graham was remembered for his decency and impeccable reputation by Attorney General Carl Bethel, Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis and the Bahamas Bar Association. He founded Graham Thompson, one of the largest firms in the country in 1950 and played a role in its growth for over 70 years.

Queen Elizabeth II appointed him Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1997. The

honour is bestowed upon persons who have rendered important services to the commonwealth of nations.

Mr Graham was the first minister of labour and housing in the first Bahamian Cabinet from 1964 to 1967. He was the member of Parliament for Long Island from 1956 to 1972.

In a statement yesterday, his firm said his death was a great shock because he had been in good health, “still coming into the office and practising law as indeed he had done continuously for the past 70 years”. He was the most senior member of the Bahamas Bar. “Mr Graham was a man of incredible decency and personal integrity,” the statement said. “He was extremely kind and thoughtful, and generous to a fault. His humility, his quiet, low-key manner and his peaceful demeanour were especially notable aspects of his personality.

He was the consummate diplomat, working quietly behind the scenes to

resolve conflicts and to build consensus and unifying purpose.

“Mr Graham was justifiably proud of the fact that he had built a law firm that encapsulated the political, racial and social spectrum of The Bahamas, and that he had been among the first to do so in our nation’s history.

“He was also deeply committed to the idea that members of the firm should seek to give back to their country in the form of political, public or judicial service, as indeed he himself had done in the political arena. This was central to the ethos of the firm and something that he always encouraged and supported, irrespective of one’s party affiliation,” said the firm’s statement.

“Mr Graham enjoyed practising law and was invariably the first person in the office throughout his career right up to and including yesterday (Wednesday). He was a conveyancing and private

PETER GRAHAM client specialist with a clientele of the highest quality from around the world and here in The Bahamas.

“We all had a great personal fondness for Peter Graham. He was a wonderful man. We will miss him enormously. We extend our deepest condolences to Peter’s wife, Irene, and his children and grandchildren,” said his staff.

Attorney General Carl Bethel said Mr Graham was a “Bahamian patriot and leader in the development of the legal profession in the modern Bahamas.”

“After the attainment of Majority Rule, he reshaped his law firm and built it to reflect the diversity and talent which emerged with the attainment of universal political and social equality,” he said.

“He was a most congenial and friendly person, avuncular and easy of address. He was a very competent attorney of great standing amongst his peers. Through the great law firm which he inspired and developed he has made an indelible impression upon the development of the legal profession and jurisprudence in the Bahamas. He will be sorely missed.”

Mr Davis said Mr Graham was a “fine human being – gentle and kind who readily embraced the inevitable change to Majority Rule”.

He said: “(He did) this

not merely by paying lip service to the change but through his deeds and actions. The meaningful integration of his law firm is a true testament to the fact.

(He was) a gentleman and scholar, a true Bahamian patriot.”

In a statement to The Tribune, Bahamas Bar Association President Kahlil Parker said Mr Graham exemplified seniority at the Bar. “He has served his country, community, and profession with distinction.

Mr Graham was a mentor to many attorneys, having had a profound impact on their legal careers. He engaged with colleagues with a quiet dignity and great humility. On behalf of the members and staff of The Bahamas Bar Association I extend condolences to his family, friends, and firm on his passing,” he said.

In 2018, Graham Thompson senior partner Sean McWeeney, QC, interviewed Mr Graham, with excerpts of the interview published on the law firm’s website.

Mr Graham said he was the 25th lawyer called to the Bahamas Bar. “I once was paid a complement by another lawyer that one of my abilities was to choose good associates,” he said.

“I don’t accept that.

I’m just very lucky in the people that joined the firm.

I started the firm, full stop, the firm was built by yourself and others and we are today what we are because of the group,” said Mr Graham at the time of the interview.

Mr Graham recalled his impression of Long Island after he was elected to the constituency as a 29-yearold. He said the destitute condition of the island contributed to his view that the firm should play a role in nation building.

He attended Queen’s College and obtained his LLB from London University in the United Kingdom.

He was called to the English Bar through Lincoln’s Inn and to the Bahamas Bar on his return to The Bahamas.

In The Tribune’s Weekend edition of May 25, 2018, Sir Christopher Ondaatje interviewed Mr Graham about his love for Hog Cay and the rare West Indian whistling ducks that have made his island their home.

Mr Graham told Mr Ondaatje at the end of the interview: “I suppose my only claim to fame is that I have nurtured this flock of whistling ducks. There are very specific instructions — to my family —and they have agreed – that they will continue looking after these wonderful birds. Even if the island is sold this responsibility has to be passed on to the new owners. It is in my will.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, June 26, 2020, PAGE 3

9,000 in Abaco ask for help with food

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net SOME 9,000 people in Abaco have recently appealed to Idea Relief, a Bahamian non-profit organisation, for food assistance.

A representative from the organisation revealed the figure yesterday.

This comes after the group’s co-founder told The Tribune last month that 4,000 people in Abaco were in “dire need” of food after COVID-19 disrupted their food chain supply.

Noting the numbers have increased “exponentially” since then, IDEA Relief co-founder Will Tomlinson said: “Back last month, when that article come out, we were still at the stage of still expecting 4,000 people going through vulnerability…We have actually seen that exponentially increase and we are at 9,000 people a week who we are currently dealing with. This week, we had 2,984 households with just under 9,000 people in them.

“So, it definitely increased a lot and we have found in the last two weeks alone, that over 20 percent, we had a 20 percent increase due to the lockdown and people that haven’t been able to return since March are returning from the out islands and Nassau. So that number has definitely increased but doubled really.”

He also said “in the last 12 weeks”, over $700,000 worth of food from local distributors was

bought and distributed to over 90,000 people in Abaco.

His comments came during a virtual press conference hosted by the National Food Taskforce Committee, where it was also revealed that over 70,00 people in the country have benefitted so far from the government’s national food distribution programme, which was launched earlier this month.

Speaking on the matter yesterday, the committee’s chairman Susan Larson said “in the first 20 days of June”, more than 76,000 people were supplied with either food parcels or meal vouchers after the government donated funds, amounting to nearly one million dollars, to the task force.

Noting the move as a major help to the group’s work, she said: “When the government injects their money, the task force can ramp up at a much more rapid pace and this is what started to happen when government funds were injected into the work of the task force in the beginning of June.

“They’ve already committed $900,000 to the task force that has directly helped over 76,000 people in just in the first 20 days of June. These are the results for just that additional outreach…and that’s in addition to the 137,000 plus people that were helped in April and May (prior to the government’s feeding programme).”

The food initiative, which is jointly funded by the government and the private sector, aims to provide emergency food assistance for vulnerable Bahamians and residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To facilitate the programme, the government appointed a National Food Distribution Task Force in April.

The committee is divided across The Bahamas into nine zones – five in New

US COVID SPIKE - WE CAN COPE from page one

Dr Nikkiah Forbes, the government’s infectious disease expert, said yesterday: “When borders are opening and you’re allowing travel during an epidemic, there will be risk of persons travelling with COVID-19.

“There is no 100 percent way to eliminate risk completely so there has to be steps, including screening, testing, and quarantine if persons are not able to be tested.

“In allowing travellers to come, there

will be some degree of risk associated and all you can do is minimise the risk. To be fair, I think these steps by (the Ministry of) Tourism and Aviation in conjunction with (Ministry of) Health, I think these safety measures will considerably reduce the risk.

“Some countries are requiring that people get tested when they arrive in the country. That is not 100 percent of a guarantee either. The PCR test is not 100 percent accurate. Some (countries) are doing no testing and quarantine, some are asking for tests a few days in advance, it’s all rather imperfect.”

Providence, one in Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco, and northern Family Islands, and the southern Family Islands.

Each zone has been assigned a lead NGO, who is also partnering with other groups to maximise outreach. At yesterday’s press conference, several NGO representatives spoke on the progress that has been made thus far in their respective areas.

Chief operating officer from ONE Eleuthera Foundation, James Richard said: “In the past week, through our partners, we distributed 1,200 parcels and 240 vouchers. That number is certainly going to increase as we find more and more people registering with the organisation.”

Executive director for Hands for Hunger, Keisha Ellis added: “This public/ private partnership has really been able to help us propel our operations moving forward so once we started receiving the cash from the government through the task force, we were able to ramp up immediately. So, in addition

to our regular work, we’ve taken on 3,000 people so we’ve distributed food packages or vouchers to about 3,000 people in the past two weeks and we’re looking to double that.”

The group has been mandated to deliver food assistance for 12 weeks, from June 1 to August 3.

However, Mrs Larson said yesterday she anticipates that the programme will continue beyond the 12-week deadline as there is still much uncertainty surrounding COVID-19’s impact in the country.

She said: “The whole impact of COVID on our economy and on our livelihood is very real and what rate the economy will recover and people will get back to the levels of food securities they had previously due to COVID and previously to Dorian is not a known figure.”

“What we do every week is we analyse what is going on and we certainly aren’t going to suddenly end the programme on August 31st and the programme right now has been defined by the government as the

twelve-week programme.

But I have every indication that they will review the data and continue the programme as the conditions are on the ground.”

Mrs Larson also said officials will be creating an online database rapidbahamas.com, which launches today. It is meant to maximise “the efficiency and effectiveness” of the task force.

The registration programme, she said, will also allow for officials to record important information of its applicants.

“It’s going to help us understand who is being helped where. It will prevent double dipping and it will help us maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the task force and all of that together, will help us stretch and maximise the available funding that the task force is working with,” she said.

“We are asking head of households to register at rapidbahamas.com (and) an email will be sent assigning that person to a designated zone.”

300 RECEIVE FOOD CARE PACKAGES IN GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ABOUT 300 residents of East End Grand Bahama received food care packages on the weekend thanks to Reach Out Ministries, assisted by the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama and other local volunteers.

Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest was on hand helping with distribution, and also greeting his constituents who are still recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Dorian.

Dudley Seide, founder of Reach Out Ministries, and local volunteers, including Rotarians, led by club president Christine van der Linde, went to the settlements of Freetown, Gambier Point, and High Rock.

Mr Seide has fed thousands of struggling families in Freeport through his feeding programme during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Today’s (effort) is part of my feeding programme called Feeding Grand

Bahama, and we decided to take it to East End this weekend,” said Mr Seide on Saturday, who has now expanded his programme beyond Freeport to the outlying settlements.

In addition to distributing packages of groceries, residents of East End were also served chicken souse.

Mr Seide thanked partners such as the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama, and Thompson Legacy for assisting with distribution, and also Equinor, and Sawyer’s Fresh Market for their contributions to the programme.

Their target was to feed about 300 residents in the east on Saturday.

Mr Seide noted that many of the displaced residents came from Freeport to their homes, which sustained severe damage during the storm and are still not habitable. Some have pitched tents on their property.

“We want them to understand we care about them because they went through so much with Dorian and

now COVID-19, and we want to put a smile on their faces for Father’s Day,” he said.

Ms van der Linde, president of the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama, said they are very pleased to assist Reach Out Ministries.

“We are partnering with Reach Out Ministries once again in their feeding initiative to feed those in need, she said. As you know Rotary is an international service organisation and being of service to others is what we are mandated to do,” she said.

Mr Turnquest, MP for East Grand Bahama, thanked Reach Out Ministries and the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama, and the volunteers for their efforts.

“I am here to support Reach Out Ministries and Dudley Seide, as well as the Rotary Club (of GB) for the effort they are making in East GB, and assisting residents who are finding it a little difficult as a result of Dorian in the first instance, and now with the COVID situation.

REACH Out Youth Organisation founder Dudley Seide.

“As you know there are challenging for some to a lot of people who would make ends meet.

“All of these efforts to have been displaced, who lost their jobs, and some bring some level of comwho are on reduced work- fort and necessary supplies week, making it very to the residents is certainly

something we are very appreciative of, and as you know Reach Out Ministries is doing a fantastic job in GB for many years now,” said Mr Turnquest.

PAGE 4, Friday, June 26, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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The economy didn’t just break - it’s been breaking a long time The economy didn’t just break - it’s been breaking a long time WHEN Bill Clinton campaigned against George HW Bush for the US presidency, three words spoken by one of his strategists struck home.

James Carville had a reputation for plain talking – he still has, and can regularly be seen popping up as a guest on US news shows. But when he was telling campaign workers what to focus on, “The economy, stupid” hit the mark. It rang true then in the US. It rings true now here in The Bahamas.

Moody’s has hit The Bahamas with a downgrade by two notches. Now, the ins and outs of international credit worthiness are detailed, but the short answer is that it makes it harder and more expensive to borrow money. Given we’re still borrowing money at a considerable rate and have the costs of Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 hanging around our necks, that’s obviously a big deal.

So why have we been hit with the downgrade? Carville has the answer. It’s the economy.

We’ve now been downgraded to junk status – and while the government is absolutely right to point out that we’re far from alone in suffering from the effects of the pandemic, we can’t ignore that we’ve been dancing on the edge of this downgrade for a long time.

Moody’s forecast that our economy will shrink by up to a fifth this year – and while the government had previously been closing the gap on the deficit, that’s now been blown out of the water.

Finance Minister Peter Turnquest talked of tourism having taken an “extraordinary beating” but to get to the edge of junk status, our economy has been taking a beating for a long time.

So when we turn to the future, and what we need to focus on, the economy is number one priority and if we don’t get that right then priorities two through ten are hardly going to matter.

People need jobs. People need income. Income generates government funds. Government funds help build the nation. That helps to attract more jobs.

And so the cycle goes on.

Right now, too many people are out of jobs. That’s of course in part down to the

impact of the pandemic, but there were plenty out of work before that. So with an election on the horizon, the most important choice will be who will handle the economy best as we try to recover.

More than that, who will carry us to a point where we’re not teetering on the edge as we have been so long? What fundamental changes can we make to save ourselves from being back in the same position once COVID-19 is hopefully a thing of the past?

That other nations are having financial troubles because of the pandemic does not erase the challenges we face here at home – it merely exacerbates them.

It’s going to take some heavy lifting to get our country back above the waterline – and doing the same thing over again isn’t going to be enough. So when people come looking for your votes, remember the biggest thing that will help us all. Remember the economy.

Farewell, Peter When Peter Graham was elected to the Long Island constituency, he was 29 years old. He looked around at the state of the island – and determined to make a difference.

From 29 to 92, a lifetime of hard work, compassion and practising law has seen him make a difference indeed. Between his service as an MP to his championing of diversity and equality in his law firm, he exemplified the kind of contribution that Bahamians can make to their nation.

Mr Graham died on Wednesday. He had been planning a trip with friends to Hog Cay, just off Long Island. As he was preparing to leave, he started to have breathing difficulties.

Across the political spectrum, there have been tributes. A patriot. A man of decency and integrity. Most of all, a wonderful man.

Like others, we offer our condolences to his wife, Irene, and his children and grandchildren. He will be much missed.

He truly was a man whose example we should all strive to live up to.

Biden in a bind EDITOR, The Tribune

TODAY, the conversation of drugs in America have politically resurfaced, and now it’s an open question whether Biden’s response to the issue can be an asset - catapulting him successfully or a liability by eliminating him in the US 2020 election campaign.

In a video that is circulating on social media, former US Vice President Joe Biden perpetuates misinformation that the Bahamas had infected the United States with crack, at a campaign event in New Hampshire.

In his response to a question on the crime bill, when asked by a young lady, his specific policies on repairing a lot of the black and brown communities that have been ravished by the war on drugs and mass incarcerations. In answering the question, former Vice President Biden stated: “...the big mistake in the crime bill...on drugs, was one that Pat Monahan,... and he is a great guy. You rememberthe crack epidemic came from the Bahamasand we were told by medical doctors at the time that because it permeated the membrane, the brain more quickly. It was

the crack you never come back..”

This statement made by former US Vice President Biden is outrageous, suggesting that the Bahamas is responsible for the Crack Epidemic in America, is shocking and disgraceful.

Vice President Biden comments shows how easily politicians and world leaders mislead the nations of the world. As a political figure, the actions of former Vice President Biden was disgusting, twisted and way out of line with such a monstrous claim, and nothing could be further from the truth.

As you would recall in times past (1987), similar claims were made against the Bahamas Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir Lynden O Pindling. The story was carried by numerous US media outlets and reported by NBC. At the time, inquest of the truth, such claims turned out to be nothing but baseless accusations. As a citizen of the Bahamas, I call on the Government of the Bahamas, in the person of the Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Darren Henfield to address this matter on behalf of the people of the commonwealth of The Bahamas.

To the officers and members of the the US National

Democratic Party. It is undoubtedly clear that former Vice President Biden made unprofessional remarks, and didn’t think things through before responding to the question. However, the people of the Bahamas can understand that it was never his intention to cause distress. Therefore, the Democratic party must condemn the action of its presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden and issue an official apology to the government and the people of the commonwealth of The Bahamas forthwith.

I beseech you, let not one mishap stain all that has, and is to be accomplished.

The Bahamas and the United States has a beautiful relationship. We’ve both enjoyed decades of good diplomatic, economic and commercial relations, and The Bahamas looks forward to a continued successful relationship in future. “‘Til the road you’ve trod lead unto your God, March On, Bahamaland”... ...”O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

God Bless.

ANDY HANNA Nassau, May, 2020.

Time to end provisions EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Prime Minister announced on 19th March, 2020, that he was invoking the provisions of Article 29 of the Constitution to decree a proclamation of emergency under which a number of emergency regulations and orders have been legislated to address the crisis arising from the Corona Covid-19 virus.

The emergency regulations and orders put in place a number of measures such as a twenty-four curfew, a complete lockdown on weekends as well as limits on the number of persons who can gather in one place and imposed a 6ft physical distancing requirement on gatherings. Under the circumstances at that time, the cessation of the civil liberties of the citizens and residents of the Bahamas was reasonably justifiable.

However, in my view, the restrictions on those fundamental rights have been left in place for too long. The prolonged application of the proclamation of emergency and its draconian procedures is dangerous and unnecessary. The almost daily amendments to the emergency powers orders are confusing and give the appearance, rightly or wrongly, that the competent authority is intending to stretch the incursions on our liberties to the maximum extent possible. The frequent adjustments to the orders offer too much opportunity for speculation and conjecture of political manipulation. These repeated amendments and the consequential fear, anxiety and panic they cause to the citizens and their psyche are exactly why Justice Louis Brandeis sounded the following warning: Experience teaches us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government’s purposes are beneficent.

It is my view the proclamation of emergency ought to have ended after the initial fourteen-day period.

Legislation with accompanying practical institutional measures could have then

The people should be allowed to move about while obeying the laws and operating guideletters@tribunemedia.net lines outlined by the been enacted to replace medical community. The them. Some of these meas- corona virus is not likely ures could have included spread by people driving continued enforcement of their vehicles or walking physical distancing, wear- the streets. I read a report ing of masks in gatherings, that indicates that 90% of limits on the number of corona virus infections are people at social gath- spread at homes, workerings, the closure of place, public transport, facilities where crowds social gatherings and resusually gather such as taurants. Another report that people nightclubs, theatres, and advocates schools and ban on inter- should be permitted to national and local travel. I move around in the fresh, did not include churches in clean air as immunity is the grouping above because increased by exposure to I believe that the church pathogens on the outside [collective} missed an ideal while immunity is greatly by staying opportunity to put together weakened its own regulations for wor- in sterile environments ship and for ministering indoors.

I would like to see the to the people. By missing proclamation of emerthis opportunity and for its almost total absent voice gency revoked or allowed in this time of crisis, the to die an uneventful death church has lost much cred- on the 30th May. There is ibility to the extent that no need for the extension some are now questioning of the emergency powers their motives and value to now reposed in the competent authority. It seems the society.

perilous and overly burThe passage of the legdensome for these powers islation to replace the to be reposed in the Prime emergency proclamaMinister for thirty days tion together with the without parliamentary enforcement of the appro- review or oversight. Why priate protocols would have would he want this type afforded the government of control over the lives the results it was seeking. of Bahamians for so long They could have achieved a period? It is time for the this without taking away people to demand their people’s fundamental rights right to move about and and the resulting panic it to assemble. It is time for caused. There is no logic commerce to reopen with in having the population normal hours so that conout and about Monday sumers could have broader through Friday and then choices and there is a little impose upon it a complete more levelling of the playlockdown on Saturdays ing field. By this letter I am and Sundays. The virus is not minimising the dangers spread only on weekdays? and risks to essential workMoreover, why lockdown ers that are inherent in adults at 9pm every night this insidious virus. Rather for weeks on end when only I verily believe that we a small percentage of the can experience the same population is out at nights? level of competence and It is easier for the police protection without the conto drive around and check tinued loss of fundamental various business establish- rights. I am reminded of ments and popular meeting Benjamin Franklin’s causpots than to be at numer- tion: They who can give up ous intersections in the hot essential liberty to obtain sun checking IDs. The right a little temporary safety of citizens to move about deserve neither liberty nor freely in their country or safety. their right to assemble in small crowds ought not to MAURICE TYNES be abridged for so long a Nassau, period.

May 25, 2020.

LETTERS

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, June 26, 2020, PAGE 5

PLP LEADER DAVIS VISITS FISHING HOLE ROAD SITE

THE LEADER of the opposition, along with senior Progressive Liberal Party officials, visited Fishing Hole Road in Grand Bahama to see first hand the project, initially launched by him on December 18, 2015, when he was minister of works and development.

Andros plan ‘is a threat to bird stocks’ from page one

The conservation group was referring to three proposals, including a project from the Bahamas Materials Company Ltd, which includes plans to mine for calcium carbonate (limestone) on a 5,500 acre “brownfield” in North Andros. Last week, Tribune Business reported that the project was presented to the North Andros District Council on June 9 as part of an extensive feedback and consultation process.

A North Andros Green Free Trade Zone is also being proposed by Los Angeles-based billionaire philanthropist, Dr Patrick Soon-Shioa, in addition to the Bahamas Agricultural Resources (BAR) farming project, which is seeking some 25,000 acres of Crown Land and Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) land in the Twin Lakes area.

On Thursday, the National Audubon Society said while all three proposals would have some impact on birds, one of the proposed projects will have a direct impact on Joulter Cays National Park if it is approved.

“A globally significant important bird area, Joulter Cays hosts 10-percent of the Atlantic Coast Piping Plover population, along with many other sea and

shorebird species,” the statement said.

It added: “Working with partners at the Bahamas National Trust, Audubon scientists found hundreds of Piping Plovers wintering in Joulter Cays, helping to solve the mystery of where they overwinter.

Designated a 92,000acre national park in 2015, Joulter Cays is unique, unspoiled and rich in natural resources. This national treasure of The Bahamas also supports the country’s multi-million dollar fishing and ecotourism industries.”

In the statement, Matt Jeffery, the deputy director of the National Audubon Society’s International Alliances Programme, added that the Joulter Cays are “one of the most important wintering areas” for Piping Plovers. He also stated that the projects would put “a number of bird species at risk” that were already dealing with the threat of climate change.

“Piping Plovers depend on beaches to survive, and they already face nearly insurmountable threats here in the Northeast—including coastal development, sea level rise, predators, and people and dogs who get too close,” Ana Paula Tavares, executive director of Audubon Connecticut and Audubon New York continued.

“An added threat to their wintering grounds

A PIPING PLOVER could reverse decades of progress made by dedicated volunteers and partners in conservation, and we want to ensure that these endearing birds remain around for

future generations to enjoy.”

According to the society, the cays are also an “important migratory stopover” for other birds throughout North America.

Earlier this week, the Office of the Prime Minister said a draft proposal for the North Andros Green Free Trade Zone has been submitted to the government. OPM

said the proposal had not been formally analysed or reviewed to determine its viability, nor has it been presented to the National Economic Council for consideration.

STRUGGLING MOTHER LEFT OWING FOUR MONTHS’ RENT TWO DENY OBTAINING SPOUSE PERMIT BY FRAUD

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A MOTHER-of-three says she needs a job and approximately $1,600 for the four months of rent she owes her landlord.

Although she has a home-based nail business, 35-year-old Tassia Thompson said she was unable to pay her $400 monthly rent from March to now. The pandemic prevented her from making much money as her customers could not come to her home.

She said she sent a letter to the Department of Social Services for rental assistance, but the mother explained

the letter was not taken and a definitive answer was not given on whether she will get any help.

Ms Thompson said: “They told me come back – I went back. They say they was going to call me. I gave them the number. I haven’t gotten any calls.

“Then the lady asked me…if I was working when the pandemic (happened).

I told her yeah I was working home based. She said, oh she don’t know if they’re going to give anything with assistance. So right now I’m on my own.”

Ms Thompson said she is struggling on her own as her parents and grandmother are deceased.

Her oldest child’s father gives her a bit of food and lunch money, but does not help with bills, she said. Her other children’s father went to another island to find a job. She calls this whole ordeal “frustrating”.

“Sometimes I just want to give up because it’s so hard and then some people they don’t understand that,” she told The Tribune. “I’ve done some things in my life and I don’t want to do those things because I have kids to live for. . .”

The 35-year-old mother understands her landlord has a limit and recalls being warned about receiving an eviction letter.

“She said she’s gonna give us an eviction letter…she wants to know know when she getting the (rent) – that’s her main concern,” she said.

“When she comes around, she don’t come around nice. In her mind all she saying is ‘oh the country then open so everybody should be back to work and y’all should then have my money.’ Like next week, yeah they will be there bright and early probably seven, eight o’clock in the morning to come and get their money….the landlord and her brother.”

If you would like to offer Ms Thompson assistance, please contact ebowleg@ tribunemedia.net.

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net TWO people pleaded not guilty to fraud charges in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Yvonel Amilphat, 41, and Raquel Amilphat, 47, were charged before Magistrate Andrew Forbes, accused of allegedly committing fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

It alleged between June 19 and September 26, 2019, being concerned with others, they agreed

to commit fraud by false pretences.

The two were also accused of obtaining a spousal permit from the Department of Immigration on Hawkins Hill by means of false pretences on September 26, 2019.

Magistrate Forbes denied the two bail, but stated they can apply for pre-trial release at the Supreme Court. They will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services and return back to court on October 1. They were represented by Alex Dorsett.

PAGE 6, Friday, June 26, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Seniors and disabled to get first donated Abaco homes

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net SENIORS and disabled people are top priority to receive the 46 homes donated by Discovery Land Company Foundation to Abaco residents, an official from the Disaster Reconstruction Authority said yesterday.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis made the announcement of the donated homes during his wrap up of the budget debate in the House of Assembly on Monday.

Kay Forbes-Smith, DRA managing director, spoke to The Tribune about the criteria for eligibility to receive those donated houses. Construction on the homes is set to begin in August after the Attorney General’s Office vets the land agreement.

“We have a criteria now that we are using for the temporary housing that we have to provide in the communities,” Ms ForbesSmith explained. “So what we do is look at that jointly with the donor and decide how people will be selected.

“The first half of the criteria is people’s homes

would have to have been destroyed in Hurricane Dorian. They would have to be Bahamian. We are looking (at) senior citizens, the disabled and we are looking at families with minor children.”

The donation of the 46 homes from Discovery Land Company Foundation comes on the heels of Abaco residents continuously expressing frustration with the slow recovery to their island. In an earlier interview with The Tribune, Ms Forbes-Smith acknowledged the frustration of the residents of Abaco.

She continued by

explaining why senior citizens and the disabled are prioritised in receiving the homes donated by the Abaco-based, Baker’s Bay foundation.

“Now the reason we obviously are looking at those demographics (senior citizens and disabled) first is because with the devastation of Dorian when you have people who are senior citizens whose homes were destroyed, they don’t have an opportunity to rebuild,” she explained. “The same goes for the disabled. Many of them are living off small pensions. So there are very obvious reasons why we

would have senior citizens and those who are disabled at the top of the list.

The whole idea is to give to the most vulnerable in the community.”

This criteria is not only for the new homes to be built, but is also used by the DRA for the selection of recipients of domes/tents and other temporary housing that it is putting in Abaco.

“We bring that criteria to the table with the donor and we figure out what we do next,” Ms Forbes-Smith continued. “It is a joint discussion with the donor as well. We want to start the 46 homes that the donor,

Discovery Land Company Foundation is to provide, in August of this year.

“What we are doing now is, the land agreement between the DRA, representing the government, and the Discovery Land Company Foundation, is at the Attorney General’s Office for vetting.”

Ms Forbes-Smith is hopeful that by the time August rolls around, the DRA and Discovery Land Company Foundation would have a land agreement that has been signed and agreed upon and both parties will have the selection process defined with other criteria.

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS HELP RAISE $234,000 FOR ROTARY HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS MORE than $200,000 has been donated this month to help ongoing relief efforts in Abaco and Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian.

The money comes from accounting organisation KPMG and will go towards the Rotary Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund. The latest donation, presented during a virtual meeting of the Rotary Club of East Nassau on Friday, was $228,000, bringing KPMG’s total contribution to the fund to $234,000.

Rotarian Bryan Knowles, assistant governor and chair of Rotary Bahamas Disaster Relief, said: “We are very grateful for KPMG’s donation. Our disaster relief efforts in Abaco and Grand Bahama Island are focused on temporary shelter, housing and home repair, food provisioning, livelihood restoration, potable water supply and the provision of technical assistance centres to support the rebuild initiative led by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“We will ensure that KPMG’s contribution has a meaningful impact in the storm-affected areas.”

Hurricane Dorian ripped through Abaco and Grand Bahama at the start of September last year. The official death toll is 74, with 282 still reported as missing. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed and flooding contaminated water wells.

“We’re so appreciative of our corporate partners like KPMG”, said Barry Rassin, immediate past president of Rotary International and a member of the Rotary Club of East Nassau. “Financial donations of this magnitude can have such a tangible impact on relief efforts, particularly when paired with

an all-volunteer organisation like Rotary. We are in a unique position at Rotary to ensure that every penny goes directly to where it’s needed most, and not towards administrative expenses.”

KPMG’s senior partner, John Lopez, commended Rotary Bahamas for the work they are doing and hoped the donation will help provide the resources needed to continue relief.

The money comes through partners and team members of KPMG locally – but also by seeking donations through its global network of firms.

Contributions came from Bermuda, Cayman, BVI, Barbados and as far away as China, Malta, Mexico and Belgium.

He said “On behalf of the entire KPMG Family we are pleased to be able to make this donation in the amount of $228,000 to the Rotary Hurricane Dorian Disaster Relief Fund. This is in addition to $6,000 that has already been transferred to the Fund, bringing KPMG’s total contribution to $234,000.

“We hope that this donation will help to provide you with the resources needed to continue assisting those impacted by Hurricane Dorian. We salute all the hard work your organisation has been doing and are confident that your efforts are appreciated not only by those directly benefitting but also by other members of the local community including us here at KPMG. “We look forward to seeing the continued progress you will make as you work to rebuild critical infrastructure and restore normalcy on the affected islands.”

KPMG’s partner, Simon Townend, said it was

D E A T H

JOHN LOPEZ, of KPMG, with a cheque for $228,000. through a series of discussions with Mr Rassin, Francesco DeCardenas (president, Rotary Club of East Nassau) and Lindsey Cancino (past assistant governor) concerning Rotary Bahamas’s overall disaster relief strategy that it became abundantly clear that Rotary should be KPMG’s organisation of choice.

Mandy Morris, lead of KPMG’s Dorian Relief committee, said: “Since our inception KPMG has been committed to building and developing the communities in which we operate. In line with continuing commitment, we found it imperative to play a role in Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts”.

“Partnerships like this demonstrate the global reach of both Rotary and its friends,” said Mr de

N O T I C E

Patricia Margaret Carpenter, 61

(nee Liddell) (formerly of Eastern Road Nassau)

Beloved wife and mother, sister aunt and friend passed away unexpectedly at her home in Biloxi Mississippi on Friday 19th June 2020. Left to cherish many happy memories are husband and son, Gary and Gray Carpenter, brother and sister-in-law Oliver and Vicki Liddell, nephew and niece Jamie and Emma Liddell and cousins Antony Howard, Chris and Debbie Leam and Maureen and Ian Liddell.

Much loved by a host of family, friends and her beloved dogs, her bubbly l effervescent personality and unconditional kindness will be her legacy.

A memorial will be held to celebrate Patricia’s life at a future date.

THE VIRTUAL meeting of Rotary Club of East Nassau on Friday, at which the donation was revealed.

Cardenas. “All of us here in the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas have seen an outpouring of support not just from our friends, families

and partners locally, but from organisations and individuals across the globe. We’re so thankful for friends like KPMG as

we work to help rebuild the lives of our Bahamian brothers and sisters impacted by Hurricane Dorian.”

READERS REACT TO COSTS FACING BAHAMIANS READERS have been posting their reactions to the stories making the news on tribune242.com.

Super Value’s president Rupert Roberts told Tribune Business he is bracing for a “below normal” sales decline as the post-COVID lockdown reality bites, saying: “If we fall ten percent below last year we’ll be in trouble.”

Birdiestrachan had this to say: “The 60% increase in VAT makes the buying power less. Things are

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

going from bad to worse.

It is very hard for the poor to lose 12 cents out of every dollar they spend.”

In a letter to sector regulators, Theofanis Cochinamogulos, chief executive of Wicom Bahamas, said wholesale direct Internet access rates charged by The Bahamas’ two telecommunications giants are “in excess of 150 times” greater than comparable US prices and squeezing out competition.

That prompted this comment from Millennial242: “THIS! This so desperately needs to be addressed. This is stifling any substantial

progress for our country to seek gains in the expansion of technology-driven businesses both locally and abroad. Internet fees are ridiculous compared to the rest of the region.”

And after the Grand Lucayan resort was said to have begun the “phased” termination of its remaining 208-strong workforce as it readies to complete the property’s sale to the ITM Group/Royal Caribbean joint venture, Thps said: “So what will be the final cost of us holding the hotel?

Surely not $60m dollars?

If the deal is not done yet, they better hurry, all RCL need is a Carnival like debt downgrade or two for their board to reconsider such investments.”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, June 26, 2020, PAGE 7

Brother denies matching stories with officer accused of rape

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE brother of the chief immigration officer who was accused of raping a Jamaican woman has denied conversing with the officer before the hearing to ensure their statements supported one another.

Norman Bastian was accused of taking Claudia Edwards Bethel to his home on December 15, 2014, and forcing her to have sex with him. Mrs Bethel, who previously waived her anonymity in an interview with The Tribune last year, launched a civil suit against the government after her rape case was tossed out of court years ago. Norman Bastian was never convicted.

On Wednesday, the immigration officer denied the accusation and insisted he would not sleep with a woman without her consent during a cross-examination

by Mrs Bethel’s attorney, Fred Smith, QC, before Justice Indra Charles. Yesterday, his brother Steven

Bastian took the stand to be cross-examined by Mr Smith. He was staying with Norman Bastian at the time of the alleged incident and was in the house the day the officer brought Mrs Bethel to his home.

When asked if Mrs Bethel seemed “tipsy” when she came to the house, Steven Bastian told Mr Smith she didn’t seem intoxicated but appeared “normal”.

Mr Smith then read the witness’ statement where he told police his brother had asked him to warm up some stew fish for him. Mr Smith then noted Steven Bastian had told the court his brother had asked him to warm up some stew fish for Mrs Bethel that evening.

In response, Steven Bastian insisted he told the police he warmed up the stew fish for Mrs Bethel. He also claimed that what the officers wrote in the statement at the time was not recorded correctly.

On Wednesday, Norman Bastian told Mr Smith that he could not recall whether he or his brother gave Mrs

Bethel food, but he knew for a fact she was fed stew fish.

At the time, he also denied banning Mrs Bethel from making calls and claimed she told him her phone had died so he asked his brother to find a charger.

“Nowhere in your statement do you tell police about being asked to plug in (Mrs) Bethel’s phone,” Mr Smith told the witness.

“I never was asked to plug it in,” he replied. “He (Norman Bastian) asked me if I had one. I didn’t mention it to the police because I didn’t think it was necessary at the time. They didn’t ask about the phone at all.”

Still, Mr Smith noted that the witness did mention seeing a “pink or purple cellphone” on the counter when he spoke with officers.

In response, Steven Bastian told him that he never said he “had any affiliation with the phone”. Instead, he said the only thing he told police was he noticed a phone on the counter. He claimed officers asked him if he had seen Mrs Bethel and he told

them he did not see her, but noticed a pink or purple phone on the counter.

“I put it to you Steven Bastian that in your written statement you signed you don’t mention anything about Norman Bastian asking you if there was a cellphone charger,” Mr Smith said. “I put it to you that sometime over the last couple of days you had a conversation with Bastian about the events that transpired between December 15 and 16 (of 2014). Bastian was very careful to tell you and you gave specific evidence about you asking about a charger. Why isn’t that evidence in your written statement in 2018 or your police statement in 2014?”

The witness insisted he gave the police the information and claimed they did not record it. He also said while Mr Smith had his “opinion”, nothing he accused him of ever happened.

Dwight Beneby, assistant director of the Department of Immigration, also took the stand yesterday. He

was represented by Crown attorney Kayla GreenSmith, who noted that her client had been asked to submit “certain documents”

by Mr Smith last year.

Mr Smith said he requested the documents to see what protocols were in existence at the Department of Immigration in previous years, as related to male officers having access to female detainees.

When asked if he was able to find an internal policy paper, Mr Beneby told Mr Smith the only thing he was able to come up with was a newspaper report. He said the department only had a draft manual when Mr Smith asked him if he could find the department’s training manual.

Mr Smith also asked Mr Beneby for reports relating to the condition of the Detention Centre in 2014 and the department’s arrest records from January 1 to November 2014. He requested a separate report for December 2014, because he believed that there was a “dramatic increase in

arrests post the new policy”.

He further requested photos of the Detention Centre during November 2014, a list of the number of female immigration officers and a roster of who was working the day Mrs Bethel was brought to the office.

Mr Smith insisted the document would “discredit” Norman Bastian and put a “substantial nail” in his “coffin” if the documents could prove there were female officers present.

Mr Beneby agreed to provide the documents, in addition to notes on Mrs Bethel’s file that may have been taken while she was interviewed by Norman Bastian and diary entries from the Detention Centre between December 13-15 of 2014. He was given until July 9 to provide the information.

Yesterday, Justice Charles asked Mr Smith and Mrs Green-Smith to have their written submissions completed by September 30 and oral submissions done by October 5. The matter was adjourned to July 31.

SECOND MAN ACCUSED OVER LORENCIA KILLING

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A SECOND man has been arraigned in connection with the murders of ten-year-old Lorencia Walkes and another man.

Donald Cox, 24, was arraigned before Magistrate Andrew Forbes and charged for the May 29 shooting incident that claimed the lives of the fifth grader and Perron Bain.

Cox was also accused of attempting to murder Leroy Sands on the same day.

This comes after Delanzo Cartwright, 24, appeared before Chief Magistrate

THE TEENAGER outside court.

16-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED IN KILLING OF WOMAN, 79 from page one Magistrate Gwen Claude allowed only the minor’s parents and his attorney Keith Seymour to be permitted inside the courtroom for the proceedings. Neither the press nor any of the victim’s family members were allowed inside.

Reporters were only able to enter the court after the proceedings to be given information from Police Prosecutor 2628 Sergeant Garth McIntosh.

According to the docket, it is alleged that sometime between Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20,

the accused by means of unlawful harm intentionally caused the death of Elisia Theoc, of Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock.

Theoc had been reported missing by family members after she did not return home Friday evening. Her body was later discovered Saturday morning in bushes in Pinedale. Her death is the eighth homicide in Grand Bahama, according to Tribune records.

In addition to the murder charge, the juvenile was also charged with housebreaking. It is alleged that on the same date, the accused broke into the home of Keisha Coverley,

of Martin Town, Eight Mile Rock and stole a television, Android box, and a black LG DVD player, altogether valued at $400.

All the items were recovered by the police. The matters were adjourned to August 4, to be heard before a juvenile panel.

Also charged with receiving was a 17-year-old juvenile. It is alleged that the accused on the same date received the stolen items in question. He was granted $1,500 bail and the magistrate imposed a curfew on him. The matter was adjourned to August 4, to be heard before a juvenile panel.

MAN ACCUSED OF FRAUD OVER PASSPORT AND CERTIFICATES

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A SIERRA Leone man was charged in Magistrate’s Court with 18 fraud-related counts including uttering forged documents, fraud by false pretense, and possession of false documents.

Seth Christopher William Beoku-Betts, 44, appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes yesterday for the offences, to which he pleaded not guilty.

It was alleged that on August 31, 2018, BeokuBetts uttered false documents – namely a Bahamian birth certificate and a voter’s card. He is accused of deceiving a public officer at the National Insurance Board

as well as obtaining a NIB card by false pretence on the same day.

He was also accused of uttering forged documents on September 11, 2018, this time a Bahamian voter’s card and NIB smart card. He was said to have obtained a driver’s licence from Road Traffic on the September 26, 2018.

He is also accused of uttering a voter’s card, birth certificate and a letter allegedly from Superintendent Anthony Rolle, co-coordinator of the Bain and Grants Town Urban Renewal, concerning a lost passport to the Passport Office on September 26.

The 44-year-old was further accused of deceit of a public official at the

Passport Office and getting a Bahamian passport by false pretence that day.

Beoku-Betts was also charged with attempting to get a voter’s card from the Parliamentary Registration Department by false pretence on February 12, 2019.

On June 23, the accused was said to be in possession of forged documents listed in court as a Bahamian passport, driver’s licence, NIB smart card, and birth certificate.

The accused was denied bail, but he can apply for it at the Supreme Court.

He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim.

He is expected back to court on October 19.

Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with the two killings and attempted murder on June 11.

At the scene of the crime, ASP Audley Peters reported that shortly after 1pm a group of people were gathered in front of a residence at Belville Circle, off Iguana Way, when a gold coloured vehicle approached the residence.

A police crime report noted three men armed with firearms exited the vehicle, walked towards the gathering, and opened fire in the group’s direction.

Police explained that three people were shot and one of the victims died from

their injuries on the scene.

Three people were taken to hospital, two as a result of gunshot wounds and the third as a result of injuries sustained while attempting to flee the scene, police initially said. More than a week after the shooting, the 10-year-old died in hospital.

Cox was not required to enter a plea and the case was adjourned to October 8 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

He was denied bail, but is able to apply for pretrial release at the Supreme Court. The accused was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

PAGE 8, Friday, June 26, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Vampire myths fiction based on fact (well, almost)

By MICHAEL HEFFERON Asst Professor, Dept of Paediatrics, Queen’s University, Ontario

called porphyria, which has has been with us for millennia, became prevalent among the nobility and royalty of Eastern Europe. Porphyria is an inherited blood disorder THE concept of a vampire that causes the body to propredates Bram Stoker’s tales duce less heme — a critical of Count Dracula — prob- component of haemoglobin, ably by several centuries. the protein in red blood cells But did vampires ever really that carries oxygen from the exist? lungs to the body tissues. It In 1819, 80 years before the seems likely that this dispublication of Dracula, John order is the origin of the Polidori, an Anglo-Italian vampire myth. In fact, porphysician, published a novel phyria is sometimes referred called The Vampire. Stoker’s to as the “vampyre disease.” novel, however, became the Consider the symptoms of benchmark for our descrip- patients with porphyria: tions of vampires. But how Sensitivity to sunlight: and where did this concept Extreme sensitivity to sundevelop? It appears that light, leading the folklore to facial dis‘Like many myths, figurement, surrounding the vampire it is based partly blackened phenomenon in fact. A blood skin and hair originated in growth. disorder called that Balkan area Fangs: In where Stoker porphyria, which addition to facial located his tale of has has been with disfigurement, Count Dracula. us for millennia, repeated attacks Stoker never of the disease travelled to became prevalent causes the gums Transylvania nor among the nobility to recede, exposany other part of and royalty of ing the teeth, Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe.’ which then look (The lands held like fangs. by the fictional Blood drinking: Because count would be in modern- the urine of persons with day Romania and Hungary.) porphyria is dark red, folkThe writer was born and lore surmised that they brought up in Dublin. He was were drinking blood. In fact, a friend to Oscar Wilde and some physicians had recomWilliam Gladstone. He was mended that these patients both a Liberal and a home- drink blood to compensate ruler — in favour of home for the defect in their red rule for Ireland. He turned blood cells — but this recomto theatre and became busi- mendation was for animal ness manager of the Lyceum blood. It is more likely that Theatre in London. It was these patients, who only his friendship with Armin went out after dark, were Vambery, a Hungarian writer, judged to be looking for that led to his fascination with blood, and their fangs led to vampire folklore. He con- folk tales about vampires. sulted Vambery in the writing Aversion to garlic: The of Dracula, whose main sulphur content of garlic character was loosely fash- could lead to an attack of ioned on Vlad the Impaler, porphyria, leading to very a bloodthirsty prince born in acute pain. Thus, the averTransylvania in 1431. sion to garlic.

Reflections not seen in mirrors: In the mythology, a vampire is not able to look in a mirror, or cannot see its But where did the myth of reflection. The facial disfigvampires come from? Like urement caused by porphyria many myths, it is based partly becomes worse with time. in fact. A blood disorder Poor oxygenation leads to

MEDICAL SOURCE OF THE MYTH

destruction of facial tissues, and collapse of the facial structure. Patients understandably avoided mirrors.

Fear of the crucifix: During the Spanish Inquisition (1478-1834), 600 “vampires” were reportedly burned at the stake. Some of these accused vampires were innocent sufferers of porphyria. Porphyria patients had good reason to fear the Christian faith and Christian symbols.

Acute attacks of the disease are associated with considerable pain, and both mental and physical disturbance. This condition has been ascribed to the English King George III, although subsequent analysis has shed some doubt on porphyria as the cause of his “madness.”

PORPHYRIA Nowadays, with our scientific knowledge of porphyria, instead of fearing these folks, we can love and care for them.

Porphyria remains incurable, and treatment is mainly supportive: pain control, fluids and avoidance of drugs and chemicals that provoke acute attacks.

Some success has been achieved with stem cell transplants.

Could Stoker have known of the existence of porphyria, and/or its link to vampire folklore?

It was only in 1911, eight years before Stoker’s book appeared, that the diseases of porphyria (there are several types) were classified by H Gunther. However, physician, researcher and author George Harley had described a patient with porphyria a few years earlier.

Through his gothic novel, Stoker surely wins the prize for the best example of myth entangled with medicine!

• Originally published in theconversation.com

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, June 26, 2020, PAGE 9

It’s not COVID that’s the killer, it’s poverty

By Diane Phillips

IT’S NO wonder we can’t wrap our heads around the COVID crisis. First of all, it came out of nowhere. One day we were all fine except for ordinary struggles; the next day we had a pandemic on our hands. So what did we do? We turned to the medical professionals. They were the experts. Only, what did they do? They into two schools of thought brought every last ounce – to follow the Swedof their knowledge to the ish pattern or everyone big imaginary table around else, including Bill Gates. which they all sat virtually - Sweden, you may recall, snubbed its national nose and they disagreed.

Just when we needed at the very idea of locking people indoors. With an comfort, we got confusion.

It wasn’t as though some above average healthy popwere right and some were ulace, it continued to allow wrong. They simply did most of its residents to not know the solution to carry on almost as normal. bars, restaudealing with an exploding Schools, rants and even some gyms virus more contagious than remained any that had open. Only the come before ‘If the medical very elderly it, an invisible, community could were restricted untouchable in their moveenemy that not agree on the first, attacked way forward, how ments. At world’s across the were we ordinary the eyes were board but on Sweden, struck vul- mortals supposed if nerable to know who and wondering they had the populations what to believe?’ solution – let – the elderly people get and those with on with their underlying conditions – more viciously. They were lives as the virus weakened facing an economic as well and the flow of antibodies as a health threat that was increased, creating greater already outpacing wars, ter- tolerance to the new strain rorist attacks and diseased which would eventually meat in how fast it shut slow down enough that we down economies across the could co-exist with it much as we do with a bad cold globe.

If the medical commu- season.

What was happening nity could not agree on the way forward, how were we in Sweden was called the ordinary mortals supposed theory of herd immunity. to know who and what to The coronavirus would take believe or understand why its natural course until our we should follow one set of resistance to it was a good rules when another seemed match. The thinking was to be working better for that cases would decrease in severity especially among some, if not for all?

Basically, it broke down those with healthy lifestyles.

The threat would remain for those who had serious underlying conditions with deaths, should they occur, triggered by blood clots or embolisms aggravated by the virus.

At the opposite end of that spectrum was the Bill Gates’ theory of saving the world from the impact of COVID-19 by finding a vaccine and ensuring every single person around the globe would have the ability to receive it.

Medical experts jumped into the ring. In one corner stood one of the greatest philanthropists and innovators the world has ever known, Bill Gates. In the opposite corner stood the naturalists, represented by a nation known to go its own way and believing the virus should be allowed to do the same and in time it would take care of itself and leave the rest of us panicked people alone.

At first it seemed like a close fight with Sweden and the herd immunity mentality gaining a slight advantage.

People who were breathing Sweden’s fresh air were doing fine while those locked inside New York’s high-density urban settings were being rushed to hospitals on gurneys. But then a strange thing happened.

In the last few weeks, Sweden’s numbers began to change and by early this week, the spike in cases

HAVE A LITTLE RESPECT TRYING to keep a legacy alive is understandable, especially when it’s based on the life of a local hero like Sir Durward Knowles.

However, despite what the sign along the eastern Montagu shore says, Sir Durward is no longer the oldest living Olympic gold

medalist and he will not be celebrating his 100th birthday on November 2, 2017.

Luckily for all of us who walked with him and in his honour to mark that milestone, he did live to be 100.

But Sir Durward left us on February 24, 2018.

Perhaps the St Anne’s Constituency Committee

that erected the photo plaque in his honour would be good enough to update it and add a new photo since the weather has taken its toll on the face of the beloved sailor of all sailors.

And then maybe we can get on with naming sailing the official national sport of The Bahamas.

placed it among the highest risk nations. It is important to note that according to a June 22 report in openDemocracy.com, two thirds of Sweden’s recent deaths were persons over the age of 80.

Still, no one knows exactly why Sweden’s death rate began to climb but the outlier was suddenly a lot like everyone else.

The medical community was no closer to providing a unified voice. More testing, they said. More tracing. If there is one thing they have agreed on, it is this - the value of self-quarantining once testing positive.

So where do we turn on this path of seeking truth when we seem to be floundering, three or four

months in, without a clear path?

Maybe there is no right or wrong answer but there is one thing we have learned and after pouring through dozens of documents and reports, it was a local doctor who told me this simple fact: “The number one determinant of poor health is not infections. It is poverty.”

How right he is. We have been saying it forever, but you know what? COVID just drove it home again.

That 5lb bag of refined sugar, that reliance on processed and fast foods, the appetite for fried instead of broiled, baked or grilled, the lack of fresh vegetables in our diets, the excuses we

make to not exercise are what’s killing us. COVID will diminish but until we address poverty and take our health seriously, we are only postponing death, as the good doctor said, saving the population today for more to die tomorrow.

In the end, does it matter which fighter in the ring wins? To herd or not to herd, to vaccine everyone or let nature take its course are all less important than acknowledging the need to address the real cause.

Face the ugly fact. The more poverty, the more poor health we will have in The Bahamas. Change the focus, change our world.

This is the quiet opportunity COVID gave us.

PAGE 10, Friday, June 26, 2020

Marijuana could benefit health and the economy

THE TRIBUNE

A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA

AS WE wade through the final stages of the COVID -19 quarantine, I still find myself willingly wanting to “social distance”.

I’ve gotten used to it, it’s become part of my routine.

Another portion of my routine is reading, I try to read as much as I can daily, in or out of the bathroom.

Recently I read an interesting article on marijuana in relation to IBS (Irritable Bowl Syndrome) and its treatment.

Not only is marijuana helping patients on multiple levels, to combat or cope with their IBS and the adverse side affects, it’s actually cutting the cost of hospital care.

This really peaked my interest, taking into consideration we have a high number of Bahamians suffering from IBS and Crohn’s Disease, and medical care isn’t even close to being cheap in The Bahamas in 2020.

Let’s have a closer look.

STUDY

The results of a recent study by Rush University Medical School and the John H Stroger, Jr Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, showed that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who have a history of marijuana use spent less time in the hospital and had lower inpatient health care utilisation and associated costs.

The study reviewed hospitalisation data from more than 9,000 patients over a four-year period who had a primary discharge diagnosis of IBS. Marijuana users and nonusers were compared for various clinical outcomes, to evaluate the impact of

marijuana use on inpatient length of stay and resource utilisation for patients with IBS. The study discovered that the 246 patients who had a history of using cannabis had a shorter average stay in the hospital (2.8 days versus 3.6 days for nonusers) and were less likely to have had certain medical procedures associated with IBS diagnoses and treatment.

The study was the first nationwide study to evaluate the association between marijuana use and healthcare utilisation in patients with IBS. The study found that marijuana use is associated with a lower use of endoscopic procedures, lower length of stay and lower median total cost of hospitalisation.

BILLS

The reduced length of the average hospital stay and the decreased use of medical procedures translated into average total charges for the hospitalisations to be more than $3,000 less for marijuana users than patients who did not report using marijuana.

The study provided evidence to suggest marijuana use may decrease healthcare utilisation and costs among hospitalised patients with IBS. These findings are likely attributable to the effects of marijuana’s active compound, THC, gastrointestinal motility and colonic compliance.

The role of marijuana in the treatment for IBS has potential for significant impact at the individual and population level given the burden of IBS on individual quality of life and

healthcare expenditures.

In an interesting side note in 2013, a separate study found that a significant number of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s

Disease used marijuana and more than 16 percent said that marijuana was “very helpful” for relief of abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea.

Okay ‘Doc’ we’ve examined the legalisation and

decriminalisation aspects of medicinal and recreational marijuana from a revenue standpoint.

Now we need to look at it from a medicinal stand point, and the beneficial qualities of marijuana.

Both options are sound in their own right, in my opinion we can and should maximise both options.

It might just be the healing of the nation, in more ways than one.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, June 26, 2020, PAGE 11

‘20 million Americans have caught coronavirus’ WASHINGTON Associated Press US officials estimate that 20 million Americans have been infected with the coronavirus since it first arrived in the United States, meaning that the vast majority of the population remains susceptible.

Thursday’s estimate is roughly ten times as many infections as the 2.3 million cases that have been confirmed. Officials have long known that millions of people were infected without knowing it and that many cases are being missed because of gaps in testing.

The news comes as the Trump administration works to tamp down nationwide concern about the COVID-19 pandemic as about a dozen states are seeing worrisome increases in cases.

The administration also looks to get its scientific experts back before the public more as it tries to allay anxieties about the pandemic while states begin reopening. Since midMay, when the government began stressing the need to get the economy moving again, the panel’s public health experts have been far less visible than in the pandemic’s early weeks.

Twenty million infections means that about 6% of the nation’s 331 million people have been infected.

“It’s clear that many individuals in this nation are still susceptible,” Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on a call with reporters Thursday. “Our best estimate right now is that for every case that was reported, there actually are 10 more infections.”

Previously, CDC officials and the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, have said that as many as 25% of

A HEALTHCARE professional, right, takes a sample from a patient at a United Memorial Medical Center COVID-19 testing site on Wednesday in Houston.

Photo: David J Phillip/AP infected people might not have symptoms.

“There’s an enormous number of people that are still vulnerable,” said Dr Joshua Sharfstein, vice dean at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “It still remains a potentially lethal disease.

It’s a roll of the dice for everybody who gets the illness.

Also, you’re rolling the dice for other people who you may give the virus to.”

The new estimate is based on CDC studies of blood samples collected nationwide — some by the CDC and others from blood donations and other

sources. Many infections were not caught in early testing, when supplies were limited and federal officials prioritised testing for those with symptoms.

Administration officials are pointing to the new data to allay public anxieties, claiming that while there have been significant spikes, they have the outbreaks well in hand. They maintained they were not trying to minimise a public health crisis, but said the nation is in a markedly different place with the virus now than when the US last saw similar infection numbers in mid-April, when

testing infrastructure was weaker.

“This is still serious,” Redfield said on the call with reporters Thursday.

“But I’m asking people to recognise that we’re in a different situation today than we were in March or April,” with more cases today in younger people who are not as likely to develop serious illness or die from infection, he said.

President Donald Trump, who refuses to wear a face mask in public, has been playing down the virus threat, insisting recently that “it’s fading away, it’s

going to fade away”. Vice President Mike Pence, during an appearance in Ohio, said the US had “met the moment” in fighting the virus.

Redfield said infection prevalence rates ranged from 1% in some areas of the West Coast to much higher in New York City.

Several independent experts said the methods and locations of sampling are key to interpreting the numbers.

Dr Thomas Tsai, a Harvard University health policy researcher, said 20 million seems reasonable, but “most of these

CHUCK E CHEESE FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY CHUCK E Cheese - where kids could be kids while parents nursed headaches - is filing for bankruptcy protection.

The 43-year-old chain, which drew kids with pizza, video games and a singing mouse mascot, was struggling even before the coronavirus pandemic. But it said the prolonged closure of many outlets due to coronavirus restrictions led to Thursday’s Chapter 11 filing.

CEC Entertainment Inc has reopened 266 of its 555 companyoperated Chuck E Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza restaurants as restrictions ease, but it’s unclear how willing parents will be to host birthday parties and other gatherings. The Irving, Texas-based company said it will continue to reopen locations and offer carryout and delivery while it negotiates with debt and lease holders.

CEC and its franchisees operate 734 restaurants in 47 states and 16 countries. Franchised locations aren’t included in the bankruptcy filing, the company said.

CEC listed nearly $2 billion in debt and $1.7 billion in assets in its bankruptcy petition, which was filed with the US Bankruptcy Court in southern Texas.

PAINTINGS hanging on a wall at Chuck E Cheese’s in Dallas.

“The Chapter 11 process will has undoubtedly been the most allow us to strengthen our financial challenging event in our company’s structure as we recover from what history” said CEO David McKillips

in a prepared statement.

The restaurant industry has been devastated by the coronavirus.

Transactions at US family dining restaurants plummeted more than 80% in mid-April, the height of the pandemic in the US, according to The NPD Group, a data and consulting firm.

Orlando-based FoodFirst Global Restaurants, which owns the Brio Tuscan Grille and Bravo Cucina Italiana Italian restaurant chains, filed for bankruptcy protection in April. BarFly Ventures, which owns HopCat and other bars in the Midwest, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month.

Chuck E Cheese got its start in 1977, when Atari cofounder Nolan Bushnell opened Chuck E Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre in San Jose, California. The restaurant featured a cast of animatronic characters led

by Chuck E Cheese, a plucky rat in a bowler hat that was later rebranded as a mouse. “Where a kid can be a kid,” the chain promised.

But in recent years the chain has struggled. Newer competitors like Dave and Buster’s offered bigger venues, while trampoline parks like Launch and AirTime offered party alternatives.

COURT WIN FOR FAMILY TELL-ALL OF TRUMP WASHINGTON Associated Press A NEW YORK City judge yesterday dismissed a claim by Donald Trump’s brother that sought to halt the publication of a tell-all book by the president’s niece, saying the court lacked jurisdiction in the case.

Surrogates Court Judge Peter Kelly said the claims were not appropriate for his court, where disputes over estate matters are settled.

The motion filed earlier this week sought an injunction to prevent Mary Trump and the book’s publisher, Simon & Schuster, from releasing it, as scheduled, in July.

Mary Trump is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr, the president’s elder brother, who died in 1981.

An online description of her book, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” says it reveals “a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse.”

Robert Trump’s lawyers filed court papers saying that Mary Trump and others had signed a settlement agreement that would prohibit her from writing the book.

They said the deal included a “substantial financial settlement” for Mary Trump.

The settlement nearly two decades ago included a confidentially clause explicitly saying they would not “publish any account concerning the litigation or their relationship,” unless they all

agreed, the court papers said.

Published accounts of the book’s contents say it contains an “insider’s perspective” of “countless holiday meals” and family interactions and family events, along with personal observations by Mary Trump, a psychologist, about her “supposedly toxic family,” according to the court papers.

The agreement related to the will of Donald Trump’s father, New York real estate developer Fred Trump.

In their court papers, lawyers for Robert Trump said the book also has been promoted as containing insight into the “inner workings” of the Trump family and allegations that the late Fred Trump and the president neglected Mary Trump’s father, “supposedly contributing to

his early death.”

Mary Trump’s attorney, Ted Boutrous Jr, said the court was correct in its decision.

“We hope this decision will end the matter. Democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas, and neither this court nor any other has authority to violate the Constitution by imposing a prior restraint on core political speech,” he said in a statement.

The White House and lawyers for Robert Trump did not have an immediate comment.

A spokesman for Simon & Schuster said in a statement that the publishing house was “delighted” with the decision.

“We look forward to publishing Mary L Trump’s TOO MUCH AND NEVER ENOUGH, and are

estimates exist in a range” and it’s important to know how wide that is.

“It’s hard to interpret this just from a single number and without the context for it,” such as what locations were sampled and whether it was truly a random slice of a population or areas of low or high prevalence, which can skew the results.

Justin Lessler, a researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said 20 million infected “is about what you’d expect based on the case fatality rate” and the number of deaths that have occurred so far in the US.

NO MORE DIXIE FOR THE CHICKS GRAMMY-WINNING country group The Dixie Chicks have dropped the word Dixie from their name, now going by The Chicks.

The band’s social media accounts and website were changed yesterday to refer to the new name for the band, which is made up of Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Strayer.

The band also recognised that the name was already in use by a band in New Zealand.

The move follows a decision by country group Lady Antebellum to change to Lady A after acknowledging the word’s association to slavery. A statement on The Chicks’ website said: “We want to meet this moment.”

DISNEY RIDE TO DITCH JIM CROW LINKS AMID calls to change the Splash Mountain theme park ride over its ties to “Song of the South”, the 1946 movie many view as racist, Disney officials said yesterday it was recasting the ride to base it on “The Princess and the Frog”, a 2009 Disney film with an African American female lead.

Changes to the ride will be made both at Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, the company said in a post.

Disney said the changes had been in the works since last year, but the announcement comes as companies across the US are renaming racially charged, decadesold brands amid worldwide protests for racial justice.

PAGE 12, Friday, June 26, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Liverpool clinches league title, ends 30-year drought

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — The 30-year wait is over. Liverpool is champion of England again.

Liverpool clinched its first league title since 1990 yesterday, ending an agonising title drought without the players even having to take the field.

Instead, the Premier League crown was secured when Chelsea beat secondplace Manchester City 2-1, a result that means City can no longer catch Liverpool with seven games remaining.

For the city of Liverpool, this has been a party three decades in the making, and even the restrictions caused by the coronavirus failed to prevent fans from gathering to celebrate outside Anfield.

Only a few dozen supporters were outside the stadium as the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge.

But hundreds more quickly arrived, setting off flares and fireworks, waving flags and singing “Allez, Allez, Allez” on the steps of the stadium.

“It is such a big moment, I am completely overwhelmed,” said Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who was almost in tears as he spoke to broadcaster Sky Sports via video link. “I never would have thought it would feel like this. I had no idea.”

After a dominant campaign that was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, Liverpool became England’s earliest-ever champion -- and the latest.

No team since the inception of the country’s league system in 1888 has clinched the title with seven games remaining. And no team

has been crowned Premier League champion in June.

The title itself had hardly been in doubt since December, with Klopp’s team quickly building a massive lead with a rampant attacking style of play that has earned 28 wins in 31 games so far.

“The world has watched the fierce determination of this club on the field for every single match,” said John Henry, Liverpool’s American-based owner, “the preparation, the resolve and the talent of those who put together perhaps the greatest league performance ever in any country’s history.”

For a while, though, it seemed the coronavirus could still prevent Liverpool from ending its drought.

The club was 25 points clear when the league was abruptly halted in March as the country was forced into lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“Null and void” became the dreaded term in the red half of Liverpool amid fears the season could be cancelled completely as the coronavirus death toll soared and clubs struggled to agree on a strategy to restart the league during the country’s gravest emergency since World War II. After Liverpool finally returned to the field on Sunday, a 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby against Everton delayed the crowning moment. But not for long.

The team quickly rediscovered its scintillating attacking form as it swept aside Crystal Palace 4-0 on Wednesday inside an empty Anfield.

Chelsea then put Liverpool over a winning line that had proved so elusive

LIVERPOOL supporters celebrate as they gather outside of Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, yesterday after Liverpool clinched the English Premier League title.

(AP photo/Jon Super) for a team accustomed to dominating English football in the 1970s and 80s.

After waiting so long to win a 19th English title, the pandemic left an anticlimactic cloud over celebrations on the hottest day of the year so far.

Fans couldn’t even gather in pubs, which have been shut since March, to watch Chelsea clinch the title for them. Gatherings of multiple households are also still banned inside.

The only communal viewing experiences allowed are for groups of up to six people to meet outside.

Photos of garden viewings spread on social media. A few fans watched on phones outside Anfield.

Klopp, the German manager who has restored a winning mentality to Liverpool with his brand of “heavy metal” football, already led the club to the

Champions League title last year. But this will widely be regarded as the moment he truly brought Liverpool back to the pinnacle of English football.

The last time Liverpool won the league, it was still called the First Division and the club held the English record for most titles with 18. But the inception of the Premier League in 1992 transformed the landscape of the English game.

Liverpool faded as a force, to be eclipsed by Manchester United. Sweeping to 13 Premier League titles, United manager Alex Ferguson succeeded in his mission of knocking Liverpool “off their perch” by helping the Mancunians become 20-time English champions and one of the wealthiest sports teams in the world.

Liverpool was even in a fight for financial survival

in 2010 when the American ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr plunged the club into heavy debt.

The club was rescued — via High Court action — by new American investors from the Fenway Sports Group led by Henry, who added Liverpool to an investment portfolio that included the MLB’s Boston Red Sox. It has been on a steady rebuilding path since.

The experiment of bringing back 1990-title winning manager Kenny Dalglish was short-lived, as it its eighth-place finish in the league in 2012 was the club’s lowest in 18 years.

Within two years, the team was on the ascent again under Brendan Rodgers, finishing within two points of champion Manchester City in 2014.

The anguish of coming so

close to the summit before slipping up -- literally, as then-captain Steven Gerrard slipped on the field at a crucial moment -- was hard to recover from.

A slump in form saw Rodgers fired in 2015, which ushered in the arrival of Klopp.

After a slow start, and another eighth-place finish, Liverpool regained its swagger.

Not even the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in 2018 derailed Liverpool’s ambitions.

Instead, that money was reinvested wisely to ensure that the entertaining attack unit had a robust barrier at the back with then world-record fees paid for goalkeeper Alisson and centre back Virgil van Dijk.

More frustration was to come, though.

After leading the league for much of the campaign, Liverpool finished just one point behind winner Man City last season following one of the closest and most entertaining title races in history.

There was no stopping Klopp’s team this time.

“We had a magnificent season last year, but we came in second and so this is especially gratifying for us,” Liverpool chairman Tom Werner told The Associated Press after watching the game on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts. “We share our joy with your game and our team. They really did play magnificently all year. Yesterday’s game was another example of how talented the team is. And I’m just happy for all of our supporters in Liverpool and around the world.”

But any thoughts of a victory parade will have to wait until the pandemic regulations are eased further.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, June 26, 2020, PAGE 13

Venus Williams joins World TeamTennis, season starts July

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer VENUS Williams has signed up to play World TeamTennis for the 15th time, the league announced yesterday.

She will be a member of the Washington Kastles, one of nine teams that will gather at a resort in West Virginia for a threeweek season starting July 12. Matches normally are played at various sites around the country, but WTT decided to bring everyone to one location because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Williams, who turned 40 last week, announced in 2011 that she had been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, a condition that can cause exhaustion and joint pain. Williams has since spoken about how she turned to a plant-based diet and learned other ways to get by.

The American is a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, with five titles at Wimbledon and

two at the US Open. She also has paired up with her younger sister Serena to win 14 Grand Slam trophies in doubles. Up to 500 spectators will be allowed to attend each match at a 2,500-seat outdoor court at The Greenbrier.

A maximum of 250 people — 200 fans and 50 staffers — can be at any matches that will be moved to an indoor court if it rains.

All fans will be required to wear face masks and pass a temperature check.

Other players who have committed to participating include 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens and twins Mike and Bob Bryan, who have won 16 Grand Slam doubles titles together.

WTT is increasing total prize money to $5 million this year, $1.5 million more than for its 2019 season.

All tennis events sanctioned by the ATP, WTA and International Tennis Federation have been

WASHINGTON Kastles’ Venus Williams serves to Austin Aces’ Nicole Gibbs during a tennis match in Washington on July 14, 2015. World TeamTennis says Venus Williams has committed to play in its three-week season that starts on July 12. Williams will be a member of the Washington Kastles. That is one of nine teams that will gather at a resort in West Virginia.

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) suspended since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic and are on hold until a planned return in

August. But WTT is not affiliated with those tours — no ATP or WTA ranking points are awarded for

matches — and does not need to abide by their decisions about when it is OK to compete.

AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND TO CO-HOST 2023 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Australia and New Zealand will co-host the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The island neighbours beat Colombia 22-13 in a vote yesterday by FIFA’s ruling council, which judged them as having the best commercial prospects for women’s soccer.

The vote was split along continental lines, with Europe joining South America in voting for Colombia.

The expanded 32-team tournament — eight more than the 2019

edition in France — is expected to open in July 2023.

The winning bid proposed 12 cities with seven in Australia and five in New Zealand. It includes the main stadium used for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

After a successful World Cup last year, FIFA wants the next women’s tournament to further establish its independence from the men, and show it is commercially attractive.

At least $100 million is expected to be paid by the governing body in 2023 — for prize money, team preparation costs and to clubs releasing players for the

tournament — FIFA president Gianni Infantino pledged last year in France.

Colombia’s bid was rated a high-risk commercial option in an evaluation of the candidates published this month.

Australia and New Zealand’s bid was rated low-risk and scored 4.1 points out of a maximum 5.

Colombia scored 2.8.

A third candidate, Japan, withdrew on Monday. That gave fellow Asian Football Confederation member Australia a clearer run.

New Zealand is part of the smaller Oceania continental group.

The 2023 tournament will be the

first time a World Cup for men or women will be shared across two continental bodies, and the first co-hosted women’s edition.

Colombia’s bid was supported by most of the nine voters from European soccer body UEFA. Launched in 1991, the Women’s World Cup has never been hosted in South America.

Both Australia, the No. 7-ranked team in women’s soccer, and No. 23 New Zealand will qualify automatically for the tournament.

Colombia is currently ranked No. 25 and was the only one of the three bidders not to qualify for the 2019 edition.

Aliyah Brown: ‘I went on to win six gold medals’ FROM PAGE 16 Brown said. “I did all my training with coach Franklyn Williams.

“I wasn’t surprised at my performance this year because I really trained hard for it.”

When asked which one of the events she enjoyed the most, Brown admitted that it was the half-lap race in the 200m. She duplicated her winning performance in the event at the GSSSA meet for the Raptors, along with the 400m and as a member of the 4 x 400m relay team.

“I had more competition in it,” she stated. “I really had to go out there and run hard.”

As a 14-year-old having graduated from CH Reeves last week during a virtual ceremony, Brown has produced personal bests of 12.01 seconds in the 100 metres, 26.00 in the 200m and 1:01 in the 400m as she laid her claim to being one of the top young sprinters on the island.

But Brown said she was looking forward to improving those times at the Nationals where she anticipated having the competition from her peers from the private schools and those coming in from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.

At last year’s Nationals, Brown was fourth in the 400m and sixth in the long jump.

“I want to improve in the 200m the most and to make the CARIFTA team next year,” she said.

“I was really looking forward to doing well at the nationals this year.”

Having been a part of the 4-D Stallions for the past three years, Williams said he’s seen some tremendous improvement from the Raptors’ star and one of the captains of his 32-member team in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations.

“She would have made the CARIFTA team this year, especially in the 200m,” he pointed out.

“The CARIFTA standard in the under-17 girls’ 200m was 25.7 and she did 26-flat and she didn’t even peak yet.

“Of course, they didn’t have it because of the coronavirus, so we really can’t say how good she would have been. But I expect that

SPRINT sensation Aliyah Brown is preparing for the start of her high school campaign. She was off to a promising start to the 2020 track and field season when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

“I feel good, even though I had a little injury. It turned out good because I went on to win six gold medals. I did all my training with coach Franklyn Williams. I wasn’t surprised at my performance this year because I really trained hard for it.”

— Aliyah Brown she will be an automatic qualifier next year, once she continues to work hard.”

Brown thanked Williams and her mother, Tiffany Galicia, her family and friends and the coaches at CH Reeves for pushing and encouraging her to get to the level that she is at right now.

As she looks ahead, proud mom Galicia said there’s no telling what will happen for her daughter in the future. “Aliyah does well as an athlete. I’m very pleased with her performances,” said Galicia, who has gotten the full support of her husband Miguel Galicia in pushing his stepdaughter to her full potential. “But I expect that her times

will drop as she gets older and her technique will improve. But as an athlete, I’m very proud of what she has accomplished so far.”

When Williams saw the potential in Brown, Galicia said he expressed an interest in coaching her and ever since they have developed quite a bond.

In fact, Galicia serves as the vice president of the 4-D Stallions Club, which puts added pressure on Brown to perform. “As she gets older, she’s getting more experience,” Galicia said. “When she competed at the GSSSA meet, I was really shocked to see her get all of those medals. I really wanted to see how well she would have

performed at the Nationals and even in making the CARIFTA team because I know she was competing much better this year than she did last year.”

With Brown now making up her classes at CH Reeves because of what transpired at the beginning of the year with some of the teachers not teaching because of the closure of schools because of COVID19, Galicia said they have a big decision to make in the next few weeks. “We are seriously looking at the government school system to see what will happen,” said Galicia of the uncertainty posed by the virus. “We also have a few offers from the private schools, but we will have to see how things work out with that too.”

From the time Brown entered the doors at CH Reeves in grade seven and began competing in track and field, Varel Davis, the head of the physical education department, said he knew that track coach Rashad McKenzie had a gem on his team.

“During her first year, she found her way. As time progressed, she got better,” Davis said. “In grade eight, she was one of our top athletes. She won an award for being the top under-13 girl. This year, she won the award again for the under-15 girls’ division.

“In the last two years, no one has beaten her in the GSSSA, so she was really our top female athlete in our school. They didn’t have the Nationals and the CARIFTA Games this year, so I know she was disappointed in that.”

But based on her work ethic and the results she has produced, Davis is also confident that Brown will move on and continue to excel wherever she enrols in high school.

“She’s a very good athlete, very quiet person and very humble,” she said. “So I’m looking forward to her continuing to do very well at the next level. She got the athlete award at graduation. She’s a very hard worker. She doesn’t get into any problems. I am looking for some great things from her in the future. I know she will do very well at the next level.”

With her training and dedication, Galicia said she is prepared to work along with Williams to help push Aliyah to the next level.

QUALIFYING CONGESTION DELAYS DRAW FOR 2022 WORLD CUP ZURICH (AP) — The tournament draw for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is set to be pushed back by two months after FIFA rescheduled a qualifying playoff yesterday.

FIFA said its council agreed to delay an intercontinental four-team playoff — from March 2022 to June that year — due to fixture congestion caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The 32-team tournament draw was planned for April 2022, likely in Doha. The earliest option is now to hold it in June ahead of the November 21 to December 18 tournament.

The intercontinental round involves one team from each of four confederations: Asia, North America’s CONCACAF, South America’s CONMEBOL and Oceania. Two teams advance to the World Cup. Europe’s UEFA has its own 12-team playoffs planned in March 2022 to decide three qualifying places. Africa has no playoff round.

World Cup qualifying in South America and Asia has fallen behind schedule after games were postponed in March and June. South American qualifiers should now start in September, and Asia should resume in October.

FIFA yesterday also approved a new test competition for Qatar’s organisers, featuring 22 Arab nations.

The pan-Arab tournament will run December 1-18, 2021 in Qatar. It will involve home-based players from clubs in each country’s domestic championship, rather than those based abroad such as star players with clubs in Europe.

MCPHEEMCCUIN LOBBYING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE FROM PAGE 16 more than a handful of our time cannot just be a photo op,” McPhee-McCuin.

“We, black and white are the beneficiaries of the struggle for black freedom a struggle born generations ago by black people who loved a nation that long considered them at best, second class citizens.

“And whether through generations of tilling the soil of this state, or through mid 20th century boycotts, sit-ins, or voter registration, generations of black Mississippians sacrificed their own freedoms not just for Freedom Summer, but for the freedoms we enjoy when as athletes and coaches, we run onto the gridiron in the fall, when we hit the hardwood in the spring, and when we blaze the track in the summer too.”

In her two years at the helm leading the Rebels, McPhee-McCuin has undertaken a rebuilding project.

At 16-45, Rebels have gone up against 13 nationally ranked squads, 12 of which have come in SEC play.

Headed into next season, the Rebels will have the No.1 recruiting class in the SEC and No.13 class in the nation for the 2020-2021 campaign.

PAGE 14, Friday, June 26, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Bubble-free life means MLB players, coaches must be careful

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Baseball’s bubble-free environment is an anomaly as the sports world tries to come back amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead of bringing a group of teams to Disney World (like the NBA and MLS) or concentrating on a few hub cities (like the current NHL plan), Major League Baseball has 30 teams spread all over the United States and potentially Canada, with players, coaches and team personnel trying to stay healthy while cases are still spreading.

Needless to say, it won’t be easy.

Arizona Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said he’ll be constantly reminding everyone in his organisation about the delicacy of the current situation. It’s especially important in Phoenix, where COVID-19 cases have increased substantially over the past few weeks.

“High-risk behaviour is going to impact you and the person standing next to you and the person standing next to them,”

Hazen said. “We’re going to be extremely mindful of it. The protocols are going to answer some of those things for us, but away from the field, I believe we are going to have to make sure everyone understands exactly what we mean by high-risk behaviour.

“Things are going to have to change temporarily in our lives to be able to do this.”

That means altering the way baseball players behave on and off the field.

The on-field portion is largely addressed in a hefty manual that covers everything from hotels to showers to spitting.

It will be awkward and sometimes not particularly practical, but teams are vowing to do their best.

“You’re putting a lot of people in a small, confined space, which is the one thing the medical experts are telling us not to do,” Oakland A’s GM David Forst said.

“So we’ll have to limit clubhouse time as much as possible, guys will

have to wear masks as much as possible.”

Then there’s the considerable amount of time players will spend away from the field.

Texas coach Chris Woodward said health issues will be critical throughout the season and the usual carefree life of a ballplayer will be a bit more tame.

While health is obviously the most important issue, there’s also the on-field realisation that losing players for several days to COVID-19 might also be the difference between wins and losses.

“The younger guys that are single that, you know, tend to be a little bit more social,” Woodward said.

“Those are going to be the challenging ones because they’re not going to want to sit in your hotel room on road trips.

“But I think it’s their responsibility that they have to the ballclub and the organisation and their teammates, honestly.”

Added Minnesota Twins closer Taylor Rogers: “A lot of it’s going to be on you, on the honour system.

“Don’t be the one person that’s going to mess it up for everybody else. When you want to go do something, or something like that, you need to remember it’s about your team, not just yourself.”

The first step toward a successful season is getting all the players to their home cities. Most shouldn’t have much of a problem but there are plenty of logistics involved with domestic and international travel.

Some players might face significant hurdles: For instance, Arizona pitcher Bo Takahashi is coming back to the US from Brazil, which is another coronavirus hotspot.

Chicago White Sox GM Rick Hahn said his team’s travel department has a busy week ahead, but that they’ve been planning on this scenario for quite a while. The challenges are real but so is the payoff.

For MLB, a strange 60-game season is a better alternative than no season at all.

“It’s a little bit of a challenge,” Hahn said. “It’s not impossible.”

TOKYO OLYMPICS MUST FIRM UP $3.3 BILLION IN SPONSOR INCOME

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Wrtier TOKYO (AP) — Local sponsors have chipped in a record $3.3 billion to support the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

That’s at least two times more than any previous Olympics, and it amounts to almost 60 per cent of the income for the privately funded operating budget. Another 14 per cent of the income is budgeted from ticket sales, which could be in jeopardy with empty venues a possibility because of the coronavirus.

With the games delayed for a year, sponsors will be asked to sign up again. Tokyo spokesman Masa Takaya said talks would begin next month. “We are planning to start sitting together with those companies, including the arrangement

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and content of the contract, in the very near future,” Takaya said this week in an on-line briefing with reporters.

A poll published earlier this month by Japanese broadcasters NHK said two-thirds of sponsors are undecided about extending for another year.

Sixty-seven companies have signed up as local sponsors for the Olympics or Paralympics, most lined up by Dentsu Inc, the giant Japanese advertising agency that serves as the exclusive marketing agency for Tokyo 2020.

Tokyo organisers also say they have to re-negotiate contracts with 11 so-called TOP sponsors, who also have long-term contracts with the IOC. The Japanese newspaper Asahi reported this week, citing

unnamed sources, that organisers will be asking for “more sponsor fees payments.”

This could face opposition, with many companies struggling with the pandemic and a loss of revenue.

Organisers cannot afford a drop off in revenue. Local estimates suggest the delay will cost $2 billion to $6 billion.

The Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee says it will pick up $650 million to defray the cost of delay. The rest is on the local organising committee, and various levels of Japanese government.

Governments are picking up the vast majority of the costs for Tokyo. A government audit report put the overall cost at about $25 billion.

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Organisers and the IOC say they are hoping to cut costs next year by “downsizing and simplifying.”

They have yet to offer concrete examples nor list the amount of money saved. Suggestions are rumoured to be reducing the torch relay and combining the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics and Paralympics.

“If additional spending is being asked for, it is possible the discussions will become difficult,” the Asahi said. It suggested Japanese companies, which will be under enormous pressure to support an Olympics on home soil, may wind up giving merchandise instead of cash to reduce the burden.

“We are making our utmost effort to look into other potential partner companies,” Takaya, the spokesman, said.

HUGHES SHOOTS 60 FOR 3-SHOT LEAD AT TRAVELERS

By PAT EATON-ROBB AP Sports Writer CROMWELL, Conn.

(AP) — Mackenzie Hughes shot a career-low 60 yesterday to take the first-round at the Travelers Championship as the PGA Tour tried to switch its focus back to golf amid growing concerns about the coronavirus.

Hughes, a 29-year-old Canadian, had a chance to shoot the 12th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history, but his 40-foot birdie attempt on his final hole came up short.

Jim Furyk shot a 12-under 58 on the same TPC River Highlands course four years ago, the lowest score in a tour event.

“I kind of joked walking off there that 59 wasn’t even the record because of Jim’s 58,” Hughes said. “It’s probably not even that special around here. But as a personal milestone it would have been neat.”

It was good enough for three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland, who each shot 63 on a day of low scoring.

Phil Mickelson, paired with McIlroy in his first competitive round since turning 50, was one of six players to shoot 64. Bryson DeChambeau’s 65 was the worst score in the marquee threesome.

There were 106 players who broke par. The record for a day at TPC River Highlands was in 2011, when 111 players were 1-under or better in the second round.

Hughes’ bogey-free round included a 30-foot birdie putt on his secondto-last hole, the par-3 eighth. Patrick Cantlay was the last to shoot 60 at TPC River Highlands as an amateur in 2011.

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Friday, June 26, 2020, PAGE 15

Vince Carter, 43, retires after record 22 NBA seasons

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer VINCE Carter made his retirement official yesterday, announcing on his podcast that his 22-year NBA career has come to an end.

The announcement was largely a formality because the 43-year-old Carter had said many times over the course of this season that this would be his last in the NBA. His 22 seasons are the most in league history, and he became the first NBA player to appear in four different decades.

Carter appeared in 1,541 NBA games, behind only Robert Parish (1,611) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,560) on the league’s alltime list. He started his career with Toronto, then played for New Jersey, Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis, Sacramento and spent his final two seasons with Atlanta.

Carter’s first season was the 1998-99 campaign, which was shortened to 50 games because of labour strife. His final season was shortened by the coronavirus pandemic, and the Hawks will not be part of the 22 teams headed to the Disney complex near Orlando, Florida, next month for the planned resumption of NBA play.

“It’s kind of a cool situation for me because I came into the league on a shortened season and I walk away from the league on a shortened season,” Carter said on the “Winging It” podcast.

“So for me, it’s just kind of a unique situation,” he added.

Carter scored 25,728 points in his career, 19thmost in NBA history.

The Hawks quickly lauded Carter for what he

has done, not just in two years with Atlanta but over the totality of his career.

“Throughout his historic 22-year journey covering an unprecedented four different decades, his evolving career arc was perhaps like none other in league history — from Top 5 Draft Pick to Rookie of the Year to Slam Dunk Champion to superstar and eight-time All-Star to Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year and valuable role player,” the Hawks said in a statement.

Carter’s last game was March 11, a contest the Hawks lost at home in overtime to New York. By the time that game was winding down, the NBA already had announced that it was suspending the season at the conclusion of that night’s play after Utah centre Rudy Gobert became the first player in the league known to test positive for the coronavirus.

The moment was not lost on Atlanta fans, who chanted “We want Vince!” repeatedly with 19.5 seconds left in overtime and with the Knicks’ victory clearly decided.

Carter checked back into the game at that point, inbounded the ball to Trae Young, then trailed the play as the Hawks headed downcourt.

Young flipped the ball back to Carter, who took an uncontested 3-pointer.

The shot went in, Carter threw his arms skyward, and the clock ran out on the game a few seconds later.

What many suspected would be the case that night became reality: The clock had run out on Carter’s career, too.

“There were times, probably in April, I was like, ‘Man, I wish this didn’t

NFL KICKING OFF VOTER REGISTRATION, EDUCATION INITIATIVE

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer

ATLANTA Hawks guard Vince Carter (inset) waves to the crowd as he leaves the court following an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, in Atlanta on March 11.

(AP Photo/John Bazemore) happen like that,’” Carter said. “And then, after a while, I was kind of like, ‘It is what it is.’ Once I was able to kind of put that aside and say: ‘Retire, Vince. You can go and golf now,’ it’s been easier.”

Carter was an eighttime All-Star selection, was rookie of the year in 1999, won the slam dunk contest in 2000 and helped USA Basketball win gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics — highlighted

by his dunk over 7-foot-2 French centre Frederic Weis — and the 2003 FIBA Americas tournament.

He played college basketball for three years at North Carolina, starting his career there under Dean Smith, and Carter’s retirement means there are no more Smith-coached players left in the NBA. “Half Man, Half Amazing, ALL class!” Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce wrote on Twitter in a message

to Carter. “It’s been an honour and a privilege for me to work with you.”

Carter said he will still play the game of basketball — for fun. It has long been expected that television networks will pursue him as an analyst, something he’s dabbled in at NBA Summer League in recent years.

“I’m officially done playing basketball professionally,” Carter said. “I’ll play at home.”

THE NFL is kicking off a voting education and registration initiative.

Commissioner Roger Goodell told the 32 team owners on a conference call yesterday that the league is developing programmes and working with the players association, Players Coalition and other organisations such as RISE and the US Vote Foundation.

The programmes will focus on education, registration and activation.

The goal is for NFL players, coaches, executives and staff to register to vote, inspire others to vote and vote themselves.

The NFL also will support players who have plans or programmes to achieve the same in their communities.

In recent conversations with players, Goodell said voting was a subject they consistently stressed as important to them.

The owners also are expected to discuss further reopening of team facilities, including to players; a reduction of the preseason; and reporting dates for training camps — all as the next steps toward the NFL’s return during the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier yesterday, the league and the Pro Football Hall of Fame cancelled the opening preseason game between Dallas and Pittsburgh set for August 6.

The hall’s induction ceremonies set for August 8 and for mid-September for a special centennial class, have been moved to August 2021, when the Cowboys and Steelers will play in the game.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020

World Athletics launches ‘Road to Tokyo’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedi.net

A

s the new norm for the world of sports continues to take shape in the midst of COVID-19, World Athletics yesterday revealed its plans for the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in launching what they call ‘Road to Tokyo.’

World Athletics, the governing body for track and field, produced an online tool to help athletes, media and fans track the qualification process for next year’s Olympic Games.

Searchable by discipline, country and qualification status, the tool will provide a real time view of each event over the course of the Tokyo 2020 qualification period which ends on June 29, 2021.

The new qualifying standards were released as a result of World Athletics joining the International Olympic Committee in calling off the games in March and subsequently postponing it from July 24 to August 9, 2020 to July 23 to August 8, 2021 due to the spread of the coronavirus.

In its announcement, World Athletics stated that the qualification principles remain unchanged

with athletes able to qualify through entry standards and then the World Athletics World Rankings.

Before the games were called off, the Bahamas Olympic Committee had at least six Bahamian track and field athletes qualified to compete.

They included first time sprinter Samson Colebrooke and returning for their second or third times are hurdler Pedrya Seymour, quarter-milers Shaunae MillerUibo and Steven Gardiner, high jumper Jamal Wilson and sprinter Tynia Gaither.

The BOC was also hoping that other athletes and relay teams

from the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, a few swimmers from the Bahamas Swimming Federation, Cynthia Rahming from the Bahamas Judo Federation and possibly Carl Hield, from the Bahamas Boxing Federation, would have also qualified for the games.

Athletes in track and field, who have already met the entry standard since the start of the qualification period in 2019, will remain qualified and will be eligible for selection by their respective member federations and national Olympic committees, together with the other athletes who will qualify

within the extended qualification period.

However, due to the uneven training and competition opportunities around the world during the coronavirus pandemic, World Athletics announced on April 7 that the qualification period (for all events) was suspended from April 6 to November 30, 2020.

The other international sporting bodies have not yet released their new qualifying standards for the games, which could be in further jeopardy with the rising number of coronavirus cases in the United States. New coronavirus cases in the US climbed to their highest level in two months.

‘I WENT ON TO WIN SIX GOLD MEDALS’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubb@tribunemdia.net

ALIYAH Brown was off to a promising start to the 2020 track and field season for the CH Reeves Raptors and the 4-D Stallions before the coronavirus pandemic interrupted her performance at the National High School Track and Field Championships and possibly her debut at the CARIFTA Games.

But the sprint sensation is not going to let the disappointment deter her from pushing forward to becoming one of the Bahamas’ future star athletes as she prepares for the start of her high school campaign.

Brown, now in classes to

help make up for the loss she experienced earlier this school year due to the fact that most teachers dealt

with an ongoing dispute over working conditions at CH Reeves in October and November, said she’s looking forward to competing at the next level.

Before her season on the track was disrupted as well due to COVID-19, Brown had accumulated a total of six gold medals at the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s Championships, winning the junior girls’ 100, 200 and 400 metres, the long jump and running on the Raptors’ victorious 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 metre relay teams.

“I feel good, even though I had a little injury. It turned out good because I went on to win six gold medals,”

SEE PAGE 13

SPRINT sensation Aliyah Brown is preparing for the start of her high school campaign. She was off to a promising start to the 2020 track and field season when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

MCPHEE-MCCUIN LOBBYING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net COACH Yolett McPheeMcCuin continues to use her platform as the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels Women’s Basketball programme to lobby for social justice in her adopted home state of Mississippi.

McPhee-McCuin was one of several coaches and officials from the Mississippi’s public universities to visit the state legislature and voice their support to making changes to the state flag.

The group that represented Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alcorn State, Delta State, Jackson State, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State and Southern Mississippi seek to remove the confederate flag from the Mississippi state flag.

“When my daughters ask me where I was June 25, 2020, I want to be able to look them in the eyes and tell them about this moment,” she tweeted with a photo of the group of coaches. “I’d like to thank our university leaders for supporting me and the rest of my colleagues during this time. We stand United.”

There has been a growing sentiment from players, coaches and NCAA officials to remove images of

the confederate flag from campuses and events.

Last week, the NCAA officially banned the state from hosting any NCAA championship games until the state flag is changed.

It was an expansion of the organisation’s “confederate flag policy.” Mississippi is currently the only state to have the confederate flag as apart of its state flag.

‘We, black and white are the beneficiaries of the struggle for black freedom - a struggle born generations ago by black people who loved a nation that long considered them at best, second class citizens.’

Also, in the SEC, which includes both Ole Miss and Mississippi State, conference commissioner Greg Sankey said his organisation could also place a postseason ban on the state for use of the current flag.

“Our students deserve an opportunity to learn and compete in environments that are inclusive and welcoming to all,” he said. “In the event there is no change, there will be consideration of precluding

Southeastern Conference championship events from being conducted in the state of Mississippi until the state flag is changed.”

Last month on the Ole Miss campus, McPheeMcCuin was one of several leaders of Rebels student athletics to lead a Unity Walk on the Oxford, Mississippi campus as protests against police brutality continued across the globe.

The Grand Bahama native is the school’s first black female head women’s basketball coach. Her programme joined athletic administrators, coaches and student athletes from various sports.

It was a show of solidarity for Ole Miss athletics as their unity walk coincided with protests across the globe in the wake of the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and most recently George Floyd.

“As athletes and coaches we know how important it is to be believed in.

Whether we are cheered on by a sold out stadium or looked up to by one small child-the belief of others in us, their support of us, and their love for us makes a huge difference in the scoreboards that push us to be great. We are here today, realising that a handful of minds, and only a little

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